-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: First Lesson
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Nice to meet you. I'm Yang Hangil, the world's greatest mage who will be teaching you in place of Choi Juwon from now on."
At Helmont Academy, the class Choi Juwon had been handling was 'Practical Magic Studies' for magic-type Hunter trainees.
Practical Magic Studies was divided into beginner, intermediate, and advanced sections, with Choi Juwon subjectively assigning students based on their skills.
For reference, while magic relied heavily on talent, it also held potential for growth through effort. That's why those lucky enough to enter Helmont Academy—the pinnacle of magic academies—refused to leave once enrolled, craving endless learning.
Helmont Academy wasn't a traditional school with graduation; it was more like an academy where you could keep attending by paying tuition, so some students stayed for over five years.
Especially since the academy offered tremendous perks during enrollment, most mages continued lingering even after becoming Hunters. On top of that, Choi Juwon's class, renowned for his exceptional teaching, had filled its 521 slots and never seen a single dropout.
It was that popular, and Practical Magic Studies came with especially generous extra benefits.
Yang Hangil knew all this, but stepping into the classroom left him stunned.
'What the hell...? Why are there only bugs here?'
Even accounting for it being the beginner class, far too many looked hopelessly inadequate at a glance.
'Why are trash like this even attending Helmont Academy?'
Yang could see the rough mana levels in students below his own realm. Just by looking, he could gauge their overall prowess.
Yang mentally graded them one by one, starting from the back.
'F, F, F, D, F, D, F...'
'Fuck... what's wrong with these kids' mana flows?'
The mana essential for casting spells seemed blocked in their flows, leaving the students in poor shape.
Yang hurriedly checked the 'Evaluation Records' listing their prior statuses.
'This can't be right.'
His eyes fell on Choi Juwon's notes: these very bugs had shown steady 3%+ stat increases every month until just a month ago.
Yang sighed.
'What am I supposed to teach these losers? They show zero growth potential.'
Back when he'd taught before, Yang only took students he deemed worthy of his level. But these were straight-up subpar. No way they'd satisfy him.
Of course, the disciples' wretched state stemmed from the SSS-grade curse at work, but Yang had no clue, leaving him frustrated to the brink of madness.
[SSS] Harsh Fate◎ Growth rate is greatly reduced. ◎ Luck stat is greatly decreased. ◎ Mana utilization is greatly lowered. ◎ Total mana gradually diminishes. ◎ Major misfortunes strike occasionally. ◎ All effects persist until relinked to the 'successor'.
Yang felt utterly lost about the future. These kids were far worse off than expected, making Choi Juwon's oath condition of 3% stat growth seem brutally tough.
'Fuck... if the brats are this messed up, forget 3% a month—they might not even hit 1%.'
Anxiety gnawed at him. He'd wagered his balls, sperm, and hair follicles. Losing meant his life was over.
He had to raise all advanced, intermediate, and beginner students' stats by 3%+ within six months, plus score B+ or higher on academic satisfaction evaluations.
At first, it seemed ample time and margin. But now he realized it was anything but.
Academic satisfaction was up to the students anyway, so ignore that. For these bug-tier losers, even 1% growth looked impossible—heck, preventing stat drops would be a win.
Mages actively wielded and honed mana, or their overall stats declined. So worrying about beginner drops wasn't unfounded.
'Fuck... a level where I'm grateful if stats don't drop. What kind of mages make me think that? Grow these pathetic shits...?'
Yang glared at the beginner class with disgust.
"Listen up, you lot. I don't know exactly how Choi Juwon ran his classes, so don't expect the same treatment or style."
That's when Baek Hyunseo raised her hand to ask a question.
"Instructor, then maybe..."
Yang's eyes bulged as he bellowed at her.
"You bug bitch! When did I say you could speak? Remember, I hold the floor at all times. Lowlifes like you shut up and be grateful for my lesson. I start talking, I end it. You open your mouths only when I allow it."
Yang panted, unable to contain his rage, and kept yelling.
"Seeing trash like you makes me want to puke. Magic is innate—talent. Something noble and beautiful. Yet with your piss-poor mana pools and shit talent, what right do you have to squat here learning? Shameless!"
-Thud!
Yang slammed the desk like a maniac.
"From now on, think of yourselves as livestock. When I speak, you mimic. No tailored lessons for bug shits like you—just obey silently. Got it?"
Finally, a male student who'd had enough stepped forward.
Helmont Academy did have male students, but Choi Juwon's class was so popular with women that female applicants dominated, and thus enrollees too.
Beginner student Ahn Chanhyeok stood facing Yang.
"Instructor, isn't that a bit much? We came here to learn magic, not to be hand-fed like livestock waiting for rations."
Yang smirked at Ahn Chanhyeok.
"Oh yeah? Then block this."
-Whoooosh
Suddenly, mana surged into Yang's hand, crushing down on Ahn Chanhyeok's body.
-Groooar
Ahn Chanhyeok hit the floor face-first, writhing in agony.
"Guhhh... what... the hell..."
Yang sneered down in disgust.
"See? Your magic sucks so bad you can't even counter basic gravity magic. A bit more pressure and you'd burst. Crawling like that? Closer to bugs than livestock. Am I wrong?"
-Whoosh
Yang released the spell. Ahn Chanhyeok gasped for air, glaring up.
"You think it's okay to do this to a student? Our parents are mostly high-up in guilds. You sure you can handle messing with me—and the others?"
"Pfft!"
Yang laughed maniacally at the glaring boy.
"Guilds? You said guilds? Which one? Luster? Dafel? Wigrove? Stow?"
Yang listed top guilds one by one, then continued.
"You're too blind to recognize, so I'll spell it out: I'm a member of Baal Guild."
Baal—one of the top guilds wielding massive influence across Helmont Academy's online sphere. Yang had joined via connections over skill, but he was still part of it.
"..."
At 'Baal,' Ahn Chanhyeok clamped his mouth shut. Yang approached.
"Don't strut like you have pull. I could ruin your life—no Hunter career, no mage gigs, ever."
"S-Sorry..."
"Hah, pathetic. If you get it, shut up and sit. No next time."
Honestly, Baal's core powerhouse leader might not lift a finger for Yang's petty grudge. But most students were fresh 20-year-olds, naive social newbies. Baal affiliation alone terrified them plenty.
"Alright, back to class."
Yang's class was coercive, borderline violent. Naturally, post-class, complaints erupted among students.
"Fuck... we're not dogs or pigs—how's that treatment okay?"
"B-But what can we do? He's from that scary Baal Guild..."
"Baal my ass—fuck, just quit the academy, what can he do?"
"Give up all Helmont perks? Talentless like us need those dungeon entry tickets they hand out..."
Dungeon Entry Tickets—benefits Helmont provided students.
Normally, sub-B-rank mages couldn't enter any S-to-F gates. But with a Dungeon Entry Ticket, even C-rank or lower could access gates and hunt dungeons.
The B-rank minimum for dungeon entry was no small feat. Talent-dependent, some trained over a decade without reaching it.
Thus, academy students desperately needed those periodic tickets to keep entering low gates and grow.
The beginners murmured.
"Fuck... so we endure this treatment forever?"
"Baek Hyunseo, your dad's the president. Can't you talk to him?"
"B-But clashing with Baal Guild... even Dad would struggle. Their leader's a famous Swordmaster... if war breaks out..."
Silence fell. Baal's leader outclassed Helmont's A-rank president by miles.
Then Baek Hyunseo muttered softly.
"Instructor Choi Juwon... wasn't like this..."
Hearing it, Kim Siyeon exploded.
"Baek Hyunseo! Why bring up that Choi Juwon creep? Forgot already? He's a pervert voyeur peeping phones on the intranet! Still creeps me out. Even if Yang Hangil's shit, don't glorify Choi—disgusting. Makes me hate myself for ever liking him. Never mention him again."
Yoon Seulgi, watching, trembled as she added.
"Siyeon-unnie's right... Even if Instructor Yang Hangil's scary and harsh... better than a privacy-stalking perv. At least he doesn't snoop. I liked Choi once too, but now I wonder why... If I'd known..."
Lee Haru, quietly observing from behind, chimed in lowly.
"Honestly, I liked Instructor Choi Juwon once. Good looks, masterful yet nuanced lectures. But like Siyeon said, he's a criminal who denies it brazenly. So Baek Hyunseo, snap out of your illusions. A peeping instructor over this? No way."
Instantly, harsh criticism of Instructor Choi Juwon poured from the female disciples. Baek Hyunseo began shedding tears like a child.
"Sob... guhhh..."
Her friends—Yoon Seulgi, Kim Siyeon, Lee Haru—rushed over in panic.
"W-Why... Hyunseo-unnie?"
"Baek Hyunseo, you okay? What's wrong suddenly?"
"Hyunseo-unnie, what happened? Not over Choi talk, right?"
Baek Hyunseo just sobbed uncontrollably, speechless.
'It's... my fault... if I hadn't... back then...'
She sighed at the hellish academy life ahead with Yang Hangil, tormented by guilt over the beloved instructor suffering such cruelty from her one mistake.
'If they... knew the truth... what faces would they make? Learning the adored, respected Instructor Choi Juwon... was innocent... Would they hate me... or regret misunderstanding and apologize to him...?'
Either way terrified her—the backlash when her deeds surfaced.
"Gasp... gasp..."
Overwhelmed by crushing pressure, Baek Hyunseo convulsed, foaming at the mouth, and collapsed.
"W-What's happening—snap out of it, Baek Hyunseo!"
"H-Hyunseo-unnie, wake up... y-you okay...?"
"F-Find someone who can cast healing magic now!"
As her vision blurred, Baek Hyunseo endlessly muttered inwardly.
'Ah... why was I... so stupid...'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Baek Hyunseo. Her simple yet catastrophic choice began two days ago, in her academy president father's office, spotting the Helmont Academy intranet's master key.
"Dad, what's this magic tool here?"