I'm a C-Class, but All the S-Classes Are Obsessed with Me - Chapter 3

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 3
The Grand Hall, where the orientation was taking place, felt like an entirely different world.
Despite the commotion moments ago, the seats were already packed, and only the hum of animated conversation filled the air.
I barely squeezed into an empty spot between chairs and sat down, rubbing my still-tingling fingers with my other hand while casting sidelong glances around the room.
‘Why does it feel like I’m the only one here like this?’
Everyone else was already clustered in groups of two or three, deep in conversation.
While someone outside was grinding away at weak monsters, they were already building camaraderie.
I felt tears threatening to prick my eyes.
[ The Guardian of Taewon puffs out his chest, telling you not to worry when he’s around. ]
Though I was grateful to the Guardian, his reassurance didn’t quite reach me in any practical sense.
As the murmuring grew louder, a middle-aged man finally climbed onto the stage and gripped the microphone.
“I ask that everyone please remain quiet.”
At those words, the hall gradually fell silent.
“Let me introduce myself first. I’m Choi Ki-seok, Dean of Academic Affairs, and I’ll be conducting today’s orientation for new students. If you have any suggestions or concerns during your time at the academy, please don’t hesitate to bring them to me. New students, I sincerely congratulate you on your admission to Raon, the National Special Academy.”
After hearing through the rest of the orientation schedule, the formal greeting finally ended. But I couldn’t quite bring myself to celebrate.
It wasn’t just me who felt that way—every student’s expression looked grim.
“Ugh, another test?”
“Right? I’ve gained five kilos since the entrance exam.”
Frustrated sighs and complaints drifted from those around me. The announcement about the basic physical fitness test after lunch was clearly the source of their dismay.
I half-listened to the noise and picked at my thumbnail instead.
‘Am I really becoming a total outcast?’
[ The Guardian of Taewon urges you strongly to seize this chance to demonstrate an overwhelming difference in caliber compared to other Awakeners and become the center of attention. ]
I don’t want to risk my life trying to do that.
Maybe it’d be easier to walk around alone here too.
That way, I wouldn’t have to worry about anyone’s eyes if an emergency came up. I was rationalizing to myself when—
A long screen descended, flickering to life with the academy logo as cheerful background music played briefly.
The text that scrolled past was exactly what I’d expected: the academy’s founding history and overview, curriculum details, and of course the Association’s background and the roles of Guilds, all carefully laid out.
Before long, what they considered the ideal team composition came into view, and I felt a sudden chill run down my spine.
[ The Guardian of Taewon clicks his tongue at how blatant it all is, slamming the Greatsword he’s holding down onto the ground! ]
No, no matter what, you can’t just abandon something so precious like that!
[ The Guardian of Taewon mutters that it was just some cheap weapon the contractor nearly broke anyway, flinging it into a recycling bin. ]
……What is it that you don’t have in that place?
Honestly, the realm where Constellations exist is a place I’d want to visit at least once, even if it meant dying to do it.
I held my breath and pressed a hand to my chest, then turned my attention back to the screen.
Long ago, the Association pursued a combination of Ranged Dealers and Supporters—in other words, they determined that efficiency improved when an Archer with a wide field of vision worked alongside a Healer or Buffer providing backup.
Then a grand sound filled the hall, the text vanished, and a spectacular action sequence began to play.
“What you’re now watching is a training test footage of a Guild composed solely of Ranged Dealers and Supporters—operating without a Tanker position for front-line command, which would normally be a Warrior class.”
It was material that captivated everyone’s attention.
I certainly couldn’t tear my eyes away either.
Arrows pouring down from the sky in countless streams and the agile, darting movements were the distinctive hallmarks and strength of the Archer class.
Yet they were charging forward to leverage those advantages—
As a result, aggro never once shifted toward the support-class Hunters in that footage. The moment a monster looked away, the Ranged Dealers’ concentrated fire yanked its attention right back.
“Wow, they’re so light on their feet.”
“That’s sick. Is that Guild still active? I want to join them.”
I bit my lip in silence.
What was missing there wasn’t just a class.
The Warrior who should have been on screen—that short, simple word—was me.
[ The Guardian of Taewon tells you gently, stroking your back with a sympathetic gaze, that your chance to show your worth will surely come. ]
I felt nothing through my back, but I decided to accept this particular comfort as it was.
More tedious text scrolled past after that, and only once the screen turned white did the lights in the hall gradually brighten.
Then the familiar voice echoed from the stage once more.
“As I mentioned earlier, there will be a basic fitness test after lunch. Feel free to eat at your own pace, and please gather at the Gymnasium at the designated time.”
The moment the microphone cut off, the hall erupted into noise.
I watched as people began standing one by one, thinking I’d wait a bit longer until most of the crowd dispersed before leaving.
For a while I stared meaninglessly at my phone screen, then suddenly looked up.
In doing so, someone came into my field of view.
‘Is that person an introvert too?’
Thanks to the crowd that had rushed out, a solitary figure sitting by the far windows of the hall stood out all the more clearly.
‘That’s extreme efficiency and preparedness.’
The man remained steadfastly in his seat despite the emptiness around him, bringing something he held in his hand to his mouth.
Ah, damn. I should’ve brought some bread if I’d known this would happen.
My stomach had been growling insistently for a while now, and eventually I dragged myself to my feet.
[ The Guardian of Taewon gently suggests that since the other Awakener seems equally unfamiliar with socializing, perhaps becoming lunch companions wouldn’t be a bad idea. ]
Guardian, you seem to have forgotten—I’m quite shy. My blood type is triple A, so please don’t expect that of me.
I threaded my way between the chairs and checked the screen of my phone. Only fifty minutes remained. It would be tight to digest everything before the fitness test.
‘Ah, the biggest problem is…….’
What should I eat?
Once I’d left the Grand Hall, I stopped for a moment.
Ding!
[ The Guardian of Taewon suggests that surely the foundation of Korean cuisine is braised pork, and pulls up the gourmet restaurant list for Apgujeong-dong that has already been found. ]
Seriously?
Guardian, you pass.
* * *
Lunch hour flew by.
The new students gathered in the gymnasium, clustered together and whispering as they surveyed the situation.
‘Anyone watching would think we were physical education majors.’
Vaults and mats and other equipment were laid out across the floor, and around them stood people in red hats waiting with tablets and stopwatches.
Since the order was set for each event, the rest of us new students moved in orderly fashion according to the instructions.
As I remained crouched down observing the others’ movements, my name was finally called.
“Next, Ju Ha-ryeong!”
[ The Guardian of Taewon places both hands on the contractor’s shoulders and tells her not to overthink it, to stay calm. ]
As expected I felt nothing, but I imagined it anyway and nodded.
I stood up, rolled my shoulder once for good measure, and loosened both ankles.
First came the hundred-meter dash.
The moment I stepped up to the starting line, all my mental preparation evaporated and tension surged through me.
I drew in a sharp breath, then exhaled deeply, and with a soft pop of the starting gun, I pushed off and sprinted forward.
About halfway through, as I shifted my center of gravity forward, my foot caught and my form collapsed for a moment.
Thanks to that, I ended up with a perfectly mediocre time.
“Ju Ha-ryeong, 11.39 seconds.”
For an ordinary person that would have been impressive, but by Hunter standards—those who wielded Authority—it was slow.
“Well, thank god.”
Which is why I got evaluations like that as I moved on to the next event.
I exhaled with relief and a sense of accomplishment. But this was only the beginning, and with so many more events still ahead, I couldn’t afford to let my guard down.
The testing continued. After completing everything you’d see on a standard middle and high school fitness test, only one final event remained.
As I dropped onto the floor at the end of the line, a cry of admiration suddenly erupted from up ahead.
“Insane—he actually hit it?”
As people started standing up and blocking the view, curiosity got the better of me too, and I rose to my feet. Stretching up on my toes and turning toward the source of the sound, one man stood out distinctly.
‘Something about him…….’
There was something familiar about his appearance.
At that moment, the man nocked another arrow and turned his head slightly in my direction.
‘Wait, isn’t that the person from this morning?’
But what was that just now?
Before the bowstring blocked it from view, I caught sight of his lips, and they held my attention.
‘He said something……’
Ding!
[ The Guardian of Taewon confirms by rewinding and interprets it as ‘Watch closely.’ ]
There’s a replay function too?
No, that’s not what matters right now.
By the time I finished that brief exchange with the Constellation, his turn was already over.
Soon it was my turn, and I walked up to the station. When I picked up the bow in front of me, it was surprisingly light.
‘This is going to be a problem.’
How much strength was I supposed to put into it?
I should have practiced with other weapons more regularly if I’d known.
I recalled the stance of that man from earlier and slowly drew back the nocked string.
‘Why is this so weak?’
Honestly, it wasn’t the sort of thing you could replicate just by watching. Unable to gauge how much force to apply, my trembling wrist caused the arrow to wobble as it flew. I had to hit the target moving faster and faster in front of me, but against my intention, it kept drifting in the wrong direction.
“And here I thought, as a Buffer, I’d do better than that.”
Laughter tinged with mockery erupted from behind me.
I ground my teeth, jaw clenching, and drew the last string, but it was another failure.
[ The Guardian of Taewon marvels at this unexpected talent and remarks that it seems you might need to take up archery as a second job. ]
That wasn’t an act just now, was it?
“Ha—.”
I took the final scoresheet with a conflicted heart and stepped out of the Gymnasium. I paused for a moment, studying the paper, when a strange shadow—sudden and unfamiliar—fell across one of my shoulders.
A light voice came moments after, drawing my eyes upward slightly.
“Wow, scores like that are really hard to come by.”
C-rank, yet every S-rank is obsessed with me
Episode 3
Author
| Seo Yu-yeon
Published
| March 6, 2026
Publisher
| TaleSix Inc.
Illustration
| ChogEuk
Title Design
| Mallang Kong-tteok
Website
| https://talesyx.com/
Email
| [email protected]
© Seo Yu-yeon, 2026
This publication is issued by TaleSix in accordance with a contract with the copyright holder, and as a work protected by copyright law, it may not be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means without TaleSix’s written permission.
UCI
| G720:N+A277-20260212008.0003
List Price
: Not for Sale

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————