Chapter 106: Final Exam (2)

The charging male student crouched low.

A truncheon hidden in his sleeve extended, aiming for my shin.

I kicked it lightly.

But as my foot neared—

Swish—

The truncheon retracted faster than it extended, returning to its original size.

My kick hit the air.

Caught off guard by the cheap trick, my balance wavered.

“What.”

“Get him!”

Ye-jin’s shout triggered attacks from all sides.

The truncheon stretched again, targeting my other leg.

Another student’s twin swords aimed for my side.

Ye-jin circled, throwing a punch, white needles protruding between her fingers.

Three attacks from different directions, each with slight timing differences.

I didn’t miss the stagger.

Whoosh!—

I pressed one hand to the ground, pinning the truncheon.

Spinning 360 degrees in place, I kicked the swords away and shattered the needles.

The needles broke easily, scattering.

I scratched my head, eyeing them as they retreated.

Like other groups, I thought it was a panicked move under pressure.

Now, I wasn’t sure.

“That just now. Planned?”

Ye-jin didn’t answer, grinning instead.

“Seriously.”

As I marveled, arrows flew between the three.

I frowned at the late arrows.

“Timing’s off.”

Their earlier combo was smooth.

These arrows felt out of place.

Had they synced, it’d be threatening.

Now, just arrows.

I tilted my head, dodging.

As they grazed my face—

Boom!—

A short mechanical sound, and the arrow exploded.

Not strong, but close to my face, the shock hit.

I could’ve dodged faster than the blast, but my body didn’t move.

Looking down—

Crack—

Ice climbed from my soles to ankles, locking me.

At its center, the shattered needles gleamed.

“Damn.”

My short curse was swallowed by the explosion.

Boom! Boom!—

More arrows exploded in succession.

Black smoke cleared, revealing me shielding my face with my right hand.

“This…”

I waved the smoke away.

“Got me.”

Normally, I’d clap away the blast, but with my left hand’s state, it’d reopen healing wounds.

Worse, So-hee’s handkerchief would tear.

I took the blast with my body.

I looked at the ice, now at my knees.

“That weapon from then?”

“Yup.”

Ye-jin answered instantly, showing her weapon.

A glossy silver orb, jiggling like jelly with her hand’s movement.

Clenching her fist, it morphed freely.

“Shapes however I want, and I can imbue Traits in fragments.”

She controlled Trait activation, reabsorbing broken pieces for reuse.

Perfect for her, lacking ranged attacks.

The price shocked her, but I got it for free.

I nodded, understanding.

That function guaranteed a hit against the unaware.

“Solid trump card. Shows thought.”

Pointing at the ice, I asked?

“Can you adjust its power?”

Beyond cold, it seeped into bone and flesh.

Dangerous—could sever the ankles of weaker villains.

“Overkill if you don’t want to be called an excessive hero.”

She nodded vigorously.

“Of course.”

“Good. The tool’s great, but mastering it’s skill.”

I broke the ice with a light move, stepping aside.

They were stunned by my ease.

They didn’t expect me to fall, but no damage?

“Anyway, nice.”

I was praised, rare for me, and asked?

“Got more strategies?”

“Got three hundred stronger ones.”

Ye-jin boasted smugly.

Lie.

I’d set up their group hours ago; they’d only learned each other’s Traits then.

They’d cooked up three joint strategies.

The best one is just used.

The others wouldn’t work on me.

“Looking forward to that. Breaking well-thought plans on the fly’s fun. Again?”

Ye-jin grabbed a brick from the alley, throwing it at me.

Crush—

The brick dust clouded my vision as they charged.

Arrows came first.

I caught one, throwing it at the others before it exploded.

It didn’t.

“Explosions on command?”

Da-yeon, sniping from outside, was annoying, but I had to deal with the three first.

Ye-jin’s hands wore silver boxing gloves now.

Knowing not to touch, I grabbed the wrist between thumb and finger, yanking her, tossing her to the alley’s other side.

Crash!—

The other two moved well, annoyingly.

A step aimed a high kick at my instep.

I leaned back, dodging.

My habitual dodge was calculated.

The student rolled, not stopping the kick’s force.

With his [Vibration] Trait, the ground under me shook.

Beside, a [Double] Trait straight punch targeted my side.

I pulled my fist back, blocking with my arm.

Two impacts hit.

I didn’t counter, letting them push me back.

It dodged Ye-jin’s attack from behind.

“Slow thinking. Move in parallel.”

If blocked, don’t plan—act instantly.

Another tight exchange ended.

I stepped back.

“That was unexpected.”

From thousands of villain fights, I could tell plans from improvised combos.

Theirs was pure improv.

Who led needed checking, but it was my students’ skill.

I was satisfied.

“Alright, I’ll give it to you. You’ve improved tons. Five times since semester started. More?”

Pure praise, but they couldn’t rejoice.

The pressure around me doubled.

“You guys can handle a higher gear.”

I raised both hands, thumbs and fingers forming Ls.

No mere fingers.

Raising them made their weapons feel like toothpicks.

Smiling, I wagged them.

“I’ll try not to hurt you, but accidents happen. Sorry in advance.”

They tensed, shrinking.

Instinct screamed: unlike Se-ah’s gauging, I meant to crush them.

“Hold on a bit longer.”

I charged.

* * *

Among the fallen students, Da-yeon appeared last, gripping an arrow backward, stabbing at me.

I moved first.

Crouching, I jabbed her ribs with my thumb and finger.

“Gah!”

Pain like a pierced lung—she exhaled, dropping the arrow, collapsing.

All down.

I rubbed my chin, eyeing them.

“Five minutes? You’ve really grown.”

They could fight A-rank villains in real combat, no issue for non-combat specialists.

“Next semester, I’ll push harder.”

Their unconscious flinches weren’t imagined.

I grabbed my radio.

Switching channels, tapping it, speakers across the hall echoed.

“Test over. All to the entrance, ASAP. Over.”

Fifteen minutes later, all the students gathered.

The city’s scale demanded time.

They saw—

Se-ah, atop Gom-gom, shaking me by the collar.

“You abuse a patient like this?”

“Patient my ass! Go to the hospital!”

Hearing from So-hee about today, Se-ah fumed, betrayed.

Not for working her, but for not sharing the crisis.

Treated like an outsider, untrusted with key facts.

Even if she’d object, making persuasion hard, I should’ve told her.

Feeling her hurt, I took the scolding.

Not hitting, just yelling.

Seeing the students, I freed her grip.

“Settle this later.”

“Tch. You’re dead.”

She stepped aside, clicking her tongue.

Sighing at my stretched shirt, I asked?

“All here?”

“Yes.”

Da-yeon answered for them.

I glanced at her, then the group.

“Good work. Haven’t checked Se-ah’s results, but from my test, you likely aced hers too.”

Not just her no-failures comment or blind faith—I was half-sure.

Their group combat against me cleared my minimum bar, outclassing Academy peers.

Se-ah’s test?

Easy pass.

“I wanted more sessions, but academic rules blocked it. Exam classes end here, no forced meetings.”

I’d hoped for feedback sessions, but rules banned it.

“Results will be posted online. Check individually.”

I paused, rubbing my neck.

“First day of finals, you’ve got more. Sorry for starting with a tough one.”

They looked surprised.

Other classes were trash—focus on mine!

Exaggerated, but my usual vibe.

They didn’t expect this.

They’d changed over the semester, and so had I.

I still valued practice over theory, but theory mattered too, I’d learned.

“But you aced this harsh test. Pen-pushing exams should be easy.”

I clapped lightly.

“That’s it for finals. Good work this semester.”

I ended the term.

* * *

Calming Se-ah’s renewed fury, I hit the infirmary for minimal first aid.

I planned to go to the Association, but So-hee’s glare—ready for war—stopped me.

After treatment, I called them.

Proving the issue’s weight, they sent an agent instantly.

I rode their car, not So-hee’s Bbi Bbi.

But we didn’t reach the Association.

Looking out, I doubted my eyes.

Not Association HQ or Legal Department—it was Zero—Chain, the nation’s strictest prison.

Ji-an’s visit and questioning were set for today, so she’d be inside.

Only guards and inmates existed there.

She’d been locked up without process, ignoring my warning.

Crack—

Veins bulged on my hand against the window.

Crushing the door, I muttered.

“Crossing the line.”

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