Chapter 12
Me?
I didn't say that out loud.
More precisely, I barely managed to hold it back.
It would be foolish to ask such a question in a situation where it was clear she was pointing at me.
But it was true that I was that flustered.
'Why me?'
Originally, only the top student gave the representative speech.
There's no precedent for the runner-up doing it.
Seeing me confused, Euphoria spoke again.
"I heard that although you're the runner-up, there's not much difference in the score between you and the top student."
"Even so, there is still a score difference. And I haven't prepared anything."
"Don't worry, I'm not asking you to speak at length. I'm just a little interested in you."
Euphoria's eyes as she said this were sharp yet gentle,
And there was a definite sense of firmness in her demeanor.
She won't accept a refusal.
Her eyes seemed to say that.
Although I kept wondering why, no answer came to mind.
Since Euphoria is someone whose background isn't well explained even in the original work, information about her was lacking.
'I don't know.'
Honestly, I can't think of a way to refuse.
Euphoria's influence in the academy as both the principal and one of the Seven Stars is almost like that of a king.
It's not like she has bad intentions either.
If I keep resisting here, it probably won't end well.
"Hah..."
How should I give this speech?
While thinking about this for a moment, I stepped onto the platform where Karen had just given her speech.
From this view, I could see the students looking at me with confused expressions.
Seeing that even the professors looked confused, this definitely wasn't something planned in advance.
"Ah, can you hear me? I'm Kang Shin-woo, the runner-up among the new students."
I couldn't think of anything specific.
Euphoria herself said not to feel burdened.
I should just say what I really want to say and end it.
And although I never expected to speak, let alone speak here,
There was something I wanted to say to these students.
"Honestly, I don't think there's a need for another representative speech since the student representative just gave a comprehensive one."
So I'll keep the speech extremely short.
Just within a few lines.
"I'll just say one thing that I think you all need to hear."
While also saying something helpful to the academy students.
I thought for a very brief moment.
And thinking of the end of this world, I sincerely said to them,
"Survive."
It was advice from a shaman who commands familiar spirits.
***
"Principal, it's reported that followers of the outer gods are holding a ritual in the south."
"I'll depart immediately."
After the entrance ceremony,
Euphoria left the main auditorium and moved out without a moment's rest.
It was her nature.
She extremely dislikes not doing something when she can.
Especially if someone might be harmed because of it.
That's why she spent most of her time either eradicating enemies or managing the academy.
And today, there was something a bit special in that routine.
'The energy of the afterlife, huh.'
Euphoria recalled the boy she had just seen.
The runner-up, Kang Shin-woo, was it?
He was one of the few people whose name she had remembered recently.
'It's been a while since I've felt that energy.'
There was only one reason why she took interest in him.
The energy forming Kang Shin-woo's body was unusual,
And a very small amount of 'energy of the afterlife' was flowing from his body.
'He doesn't seem to know himself.'
That his body is slightly different from an ordinary human's flesh,
That an extremely subtle energy of the afterlife, unnoticeable to anyone but her, is emanating from his body.
The student named Kang Shin-woo probably didn't know.
But that's why it was interesting.
'He's certainly related to the dead.'
Euphoria was sure he had a connection to the afterlife.
She heard he was a shaman.
And not just an ordinary shaman, but one who uses familiar spirits.
And the biggest reason he can use familiar spirits might be due to that unusual energy.
That was her speculation.
'Anyway, I'm looking forward to it.'
Expectation, doubt, interest.
She had complex feelings towards him, but one thing was certain.
He's someone worth watching.
At least this much was clear.
***
My speech didn't cause much of a commotion.
It was something that happened due to Euphoria's suggestion, which was close to an order.
And I ended the speech so quickly.
Even if there's some confusion now, it probably won't have any effect other than strengthening people's awareness of me as an individual.
Anyway, after the entrance ceremony,
The academy doesn't immediately start classes that day.
There was something else to do on that day.
'Course registration.'
The academy's classes are broadly divided into three categories.
Basic classes divided by class level.
Major classes chosen by selection.
Liberal arts classes that give additional points.
For basic classes, there's no need to do anything special as they're determined by class level.
But for major classes and two liberal arts classes, you need to secure a spot through course registration.
And from ancient times, course registration has been a hellish battle of wits.
The academy is no different, so fierce competition occurs every year.
Especially for major classes with strong characteristics.
However,
"Fortunately, S class is exempt."
"It's a privilege, a privilege for top students."
S class has the privilege of being exempt from this first-come-first-served battle.
It's a courtesy for top students and one of the reasons that makes other students aim for S class.
Not many students complained about this.
The academy is based on ability, after all.
"By the way, is this the S class homeroom teacher's office? I've never been here before."
"It probably is."
After the entrance ceremony,
I, along with Rin, Karen, and Yoon Kang-woo who was beside them, moved together to register.
Course registration for S class ends with just informing the class homeroom teacher.
This time was the first meeting with the class homeroom teacher.
"Shin-woo. What classes are you going to register for?"
At that moment, Karen, who had been walking quietly beside me, asked.
Classes, huh.
I did have some classes in mind.
"I'm thinking of taking Techniques for my major. For one of the liberal arts, I'm considering Herbology."
I honestly thought a lot about my major.
My main specialty, no matter what anyone says, is shamanism.
But the academy doesn't have shamanism classes.
The number is extremely small, and it's been decades since shamans entered the academy.
So I'm thinking of taking Techniques as my major, which is somewhat related to me.
It's a bit different from shamanism, but there are some similarities.
It's a class that uses unique powers like shamanic power, demonic energy, spiritual energy, etc.
'I have something to do there for the liberal arts.'
One of the two liberal arts classes is Herbology.
I'm not particularly interested in herbology, but there's something I need to do there.
"You haven't decided on the other liberal arts class yet?"
"Not yet? But I should decide soon."
"Then do you want to take History class with me?"
As Rin made the suggestion first, before I could answer, Karen spoke up.
"Let's take Understanding Magic."
"Don't you think I wouldn't take that even if you suggested it?"
"..."
Karen turned her head and said nothing at my words.
She probably knows that I would never choose that.
Magic.
In a way, it's the element most distant from me.
Magic, which is made of magical power, is something I absolutely can't use as I use shamanic power.
"Then do you want to take Combat Tactics with me? It sounds quite interesting."
"Just hearing about it gives me a headache."
"Well, honestly, I heard most of the class will probably be chess."
Yoon Kang-woo's classes won't be different from the original work.
His major class will be Swordsmanship.
His liberal arts classes will probably be Combat Tactics and Meditation.
'What should I do?'
Before I could finish pondering this,
We arrived at the office where our class homeroom teacher was.
Teachers at the level of class homeroom teachers are quite high-ranking professors.
Especially for S class, they get their own personal office.
This was one of those.
"I'll knock."
As we arrived at the door,
Rin, who was at the front, said this and knocked on the door.
Knock knock-
A small knocking sound.
The voice came the next moment.
"Come in."
A rough yet neat male voice.
As we opened the door, what we saw was a room that was moderately messy and moderately tidy.
'I didn't know these words could coexist.'
It seemed like the basic organization was neat,
But some areas looked carelessly scattered.
Anyway, amidst all that, we could see a person sitting in a chair next to the desk.
"So you're this year's S class. Nice to meet you."
Short gray hair dyed a dull ash color and a black eye patch covering the left eye.
A neatly ironed black suit, and lastly, an empty left arm.
He looked exactly as I had imagined.
The S class homeroom teacher, Heo Si-won.
'Finally met him.'
In the original work, he was the reliable homeroom teacher of the protagonists.
In the latter half, he was a character who died protecting the protagonist.
"You're here to register for courses, right? Write your names and the classes you want to take here."
He said this while handing us a paper.
It was a clean and efficient way of handling things, true to his personality.
"I'll write first."
Rin stepped forward to write first.
Her major was the same as mine, Techniques, and her liberal arts classes were History and Economics, as she mentioned earlier.
Karen and Yoon Kang-woo wrote their names and classes on the paper in order.
They wrote without hesitation, as if they had already decided.
Then it was my turn.
Just as I was about to write my classes on the paper,
"Stop right there."
Someone called out to me from the door.
When I turned my head, I saw it was a woman wearing a blue hanbok who called me.
She was also holding a fan in one hand.
The woman with long black hair said to me,
"You, become my disciple."
I knew her identity.
A protagonist who only appears in the latter half of the novel, and
A villain.
She was Jeon Ha-ryeong, the only shaman in the original work.