Chapter 11. Scandal
Lucy pointed at Lee Hoyeon as her sparring opponent, but none of the cadets were particularly interested in the match itself.
"I bet 50,000 won that Lucy finishes him in 30 seconds."
"I'm putting 100,000 won on 25 seconds."
"No, come on, if we do it like this, it's not even a real bet."
Some cadets were even betting on how quickly Lee Hoyeon would lose.
"Is Lee Hoyeon really that weak? He's in Class A too."
"I heard he switched from swordsmanship to magic less than a month ago."
"Huh? Seriously? Why would he do that?"
"Beats me."
Not many students knew that Lee Hoyeon had taken down a Level 7 Scrap Golem during the virtual monster training that morning.
Even the ones who saw it thought he got lucky rather than recognizing his mana control skills.
Because of that, no one expected Lee Hoyeon to win against Lucy, a top first-year prospect.
"Lucy might be a one-trick offense type, but she's strong."
"Yeah, but why is she doing this? She's not the type to pick on people."
"Right? It's weird. Maybe she's interested in him?"
The students of Class A were talking about Lucy and Lee Hoyeon's match.
"Well, look at that face. Even someone with no interest would start paying attention."
"Can't argue with that, haha."
"Hey, it's starting. Focus."
"Oh, this is gonna be fun."
Even the cadets who initially weren't interested became fully absorbed once the duel began.
The sparring arena was enclosed by a mana barrier to prevent the attacks from affecting the outside.
"Three, two, one. Start!"
At first, they cautiously gauged each other's level.
"Come on, Lucy's going too easy on him. She's totally playing favorites 'cause he's handsome."
"But didn't they say he switched just a month ago? For that, his mana control looks pretty solid."
"Not even a month, probably just two weeks at most. And he looks average at best, what's with the overreaction?"
"Really? Now that you say it, that makes sense."
Some cadets were keen enough to analyze his movements, but once a reputation was set, it was hard to shake.
However, as the duel went on, the students' reactions gradually shifted.
"What the hell? Did you see that?"
"Wow, he dodged that by sheer luck."
At first, they thought it was just luck.
"Damn, he just happened to jump into the opening. That's some serious luck."
"No, wait. That… looks like he saw it coming."
"Hold on, I saw it too—his eyes never lost sight of the magic."
Even within Class A, there was a clear divide between the top and lower ranks.
Han Suwon and Ha Hyunseung, who had ranked high in the entrance exam, voiced their observations. As soon as they spoke, the others started wavering.
"No way, his physical ability doesn't seem exceptional. How could he react to that?"
"Yeah, it's probably just a coincidence."
"Huh? Wait, what's up with his eye color?"
At that moment, someone noticed a change in Lee Hoyeon's eyes.
His golden, softly glowing eyes, combined with his striking appearance, created an almost mystical aura.
"Is that a skill? I've never heard of one that makes your eyes glow."
"Whoa, if it's a skill… damn, his eyes look sick as hell, like CGI."
Since all the students were watching closely, they could tell.
His evasions weren't luck. They were all intentional.
"Holy shit, this is insane."
"Those eyes have to be an innate ability. It's probably some power that lets him see through magic."
"Yeah, no way that's just a skill. I've never seen anything like it, and the effect is ridiculous."
As Lee Hoyeon continued his unbelievable evasive maneuvers, the students grew silent.
Yet, most of the cadets overlooked one crucial fact—Lee Hoyeon hadn't been using magic at all during the duel.
The only time he used magic was at the beginning when he created a barrier to block a fire arrow.
After that, he had only been using mana for physical enhancement and movement.
Only two students, Nam Daeun and Elise, had the insight to see through it.
The highlight came when he held a dagger to Lucy's neck. The entire audience fell completely silent.
"Instructor? Please announce the winner."
"Oh, uh… right. Winner, Lee Hoyeon. Both of you, step down."
*
"That was insane. Seriously."
"That has to be an innate ability. He literally read all of her magic."
"I saw it this morning—he took down a Scrap Golem with fire magic."
After the sparring session ended, the classroom buzzed with talk about Lee Hoyeon.
While Elise and Nam Daeun had also demonstrated overwhelming skill, today's protagonist was undeniably Lee Hoyeon.
His mesmerizing movements captivated the cadets, and his handsome face had undeniable star power.
"Not only is he good-looking, but his eyes glow golden? And the way he placed the dagger at Lucy's neck—it was like a scene from a movie."
"I recorded it. I'm totally uploading this to Everyday."
"At this rate, isn't he gonna take the top first-year spot?"
"Hey, watch what you say."
"Oh, um…"
In the back row, Nam Daeun had been listening to the entire conversation.
"Uh… we weren't talking about you specifically… Sorry…"
"…"
Nam Daeun didn't even spare them a glance. She just stared at her phone, making their apology feel awkward.
It was as if she had no interest in any of this.
Meanwhile, the person at the center of all this remained composed.
Lee Hoyeon rested his chin on his hand, blankly staring at the front of the classroom.
"Hey, go talk to him."
"That wistful look in his eyes… What's he thinking about?"
*
Fuck, what's wrong with my eyes?
This is scary.
After the duel, while the classroom was still noisy, I sat alone, lost in thought.
Thankfully, my golden eyes had returned to normal soon after the match ended.
'Innate ability or whatever, they're making a huge fuss.'
An innate ability is not a standardized magic or mana control method, but a power that manifests through an individual's effort and talent.
Typically, geniuses awaken their own unique ability, which is called an innate ability.
Most people never manifest an innate ability.
Since Lee Hoyeon is the protagonist, he has a pretty decent innate ability.
───――「 Combat Sense 」───――
▶ Innate Ability
▶ Receives enhancements in all actions deemed as 'combat.'
The higher the danger level of the 'combat,' the greater the effect.
───――───――───――───――
A combat-related innate ability that allows one to exhibit an innate sense and instinct for battle in all combat-related actions.
And then, [Clairvoyance].
---------『 Clairvoyance 』---------------------------
▶ Unique Skill
▶ Focuses mana into the eyes, enhancing vision to the maximum limit.
Maximizes the ability to perceive and distinguish mana-infused entities or forms.
--------------------------------------------
'A unique skill.'
A skill that is exclusively one's own. Usually, abilities mix with other skills to create them, and in this case, it's a combination of an ability and a special trait.
The reason I was able to completely suppress Lucy with those absurd evasive maneuvers during the duel was because of [Clairvoyance].
The special trait I received, [Mana Sensitivity], combined with my unique trait, creating a synergy effect... or so I assume.
Honestly, I never expected such a synergy effect, but in hindsight, it's a good thing I chose the magic path.
"That was amazing."
"Huh? Oh, well, thanks."
Kim Younghan spoke to me.
Thinking about it, he's really outgoing. Other people hesitate to approach me, but he, maybe because of his natural personality, doesn't feel intimidated by me.
Maybe it's because he has enough confidence in himself too.
"Seriously, that was cool. Your eyes turned golden—it looked straight out of a manga."
"You weren't too bad yourself."
"Nah, compared to your impact, I was nothing. But what was up with those golden eyes? Everyone was freaking out. Was that your innate ability?"
Kim Younghan asked with his characteristic bright smile.
"Well, trade secret."
It's not even an innate ability to begin with, but there's no reason for me to explain what [Clairvoyance] is or how it works.
I don't know what kind of stunts I'll pull in the future, so it's better to keep the innate ability excuse as a shield.
"That's a shame. Wanna grab dinner after class? I found a good chicken place."
"Sorry. I have plans."
A dinner appointment with a guy? What a waste of energy. I shut that down immediately.
I've got better things to do, like charming girls, than spending time eating with a guy.
*
"Should I skip training today?"
My condition isn't great. Proper rest is essential for growth too.
"Yeah, let's rest. Today is my reward."
With that thought, I stepped out of the dormitory.
Not for training, of course. I was out of snacks, so I planned to do some shopping. Occasional indulgence is necessary for good growth.
The shopping district hadn't changed since I last visited two days ago.
I wandered through the park, sat on a bench, and stared at the sky. It still doesn't feel real that this world is inside a game.
After aimlessly wandering for a while, I found a café with large glass windows.
Café Nakwol.
The café where I previously met Moon Surin. Peeking inside, she wasn't there this time.
"Should I go in and look around?"
Last time I was here, memories of the game's information surfaced.
This place was one of Moon Surin's favorite cafés. I might as well check out the layout in case I need it later.
The supermarket and convenience store won't close anytime soon anyway.
Ding~
"Welcome—!"
The interior had multiple tables and a staircase leading to the second floor.
The cozy, charming decorations gave off a vibe that women would like.
"One Clair Rose Latte, please."
"Got it~!"
To be honest, I have no idea what Clair Rose is. Probably some new plant from a dungeon.
"One Clair Rose Latte is ready~."
I took my drink and settled in a quiet corner. The drink had a subtle rose fragrance.
Slurp.
I took a sip through the straw.
It started sweet with a faint rose aroma, then turned minty cool, and suddenly became spicy.
"Whoa, what kind of taste is this?"
It definitely wakes you up, but why would anyone drink this?
Dumbfounded, I lifted the cup to check the drink's color. It was a mix of green and white, and no matter how much I stirred it, the colors wouldn't blend, making it visually interesting.
Ding~
Someone just came in. I casually glanced over.
Moon Surin was ordering coffee.
"Pfft!"
No way, seriously? Talk about perfect timing.
After paying, Moon Surin scanned the room, looking for a seat, and our eyes met.
Since we made eye contact, I gave a small nod, but then, she started walking towards me.
Huh?