Irregular.
He didn’t know exactly what kind of existence it was, but he did know it was dangerous. The news article about a Hazard-grade Irregular killing over a thousand people was still vividly etched in his memory.
“They’re telling us to fight an Irregular right now…?”
“If it’s Containment-grade, that’s the lowest level, right? Might be doable?”
“Are you insane? Haven’t you seen articles about people dying even from Containment-grade ones? And we just got our engravings—we’re basically newborn chicks. You wanna die together or what?”
So it’s the lowest rank.
Picking up bits of information from the students who were starting to speak up, Sihyeon let out a low hum at the mention of it being the lowest grade. It was a relief that the Irregular they had to face was low-ranked, but the real issue was what each rank actually meant. He didn’t know the criteria used to divide them.
He was still ignorant. Wondering if he should cram at least a little, Sihyeon took out his phone and searched for Irregular rankings. A chart compiled by the Awakened Association immediately appeared, and when he tapped it, a neatly organized table filled his vision.
<Irregular Threat Levels>
1) Containment – Irregulars possessing enough power to kill a small number of people or inflict casualties on a larger group. Can be subdued by at least four E-rank Hunters or at least two D-rank Hunters. A single entity is manageable, but if they move in groups, the threat level rises to Warning. For safe elimination, five D-rank Hunters or one C-rank Hunter are required.
2) Warning – Irregulars capable of instantly killing over thirty people. Can be subdued by ten D-rank Hunters or at least two C-rank Hunters. For safe elimination, four C-rank Hunters or one B-rank Hunter are required.
3) Hazard – Irregulars capable of wiping out an entire village instantly. Requires at least ten B-rank Hunters to subdue. For safe elimination, at least two A-rank Hunters are required.
4) Catastrophe – Irregulars capable of destroying an entire city. Requires at least ten A-rank Hunters to subdue. For safe elimination, at least two S-rank Hunters are required.
5) Apocalypse – Irregulars capable of causing the destruction of a nation. Exists only in theory; it is estimated that at least ten S-rank Hunters would be required to eliminate one.
The above chart assumes a single Irregular per rank. “Safe elimination” is defined as resulting in fewer than ten casualties.
“…….”
After cramming the information, Sihyeon’s mouth fell open. His gaze stuck on the phrase “kill a small number of people” under Containment. This placement test was clearly a situation where the school was pushing students into a death trap.
Seeing that most students were reacting negatively, the principal tapped the microphone. The anxious students turned their attention to him. Some still held a faint hope that things might be reversed—but they wouldn’t be.
“I understand that this sudden announcement must be shocking. You’re worried and anxious. But rest assured. At this school, Mir Military Academy High School, only Rankers of B-class or higher are employed. The teachers you see before you will take responsibility for and guarantee your lives. So all you need to do is let your talents and abilities bloom to their fullest.”
Like hell they will.
At the pretty-sounding words, Sihyeon’s expression twisted. But it seemed the other students thought differently. Perhaps deciding that if they had to do it anyway, they might as well accept it positively, murmurs began to spread—if they were B-class or higher, maybe they could be trusted.
“It’s a school, they wouldn’t actually let us die, right? It’s Containment-grade. They say five D-ranks can take one down without a scratch, so if they’re B-rank…”
“There are Healers among the teachers too, right? If that’s the case, Containment-grade should be fine, shouldn’t it?”
“I hate it. It’s scary…. We’ve only learned how to deal with Irregulars in theory—we’ve never done it for real. And my ability is Enhancement. I don’t even have a weapon—what am I supposed to do, just enhance my legs and run?”
Opinions split down the middle. Just moments ago, most had been against it, but now it was evenly divided. Watching the shifting atmosphere, Sihyeon turned to Dawoon.
“What do you think?”
“It’s Containment-grade. And the teachers are here, so what’s there to worry about? It’d be nice to try out our abilities sooner.”
“…Right.”
At Dawoon’s casual shrug and her fingers fiddling with her ring, Sihyeon looked at her with an expression that said you’re really consistent. Then his gaze met the girl beside her. Jihye smiled brightly—a rather ideal, almost too-perfect smile.
“What was your class again?”
“Oh, me?”
He remembered seeing her on stage but couldn’t recall her class, so he asked. Jihye pointed at herself and smiled lightly.
“Fire Elemental Ability User.”
“Ah….”
Her class was fiery, completely at odds with her gentle appearance. Watching the two—Dawoon who controlled air, and Jihye who wielded fire—both completely unbothered, Sihyeon imagined suffocating in air manipulation only to be hit by a fireball, and quietly took a step back.
Better stay cautious.
Still, the combination of air and fire wasn’t bad. It felt like they’d formed a well-matched partnership.
“What do you think, hyung?”
Instead of the two who seemed to have nothing to worry about, Sihyeon turned to Haru, who had been silent this whole time. Haru, who had been staring at his hand as if deep in thought, looked up at him.
“I don’t really mind….”
An unexpected answer. Sihyeon had thought Haru would be more scared or anxious, but his reaction was calmer than expected. Maybe it was better than being completely helpless. Sihyeon patted his shoulder, then looked around at the gradually settling atmosphere and sighed.
From the looks of it, this was some kind of customary event. No matter what the students said, it didn’t seem like it would be canceled. At this point, it might be better to just put up a barrier and observe abilities worth copying. As he thought that, Sihyeon absentmindedly touched the mark that would be engraved on the back of his neck.
Thanks to the chaos, he hadn’t revealed the name of his new class, so the students wouldn’t bother hiding their skills in front of him.
Being a Healer meant he could put up barriers—so at least for him, it wasn’t the worst situation.
…Though that didn’t make the insane school any less insane.
“I’m glad to see everyone calming down. Now, please respond to the survey. For a more controlled battle environment, your belongings will be temporarily collected.”
As soon as the principal finished speaking, dozens of suitcases floated up into the air. Even the one Sihyeon had been holding slipped from his hand and rose. Watching it with curiosity, he glanced at the principal.
Telekinesis, it seemed.
He didn’t remember seeing that in the blog post. Maybe something like a telekinetic user.
The floating suitcases drifted beyond the iron gates. Sihyeon then pressed his pairing device again, blinking at the holographic screen that appeared. The message read: Will you accept receiving the same evaluation result as your partner? As he hesitated—
“‘Agree’ selected. Thank you for participating in the survey.”
“…Hyung?”
Looking over in surprise, Sihyeon saw that Haru had selected “Agree” without even a second of hesitation. Haru tilted his head, seemingly unaware of any issue.
“You shouldn’t just agree to that so easily.”
“…Oh. Was I not supposed to?”
“No, it’s not that, but what if you end up in a lower class because of me?”
Honestly, he didn’t think Haru would land in a high class anyway—but what if? He didn’t want to end up dragging him down. As Sihyeon stood there, dumbfounded, Haru scratched his cheek and adjusted his hair.
“I just… wanted to stay with you….”
“…….”
Was he being chosen?
Hesitating before speaking, Haru reminded Sihyeon of how he had stood alone during the entrance ceremony without a single friend. It made sense—without him, Haru might be lonely. After a brief moment of thought, Sihyeon moved his finger.
“‘Agree’ selected. Thank you for participating in the survey.”
The same mechanical voice echoed from his ring. Haru’s fingers, which had been fiddling with his pairing, stopped.
“Then I’ll agree too.”
No matter what class they ended up in, as long as the Four Heavenly Kings weren’t there, it was fine. With that thought, he selected “Agree” without hesitation. Haru turned toward him. Even without seeing his eyes, Sihyeon could feel his gaze.
“…You agreed too, so why are you saying that?”
Feeling oddly like he was being interrogated, Sihyeon spoke defensively. Haru shook his head, saying it was nothing, but his lips moved as if he had something to say.
“If you don’t like it, then just—”
“We have confirmed that all students have responded to the survey. Now, we will begin the 2019 Mir Military Academy High School placement test!”
Terrible timing.
He had been about to suggest changing it if Haru felt uncomfortable, but now that option was gone. When Haru asked what he had been saying, Sihyeon simply replied “It’s nothing,” just like Haru had, and let out a sigh as he looked forward.
The principal’s declaration was loud and clear, but unlike before, no one cheered. Now that the test was actually beginning, the students stood stiff with tension. The principal began explaining.
“In this placement test, all actions you take while confronting Irregulars will be evaluated. The highest score can be obtained by eliminating an Irregular. From now on, you will be assigned weapons suitable for your class.”
Clap. At the sound of his hands, the teachers who had handled engravings began distributing weapons. Haru received two curved daggers from a masked teacher, and then the same teacher who had handled Sihyeon’s Healer engraving approached him.
“I’ll be cheering for you, Sihyeon!”
Handing him a crude-looking staff that seemed made of plastic, the teacher smiled. Sihyeon frowned as he took it.
“…Is this seriously a magical girl setup?”
“Huh?”
“It’s nothing….”
At Haru’s reaction to his muttered complaint, Sihyeon shook his head, his brows drawing together. The staff he’d seen in the guide video during engraving had looked expensive—this one looked like it had been painted with cheap paint. It was practically something you’d buy at a toy store.
…It’s not actually from one, right?
Suspicious, he inspected the staff, half-expecting to see “Made in China” stamped on it. Meanwhile, the teachers who had distributed the weapons formed a circle around the field, like security guards.
“Now, let me introduce the 30 Irregulars you will be facing. These are Irregulars personally captured by the teachers here. We hope this will give you greater confidence in your safety.”
Thirty?
Didn’t it say five D-ranks per Containment? Thirty of them?
He hadn’t heard anything about this. Staring at the principal in shock at the unexpectedly large number, Sihyeon saw a circular formation appear in the center of the field.
The circle vibrated with a low hum. Students who had been standing on it fled in fear.
“Allow me to introduce: the ‘Containment-grade’ Irregular, Wormman!”
Like a cheerful camp instructor, the principal announced it. A pillar of dazzling light erupted from the circle. Sihyeon closed his eyes briefly at the brightness—then opened them.
The light had been beautiful.
What replaced it was anything but.
“Ugh—”
One student gagged, covering their mouth. It was the most appropriate reaction possible. Frowning, Sihyeon’s eyelashes trembled as he stared at the creatures called Wormmen.
They looked like giant cockroaches—with human-like limbs. Perhaps the circle restricted their movement, because they couldn’t leave it. They screeched—
“Kiiieeek!”
“…Disgusting.”
Did they understand him?
At his mutter, the Wormmen stomped their feet. Each time their feet stuck to and peeled off the ground, a thick, black liquid stretched between. The sight was nauseating and horrifying. Sihyeon instinctively stepped back—and without realizing it, grabbed onto Haru’s clothes.
The shocking appearance silenced the students. As several covered their mouths in nausea, the familiar voice rang out again.
“Now, we will begin the evaluation!”
“KIIIEEEEK—!”
The glowing circle vanished, and at the same time, the Wormmen flapped their wings and shrieked. Sihyeon immediately cast a barrier, staring at them with chilled eyes. Giant cockroach-men, larger than himself, moving—just the sight was horrifying. Their sharp teeth and clawed fingers gleamed every time they screeched.
It was overwhelming.
He wondered if it was even possible for there to be no casualties when—
Thud!
A sharp sound of someone kicking off the ground rang out beside him.
“Kiiiek!”
One Wormman, which had been about to take flight, screamed and clutched its eye.
Drip, drip. Black blood flowed down a blade. Thick, viscous blood coated the weapon, and the boy holding it flicked his wrist, shaking it off. The students’ eyes widened.
“Krk, kiiiik!”
The screaming Wormman lashed out at the boy. Its sharp claws gleamed, and some students squeezed their eyes shut and screamed.
“Watch out—!”
The warning had barely left Sihyeon’s lips when the boy kicked off the ground and launched himself into the air.
He twisted his waist, raising his arm. Thud—his glasses fell to the ground, and between strands of black hair, a red gleam flashed in his eyes.
—Slash!
Behind the boy as he landed, black blood sprayed into the air. One Wormman, its face torn apart, writhed in agony—
Yet silence fell over the field.
The suppression had happened in an instant.
All eyes turned to the boy, who stood there calmly.
Flick. He shook his blade, scattering black blood.
Out of the 96 students, the first to react to the Irregular—was Ban Haru.
