A week had passed once again.
The incident with Jang Ye was quickly forgotten by the students, and the atmosphere of the mage academy returned to its usual peaceful state.
In the meantime, there was a special change.
━━
[Character ‘Choi Seo-yoon’ has increased their interest in you.]
[Character ‘Choi Seo-yoon’ Interest Level: 2]
[You have earned 2,000 points as a reward.]
━━
Choi Seo-yoon’s interest in me had risen to level 2.
I wasn’t sure why her interest had suddenly increased, but since I had earned points, I considered it a gain.
And today, Monday, the results of the second midterm exam were released.
━━
[2nd Midterm Evaluation Results]
[Kim Sunwoo] [2-A]
[Practical – Rank 64]
[Theory – Rank 1]
[Final Combined Rank – 60]
━━
[You have achieved the ‘Consecutive 2-Time Theory Rank 1’ milestone.]
[You have earned 5,000 points as a reward.]
Rank 1 in theory and Rank 64 in practical.
The theory result was expected, but the practical result was quite disappointing.
It was mainly because I had been too focused on Jang Ye during the monster hunter exam, where the highest scores were given, and barely managed to hunt any monsters.
It was a bit frustrating, but it couldn’t be helped.
More than some test scores, resolving the threats surrounding Lee Seo-jun was the top priority.
“Hey, what rank did you get in the practical exam this time?”
Just then, Yoo Ara approached and asked me.
I wasn’t sure why she was suddenly interested, but I answered her.
“64th.”
“What? Why is it so low?”
Yoo Ara widened her eyes in surprise.
“I was unlucky during the monster hunter exam and barely encountered any monsters.”
“Hmm… Even so, you finished first in the stage escape exam by a huge margin. How did you end up at 64th?”
“Well, it happens.”
I shrugged.
“What about you? What rank did you get this time?”
“…2nd.”
It seemed that despite winning the stage escape exam, she had been significantly outperformed by Lee Seo-jun in the survival test, which had the highest weight.
I let out a chuckle.
“Better luck next time.”
“A 64th-ranker telling a 2nd-place person to do better? Worry about yourself first.”
Now that she mentioned it, she had a point.
“By the way, did you get a perfect score in theory again?”
“Yeah, probably?”
I hadn’t checked the exact score, but I had written only correct answers, so it should be a perfect score.
“Wow, that’s amazing. You’re always in the training hall, so it seems like you wouldn’t have time to study. How do you manage that?”
“I study whenever I have time.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you study outside of class, though.”
“…Anyway.”
Yoo Ara just nodded as if she didn’t think much of it.
“Oh, right. Did you know this?”
“Know what?”
“You’re the first person in mage academy history to score perfect in theory twice in a row.”
The first ever?
I didn’t know that.
“Really? That’s interesting.”
“That’s your reaction? You just set a record, and you’re not even happy?”
“I mean, I’m happy, but practical skills are more important. What use is being first in theory?”
Hearing that, Yoo Ara narrowed her eyes.
“…You should take more pride in it. If it were me, I’d be really proud.”
“People think differently, I guess.”
“Sunwoo! Ara!”
At that moment, Yoon Hayoung called out to us cheerfully and ran over.
“I ranked 18th in practical this time!”
“Oh, really? Congrats.”
I sincerely congratulated her.
All that time spent teaching her magic had paid off.
“My overall rank jumped from 52nd to 32nd! It’s all thanks to you, Sunwoo!”
Yoon Hayoung grinned brightly.
I chuckled.
“No, it’s thanks to your own talent. And all the effort you put in.”
Of course, my good teaching helped too.
It was a fact that her progress was much faster than in the original story.
“I’ll treat you to a meal as thanks! Something expensive!”
“Alright! That’s it for today’s lesson. Everyone, please submit your assignments, and remember that today’s material will be on the test, so be sure to review it!”
The first afternoon class, Monster Biology.
The elderly professor announced the end of the lesson.
The students stood up and started submitting their assignments. I also submitted mine, which I had worked hard on over the weekend.
The classroom filled with the sounds of students chatting.
The professor, seemingly unbothered, casually flipped through the assignments.
“Hmm. It looks like everyone has submitted their work on time.”
With that remark, the classroom fell silent again.
The professor, amused by the change, smiled.
“Good job, everyone. I heard the test results came out? Congratulations to those who did well, and for those who didn’t, I hope you succeed next time.”
“Yes!”
“Alright, you’re free to relax now. Ah, by the way—Kim Sunwoo?”
The professor’s gaze landed on me.
At the same time, a few students turned their heads toward me.
“Could you stay after school for a bit? I’d like to have a word with you.”
…Me?
“Yes, understood.”
The monster biology professor gave a small smile and then left the classroom.
I stared blankly at the classroom door.
…What was that about?
After all my classes had ended,
I made my way to the faculty office, remembering the monster biology professor’s request.
“Oh, Sunwoo. What brings you here?”
“Sunwoo, you’re here?”
As soon as I stepped inside, several teachers greeted me warmly.
It seemed that my active participation in class had earned me a good reputation among the faculty.
I responded with my usual friendly smile and greeted the teachers.
Then, I walked over to the monster biology professor.
“Ah, Sunwoo. Come here.”
At the professor’s call, I took a seat.
“How’s school life been for you lately?”
“Mm. I’ve been getting by just fine.”
“That’s a relief. Your attitude in class and the quality of your assignments are excellent, so your name often comes up among the teachers. I personally have a very good impression of you as well. Especially the analysis assignment on the ‘Giant Black Stone Lizard’ that you and Lee Seo-jun have been working on—it was astonishing. It’s at a level where it could be submitted as a research paper.”
“…Ah, thank you.”
I bowed my head slightly.
The Monster Biology teacher grinned and then spoke.
“The reason I called you is because you scored a perfect score on the theory exam again this time. I have something to discuss regarding that.”
Something related to my perfect score?
I had no idea what it could be.
I knew that the Monster Biology teacher was also the head of the theoretical subjects department at the Mage Academy, but…
“It’s nothing complicated. A filming request has come in for you.”
“A filming request? For me?”
I was so caught off guard that my mind went blank.
“Yes. You know SCS Broadcasting, right? They have a smaller documentary channel under their umbrella, and they want to make a documentary about you.”
A documentary, of all things.
“Why would a broadcasting station want to feature me?”
“Well, you ranked first in theory, and you have a great reputation among the teachers. That must have piqued their interest.”
“……”
As I remained silent, the Monster Biology teacher continued speaking.
“But you don’t have to do it. Being on TV doesn’t always bring good things, and getting famous could drag you into unnecessary trouble.”
“Hmm…”
“You don’t seem very keen on it. Should I take that as a no?”
“No.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll do it. The filming.”
The teacher’s expression was filled with surprise, as if my answer was unexpected.
I smirked.
A documentary shoot, huh?
This was a golden opportunity to earn a huge amount of points—I wasn’t about to let it slip away.
Friday, on the fourth floor of the Mage Academy’s Grand Library, in the self-study room.
Since the exams had just ended, the place was nearly empty, creating a quiet atmosphere.
Given that theory grades held little weight, many students had already given up on the subject. And now that the exams were over, it was only natural that there were few people around.
“Hm…”
Choi Seo-yoon was studying there, as usual.
She had ranked first in theory for both the first and second midterms of her first year.
Due to her family’s strict expectations, she had to maintain first place in both practical and theoretical subjects. So, even outside of exam periods, she often studied in the library whenever she had time.
After studying for about an hour, she stretched her back and took a short break.
As she stared blankly at the library entrance, the door suddenly opened.
A familiar face appeared.
Kim Sunwoo.
She had never seen him in the library before.
‘So he does come here.’
She briefly considered greeting him to act friendly but decided against it.
After all, they were both here to study. Socializing unnecessarily would only be a distraction.
But then—
“…Huh?”
Behind Kim Sunwoo, four cameras and a group of people who seemed to be from a broadcasting company followed him in.
“What the…”
The sudden appearance of cameras drew the attention of the few students in the library, all eyes now fixed on Kim Sunwoo.
However, he paid no mind to the stares, walking in confidently before settling into an empty seat.
Then, he opened a theory textbook on his desk.
“I make sure to study in the library at least once every two days.”
He spoke directly to the camera.
Choi Seo-yoon was so dumbfounded that her jaw nearly dropped.
She had practically lived in the library, but she had never once seen Kim Sunwoo there.
“That’s Kim Sunwoo, isn’t it?”
“Whoa, no way! Is he filming something?”
The brief commotion didn’t faze him.
Instead, he continued studying as if nothing was happening.
Occasionally, he even cast a deep, thoughtful gaze toward the camera.
“I always study with a textbook-based approach. After all, everything you need is already in the textbook.”
“Ugh…”
Choi Seo-yoon suddenly felt nauseous.
The Kim Sunwoo she knew was completely different from this.
Even his tone and expression were incredibly exaggerated and theatrical.
Was this really the same Kim Sunwoo who had been grieving over Park Minye just a short while ago?
How could someone change so drastically in such a short time?
“…Seriously.”
As he continued his monologue, their eyes suddenly met.
Following his gaze, the cameramen also turned toward her.
She flinched slightly at the unexpected attention, and one of the cameramen approached her.
“Are you Choi Seo-yoon?”
“…Ah, yes.”
“Oh! We’ve heard great things about your achievements! First place in both theory and practical exams as a first-year! Would you be willing to do a short interview?”
“…What kind of interview?”
The cameraman glanced toward Kim Sunwoo.
“Do you know Kim Sunwoo?”
“Yes… I suppose, roughly.”
“He’s the first student in the academy’s history to achieve two consecutive perfect scores in theory. As the top student overall, what are your thoughts on that?”
“Uh… That’s impressive? I envy him?”
“Cut!”
The cameraman called out.
“Please, say it again, but with more enthusiasm! Like you’re giving him high praise!”
“……”
[254 people have taken an interest in you.]
[You have earned 2,000 points as a reward.]
After three days of filming—Friday, Saturday, and Sunday—news had spread across the school.
My smart student notebook was blowing up with messages asking about the shoot.
[Whoa! Kim Sunwoo! What’s going on~?]
[Hey, is it fun being on TV? So jealous.]
I ignored most of the messages and instead focused on the internet.
“The broadcast is in a week, right?”
I searched for the documentary teaser that had been uploaded on a portal site.
Zero comments.
“Hm…”
Since I had gone through the trouble of filming, I wanted as many people as possible to watch it.
But no one seemed to care.
Meanwhile, the documentary about Lee Seo-jun had thousands of comments.
To promote it, I posted the teaser in other online communities.
[Title: Isn’t this guy a genius? First in theory twice in a row at Mage Academy.]
[Video attached.]
No response.
Still, I kept sharing it, hoping that even one more person would get interested and watch the full broadcast.
I needed to earn points, after all.
After about an hour of relentless posting, the reactions finally started rolling in.
[ksw again with the self-promotion. Pretty sure this is actually him. Just look at his post history—it’s all about Kim Sunwoo. And his username is literally ksw, lol.]
[No way, really? LMAO, would he be that obvious?]
[Wow, if it really is him, he’s such an attention seeker. Screenshotting this for proof, LOL.]
“…Huh?”
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