As the grand sound of the horn rang out, dozens of students collapsed onto the ground as if by prior agreement, their tension finally releasing. The only ones still standing normally were the key figures and about ten others, himself included.
Or rather… maybe “normal” wasn’t quite accurate.
The trembling in his fingertips had grown worse than before. It was because he had insisted on using the Clean skill on Haru.
The teachers who had been surrounding the field like a barricade approached the injured students with gentle smiles, saying, “You’ve all worked hard.”
“Uwaaah!”
As soon as an adult came near, one student burst into tears as if waking from a nightmare. That became the trigger—several others started crying as well, and the teachers awkwardly smiled as they comforted them.
For no reason, Sihyeon felt a pang in his chest. They were so young—what kind of hardship was this for them to go through?
Despite all the bold talk earlier, it seemed there was only one Healer. The teacher who had helped Sihyeon with his class engraving held a staff and began treating the students, struggling on alone.
Before long, sweat beaded on the teacher’s forehead. Even at a glance, there were dozens of injured students. It was too much for one person to handle. Just as Sihyeon looked at the teacher with sympathy—
“Aren’t you a Healer too?”
“…?”
At the remark clearly directed at him, Sihyeon turned his head. At the end of his gaze stood a boy with striking orange hair. Blood was flowing from his forearm—he must have injured it, as he was trying to stop the bleeding with his hand.
“What about it?”
Sihyeon answered flatly, and the boy frowned.
“Then shouldn’t you be helping treat people too?”
“Why should I?”
“Hah?”
At Sihyeon’s immediate question, without a hint of hesitation, the boy’s expression twisted further. Looking tired, Sihyeon stared at him. Glancing briefly, he checked the name tag—Kang Donghyeok was written on the white badge.
A common name. In a world based on a web novel, it meant he probably wasn’t an important character. Yet here he was, picking a fight—no wonder it raised questions.
Sihyeon was also a student, and the responsibility of treatment lay firmly with the teachers. They were the ones who had set this whole thing up, so it was only right that the school handled the aftermath. Even elementary schoolers knew the basic principle that you take responsibility for what you start.
So even if he had plenty of Mana, he would’ve just let them handle it themselves—and as it happened, Sihyeon was low on Mana anyway. No matter how many times he thought it over, there was no reason for him to help.
“Can’t you even see the injured students?”
Trying to act self-righteous, Donghyeok brought up the injured students. Sihyeon blinked. He did feel sorry for them, but it wasn’t his responsibility.
Maybe Donghyeok thought he was some kind of kind and selfless person—but unfortunately, he wasn’t. He felt bad for the injured, sure, but unless he had plenty of leeway, he had no intention of stepping in and exhausting himself when he was barely holding on.
Especially if it was to treat someone who demanded help as if it were their right.
Letting out a quiet breath, Sihyeon looked at Donghyeok. He could tell what the boy really wanted.
“Do I have some obligation to heal you?”
In truth, Donghyeok just wanted to be treated first. He was in pain and scared to wait for the teacher, so he was asking another Healer—Sihyeon—for help.
Though calling it “asking” was generous.
As if struck at the core, Donghyeok flinched. His expression filled with embarrassment. Watching a seventeen-year-old who couldn’t even hide his emotions, Sihyeon let out a sigh.
This wasn’t a game. If you died, it was over—this was reality. And unlike in games, being a Healer here was practically a position of power.
“If you want to live, that’s not how you should act.”
Muttered like a monologue, the words deepened Donghyeok’s scowl. After staring at him for a moment, Sihyeon turned away, deciding he wouldn’t speak further.
“You’re not hurt anywhere, right? I’ll take a look if you are.”
Deliberately asking Haru in front of him, Sihyeon watched as Haru glanced back and forth between Donghyeok and Sihyeon, as if reading the room. Since Sihyeon had done it on purpose, he silently urged him to answer. Only after being asked again did Haru shake his head. At that exact moment, Donghyeok’s expression twisted completely.
“Oh my, you should’ve said something if your injuries were serious! I’ll take a look at you too, Student Donghyeok—just wait!”
The teacher, having just drunk something from a blue bottle, spoke energetically as they finished treating another student. At the perfectly timed words, Sihyeon looked at Donghyeok.
“Good for you.”
Offering a short congratulations, Sihyeon saw Donghyeok clamp his mouth shut. A grinding sound came from his teeth. It seemed like he was trying to intimidate him, but to Sihyeon—who had just faced Irregulars—it was almost laughable.
With that, Sihyeon completely dismissed him from his mind.
As the treatment of students was nearly finished, the Four Heavenly Kings naturally gathered around Seowoo and Sihyeon. Their behavior—treating his spot as a meeting point—made Sihyeon frown. As he did, he heard Haeun and Hamin bickering while walking over.
“How many did you kill? Fewer than Haru hyung, right?”
“Just shut up.”
“Oh? Did I hit the mark?”
“No way! You said it didn’t matter how many as long as we killed them all—what are you gonna do now, Hamin? That’s embarrassing!”
Haeun’s teasing voice rang loudly across the field as he covered his mouth in mock shock. Feeling secondhand embarrassment, Hamin raised his hand and smacked Haeun on the head.
Thwack.
Haeun made a face like he was about to cry at the force and clung to Geonwoo, complaining that it hurt. Geonwoo blinked, looking unsure what to do.
What kind of combination even is that?
As Sihyeon watched the three, Haeun—who hadn’t even been hit that hard—suddenly brightened upon spotting Haru. His expression flipped instantly, like turning over a hand.
“Haru hyung!”
“…?”
At Haeun’s overly friendly call, Sihyeon looked at Haru, wondering if they had somehow gotten close. But Haru hesitated, stepping back and hiding behind Sihyeon.
Apparently not.
“You were really cool earlier!”
“…Ah, uh… yeah.”
Still half-hiding behind Sihyeon, Haru answered hesitantly. Sihyeon took a step back along with him. People like Haeun were the most exhausting type.
Anyone who started with “E” on an MBTI test was bound to be trouble. Wanting to avoid getting caught up in something annoying, Sihyeon was about to leave—
When the principal, who had been discussing with the teachers, grabbed the microphone.
Screeeech—!
At the sharp feedback, everyone’s attention snapped toward him. Sihyeon, Haru, and even the Four Heavenly Kings were no exception.
Turning toward the sudden noise, they saw the principal scan the students before speaking.
“We will now begin announcing the results of the Placement Test!”
The previously exhausted students’ eyes widened. There was no cheering, but applause followed. Only after the brief clapping ended did the announcement continue.
“First, we will announce the class assignments determined by the teachers. Then, we will finalize the classes adjusted based on the survey. After the announcement, individual report cards—quantified through your Pairing—will be sent. Once everyone has received them, we will reveal the top 10 outstanding students. Now, we will begin with Class D. Students whose names are called, please line up in a single row on the right side of the field. Jo Yeonhee!”
Kim X, Park Tra, Nam Myeong, and more. As names continued to be called, students filtered out of the crowd and moved to the right side of the field like grains through a sieve. At a glance, they were the ones who had run from the Wormmen.
Sihyeon swallowed. At least he wouldn’t end up in Class D.
Haru had done a lot—he couldn’t drag him down into Class D just because he himself fell short.
“Next, we will announce Class C. Students called, please line up to the left of Class D. Lee Jihan, Kim Cheolsu, Ahn Younghee…”
Again, students filed out, forming a shorter line than Class D. If Class D consisted of those who ran away or didn’t participate, then Class C seemed to be those who moved or resisted but achieved no significant results. As expected, Sihyeon’s name wasn’t called.
Feeling rewarded for his efforts—struggling to use unfamiliar abilities—Sihyeon let out a relieved sigh. Now all that was left was to be called into Class B and go there with Haru.
“Next, we will announce Class B. Students called, please line up to the left of Class C. Kang Donghyeok, Nam Jihwa…”
However, contrary to Sihyeon’s expectations, his name still wasn’t called even after the Class B list ended.
Fewer names than Class C were called, forming a shorter line. Realizing he wasn’t among them, Sihyeon looked at the principal in confusion—but once closed, the man’s mouth didn’t open again until the next announcement.
A strange sense of déjà vu crept in, making him uneasy. Maybe they had simply forgotten, he thought—but the principal spoke again without hesitation.
“Next, we will announce Class A. Ban Haru, Lee Hamin, Yoo Seowoo, Jung Dawoon, Lee Jihye, Baek Geonwoo.”
Only a handful were called into Class A. And yet, even there, Sihyeon’s name was absent. A frown creased his brow as he sensed something was wrong.
Come to think of it, there was one other person whose name hadn’t been called yet.
Someone who should have been in Class A.
Kang Haeun—one of the Four Heavenly Kings—hadn’t been called either. The moment Sihyeon realized this, he turned toward Haeun. As if thinking the same thing, their eyes met instantly.
“So we haven’t been called yet?”
His tone was calm—almost playful. Sihyeon blinked and studied his expression. He didn’t seem to know anything in particular, yet his relaxed attitude felt strangely unsettling.
Seeing no need to respond, Sihyeon waited. Once even Class A had moved to the right side of the field, the principal looked at the two people left standing in the wide, empty center.
With 96 people, it had felt crowded. With just two, it felt desolate.
“There should be two students whose names haven’t been called. Based on their contribution to subduing the Wormmen, both should be placed in Class B.”
As expected.
It was a reasonable judgment. Nodding silently, Sihyeon listened as the principal smiled at him and continued.
“However, after considering their classes, the two students have been ultimately assigned to Class A!”
And with that, it felt like he’d been struck hard on the back of the head.
Clap clap clap!
Amid the applause, Sihyeon parted his lips slightly, his head still ringing. He had expected Class B at best—not Class A due to class-based adjustment.
All he had done was deploy some Barriers and treat wounds that barely even qualified as injuries. And for that, Class A?
He wanted to protest the fairness of it—but before he could, teachers approached and guided him to the Class A line. At the very end stood Geonwoo, looking at him.
Without meaning to, Sihyeon found himself standing with Baek Geonwoo in front and Kang Haeun behind. His expression plainly showed his disbelief.
The female lead, her friend, and the Four Heavenly Kings—if those six had gone to Class A together, it would’ve been a perfect, iconic scene straight out of a web novel.
But with himself included, it was a different story.
If he’d known this would happen, he might’ve just stayed quiet, let Haru protect him, and healed a bit before going to Class C. Though realistically, he would’ve ended up in Class B anyway due to class adjustment.
“….”
Life always takes unexpected turns.
He just hadn’t wanted to realize it like this.
While Sihyeon stood there in shock, the classes underwent minor adjustments based on survey results. Unsurprisingly, there were no changes to Class A.
Class A: 8 students
Class B: 18 students
Class C: 30 students
Class D: 40 students
Once finalized, report cards were sent through their Pairings. Ding—at the sound from his ring, Sihyeon instinctively pressed it and stared at the holographic screen that appeared before him.
[Report Card]
Year 1, Class A — Kang Sihyeon
Reaction: A ｜ Damage: F ｜ Judgment: S
Cooperation: B ｜ Support: S ｜ Adaptability: A
Note: Healer-class Awakened
Special Remark: Exceptional application ability.
Final Result: Class A
It was a nightmare.
He was already in a nightmare-like situation, but this made it worse. Biting the inside of his lip, Sihyeon rubbed his eyes and opened them again—yet the report card didn’t change. Denying reality, he touched his throat. His lips felt dry, his throat parched.
Just then, a water bottle suddenly appeared in front of him.
Looking up, he saw Baek Geonwoo holding it out, his expression as blank as ever.
“Drink.”
You look thirsty.
At the calm addition, Sihyeon’s eyes widened slightly. It was the first time he had heard Baek Geonwoo’s voice—low, yet subtly soft, almost ticklish to the ears.
Still unsure, Sihyeon stared at him. Geonwoo held out the bottle again. Under the sunlight, his blue hair shimmered as if it might shatter.
For a moment, Sihyeon just watched. Then, without realizing it, he took the bottle.
Coming back to his senses, he let out a small, incredulous laugh.
There’s a limit to how much someone can be hypnotic.
Nodding reluctantly in thanks, he twisted open the cap. The water was lukewarm as it went down his throat, but it was enough to quench his thirst.
Just as he felt the dryness ease—
“Finally, we will announce the top 10 outstanding students. Starting from rank 10! Rank 10, Kang Donghyeok!”
“Pff—!”
At the announcement, Sihyeon spat out the water he was drinking. Blue eyes looked at him in surprise—but even more shocked, Sihyeon stared at the principal.
At the word “ranking,” the reason he sprayed the water was truly unavoidable.
