TRPM 397

chapter 397

Spirit arts use the energy of nature, called spirit power.

Whether spirit power is truly the energy of nature is unclear, but because of it, spirit arts possess a distinctive trait: secrecy.

Unlike aura—which becomes more palpable the stronger one gets—spirit users, the higher their level, the better they become at concealing their presence.

And Elena was a spirit user who had surpassed the wall.

If she deliberately hid her energy, most awakeners would find it difficult to even realize she was using her powers.

‘… Wait, is this right?’

Elena accelerated a paintball using spirit arts and adjusted its trajectory.

Naturally, the paintball she controlled flew straight toward the kids from Class 2, their opponents…

Pop!
Pop!

Or at least it should have, but her shots were shot down midair.

Someone had fired their own paintballs to perfectly intercept them.

‘Wait—how is that even possible?’

I stared in disbelief at the far side, where Class 2’s homeroom teacher stood.

Only that teacher could pull off such an insane stunt.

“This makes no sense—kyaa?!”

Pop! Pop!

Just as Elena realized all her paintballs had been neutralized and let her guard down, two paintballs slammed into her body.

She had exposed herself from cover and became an easy target, so Class 2 students focused their fire on her.

With a dazed expression, Elena trudged over to the elimination seats where we sat.

“You okay?”

“… Not okay….”

She had even resorted to the foul play of using her powers, only to lose without accomplishing anything. The shock was obvious.

‘It’s just that Class 2’s teacher is way too strong.’

The other kids in Class 2 were ordinary.

They had only fired because Elena revealed herself.

Most of their shots missed anyway—only two had managed to hit her.

It just went to show how difficult paintball really was.

‘Still, looks like Class 2’s teacher plans to stop here for the kids’ sake.’

Indeed, the teacher put down the gun and walked to the elimination seat, even though they hadn’t been hit and weren’t out of ammo.

And as soon as the teacher left…

“Guys, let’s go!”

Kang Garam rallied our Class 1 to launch an attack.

The original plan had been to play defensively, but since Class 2 wasn’t moving either, it would never end otherwise.

But Class 1 already had fewer people to begin with—and with Teacher Son Ji-hye, Elena, and me eliminated, our numbers had shrunk further.

Meanwhile, Class 2 hadn’t lost a single student, aside from their teacher who withdrew voluntarily….

‘Elliot and Lee Doo-min managed to take out two each, but… looks like we’ll lose anyway.’

Sure enough, most of our classmates were eliminated, and defeat loomed over us.

“Hm?”

But then, something unexpected happened in Class 2.

Several students, who hadn’t even been hit, checked their ammo containers… and walked straight to the elimination seats.

“Wait, why are you out?”

“We’re out of paintballs.”

Ah. Now I understood.

When they all fired at Elena earlier, countless paintballs had missed, only two landing.

That meant their accuracy was low…

‘So even though we’ve lost a lot of people…’

It meant Class 2 had burned through an excessive amount of ammo.

“Ah, more are coming out.”

A few more Class 2 kids stood and walked to the sidelines.

By then, everyone started thinking the same thing:

‘…Wait. If this keeps up, Class 2 might run out of ammo completely, and Class 1 could actually win?’

But when we looked back toward Class 2’s field…

“……”
“……”

Not a single student was left standing.

Meanwhile…

“…That one’s still there?”

“Wow….”

Only one of ours remained hidden behind cover, not joining the attack even when Kang Garam urged us forward.

“…Huh?”

It was Kim Eun-yeon, who had earlier complained the gun was too heavy.

Fweeeet!

The staff confirmed Eun-yeon was the last one standing and blew the whistle to signal the end.

“…We actually won.”

“…We actually lost.”

Both our class and Class 2 were dumbfounded.

Of course, it wasn’t over yet.

“After a short break, we’ll switch sides and begin the second round.”

The staff’s announcement prompted both classes to huddle and discuss strategy.

“Eun-yeon, in the second round, you just stay hidden somewhere safe, okay?”

“If they’re not idiots, Class 2 will conserve ammo this time.”

“If you don’t want to be eliminated as stupidly as Gun-woo or Teacher, hide at the start.”

Lots of ideas were thrown out, but they were all variations of the same theme: play purely defensively this time, and don’t rush out recklessly.

‘Though once the match starts, I bet someone won’t be able to hold back and will charge anyway.’

With that thought, I, Teacher Son Ji-hye, and Eun-yeon headed for cover first while the others went to restock ammo.

… After all, the three of us hadn’t fired a single shot in the first round, so we didn’t need refills.

‘To be precise: Teacher Son Ji-hye and I were eliminated instantly, so we never fired. Eun-yeon just hid the whole time.’

Anyway.

The others refilled their paintballs and took their positions.

It wasn’t long before the second round began.

Fweeeet!

This round played out very differently from the first.

Our class hid well, so the Class 2 teacher couldn’t pick us off.

Meanwhile, Class 2 students, perhaps remembering their mass elimination from wasted ammo earlier, wouldn’t fire unless they had a sure shot.

With both sides being cautious, the atmosphere was completely unlike before.

“Ugh….”

Naturally, the less patient students couldn’t stand it.

“Forget this, I’m going first!”

“Me too!”

Elliot and Lee Doo-min dashed forward, firing rapidly.

Having scored two kills each last round, they brimmed with confidence.

Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!
Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!

But they were gunned down by Class 2’s concentrated fire.

‘Ah, this time they’re aiming carefully instead of spamming shots.’

Much fewer bullets missed compared to before.

Of course, pelting one target with several rounds still drained their ammo.

I was thinking this when…

‘Oh?’

Glancing ahead, I saw the Class 2 teacher looking elsewhere.

Sensing the chance, I took aim.

I wasn’t the only one.

Teacher Son Ji-hye, eager for revenge, also aimed at the teacher and signaled me.

‘Fire in three seconds? Got it.’

I counted down as her fingers folded one by one.

“…Ah! They’re aiming at Teacher!”

The Class 2 kids shouted, and their teacher turned just in time to see us—

But by then, we’d already pulled our triggers.

Pop! Pop!

Both paintballs shot straight toward the teacher… but he instantly dropped prone, and the shots only smacked harmlessly into the structure behind him.

“……”
“……”

Wow. He dodged like that?

Pop! Pop!

And while we were reeling in shock, the teacher, still prone, calmly fired back and eliminated both of us.

… The rest unfolded much like the first round.

The teacher took down Elena, the next biggest threat, then withdrew voluntarily.

After that, Class 2 used their superior numbers to clean up.

This time, they conserved ammo well, so there were no self-eliminations.

Naturally, Eun-yeon didn’t get another miracle survival, and the second round ended with Class 2’s victory.

“…Teacher.”

“Yeah?”

“What’s the deal with Class 2’s homeroom teacher?”

The way he moved earlier wasn’t something you could explain by saying he just played paintball a lot.

To instantly drop prone and shoot accurately from that position—it was like…

“Like a soldier?”

“Not just any soldier. A highly trained one.”

“I don’t know the details either, but apparently he awakened after coming back to college from the army.”

… Normally, awakening happens in adolescence, or at the latest in the early twenties.

From birth, people are exposed to the ether of the Awakener System, and as they grow, their bodies develop to suit the ability they’ll awaken into.

If someone doesn’t awaken by the time they’ve finished growing, they usually never will—like how adults rarely grow taller once their growth plates close.

But just as there are rare exceptions for height, there are exceptions for awakening.

It’s not uncommon for someone in their thirties, forties—or even their seventies—to awaken.

Anyway.

“So because he went to the military, he’s also good at paintball?”

“Most likely.”

After the paintball program, we attended a special lecture by a guest speaker.

… They weren’t a top-tier figure like me or Yeon Mirae, but rather an awakened person who balanced being an entertainer with awakened activities.

‘It wasn’t very useful to me, but for the other kids it must have been.’

When the lecture ended, we had a late dinner, and then all the students were given free time.

“Everyone, be in bed after 10, okay? Tomorrow’s packed too.”

“Yes, ma’am~.”
“Got it~.”

After Teacher Son Ji-hye’s reminder, everyone returned to the rooms.

And by everyone, that included not just the boys but the girls too.

The teachers only said we had to be back in our own rooms by bedtime; they didn’t scold us for hanging out together.

“What’s in your fridge?”

Then Ryu Ah-young, who had wandered into our room, casually opened the mini-fridge.

And froze on the spot.

‘…Oh no.’

Come to think of it, inside that fridge was…

“……”
“……”
“……”

The girls who peeked in also froze.

“…Teacher…! They brought alcohol…!”

Snapping out of it, Ryu Ah-young bolted off to snitch.