“W-we’re being invited to All Around?!”

Lumina’s eyes grew as wide as fists as she shouted.

It wasn’t just a surprise—it was pure shock.

“Yes.”

Abel smiled at her reaction.

Whether he thought it was the natural response or simply found her flustered expression amusing, I couldn’t tell. His face was always wearing a smile, making it hard to read what lay beneath.

“All Around is the strongest Hunter guild in the entire world. Can teacher really offer us an invitation when we haven’t even graduated yet? And do it on your own?”

Meiling crossed her arms as she questioned him.

Just a while ago in class, she had spoken politely. Now, she had slipped into casual speech without realizing it.

At least she still called him ‘teacher’ instead of ‘you.’ That was probably her version of showing respect.

“There’s nothing wrong with it. In fact, being your instructor was precisely so I could gain opportunities like this.”

Abel’s smile never wavered.

It was true.

For the academy’s chosen students, HAUT was not only a place of competition but also a marketplace where corporations and guilds scouted talent.

But Abel wasn’t just observing—he was directly inviting us to All Around. And not someday in the future, but right after graduation.

That showed just how highly he valued us.

‘Since the guild master of All Around is here at HAUT headquarters, Abel must have his approval to make this offer.’

Still, something Abel said sparked a question in my mind.

“I’d like to ask something.”

“Oh? What is it?”

He looked at me with curious eyes.

“Does All Around have members with low aptitudes like mine?”

At my words, Meiling and Seo Yui’s faces stiffened, and Lumina flinched.

Meiling and Seo Yui both had S-rank aptitudes, but Lumina—despite fighting in close combat—only had a D-rank aptitude for stamina.

And as for Nam Yein, my own aptitudes were F/F/C.

Lumina’s earlier shock at Abel’s offer must have been connected to that fact.

“Ah. It’s true most of our members have at least a B-rank aptitude in their specialty, and many have A-ranks.”

Lumina’s face darkened.

“But there are some with lower aptitudes as well.”

Abel’s grin widened.

“As you know, Hunters primarily fight monsters and bring back items or resources from the Demon Realm. Higher aptitudes give you more power, making battle easier. But you showed this morning that combat isn’t just about strength. Beyond aptitude and abilities, Hunters can have many other talents. And if those talents excel, they can more than make up for weaker aptitudes. Just like how, in yesterday’s meal-ticket skirmish, you led your team to completely crush those with equal abilities.”

Abel said this, then glanced at me and at Lumina behind me.

“There’s no need to shrink back. I invited you to All Around because I was impressed with all of you.”

I stole a glance sideways—Lumina’s face was glowing with emotion.

Even Meiling and Seo Yui’s expressions softened.

“Oh. Looks like they’re on their way back.”

Abel suddenly looked toward the cafeteria entrance.

I couldn’t see anything, Nor did I hear any voices.

The three with me looked just as puzzled.

“You don’t need to answer right now. Just remember that whenever you graduate, if you ever want to join All Around, you’ll be welcomed.”

Abel winked, then carried his untouched tray to another table and walked out the entrance.

Two minutes later, just as he said, students appeared—Crystal and Martial God racing each other inside.

“How the hell did he know?”

Meiling furrowed her brow.

“Maybe his higher level sharpens his senses more than ours.”

Seo Yui murmured while staring at Abel’s back.

“Shall we go too?”

I looked at our empty trays, and everyone nodded.

We left the cafeteria and walked side by side toward the dormitory.

“Lumina, why do you look so dazed? Like an idiot.”

Meiling peered up at her.

She was right—Lumina was walking as if her soul had floated away.

“Lumina, can’t you hear me? Lumina!”

When Lumina didn’t react, Meiling grabbed her arm and shook her.

“Huh? M-Meiling? What’s wrong?”

Lumina looked startled. Meiling narrowed her eyes.

“Are you that shocked about being invited to All Around?”

“Y-yeah… I never imagined something like this could happen.”

“Me neither.”

Seo Yui joined in.

“I knew from Yein that many corporations and guilds watch HAUT, but I never thought All Around would make an offer.”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

Meiling looked at them as if they were being silly.

“They said no one in HAUT’s history gathered points as fast as we did. That makes us the top talents here, so of course they’d want to recruit us.”

For once, Meiling’s reasoning was sound.

“So what’s everyone going to do?”

Meiling looked at us all.

“After graduation, will you join All Around?”

A silence fell.

Seo Yui was the first to answer.

“I want to decide after learning more. Even if All Around is the world’s top guild, there might be another guild better suited to what I want to do.”

“What you want to do? What’s that?”

“…Secret.”

Her reply shocked not just Meiling and Lumina, but me too. I had expected Seo Yui to give a calm, straightforward answer.

“What? Why secret? Don’t be so frustrating—just tell us.”

Meiling pressed her, but Seo Yui shook her head.

“Later.”

Though her face was as drowsy as usual, her gaze on Meiling was steady.

Apparently realizing Seo Yui wouldn’t budge, Meiling switched targets.

“Lumina, what about you?”

“M-me? I’d be thrilled to join All Around. My parents and little siblings would be happy too. Though… I might get kicked out quickly in a guild like that… What about you, Meiling?”

At Lumina’s question, Meiling, who had been grilling the others, clamped her mouth shut.

“Meiling?”

Lumina’s voice was puzzled.

Meiling’s face was steadily turning red.

At last, she spoke.

“I… I’d be happy joining any guild, as long as it’s with you guys. That’s why I asked.”

Her face flushed crimson, even her ears red, she turned her back to us.

Lumina smiled faintly, full of warmth. Seo Yui, on the other hand, looked slightly conflicted—perhaps guilty for keeping her own goal a secret after seeing Meiling’s sincerity.

“B-but what about you, Nam Yein! You’re the only one who hasn’t answered!”

“Well… I’m not sure yet.”

I slipped my hands into my combat uniform pockets and looked up at the sky.

“No one knows what might happen in the future. I don’t want to decide too hastily.”

It was a lie to hide what I truly wanted.

If, in the end, I returned to my own world—

If I vanished from before their eyes—

What would these three think then?

That afternoon, like yesterday, we had theory classes instead of combat training.

But the classroom was unusual.

There were no blackboards or desks. Instead, there were forges, anvils, and grindstones.

“Oh, that’s an MSM30. The new mechanical mana-stone furnace Crystal developed.”

“They say it has a new detection sensor that signals the optimal timing for each material. I wonder if that’s true?”

“I heard it can now recognize thirty more materials than the last version.”

Rio, Maria, and Ha Yugeun were chatting in front of the furnace.

Bella, too, wandered around with a curious look.

Ucheon Academy specialized in research, use, and crafting of items.

So to them, these tools—and this lesson itself—were naturally fascinating.

In other words, Ucheon would be our biggest rival in this class.

Just then, the front door opened.

[…]

The room instantly fell silent.

A middle-aged man, with a face that looked like it had been carved in stubbornness itself, walked in wearing a disinterested expression. He scanned us with the one eye not covered by an eyepatch.

Seeing him in person, he looks even more bullheaded than I imagined.

Kim Hyeonseok.

The greatest weapon craftsman in Seoul.

During the entrance ceremony, the students from Ucheon had been visibly shocked when they spotted him. Their academy had tried to invite him as an instructor countless times, only to be rejected.

And now, even I was surprised.

Kim Hyeonseok was supposed to be a character you only encountered after triggering a specific event, and he had no ties to HAUT at all.

If things had followed the game, a completely different craftsman would have been standing here instead.

“I’m—”

Kim Hyeonseok looked over us as he spoke.

“—a weapon craftsman, not a babysitter. I can teach skills to those who come to learn the trade, but I won’t be giving boring theory lectures.”

What?

Not even a full minute after entering, and he was already declaring he wouldn’t teach?

“So if you have complaints about my methods, don’t come whining to me. Go bother that old geezer instead.”

With that, he tossed an inventory in front of us.

“Inside, you’ll find materials like magic iron and firestone, along with some prefabricated parts. Use them to craft a weapon within one week. Your grades will be determined by the weapon’s quality.”

The students collectively froze, their faces bewildered.

“Get started.”

Kim Hyeonseok dragged over a chair, sat down, and crossed his legs.

“You’re telling us to build weapons without even teaching us how?”

Zen raised his voice.

“I already told you—if you’ve got complaints, take them to the old geezer, not me.”

Kim Hyeonseok narrowed his one visible eye, and silence instantly fell over the classroom.

I slipped a hand into my pocket and brushed against the Lens of Lavzahi.

A status window appeared.

Kim Hyeonseok—Level 71.

So the best craftsman in Seoul also has high level.

Only Awakened ones, who could manipulate mana, could work with enchanted materials.

Which meant every craftsman was either an Awakened or a professional Hunter—even if retired.

No wonder everyone had gone quiet.

“Here’s some advice. Don’t waste time. With only a week to craft a weapon, even one second will be precious.”

His lips curled in a crooked smirk as he said it.

That broke the dam—students rushed toward the inventory.

Jin Cheongryong reached it first, pulling out every last material inside.

A mountain of supplies piled up.

That’s a lot.

Enough for everyone to take plenty, with some left over.

“Ugh…”

“How are we even supposed to pick?”

They hovered uncertainly before the heap.

Then, a group strode forward without hesitation, plucking materials and parts with practiced ease.

All eyes turned their way.

It was none other than the Ucheon Academy candidates.

“Maria, what are you making?”

“Secret~.”

Rio, Maria, Ha Yugeun, and Bella carried their haul straight to a furnace and tossed in magic iron.

The next to move was Iris.

She stuffed her HAUT-issued inventory with a load of materials, then glanced back at her squad.

“Let’s go.”

“Iris, you know how to forge weapons?” Toby asked.

“I’ll manage. I’ve picked up a few things here and there. And if not, I’ve got someone to consult.”

She must mean Eleanor.

“Nam Yein, shouldn’t we grab some materials too? Why are you just standing there?”

Meiling’s face was taut with worry.

The others were already rummaging through the pile.

“Yeah… we probably should.”

I tried to keep my tone calm, but inside I was unsettled.

The assignment itself—crafting weapons or gear—was part of the original HAUT curriculum.

But back in the game, the grading criteria were clear.

For example:

Create a magic-grade weapon with level 20+ elemental damage.

Or, Forge a magic-grade shield with at least 400 defense and a vitality-boosting effect.

That was the point of the class—to study item mechanics. To learn the difference between base materials and elemental add-ons, or what separated magic-grade from rare-grade.

But Kim Hyeonseok’s task had no such standard.

Craft a weapon within one week. Your grade will depend on its quality.

One week.

For a skilled craftsman like me—or Eleanor—that might be feasible.

But for the others? Far too short.

Especially for students who had never crafted anything before.

Clang!

The sound of hammering rang out.

The Ucheon group was already forging, pounding heated magic iron on the anvil.

That sound jolted my mind into motion.

After all, we had nothing to lose.

We’d already racked up nearly forty points. Even if we scored zero here, we could make it up in other classes.

The thought lifted the weight from my shoulders, clearing my head.

But why did Kim Hyeonseok give this assignment?

Even as Seoul’s top craftsman, HAUT must have given him guidelines.

Yet he’d thrown out all the usual criteria and left only one word: quality.

Wait…

I looked at Kim Hyeonseok.

As soon as our eyes met, he flicked his gaze away.

I see it now.

I finally understood the true purpose of this class.

“Alright. Let’s get some materials.”

I motioned to my squad and headed for the pile.

Without fussing over high- or low-grade, I scooped random supplies into our inventory.

The points didn’t matter.

For me, this class was nothing but a trap.

(End of Chapter)

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