No matter how much he disliked the inscription, he had to choose one. It was a responsibility he couldn't entirely avoid. Even though he decided to be a Dual Class instead of a Quadruple Class, if he carelessly picked a simple class like enhancement it would only fuel people's jealousy and envy. Since they probably wouldn't trust him, thinking that he was lying and trying to cheat them.
And he honestly felt like he was cheating. He's free to choose but even if other students wanted it they wouldn't be able to become Dual, Triple och even Quadruple Class. Sihyun held his breath and looked around to see everyone looking at him with great anticipation. He slowly closed his eyes.
"I'll go for Healer."
"Sounds good."
Even if he put cheating aside and choose a very stong class there would always be jealous people in the world. Making sure to pick a good class was very important, he thought.
For instance, someone valuable with the ability to choose between life and death. Someone so important that you wouldn't dare to cross them.
Yes, something like a Healer class.
Once he became a Quadruple, leading a quiet life was out of the question. Not just the neighborhood, but people worldwide were bound to know him. Therefore, the teacher smiled at his choice of class, believing at least his safety was ensured.
Why did everyone seem to smile so broadly at him? Not that he minded; he lowered his head in acknowledgment, moving toward the teacher holding the empty Healer class placard.
"I'd like to do my inscription, please."
"Oh, sure!"
He ignored the stares directed at him and entered the tent. With a peculiarly polite demeanor, the teacher gestured towards the registration machine in front of Sihyun. Unlike the one he'd seen before, this registration machine had 'Healer' written on it. Each class had a different-looking registration device.
"Since you've done this before, you know the procedure, right?"
"Yes."
Nodding, he replied, prompting the teacher to step back from Sihyun. Placing his hand on the machine, he uttered the word 'inscription.'
Once again, a brilliant light enveloped Sihyun. Similar to before, he felt all the information about the Healer class entering his mind as if being downloaded.
Starting from simple heals to continuous heals, area heals, cleansing, curse removal, mana recovery, and various other Healer skills unfolded in his mind. He absorbed it all with closed eyes, finding it quite fascinating. After the last skill finished, he slowly opened his eyes and looked at his hand.
"Being a Healer doesn't mean you can use all the Healer class skills. Depending on proficiency and talent, some skills may be available or not, and the mana cost varies. You'll have to explore and practice them yourself using your abilities."
Thanking the teacher for the kind explanation, he walked out of the tent. A sigh escaped him. He hadn't sighed this much before his possesion, but afterward, he found himself sighing all the time.
He felt various emotions like awe, admiration, and jealousy embedded in the stares directed at him. Suddenly yearning for a sanctuary, Sihyun scanned the surroundings and, spotting Haru nearby, walked toward him.
Step by step, as he approached, he felt all eyes glued to him. Trying not to be self-conscious as he reached Haru, the boy at the end of those stares seemed more absent-minded than usual.
"Hyung?"
"Oh! Uh?"
His startled response provided a consistent comfort in the current situation.
"Finished inscribing?"
"Uh, yeah. You?"
"Done."
I see… Haru gave a concise reply while nodding, and then started fiddling with the pairing device on his finger. It was a reaction no different from usual.
"...Aren't you surprised or anything?"
"...Huh?"
A person who was a New Class until yesterday suddenly became a Quadruple overnight. Despite trying not to be concerned, Sihyun couldn't help but ask Haru, who seemed clueless.
"What?"
"My class."
"Oh..."
At his prompt, Haru let out an exclamation, then fell silent. Without answering properly Haru just mumbled while giving him a peculiar look. He then slowly added.
"That… Sh-should I have been surprised?"
"Huh?"
His answer was ridiculous. Haru held his head low and kept fiddling with the pairing device.
"…Whatever class you are, it doesn't matter to me…"
Sihyun just blinked at Haru's quiet mumbling. He probably though that his lack of reaction had angered Sihyun because he raised his lowered head and added.
"If… I'll be surprised if you w-want me to, I just didn't know…"
Wow, he just keeps talking nonsense. Thinking that he understood what kind of person this timid Haru was a little better, Sihyun chuckled lightly and gently patted the head in front of him.
"...?"
"...You don't have to be surprised. I'm not upset about my class or anything."
Was this what it felt like to receive a carnation on Parents' Day? Haru reassuringly saying that it didn't matter what class Sihyun was made him feel proud and relieved. With the heart of a 23-year old he playfully messed and then tidied up Haru's disheveled hair, he let out a relaxed breath.
The tension he'd felt since the beginning of inscription gradually dissipated. Secretly he felt that it would be fitting to call Haru his own little human sanctuary.
Initially seeming flustered but ending up content, Haru, without saying anything, lightly rubbed his head against Sihyun's hand. While he thought he was being subtle, to Sihyun the gesture was so obvious that he couldn't help crinkling his eyes as he smiled. It felt somewhat like an animal therapy session.
"You're goofing around."
"Oh..."
And so it went on.
The moment after the Inscription ceremony ended, Daun, with Jihye by her side, approached Haru and him with a peculiar expression. Sihyun, who had paused the act of stroking Haru's head, threw out a question to her.
"We've finished the inscription. So what's up?"
"You wanna know what's up?"
Sihyun had a pretty good idea why Daun had come over glaring at him with her arms crossed, but he still averted his eyes after sending out his question. Daun narrowed her eyes discontentedly and opened her mouth.
"I came to ask when exactly you became a sickly boy who faints every five minutes and breaks at a touch?"
"I don't think I went that far."
"…."
"…Help me out."
Sihyun swiftly shifted his stance upon sensing Daun's intensifying demeanor and reluctantly asked for help, Daun, visibly displeased, reluctantly nodded. He was about to thank her when-
"Ah, ah. Can everyone hear me?"
The conversation abruptly halted as a voice chimed in. Looking around at the familiar teachers who were closing the iron gate leading out of school, unease spread among the students.
"What's going on?"
"Why are they closing the gate?"
"Are we… trapped?"
Anxiety-filled voices echoed due to the teachers unexpectedly shifting the genre to a thriller. Sihyun was equally surprised by the sudden change.
"We've just received a report that all the Inscriptions have been completed. The new students here must find their abilities today for the first time, which might feel a bit unfamiliar and intriguing."
As if the teacher's voice had been amplified through a microphone, it reverberated from all sides.
"However, as students of Choegang High School, there's one thing you must understand. That is, Choegang High School operates in a world strictly governed by abilities."
Why are they teaching such nonsense in schools, for God's sake?
Schools are supposed to sow dreams and hopes, aren't they? Well, even if reality isn't quite like that, isn't the essence somewhat similar? But explicitly calling it an ability-centric world left Sihyun dumbfounded.
"You probably don't know which level you belong to yet, as the results haven't been announced. So, here's the question. What do you think determines your level assignment?"
"…."
No student answered the question, but Sihyun could sense that everyone had a fair idea. The unease, discontent, and confusion were evident in their eyes.
"A survey has just been sent through your pairings. If you check your pairing, you'll see a survey asking if you agree to receive the same assessment result as your partner in the placement test."
The students buzzed with murmurs upon hearing the following words, checking their pairing devices and confirming the survey, Sihyun also pressed the pairing. A holographic window displayed their names, Haru's and his own, along with their classes and individual heart rates, with an accompanying notification saying, 'Survey Received.'
"Choegang High School only has four levels: A, B, C, D. You'll be divided into these levels based on your talents and abilities. Those who have agreed to the survey will be assigned to the level of the person with the lower result between them and their partner. However, those who disagreed will be assigned to the level based on their own assessment result. If there's a difference between them and their partner, their levels will differ. Now, this will raise a question for you all. What exactly is the content of this placement test?"
It wasn't really a mystery, yet the teacher kept delaying his point, Abruptly, the principal cut him off and like a military instructor, hardened his stance and spoke with gusto.
"Choegang High School is a Mirgun educational institution. What will you learn here? Studies? How to use your abilities? While those are not entirely incorrect, the ultimate goal is different. You'll learn how to face 'Irregulars' here. Now, let me ask you. You're enrolling in a high school where you'll learn to counter Irregulars. What do you think you'll take the placement test with?"
"…."
The atmosphere grew heavier as the principal continued. Sihyun, who had been schooling his expression, couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh when he heard the principal's final question.
He had been listening carefully in order to se if what he was imagining was correct, since he couldn't shake his anxious premonitions. Ever since the possession, things that Sihyun would've though only belonged in his imagination had come true again and again.
With a mix of fear, tension, and disbelief among the frozen students, the slowly speaking principal finally opened his mouth.
"You'll engage in combat against 'Suppression-Class' Irregulars."
"…That's insane."
Though he said it out loud amidst everyone's shock and gasps, there were no eyes directed at him. It was evident that everyone was equally astounded.
Amidst the silent crowd, Sihyun, with a tight expression, clenched his fist, staring at the principal who continued to smile without a change in his expression.
This school must be crazy somewhere.