Chapter 50

Yu Hye-won crossed her arms and recalled the previous activities of Professor Han Min-ha over the past few weeks.

Han Min-ha had truly thrown themselves into training as if they were crazy.

They followed Professor’s absurd training methods without a word of complaint and endured countless beatings without giving up.

Hye-won understood that Han Min-ha was using this semester-end evaluation as an opportunity to turn around their rankings and achieve proper results.

So that was why they were working so hard, right?

But why, of all people, Song Do-yoon?

Song Do-yoon was one of the top students, and Han Min-ha couldn’t possibly be unaware of that.

Were there other foolish upperclassmen Song Do-yoon could have chosen from, yet they picked Song Do-yoon specifically?

The professors wouldn’t have gone insane and paired a lowerclass student with an upperclass one, so this must have been Han Min-ha’s own choice.

Huh… let’s see…

Could it be that Song Do-yoon has been secretly tormenting Han Min-ha?

It seems that havingHan Min-ha always sticking close to Hye-won made Song Do-yoon feel as if their crush was stolen away, and now they’re going all out to push Han Min-ha aside.

Is Han Min-ha trying to use this chance to get revenge on Song Do-yoon, who is unfairly accusing and tormenting them without any reason?

Han Min-ha…

This is your chance to rise to the upperclass level while simultaneously playing a trick on Song Do-yoon, right?

And during the Human Combat Ability Evaluation, where broadcasting stations and agencies are also present?

I thought you were just a stupid woman driven by your desires, but I see now that you clearly are not.

If not for that…

Could Professor Hyun have planned everything behind the scenes?

Without letting me know?

This is getting interesting.

Yu Hye-won’s devilish smile grew wider.

“Why do you want to fight her? Did something happen between you two?”

Hye-won, guessing the situation but acting as if she didn’t know, asked. Song Do-yoon did not respond.

Song Do-yoon’s face was rigid.

But it wasn’t from fear.

It was due to tremendous humiliation and anger.

At first, Song Do-yoon thought the draw might have been a mistake, but it wasn’t.

Han Min-ha…?

You’ve chosen me as your opponent, didn’t you?

Why?

Ah, that’s right.

Is it because I asked you to stop fawning over Hye-won and yield to me first?

Did my request upset you that much?

Do you really want to take Hye-won from me that badly?

Alright, I get it.

Then there’s nothing I can do about it.

I was about to let this go since things seemed quiet lately,

But since you’re stirring this up, I will not refuse—I will crush you properly.

I’ll shatter every bone in your body, leaving you in no position to think nonsense again.

Hye-won will become my bride.

I’ve already planned where we’ll go for our honeymoon, and I’m going to propose the moment we graduate.

No one can take her from me.

As Song Do-yoon bit her lips until they bled, Yu Hye-won looked at her with an amused expression.

—

* * * * *

Evaluation day.

The academy’s main gate was already congested by many vehicles very early in the morning.

Broadcasting corporations, press companies, Organization representatives, hero agency employees, and even some active heroes were all present.

They had gathered to witness the Human Combat Ability Evaluation.

With a large number of people attending, Academy faculty and defense corps troops worked hard to carry out entry procedures to screen for any potential troublemakers.

This evaluation of the freshman students certainly drew significant public attention.

I sat at the evaluation booth with the professors.

This Integrated Combat Training Field was circular like a colosseum or a domed baseball stadium. In the center of it, a wide rectangular space was designated for free combat.

Today, Han Min-ha would fight Song Do-yoon here.

The stands were bustling with students and other attendees filling the seats, while at the exits, ambulances and professors specializing in restoration, regeneration, and healing waited on standby for any emergencies.

Injured students during the evaluation would be swiftly transported to the academy health center for treatment.

The presence of so many medical personnel indicated how intense the evaluations were.

With everyone’s attention focused on this event, it was an opportunity for a participant to potentially rise to stardom. Not risking one’s life here would be strange indeed.

Once all the professors and external observers were properly seated, the evaluation began.

When the names of the candidates popped up on the screen, the respective students walked out from the waiting room.

Several cameras followed these students as they entered the field, and headhunters frantically wrote notes on their pads and cell phones.

The Graford Academy, the premier hero training school, hosted the Human Total Combat Ability Evaluation where freshmen unleashed every technique they’d learned during the term without restriction.

A fierce evaluation to uncover raw talent had commenced.

The students scouted by these observers would potentially receive top-tier recruitment offers upon graduation, opening wide-ranging opportunities whether they chose to work for the Organization in an official capacity or join private agencies as a sidekick or independent freelancer.

The first duel began.

The stadium shook with waves of aura and various techniques as the students, despite being freshmen, unleashed incredible power.

We professors carefully observed and assessed the students’ battles and intervened if the situation became too dangerous.

Upperclassmen cheered and applauded enthusiastically, elevating the atmosphere, while Organization and hero agency personnel scanned the students for potential talent with keen eyes.

In the front row of the audience seats sat several active heroes.

Some of them I recognized, others were unfamiliar.

I presumed the unfamiliar ones had debuted after I lost my memory.

One of the heroes waved to me with a friendly smile.

Was this person here just to watch? They must be free lately.

However, since I was in the midst of evaluation, I hesitated to respond personally, only giving a slight nod.

The duels continued.

Several times, the ambulance ferried injured students to the health center.

The hero aspirants’ competitive spirit was beyond imagination, all the more so with talent scouts and Organization representatives present to witness their futures.

“As expected, this is extraordinary.”

Professor Jin Se-yeong whispered, her tongue clicking in awe.

“Well, this is like a debut for these students.”

“But still… Min-ha’s next. Will they be alright?”

[Han Min-ha vs. Song Do-yoon]

Han Min-ha’s name lit up large on the screen.

So soon?

The entire academy’s interest was drawn to this pairing.

Han Min-ha, who had fainted during the Initial Assessment, versus Song Do-yoon, the ace of the upper level.

At the sight of the board, the medical team on standby began moving about actively, having been given a heads-up by the professor’s office due to the significant difference in ranks.

Would the one carried off in the ambulance be Han Min-ha or Song Do-yoon?

We’ll see.

One thing’s certain:

Han Min-ha was in a more desperate position right now.

Han Min-ha, give it a try.

A hero emerges when pushed to the edge.

—

* * * * *

In the waiting room, there wasn’t a single word exchanged between Song Do-yoon and Han Min-ha.

Song Do-yoon deliberately ignored Han Min-ha, and though Han Min-ha glanced at her occasionally, they didn’t seem inclined to start a conversation.

Both had their own private thoughts, though.

Song Do-yoon was pondering how to utterly crush Han Min-ha, while Han Min-ha kept repeating the rigorous training under Professor’s guidance.

Before long, the sound of their names being called over the internal speaker could be heard.

“Good luck, Do-yoon.” “Do well.”

The upperclassmen spoke a few words of encouragement to Song Do-yoon.

Song Do-yoon and Han Min-ha walked side by side down the hallway.

“Han Min-ha.”

Near the end of the hallway, Song Do-yoon stopped.

“I’m sure I already warned you, but it looks like your low intelligence prevented it from sinking in. Is that it?”

Song Do-yoon’s provocation received no response from Han Min-ha.

“I know why you’re doing this. It’s because of Hye-won, isn’t it? You have feelings for her, and I’m in the way, so you’re trying to remove me, right?”

Song Do-yoon smiled mockingly, her lips curling in sneer.

“I applaud your courage. Still, the result is already decided. You could challenge me all you want, but you will never defeat me or take Hye-won.”

Han Min-ha, lips tightly shut, didn’t seem inclined to engage in verbal banter with Song Do-yoon.

“Hye-won is mine. Since the day we entered, and until now, always has been. Hye-won loves me too. You, a dirty woman like you, have no place interfering. So…”

“Hmph…”

At the end of Song Do-yoon’s taunt, Han Min-ha let out a trembling sigh.

Then, with a tense expression, they finally looked directly at Song Do-yoon and spoke.

“E… ex…”

It seemed as if Han Min-ha was trying to say something but stuttered over the words.

“Ex… ex…”

Their gaze, filled with disdain, locked onto Han Min-ha.

But that didn’t last long.

It was due to Han Min-ha’s next, difficult-to-articulate utterance.

“Shut up, you lesbian.”