I Became an Illegal Cheat User

11 – Chief (2)

“Nice to meet you, lively saplings.”

The attention of all 100, including me, was focused on Kang Cheolsu.

Was it because of his rough appearance, reminiscent of a character from a brutal martial arts movie?

Some students, who met Kang Cheolsu’s sharp gaze filled with vitality, were so frightened that they averted their eyes.

Smirking at the attitude of those students, Kang Cheolsu took out a small notebook from his pocket and started writing something.

‘…Poor souls, they’re caught.’

He did say they were caught, but it wasn’t caught in a negative sense.

In the game “Arena Academy,” Kang Cheolsu’s character is a person who cannot tolerate injustice and pursues justice, a hero dedicated to students more than anyone else.

He may look a bit intimidating, but he is a genuinely kind person.

So, why does Kang Cheolsu carry a notebook and write down the students’ names?

It’s because those kids have such delicate and weak feelings that they can’t even meet his gaze.

Due to the nature of the Arena Academy, where students are sorted by grades, the training is known to be extremely challenging.

As a result, about 40% of the students in each class cannot endure and end up dropping out.

However, in the class Kang Cheolsu teaches, only about 10% of students are expelled.

The reason is that Kang Cheolsu takes care of each student individually.

He truly is an excellent instructor.

However, there was a slight drawback.

“Soon, we’ll be getting a few more muscleheads.”

Kang Cheolsu.

He is a fitness enthusiast who praises exercise like a religion.

However, through the training named “Care” from Kang Cheol-su, one can transcend weakness and attain strength.

From their perspective, it wouldn’t be so bad.

Perhaps.

Chin.

After confirming that he had written the list of students to receive care, Kang Cheol-su closed the notebook and placed it back into the inner pocket of his suit.

Then, he raised both hands on the lectern.

Thud.

Merely bringing his hands down lightly caused the lectern to tremble.

“Oh, man. Bring something sturdy.”

Though Kang Cheol-su said so, that lectern.

It was incredibly sturdy.

I may not have emotional skills, but as a person with access to the system’s power, I can see the description of items.

Although the lectern that Kang Cheol-su turned into scrap in an instant was made of wood, it had been enchanted with strength-increasing magic, giving it a strength akin to steel.

Not knowing such a fact, one might say something like that.

Perhaps the equipment management staff had quite a headache because of Kang Cheol-su.

Of course, even now.

“Hmm, hmmm.”

As the lectern seemed about to break at any moment, Kang Cheol-su stood in front of it, coughing falsely.

With his large frame, it seemed he intended to cover the lectern.

Crack.

As if to mock his thoughts, the lectern split in half, toppling to both sides.

To be split in half.

It couldn’t help but be a truly tragic sight.

“…….”

A chilly silence filled the classroom.

Though slight, tension ran through the faces of those who had just learned of Kang Cheol-su’s strength.

Seeing them, Kang Cheol-su scratched the scar on his forehead, clapped his hands together, and livened up the atmosphere.

“We had a brief hiccup, but let’s move past that.”

Kang Cheol-su threw the lectern, now in two pieces, under the platform.

After that, he stood in the spot where the teacher’s desk used to be.

“Allow me to introduce myself. For the next three years, I’ll be your instructor, Kang Cheol-su.”

The students, who had tightly sealed lips during Kang Cheol-su’s self-introduction, erupted with surprised expressions.

“…Kang Cheol-su, that means…”

“Oh my goodness, our assigned instructor is the Crusher, Kang Cheol-su?”

Instructor, Kang Cheol-su.

Also known as the Crusher.

A top-tier hero who earned fame among heroes and infamy among villains.

For students aspiring to be heroes, he was an unknown hero.

However, no one knew why he suddenly retired 20 years ago and took up work here.

Why did he, who used to hunt down and kill villains like a judge, retire so suddenly?

There were many rumors about his retirement.

He earned a lot of money, grew disillusioned with heroes, wanted to teach future heroes.

The third rumor was roughly correct.

Kang Cheol-su used to enjoy teaching juniors even during his prime as a hero.

But the real reason for his retirement was different.

It was nothing other than an injury.

It was revealed during the appearance of extraterrestrial beings in the late stages of the game.

Twenty years ago, during his prime when he was hunting down villains, he fought against a named villain known as the Plague.

In that battle, he suffered a severe injury, and Kang Cheol-su personally revealed that he could no longer wield top-tier strength due to fragments of the Plague embedded in his body.

After revealing this, he died—for the sake of the students.

Knowing he would die if he used all his strength, he sacrificed himself without a moment’s hesitation.

“…Maybe I can change it this time.”

An ending that cannot be changed unless you’re the protagonist.

But that’s only predetermined in games.

Now, it’s undeniably real.

So, it can be changed.

No, it will be changed.

While firmly resolving this, Kang Cheol-su’s gaze turned towards me.

I met his eyes.

Sseik.

Kang Cheol-soo looked at me, showing his pearly white teeth.

“This should be enough for an introduction.”

As he said that, he took off his suit and let it fall to the ground, then unbuttoned the sleeves of his white shirt and rolled them up to his forearms.

“Ah, rolling up the sleeves is a bit difficult.”

Kang Cheol-soo grumbled, saying that’s why he didn’t like wearing suits.

If it was enough to roll up the sleeves to around the elbow, he stubbornly rolled them all the way up to his forearms.

So with forearms thicker than most adults’ heads, Kang Cheol-soo crawled up his sleeves and looked at the students.

“Alright, come out everyone. Let’s see your abilities.”

After saying so, Kang Cheol-soo opened the door wide.

&

The place that followed Kang Cheol-soo was a training ground.

In the game, small movements like this would be skipped automatically and we would just move to the next location.

So, this was the first time I had personally moved to the training ground.

Thanks to that, I could see the training ground, which I couldn’t accurately see on the monitor, was actually very spacious.

“This is the training ground. Did you all remember the way here?”

“Yes!”

“Good.”

There’s no way they wouldn’t remember.

It’s only a three-minute walk from the classroom.

When the students, including myself, shouted in unison, Kang Cheol-soo nodded and closed the door to the training ground.

“Oh, by the way, this entire building that we’re in is dedicated to our class, so if you want to use facilities other than the training ground, feel free to use them.”

Upon hearing that, everyone let out a sigh of admiration.

Indeed, it’s Arena Academy.

They treat us well because our rankings are high.

“Now, before we check your abilities.”

Kang Cheol-soo operated the keypad next to the door.

Then, the central part of the training ground split, and a facility similar to a duel arena emerged from below.

The circular arena resembled the Colosseum, complete with tiered seats overlooking the battleground.

Perhaps it was an academy that prioritized competition.

Even in the training grounds, they had a dueling arena.

“Alright, everyone, go over there and choose training weapons. It’s just an evaluation of skills, so using weapons from outside the academy or ones you personally obtained is prohibited.”

At the mention of “weapons obtained from outside the academy,” Gang Cheol-su glanced at me.

His gaze seemed to say, “Understood?”

I nodded in response to that silent question.

Upon my acknowledgment, Gang Cheol-su turned his gaze to his smartwatch.

Activating the hologram, he spoke, “We will conduct the sparring in a tournament format. Choose your weapons and take your seats until I finalize the brackets.”

Upon hearing his words, including myself, everyone rushed towards the area where training weapons were displayed.

As I approached the weapon display, I found a variety of weapons available.

From cold weapons to firearms.

Most of the individuals seemed to lean towards the cold weapons.

It seemed that the weapon of choice for these trainees was the cold weapon, likely because heroes predominantly used it.

At this point, a question might arise.

In a world with modern civilization, why leave advanced firearms behind and opt for ancient weapons like cold steel, even with a mix of fantasy elements?

The answer is simple.

It’s because of the infusion of ‘fantasy.’

In the game’s setting, the world of the “Arena Academy” is a modern fantasy with modern civilization, but it is rich in fantasy elements.

Magic, skills, heroes, corrupt beings, monsters, transcendents, extraterrestrial entities, and so on.

With so many elements present.

Beings possessing fantasy powers like magic or skills are generally immune to most firearms.

For instance, even in the case of a weapon equivalent to a nuclear bomb.

A top-tier hero could survive it.

Consequently, firearms became effective only against lower-tier villains, corrupt beings, and those physically weaker, making the cold weapon the main weapon of choice for heroes against all entities.

However, it doesn’t mean that firearms are entirely sidelined. When facing extradimensional creatures banished from other realms in this world, firearms prove effective.

Of course, most monsters are confined to the intermediary dimension between this world and the otherworld, the border realm, so they don’t often appear.

“Hmm….”

I found myself torn between the displays of cold and firearms.

Choosing a cold weapon is the right choice, but…

Most of the weapons I’ve used in the game so far have been cold weapons.

I’ve used heat weapons before, but that time, I not only failed to finish the story but also experienced a game over in the early stages.

For that reason, I should focus on cold weapons without paying attention to heat weapons, but…

Did I acquire the cheat called ‘Super Accuracy’?

“Hmm… I really feel like using a gun.”

I wanted to try using a gun.

“…Maybe just once.”

Yes, a test.

I haven’t decided on a weapon yet.

Thinking of it as a test, I shifted my steps towards the heat weapons.

&

&

&

“…Chief Lee Yujin. Are you sure you’ve chosen the weapon correctly?”

“Yes, I’ve chosen it correctly.”

“…”

The instructor, Kang Cheolsu, fell silent.

And those around me were looking at me with eyes that seemed to express their inability to understand.

“Chief. I’ll ask you one last time. Are you really sure you’ve chosen the weapon correctly?”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

“…I see.”

Even with the last question, when I affirmed it, Kang Cheolsu, as if embarrassed, scratched the scar on his forehead and nodded.

“Hey, Chief Lee. Do you know how to use all of those?”

Asuka, who approached me, asked in a low voice.

I nodded in response.

“Of course.”

“…Impressive, Chief Lee.”

In response to my answer, Asuka admired and looked at my weapons.

The longsword gripped in the left hand.

The semi-automatic pistol held in the right hand.

A revolver in the holster on the right thigh.

On the tactical vest worn over the top, a greatsword, flash grenades, and non-lethal grenades.

And finally, on the back, an automatic shotgun to finish.

“Wow…, these weapons are amazing….”

In the quiet silence, only the sound of Asuka’s admiration could be heard.

‘…Was it too much?’

But I want to say it like this.

Isn’t it cool?