Chapter 108: Change and Contrast (4)
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The second semester of Academy Year 3 is busy without a moment to spare.
It’s the last semester of the last year.
If it were high school, it would be the graduating class; if it were college, it would be the job-hunting class.
Most of the lectures have already ended, and now is the time to knock on clan doors to prepare for recruitment.
Yoon Ji-a, a 3rd year Mage student and B-grade fire element Holder.
She is also the president of <Flame Dance>, a large circle at the Academy that studies fire magic.
“…But I still need to wrap up the circle work.”
Yoon Ji-a has been incredibly busy lately, but she tries not to neglect the circle work.
<Flame Dance> is a precious circle that’s been with her for 3 years at the Academy.
A circle where fire-oriented students gather to purely research fire and study related magic.
It also has a long-standing history as an orthodox research circle.
Like any other student, Yoon Ji-a joined <Flame Dance> in her 1st year 2nd semester, and was appointed president in her 2nd year, surprisingly early, after being recognized for her abilities and leadership.
Having led the circle from such an early stage, it holds a special place for her.
So even in this incredibly busy semester, if <Flame Dance> had work, Yoon Ji-a would come to the Academy.
“Senior, you came?”
“Yeah. I came early, huh?”
“Yes, because I have to put up posters today.”
Yoon Ji-a greeted the 2nd year junior who was waiting for her.
Starting today is the period when circles vigorously promote themselves within the Academy.
<Flame Dance>, an extremely popular circle, is also active during the promotion period.
The bigger the organization, the more they need to focus on the basics.
This is one of the universal rules that applies in any society.
“The promotion posters turned out well?”
“Yes, here.”
Swish-
Yoon Ji-a unfolded the large promotional poster handed to her by the junior.
A drawing of a blazing fire and a neat logo.
An explanation representing the pride of a major circle and eye-catching advantages at a glance.
It was a promotional poster that lacked nothing as a promotional poster, and more than anything, perfectly captured the character of <Flame Dance>.
A smile spread across Yoon Ji-a’s lips.
“Well done.”
“Right? Ju-hee drew it herself.”
“Ju-hee did? She has a talent for drawing?”
While exchanging trivial chatter about the poster, before she knew it, they had arrived at the student council building where they had to put up the promotional materials.
At the center of the student council building is a large promotional bulletin board.
As <Flame Dance> consistently scored high in the ‘circle points’ officially calculated by the Academy, they were allowed to promote on the main bulletin board according to regulations.
“Senior, how’s this location?”
“I don’t think we can post it anywhere better than this.”
“Hehe, right?”
“Since we have a lot of promotional stuff to put up, let’s post some here and get moving.”
“Yes, senior.”
Marketing doesn’t make much difference by forcing it anyway.
Short and impactful.
Through experience so far, Yoon Ji-a knew that was the basis of promotion.
While moving to other bulletin boards within the student council building.
“Huh?”
“Why, senior?”
Suddenly, something caught Yoon Ji-a’s eye.
Passing the main promotional board…
On the small promotional board located near the edge of the student council building.
It was usually used by small circles or new circles to post promotional materials.
It was a place she would normally glance by, but for some reason, there was a promotional poster that grabbed her attention.
<Member Recruitment Promotion>
– Circle name: Anti-Villain (new)
– Circle head: Do Jae-hyun (1st year / Assassin)
– A circle that studies the villain clan, a criminal organization. It aims for various activities against villains, such as foiling premeditated crimes or exposing spies who have infiltrated the Academy.
“A new circle made by a 1st year student? Studying villains? Hahaha. No one’s gonna apply. And the promotional poster is so half-assed.”
The junior reading it with her ridiculed the promotional material.
What the junior said was true.
While it was short and impactful, it had a slapdash feel without any particular drawings or logos… And the content was also one of those ‘new circle by 1st year student’ promotions that come out every year.
At a glance, it was clearly a cliché promotional material.
‘How…’
But to Yoon Ji-a, it meant something completely different.
Seeing that poster, she felt like she had been hit on the head with a hammer.
A very long time ago, even before she awakened as a Holder…
Yoon Ji-a lost her best friend to a <Villain> clan member.
Her friend was ruthlessly murdered by a <Villain> clan member in a ‘random killing’ without any connection or reason.
It made news several times and caused a social stir… But in the end, the criminal was never caught.
‘…….’
But Yoon Ji-a could only swallow her resentment inwardly.
There was nothing else she could do.
After becoming a rune Holder, she vowed revenge many times…
But <Villain> was not a clan to be taken lightly.
They were too massive of an organization for her to take on alone, and even gathering a group wouldn’t produce much results.
Even the Holder Association can’t wipe out <Villain>, that’s the reality.
Whenever she tried to do something against <Villain>, she was always discouraged by the thought that it would be meaningless anyway.
‘But…’
But here.
A student created a circle.
A circle to study <Villain> and oppose them.
<Anti-Villain>.
As the name suggests, a circle that boycotts everything about <Villain>.
That dangerous and difficult path…
A 1st year student Holder was walking it by forming it as a new circle.
Seeing that, an indescribable emotion…
A corner of Yoon Ji-a’s heart that she had once given up on…
Began to stir slightly and fluctuate.
It was really unbelievable, even to Yoon Ji-a herself.
It was a rough wave of emotion.
“…Senior, senior? Why are you like that?”
5 minutes, no 10 minutes.
Yoon Ji-a, who had been staring blankly only at the notice…
Finally turned to look at her junior.
“So Yoon-ah.”
“Yes?”
The junior, who had been chattering about the notice, was surprised by the sudden call.
Yoon Ji-a made a shocking proposal to her.
“Do you want to be <Flame Dance> president?”
“Ye…yes?!?!”
2nd semester of 3rd year.
With only one semester left in the graduating class.
A small flame was kindled in Yoon Ji-a’s heart.
***
Ippotranslation
***
[Falling plum blossoms, a sword finding its path. Your stance with daggers in both hands grows closer to the plum blossom’s movements. Proficiency in Plum Blossom Sword Technique has increased.]
[The level of the ‘Plum Blossom Sword Technique’ rune has increased.]
[1 Speed acquired from the rune’s nature.]
As expected, the private lessons with Yoo Eun-seol were extremely satisfying, no, even more satisfying than expected.
The ‘dagger as a throwing weapon’ was different from the ‘dagger (short sword) as a main weapon’, which was the essence of the assassin discipline.
Through Yoo Eun-seol’s concentrated coaching, my vague understanding of dagger techniques gained more depth, and thanks to that, I was able to achieve my first goal of acquiring the rare rune [Plum Blossom Sword Technique] just a week after starting private lessons.
“The rune level went up? The movements have gotten sharper.”
Yoo Eun-seol, who was watching my training, spoke up.
As expected from the master who taught me swordsmanship.
She noticed my change right away.
“Yes, master. It just reached level 2.”
“Holder Do Jae-hyun is really amazing. It’s barely been a few hours since you obtained the rune, how did you raise the rune level in less than a day…”
The reason was obviously thanks to [Effort of the Seeker].
With the special effect of 3 times faster rune level growth and Yoo Eun-seol’s one-on-one lessons combined, the growth rate was absurdly fast.
I didn’t know I could raise rune levels this quickly either.
‘Looks like I’m not completely talentless after all….’
At first when learning [Plum Blossom Sword Technique], I was worried I might not be able to master it at all.
Like how I didn’t get any common runes during awakening, I thought I might not obtain other derivative runes due to lack of talent.
But fortunately I was able to acquire the rune without any issues.
Once I obtained the rune, the subsequent growth went smoothly.
“Next lesson, I’ll teach you how to apply Plum Blossom Sword Technique together with vision type runes. Holder Do Jae-hyun, you have vision runes, right?”
“Yes, I have them.”
“Okay. Then let’s stop here today and see them next lesson.”
“Understood. Thank you, master…!!”
After the private lesson with Yoo Eun-seol, which went late into the night…
I hurriedly moved my steps.
Although it was very late, I had things to do today.
– Hello, I contacted you after seeing the notice. I have the application form and wanted to come meet you…what time and where should I come until?
Yesterday I had posted a notice about <Anti-Villain>, and today I got a contact from someone wanting to join right away.
Even if it’s an essential new circle recruiting members, I can’t just add members with only a text message without meeting them or getting an application form.
The location was an empty lecture room inside the warrior discipline building.
Fortunately, it looked like I could barely make it in time.
When I hurriedly arrived at the lecture room, the student who contacted me was already sitting at one end of the lecture room.
“Hello- You came early, huh? I had some things to do so I just made it on time, sorry about…”
As I was casually conveying an apologetic greeting,
Suddenly, the student sitting there lifted their head.
And…
“Oh. Nice to meet you, Do Jae-hyun. I’m Ji Yoon-jae, 1st year assassin student. This is our first time talking right? Even though we’re same-year classmates in the same discipline.”
The man with the sharp features sitting at the desk.
Was someone I never could have expected.
I silently looked at Ji Yoon-jae, who was smiling and holding out his hand.
This is completely…
A huge fish right from the start.
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