Perfect Score

“100 points.”

“….”

“….”

My score came out of the professor’s mouth.

And in that instant, the classroom fell into heavy silence.

Even the professor seemed unable to believe it, gripping my answer sheet tightly without continuing.

A few seconds passed.

“Did I hear that wrong?”

“I think I did too. That’s real?”

“100 in Monster Studies? Isn’t that the first in Phoenix Academy history?”

The silence shattered as my classmates erupted.

The professor was no different.

“Unbelievable. 100 points… even active hunters struggle to achieve that.”

“Professor! This is the first, right?”

“Yes. At least for this subject, I’ve overseen it since the academy was founded.”

“Wooooah!”

Cheers broke out.

Since it was a score none of them expected to achieve, curiosity outweighed jealousy.

Of course.

Not everyone felt that way.

“Professor Han! This makes no sense!”

“What exactly doesn’t make sense?”

“A perfect score itself! Cheating or—”

“Cheating? Before questioning my supervision, do you think this exam could be perfected through cheating?”

“Th-that…”

“Even with an open book, the last question couldn’t be answered.”

The student glared at me.

Sharp eyes. Neat hair.

‘Didn’t expect jealousy from Won Jong-hyo.’

Won Jong-hyo.

Second place in our class, right behind Cha Seoyeon.

His score was… 92.

Annoying, but capable.

Still.

Why was he more upset than Cha Seoyeon?

“Still, it’s strange! He just awakened—maybe he used an ability—”

“That’s enough. No one can use abilities here unnoticed.”

Crunch.

His teeth grinding echoed.

The room fell silent again.

The professor sighed.

“Look at his face.”

“…Face?”

Everyone turned toward me.

I had been keeping my head down.

But now—

I had no choice.

“Sigh…”

My head felt heavy.

I just wanted to sleep.

As I lifted it—

“Gasp!”

“What happened to his face…?”

“Was he always like that?”

“He’s pale… those dark circles…”

“…Zombie?”

Seriously?

That’s too much.

Even Won Jong-hyo nodded.

“…He must have worked hard.”

“Yaaawn, that was a good sleep!”

After the written exams, I slept for a full day.

Results?

All perfect.

I almost collapsed during the last exam.

But I held on.

Thanks to that—

[Quest ‘I studied from the textbook.’ completed.]

[Reward: 100,000 points acquired.]

My points were restored.

“Is it because of mana? My recovery is insane.”

– Your body is still weak compared to your talent.

“I was basically a normal person a few days ago.”

Looking in the mirror—

The dark circles were gone.

Color returned to my face.

Hunter regeneration.

Experiencing it firsthand felt different.

“The next exam is dungeon clearing, right?”

Not a real gate.

An artificial dungeon.

A simulated environment.

And—

Team-based.

Professors would assign teams.

“I wonder who I’ll get…”

“Professor Han, have you finalized the teams?”

“Not yet.”

“That’s surprising.”

Inside the faculty office.

Han Tae-su stared at student profiles.

Struggling.

He was in charge of team assignments.

“I had a plan, but a major variable appeared.”

“Which is?”

“Jung Woo Hyuk.”

“…Ah, the dimensional magic student?”

“Yes. Though he seems more like a physical-type now.”

“I heard he fought 50 goblins and defeated 17 students.”

His reputation had spread.

Far from normal.

All his actions were recorded.

“And he scored 100.”

“100? What about Cha Seoyeon?”

“98.”

“I expected a 100 this semester—but from her!”

“I didn’t expect this either.”

Not just that.

Woo Hyuk scored 100 in all written exams.

No cheating.

Pure knowledge.

“So that’s why you’re struggling.”

“Yes. Previously, I could pair him with Cha Seoyeon. But now…”

“That would break balance.”

“Exactly.”

Team assignments affected scores.

Balance was crucial.

Otherwise complaints would flood in.

“Then how about this?”

– Instead of training blindly, using dimensional stones is more efficient.

“They’re too expensive. Maybe if there’s a discount.”

– The first purchase bonus was already generous.

“I know.”

After exams.

I reviewed the shop.

And realized—

How insane the first bonus was.

I didn’t fully understand the system.

But Monas wasn’t just chasing profit.

“Anyway, not yet. The shop is for the right moment.”

– You have 300,000 points.

“And one decent stone wipes that out.”

– That shows their value.

“Exactly.”

I hadn’t used the shop since exams.

Instead—

I trained.

Nonstop.

Result:

[Status Window]

Name: Jung Woo Hyuk

Level: 1

Strength: 35 Agility: 34

Vitality: 23 Intelligence: 51

Remaining Points: 0

Talent: Dimensional Shop

Skills: Martial Arts Mastery Lv.2, Weapon Mastery Lv.2, Mana Cultivation Lv.2

‘Good.’

Stats improved.

Skills leveled up.

Slow compared to stones.

But fast compared to normal hunters.

Skill levels usually take months.

Probably thanks to lingering sensations from stones.

“Let’s go.”

Finally.

The practical exam day.

A massive open field.

Artificial dungeon.

Created using cores, hunter power, and science.

“Man, I’m nervous.”

“Even if it’s artificial, it’s dangerous.”

“They can stop it anytime though.”

“Still…”

“I just hope I get a good partner. Like Cha Seoyeon.”

“Impossible. They’ll balance teams.”

“Then she’ll get the weakest one. Poor guy.”

“Haha.”

Most students had gathered.

I quietly took my place.

And—

She was there.

Cha Seoyeon.

‘Of all people…’

Then—

[Quest ‘Who will make announcements now???’]

– Confess to Cha Seoyeon!!!

– Reward: 200,000 points

Slap!

‘Focus.’

No feelings.

Just awkward.

Also—

Why are there more exclamation marks now?

Then—

She spoke first.

“Congratulations on ranking first.”

“…Thanks.”

“I realized something. I still lack effort.”

Was she always this talkative?

She was known as cold.

“I assume you’re aiming for first in practical as well?”

“Of course.”

Her tone was cold.

But no jealousy.

Only competitiveness.

“I won’t lose this time.”

So she sees me as a rival.

Fair enough.

“I won’t either.”

Our short exchange ended.

Then—

Professor Han and others appeared.

The practical exam.

Had begun.

“First, I’ll announce the teams.”