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HELHEIM SCANS
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Chapter 9: Why the hell do they know me?
A weakling who hides their strength.
A slang term for a "hidden powerhouse loser"—except it doesn’t actually mean a loser, just someone who conceals their true strength.
While it might sound derogatory, fans of overpowered protagonists and mistaken-identity tropes love it.
After all, Spider-Man and Superman are classic examples of a weakling who hides their strength stories.
Seeing some seemingly pathetic guy suddenly awaken and beat the crap out of everyone is oddly satisfying.
‘Not that I ever planned on becoming Superman myself.’
I was already standing out just by being a male student here—there was no need to make myself even more conspicuous.
I wasn’t aiming for dramatic displays.
I just wanted to leave a mild impression, slowly and steadily building a reputation of, “Hey, that guy’s actually pretty decent.”
A gradual, smooth growth curve.
That was the plan.
[Combat Department Class 1 Placement Test]
[1. Shin Yuseong]
I definitely hadn’t meant to be this blatant.
Honestly, I was puzzled.
Why the hell am I already ranked first?
Sure, I could be first eventually, but not yet—I hadn’t even shown a fraction of what I was capable of.
All I did was stroll up to some goblins and casually slice them down.
I didn’t whip out some dazzling holy sword or anything.
I was just swinging a regular old blade like any other swordsman.
So why the hell did they rank me first?
‘I even deliberately took my time killing the goblins… Wasn’t time a scoring factor?’
I thought this world valued magic more, where necromancers and spellcasters were given preferential treatment.
Didn’t seem like it.
[The goddess congratulates the hero with a beaming smile, delighted by his recognition.]
Yeah, I guess being ranked first feels pretty good.
But honestly, I was just confused.
* * *
“Finally, the semester begins.”
Students often have the misconception that they’re the only ones who hate going back to school.
Truth is, teachers hate it just as much.
If anything, students get to see their friends, but for teachers, it’s just another day at the office.
If it weren’t for the paycheck, they’d gladly throw the whole semester out the window.
Teachers, too, prefer vacations over semesters and value their personal research time far more than lecture hours.
“Hehehe.”
But Combat Department professor Shin Arin wore a pleased smile as she gazed over the school courtyard teeming with students.
She was so excited that her hands clapped together with an audible snap and her shoulders bobbed with glee.
Despite how insufferable and unruly the students were—who ignored instructions and did whatever they pleased—today, she didn’t mind.
Because, at last, an exceptional talent had appeared.
Not some scion of a prestigious family.
Not someone trained by a secret master.
No—just a natural-born prodigy.
Recalling the placement test, Shin Arin felt a shiver run down her spine.
That dazzling display of swordsmanship, already honed to near-perfection.
The calm and collected judgment he maintained against goblins, showing no sign of overconfidence.
The unmistakable star quality of a hunter.
And, of course, his flawless appearance.
Clap, clap, clap.
“Bravo.”
She couldn’t help but applaud.
Shin Yuseong, thinking he had dragged things out to buy time, had no idea.
In reality, his slow, measured pace had made him look composed and unflappable.
All the professors had witnessed his performance and perceived it as the cool confidence of a seasoned warrior.
As an active S-rank hunter, Shin Arin valued all those qualities.
And from the moment she saw Shin Yuseong, she knew—
She absolutely had to have him.
No way that level of mastery was self-taught.
Even if he did have an unknown mentor somewhere, the sheer genius of his combat sense was undeniable.
And now, she was his academy professor.
‘Yes, this is my turn now.’
Not only did they share the same surname—it almost felt like family.
Shin Arin was determined.
She would personally pass on her swordsmanship and combat expertise to this once-in-a-lifetime disciple, ensuring he would live a life of wealth and fame.
‘Not that he wouldn’t do just fine on his own.’
“But hey, more power never hurt anyone.”
After glancing at her phone, she smirked.
Time to gear up for class.
* * *
“Whoa, insane.”
“Wait, does something that good-looking even qualify as a human?”
“Seriously, how is he both a top-ranked student and that handsome? There’s definitely some shady conspiracy behind this…”
“Shady? Watch your mouth. You talk like that, and the professors will drag you away without a trace.”
“Huh? What?”
“You seriously haven’t heard? That first-place guy is actually—”
Even after lowering my perception range to a minimum, I could still hear the swarm of students gossiping around me.
The crowd was massive—probably because it was the first day of the semester.
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HELHEIM SCANS
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I briefly considered erasing my presence entirely and slipping away, but it seemed unlikely that would end the commotion.
Why the hell do these people know me?
I genuinely didn’t get it.
I hadn’t even done anything particularly flashy.
Yet, somehow, they all seemed to recognize me.
With that question lingering in my mind, I cautiously made my way toward the lecture hall.
Fortunately, no one had asked for my autograph yet.
Still, judging by the way they stared, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone eventually did.
[The goddess cackles mischievously, gleefully remarking how popular the hero has become.]
I couldn’t trust that damned goddess.
I would have to deal with this mess myself.
Steeling my resolve, I moved forward through the corridor and finally reached the Combat Department’s lecture hall.
The venue for S-rank hunter and high-ranker Shin Arin’s specialized lecture.
Of course, it made sense that professors here would be big shots.
But when I looked her up online, she was more than just impressive—she was a legend.
Even her “Mad Shin Arin” montage videos were all over the internet.
When I watched those clips, I was eager to see just how strong the top-tier hunters in this world were.
‘But I’ve got bigger problems.’
Now that I was actually about to enter the lecture hall, I was more worried about the students than the professor.
I just hoped the classroom wouldn’t erupt into chaos like the hallway had.
‘Come on, no way. This is basically a military academy for future knights. They wouldn't dare act out during class… right? Right?’
If they did, they’d be begging for death.
‘No more attention. Ever.’
Even a reclusive loner like me could dream of being somewhat popular in the future.
Sure, I appreciated the goodwill and interest directed toward me, but this…
This was already too much.
If I were an extrovert, it might have been a different story, but as a proud introvert, enduring this for 24 hours straight was impossible.
Even a starving plant would choke and wither if it were given too much water.
‘Please, let the classroom be friendly toward me, but not shower me with excessive attention.’
Ah, and it would be even better if there happened to be a destined partner who could become my lover.
[The goddess scowls.]
[She sends forth a grumble, annoyed by my greedy wishes.]
[Ooooooh.]
I hadn’t saved the world in my previous life—heck, I’d barely saved it in this one.
So, wasn’t it reasonable for me to have at least this much selfishness?
Firmly believing in this convenient fantasy, I ignored the goddess’s grumbling and opened the classroom door.
Clatter—
The sight that greeted me was a lecture hall packed with students, as though everyone had arrived except me.
“…….”
“…….”
“……Hmm.”
And it was deathly silent.
Ah.
I can’t breathe.
* * *
The distinguished ones always recognize each other.
At least by name.
If they were somewhat familiar, they would have seen each other’s faces a few times.
If their families or factions were closely intertwined, they might have even crossed paths regularly.
Of course, being acquainted was one thing—whether they were friendly was another.
“…….”
“…….”
Class 1 of the Combat Studies Department.
The students gathered in this room were all elites, and they knew one another well.
The veiled and enigmatic sect, Yeongnak First School.
Except for the special recruits, most of them had crossed paths before.
And some had even heard their elders say, “You must defeat that one.”
They were rivals of the same generation.
Labeled the “Golden Generation” with soaring expectations, the pressure on them was considerable.
The school’s unique structure.
The industry’s demands.
And the rivalry among peers.
The notion that they had to trample their competition to rise above them turned what should have been classmates and companions into competitors.
The tension was so thick that it stiffened the entire room.
Of course, there were exceptions.
‘What a pointless battle of nerves.’
A girl with ivory hair, always carrying a massive hunk of metal by her side, swept her gaze over the class with disinterest.
She was Sephine Alavad, a summoner from the prestigious Alavad family.
She found the whole situation trivial and was merely waiting for the professor to arrive.
Her personality, naturally averse to unnecessary fuss, made her loathe these petty displays of tension.
She didn’t particularly enjoy attending school in the first place.
‘I just want to go home already.’
The kid next to her?
A spirit mage from Japan seemed to share a similar sentiment.
Head already buried in the desk, they were snoozing away, snoring lightly.
Only the pair of perky, animal-like ears on their head showed any sign of life.
‘I’ve heard that some highly attuned spirit mages fully synchronize with their contracted spirits.’
Did that mean those ears were real?
Or just for show?
She was mildly curious, but not enough to ask outright.
They weren’t close enough for that, nor was she particularly inquisitive.
Instead, she simply stole occasional glances at the spirit mage’s ears, waiting for class to begin.
Then suddenly—
Perk—
The snowy-white ears twitched sharply.
The gentle, childlike breathing abruptly stopped.
As though sensing something, the wolf-eared spirit mage slowly lifted their head and stared toward the door.
Sephine Alavad, drawn by the gesture, followed their gaze.
It was mere curiosity.
“Huh?”
And then, they were struck by a shocking sight.
The figure before them stood with a perfectly stable flow of mana, spread evenly across their entire body.
An impeccable balance of physical and magical harmony, devoid of any flaws.
But the most unbelievable part was the face—
A man so strikingly handsome he looked as though he had been sculpted by the hands of the Creator himself.
Clad in a uniform, he stood still, gazing at them.
“……Ah.”
The room froze over once more—
But this time, for an entirely different reason.
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HELHEIM SCANS
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