Acquired the Scam Rune in the Academy

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Late December.

The year is already coming to an end.

For me who fell into a new world, this was the first year-end I’ve ever experienced in this life.

With so many words and so many escapes this year.

The 2nd semester which was especially full of incidents and accidents…

Now it’s really rushing towards the end.

<Notice of End of 2nd Semester>

– The end of this semester has been postponed by a week, from December 16 (Fri) to December 23 (Fri). Professors please adjust your lesson plans accordingly.

Although the temporary suspension period was a total of 2 weeks, the Academy flexibly adjusted the schedule and only postponed the end of 2nd semester by exactly one week.

Since this temporary suspension occurred due to internal circumstances of the Academy, they didn’t want to take away the individual schedules of the students for that reason.

As a result, the end of 2nd semester is December 23rd.

In other words, it was set before Christmas Eve and Christmas begin.

And of course, this was a decision that received enthusiastic cheers and support from the students.

<Everyday – West Hall A>

– Ending before Christmas makes so much sense.

└ I know right~ Don’t have to worry about exams and can just play during Christmas.

└ You don’t have anyone to spend Christmas with anyway.

└ Why you gotta fight?

– The Academy’s been doing pretty good with things lately. I wonder why.

└ It’s probably because Won-ho is running things alone now. I heard he has surpassed both Tak Won-hyuk and Tak Won-sang.

└ Really? Is that official?

└ It’s just my speculation.

– Honestly, warrior majors would probably have wanted to beat up the management and just get on with classes ᄏᄏ Anyone can manage things but not everyone can teach well

└ Is Tak Won-ho that bad? The professors are all so-so.

└ You just haven’t met any really good professors.

– Ah now that it’s ending I won’t be able to see the California snowscapes.. I enjoyed the snow views

└ But didn’t the American kids not end their semesters yet? How are they here in Korea?

└ I dunno lol

└ The US Academies operate on a 3 semester system ᄋᄋ When they came here it was their break.

It was Monday of the final week before end of semester.

While sitting in a corner of the classroom, I read the reactions posted on the student Holder community.

Although varied, there were a lot of evaluations that the Academy has been doing things well lately.

Of course, this was something I also agreed with.

Certainly, the Academy’s handling of things has become very decisive lately.

“It feels awkward that they’re suddenly doing things well.”

However, because they’re successively doing things they didn’t use to do, it just feels novel.

Beside me, Moon Ga-eun smiled at my words and replied.

“Pfft – The top management might feel bitter if they heard that.”

“Well. Things have been a bit strange in the past.”

“Are you gonna say that directly to Professor Tak Won-ho?”

“…..Ga-eun, is there anything you want to eat? Why do I feel, like talking again, let’s talk.”

“Ew, gross. Don’t.”

Shaking her head in displeasure, Moon Ga-eun soon smiled subtly and agreed with my words.

“But I admit that. It feels like the Academy has suddenly changed.”

Honestly from the position of a member student, it’s confusing how decisively things are being handled.

Up till now, the Seoul Holder Academy had quite a more negative than positive image.

Monopoly over the domestic academy market.

Lack of manpower and deterioration of professor quality.

Stuffy and suffocating internal management…

Just listing three things off the top of my head fills up my hands.

The image was so bad that whenever an incident occured, the media would pounce on it like flies.

To the point that the Tak clan managing the operations foundation were labeled ‘incompetent’.

“It’s like a complete rebirth after the last operation?”

“To be precise, it started since 2nd semester.”

“Ah, right.”

The Academy that was like that has changed.

The starting point was the recruitment of famous lecturers starting 2nd semester.

By successively recruiting capable senior Holders like Yoo Eun-seol, Jeong Seon-young, Lim Hyun etc, they drastically raised the qualitative level of Academy education in the short term.

And the decisive blow was the successful <Villain> subjugation operation last time.

Right after the successful conclusion of the operation, the Academy decisively showed great handling as if they were waiting for it.

They provided definite compensation to the victims of the raid and operation, and cleanly tidied up the Academy interior that was about to become ruins during the suspension period.

On top of that, they smoothly progressed collaboration with the California Holder Academy that had been in preparation for a long time, launching surprising projects one after another that astonished even students.

Things like bringing forward the end semester date were just icing on the cake with their detailed and flexible handling of miscellaneous matters.

“So that rumor was true after all.”

“What rumor?’

Hearing my question, Moon Ga-eun looked around briefly then… Moved closer towards me and whispered.

“That, there was a spy from <Villain> amongst the management.”

“…….”

At first listen it sounds like a conspiracy theory, but it wasn’t a story completely lacking in credibility.

The opponent allocation during the final evaluations last 1st semester, or the incompetent supervisors, or Kim Do-yoon’s sketchy <Harvesting of By-product> team allocation this 2nd semester… Just the strange phenomena I’ve personally experienced is quite plentiful alreadfy.

It wouldn’t have felt out of place at all if <Villain>’s influence had entered.

Moreover, those guys infiltrate even the 3 major clans and the Holder Association, so there was no reason they couldn’t infiltrate the Academy management either.

Cha Soo-yeon and Ji Yoon-jae who are currently under intensive interrogation by the Holder Association.

If they could extract information from those two who were core spies within the Academy, they could probably draw more definite conclusions.

“In any case, it’s good that things have changed.”

“I know right. Honestly I didn’t expect much.”

Whatever the process…

The current Academy has changed.

Especially looking at how Professor Tak Won-ho has been extremely busy lately, in terms of Academy operations it feels like the Tak heir has clearly seized leadership amongst the siblings.

It was satisfactory progress to wrap up the year well and have high anticipations for next year.

“Ah, the professor’s here.”

While chatting about this and that with Moon Ga-eun…

Professor Kim Kwang-boo entered the classroom on time.

It was for the last lesson of <Harvesting of By-product>, one of only 2 general compulsory modules this semester.

“Greetings students.”

<Harvesting of By-product> is a lecture that aims to have students directly harvest byproducts from monsters like magic stones, and ultimately attain the [Slaughter] rune.

Although it hit a brief snag due to the Kim Do-yoon incident, Professor Kim Kwang-boo skillfully led the lecture to completion leveraging his expertise.

Today was a time to sum up the lessons so far, and talk briefly about the direction students should take in future.

Since it was mainly practical focused due to the nature of the class, there was no final exam in particular.

After about 30 minutes of talking…

Professor Kim Kwang-boo gradually wrapped up the lesson.

” … As you are all aware, the talents of Rune Holders are divided into innate and acquired. And most Slaughter belongs to the category of acquired talents.”

The professor continued speaking after catching his breath for a bit.

“Even if you have not attained a Slaughter-type rune before this semester ends, I hope students will not feel too disappointed. As I’ve always emphasized, harvesting by-products is a battle of perseverance and patience.”

Innate talent and acquired talent.

If the former refers to the runes attained upon awakening, the latter refers to runes that can be attained depending on the efforts of the Holder.

Like how Kim Chae-eun attained [Frozen Battlefield], or how Song Hyun will soon attain [Sword].

Even after initial awakening, Rune Holders have ample opportunities to attain more runes afterwards.

[Slaughter] is the most representative common rune belonging to subsequent attainment.

Just like how I had previously taken lessons and attained [Magic Control], I also took <Harvesting of By-product> hoping to attain the [Slaughter] rune.

‘….in the end I didn’t get it though.’

I earnestly attended the lessons but unfortunately could not attain the rune.

It could be that I have no talent for Slaughter.

Or it may not have been the right timing for me to attain the rune yet.

But even without talent, it wasn’t a huge issue.

Even without attaining the actual rune, <Harvesting of By-product> greatly aided my understanding towards monsters and their by-products.

If a truly crucial moment arises in future I can just attain it with [Rune Hunter].

“That concludes today’s lesson, no, the Harvesting of By-product lessons this semester. Thank you everyone for your hard work.”

Following Professor Kim Kwang-boo’s words…

The first lesson of 2nd semester, came to an end.

With the students’ words of appreciation, the packed classroom started emptying out one by one.

“Waaa it’s over—“

Once the lesson ended, Moon Ga-eun happily cheered while stretching.

Seeing that, I also involuntarily laughed.

“That happy?”

“Yup! It finally feels like the semester is ending. A bit disappointed I didn’t get the Slaughter rune though.”

Moon Ga-eun was also similarly unable to attain the rune.

She greatly regretted it.

Despite <Royal> already having professional slaughter experts, she really wanted to attain [Slaughter] herself or something like that.

Aside from me Moon Ga-eun was also quite an interested Holder when it came to attaining common runes.

I briefly glanced at my watch and asked her.

“Don’t you have exams today?”

“Nope. All my exams are clustered on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.”

“That’s good then. Come by the Circle clubroom for a bit later.”

Hearing that, Moon Ga-eun’s eyes widened.

“Holding a meeting?”

“Yeah, for like 30 minutes? Wanted to keep it short since most people can’t make it this last week.”

Although <Villain> clan was mostly eliminated through the last operation, <Anti-Villain> Circle still remained.

Partly because there were still <Villain> clan members lurking throughout society.

And also because I, as the Circle President, have not given any particular stance.

Today’s meeting was to discuss directions for <Anti-Villain>’s future.

Just as the Academy was ending lessons properly, it was time for me who started this circle to tie up loose ends responsibly.

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