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Join the ServerAt the same moment the bell signaled the start of class, a subtle vibration rippled through the floor beneath my feet, accompanied by a heavy thud. Turning immediately, I saw the thick door of the shooting range slowly closing.
‘What? When did the time…’
In the brief moment my mind had wandered, it wasn’t just the cold winter wind that had been trapped inside.
Including the two teachers assigned to lead the cross-class, both Guide Class 3 and Esper Class 1 were present. Roughly thirty individuals stood in neat formation.
As I resolved to prepare for the inevitable incident among them, an unwarranted tension began to rise within me.
“Sogum, Class Rep. The lesson… it seems to be starting.”
“Indeed. It’s my first time in a cross-class, too.”
Han Seon-ho and Park Hyeon-seo, standing beside me, whispered in low voices. It was understandable to feel nervous, considering the first class they were taking in their final year happened to be a high-difficulty joint lesson.
Even if the Guides were generally of similar skill, the Esper class was filled with individuals wielding monstrous abilities.
“The guys from the Esper class keep looking our way.”
“U-uh, Class Rep. I just made eye contact with one, too…”
“But isn’t that guy, Sogum, your pair?”
‘My pair?’ Was he talking about Yoon Geon-woo? I lifted my head to confirm, hearing the murmurs from the guys beside me.
Without needing to look around much, my gaze immediately met Yoon Geon-woo’s, which was fiercely menacing. His sharp stare was evident even through the shaggy bangs that fell below his eyebrows.
‘He’s going to drill a hole in my face…’
While it was true I felt momentarily intimidated, I glared back with equal intensity, wondering what could possibly warrant such a hostile expression. It was certainly better than being completely ignored as a stranger, but there was no need for such an aggressive stare.
“C-Class Rep, Sogum… Did we do something wrong?”
While I was engaged in a staring contest with Yoon Geon-woo, Park Hyeon-seo, who had been standing with his arms crossed, began to inch closer, muttering impressions like, ‘This is too scary…’
Han Seon-ho, too, seemed to sense the ominous quality of Yoon Geon-woo’s gaze. He lowered the arm he’d had draped over my shoulder and directly faced Yoon Geon-woo.
“Sogum. You really want to be paired with that guy, don’t you?”
“…It’s not that I *want* to. We’re already paired.”
“Ha, what kind of Esper looks at their pair like that?”
Han Seon-ho whispered, his face etched with disgust.
Yes, I understood. I had my own guilt to contend with, so I tried my best to be understanding, but his gaze was indeed deeply unsettling. And currently, Yoon Geon-woo’s unsettling presence was entirely obscured by Han Seon-ho’s large build.
However, this only made me more nervous, as it was akin to putting a blindfold on a ticking time bomb out of fear. Pulling Han Seon-ho, who was blocking my view, I spoke.
“It’s fine… We just need to do our part well.”
“Then, you just go and win everything today.”
“Me?”
“You can do it, Sogum. You’ve gotten A’s in every shooting class so far.”
As Han Seon-ho said, I had never once missed an A grade in shooting classes since entering high school. My talent certainly supported it, and it perfectly suited my aptitude. I particularly enjoyed the precision of setting a target and aiming, pouring my heart and soul into it.
But wasn’t there something more important now?
“No. Today, there’s something I need to pay more attention to than my shooting score.”
“Something to pay attention to? What is it?”
“Hmm… your safety?”
“What? What’s with this sudden thoughtful talk?”
Seeming satisfied with my answer, Han Seon-ho ruffled my hair vigorously. As a result, my curly hair, charged with static electricity, shot straight up towards the ceiling. I’ve told him countless times not to do that.
“Ah, Han Seon-ho!”
As I glared at Han Seon-ho with narrowed eyes, he laughed, saying my hair looked like a dandelion puff. Hearing suppressed chuckles nearby, it seemed even Park Hyeon-seo was struggling to hold back his laughter.
While I was playing along with their antics, I heard the class murmur as someone appeared on the shooting range’s platform. Perhaps sensing my gaze lingered there, Han Seon-ho aptly spoke up.
“Those are Esper Jung Eui-chan and Guide Kim Ji-hwan, who will be in charge of today’s practical training. Both of them are A-rank.”
His perceptiveness was, as always, unparalleled. I had just been thinking that an extra teacher was present because it was a cross-class, and he answered my unspoken question perfectly.
The ultimate objective of the SAA was to prevent loss of talent and cultivate ability users who could be immediately deployed into real combat upon graduation. For this reason, practical training courses outside of the regular curriculum were conducted by active Espers and Guides dispatched from official centers or central affiliations.
Since contracts were made on a monthly basis according to dispatch schedules, it meant that the individuals standing before them would be in charge of their classes for at least the next month.
However, before delving into the shooting class, there was one particular issue: these teachers were different from those they’d had before. I spoke to Han Seon-ho in a discreet whisper.
“Aren’t those two the busiest people around these days?”
“They are. The group they belong to cleared a new A-rank dungeon just last week, I believe.”
Han Seon-ho’s reply left me feeling dizzy. It was because a school article I had casually skimmed over earlier suddenly came to mind.
[SAA NEWS] New A-Rank Gate Cleared in Record Time
At 05:00 AM on the 23rd, a new gate, presumed to be A-rank, emerged. Following the issuance of a Class 1 alert, central Esper support was requested. Thanks to swift action, the high-risk new gate was neutralized in just three hours, garnering significant attention. See below for the list of participants.
Esper Jung Eui-chan (A-rank: Psychic), Esper Park Hwan-hee (A-rank: Special Ability), Esper Kim Jong-chan (A-rank: Natural), and other A-rank Espers and their dedicated pair Guides participated.
Video link reference: https://www.youtubeee.com/watch.boom
SAA Reporter: Joo Yeo-rye. zooyr@saa.net
It had only been a few days since I saw the article about clearing the new dungeon, so why were the people currently featured in the news here?
‘Can such high-caliber personnel really be deployed for mere student classes?’
While having such skilled individuals as teachers would certainly be better for preparing for any incidents today…
Given their current high standing, they should have had ample power to refuse, so I wondered why they had come all the way to the school.
‘Could it be that Vice Principal bastard’s doing?’
No, that didn’t make sense. Even if the SAA had exerted its influence, those individuals were pairs who took charge of high-level operations for the central government. The Vice Principal didn’t possess the authority to move them.
I had initially found it strange to suddenly have a cross-class, but now seeing that even the assigned teachers had changed, something felt truly suspicious.
The only difference between before and after my regression was that I had guided Yoon Geon-woo. That alone couldn’t have altered the events of the first day so drastically.
Not only was I taking shooting class with Yoon Geon-woo, but the teachers assigned to the class were also renowned experts who had been specially invited. At this point, even if I didn’t want to notice the changes, I couldn’t help but acknowledge them.
“Esper Class 1, Guide Class 3. It seems no students are absent?”
Regardless of my growing suspicions, the individuals standing before the platform appeared intent on diligently fulfilling their roles as teachers.
“Ah, however… there is a… This student… a request was made by…”
“That student is separate…. I see. …Then, how about this.”
Although I couldn’t clearly hear from my distance, the two seemed to be deliberating deeply, as if there was some issue.
“Would any students who served as class representatives last year please raise their hand?”
When the Esper teacher, amplifying their voice with an ability, asked, Han Seon-ho, who had also been class representative in his second year, raised his hand. Fortunately, one student from Esper Class 1 also raised their hand.
“You two will serve as temporary class representatives for today only. I’ll make sure to record bonus points for your efforts.”
Thanks to Han Seon-ho and the unnamed Esper class representative raising their hands, the teachers’ expressions visibly relaxed. It wouldn’t do to waste precious practical training time on something like choosing class reps.
The two teachers assigned to the practical training gave a brief self-introduction and immediately launched into explaining today’s lesson.
“Cross-classes will be conducted in a completely different manner than the single classes previously held at the SAA.”
Regarding the lesson explanation, the Guide teacher took the lead. The Guide teacher continued speaking in a calm voice, accompanied by polite language.
“Unlike traditional classes where you hit stationary or moving targets, future sessions will involve flexible practical training where Espers and Guides can conduct joint operations. As this is the first class, we’ll simply be warming up.”
Han Seon-ho, who had been selected as the temporary class representative, stood near the platform, assisting the two teachers. I, meanwhile, unilaterally linked arms with Park Hyeon-seo and continued listening to the explanation.
Having concluded their brief explanation, the Guide teacher surveyed the interior of the shooting range, instructing the Guide and Esper classes to line up facing each other.
This unexpected request left everyone visibly bewildered. However, perhaps because the instructing teachers were such renowned figures, they surprisingly followed along without much complaint.
“Since this is shooting practice, a Guide and an Esper will form a team regardless of their matching rate. Of course, if any students wish to try working with a different partner, they are welcome to switch.”
Because the lines were formed randomly, the person standing in front of me was an A-rank Esper I was meeting for the very first time.
With a large, muscular build, dark skin, and short, sporty hair, the individual clearly appeared to be a close-combat Esper, no matter how one looked at them.
“I know you. Kim Sogum? Park Sogum? They say you’re good at shooting?”
“It’s Sogum. My surname is So, and my given name is Geum. And I’m not *that* good.”
“Oh, even modest.”
The individual, after a brief greeting, was the first to acknowledge me. They seemed to have an easygoing personality, without any sharp edges.
“Is there any other Esper you want to be with?”
“Me…? Uh, I…”
“If not, do you want to just stick with this? I’d like to be with you.”
Another Esper I wanted to be with? Of course. It was a personal desire, but I had hoped to seize this opportunity to exchange a few words with Yoon Geon-woo.
‘I’m also curious about his contamination level…’
However, before I could even respond, the individual boldly requested to team up. Just as I was unconsciously about to nod, the Guide teacher’s urgent voice reached my ears.
“However, those who have already formed a temporary pair are an exception.”
What…? This timing felt too unnatural to be a mere coincidence. Furthermore, it might have just been my imagination, but the Guide teacher’s eyes seemed to briefly flick towards Yoon Geon-woo.
As their gaze then shifted to me, a sudden thought struck me.
‘This situation wasn’t orchestrated by the Vice Principal, but….’
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