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HELHEIM SCANS
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Chapter 10: Glances and Sneaky Stares
For a moment, the air in the lecture hall seemed to freeze—so still that even the sound of breathing became inaudible.
Everyone’s gaze converged on a single point.
Even with his current strength, already nearing the level of a demi-superhuman, Shin Yuseong could clearly hear every breath, every rustle of clothing, and thus felt the awkward atmosphere of the lecture hall all the more keenly.
As he rolled his eyes around, wondering why everyone was acting so strangely, the other students in the room were having rather different thoughts about him.
The genius mage from the Blue Tower.
The wolf-eared spirit summoner from Japan.
The heir of a renowned summoning family, counted among the world's finest.
Even the next master of the mysterious martial sect, who had enrolled as this year’s top student, wore a meaningful expression.
‘Calm and composed, with a perfectly formed magic barrier.’
‘He smells nice.’
‘Whoa, he’s ridiculously handsome.’
‘…….’
To their eyes, Shin Yuseong was a breathtaking beauty they had never seen before, radiating a calm aura with magic that was so remarkably stable it seemed unreal.
His presence exuded such serene composure that it was almost disorienting, making them momentarily question whether what they were seeing was truly real.
Despite the disbelief, there were plenty of students who gazed at him absentmindedly, as if they had fallen in love at first sight.
“Hey, why are you just standing there?”
The frozen atmosphere finally began to thaw as the time limit approached.
Someone who exuded a far more intense and fiery energy than anyone else in the room had arrived.
The combat department’s professor—and S-rank hunter—Shin Arin.
Although Yuseong’s heart pounded like he had downed a dozen shots of espresso, he maintained a composed expression and turned to face her.
“Hello?”
It was the moment he had been waiting for.
Shin Arin smiled brightly, her gaze fixed solely on him.
Her fiery eyes were filled with such unmistakable interest and passion that he didn’t need an explanation to understand how intrigued she was by him.
Feigning the calmness of a model student, Yuseong returned her smile with a polite bow.
“Hello, Professor. I just arrived myself.”
Then, as if nothing had happened, he casually walked into the lecture hall and took a seat in an empty corner.
‘……What the hell?’
Even though he hadn’t introduced himself, everyone already seemed to know who he was.
Realizing the unexpectedly intense reaction, Shin Yuseong felt a cold sweat break out.
* * *
“Good to see you all again. I met some of you during the level test at the entrance ceremony, but let me formally introduce myself. I am Shin Arin, your professor for the year. I will be teaching combat attribute theory, close-quarters combat techniques for handling monsters, and field practice.”
Clearing her throat, she smiled more casually.
“Honestly, I’m not great at being formal, so I hope you’ll forgive me for that. But I assure you that when it comes to teaching you how to survive real-life dangers, I have complete confidence. So don’t be shy—ask questions and take as much as you can from my classes.”
Clap, clap.
Soft applause scattered throughout the room.
The atmosphere, once heavy and tense, became significantly warmer.
The lecture then proceeded smoothly and moderately, covering basic theoretical concepts.
After all, the students in this room were all elites, and the professor standing at the podium was a high-ranking veteran at the peak of her field.
Although the lecture focused on weaker monsters like goblins and hobgoblins, there was no trace of condescension in her tone.
“Ha, these creatures may seem pathetic on their own. It’s easy to underestimate them. But there’s one thing you need to watch out for: they’re among the most cunning monsters. Anyone know what goblins’ main traits are?”
“They breed quickly?”
“They use poison and traps?”
“Correct. They aggressively use poisons and traps. And while their rapid reproduction isn’t their main threat, you’re not entirely wrong. You should always be aware that goblins rarely travel alone—they move in groups. That’s what makes them dangerous.”
“Hurk.”
“In fact, there was once a case where we took advantage of that tendency. We disguised a doll to look like a man and sent it into their lair. After mapping the entire dungeon’s layout, we wiped them out in one fell swoop.”
While the S-rank hunter casually shared her real-life experiences, no one dared to chat or interrupt.
Glance.
At least, no one openly slacked off.
However, there were still moments when attention waned.
When focus drifts, people tend to stare off into space or get lost in their own thoughts.
But today, in this lecture hall, there was a particular warrior who attracted attention like a hippo drinking from a watering hole.
Glance, glance.
Sneak, sneak.
Yes, that warrior was me.
‘Why the hell are they all looking at me?’
You bastards.
You’re paying tens of thousands in tuition—focus on the lecture, not on me, damn it.
Even though I tried to avoid making eye contact, I could still feel the sidelong glances of the students, sneaking peeks at me whenever their attention slipped.
……Not that I was trying to run away or anything, but it would be weirder to make eye contact with dozens of students one by one during class.
Since I intended to maintain the image of a model student, I stubbornly fixed my gaze on the professor and nowhere else.
“Hmm, yes. You all seem particularly focused today. Goblins may be weak, but they’re common adversaries for novice awakeners, so it’s good to stay vigilant.”
Since I was staring intently at her, the professor naturally made more eye contact with me, creating the illusion that the entire class was exceptionally attentive.
‘Staring into the abyss and having it stare back at you’—this must be what that felt like.
But honestly, it didn’t seem like the class was particularly focused.
It was probably just because she kept seeing one overly enthusiastic student that made her believe everyone was concentrating.
[The goddess gazes at the hero, her eyes filled with satisfaction and a radiant smile.]
Even the goddess, who was supposed to be on my side, had entered full-on ‘enjoying the show’ mode, leaving me to deal with the situation alone.
Although the lecture was important, I couldn’t help but dwell on why the students were paying me so much attention.
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HELHEIM SCANS
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Even in this world, where the rules of reality had been overturned, this level of interest was far beyond normal.
‘...No matter how pretty the PC café part-timer is, you don’t look at her while you’re gaming.’
Wait, or maybe I just wasn’t interested in the opposite sex?
Had the others somehow acquired the multitasking ability to ogle the beautiful part-timer at the counter while battling fiercely in the Summoner’s Rift?
Seriously?
You’re telling me that’s possible?
What the hell, are they insane?
‘Hmm.’
For a moment, I considered making a tactical retreat.
But running away on the first day didn’t seem right.
If I didn’t like the attention, I could just kill my presence like an assassin and sneak around.
But the thought of my precious campus life turning into that of a pseudo-invisible man was absolutely unacceptable.
...
Glance—
Sliiide— sliiide—
‘Ah, maybe I should just retreat for today.’
* * *
The top-ranked student in the level test.
An unparalleled beauty.
These weren’t separate individuals.
Instead, they were titles combined into a single person, making their presence all the more radiant at this academy for hunter training.
Wait, someone like that actually exists?
After the first lecture ended, students who had caught wind of the rumors rushed over to the classroom.
“Wait, where is he?”
“No way, I ran here as soon as the lecture ended.”
“Give me back my handsome guy!”
But the rumored heartthrob, Shin Yuseong, had already vanished from the classroom.
Since the lecture was over, it was only natural for him to leave and take a break.
So, it wasn’t technically running away—it was a rightful escape under the guise of break time.
Those who had missed him voiced their disappointment.
‘Huh? He’s really gone.’
‘A dream? A mirage? Was he never real in the first place?’
Even the students who had been in the same classroom were bewildered.
He had drawn all eyes with his otherworldly presence, but now it was as if he had ascended to the heavens or sunk into the earth.
His sudden and mysterious disappearance made it feel like they had just woken from a dream.
“Maybe we actually saw the ghost of an incredibly handsome man and just mistook him for a real person.”
“Oh. I want to see that ghost too.”
“Yeah, I’d be down to see him a hundred times over.”
And so, a new ghost story was born in the community of the Seoul Academy of Paranormal Activities.
“……”
Watching the students chat away, Chun Juyeon, the top-ranking student of this year’s class, gazed quietly out the window.
The whereabouts of Shin Yuseong, whom everyone was eagerly searching for—
Ironically, she could see him clearly even now.
‘I’m not the top student?’
‘…Shall I interrogate the professors about this nonsense?’
‘No, forget it.’
Ever since she learned that she had been beaten in the level test, she couldn’t get him out of her mind.
She had assumed that by demonstrating this level of ability, the professors would deem her clearly exceptional—
That she would naturally continue holding the top rank.
But instead, an unexpected situation had occurred.
Upon hearing that the one who had surpassed her was a male, she initially doubted it.
How powerful could someone her age possibly be?
‘But he was astonishing.’
When she faced him directly, she had no choice but to acknowledge it.
Every time she saw his form, enveloped entirely in mana, she couldn’t help but be awed.
Although the other students were captivated by his handsome face, Chun Juyeon had never even seen it.
Because with her affinity for pure mana, all she could perceive was light.
Rumble, rumble, rumble—
Watching the towering pillar of light moving outside in real-time, Chun Juyeon brushed her lips with her fingertips.
* * *
[Pfft, pfft, you pathetic idiot hero.]
“……”
To enjoy my strategic retreat—no, my rightful break time—
I had fled to the men’s lounge for a temporary strategy meeting.
[Pathetic. Totally pathetic.]
“……Hmm.”
[Running away from school popularity? What a coward.]
“Goddess, I just had a sudden thought—why don’t you just descend in person so we can settle this one-on-one?”
[Ah, forgive me, your humble goddess overstepped her bounds.]
First things first, I put the damn goddess in her place.
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HELHEIM SCANS
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