Rank 0 of the Awakener Special School - Chapter 6

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Awakener Special School Ranking: 0th Position
Episode 6
‘…That guy runs pretty well, doesn’t he.’
From eavesdropping on his classmates’ conversation, Ji-woo gathered they were confident that this Moon Yu-jin would take first place.
Ji-woo glanced at Moon Yu-jin once, then quickly looked away. A light stretch before the race would do him good.
…Ah, but first.
‘I should cover the wound on my hand.’
He fished through his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. The cut itself was small enough to heal quickly, but….
– There might be people out there who’d try to misuse Ji-woo’s abilities, so you mustn’t use your Core carelessly in front of strangers. You understand what your mother and father mean, right?
His parents had always worried about him using his Core in public.
They were gone now, but habits didn’t fade so easily.
‘Sorry, Mom, Dad. I’ve already used my Core twice today without meaning to.’
The first time was in front of Narac.
And the second was just now, in front of that injured boy.
‘If Mom and Dad were still alive, they would’ve fainted.’
One Awakener equals one Core.
That was common sense in the modern world.
But not for Ji-woo. He had been born as an unprecedented Awakener with multiple Cores.
First, Ji-woo’s first Core: Regeneration.
Unlike Ji-hyo, who could only regenerate his own wounds, Ji-woo possessed the power to accelerate regeneration in others.
In other words, it meant ‘Healing’.
Though there was a side effect, as one could see. The drawback of taking on the other person’s pain and wounds as his own.
And then his second Core: Telekinesis.
The ability to move objects without touching them—a genuine psychic power.
Was that all?
No. Healing, Telekinesis, and beyond that, there was one more—a third Core unknown to the world.
Meaning Ji-woo possessed three Cores in total.
– What kind of Awakener has multiple Cores? Only a monster would.
His hands stilled as he wrapped the handkerchief around his palm.
……
Ji-woo’s expression darkened.
If it ever came to light that there existed a being with three Cores? Without a doubt, the world would be shaken.
‘In a very bad way.’
Moreover, Ji-woo surpassed ordinary Awakeners in every respect—stamina, strength, lung capacity, agility.
But that was precisely why he had to remain confined for life.
Because these exceptional abilities weren’t simply a matter of luck.
– We should have eliminated it immediately back then. Do you truly not understand how fatally this weakness might become later?
– Grandfather……!
– Why not just advertise that the company created Awakeners through human experimentation?
Words his grandfather had spoken to his parents.
He only grasped their meaning after his parents passed away—around age six.
A project his grandfather, who ran a pharmaceutical company, had been conducting in secret for years.
The Artificial Awakener Creation Experiment.
Ji-woo was a byproduct of that experiment.
Since Ji-woo and Ji-hyo were twins, strictly speaking, both were children born from the experiment.
But Ji-woo and Ji-hyo were different.
Ji-hyo was a success—a ‘standard’ Awakener born with a Regeneration Core.
Then what of Seol Ji-woo?
A ‘complete success’.
A jackpot no one had intended.
Born far too perfectly.
An unprecedented Awakener bearing three Cores.
Yet born as an infant with a fatal flaw—unable to control those Cores perfectly.
Anyone who laid eyes on Ji-woo would question it. Could such an Awakener truly exist?
And if someone ever uncovered the truth of Ji-woo’s origins?
The shadow of Seol Hwa Pharmaceuticals—its unethical, inhumane conduct—would be exposed for all to see.
Now he understood.
That was what his grandfather had feared.
Already burdened by a guilty conscience for what he’d done, his parents’ determination to save Ji-woo—whatever laws had to be broken—had only fanned his grandfather’s terror.
His grandfather had wanted Ji-woo dead.
But what could be done?
The child had already been born.
‘Still… the CCTV in front of Narac didn’t catch my face, they said.’
When I used the Healing Core just now, the other party was a small child. It should be fine.
It bothered me to ignore a young child hurt and crying like that.
“Last group’s turn. Line up in a row.”
The teacher’s distant call pulled him from his thoughts.
“Hey, everyone gather! It’s Yu-jin’s turn.”
“Where? I want to sit up front.”
“Move over. I sat here first. I need to record this.”
The class swarmed forward to see Moon Yu-jin run.
Ji-woo calmly made his way to the starting line, marked in white.
Aside from their special Core abilities, Awakeners possessed far superior physical stats than ordinary humans—endurance, strength, stamina.
Of course, some Awakeners stood out with distinctly exceptional abilities.
Like this Moon Yu-jin character, presumably.
‘How fast does he run?’
Standing at the starting line beside the others, Ji-woo felt slightly tense.
When he thought about it, he’d never competed against anyone before. All his classes—physical education included—had been conducted at home.
‘So-young said I should be capable enough to keep up with lessons, but….’
As he was thinking this, the teacher raised his hand high.
“Set─.”
Before the starting signal came, Ji-woo and the others in his group crouched low.
Ji-woo glanced to his right.
Moon Yu-jin received the cheers of all his classmates, yet his smooth face showed no change in expression.
Everyone seemed convinced Yu-jin would take first. If so….
‘I’ll aim for second place.’
That would be about right if possible. Coming in first might invite suspicion.
He’d maintain a decent time but nothing too conspicuous—second place was appropriate.
‘I should finish about one or two seconds behind Moon Yu-jin.’
Bang!
The gunshot pierced the air, and he kicked off the dirt.
Whoosh……!
The gap opened instantly. Moon Yu-jin shot forward at blinding speed.
“Kyaaaah! Yu-jin!”
Amid fervent cheering from those around him,
the other runners gritted their teeth and dug their heels in to catch up.
‘…Huh?’
A flicker of confusion crossed Ji-woo’s face as he pursued Yu-jin.
And for good reason.
‘He’s slower than I expected…?’
This Moon Yu-jin kid—Ji-woo had assumed from the rumors that his athletic ability would be extraordinary.
‘Almost caught him.’
Better to ease up a bit more.
Ji-woo subtly widened the gap between himself and Yu-jin as inconspicuously as possible,
“Moon Yu-jin, first place!”
and only after confirming Yu-jin’s arrival at the finish line did he accelerate to full speed.
Bang!
The plan had gone off without a hitch. Ji-woo crossed the finish line about a second behind Moon Yu-jin, as intended.
‘That was close. Almost came in first.’
Sweat beaded on him for a different reason now. As he wiped the droplets from his jawline with the back of his hand,
“S-Seol Ji-hyo, second place…….”
…Wait? Something felt off about the atmosphere.
The surroundings had gone oddly quiet—.
The moment he straightened up from wiping sweat, someone muttered in disbelief.
“…Is this real?”
The students began whispering among themselves.
“What’s going on? What just happened?”
“Hey, did I see that right?”
“Yu-jin did 40 seconds, but Seol Ji-hyo did 41 seconds…?”
He couldn’t fully understand their conversation, but one thing became clear.
“Doesn’t that make him faster than Han-gyeol?”
Ji-woo’s mouth fell slightly open.
…Ah. He might have made a mistake.

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