10 Psychic children 10 (2/2)
Han had to remain in the recovery ward for a week.
'I wasted a whole week. That damn sergeant.'
His flesh had been badly lacerated, but now he had made a perfectly full recovery. The burned flesh had regrown. The medical facility of Ark was top notch. As long as one still had a breath of life in them, one would be able to make a full recovery.
For emergency treatment, human organs and body parts were preserved constantly.
Han didn't wish to waste his time, so the moment he woke up, he started reading his books. He did everything he could while remaining in bed.
Every month, Major Kang contacted him. Major Kang had already been aware that Han fell below average for Psychic powers. Major Kang pressured Han all he could without being upfront with it.
Intense stress fell upon Han.
'I'm only 10 years old.'
Han muttered to himself. But, he quickly shook his head.
'But I'm a 10 year old with the responsibilities of the life of others.'
Outside Han Lee's recovery ward, Sergeant Red and a researcher stood talking. It was a one-sided mirror so Han was not aware of Sergeant Red.
”The child's stress tolerance and mental strength is higher than an average adult's. His psychometric level is also surprising. Compared to children his age, his sense of responsibility is very high, and his sense of identity is strong.”
As the researcher spoke, Sergeant Red added onto the evaluation.
”To put things simply, he has strong mental strength and will power.”
”I read through his profile that he had been born into a harsh environment and lived through stress all his life. Since he survived through such conditions, it can't be helped that his mind is unshakable.”
”We found a great unpolished gemstone. He has the potential to become the greatest striker in the future.”
Sergeant Red generously praised him. The researcher laughed.
”This is the first time I heard you praise a child. No matter how much talent a child had, you've always remained stoic.”
”The top officials funding Ark are mistaken about one thing. The most important aspect of a dragon hunter is not psychic skill. That is only the basic minimum requirement. The soldiers require the strength to tough through the most gruesome horrors in order to stab and penetrate deeply into their hearts. Strikers are the only ones with the ability to land critical blows. It would be nice to setup the greatest situation for the squad, however if that were to be impossible we need a squad that can run through the worst fires headon in order to kill our enemies. That is the striker's role.”
”Are you saying those top officials are clueless?”
”Just wait and see. Who knows? The kid that I chose could be the one to save the world.”
The researcher and Sergeant Red both let out a loud laugh.
”Good to see you!”
”You've been through a lot.”
”Sit here!”
Han returned to class D's dormitories. Han looked towards the kids confused.
They treated Han like an esteemed guest. They had even cleaned up and organized Hans bedding and items. He had become the class president, but they were being overly hospitable.
”What are you doing?”
Han mumbled out.
”Don't even ask. Just thinking about how we suffered under Sergeant Red….”
Sergeant Red had woken up class D an hour earlier. He didn't allow any of them their designated free time either.
He drilled the children like he wanted them dead. All the children's faces had become exponentially haggard since Han disappeared.
The only hope in the children's hearts was Han's return as the class president. There was no way that anyone would become unhappy to see Han's return.
”Anyway, you're now class D's president.”
Han had become the president. He was now responsible to lead class D.
'This doesn't feel like anything new.'
He had always lead the group of orphans and was in charge of putting food on the table day by day. He had long become used to the position as leader.
He quickly became accustomed to become the class president. He led his peers without any mishaps and settled any disputes smoothly.
Among sergeants, everyone praised Han with high remarks. Everyone pitied that he had such low psychic talent that blocked him from continuing forward.
”It's okay. I'm getting better little by little.”
Han repeated this to himself while practicing his psychokinetic powers.
The good point of being the class president was that he could use the cleanest and best bed and he could decide his own sleep schedule.
Han reduced his sleeping hours to train his psychokinetic skills.
Weeeng.
A metal marble of 2kg floated in the air. Han's forehead was drenched in sweat.
CLANG!
The metal marble fell to the floor.
'With this, I managed to advance a bit.'
Uri Geller of the 20th century had publicized his skills for bending spoons and had become a world renowned psyker.
If he had remained alive to this day, he would have fainted seeing the level of skills of the modern psykers.
”Phew.”
Han wiped his sweat with a towel. He was ranked drastically lower than others, but he was making progress.
”I just need to continue to train, I don't need to worry about food and shelter, even my younger siblings are living a comfortable life now. I can't ask for a better situation than this.”
Han ended his training. He turned on his hologram to check tomorrow's tasks.
”I see we have joint training with class B. Kuro should be in that class.”
It had been a long time since he last saw Kuro. It was rare for different classes to meet at all.
They only had the chance to meet when they had joint training of some kind.
Usually, those of lower rank disdained joint training with those above them.
'Everyone will not like this news tomorrow.'
It was weapon arts period, but the expressions of class D's students were dark. Class B students entered from the opposite side of the gymnasium.
The gymnasium contained many different exercise equipment and wooden weapons. Wei Chen and the remaining sergeants divided into groups to start today's class.
”HAA!”
Shouts were heard from all different directions.
Overall, class B did overwhelmingly better than class D and excelled exponentially in every skill category.
The lowest ranked class was class D. When a student remained in this class for over three months, it became rare for that student to become promoted at all. This has been accounted for through statistical data throughout the years.
Class D was made up of a majority of these kinds of students who felt jealousy and held an inferiority complex toward others.
”There's no need to stress. Just carry on as usual.”
Han lead class D. He wanted to prevent any pointless troubles with class B.
”Han.”
Instructor Wei called Han over.
”Yes, Sergeant.”
”How are you feeling? I heard that you suffered quite badly under Sergeant Red.”
”….Yes.”
”Don't feel too disappointed in yourself. You managed to crack one of Sergeant Red's ribs after all. Plus, you're still young. Red's a veteran who has been through all sorts of hardships.”
Instructor Wei patted Han's shoulder and spoke.
Han had already realized Sergeant Red and Wei's different attitudes. Instructor Wei still viewed Han as a child.
'However Sergeant Red views and treats me like an adult.'
Just then a memory popped into his mind.
”Dragons will not give me special treatment because I'm a young child. Sergeant Red speaks nothing but the truth.”
Instructor Wei stared toward Han with a blank face and then let out a deep sigh.
'He's too mature. Not childish in the least. He doesn't blame others, nor does he break down easily.'
Instructor Wei was not the best candidate to foster promotions through the Ark system. He believed that children should have the right to behave as children. In Instructor Wei's eyes, Han was just a pitiable child.