IGOS 07

Chapter: 07

Rival? (3)

It was the trainees’ breakfast time.

The instructors, too, were supposed to have breakfast, but they were all summoned for a single matter and couldn’t eat.

Leading the group was Hwang Hana, the head instructor of the Seoul Hunter Training Center, along with Choi Pil, in charge of physical training, and a total of six instructors had gathered. Since it was Choi Pil, not Hwang Hana, who had summoned them, no one voiced any complaints.

Contrary to appearances, Choi Pil was highly respected as a healer in the Hunter Association. Every instructor here had received Choi Pil’s help at the Black Gate at least once.

It wasn’t just because of his intimidating, muscle-bound physique that looked ready to tear through his uniform.

Snap, snap—!

Startled!

…Probably not.

While a few instructors flinched at Choi Pil’s extraordinary muscular presence, he stepped forward and spoke to the gathered instructors.

“First, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to gather here and hear my opinion.”

Despite his intimidating looks, his gentle demeanor caused a few instructors to secretly sigh in relief and focus on his words.

The reason Choi Pil gathered them was simple.

“Normally, only five trainees at most would be admitted at a time, but unusually, the Seoul Hunter Training Center currently has ten trainees entering simultaneously. Therefore, I request that we operate two groups of five trainees each.”

Some instructors tilted their heads at the polite explanation.

Ten trainees were still just ten. Even if the instructors taught them all at once, it wouldn’t have been a problem, so some expressed doubt. But Hwang Hana, who had already experienced the trainees firsthand, could only nod.

“So, it’s to foster competitiveness, then.”

“Yes, exactly. Even this morning during physical training, the first five entrants competed against the later five. It seemed like they were divided into factions under trainee Lee Dohyeon and trainee Ji Yuchan.”

At Hwang Hana’s words, Choi Pil nodded in agreement without hesitation.

All the instructors who heard this also nodded. Competition had always been a way to make people stronger.

Still, a few instructors raised questions.

Ji Yuchan, they’d heard of, so that was understandable, but Lee Dohyeon?

A name they were hearing for the first time.

Strictly speaking, they had seen the documents, but nothing particularly stood out, so they were puzzled.

One instructor, still clearly doubtful, asked a question.

“Does trainee Lee Dohyeon have competitiveness comparable to trainee Ji Yuchan? From the documents, he doesn’t seem particularly different from the other trainees.”

It was Kim Areum, a petite female instructor responsible for morning intelligence training immediately after breakfast.

Her question resonated with the doubts of other instructors, and several of them nodded in agreement.

After all, competition only works if there’s actual capability.

While they expected Choi Pil to answer, the response came from elsewhere.

“I believe he is fully competitive. Trainee Ji Yuchan also seemed to be conscious of trainee Lee Dohyeon.”

“Ah, if the head instructor says so, then it must be true.”

At Hwang Hana’s words, Kim Areum was startled and nodded in acknowledgment.

In fact, Kim Areum had been an instructor longer than Hwang Hana. In terms of career, no one there had less experience than Hwang Hana.

As an instructor and as a hunter.

However, no one present was more skilled than Hwang Hana, so when she spoke like that, doubt had no choice but to vanish.

In the Hunter industry, nothing outweighed actual skill.

Longevity might matter, but that applied only to C-rank or lower instructors.

By contrast, Hwang Hana had reached the B-rank zone faster than anyone else in Korea. According to the Seoul Hunter Training Center records, she had fallen from first to second place two months ago, but no one had surpassed her speed in reaching the B-rank zone.

So her words carried significant weight.

Moreover…

“I also agree with head instructor Hwang Hana. During this morning’s physical training, trainee Lee Dohyeon surpassed trainee Ji Yuchan, displaying the best physical ability.”

Choi Pil’s words caused a stir among the instructors.

Ji Yuchan had lost.

Among those present, everyone had already reviewed the ten trainees’ documents.

“What?! Ji Yuchan lost?!”

“Huh? Even so, Ji Yuchan’s physical abilities were record-breaking.”

“Isn’t Lee Dohyeon too low by comparison? I hate to say it, but I think he was even weaker than the female trainees?”

“Yes, that’s exactly the point.”

“Huh?”

Everyone looked shocked, flipping to Lee Dohyeon’s section of the documents and jotting down notes again.

It was that shocking.

Even Hwang Hana, who had recommended Lee Dohyeon, was surprised.

“Already surpassing Ji Yuchan?”

She had thought that even with his book-learned basic skills, Ji Yuchan would still be superior physically for a few days, since physical ability couldn’t easily be overturned by chance or genius.

But Lee Dohyeon had reversed that on the very first morning.

Hwang Hana couldn’t help but mutter to herself as she glanced at Lee Dohyeon’s file.

“What on earth is his identity?”

He had mastered basic skills and magic from books alone, and his physical abilities had also skyrocketed instantly—a person defying all common sense.

If even Hwang Hana thought that, what about the other instructors?

The emergence of a new “catfish” excited everyone, and they began buzzing with conversation.

As instructors, they were passionate about teaching, so they discussed how to make the training most effective.

“Then we’ll split them into groups and let them compete.”

“Hm, the shop system would be convenient.”

“Changing from the existing ranking system to a group shop system is no problem at all.”

“Then we’ll do it from the next class onward.”

“Competition sounds thrilling.”

Seeing the very excited instructors, Hwang Hana couldn’t help but speculate that this batch might set record-breaking results.

How would it go from the very first day?

Thus, in Classroom 201:

As the instructor entered, Dohyeon couldn’t help but be flustered.

It wasn’t just that the groups were being organized abruptly.

It was because of his status window.

『Kim Areum』
『Trait: ×』
『Skill』
▶「×」
『Stats』
▶「Strength: 2」
▶「Agility: 3」
▶「Stamina: 3」
▶「Mana: 0」

‘How can a normal person be an instructor?’

At first, he thought that, but upon hearing Kim Areum introduce herself, he understood.

“Hello. I am Dr. Kim Areum, specializing in Black Gate ecology, and I will be responsible for your intelligence training over the next month.”

A PhD in Black Gate ecology.

Sufficient credentials to be an instructor.

It was a little disappointing that she couldn’t acquire skills as a hunter or gain AP, but since it was just a lecture, it didn’t matter.

Kim Areum, after introducing herself, addressed the trainees.

“First, some pre-class announcements. In short, due to the number of people, we will be dividing you into groups.”

“Groups?”

“Oh, group assignments?”

Some trainees frowned at the memory of past bad experiences, but Kim Areum’s words gradually changed their expressions.

“Yes, groups. You will be in groups of five. Throughout the month-long training, all education—including my lectures and other training—will be evaluated by group. The better-performing group will earn more points in the shop system.”

Although initially shocked, the trainees quickly sat together as if expecting this or even pleased by it.

Kim Areum quietly smiled at the scene.

‘The atmosphere is already set. Pretty tense too… Ji Yuchan’s reaction is similar. But…’

Kim Areum liked seeing Ji Yuchan’s fiery response, but Dohyeon’s reaction was ambiguous—merely surprise and a slight scratch of the head, as if annoyed.

‘Does he dislike group activities?’

Whether they liked it or not, in the Black Gate, they had to move in parties, so there was no avoiding it. Party training was one of the training center’s roles.

Kim Areum, to stir things further, called out the names.

“Group 1: Kwon Eunchae, Kim Yoonjung, Park Dongwook, Ji Yuchan, Han Junseo. Group 2: Gu Mina, Kim Yongchan, Park Yesul, Lee Dohyeon, Jeong Minwoo.”

Assigning Dohyeon’s group as Group 2 despite arriving first was a deliberate move to spark competition.

And indeed:

“Oh, we arrived first, but we’re in Group 2?”
“Shouldn’t groups be assigned by order of arrival?”
“Exactly.”
“Hm, that’s weird.”
“…?”

Except for Dohyeon, Group 2 voiced complaints.

Meanwhile, Group 1 looked at them in disbelief.

“Huh? We awakened first, didn’t we?”
“Yeah, technically we’re seniors.”
“Exactly, the instructor assigned fairly.”
“Why are they complaining?”
“…”

Ji Yuchan said nothing but looked satisfied, unlike Dohyeon.

Kim Areum smiled to herself, as planned, and then proposed a suggestion to fan the flames further.

“Hm, the resistance is stronger than expected. How about this?”

Everyone turned to her, focusing on her words—a very effective attention grab.

“In the Hunter world, skill comes first. After this lecture, we’ll have a short quiz. How about the group with the best score gets to be Group 1?”

Normally, this would have been disliked.

At their average age of mid-20s, no one likes sudden lectures and quizzes.

But this way:

“Good. Skill comes first.”
“We’ll show them what we’ve got.”
“Let’s show what awakening first means~!”
“Heh, exactly.”
“…Agreed.”

Group 1 spoke excitedly, while Ji Yuchan expressed his agreement more calmly.

“Huh, we arrived first and read the records first; how much difference can it make?”
“Exactly.”
“We’ll show them what we’ve got.”
“Let’s definitely show them.”
“…?”

Group 2 spoke confidently, while Dohyeon remained embarrassed and unsure.

With everyone aligned, Kim Areum smiled, satisfied, and began the lecture.

“Now, since it’s the first day, I’ll explain about the Black Gate.”

As she explained, she covered one of the basic laws of the Black Gate.

Starting with what ordinary people could understand:

“As you know, anyone can enter the Black Gate from where it appears, but never alone. The party system seen in games also applies here.”

The Black Gate party system was well-known among hunters. It didn’t appear visually but prevented solo entry, requiring entrants to come with others. Parties ranged from a minimum of 3 to a maximum of 5 members.

“So splitting into groups now will be useful when you’re dispatched into the Black Gate after training.”

Despite the sudden change, the trainees focused intensely, unwilling to let Group 1 take the lead.

Dohyeon, although a bit lax, secretly worried.

‘I’m not confident about the test…’

Even in Group 2, seeing the others’ enthusiasm, he didn’t want to be a burden and concentrated.

However:

“When entering the Black Gate in a party, the first zone is fixed at F-rank. Reaching the end of the F-rank area allows entry into the dungeon, and you can… advance ranks.”

The lecture dragged on more than expected.

What should he do? Dohyeon thought, forcing himself to absorb the information. Then something appeared in front of him.

[Analyzing information on the Black Gate.]
[Recording information.]

The two-line message made him feel as if the analysis itself were speaking:

Difficult test? I’ll help.

‘Thanks, Analysis.’

The lecture went on for two hours, and the results were:

“Ahahaha! Dohyeon is the best!”
“Full marks!?”
“Th-This can’t be!?”
“No! How many points for Yuchan?”
“…Just one mistake.”
“Ah…”

Dohyeon’s victory was overwhelming.

Thus, Dohyeon’s group became Group 1.