'...It is NOT a syllabus day...'
The instructor, Kim Soohyuk, who was apparently a high ranking Hero... something like top ten thousand out of the currently registered two million.
That guy had made a quick introduction, had some banter, but then immediately took the class out for their first task. That being: 'main weapon selection.'
As Lee followed the crowd through the armory, he couldn't help but think about the fact that 'Lee Shin' must have missed the memo about getting a free training weapon to use during his stay at Cube.
Especially after Instructor Soohyuk mentioned that the market price of the training weapons in the room rang up to 5 million won.
'...Well. I guess I can understand how I got into Cube.'
The collapsible spear that was sitting in the bag that Lee handed over to the robots to deliver to his assigned dorm DEFINITELY didn't lose out to the weapons he saw on display here and now.
But considering how frugal Lee's studio apartment had been... and the fact that Lee was definitely an orphan without any family or even guardians...
'Just how much did that guy work to get to where I was now?'
That was a lot of money for a 17 year old to collect.
Technically, 16 year old, considering that Cube went by Korean age standards where they counted the first year before you were born.
'Since I have this level of physique... what, did that guy do part-time jobs as a fisherman or something?'
Honestly, it was the only thing that Lee could think about which would make sense...
But that was something to look into later.
Right now, Lee's memories of being 'Lee Shin' were slowly filtering in. If there was a 'synchronization' bit, then it hadn't concluded just yet.
'It would be nice if it did though...'
According to Lee's documents, his Gift should be something called [Lightning Thrust] which let him attack... well, as fast as lightning.
No matter what Lee had tried though, he never got it to work.
'So it would be nice if I got that tutorial soon, please and thank you...'
"Um. Excuse me."
A soft and delicate voice from behind.
Lee paused and glanced over to see that blonde young woman standing there. The one who may or may not be Rachel.
She stared at Lee with her soft blue eyes and spoke in Korean. "...Your name. What is it?"
Lee blinked, confused. But then he realized that he DID just sit next to her without introducing himself in class earlier. Holding out his hand, he reflexively spoke in English and said, "My name is Lee Shin. Sorry about not introducing myself earlier. You seemed pretty focused at the time."
Rachel's eyes widened in surprise.
Lee paused and wondered why. Then he realized that he had reflexively responded in English, automatically translating her words because... well, she looked like she'd understand. "A-Ah." Lee coughed and switched back to Korean. "Sorry. My name is Shin Lee. My family name is Shin, my given name is Lee. The Hanja for Lee is read as 'different,' and for Shin it is read as 'belief.'"
Rachel let out a warm smile and then reached out to shake his hand. After the brief handshake, she spoke in English and said, "There is no need to force yourself. English is fine. But I am surprised. Not many study it... Korean is lingua franca, is it not?"
That... was true.
In this world, since Korea was a powerhouse, Korean was pretty standard worldwide alongside English.
But since this was Korea, obviously, most people would just learn Korean.
Honestly, it was kind of like how Americans only knew English and expected it to be enough.
It WAS... usually. But it was kind of nice being able to speak to someone in their native tongue.
Lee just never thought that he would be on the other end of that where he was speaking to someone in their native tongue.
And he was also secretly grateful that he was DEFINITELY reflexively speaking Korean until now while translating it into English in his head.
It would have been awkward for him to just go around talking in English to have the average Korean person give him a blank stare and a judgmental look for not speaking his own language...
But anyway.
Lee smiled and said, "It is, but English is good to have too. If you know both, you can converse with pretty much everyone, right?"
Rachel nodded. "That is correct. But it is still surprising. I am fairly confident in my Korean, but it is still a bit strange to be surrounded by it all the time..." She took a look around the armory at their fellow peers.
Peers who, undoubtedly, were all speaking Korean.
'Ah.'
So THAT explained why she was giving off a strange vibe.
Being in a foreign land, not knowing anyone, AND not being used to the local language...
Even if you WERE fluent in it, Lee could only imagine how disconcerting it was.
Lee smiled and said, "Well then. You can consider me your official language partner. I'll speak to you in English and you can speak back in Korean if you want. Or we can just stick to English. I don't mind."
Rachel let out a soft laugh and continued in English. "That would be a bit redundant, would it not? English is fine. It would be a shame if the princess of England began to lose her native tongue, would it not?"
"True... Ah, so you ARE Rachel then, right?" Lee looked at her. "Just confirming. I had assumed so, but there is that saying about assumptions..."
Rachel chuckled and said, "Yes." She did a small curtsy and said, "Rachel Elizabeth Louise. That is who I am. A pleasure. But... may I ask you something, Lee?"
"Go ahead. I'm all ears."
Rachel tilted her head, staring into Lee's eyes. "...Do I not... unnerve you?"
"Huh?" Lee blinked. "Why would you? I mean, you're beautiful and all, but that's about it, right?"
It was true that Rachel was pretty. In fact, if she had been around in Lee's world and posted pictures of herself, people would definitely accuse her of being AI.
But like, Lee was used to the unnaturally ethereal beauties that people kept posting on social media and everything, so being around someone like Rachel didn't really bother him.
Rachel blinked. Then she laughed again. "...How refreshing." She smiled at Lee and said, "I think we will get along fine, Lee."
"Well, I'd hope so. I don't know ANYONE else at Cube, so excuse me if I latch onto you like a koala."
Rachel covered her mouth, trying to hide a bright smile.
It was cute.
But Lee was suddenly made aware of how many people were glaring at him for being so friendly with Rachel. So he quickly changed the subject and said, "We should probably pick our weapons."
"Of course." Rachel nodded and then started walking. But before she went too far, she paused and waited for Lee, as if it was natural.
'Huh. I guess I really did just make a friend right now?'
Well, far be it for him to ignore a friendly invitation. Especially when the room was CLEARLY filled with hostile and jealous peers.
Lee walked beside Rachel while scanning the room.
Spears, blades of all sorts ranging from scimitars to nodachis to rapiers, axes, guns...
Lee was really tempted to switch to a sword. While he was decent with a spear... and while this body of his that he now owned was trained to use one, back on Earth he had been training swordplay-
Wait.
SHOULD he pick up a sword here?
After all, he already had a spear. Picking up another one would just be redundant-
'Ah, wait. Bad idea.'
This was a world where revealing all your cards wouldn't end well. Not to mention that while Cube was a 'Hero' academy, not every single person in his class would end up BEING a Hero in the end.
Just raw statistics, you know?
Every graduating class had those bad apples.
Considering the fact that there was also definitely a market for information regarding Cube cadets and Lee decided he would DEFINITELY keep the fact that he was skilled with a sword as well in his back pocket.
Maybe when he saved up enough money to buy one, he could pretend to dabble in it as an auxiliary weapon or something.
But for now...
'Wait. Is that a halberd?'
Mounted on the wall, there was a polearm with a familiar pointed end, a crescent blade, and a hook on the back.
Rachel noticed Lee staring and said, "Are you planning to choose that?"
Lee picked the halberd off from the wall and tested the weight.
It was heavy, but balanced properly. And considering his physique...
"...Yeah. I think this will work fine."
The spear that Lee had back in his room was a traditional one. Pointy metal bit on the end of a stick.
This was something that could slash, trap, AND pierce.
But mostly slash.
Considering that the spear Lee owned already was also retractible, this would be great to train with. Not to mention...
'I think the motions should transfer. The footwork too.'
Although it would need some modification, Lee was fairly confident he could train with the halberd and then transfer those skills to wielding a zweihander or something on that caliber.
Even if he didn't, it would definitely make his bo staff techniques on a regular spear hit harder due to the muscle groups it would train using a halberd to slash.
Probably.
Rachel nodded. "In that case..." She walked over to an elegant white rapier and picked it up, testing a few strikes and stances. "...This will do for me."
Lee watched her test the blade out and gave an approving nod. "It suits you."
Rachel raised an eyebrow and then said, "...I suppose that weapon suits you as well, judging from your build."
Lee blinked. Then he laughed and said, "Right. Well." He glanced at his muscular arms and torso. "This DOES lend well to a halberd. Just give me a suit of plate mail and I'll look like a captain from one of England's army of yore. Maybe a knight of the round, even."
Rachel laughed and let out a teasing smile. "Should I knight you then, oh Sir Lee?"
"I do believe that, for both England and America, Officers with the name 'Lee' tend up being infamous, so I'll pass on that."
Rachel quickly covered her mouth to stop her laughter, but she couldn't hide the amusement in her blue eyes.
Before Lee could say anything else though... and before his peers finally decided to act on their jealousy, Instructor Soohyuk's voice echoed in the armory.
"Kim Hajin. Are you certain you want to take that weapon?"