In this world, runes are exclusive to holders.
Therefore, obtaining a rune signifies the awakening as a holder.
If chosen for the [Sword], one becomes a holder who wields a sword.
If chosen for [Fire], one becomes a holder who uses fire magic.
Once chosen, a rune represents the talent of the respective holder.
Obtaining a rune by precisely executing 2,001 strikes with a sword…
Or shooting 1,880 arrows into the air to acquire [Bow].
This was a hidden piece of knowledge unknown to the world.
“Sung-hyun… was it?”
Sung-hyun, a character who was born as a member of a famous swordsmanship family but was not chosen as a holder. His overflowing desire for a sword led him to swing it thousands of times, and his seemingly meaningless gestures created the [Sword] rune, awakening him as a holder.
He was also the first holder to use a hidden piece to create a rune with his own strength.
Of course, that doesn’t mean that other ordinary people can become holders using this method. As it turns out, Sung-hyun had the talent to eventually become a holder.
Only those who have the holder’s talent and are familiar with the rune can obtain the rune with this hidden piece.
At the starting point of the story, no one who knew about it.
Even with passage of time, the method was barely reveled.
But as an avid reader of the original work, I remembered it all.
Including the other runes I obtained, such as [Bow] and [Spear].
The acquisition process was similar, with different characteristics.
As an extra, I was able to obtain seven runes within just a month.
“….”
However, excluding these special cases,
Runes given to holders are obtained during awakening.
Or they can be obtained during growth or as dungeon rewards.
That’s the extent of the acquisition methods of this kind.
Therefore, most holders strive to maximize the potential of the runes given to them.
Even if it’s an ordinary rune, they know it will be their livelihood in the end.
The first rune given to me was [Dagger].
It’s a basic rune that allows me to become an assassin. If I had stayed the same, I would have become an ordinary assassin.
I obtained seven normal runes through hidden pieces, as a result, the cheat rune got acquired.
Epic rune [Rune Hunter].
“If you win in a duel, you can take the opponent’s rune, right?”
I rubbed my eyes and carefully read the information window.
It still didn’t feel real.
Well, there are cheat runes like this, right?
Although I’m not sure about the criteria for duels, being able to take one of the opponent’s runes is an incredible effect.
No matter how strict the criteria may be, it wouldn’t demand a life-or-death situation.
In that case, the runes I could obtain with [Rune Hunter] are boundless.
Various normal runes, including those with unique effects, and even top-tier Epic Runes like Park Jin-woo’s [Effort of the Seeker] and Kang Juyeon’s [Unquenchable Flame].
I could obtain all the key runes that lead to the climax.
“Oh, but I can’t get Kang Juyeon’s.”
Unlike Park Jin-woo, a genius with growth potential,
Kang Juyeon is an overwhelming genius who never loses the top spot.
There was no way I, still at an ordinary level, could defeat her.
To obtain her rune, I would have to wait for a long time.
Regardless, it’s certain that it’s a cheat rune with impressive performance.
Just having these delusional thoughts filled me with the excitement.
Even if it’s not a famous epic rune like rare runes or ordinary ones, it doesn’t matter.
The important thing was that there was a way to obtain them.
The more runes, the better, as there is no downside to having more runes.
“I was so lucky….”
The reason why I, an utterly ordinary person, obtained such a cheat rune.
There was only one reason for that.
The luck of a transmigrator that rivals that of a beginner.
The hidden piece of knowledge about the ‘rune acquisition method’ that others don’t know.
All of it was firmly ingrained in my memory.
After finding the seven runes, I obtained this cheat rune.It was a unique coincidence that didn’t even appear in the original novel.
As a transmigrator, I could only attribute it to being extremely lucky.
“What are you so lucky about?”
I heard a familiar voice.
A style with hair casually tied to one side, giving off a hip vibe.
Casual attire that subtly accentuates her figure.
A slightly cold impression radiating from the woman.
Kim Chae-eun, my neighbor, was there.
We became friends on the first day after we ended up in this place.
At the academy building where we were for the entrance application.
Kim Chae-eun approached me first.
-Uh? Is it next door?
She was a character I had never seen before in <Next Rune Holder>.
Just like Do Jae-hyun, she was an ordinary extra.
Wait, does that make sense?
Is it possible for someone this beautiful to be an extra?
But after looking at myself in the mirror.
After confirming Do Jae-hyun’s probability, it made sense.
Extra.
They say only good-looking people become extras.
The academy employee who gave me a straightforward evaluation on the first day.
She was a person who didn’t judge others based on appearance.
She had the resonating values of a proper perspective….
-I’m on my way home! Let’s go together!
Kim Chae-eun is livelier than her initial impression suggests.
She seems to approach anyone, even those she just met, without hesitation.
Even though we only knew each other by face since we lived next door…
We quickly struck up a conversation, became close while walking home on the first day, and met a few more times, eating meals together and forming a bond.
If it weren’t for her, it would have been difficult to find our house at that time.
Come to think of it, after falling into a new world,
I didn’t even know where I lived.
“Just got chosen as an epic rune holder.”
“Tch. What luck. You’re lucky to receive an epic rune from the start… We ordinary holders struggle even in society.”
“Well, that’s true.”
In an instant, I felt taken aback and agreed.
Lucky to receive an epic rune from the start…
That was me.
“What time are you going tomorrow?”
“For the entrance exam?”
“Yeah, it starts at 2 p.m.”
Tomorrow is the day of the holder academy entrance exam.
Although it’s called an entrance exam, admission is practically guaranteed.
It’s an exam to filter out those who falsely claim to be holders.
The most important aspect of the entrance exam is the classification of students into classes.
Categorizing them into upper-class and lower-class based on their rankings.
From the academy’s perspective, which focuses on nurturing advanced talents, it was a natural decision.
“But we still have to be there early… Around 1 p.m.? Why?”
“What about lunch?”
“We have to eat before going.”
“I’ll eat at your place too!”
“Again?”
“Yes! I loved the pasta you made last time.”
The drawback of the [Cooking] rune.
After I made pasta at home once, Kim Chae-eun kept coming and asking me to make it again.
She seemed really impressed.
Clearly, that’s why she came today.“…Are you prepared for the exam tomorrow?”
“What do you even prepare for in an exam? They assess you based on your usual abilities. It’s an academy for learning, after all.”
“You say that, but I bet I can’t beat you.”
I gathered my training equipment while tidying up the surroundings.
This place was a private training ground where you paid to use it for a certain period of time.
It was about time to return the equipment and head back.
“Then come in the morning. Around 11 a.m.”
“Wow…”
“And bring dessert.”
“Dessert? What kind?”
“Pudding. Grape flavor.”
“….”
Although Kim Chae-eun’s gaze at me changed as if she were looking at a child. I couldn’t help it.
My taste buds hadn’t changed even after entering this new world.
***
Entrance exam day.
After casually filming a pasta eating show at my residence.
Kim Chae-eun and I were at the holder academy examination hall.
“Test number 311, applicant Do Jae-hyun, please come forward.”
The entrance exam is divided into two main types.
One is to verify if the holder actually possesses runes.
The other is to assess the holder’s rank.
For the former, you can immediately confirm it by placing your hand on the measuring device in the examination hall, while for the latter, there are several tests to check it.
As someone who submitted the [Dagger] rune, I had tests waiting for me, such as light dagger skills, throwing skills, and various stat measurements.
Ding-
“It has been confirmed that the applicant is a holder with runes. Do Jae-hyun has been accepted to the Seoul Holder Academy. Congratulations. Please proceed to the adjacent examination hall for class assignment.”
With a total of nine runes, including [Dagger], there was no chance of me failing the holder verification.
After the holder verification, I went straight to the rank assessment examination hall to take the test.
Ding-
Ding-
“….”
Various measuring devices instantly displayed my scores.
The supervisor sitting on one side of the examination hall muttered my scores with an expressionless face.
“Dagger skills: F, Throwing skills: F… Overall holder ability: E… Applicant Do Jae-hyun is temporarily assigned to the lower-class. Congratulations.”
The result was quite miserable.
Even though I had a large number of runes, their growth hadn’t occurred at all, so it was perhaps expected.
By the way, Kim Chae-eun was temporarily assigned to the middle class.
She was a holder of the magic-based [Freezing] rune.
Surprisingly, her abilities and rune levels were decent.
She was talking about us being ordinary holders and all…
In the end, she was a deceiver.
“Proceed to the adjacent examination hall. The final test, practical combat, remains.”
The reason for rune measurements and stat assessments being temporary class assessments was that through the final test of ’practical combat’, the final class placement of the applicant is determined.
This combat could only be conducted among applicants within the temporarily assigned class.
In other words, it meant that applicants from the upper class couldn’t engage with those from the lower class.
Considering the difference in skill levels from the start, it was a reasonable approach.
And…
’Park Jin-woo will be assigned to the lower class here.’
The reason I was eagerly waiting for this practical combat.
The protagonist, Park Jin-woo.
He owned the epic rune [Effort of the Seeker], and his temporary class was the same as mine, the lower class.
It was my first opportunity to test the power of the [Rune Hunter]…
Surprisingly, it was coming sooner than expected.
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