Chapter 2: Don’t Pick Up and Eat Things That Have Fallen

‘This is the worst….’

Ruah awoke once again in the infirmary bed.

She looked a mess.

Her clothes, including the lab coat, were disheveled from being carried on the stretcher. Her hair was a tangled mess, and she lay in a posture resembling a corpse.

‘I tried to pull myself together….’

Remembering what had happened before she fainted, Ruah’s eyes welled up with tears.

It was too much.

They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

Ruah, who had been a shut-in for over ten years, couldn’t change overnight.

“Why… why am I like this….”

Ruah sat up weakly. She straightened her clothes and washed her face and hair at the sink in the infirmary.

Her appearance improved, but her gloomy mood persisted.

‘A hiding place… I need a hiding place.’

She crawled back under the desk. Only after entering the cramped, dark space, like a rabbit hole, did her mind calm down and her thoughts become clearer.

“Sigh.”

After that performance at the entrance ceremony, her school life from now on was predictable.

—Hey! It’s the teacher who threw up at the entrance ceremony!

—Pfft! What’s wrong with the school nurse?

—Gross….

“Uwaaaah!”

She imagined the students staring at her with cold eyes, each making a snide remark. It was just his imagination, but it was probably not far from reality.

At this point, She felt like She was committing a sin against the original Han Ruah. Of all people, She had to possess her and ruin her image.

—Knock, knock, knock.

“?!”

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

Startled, Ruah hit her head on the underside of the desk.

“Ouch!”

She cried out involuntarily.

“Teacher? Are you alright?”

The visitor must have heard her, as they immediately entered the infirmary.

“Gasp!”

Like a child being chased by a monster, Ruah covered her mouth with both hands. She hoped they would leave if he stayed quiet. She hated strangers.

“Huh? I definitely heard a voice.”

It was the gentle voice of a girl. The unknown girl murmured as she took a few steps into the infirmary. Ruah desperately held her breath, trying to suppress even the sound of her heartbeat.

“Hmm….”

After a moment of hesitation, she heard a rustling sound. And then—

—Plop!

Something landed in front of Ruah under the desk. A small, round candy wrapped in plastic.

‘Butterscotch candy….’

She used to buy it by the bagful and eat it whenever she was bored back in her apartment. It had a reputation for being something older people liked, but it was delicious, so what could she do?

—Snatch.

Ruah’s hand reached out for the candy unconsciously. She peeled off the wrapper and placed it on her tongue. The familiar sweetness filled her mouth.

‘Delicious!’

The corners of her mouth lifted involuntarily. She was feeling weak from having thrown up earlier. The sugary candy was like an energy boost.

—Plop!

Another one landed a little further away. Without hesitation, Ruah crawled slightly out from under the desk and grabbed the candy.

‘Banana flavor… my favorite….’

Ruah’s face broke into a grin. Happiness wasn’t far away.

—Plop!

A blue candy landed a step further away. She couldn’t miss it. It was just out of reach, so Ruah shuffled forward, still crouching.

Just as her hand reached the candy—

“—Gotcha!”

“Wah!”

Someone came up from behind, grabbed her under the arms, and lifted her up. It had been a wicked, cunning ploy to lure her out from under the desk. Using innocent butterscotch candies, no less. A truly heinous criminal mastermind.

“L-let me go!”

“Hee hee, operation success!”

The potential kidnapper laughed and set Ruah down on the infirmary floor. Turning around, Ruah finally saw her visitor.

It was a girl wearing the academy uniform.

She was about a head taller than Ruah, of average height, with cute bobbed hair.

Large, puppy-dog eyes and slightly drooping eyelids.

Befitting her model student image, her only accessory was a red hairpin holding back her bangs.

Her green name tag, indicating she was a second-year student, read “Han Suah.”

‘Ah, Han Suah.’

Of course, Ruah knew her. She was the tutorial character at the very beginning of the game.

The protagonist, newly admitted to the academy, would follow Suah, their mentor, around, learning about the game’s functions and locations.

That was pretty much her only role in the story, but thanks to her kind and gentle personality, she was quite popular among gamers for an early-game character. She was often referred to as “Mama” or “Noona” in the online community.

And one important fact.

‘Ruah and Suah are sisters.’

It was a little-known fact since they were both early-game characters, but Ruah remembered it immediately. That’s why the dialogue in the infirmary was slightly different if the protagonist recruited Suah as a companion.

So, this close proximity, something that couldn’t be considered normal between a student and a teacher, stemmed from their special relationship as sisters.

“Are you okay? I was worried, so I came to check on you.”

She bent down and examined Ruah’s face. Ruah looked away, feeling awkward and uncomfortable, but Suah persistently checked on him.

“I-I-I’m, o-okay.”

“Your face is a mess. Here, look at me.”

Suah took out a handkerchief and wiped Ruah’s face, straightening her shirt and vest. Suah smelled nice.

A calming scent. Even Ruah, who was afraid of people, felt somewhat at ease.

“Next time, if you’re not feeling well, call me. Okay? I’ll help you as much as I can.”

“Okay.”

“There, all done. My cute older sister.”

Suah smiled brightly as she let go of Ruah, handing her another butterscotch candy.

‘Suah Mama….’

Her broken heart felt mended. Ruah fought back the tears that threatened to spill, pretending to be nonchalant.

“Actually, I have one more thing.”

Suah said, pulling out her phone. It was a messenger app.

“Instructor Park Sihyuk, the basic swordsmanship teacher, asked me to bring you over if you were feeling better.”

“Wh-where to?”

“The new students have their first test, and the school nurse has to be on standby for emergencies.”

The unavoidable first test event at the academy.

It was also the point in Hunter Hunting Academy where the protagonist began to truly shine.

“Can’t I just… stay here…?”

“You need to get some fresh air!”

Although she really didn’t want to go, Ruah followed Suah out of the infirmary.

she thought it might cause more trouble if she refused.

‘It’s just emergency standby, so I can just sit there until it’s over….’

She carried a first-aid kit.

Of course, with her healing skills, she wouldn’t need it, but it wouldn’t look good to go empty-handed.

“Yeah, it’s over there.”

As they exited the main building, Suah pointed towards the athletic field.

About 100 new students were sitting in rows on the artificial turf. They were all wearing the same blue tracksuit.

‘Ugh… I hate being outdoors….’

As someone who preferred indoors, Ruah wasn’t pleased.

“Ah! School Nurse! Over here!”

Hunter Park Sihyuk, standing in front of the new students, waved his hand.

As he had introduced himself at the entrance ceremony, he was the basic swordsmanship instructor.

In the game, where Ruah didn’t need to attend classes, she was just an NPC.

“Are you feeling better?”

“Yes, yes. I’m fine.”

“Then please just stay on standby over there. It’s a hassle, but it’s the rules, you know?”

Park Sihyuk winked and pointed to a bench. Ruah bowed her head and went to sit on the bench.

“Suah, can you help me out here?”

“Yes!”

Suah replied energetically and began helping Park Sihyuk with the test preparations. She was diligent in everything she did, and her reputation among the teachers was excellent.

The new students watched their senior with respect.

But Ruah, on the other hand—

“It’s the school nurse who threw up earlier….”

“Wow. I couldn’t come out if I were her.”

“Being pretty makes even vomiting forgivable, I guess.”

“Are you a pedo?”

—Wasn’t viewed favorably. Snickers and whispers spread among the new students.

‘Just kill me….’

“Alright, everyone, attention!”

—Clap!

Thankfully, Park Sihyuk, the proctor, drew everyone’s attention.

“We will now begin the first test.”

“……!”

A strangely heated atmosphere arose among the new students. To be accepted into Felix Academy, they all possessed some talent or skill.

They were eager to demonstrate their abilities in this new environment.

“This test will divide you into three classes.”

[Beginner class, 30 students.]

[Intermediate class, 30 students.]

[Advanced class, 30 students.]

“Each of you will receive instruction appropriate to your level. Your assigned class will determine your dorm room and the school facilities you have access to.”

There was a reason why Felix Academy was the world’s best Hunter academy.

It constantly encouraged competition among students to maximize their potential.

“Whoa… that’s harsh….”

Voices of discontent arose among the students at the blatant discrimination.

“Every drop of sweat you shed at school replaces a drop of blood you’ll shed in the Gate.”

“…….”

The new students fell silent. Being a Hunter was a life-or-death profession.

Without this kind of pressure, even if they became professional Hunters, they would just die to the monsters in the Gates.

Then, a student raised their hand.

“Proctor, the three classes add up to 90 students. Where do the other ten go?”

“Good question.”

Proctor Park Sihyuk grinned.

“The top ten students will be placed in a special class. They will receive individualized instruction and assignments tailored to their abilities. They will also have priority access to various benefits provided by the school. They’ll even have their own dedicated dormitory.”

“Whoa….”

The new students’ mouths watered. The special class became everyone’s target.

“Well, don’t get too worked up! Classes change every semester, so it’s okay if you make a few mistakes. Now, everyone, stand up!”

At the proctor’s command, the new students stood up, brushing off the artificial turf from their tracksuits and stretching their stiff muscles.

A strange tension filled the air.

“Relax. This will actually be fun.”

Park Sihyuk stepped on a button at his feet, and something emerged from various points on the artificial turf field. White, thick punching bags, the size of a person.

“Each of you, grab one and stand in front of it.”

Seemingly understanding what was going on, the new students drew their weapons and stood before the punching bags.

“What you have to do is simple.”

Park Sihyuk tapped a punching bag with his sword.

“Think of the punching bag in front of you as a monster, and show us what you’ve got.”