Chapter 20: Maintaining Discipline.

“Why are you two getting involved? If you want, I can make you crawl on the ground like Seong Hyun-wook. So go ahead and try.”

The two looked at each other and then shook their heads at me as they spoke.

“Th…that can’t be true. We need to take Seong Hyun-wook to the hospital… Is it okay if we leave now?”

• Swish

I glanced at Seong Hyun-wook, who was lying on the ground. His body was riddled with bullet holes, blood stains splattered everywhere, and the additional effects of the fire and magic bullets had left him in a pitiful state.

“Go and clean it up.”

As I said this, the two quickly hoisted Seong Hyun-wook onto their shoulders and ran away.

• Thud
• Thud

As I watched them leave, Han Bo-eun approached me and asked,

“Wh…who on earth are you?”

From her attitude, it was clear that she didn’t think much of Seong Hyun-wook. Therefore, she didn’t really care whether he was hurt or not. Given that he had been pestering her daily and showing off in front of others, it was only natural for her to feel this way. Thus, Han Bo-eun’s question stemmed purely from surprise.

How could a gunslinger have such overwhelming combat ability against an inspector?

It would take a long explanation, so I kept it brief.

“I was lucky to obtain a good item.”

“That can’t just be because of an item…”

As Han Bo-eun looked at me with a serious expression, I shrugged my shoulders and replied.

“What’s important right now isn’t that. The class is about to start.”

She glanced at her phone in a hurry and exclaimed with a shocked expression.

“Oh no!”

She hurriedly began to head back to class, and Lee Hyun-seung followed her.

“Where are you going? You’re part of Class A, aren’t you? Class A is located somewhere else.”

Until now, people still thought that Lee Hyun-seung was in Class A. They were unaware that he had transferred to Class F. So, Han Bo-eun questioned him in surprise, but Lee Hyun-seung replied casually.

“I’m transferring to Class F starting today.”

“What?! Why on earth? The benefits of being in Class A are enormous…”

As Han Bo-eun looked at Lee Hyun-seung in disbelief, he answered.

“If I’m in Class A, I won’t be able to crush those guys in a sweep.”

“What?”

Han Bo-eun seemed not to have heard him and asked again, but I waved my hands to stop her.

“No, it’s nothing. Now that we’ve arrived, let’s go in.”

Before long, the classroom for Class F at the academy came into view.

• Creak
• Et-!

As I opened the front door and stepped inside, numerous students were waiting for us.

Once I looked inside, Jeong Eun-seok glanced at me with a delighted expression but then gave a puzzled look at Han Bo-eun, who was next to me.

At that moment, one of the instructors for Class F, Son Sae-bom, turned to us and said,

“Han Bo-eun, and Lee Hyun-seung, who is transferring to Class F today? You’re a bit late for class.”

She spoke with an indifferent expression. After a pause, she continued.

“Han Bo-eun, please take your seat. Since you’re late, you’ll receive a demerit, so please don’t forget that.”

Han Bo-eun responded with a drooping expression.

“Understood…”

As Han Bo-eun took her seat, I was left standing alone at the front. Looking around, I noticed that many people were staring at me.

It was only natural. It was uncommon for someone to transfer in the middle of the semester. In fact, voluntary movement from a higher class to a lower class was almost unprecedented.

Many wished to move up to higher classes, but no one wanted to descend to a lower class. Unless there were unavoidable circumstances, like someone not attending class at all, as in the case of Jeong Eun-seo, it was practically unheard of for someone to voluntarily move down to a lower class.

I could confidently say I was the first to do so voluntarily.

Instructor Son Sae-bom used magic to write in large letters on the blackboard. It read, “Self-Introduction.”

“Lee Hyun-seung. Since you’re transferring to our class, I imagine some people know you, but many might not. So, before we start, please give us a brief introduction. You’ll be spending nearly nine months with these people.”

Excluding the part of the semester that had already passed, I had about nine months left as a first-year student at Broad Academy. The duration of study at Broad Academy was three years. During this time, I had to grow stronger by participating in extermination missions and various quests to acquire the power necessary to confront Hileon and that damn Yu Hee-yeon’s parents, who operated the Artemis Guild. At least, as long as I was enrolled in the academy, they wouldn’t openly attack me.

• Swish

Before greeting everyone, I briefly scanned the room.

The most noticeable person was, without a doubt, Jeong Eun-seo. She was staring at me intently. I also noticed quite a few other males and females. With a capacity of about 50 to 60 students, Class F had a decent size.

‘It seems there are quite a few who see me as an adversary.’

Lee Hyun-seung had clashed significantly with both Yu Hee-yeon and Seong Hyun-wook in Class A, and everyone had witnessed that scene yesterday at the academy’s center. Especially in the case of Yu Hee-yeon, being the daughter of the Artemis Guild leader meant that she had supporters within the academy. Naturally, that influence extended to Class F as well. To those supporting her, Lee Hyun-seung must have looked quite unsightly.

Indifference. Caution. Hostility.

These were the emotions visible in the eyes of most students. I understood. After all, I had only just arrived here a day ago.

With that in mind, Lee Hyun-seung opened his mouth.

“Hello. I’m Lee Hyun-seung, transferring from Class A at Broad Academy to Class F. I am an Awakened and a gunslinger.”

During self-introductions, it was customary to mention one’s name and awakened job. The job’s rank could be attached or omitted at will, depending on one’s choice.

However, I chose not to specify mine. Just coming from Class A was already drawing considerable caution, and mentioning a legendary job would only raise more alarm.

At that moment, I heard murmurs from the students seated.

• What? His job is gunslinger?
• Ah… I wondered why he transferred here from Class A. So it’s because he awakened as a gunslinger.
• Well, it’s true that someone with the gunslinger class would find it difficult to achieve meaningful practical results in Classes A to D. It could be seen as a smart move.

The reactions from the other students weren’t very welcoming. This was somewhat expected.

‘But why is that guy acting like that?’

In particular, one man was staring at me with a strange gaze. It wasn’t a sticky or lecherous look. It was as if he regarded me as an enemy.

‘Who the hell is he?’

Even if I were a veteran of Broad Academy Online, I didn’t remember every single loser in Class F. He had small, ferret-like eyes that looked torn. I vaguely remembered him, but his identity eluded me.

‘Oh, I remember now.’

Moon Cheol-woong. He was one of Yu Hee-yeon’s followers. His parents were connected to the Artemis Guild, and he had played the role of a third-rate villain, engaging in various underhanded deeds to secure a position within the guild.

As I pondered Moon Cheol-woong, Instructor Son Sae-bom patted my back and said,

“I think that’s enough for introductions. Please move to the empty spot over there.”

With Son Sae-bom’s words, I began to walk toward the vacant seats.

• Thud
• Thud
• Thud

How many steps had I taken when I heard a faint snicker? It was an unpleasant and blatant sound of derision.

• Thud
• Thud

As I approached the direction from which the sound came, a large foot appeared before me.

• Swish

Someone had extended their foot into my path, as if to trip me.

When I looked up to see who it was, it was Moon Cheol-woong.

‘No way… Is he trying to trip me with that?’

It was such an absurd situation that I stared at his leg, which was spread out in a childish display of bravado, typical of elementary or middle school kids. Just as I was about to ignore it and step aside, I felt a surge of annoyance and came up with a clever idea.

• Swish

I deliberately pretended to stumble and leaped toward the spot where he had placed his leg.

“Uh… uh….!”

Feigning a loss of balance, I foolishly dashed forward.

• Wham!

I tripped and fell right over Moon Cheol-woong’s leg.

• Hooomph—!

As I soared into the air, I quickly moved my hand to the gun at my waist.

Simultaneously, I slammed my hand down with the gun as I fell to the ground.

• Kwang—!

“Ughhh~! My foot! My foot~!!”

Looking at Moon Cheol-woong, who was writhing in pain after being shot in the foot, I said with a sincere expression,

“Are you okay? That must hurt a lot….”