IEOS 07

Chapter 07

Episode 7: Rival? (3)It was breakfast time for the trainees.

The instructors also needed to eat, but because of one matter, they were all called together without eating.

Led by Head Instructor Hwang Hana, all six instructors gathered, including Choi Pil, who was in charge of physical training.
Since it was Choi Pil who had called the meeting—not Hwang Hana—no one complained.

Despite his appearance, Choi Pil was highly respected as a healer assigned to the Hunter Association.
In fact, there wasn’t a single instructor here who hadn’t received help from him inside the Black Gate.

It wasn’t just because of his intimidating muscles that looked like they would tear through his uniform.

It really wasn’t.

Crack, crack—!

Flinch!

…Probably not.

Anyway, while some instructors were still twitching at Choi Pil’s out-of-place, world-breaking muscles, he stepped forward and spoke.

“First, thank you for making time in your busy schedules to gather here according to my request.”

Contrary to his appearance, his tone was gentle, and several instructors secretly let out sighs of relief before focusing on what he had to say.

The reason he gathered them was simple.

“Normally, at most five trainees enter at once.
However, the Seoul Hunter Training Center currently has an unusual case — ten trainees at once.
Therefore, I would like to propose dividing them into two groups of five.”

At the polite suggestion, several instructors tilted their heads.

Ten trainees was a lot, but still only ten.
Even if all instructors taught together, it wouldn’t be a problem.

Some showed doubt, but Hwang Hana, who had already observed the trainees, nodded.

“You want to encourage competition.”

“Yes, exactly.
Even during this morning’s training, the five who entered earlier and the five who entered later naturally formed a competitive dynamic.
It seemed to split into two sides led by trainee Lee Dohyun and trainee Ji Yuchan.”

At Hwang Hana’s words, Choi Pil nodded immediately.

The other instructors also nodded.

Competition had always been something that made people stronger.

Still, some instructors looked puzzled.

Ji Yuchan made sense — they had heard about him.
But Lee Dohyun?

They had seen his file, but nothing stood out.

One instructor finally asked.

“Does trainee Lee Dohyun really have the competitiveness to rival Ji Yuchan?
On paper, he doesn’t look any different from the others.”

It was Instructor Kim Areum, a short female instructor in charge of morning information training.

Her doubt matched what several others were thinking.

Competition only worked if both sides were competitive.

They asked Choi Pil, but the answer came from someone else.

“I believe he’s more than competitive enough.
Even Ji Yuchan seems to be conscious of Lee Dohyun.”

“Ah—if Head Instructor says so, then it must be true.”

Kim Areum quickly nodded at Hwang Hana’s words.

In fact, Kim Areum had been an instructor longer than Hwang Hana.
Actually, no one here had less experience than Hwang Hana.

As an instructor and as a hunter.

But no one here was more skilled than her.

So when Hwang Hana spoke, doubts disappeared.

In the hunter world, nothing outranked ability.

Longevity might matter, but that didn’t apply to instructors below C-rank.

Hwang Hana, on the other hand, had reached the B-rank zone faster than anyone in Korea.

According to training center records, she had been pushed from 1st to 2nd place two months ago,
but still, no one had reached B-rank faster than her.

So her opinion carried weight.

And then—

“I agree with Head Instructor Hwang Hana.
During morning training, trainee Lee Dohyun surpassed trainee Ji Yuchan and showed the best physical performance.”

Choi Pil’s statement caused a stir.

Ji Yuchan lost?

Everyone here had read all ten files.

“What?! Ji Yuchan lost?”
“His physical stats were considered top-class…”
“Wasn’t Lee Dohyun’s much lower?
Honestly, I think even the female trainees were stronger.”
“Exactly.”
“Huh…?”

Everyone hurriedly reopened the files and started making notes.

It was that shocking.

Even Hwang Hana, who had recommended Dohyun, was surprised.

He already beat Ji Yuchan?

She thought learning basic skills from reading alone was impressive,
but physical ability wasn’t something easily overturned by luck or talent.

She expected Ji Yuchan to dominate for a few days at least.

But to overturn it on the very first morning…

Looking at Dohyun’s file, she muttered inwardly.

What exactly is he?

He learned basic techniques and magic instantly from books,
and his physical ability jumped up overnight.

Even she couldn’t understand it.

The other instructors were even more excited.

A new monster had appeared.

Since they were passionate about teaching, they began discussing how to train them more effectively.

“Then let’s divide them into teams and make them compete.”
“Hmm, a shop-point system would be convenient.”
“Changing from ranking to team points is easy.”
“Let’s start from the next class.”
“Competition… I like it.”

Watching the excited instructors,
Hwang Hana felt this batch might set a record.

What would happen from the very first day?

* * *

Room 201.

As soon as the instructor entered, Dohyun was startled.

Not because of the sudden team assignment.

Because of her status window.

Can a normal person be an instructor?

He thought that at first, but then she introduced herself.

“Hello. For the next month, I will be in charge of your information education.
I am Kim Areum, PhD in Black Gate Ecology.”

Black Gate ecology doctor.

That made sense.

She wasn’t a hunter, so she couldn’t have skills.

Too bad for AP farming.

Well, it was just a class, so he didn’t care.

Kim Areum continued.

“Before the lecture, an announcement.
Because there are many trainees, we will divide into teams.”

“Teams?”
“Group assignments…?”

Some trainees looked pale, remembering bad memories,
but their expressions changed at her next words.

“Yes. Five per team.
For the next month, all training and classes will be evaluated by team.
The better team earns more points.”

Everyone looked surprised, but also strangely pleased.

They were already sitting in groups.

Kim Areum smirked inwardly.

The atmosphere is already there… and it’s tense.
Ji Yuchan too.
But…

Dohyun looked different.

He only looked confused, scratching his head like it was troublesome.

Does he dislike group work?

Too bad.

Inside the Black Gate, parties were mandatory.

Party training was part of this center’s role.

To fuel the fire, she called the names.

“Kwon Eunchae, Kim Yunjung, Park Dongwook, Ji Yuchan, Han Junseo — Team 1.
Gu Mina, Kim Yongchan, Park Yesul, Lee Dohyun, Jung Minwoo — Team 2.”

It was intentional.

Dohyun’s group, who came first, was made Team 2 to provoke rivalry.

And it worked.

“What? We came first, why Team 2?”
“Shouldn’t it be by order of entry?”
“Exactly.”
“That’s weird.”

Everyone in Team 2 complained except Dohyun.

Team 1 mocked them.

“We awakened first.”
“So we’re seniors.”
“Instructor assigned correctly.”
“Talking back to the instructor?”

Ji Yuchan said nothing, but looked satisfied.

Kim Areum smiled.

“Hmm… stronger resistance than expected.
Then how about this?”

Everyone focused.

“In the hunter world, ability comes first.
After this lecture, there will be a quiz.
The team with the highest score becomes Team 1.”

Normally, everyone would hate this.

Adults in their mid-20s suddenly taking tests?

No one likes that.

But now—

“Good. Ability first.”
“Let’s show them.”
“We’ll prove awakening first matters.”
“Sounds fun.”
“…Fine.”

Team 1 agreed calmly.

Team 2 also fired up.

“We read the records first.”
“We’ll show them.”
“We’ll prove it.”
“…?”

Only Dohyun looked confused.

Kim Areum smiled and began the lecture.

“Since it’s the first day, I’ll explain the Black Gate.”

She explained the basic rule.

“Anyone can enter the Black Gate from anywhere it appears.
But you can never enter alone.
A party system exists, just like in games.”

Minimum 3 people.
Maximum 5.

“So dividing teams will help when you are dispatched later.”

Everyone focused intensely.

Except Dohyun, who worried.

I’m not good at tests…

Still, he tried to listen.

But—

“When entering with a party, the first zone is always F-rank…”

It was boring.

Then a message appeared.

It felt like Analysis was saying:

Test hard? I’ll help.

Dohyun thought sincerely.

Thanks, Analysis.

Two hours later.

Result—

“HAHA! Dohyun is the best!”
“Perfect score?!”
“No way!”
“Yuchan, what did you get?!”
“…Missed one.”
“Ah…”

Complete victory.

Team Dohyun became Team 1.