"It seems you’ve handled a sword for quite a long time. Are you perhaps affiliated with a particular school of swordsmanship?"
"A school? No, nothing like that."
It was true that I’d used swords quite a bit during my time as a Hunter.
While I had received some lessons here and there, I never belonged to any formal school of swordsmanship.
"So... are you saying you taught yourself how to wield a sword?"
"I did receive about a month of training in the basics, like how to grip and handle a sword."
To be precise, it was closer to three weeks. When I first awakened my ability and joined the Hunter Association, I underwent basic training on how to deal with gates and handle weapons.
But it didn’t seem like that answer satisfied Ichinose.
"A month isn’t really enough to say you’ve learned swordsmanship. Especially if it was just the basics."
"Well, if you swing a sword long enough, your body just starts to remember the right moves on its own."
I didn’t have much else to say.
In the end, my greatest teacher had always been real combat.
"That’s not entirely wrong, but..."
Ichinose didn’t finish her sentence. Instead, she seemed lost in thought, her lips slightly pursed.
Seeing such sincerity from someone so young about swordsmanship made me think.
‘Does that mean my swordsmanship was at least decent?’
Even if her intention was different, it felt like I’d received a roundabout compliment.
It was oddly gratifying, as if the hardships I endured as a Hunter were finally being acknowledged.
‘Well, if I couldn’t handle a blade properly, I would’ve died in my first year.’
The ability I possessed as a Hunter was called Edge Enhancement.
It was a simple power that made any sword I wielded sharper.
While it was practical and highly combat-oriented, the downside was that my ability’s aptitude level had been rated the lowest possible: F.
Abilities in this world weren’t like mana in fantasy stories or inner energy in martial arts novels. Each person had a fixed amount of potential from the start, and no matter what you did, that limit wouldn’t change.
As a result, no matter how hard I trained, only my physical capabilities improved. But even those improvements stayed within the bounds of human limitations, and my ability’s output remained weak.
No matter how much experience I gained, that part of my life never changed.
Whenever I faced high-ranking monsters, I had to rely on expensive consumable items just to survive, often ending up with losses.
But now?
Maybe those frustrating days as a Hunter were finally over.
‘At least now I won’t have to deal with that same sense of helplessness.’
Abyss City was different. The mere fact that I could increase my magical capacity made this world a whole new place for me.
As long as I set the right direction for my efforts, the opportunities here seemed much broader than in my previous life.
"Alright. I won’t ask any more questions."
It seemed Ichinose had finished her train of thought, as she nodded and tightened her coat against the chill.
I replied warmly.
"Unfortunately, I don’t have much more to tell you."
"Thank you. Sorry for taking up your time."
"It’s fine. It’s not like I was busy."
To Ichinose, I was probably just the guy who drank cucumber milk and almost threw up.
"Well then, I’ll be going—"
"Ah, Ichinose!"
"Yes?"
As she bowed slightly and turned to leave, I called out to stop her, my mind whirring.
This felt like a rare chance to solve a potentially significant question.
"This might be strange to ask now, but is it alright if I call you Ichinose?"
"Sure. Is there anything else?"
"Actually, yes. I want to ask you something."
"You’re curious about something?"
Since she’d already asked me questions, she seemed willing to listen, waiting calmly for me to continue.
"I’m looking for a student at Orion Academy."
"A student? Do you mean you’re trying to find out where they are?"
"No, just whether or not they exist. I heard they’d be enrolling this year, but I didn’t see them during the tests today."
"...?"
Ichinose tilted her head slightly, her expression puzzled as if my question was strange.
I added a bit more to clarify.
"I heard they were talented, so I was looking forward to seeing them, but I don’t think they showed up today."
"Ah... if you know their name, I might be able to help."
Ichinose seemed to understand now, nodding slightly in comprehension. I continued immediately.
"There are two people I’m looking for."
"Do you know their names, or just their appearance?"
"A male student named Lambert. Brown hair, handsome face."
Ichinose pressed her lips together, thinking. After a brief pause, she shook her head lightly.
"I’ve never heard of him."
"Then Cynthia. A female student. She also has brown hair and a pretty face."
Both names belonged to the protagonist of Abyss City.
If the protagonist was male, his name would be Lambert. If female, it would be Cynthia. Both were described as having brown hair and being exceptionally attractive.
"I’ve never heard that name either."
Ichinose shook her head once more, confirming she didn’t know.
For some reason, her clear denial sent a chill down my spine, and I bit my lower lip.
‘This is strange...’
In the game, when you first meet Ichinose Yui, she starts the conversation with, “I’ve heard rumors about you.”
This situation felt off, as if something fundamental had shifted.
"Do you know where those two might be from?"
"They’re probably from the Sephia Archipelago."
Academy City was a joint effort by three powerful nations: Samwhakuk, to which Ichinose Yui belonged; Tigrova, the homeland of Noah Frozenheart; and the Sephia Archipelago, which was home to the protagonist and several key figures.
"If they’re skilled students from the Sephia Archipelago, it’s unlikely I wouldn’t know about them."
"Is that so...?"
"There’s still a chance I just don’t know them, so it might be faster to search the Orion Circle."
"!"
The term Ichinose mentioned made my eyes widen in realization.
I hadn’t even considered the existence of that app.
‘Orion Circle!’
It was a community app in Abyss City used exclusively by Orion Academy students.
In the game, it was a platform where students posted their concerns or rumors, which often turned into side quests for the player to solve.
I quickly pulled out my smartphone and downloaded the Orion Circle app.
Maybe this was another step toward unlocking a new path, just like achievements.
Although I got stuck at the step requiring verification with a student ID, that would be simple enough to handle once I got back to the dormitory.
"Thanks. I’ll look into it myself from here."
"Did I help?"
"Hugely."
"I’m glad to hear that."
Ichinose said her goodbyes once again and started to leave. I also left the dark alley, heading toward the dormitory.
I stood for a moment, watching Ichinose Yui walk away.
When I saw the direction she was heading, I quickly called out to her.
"...Wait a second!"
"Yes?"
It might have been unnecessary meddling, but remembering that Ichinose had a terrible sense of direction, I couldn’t let her go that way.
"If you go that way, you’ll end up in District 10. Where are you trying to go?"
"..."
"You’re heading to the dormitory, right?"
She hesitated, biting her lip before nodding slightly.
Worried she might think I’d overheard her earlier conversation with Noah, I decided not to press further and instead pulled up the academy map on my phone.
‘The girls’ dormitory should be over there.’
After double-checking the map, I took a step ahead of her.
"I don’t usually get like this, but I haven’t had a snack yet today..."
"That happens."
I wasn’t sure what the connection was between missing a snack and getting lost, but I nodded affirmatively, walking alongside her.
I guided Ichinose toward the girls’ dormitory.
***
The next day.
Dissatisfied with this frail body, I started morning workouts at dawn.
‘First, strengthen the vessel.’
In Abyss City, the body serves as the foundation for holding mana. Strengthening the body allows it to contain greater amounts of mana.
While innate talent plays a significant role in this world, there’s also a part that can be overcome with effort.
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I found that aspect incredibly appealing.
"Hah! Huff! Hah!"
I pushed myself to run as hard as I could to build stamina.
Back in my Hunter days, I couldn’t have imagined such poor endurance. My lungs felt like they were screaming for mercy, but sheer determination kept me from slowing down.
[ Achievement Unlocked: Runner’s High! ]
[ Reward: 5P ]
Just as I was on the verge of collapse, my legs suddenly felt lighter, and a notification popped up.
‘Right, this was a thing.’
In the game, this achievement was unlocked by repeatedly dashing until your stamina was completely drained.
I hadn’t expected it to work this way here.
‘More! Push harder!’
Back at the dormitory, I continued with bodyweight exercises until I was completely spent.
"Ugh—!"
Although I planned to use the academy’s fitness facilities after classes began, I wanted to acclimate myself to muscle fatigue and soreness beforehand.
After my workout, I showered, buried my head into my pillow, and took a short nap.
It was a perfect routine.
‘This body is so weak it doesn’t even feel properly tired.’
After a deep two-hour nap, I left the dormitory to tackle achievements I remembered from the game.
Scrolling through the Orion Circle app Ichinose had told me about, I skimmed the post titles.
‘It’s just a normal forum.’
Unlike in the game, the app was filled with casual, everyday discussions. That difference felt fresh and oddly interesting.
On the way, I stopped by a convenience store, bought the cheapest lottery ticket, and scratched it.
It was a loss—sort of.
[ Achievement Unlocked: Someday, Passive Income...! ]
[ Reward: 5P ]
‘I need more money.’
Some achievements involved watching certain movies, reading comics, or eating specific foods, all of which required cash.
Although I didn’t need to spend points on food yet, having some funds on hand was essential for survival outside the academy.
I checked my card balance using an app on my phone: 24 coins and 60 tokens.
In Korean won, that translated to about 246,000 won.
I wouldn’t starve, but it wasn’t exactly a fortune.
‘I’ll find a part-time job once classes start.’
Though part-time jobs required academy approval, they were the most practical solution. Besides, they were tied to achievements, and I was curious to try different kinds of work after living solely as a Hunter.
‘Whatever it is, I’ll give it my all.’
For the first time in a long while—perhaps for the first time ever—I felt a spark of excitement for the future.
From that moment, my routine became straightforward.
I worked out at dawn and spent the rest of the day roaming Academy City, completing achievements.
[ Achievement Unlocked: Lost and Found ]
[ Achievement Unlocked: Photographer of Dogs and Cats ]
[ Achievement Unlocked: Expired Mochi Investigation ]
***
Time passed, February melted away, and early March arrived.
The long-awaited opening day of Orion Academy had finally come.