No Lies, Just Extra

School Life is Freakin’ Spectacular #14

“Hello-hello! Good morning, everyone in Class A! Come on, come on! Push your desks back and line up!”

Instructor Kawar entered with her characteristic smile, kicking off a speedy start to the class. Good. Today I won’t make a fool of myself like yesterday. Scream King? Screw that. Now, I’m confident nothing will catch me off guard. Not anymore.

To be startled twice by the same trick would mean I’m not brave but a coward.

I don’t count cowards as people… Because I am brave and cool. Cowards have no place on the battlefield! Only the valiant will follow me!

“Today’s lesson! Since we dealt with illusions last time, today we’ll learn about Warp Gates!”

Warp Gates, huh.

“Warp Gates! Can our Kim Geun-chul tell us what those are?”

“Wh- What! Ah! No! Why suddenly me! I was caught off guard there!”

What’s this all of a sudden!

I was damn startled!

“Pfft…!”

“Kuk!”

“Hahaha!”

The laughter among the students began right away.

They just look for any excuse to laugh at me!

“Heroes must never lower their guard! So, Kim Geun-chul? Can we have your answer?”

“Th… The Warp Gate? That’s the thing that does the warping, right? Where monsters and freaks rip through dimensions and invade ours. That’s common knowledge, everyone knows that.”

I know as much. So I responded as calmly as I could.

“Ding dong! A fact everyone knows! Well answered!”

Then why did you ask?

“But there’s a peculiar feature to these Warp Gates. I’ll explain that in a bit. First, ordinary monsters come to Earth through these Warp Gates!”

I knew that already.

“Of course, there are monsters that have ventured into the wild and settled down. You know about the War Zone in the old Gangwon Province, right? Those monsters have completely gone feral, breeding on their own.”

Old Gangwon Province?

War Zone?

I’ll need to look that up later.

“Today, we’ll study the usual monsters! The ones that cross over to our side using Warp Gates!”

“Oh!”

I’m in deep concentration mode now.

Bring on the lesson.

I’ll store it all in my head.

I, Kim Geun-chul, will become an honor student.

“Normally, an Awakened can feel the subtle and unique magical fluctuations when a gate opens nearby! Of course, it might be hard for some to sense… but if you want to avoid a surprise attack by assault-type monsters, you need to train this sense well! Otherwise, you’ll die!”

Assault-type monsters mean those that suddenly pop out of the gates?

Looking around for confirmation, I see…

…

Every other student had their arms crossed, showing intense focus as they listened deeply to Instructor Kawar. So, I guess that’s right.

“We’ve seen Warp Spiders at the entrance ceremony, right? These guys warp around freely to launch their attacks! Stay alert, or you’ll get caught! Like Kim Geun-chul did that time!”

—Sudden stop!

Instructor Kawar pointed me out with a merry laugh!

“Why’s my name coming up again…!”

“Because, dear Kim Geun-chul, you’re going to experience the lesson firsthand!”

“Again! It’s me again! Why is it always me! Instructor Kawar, why me again! Why! Why do you always make me go first!”

Protesting this, yet another wave of laughter echoed from behind!

“He’s just too funny when he talks…!”

“He seems like a unique guy.”

“Kukuku! Exactly!”

So unjust and frustrating!

“Kim Geun-chul is a bit behind, that’s why. If you’re falling behind, you need to be on the front line. Otherwise, you can’t become a hero! Come on out, Kim Geun-chul!”

“Ugh…!”

Looking around, I saw the students eyeing me with anticipation. Ken here is lip-syncing ‘Scream King’ or some crap. Even Leona’s gaze felt sharp.

Help me, Sihu!

But Sihu, this bastard, isn’t even here yet?

“Ha, yes. I’m stepping out.”

What else can I do?

I have to go out.

“Instructor Kawar, I’ll just say one thing in advance, please don’t have any strange expectations.”

“Hm? Strange expectations? What do you mean?”

“This time it’ll be different. Scared? Put that aside. I’ll show you a completely changed me. So please refrain from calling my name all the time.”

I am not an underachiever. As I said this, Instructor Kawar covered her mouth as if she had been moved.

“Oh my…! You’ve become a warrior so quickly! Hearing that Kim Geun-chul will show his bravery, I’m so excited!”

Saying that exaggeratedly, she grabbed her wand.

“Anyway, what we’re going to do is simple. I’m going to summon something like a Warp Gate behind Kim Geun-chul! And very quietly! But as an Awakened, he’ll feel a strange sensation. Today’s lesson is exactly about experiencing that! Feel that sensation!”

It’s a simple lesson.

To experience what it feels like for an Awakened like me when a Warp Gate occurs nearby. Essentially, fighting monsters that use warps and becoming a hero requires this kind of lesson.

There’s no reason to be scared here.

“But are you still nervous? Anything can happen. You always have to be cautious in my class.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’m already staying alert.”

Would I be fooled by the same trick twice?

If I’m fooled again, I’m no longer human.

“From now on, I am Kim Geun-chul of Iron Blood. A cadet who fears nothing!”

“K, Kim Geun-chul of Iron Blood… Kukuk! Anyway! Let all the other students watch carefully! Let’s start the lesson! Summon Warp Gate!”

—Flash!

The moment Instructor Kawar shouted.

—Zzrrt…!

“Hm?”

Huh?

—Zzrrt.

“What is this!”

I started to feel something at the back of my head! A bizarre tingling sensation…! It’s as if something’s lightly tickling the back of my skull, this prickling feel is flooding in!

“I feel it! I feel something! Some weird tingling energy!”

There’s something behind me! There’s definitely something back there! It’s an odd sensation that those who’ve never experienced it wouldn’t understand!

“Right? That’s the sensation you get when a gate appears nearby. Which means, monsters are about to show up.”

“Yes! I think I would notice immediately! I need to be attentive! Battle prep start! Monster, come out right now!”

“Wow! Our Kim Geun-chul! That briefing was cool! Exactly that, you’re following the lesson well!”

“I’m kind of a model student…”

“But.”

“Yes?”

“What’s that on your shoulder, Kim Geun-chul?”

“Huh?”

My shoulder?

—Glide.

The moment I turned to look.

“Kiirk.”

“A spider bigger than my palm aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!”

Suddenly this fucking thing jumped at my faaaaaceee!!!

—Flash!

“Meoooooooooooow!!!”
TL/N: As weird as it seems, he does scream like a cat at times…

Startled beyond belief, I leaped a step forward while slapping my cheek and violently brushing off my shoulder! What kind of fucking spider is that big, and then—

“Oh, wha?

—Whirr!

An unfamiliar floating sensation came over me. At the same time, a tingling magic energy slid down my thighs and calves and seemed to burst from the soles of my feet.

What I felt was a moment of lucid enlightenment.

“Ah.”

I see.

I’m using mana to perform a high jump, aren’t I? Ah, I see. Just look. I do have talent. To succeed on the spot like this. I’m truly amazing. Jump high in brand new shoes. Some random song popped into my head along with that thought.

—Crash!

“Urgh!!!”

I felt a huge shock on my back!

I must have jumped up to the ceiling!

—Ding!

The sound I hadn’t heard in a while.

Could it be an omen?

[Agility has increased by 1]

Good.

That’s just what I need.

“Yo, you! That Scream King!”

And Leona caught me as I fell, like a princess, yeah.

I can kind of be thankful for that….

…but it’s fucking embarrassing!!!

*

*

*

“Ahahahahaha!”

The frivolous laughter.

“Oh, Kim Geun-chul! What now! I warned you not to get surprised again! It could be dangerous in a real battle…! Kukuk! Ahahahahaha!”

“I mean… Instructor. Isn’t it too much to pick on a student like this?”

“That’s why I said not to let your guard down. In a real battle, there are far more startling things, if you act like this it puts me in a tough spot!”

Ha.

It makes sense, so I don’t have anything to say.

“Kim Geun-chul…! See me later! During lunch time!”

Leona issued a veiled threat with her fiery eyes. I’m screwed. I’ll have to make a run to the snack bar at lunch time.

“But isn’t it a good thing, actually? Kim Geun-chul succeeded in a high jump! It’s proof you can handle mana! Well done! Clap clap clap!”

“That’s nice and all.”

Oh. Despite that…

“Hehehe.”

Can’t deny, I’m feeling pretty good.

Thinking back to the sensation, it seems like I can perform a high jump again anytime. Wow, I really picked up a skill unexpectedly.

Plus, I heard my skill went up by 1, too.

I need to check my status to confirm.

Embarrassing or not, I honestly feel fucking great right now.

“Feels good, right? Kim Geun-chul also feels terrific, right? All thanks to me.”

“Phew. I’ll admit it, Instructor Kawar. Your lesson was truly helpful.”

Admit what needs to be admitted.

“Hehehe.”

Instructor Kawar laughed as I expressed my gratitude.

“Anyway. Everyone saw and felt it, right? The instant you feel the premonition of a gate, it wouldn’t be strange for monsters to attack. You’re likely to be assaulted. Students, if you feel a similar sensation, get ready to fight immediately. If you’re careless like Kim Geun-chul, you might get into serious trouble!”

—Yes!

—Yes!

—Yes!

The students energetically responded to Instructor Kawar’s words.

I’m just  educational material to them.

“Line up! Kim Geun-chul, get back in line!”

“Yes… But Instructor Kawar. I have something to say.”

“What is it?”

“I was just a little startled earlier and maybe raised my voice a bit, but it wasn’t like I was truly shaken by fear. Please be aware of that.”

I had to say that for the sake of my pride as a man.

“Hmmm, is that so?”

“Yes.”

“Then shall we have another go at a horror special!”

“Why are you doing this to me! I’ll run out of this classroom! Please take back what you said before I sit down and cry, please!”

“Ahahahahahaha! What are you crying about!”

Along with her mocking laughter.

“Kuhahahahaha!”

“Ha-haha!”

“Gonna sit down and cry? Hahaha….!”

My classmates also burst into laughter.

I want to go back home.

*

*

*

So I bolted out of the classroom as soon as the morning class ended.

“Don’t run away, Kim Geun-chul!”

Because Leona shouted with fiery rage. It seemed like she didn’t actually plan to chase after me because when I ran away, she only followed me for a short while. Leona is human too. Buffets must be more important to her than me. It’s clear she’s a well-off lady; why skip the buffet?

“Phew.”

But did I expect this to happen?

That damn spider.

If I knew it would show up, I wouldn’t have let out a sound… Mortifying, honestly.

Anyway, I’m hungry after all that shouting.

Time for the snack bar.

“Sihu, you jerk.”

But I tried calling Sihu to eat together, and he still doesn’t answer. What’s up with that? He isn’t even checking messages? Slept in like a baby? What a cool dude….

“Lalala.”

No helping it.

I’ll have to eat alone.

—Step, step

Walking on the school grounds, I savor the warm air of lunchtime. I could use a drink. Before hitting the snack bar, maybe I’ll grab a soda from the vending machine.