In the world of Holders, grades are synonymous with power and authority. As the grade increases, the Holder gains more privileges and recognition from their affiliation group and the nation, attracting many clans that want to recruit them.

Therefore, the highest grade boasts pre-eminent power: the S-grade Holder.

In South Korea, there are only five S-grade Holders. Most of them own their own clans, and they can join any clan they want. Everyone is eager to have them.

Their influence extends beyond clans to their everyday lives. S-grade Holders can achieve almost anything they desire within Korea. Being one of the few S-grade Holders in the world meant their existence was equivalent to national strength.

“Hmm….” A man possessing the power of an S-grade Holder, Kang Woo-hyun, quietly read the newspaper.

<Kang Juyeon, daughter of Kang Woo-hyun, secures the top spot in Seoul Holder Academy with overwhelming grades>. A familiar face appeared in the newspaper.

“Heh.” Kang Woo-hyun glanced around cautiously, then smiled widely while reading the article.

“As expected of my daughter.”

As everyone had anticipated, Kang Juyeon had achieved the top spot without any unexpected variables. Her main rune was the [Unquenchable Flame], an epic rune from the magic category similar to Kang Woo-hyun’s own rune, [Fiery Sword’s Prelude], which had elevated him to S-grade Holder status. He was immensely proud that his daughter had obtained a rune related to ‘flame’ just like him and had risen to the position of Academy’s top student.

…Kang Woo-hyun was a doting father to the core.

“You called for me?” Kang Juyeon asked as she entered the study.

With distinct features and a hint of fiery energy in her black hair, she possessed a beautiful appearance that would catch anyone’s eye. She inherited her father Kang Woo-hyun’s abilities but took after her mother in terms of appearance.

“Oh, you’re here, Juyeon.”

“What’s the matter?”

“You got promoted to B-grade Holder, congratulations, my daughter. I knew you could do it. Haha.”

The reason behind Kang Juyeon’s overwhelming victory as the Academy’s top student was due to her B-grade Holder status. She was exceptionally skilled, deserving of B-grade, which meant she could receive significant privileges from any domestic clan she joined.

In the Academy, the average grade for the upper class was C, intermediate class was D and E, and lower class was F. Among the new 1st-year students, Kang Juyeon was the only B-grade Holder.

“…Of course, it was expected. I need to climb higher.”

However, Kang Juyeon wasn’t satisfied with just B-grade. To become the successor of the clan <Judgment of Fire>, led by her father Kang Woo-hyun and one of the top-level clans in the country, she needed to strive for even higher grades to gain everyone’s recognition because there are Holders in the clan with more higher grades like A-grade and B-grade.

“Is that so? As expected of my daughter! Haha!” Kang Woo-hyun laughed awkwardly.

Even though she was his daughter, Kang Juyeon had a slightly tough side to her personality compared to his cheerful attitude. Perhaps she inherited it from her mother.

“Ah, by the way, do you remember what I told you? I asked you to keep an eye out for potential talent among the new students.”

The words he spoke to his daughter on the day of the entrance exam.

He wanted her to observe the ‘real duel’ test and look for potential candidates worthy of being recruited as clan members.

…In truth, it didn’t hold much significance.

Clans like <Judgment of Fire> operated specialized scouting teams and conducted extensive entry tests even if they received resources and recruits. They didn’t need to scout for raw talents among new Academy students. That was the practice for smaller clans.

‘But still, it’s not entirely useless.’

Ultimately, the final approval for recruitment lay in the hands of the Clan Master.

Kang Woo-hyun wanted to nurture his daughter, who would one day lead the clan, with an eye for talent. Watching the practical duel tests of her classmates might help when the time comes to confirm new recruits in her role as Clan Master.

However, Kang Juyeon’s expression was peculiar.

“…There is someone.”

“Oh, really? Tell me who it is. This year’s class seems to have many capable individuals. my daughter must have noticed someone special. Haha.”

“It’s not like that. It’s just, well…” A man came to mind in Kang Juyeon’s thoughts.Someone who was ordinary in terms of skills, runes, and abilities that a Holder should possess. Yet, more than anyone else present at the test venue, he fought with a passionate determination and was not afraid to use bold surprise attacks for victory. But after the battle was over… he nonchalantly sat down and rested. Calmly and composedly, he carried out his tasks.

Kang Juyeon found herself repeatedly drawn to this person’s unique duel style and Holder attitude, which differed from everything she had learned and witnessed so far.

“…He’s just a bit strange.”

His meticulous choice of common class lectures and deliberately applying for intermediate class piqued her curiosity out of sheer interest.

***

ippotranslation

***

[Accurate throwing, smooth dagger technique, and stealthy movement. Your skill with the dagger becomes sharper.]

[The level of your rune has increased.]

[You gain 1 point of speed from the rune’s attributes.]

[Your body is enveloped in a surge of abundant magical energy. You can now manipulate magic power.]

[You have acquired a new rune.]

[You gain 1 point of magic power from the rune’s attributes.]

“My growth won’t stop”

My rune that keeps growing without rest.

I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard this announcement.

Receiving lessons from the professors at the Academy had a far greater impact than I had anticipated. It provided a tremendous boost to my abilities.

It wasn’t a crude, brute-force training but a systematic education. Moreover, the [Effort of the Seeker], which absorbed it like a sponge, accelerated the growth of runes even further. The synergistic effect between the rune that promoted faster growth and the teachings of the Academy professors exceeded my imagination.

In particular, Professor Kim Myeong-hyun’s lesson was awe-inspiring. The expression ‘graceful’ perfectly described his swordsmanship and teachings. He taught even me, who had just become a Holder and had recently encountered a sword, in a way that I could quickly absorb and understand the basics.

My level of [Sword] had caught up with [Dagger], which I had learned later. This alone showed the astonishing level of his educational prowess.

I checked my Holder information after a long time:

<Holder Information>

◎Name: Do Jae-hyeon

◎Gender: Male (20)

◎Stats

◎ [Strength: 14]

◎ [Magic: 3]

◎ [Speed: 13]

◎ [Recovery: 1]

◎ [Toughness: 8]

◎ [Willpower: 12]

◎Resistance: –

◎ [Poison: 1]

◎Possessed Runes: –◎ [Rune Hunter Lv.Max]

◎ [Effort of the Seeker Lv.Max]

◎ [Dagger Lv.4]

◎ [Cooking Lv.3]

◎ [Sword Lv.4]

◎ [Sprint Lv.2]

◎ [Blunt Weapon Lv.1]

◎ [Bow Lv.1]

◎ [Axe Lv.1]

◎ [Spear Lv.1]

◎ [Combat Lv.2]

◎ [Shield Lv.0]

◎ [Venom Lv.0]

◎ [Magical Power Control Lv1]

◎Possessed Skills: –

◎ [Quarter Knife]: (Dagger)

◎ [Poison Claw]: (Venom)

◎ [Combo]: (Sword)

◎Ultimate Skill: –

–

Just one week after entering the Academy, my information had become much more diverse. Both [Dagger] and [Sword] reached level 4, and consistent physical training had raised [Combat] to level 2. Additionally, I acquired the rune [Magic Control] through the <Basics of Magic Control> class I attended this semester. This rune was naturally acquired by Holders who became familiar with and manipulated magic power, unlike runes obtained through intentional actions like the Hidden Pieces rune for [Sword] or [Spear].

Not only the runes but also my primary attribute scores for strength and speed had grown evenly, and my magic attribute had slightly increased as I learned to handle magic power.

“With this level of growth, I should have some competitiveness even in the intermediate class…?”

Although I achieved growth through defeating OutHolders, it couldn’t be compared to the growth I experienced after joining the Academy and receiving education. As a student, I felt like I was achieving faster and higher growth.

“Jae-hyun!”

I heard a voice calling me from the direction of the classroom door. It was Kim Chae-eun, casually dressed as usual.

“Hey, you here?”

“Yeah! Let’s prepare for the next class quickly.”

I had a total of six classes this semester. Four were specialized classes for my major, and two were common classes that students from the same year could attend together. Among them was the class <The History and Information of Monsters>, which Kim Chae-eun and I were taking together. It was only natural since it was mentioned at the entrance ceremony speech. What was peculiar was that Kang Juyeon from the upper class and Moon Ga-eun were also attending the same class. Normally, common classes were limited to students of the same grade, but upper class students had the option to apply for any lower class courses they wanted. Kang Juyeon and Moon Ga-eun took advantage of this system to enroll in the <The History and Information of Monsters> class. The reasons were unknown, so everyone could only speculate. Rumors such as the professor being a hidden S-grade Holder or Moon Ga-eun being a distant relative of the professor spread, but there was no concrete evidence.

As Kim Chae-eun and I prepared for the next class, we organized our belongings. But at that moment…

“Kyaaaaah!!”

“W-What is this, damn it!!”

“Save me…!!”

Screams of students seemed to tear through the air from the classroom directly opposite to ours.

“What’s happening…”

Kim Chae-eun looked at me with a bewildered expression, and I immediately realized.

It was the first important event in the original story: the appearance of a monster within the Academy. And it seemed like it was happening right now.