I Obtained The Absolute Garbage Skill At The Academy

Chapter 12 – Tower of Beginning (1)

[Childhood narrative has ended]

[You gain memories and emotions experienced over 9 years]

[Favorability rating with family members has greatly increased]

[Trait slot +1]

[You acquire one C-grade trait]

[Trait: Crudely Learned Martial Arts(C+) acquired]

[Restriction penalty has been removed]

[Physical training increases strength, agility, and stamina by 2]

[Encyclopedia knowledge grants ‘Jack of All Trades(D+)’]

[Some abilities have grown…]

‘Ah, shut up!’

I frowned and opened my eyes at the loud ringing in my head.

As I stretched my arms, I noticed my body had grown to the size of an adult man.

“Hmm…ah ah”

Feeling my vocal cords that resonated pleasantly after going through voice change,

I naturally headed to the bathroom.

“This is interesting too.”

Though I only vaguely remembered,

I shouldn’t know the layout of this house well, yet my body moved as if remembering.

While washing my face, I glanced at the face in the mirror.

‘Damn, I’m handsome….’

The boy with the exact appearance of the character I had created with the self-indulgent customization button was right in front of me.

This made me feel even more disconnected from myself.

“In reality I’m an ordinary guy, but in this world I’m a tall pretty boy?”

I snickered at the absurdity, making the same kind of joke my friend often made.

Feeling awkward, I calmly assessed the situation with a toothbrush in my mouth.

‘Seems like the childhood narrative wrapped up well… I’m sure there were stat increases and traits that went up.’

Deciding to check them later,

I stood blankly for about 5 minutes, replaying the implanted memories.

“It’s kind of like… watching dozens of unforgettable movies.”

Just as I said, it felt like I had watched someone else’s life rather than living it myself.

Normally, I would have received and read a 5,500-character detailed report, but in my case, it seems to have been directly implanted.

Ding~!

[Observer Message Lady admires her own work]

[She asks if you don’t want to praise her for creating you so well]

“Well, it’s nice but… isn’t this a bit excessive?”

[The observer says it’s actually insufficient, expressing regret that she should have made you blindingly beautiful at first sight]

“No, listen, this is already more than enough. What?

Haven’t you heard of ‘too much of a good thing’?”

“And you’re answering well too. Why don’t we have a serious talk later?”

[…..]

[The Observer disappears on urgent business]

I knew this would happen.

At the hospital too, when I tried to ask about how to return and various other things, he quickly ran away.

Knock knock.

As I was clicking my tongue, a soft voice was heard.

“Siwoo! How long are you going to take? Hurry up and get ready. We’ll both be late at this rate.”

“Oh! Sorry! I’ll hurry.”

With the impression of a familiar girl from my memories forming in my head, I went outside.

“Sorry, I was just thinking about something for a moment…”

As I came out awkwardly, a petite girl was leaning against the wall.

“I was wondering why you woke up early…” The girl hesitated,

“…you’re not wearing a shirt.”

She blushed and turned her head away.

‘Ah!’

I hurriedly grabbed something and went outside.

“Hey, I’m really sorry. I guess I’m too nervous today.”

“…It’s fine. Just be careful next time.”

Yu Hana went inside without making eye contact.

Watching her, I let out a sigh.

‘This doesn’t feel like having a female sibling.’

If she were my younger sister, she would have cursed and shouted that her eyes were ruined…

Yu Hana in Yu Siwoo’s memories was far from being an enemy.

Rather, it was closer to the relationship between a young man and woman of that age.

‘But it doesn’t seem like love either… What the hell was this guy doing with his life?’

Feeling annoyed at the ambiguous emotions Yu Siwoo had brought, I went to the room and opened the closet.

‘This is the Ernel Academy uniform….’

Trembling with excitement at seeing it in person, I got dressed.

After getting ready and coming out,

I saw Yu Hana standing somewhat wearily in the same uniform.

“Shall we go then?”

I asked in a friendly manner, trying not to show my awkwardness.

“…It’s crooked.”

Huh? What?

Before I could answer, she came over and fixed my tie and appearance.

“…You’re 17 now, not a child anymore. Try to keep these things neat.”

Um…well

‘What is this common otaku romantic comedy situation?’

While I was bewildered, Yu Hana finished up and turned around, heading outside first.

“I called a taxi, it should be waiting outside by now.”

“Uh, okay.”

Ah, this is unbearably awkward.

After receiving Yu Hana’s care(?), we headed to our destination.

“Breaking news. One of the top 10 guilds, Changcheon, has unveiled a new masterpiece…”

“Traces of the wanted criminal guild Mantis Worm have been discovered. The Association is quickly investigating…”

While listening to the incredibly strange news content,

I glanced to the side.

Yu Hana had grown from her former chubby, baby-like appearance into a proper young lady.

“Like mother, like daughter—she really resembles her aunt.”

I thought that with a few more years of growth here, she would become like the cold-impression Yu Mihee.

“…Though probably not in that department.”

I briefly expressed regret about her chest that hadn’t grown a bit.

Pinch!

“Ow! What was that for!”

Without even turning her face, she calmly opened her mouth.

“…I just felt annoyed.”

[Yu Hana’s mood has slightly worsened]

“What the—”

“Does she read minds or something?”

While I was fearful of her sharp intuition,

I heard the taxi driver saying we were almost at our destination.

Looking out the window,

“Wow…”

An exclamation naturally escaped my lips as I saw connected buildings with shapes that couldn’t possibly be made with modern technology.

“So that’s Ernel Academy…”

[You have arrived at ]

[Achievement completed]

[You receive 5000 Shop Points]

“If I remember correctly, it starts right away…”

If my prediction is right, once all the new students gather, we’ll immediately take the class placement test.

“I should at least be able to get into B Class, right?”

Ernel Academy operated with a class system incorporated into the grade-based curriculum.

However, grade levels were meaningless as the real evaluation was the class ranking, which determined everything.

There were six classes in total: S, A, B, C, D, and E,

Assigned according to one’s abilities, talent, and test results.

“It was ridiculously difficult to move up, but embarrassingly easy to move down.”

Every half semester, large-scale tests were conducted, and if you scored below the threshold, you would be moved to a lower class.

The discrimination between classes was also severe. S Class students were treated almost like gods, while E Class students weren’t even treated as proper people.

Also, due to the system that had continued for over 100 years,

Hazing rituals and violence frequently occurred, and if the perpetrator was an S-class student, even teachers would often let it pass without saying much.

‘Even if third-year D-class students are assaulted by first-year S-class students, nobody says anything.’

The biggest reason this phenomenon persisted was because of the students’ social advancement after graduation.

The grades received here were essentially a caste system.

Even graduating from B-class would bring in so many sponsorships and offers that people would say your life was set.

Naturally, they maintained connections with each other,

And commonly, those in high positions would arrange marriages between their children to further solidify their power.

“It’s just reflecting reality.”

“…? What is?”

“Nothing, just talking to myself.”

Dismissing Yu Hana’s puzzled gaze,

He entered the open space filled with what looked like over two hundred students.

“Since our admission slip says AE-3, our seats should be a bit further ahead.”

Looking at Hana who was leading the way, he followed behind.

As he walked without much thought, he felt the stares and murmuring voices.

“…Wow, who’s that? Some celebrity?”

“Don’t be stupid, he’s wearing a school uniform. He’s a freshman like us…”

“…I wonder if he has a girlfriend? Should I ask for his number?”

The stares continued to increase to an uncomfortable degree.

“What’s going on?”

[You are receiving attention from surrounding individuals]

[Likability ratings toward you are increasing]

[Face’s Plausibility(B) proficiency is slightly increasing]

What… what?

While feeling embarrassed,

Thwack! He felt a strong grip on his right hand as he was pulled forward.

“Ouch! Hana, that hurts! Pull more gently!”

“…Be quiet and follow me. We’ll be late at this rate.”

This girl, just how much strength does she have?

Not understanding her actions, he was obediently dragged along.

[Due to the effect of My Name is Siwoo(C+), your Insensitivity stack increases by 1]

‘What?’

What’s an Insensitivity stack?

No, more importantly, why has the level increased?

‘I heard reports that some abilities had increased, but why this one?’

He wanted to check immediately, but the situation didn’t allow for such leisure.

After some struggle, as he sat down in his seat, a man climbed onto the platform.

He was an old man with impressive white hair reaching his waist and a long beard.

With a height that seemed to exceed 2 meters and muscles so densely packed that they bulged through his suit, he looked nothing like his age group.

‘Cheon Hwitaek….’

The president of Ernel Academy and a legend of the first generation who dominated the early days of the portrait era….

He was an old warrior who frequently appeared in the main story,

A so-called ‘cool grandpa’ who showed incredible combat power despite being over 70 years old.

‘As expected, that man is giving the speech himself.’

If that’s the case… I need to prepare right now.

“Hana, raise your energy immediately and be ready to use your ability at any moment.”

“Okay”

“You might ask what I’m talking about… Huh? What did you say?”

“I said okay”

I stared at Hana in bewilderment as she responded without a moment’s hesitation.

Looking back at me as if wondering why I was acting that way

“I can believe what you say. It’s always been that way, so why are you looking at me like that?”

“…Y-yeah, get ready”

I didn’t expect this reaction, but anyway, I also focused my mind,

And made the rising energy circulate through my body.

Cheon Hwitaek stood on the platform, clearing his throat,

And without a microphone, he let out a voice so powerful it seemed to shake heaven and earth.

“Welcome, new students! I am Cheon Hwitaek, the president of this Ernel Academy!”

The students in the front row covered their ears in pain from his booming voice.

“My secretary nags me to give a calm speech because of my age, but neither of us wants such boring talk!”

“As you probably know, our Ernel strictly conducts education based on classes.”

“Of course, the fact that you received admission letters means you are undoubtedly outstanding talents.”

“However, being satisfied with just that won’t be enough to endure the great trials ahead! I’m tired of talking more, so let’s begin right away!”

As soon as Cheon Hwitaek finished speaking,

Kuguuguugu!!!

A massive vibration occurred

And huge dark clouds gathered overhead.

Then lightning struck,

And an enormous tower, at least several hundred meters tall, descended upside down.

‘Here it is. The Tower of Beginning…’

The first artificial tower successfully replicated after countless efforts.

Its functions were vast miraculous products like the towers spread throughout the world.

I held Hana’s hand as she stared blankly upward.

“…”

Looking at Yu Hana who nodded as if to say not to worry,

I heard Cheon Hwitaek’s final words.

“Now! Go forth, boys and girls! Show us your strength and potential! I, Cheon Hwitaek, am with you!”

As soon as his words ended, a vast energy struck down like lightning from the top of the tower, causing a thunderous noise.

[You are receiving forced teleportation from the Tower of Beginning]

[You feel an unknown, mysterious spatial technique]

[Poor Adaptability (C) is resisting….]

‘Stay still….’

While controlling the thing that was trying to do something unnecessary,

Ziiiiing!!

All new students, more than 200 including me and Yu Hana, were transported.