Rank Removed From Now On (1)

“I told you to stay put in your room for at least a day because you’d be tormented for a while… So why… didn’t you do so? Because of that, I couldn’t take our Meowi out to play.”

“…So what?”

“…No way.”

Did you deceive me?

What on earth is this?
Why did you tell me to hole up for a day?
To find out, we need to go back two days ago.

Two days ago.

After becoming friends with Moon Bora, making up with Meowi after sobering up, and solidifying the bond of friendship among women.

The three of us met again at the lodging.

The one who spoke first was none other than Moon Bora.

She mentioned some precautions.

“Aha, so after three days, the first-week training begins.”
“Yes, but the problem is the duration. It’s the time we have to be extremely cautious.”
“…Huh?”

Moon Bora explained.

Before officially starting the [Mandatory Military Service], professors approach the cadets directly.

During the training, it’s a prohibited period, so this is the time everyone targets.

“…Why would they approach, though?”
“Because it adds to their own achievements.”
“…Huh?”

Right after the training ends.
Cadets attend the professors’ classes through course registration.
However, there was something a bit tricky there.

The more outstanding the cadet attending the class, the more the professor receives a reward in the form of an incentive.

“Money is money, but the problem is that this has turned into psychological warfare among the professors at some point.”
“…Psychological warfare?”
“Yes, it’s a kind of disciple display. Professors like to boast about how amazing their students are. This also leads to a hierarchy among professors and even affects promotions.”

Moon Bora explained that she didn’t know the details as it was an internal Academy matter, but it was more complicated than it seemed.

“Here’s the problem. Typically, the majority of professors prefer students who show potential rather than those who need polishing from the start. It’s much easier and more certain to teach them.”

As she said that, I also realized the intention behind her words.

“Meeeoow…”

“Ah, that means…”

“Ma Hana and Seha, who showed impressive performances in the exam, will be the ones to watch.”

Moon Bora sighed briefly and looked at me.

“Especially Seha, it will be even more tiring for you.”
“…What?”
“Think about it. You are the only cadet to receive a passing remark directly from Professor Peng Jin-ah herself.”

I later found out.

The female professor named Peng Jin-a was ranked second in the Academy.

In fact, she wields immense power and authority, second only to the Chairman, and she was said to have a significant influence.

As a hunter, she earned the grand nickname for her accomplishments, making her a subject of admiration and envy among many.

‘…As expected of an owner of a level 25 skill.’

It was a completely understandable story.

“Nine times out of ten, everyone will be targeting you, Mr. Seha. Although your class is confidential and they don’t know you’re a , your potential, talent, and even your appearance will draw attention. Professors who are desperate for achievements will definitely approach you.”

“Aha…”

“Their contact isn’t always bad, but anything in excess is never good.”

So, she recommends staying quietly in my accommodation for a day.

There was no benefit in getting involved unnecessarily.

Returning to the present.

Moon Bora boasted confidently, but…
In the end, none of her words came true.

‘There was no particular contact.’

Neither for me nor for Meowi.
I heard that no one visited Moon Bora either.

“Nothing happened?”

Moon Bora was flustered by my words.
‘Th-this can’t be?’ She muttered, sweating profusely.

Ahem!
Ahem!

She coughed awkwardly and subtly averted her gaze.

“W-well… I-I could be wrong. Even monkeys fall from trees sometimes, don’t they?”

‘I’m a monkey now?’

It was a random story, but.
As expected of a popular character, Moon Bora had a variety of costumes.

One of the most prominent ones was animal cosplay.
Among them, there was also a monkey costume.

It was a costume that had mixed reactions among the instructors, but I particularly liked Moon Bora in that outfit.

It was the only costume Moon Bora had that featured a moving tail.

There was even a special motion where, when standing with Meowi, they would swish their animal tails and draw a heart together…

‘…Could this be possible in reality as well?’

If I asked her to wear it later, would she?

“…Are you imagining something weird right now?”
“No, I’m not.”
“…You are!”
“No, I’m not~”

Moon Bora was irritated and making a fuss at my nonchalant attitude.

I was just about to tease her a bit more.

“Meow… Seha. Bora. They seem to have arrived.”

Meowi, who had sensed it earlier than us, gave a small signal.
Only then could I feel it.
Someone was approaching from this direction.

“…!”
“You’re here.”

Heavy yet energetic footsteps echoed in my ears.

Creak.

The door opened, and in walked a beautiful woman with long beige hair, as graceful as a spring flower.

“Sorry, I’m late. Have you been waiting long?”
“No, not at all!”
“Not at all.”
“Meeow. Welcome.”

The person who smiled in satisfaction at our responses was none other than Professor Peng Jin-ah.

She was the one who would guide us through the first-week training starting today.

‘By the way…’

I was curious from the moment she entered…

“Um, Professor.”
“Hmm?”
“Have you, by any chance, been to a dungeon recently?”

The reason I asked this was because there was a faint bruise on Peng Jin-ah’s face.

It had mostly healed, but the characteristic bluish tint still remained.

At my question, Peng Jin-ah looked momentarily flustered, coughed awkwardly, and subtly turned her head to hide the bruises.

“…Well, there was some business I had to attend to.”

She gave a vague response and began the briefing in earnest.

Most of the briefing content was already known.

As Moon Bora had informed me, the first week was physical training.
The second week was about assessing and recording abilities.
The third week involved 3 vs. 3 team battles.
And the last, fourth week, was for gate clearance and closure.

“Oh, so in the fourth week… the semi-finals and finals are where the last competitors face off?”

“Correct. The scores from this will weigh more than the sparring. And the final winning team will have the opportunity to access the treasure vault within the Academy with the Chairman’s permission.”

Oh, crazy.
A treasure vault?

“Gonis Hunter Academy” boasted a long history and produced various talents.

And some of these talents, upon retiring, donated the equipment they used, artifacts, masterpieces, and even unused [Runes].

Even obtaining just one of these would undoubtedly be a great help for future growth.

“Um, but, Professor?”

Moon Bora slowly raised her hand.

“Yes, what is it, Cadet Moon Bora?”

“…Why are there only the three of us here? I heard that it would be explained all at once…”

“Well, I was about to explain that part.”

Peng Jin-ah cleared her throat.
Moon Bora’s eyes widened at the following words.

“From now on, the three of you will form a team and proceed together. Also, during the training period, I will be in charge of you exclusively. I called you separately to inform you of this.”

“…Uh-uh? A team? As a side note, I understand that the process of forming a team starts slowly in the second week.”

“You guys are an exception. And Cadet Yu Seha?”

“Ah, yes?”

I, too, was shocked by the next words.

“After all your training is done, you will receive specialized classes under me until you graduate.”

“…Under Professor?”

“Right. It’s the lower level of the process commonly called ‘Exclusive Discipleship’.”

“…Huh?”

Exclusive Disciple.

A kind of proposal for a favourite or best student that every professor has.

It was a very meaningful ceremony where people exchanged oaths and pledges to each other’s [Origin], going beyond a simple teaching relationship.

However, the leaders of ‘GAL’ take this a little differently.

‘Fuck… is this a graduate student event?!’

Among ‘GAL’s’ various , this one was definitely one of the most highly regarded.

But it was just as intense.

The leisurely life at the Academy suddenly turned into a hellish difficulty.

The amount of homework increased tremendously.
In between, one had to report papers or actual results to the professor and get a pass.

If they couldn’t do it on time…
‘Is that all you can do?’ They had to be prepared for such harsh words and scolding.

“……”

Turning my creaking head, I stared intently at Moon Bora.

At that gaze, Moon Bora quickly turned her head away.

“…Excuse me. Miss Bora? You clearly said that the ‘Exclusive’ offer would come only after the training was completely finished… Didn’t you say not to worry about this part?”

“…This can’t be happening… Ahem! Well, you know, even monkeys fall from trees sometimes–”

“If you fell from this height, your head would have split open ages ago!”

“Meow! Both of you, calm down!”

The sudden remark turned the three into chaos.

Peng Jin-ah, the root cause of everything, watched this scene with satisfaction and nodded.

As expected, thinking again…

‘I did the right thing.’

Three days ago.

In the Academy’s conference room.

About ten professors were silently staring at each other.

All of them were major professors who taught subjects preferred by ‘melee dealers,’ and they themselves were of the ‘melee dealer’ class type.

Since they all had hot-tempered personalities.
It was quite a rare sight to see them all gathered together like this.

Undoubtedly, the most cautious figure among them was Peng Jin-ah, who was sitting right in the center.

‘…Absurd.’

Peng Jin-ah scoffed at the women who were trying to settle things among themselves, side-lining her.

It was hers to boast about anyway…

She couldn’t understand why they were so covetous.

“Still, if left alone, this will become troublesome.”

Therefore, she chose a bold method that no one could object to.

Bang!

Peng Jin-ah stood up from her seat and slammed the table hard.
*Crack! *A crack appeared.
All the professors stared at her in astonishment.
Regardless, she untied the sword from her waist and dropped it to the floor in the corner.

“It seems everyone has a lot to say.”

“…Of course, Professor Peng Jin-ah. We can’t just watch you play sweetly with a cute and handsome boy all by yourself…”

“Your tongue is too long.”

Peng Jin-ah cut off her words cleanly.

She took off the professor badge symbolizing her rank as ‘Second in Command’ and threw it into the corner.

“Talking among ourselves is meaningless. Dialogue should be done with fists. Therefore, from now on, we remove our ranks.”

The female professors, having grasped the meaning of her last words, had a sudden change in their gazes.

They all stood up from their seats and threw their weapons and badges into the corner.

Peng Jin-ah clapped her hands.

“From now on, we’ll settle this with our fists. And the winner takes everything. No one will have any complaints about that, right?”

“Fine!”

“I’ve always had a problem with you!”

“Me too, I’m going to teach my genius pretty boy in peace!!! I’ll teach him this and that!”

“You’re a 30-year-old spinster! Always chasing after men! You should be ashamed of yourself!”

Snap!

The last words were definitely a strong provocation.

Peng Jin-ah, with a throbbing vein mark on her forehead, cracked her knuckles.

“Alright, I’ll sort out the hierarchy once more today.”

She swung her lightning-fast fist at the professors charging toward her.