Chapter 4: Pine Needles Flow in My Body (2)

 

After parting ways with Alice.

 

While wasting time here and there, the moment finally arrived.

 

The time for the test called the ‘entrance exam.’

 

“It’s been 15 years since I last took this.”

 

It wasn’t a particularly grand test.

 

A ten-stage mock battle simulation against an illusionary creature held within a special barrier.

 

Passing the first stage meant defeating at least one slime.

 

It was designed to filter out ordinary people who attempted to enroll fraudulently, hence the easy difficulty.

 

However, despite its simplicity, most of the new students who were about to take the entrance exam were extremely nervous.

 

– Murmuring.

 

“Do you see those reporters over there?”

 

“Look at that, there are headhunters here too!”

 

“Ah, I’m so nervous….”

 

…Awakeners were indispensable in society and were akin to idols at the same time.

 

You could say they were like heroes.

 

Therefore, reporters flocked in hopes of finding something to write about.

 

And the headhunters dispatched from ‘clans’ watched with keen eyes.

 

In other words, this was the moment when fledgling Awakeners first stood before the world.

 

It was only natural to be nervous.

 

I, too, was a bit anxious.

 

“Even though I failed to make a good first impression on Alice… maybe it’ll be different if I show her how well I fight?”

 

Alice, one of my wives from the first timeline.

 

And… another one.

 

I had to make a good impression on both of them.

 

Looking cool was crucial.

 

So, I quietly stretched until my turn came.

 

“Ahem. Then, in the order I call…”

 

‘One, two. One, two.’

 

While everyone else, conscious of the cameras, waited dressed to impress, I alone stretched in my exercise clothes.

 

…It was a bit pitiful, but it couldn’t be helped.

 

My main stats were just over 3 points. Slightly above the average adult male.

 

Even among these rookies, I’d be mid to lower tier.

 

‘No, the ones below me wouldn’t be combat-type Awakeners. Am I actually the lowest?’

 

Correction. I was at the bottom.

 

When Awakeners awaken, their stats rise considerably according to their unique talents.

 

For close combat types, it’s strength, for long-range types, it’s agility, and for magic types, it’s intelligence and magic power.

 

But my unique talent was hypnosis.

 

In a situation where only the most useless stat, luck, had risen unnecessarily like ‘Oh~ Lucky~.’

 

In other words, in terms of stats alone, I was practically last.

 

Amidst the giggling 20-year-old girls. Me, an adult man.

 

‘…As soon as I enroll, I need to start pumping my stats. It’s too humiliating.’

 

I stretched even more vigorously.

 

But I was once the number one S-class. I couldn’t let mere stats overwhelm me.

 

I was determined to clear all ten stages.

 

– Murmuring.

 

“Male Awakeners are rare, and he’s handsome? I should have brought a bigger camera.”

 

“Chairman, there’s a useful guy based on looks alone… No, I’m serious.”

 

‘The reporters… well, it doesn’t matter.’

 

By now, the reporters were probably gossiping about some student making a fuss, but I didn’t care.

 

Show and prove. I just needed to demonstrate and prove myself.

 

Anyway. As I kept stretching,

 

– Hurry.

 

“Sorry for being late!!”

 

‘Oh. This time her outfit is nice.’

 

A fixed event. The late Alice appeared.

 

Judging by her neat outfit, it seemed she had hurriedly changed clothes, which caused her to be late.

 

She must have been quite bothered by the girls’ earlier comments about her clothes.

 

I stared at her absentmindedly.

 

Alice, who was looking around, met my eyes.

 

“Ah! Yu-jin!”

 

“……?”

 

Why was she happy to see me? Didn’t I ruin the first impression?

 

Could it be just because I gave her a drink…

 

“Thank you for the drink. I’m glad to meet a fellow Pine Needle!”

 

“Ah.”

 

‘So, she saw the drink that way.’

 

…It was indeed because of the drink.

 

I knew Alice’s favorite drink, but she didn’t know the context.

 

Wait? Giving this polarizing drink to someone you’re meeting for the first time?

 

Why on earth…

 

Ah! She must think I’m in the same camp as her!

 

She must believe that I’m spreading the gospel of this great drink!

 

She must be thinking something like that, definitely.

 

Of course, I had no such preferences.

 

Even before my regression, Alice had recommended it to me several times, but even as an older guy, I never got used to it.

 

It’s not that I couldn’t drink it, but why bother?

 

‘But… if it’s to get closer to Alice, I’ll tolerate the pine needle taste.’

 

No bother at all. From today, I am a pine caterpillar.

 

The sap of pine needles flows through my veins…!!

 

“Oh, do you like it too? The taste of pine needles.”

 

“Yes! I had it shipped overseas to England!”

 

“Heh. I’m a little happy. Whenever I offered it to others, they all hated it.”

 

“Exactly! Why don’t they understand? This cool taste!”

 

The reward for sacrificing my dignity was sweet.

 

Not only did I recover the lost favor, but I also managed to get this close to her in conversation.

 

With the ongoing dialogue, my nervousness gradually faded.

 

‘I thought it would take at least a month for her to get close, given how shy she is. Lucky me.’

 

Was it because I had been living on the edge for the past two weeks?

 

The kindness I felt after such a long time, the time spent with my beloved wife, was so sweet.

 

…Indeed. When had I ever been nervous during a fight?

 

My mentor had always said that my greatest strength was enjoying everything.

 

And yet here I was, getting tense about winning.

 

That wasn’t like me.

 

‘I don’t have to do well from the start. I’ll get stronger from now on.’

 

“Then… Cadet Seo Yu-jin, number 21. Step forward.”

 

I had been healing in pine caterpillar mode when my name was called.

 

I got up with a broad smile.

 

Without the impatience that had been gnawing at me, I felt at ease.

 

“It’s my turn. I’ll be back, Alice.”

 

“Yes! Do your best!”

 

‘Alice, who speaks in literal translations, is also cute.’

 

I walked slowly forward.

 

To the center of the training ground where the simulation barrier was set up.

 

The instructor opened his mouth.

 

“Cadet Seo Yu-jin, 20 years old. Correct?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“The exam content is….”

 

“I’m well aware.”

 

“Good. Then, choose one of these to start with.”

 

Choose one of these.

 

He was talking about the weapons laid out on a nearby table.

 

I leisurely scanned them with my eyes.

 

Longsword. Dagger. Rapier. Scimitar. Main-gauche. Hammer, and other melee weapons.

 

Longbow. Spear. Throwing axe. Pistol…?

 

Why is there a gun?

 

Ignoring such extra weapons. Next.

 

As for staves… as expected, they hadn’t prepared much of them.

 

Mages are indeed rare.

 

“Still haven’t decided? If you haven’t chosen, I can recommend a suitable weapon….”

 

Time flew by as I looked around, thinking about what kids these days use.

 

The instructor handed me a dagger, thinking I was still deciding.

 

I firmly refused.

 

‘What a disgrace, a dagger. A dagger.’

 

“It’s fine. I’ve already decided what to use.”

 

“Is that so? What weapon?”

 

“This one.”

 

I casually picked up a weapon.

 

Multiple sighs of disappointment echoed around me.

 

“A katana… Hah. I won’t stop you.”

 

‘Is it this bad? The image is still the worst, huh. Katana.’

 

The weapon I picked up was a katana.

 

…In Korea, it wasn’t a well-regarded weapon.

 

My mentor, who held the unchallenged S-rank number one position after awakening.

 

It was her trademark.

 

Naturally, many Awakeners who admired her followed suit.

 

But in reality?

 

‘Indeed. Even my mentor disliked those worthless imitators.’

 

What kind of weapon is a katana?

 

Focusing on its cutting power, it cuts well but that’s all it can do.

 

Its thin blade breaks easily, even when reinforced with mana.

 

It’s a two-handed weapon that can’t be paired with a shield, and its attack style is purely slashing.

 

No wonder it was poorly rated.

 

Its relatively light weight also contributed to its low evaluation.

 

Weight means attack power.

 

In games, swinging a greatsword dealt 100 damage, while a katana only did 20.

 

It has its advantages, but…

 

At least, it’s not something a freshly awakened rookie should use.

 

All industry experts agreed on this.

 

Despite that, every year, many wannabes wield katanas, trying to imitate the S-rank number one.

 

The widespread katana hatred was a natural result.

 

‘In other words, it means you just have to use it well.’

 

Nevertheless, I insisted on using the katana.

 

The current S-rank number one who uses a katana?

 

My mentor and wife.

 

As her last disciple, how could I not handle a katana?

 

I wasn’t as good as my mentor, but I wasn’t lacking either.

 

‘Besides, with my lacking stats, I had no other choice.’

 

“My strength is still lacking. Heavy weapons are too much.”

 

“That’s why I recommended the short and easy-to-handle dagger… ha. Never mind.”

 

As I smiled while holding the katana, the instructor sighed even louder.

 

It wasn’t just her reaction.

 

-Muttering.

 

“A katana…?”

 

“Aika has abandoned another person, huh.”

 

“Every year, there are kids choosing katanas.”

 

Headhunters and reporters.

 

They all looked at me with ambiguous smiles.

 

The katana was that much despised in Korea.

 

…They were right, but seeing those looks annoyed me.

 

It didn’t feel good to be ignored in front of my beloved wives.

 

Defiantly, I drew the sword from its scabbard.

 

It was an impressive draw.

 

‘Well, doing this is just superficial….’

 

-Ding!

 

[You have gained proficiency through repeated experience! Passive skill ‘Zaha Swordsmanship Modified Lv.4294967295….’]

 

[Error occurred. Skill level not designated.]

 

[Reassigning skill level based on user’s experience….]

 

[Success! Acquired passive skill ‘Zaha Swordsmanship Modified Lv.Max’!]

 

『Zaha Swordsmanship Modified (S Rank) – A swordsmanship perfected by a master for their disciple. Additional stat bonuses when using a Japanese sword.』

 

‘…What is this?’

 

As I drew the katana, a purple flame burst forth brilliantly before fading away.

 

It was the symbol of the Zaha Swordsmanship my mentor had taught me.

 

…Now that I think about it, my mentor did say.

 

What’s important isn’t skills or tricks, but truly mastering the sword.

 

If you do that, you’ll be strong even without skills.

 

‘It was true….’

 

-Murmuring.

 

“What was that just now!?”

 

“Is it a unique ability? Melee type?”

 

“No, then the instructor wouldn’t have recommended a dagger. Only for support-type Awakeners.”

 

I was bewildered, and so were the onlookers.

 

Only one person was clapping.

 

“Wow, Yu-jin. You were amazing!”

 

“Alice?”

 

“I believe you’ll show an even more impressive side!”

 

Alice. The woman who was my wife.

 

The one I swore to protect this time, my beloved.

 

…Well, this turned out well.

 

Thanks to this, I could show off a bit.

 

“Yeah. Watch, Alice. I didn’t plan on hiding it, but….”

 

-Click.

 

“Actually, I’m pretty strong.”