"A Dual?"
"Him?"
"Isn't he that New Class guy?"
"Two dual classes in one generation? That's seriously crazy."
"Lucky bastard."
Various voices dug into Sihyun's ears. As the murmuring students sighed, other teachers conducting inscriptions postponed their tasks to flock around Sihyun.
"Did he just say that?"
"But if he's a Dual Class, the device should've reacted during the class test. Was there an error because he's also a New Class?"
"Then, let me fetch the testing device again."
"A New Class that's also a Dual? This has never happened before!"
Amidst the commotion of teachers, Sihyun, now completely surrounded, covered his neck. This was all because of his mark. Why did the author of "This Kind of Ending" create such a ridiculous setting where the mark disappears after completing an inscription?
If the author was here in front of him he would have wanted to give them at least one good smack. No, considering what he's been through, Sihyun would like to hit them at least three or four times more. As Sihyun was looking around to get a sense of others reactions, he was met with a pair of purple eyes staring at him.
"..."
Hamin's expression seemed complicated. At first glance, it seemed like he was surprised, yet he also appeared frustrated, but then his eyes shifted to looking melancholic.
Sihyun expected his pride to be hurt when he found out that he wasn't the only Dual Class freshman, considering his role as the troublemaker male lead in this webnovel [1], but Sihyun didn't think that he would make that kind of expression.
Is he regretting not becoming partners with me?
Looking at Hamin it seemed like a real possibility. As he quickly turned away from me, the last thing I saw was his furrowed brow. The teacher quickly set down the class testing device in front of Sihyun, by now he was familiar with what to do.
"Quickly, raise your hand, Sihyun!"
"...Is this really necessary?"
Feeling uneasy looking at the obscure object, Sihyun tried to express his reluctance, but the excited teacher nodded vehemently.
"Yes! Sihyun might become the strongest in history!"
He hated the thought of that.
History. He didn't want to be involved in something like that. Even though he tried frowning and expressing his hesitation, the teachers disregarded his will and persistently urged him with the tester. "Come on, raise your hand. Come on!" Urging from all sides made his insides tremble.
Why the Copy ability of all things?
It would have been better if it was an ability that smashed the testing device.
"If a black light appears, it confirms that you're Dual Class! Since the New Class is already inscribed, the tester won't react to it!"
"Why am I feeling so nervous?"
Sihyun heard the teachers whispering nervously behind him. He swallowed hard and stared at the tester right in front of him. Though he felt it was inconvenient to do this with so much focus on him, he closed his eyes, knowing there was nothing he could do about it.
Not black light, not black light, not black light.
Sometimes you can change outcomes through pure human desperation alone. If this was a drama that would be the case at least.
"..."
He knew it was futile, but Sihyun couldn't help hoping for a drastic result to happen. He placed his trembling hands on the tester.
Vrrmm, vrrmm. He felt the tester vibrating under his hand. A familiar sensation by now.
He hoped that it wouldn't react like it did with the New Class.
He tried to cling onto a slender hope, but it was no use. Along with a slightly longer vibration, a flash of light emerged, illuminating the tent. Fortunately, it wasn't black light.
It was a dazzling platinum light.
"..."
As if the world was ending, silence enveloped everything. Perplexed by a light he'd never seen before, Sihyun, after briefly being dazzled by the platinum light, looked at the now silent black tester.
He was anxious. Even more than before.
Consumed by an incredibly anxious premonition, swallowing hard, looking at the teachers as if possessed, they, as if connected to an oxygen respirator, collectively took a deep breath.
"...Triple? No, even more than that?"
"..."
Sihyun's mouth hung open. He understood right away what the teachers were feeling. At a loss for words he started putting together the puzzle piece by piece.
When inscribing, the tester doesn't react to classes that have already been inscribed. It also doesn't react to a class that hasn't been registered into the machine yet. When a mark has been properly inscribed, it disappears. Even so, Sihyun's mark hadn't disappeared.
During the class test, the tester didn't react to me. I thought it was because I was a New Class, but Sihyun could now intuitively sense why the tester hadn't reacted to him.
It was because he was a perfect New Class.
A multiple ability user who can use four abilities, including Copy.
Facing the horrible truth, Sihyun sat with his mouth open, looking back at the teachers with a dazed expression. This can't be happening. Kang Sihyun definitely said that he was Dual Class…
'Since your abilities include mine, I'll explain them.'
Suddenly Kang Sihyun's words reappeared.
Since your abilities include mine.
He didn't mean that they had the same abilities, Kang Sihyun's abilities were included on top of his own. The words felt like they were echoing inside his head, it took a second for him to fully grip the situation. Holding his forehead, Sihyun could only grind his teeth. That teenager Kang Sihyun had been so excited to explain how 'Yu Sihyun' would be able to use his abilities.
Don't speak on things you don't know, kid.
There had been so much going on in his head at the time. He was trying to understand the copy ability, he was still shocked about being Dual Class, he was upset by Kang Sihyun's numerous confessions, and he kept having pessimistic thoughts about his role in all of this. Because of this he had brushed those words by Kang Sihyun off as inconsequential. But now those words had come back to haunt him. Frowning, he looked up at the teachers, hesitant of what to say.
'If only I knew… I would've avoided the mark verification even if I had to come up with nonsense like my mark being engraved on my heart.'
"Ha..."
He let out a complicated sigh that felt like his soul was leaving his body. Among the stupefied teachers, one timidly defined his class.
"Quadruple...."
Starting from the All-Rounder suitable for all classes, then Dual Class with two abilities, then Triple Class with three abilities. And now, the up until now unprecedented Quadruple Class, using four abilities.
The first Quadruple Class was born.
It was something that could happen someday. Yes, it could happen, but...
Sihyun didn't even consider that this would become his reality for a single second. It was as if words had truly turned into seeds and sprouted into history.
Is this it? The plot device or cheat that people who are reincarnated into novels get once in a while?
The original supporting male character in this webnovel, Kang Sihyun, possessed a New Class with a Dual Ability, which he had inherited when he was reincarnated into this word. But while the body belonged to Kang Sihyun, the soul was Yoo Sihyun's, resulting in a merge of their classes into a Quadruple... The more Sihyun delved into this mysterious hypothesis, the more he felt like collapsing, gazing blankly at the tester. He wanted to retract his complaint about not having cheat-like abilities akin to protagonists in fantasy novels.
He was an unprecedented Quadruple.
The possibility of gaining attention not only in Korea but also internationally loomed ahead. Interview requests would pour in from everywhere, and the entire media would craft articles about the first Quadruple Ability user. The whole nation would come to recognize his face, his name, and his class.
Lost in these thoughts, Sihyun closed his eyes. The goals he had set for his new life up until this morning flashed before his eyes.
Clang!
He heard something shatter. It was probably the fragile hope he held breaking apart.
"..."
At that moment Sihyun felt sorry for himself. He had finally made up his mind to live quietly, but now he just wanted to hit his head and die instead of facing whatever storm lies ahead.
Yet, whether Sihyun lived or died, the class announcement was inevitable. Students couldn't even let out a cheer at the teacher announcing the Quadruple class with a trembling voice.
As the atmosphere fell silent, the principal, who had been observing the situation, looked at the dazed Sihyun and narrowed his eyes.
"...Let's first finish the inscription and then proceed with a meeting regarding this matter."
Responding to the breaking of the silence, the teachers who had turned to watch obediently returned to their positions. Feeling the gazes of the students shift away from him as the marking resumed, Sihyun turned his head towards the principal.
"...I guess I should proceed with the remaining inscription too."
"...Yes."
With a subdued tone, the principal nodded. Seeing the unexpectedly somber expression on the principal's face, Sihyun suspected the reason but swallowed his thoughts.
Even in the midst of chaos, feeling the gazes directed at him, Sihyun turned to the principal.
"…I'll just choose one class."
At the dry statement, the principal widened his eyes. Though those who heard him turned their heads in disbelief, Sihyun remained unfazed.
"…May I know the reason?"
Looking at the principal, who seemed surprised, Sihyun didn't waver, meeting his gaze steadily.
"It's not necessary for me to possess all four classes just because I'm a Quadruple, right?"
"No, that doesn't need to be the case. However, all previous multiple ability users have chosen abilities corresponding to their classes."
It was a question of why he didn't follow suit. Expecting it, Sihyun sighed, surveying the surroundings. He had prepared all the justifications for this decision since he made up his mind for the first time to speak up about this.
"Just because everyone does it, doesn't mean I have to as well. It's burdensome for me."
"…."
"You see, I don't have confidence in handling all four class abilities."
"You won't know until you try, right?"
"I don't want to willingly take dangerous risks."
Sihyun wasn't leaving any room for debate, and the principal stared at him, blinking in confusion.
"Why would you think it was dangerous?"
It wasn't even an interrogation. At this point, it should have been convincing enough, yet the principal persisted. Sihyun wanted to move on from this conversation and looked away, his eyes landing on Daun.
Despite the chaotic atmosphere he could feel her glaring, her eyes seemed to ask what the hell he was doing. Sihyun held his breath and turned back towards the principal.
It seemed he had to go to that extent after all.
"In fact, I'm not in good health."
"…What?"
At the unexpected answer, the principal looked perplexed. Daun, standing beside him, sent him another look questioning what nonsense he was spouting. Despite those reactions, Sihyun continued with his lies calmly.
"I suffer from migraines and anemia. When stressed, I often fall ill. My stomach isn't well, and I vomited this morning too. That's why I'm afraid that trying to adapt to too many classes will only stress me out further."
Everything except vomiting was a blatant lie. As Daun's face contorted in disbelief, Sihyun, who didn't even spare a glance in her direction, shrugged. The shoulder shrug he learned from Kang Sihyun came in handy here.
"So, isn't it understandable that I would think handling all four classes would be mentally and physically burdensome?"
"…."
Despite giving the principal a pleading look, he just looked back at him in bewilderment. Completely disregarding Sihyun's sickly boy act, the principle's lips started twitching.
For a moment Shiyun was scared that he would get angry, but then laughter started filling the sports ground.
"Ha-ha-ha!"
Sihyun watched him laugh with a slightly uneasy expression. After letting out a laugh that was loud enough to reach beyond the school grounds, the principal straightened out his slightly bent waist and looked at Sihyun in amusement. It seemed like he bought the story at least.
"If that's the case, of course, I'll allow it. So, what class will you choose?"
Feeling somewhat relieved hearing his cheerful tone, Sihyun slowly opened his mouth. He had already decided which class he'd choose.
ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ
[1] The word used for describing the novel is inso (인소) which is korean slang for webnovel, some translations have kept the word, but I'm using the english 'webnovel' since I feel like it flows better.
TRANSLATORS NOTE: this book shifts between first and third person sometimes, so if you see them mix it's not by mistake, I've just kept the way the original author writes ahahah.