Hey guys. I came back for another chapter. Please read the end notes for this one, it's a bit important :)
Don't forget to comment on parts you find interesting and at the end of the chapter, this really cheers me up.
[Training Combat Tuesday, Labyrinth Exploration.]
Inside a dark cave created by Cube, Yoo Yeonha, and the rest of team 5 were in the midst of our combat training.
We were in an artificial dungeon designed after a dark maze. The goal of the training was to navigate through the maze full of undead monsters and reach its center. Since the fog was created through mana with the dark attribute, even heroes would find it difficult to illuminate the cave.
However, that was no problem for us, thanks to me.
"Just follow me and we'll be fine."
Mile Vision wasn't affected by distance or obstacles. That, of course, included illumination.
"Let me guess, you've got good eyes?" Yoo Yeonha sarcastically asked but followed behind me along with Hoseung and Hazuki.
"Who knows?"
"Tsk."
This whole exam was quite easy, so we won't have any problems.
"We've got a very reliable person on our team, how lucky," Jin Hoseung spoke with an excited voice as he walked.
I had the chance to test out the increased attack power of my Mana Bullet on the undead that appeared along the way. I wasn't very surprised that just one mana bullet was enough to blow up the undead's body regardless of where I hit, but I couldn't say the same for the other three.
Hoseung was the most excited and surprised, saying various things. Hazuki, she was a bit more reserved, though her face showed that she too was quite surprised. The least surprised was Yeonha. Her mind seemed to be full of things to think about, so she didn't say anything.
Following my lead, we quickly reached the center of the maze. I didn't see anyone there except Kim Soohyuk, our instructor.
That meant we were the first team to arrive.
"Oh, that's a bit unexpected," Kim Soohyuk murmured. "Team 5. 17 minutes and 34 seconds. First place."
"First place...?" Yoo Yeonha murmured in surprise.
At the same time, Jin Hoseung and Hazuki applauded.
"Whoo. It's all thanks to you. You really do have great eyes."
"It's thanks to you, Ayanokouji!"
"It was nothing special. Since we've come in first, we can rest a bit while we wait for the others," I said as I walked over to a nearby rock and leaned against it.
Hoseung and Hazuki began chatting animatedly with each other.
Meanwhile, Yoo Yeonha walked over to me before stopping by my side, also leaning against the same rock. There's surely a lot on her mind, this is the best time to talk a little with me. I didn't try to distance myself, but I also didn't initiate any conversation.
If she wanted to talk to me, it was up to her to start the conversation.
"...Hey."
She spoke.
"Yeah?"
"Are you really confident that Yun Hyuk is a Djinn?" She asked in a low tone just for me to hear.
Yun Hyuk the president of the academic club. Apparently, what I said before was really on her mind. She and I were just acquaintances who spoke little. Because of that, it would be totally understandable even if she completely dismissed what I said.
However, she was still thoughtful, which meant she hadn't completely dismissed my words. She really had doubts.
"I can't guarantee with 100% certainty."
That's my honest opinion, because I didn't know how much the story had changed thanks to my presence and the "rewriting" of the co-author. However, I doubt this part of the story is much different, at least he should still be a Djinn.
"Hmph. So you're not sure," she spoke with a slight disdainful huff.
"But, as I said, be careful around him. It doesn't mean you should avoid him, just be cautious."
"It's still totally ridiculous to believe he's a Djinn. Yun Hyuk is kind. If I were being honest, you probably have more chances of being a Djinn than Yun Hyuk."
"Why do you think that?"
"There's really no very well-thought-out reason. It's just my impression. You may not know, but your expressionless face can be quite scary, you know?"
It's a surprise she's being honest so early on.
"I can't do anything about it, I was born with this face."
"Kim Suho told me that you and Nayun also fought against a Djinn at the museum. Although I couldn't get access to the recordings of the fight at the museum against the Djinn, some rumors spread thanks to the civilians you saved. They said that the male cadet fought against the Djinn in hand-to-hand combat before receiving a fatal wound. However, that same person healed from that fatal wound and continued the fight. But still, 'he' was unable to win and it was Chae Nayun who killed the Djinn using a sword from the museum's weapons."
...Those are very detailed rumors.
However, it's a bit strange. I'm almost certain that most civilians were too scared to pay 100% attention to the fight that happened at the museum.
"That's it..." She murmured.
Yoo Yeonha was restless, and I could feel it in every word she spoke.
She pointed out irregularities in my combat abilities, highlighting how proficient I seemed to be in hand-to-hand combat despite choosing to carry a gun at Cube. That fact alone raised many questions. Why would someone so proficient in hand-to-hand combat choose to carry a firearm?
She must be very confused thinking about all this. She may have already thought about it before, but this time it was a thought to a much greater degree.
"Just as you said, the rumors are correct. I fought against a Djinn in hand-to-hand combat, though I took a beating from the start."
For some reason, her expression said she didn't fully believe my words.
"As for this issue of me healing from a fatal blow, it's just a stroke of luck. I won't be able to do it again, so don't think too much about it."
I didn't plan to reveal everything to her, but it didn't hurt to reveal some things that were already known.
"Besides, just the fact that I fought the Djinn is proof enough that I'm not one, isn't it?"
She sighed.
"I know. That's why I don't believe you really are a Djinn. However, for example, if I were to ask someone who had never met either of you before, who would be more likely to be a Djinn between you and Yun Hyuk, who do you think the person would choose?"
Between me and Yun Hyuk, I really did seem like the more obvious choice to be a Djinn.
It's a logic I can't refute.
From afar, I noticed Jin Hoseung and Hazuki looking at us with curious looks. I could hear them if I focused, but it really wasn't necessary, it was certain that they were wondering what we were talking about in such a low tone. Hoseung seemed quite excited, showing a thumbs-up in my direction, with a proud expression.
I really didn't understand very well.
"I better go, they're probably having a misunderstanding," Yeonha said, gesturing behind.
As she was walking away, I called out to her.
"Hey."
She stopped and looked at me, waiting for me to say what I wanted to say.
A small silence lingered.
"I won't force you to believe everything I say," I finally broke the silence. "However, keep this in mind, Yeonha. Falsehood brings forth the dark side present in kindness."
She showed a confused face.
"Why the hell do you have to speak so enigmatically?"
However, before I could say anything, the second team finally arrived. It was Kim Suho's group. Apparently, he was quite surprised to see that others arrived before. However, the surprise lasted only a few seconds before he opened a smile and waved to our team.
Some time passed before the next team arrived.
The third team was Shin Jonghak's.
As soon as he arrived, he glanced at Kim Suho's team and our team. The look he gave Kim Suho, who was lying on the ground, was quite annoyed. It was the same with us, although it wasn't as annoyed as the look he gave Kim Suho. In fact, he seemed a little surprised.
"Yoo Yeonha. I'm surprised, I didn't imagine you guys would come in 2nd place. It was even faster than I expected."
"Hey, Jonghak. Actually, we came in 1st place."
Yeonha walked up to him with a small smile and said that.
He looked at her surprised.
"Wait. Seriously?"
"Yes! All thanks to our sniper, he's got good eyes, you know!? It was so easy to get through the dark part," Jin Hoseung chimed in confidently.
After looking at Yeonha and seeing that she didn't say it's a lie, his gaze quickly came to me. Not just him, but the members of his team as well. Kim Horak was also part of his team, for some reason, he seemed to be looking at me as if he wanted to kill me.
Did I do something to annoy him?
However, I don't recall ever talking to him before.
"So trash can see in the dark, huh?" Kim Horak spoke loudly, clearly looking in my direction.
If Kim Suho wasn't "sleeping", he'd probably intervene because of his protagonist setup. But I remained calm, Kim Horak was really trying to insult me by calling me trash?
Such insults are useless against me.
"Ayanokouji isn't trash."
Unexpectedly, Hazuki was the first person to defend me.
"That's right, she's correct. It's thanks to him that we passed the training in just 17 minutes."
Jin Hoseung also defended me afterwards.
Kim Horak just looked at them angrily.
"What-"
"That's exactly what they said," Yeonha interrupted before he could speak. "Please stop insulting someone from my team."
"Yeonha..." Kim Horak looked at her a little confused.
Unlike the other two, he didn't look at her with anger. He was one of Shin Jonghak's lackeys who was Yeonha's friend. To put it in a way that anyone can understand, he can't go against her.
"Let it go," Jonghak said to Kim Horak.
Jonghak looked at me one last time before starting to talk "excitedly" with Yeonha again.
Kim Horak, however, looked at me with angry eyes. I really don't understand what I did wrong to him.
All members of my team defended me, but the most surprising was Yeonha.
I wonder if she would still say that if it were Jonghak calling me trash instead of Kim Horak...
...
In about five minutes, another team arrived. I wasn't surprised at all by who it was. Sharpshooters usually had good eyes.
"It's Nayun."
Seeing Chae Nayun's silhouette emerge from the darkness, Yoo Yeonha approached, pretending to be happy.
"Hey, Nayun." Jonghak became excited upon seeing her.
For some reason, Chae Nayun was covered in dust. It seemed like she fell into a trap. Walking towards me, she ignored Yeonha and Jonghak's calls.
"Nayun...?"
Jonghak looked puzzled.
As she got closer to me, she spoke.
"Why am I not surprised to see you here?"
"I have good eyes, remember?"
She grimaced before sighing and plopping down on the ground, sitting next to me.
"What was your time?"
"17 minutes."
"What!?" She looked at me with great surprise. "What the hell, how the hell did your team manage to reach the center so fast!?"
"I have good-"
"To hell with your good eyes!" She exclaimed. "Even if you have 'good eyes,' it's still ridiculous to get through this entire maze in just 17 minutes. You... cheated somehow?"
She shot me a suspicious look.
"How could I have cheated? Besides, the reason you took so long is probably because you apparently fell into several traps."
"...!"
She looked at me with a strange expression.
"...Don't talk nonsense, I just had the misfortune of choosing the wrong path in that damn darkness..."
Given how she slowly turned her face away as she said that, I must be right.
Some people seemed curious to see Nayun being so friendly with me. However, there was one person who definitely wasn't liking it. If looks could kill, then Shin Jonghak would have killed me at least 5 times.
Please tone down your murderous intent, you're being too obvious.
"Ey."
Nayun, however, didn't seem to have noticed Shin Jonghak's gaze and spoke to me in a very low tone.
"What's up?"
"It's about my brother..."
Her expression seemed a bit shaken...
"Soul Purifying Water and Tears of the Aurora. I've never heard of them, but I tried to look them up. However, there's nothing about these two elixirs. I tried searching in every way possible, but found nothing... do these elixirs really exist?"
She asked me while hugging herself.
She must have researched a lot already. She probably even visited the black market potion site. The reason I haven't researched much about it yet was because I thought she would probably get some information.
But I've been expecting this outcome as well.
"Though I can't tell you exactly why, I assure you they exist. Your brother has been in a coma for 4 years, his situation itself isn't normal, so finding a possible cure for him wouldn't be easy to come by, otherwise he would have been cured already. What I'm trying to tell you is that there's no need to rush things too much."
If the Eyes of Serenity showed me these elixirs, then they certainly exist in this world.
While pondering the possibilities, two options stood out in my mind.
The first option was that the elixirs, Soul Purifying Water and Tears of the Aurora, could be so rare and precious that information about them was extremely limited. This made a lot of sense considering both elixirs were able to remove the devil's seed from Chae Jinyoon's body as well as revitalize his body. Perhaps these elixirs were closely guarded by powerful alchemists or hidden in remote and inaccessible locations.
The second option was even more intriguing: the elixirs simply hadn't been created yet. This idea opened up a world of possibilities and implications. If Soul Purifying Water and Tears of the Aurora were concepts that had not yet become reality, then things became much more complicated.
This second option was as intriguing as it was worrying. If the elixirs didn't exist yet, then the hope of saving Nayun's brother would become even more uncertain. However, even though there wasn't enough information yet, for some reason, I was very confident that this second option is more likely to be real than the first.
And if that were the case, my Eyes of Serenity were able to glimpse something that hadn't been created yet. In the novel, it was said that the devil's seed was something that had no cure, but even so, I created this "art" to make sure. Thanks to this, two ways for Chae Jinyoon to heal were shown.
Maybe I've created something more impressive than I thought before...
If these were indeed elixirs that hadn't been created yet, then I would probably be the one who would have to create them.
"But I can't just sit and do nothing..." Nayun murmured.
"I'm not asking you to stop searching. Just take things slowly."
There's no way I can figure out how to make elixirs that don't yet exist. Even if I studied how to make potions, it's not certain that I would be able to create them before it's too late. Besides, I doubt the ingredients to make such elixirs are easy to obtain.
The quickest and safest alternative is to create a "Talent" for it.
However, I don't have much PH right now to create something like that.
"Should I start a club...?" She asked suddenly.
"What kind of club?"
"A pharmacy club or something similar? To have a good excuse to use club time and look for more information about these elixirs."
Although Chae Nayun didn't create a club in the novel, this idea wasn't bad. If I could get all the "main" characters from the Cube to be part of this club, it would be very beneficial for me. That way, I wouldn't have to waste most of my time being part of all the clubs.
It would be a good way to get a lot of PH.
It's really a good idea.
"Actually, it seems like a good idea. However, try to wait a bit before creating this club."
"Eh, why?" She showed a confused expression.
"There are a few things I need to do, so I won't be able to join if you create the club immediately."
"Oh right. You're basically in various clubs, aren't you? Why the hell did you join so many?"
It wasn't a secret that I was in several clubs, so it's not strange for her to have that information.
"Simply out of necessity. Besides, it'll be good to have some time to look for some club members, isn't it?"
If I'm not mistaken, 5 people are needed to create a club.
"But getting 5 people isn't that difficult to take so long. Counting us, we're already two."
"Indeed. But don't forget I'm in various clubs. I have to settle some things in those clubs before withdrawing."
"...I guess you won't tell me what it is?"
"..."
I didn't say anything.
She sighed before asking again.
"How long do I have to wait?"
"I can't tell you for sure. However, as soon as I'm ready, I'll let you know."
I was already planning to go get the "Ether." Plus, before anything else, I needed Yeonha's scenario to happen. Just like the 'episode' in the museum with Chae Nayun, I was counting on some extra difficulty.
However, if it follows perfectly like the original, then I would have to make Yeonha suffer a little more.
"Very well. But it's better not to take too long, or I'll go ahead and create it even without you."
"I believe two to three months will be enough. Even before, but as I said, I can't tell you for sure."
From her face, she didn't seem to like my estimate, but didn't say anything.
I looked at the bow beside her and couldn't help but ask.
"When are you going to start using the sword?"
She was only with the bow. Of course, at this point she must not have had time to get a personal sword yet. Plus, it was far from the 6 months to change the main weapon. Anyway, she said she would use both.
I just asked this question to bring up some subject while waiting for the last teams to arrive.
"I already told you I would use it, didn't I?" She frowned as she replied. "It's not so easy to get a good personal weapon, plus, at Cube, you can only use the weapon you chose in the main weapon selection. It's far from passing the 6 months to change the weapon, all this with the fact that you'd be expelled if they found out you were using a different main weapon than the one you chose in training."
As she said, you're expelled if you use a personal weapon during Cube training. However, there's no rule saying you can't use that same personal weapon outside of Cube.
I was about to speak when I noticed Shin Jonghak approaching us with a very irritated expression. I've been talking to Nayun for quite some time now.
"Hey, what the hell are you guys whispering about? Nayun, why are you talking so much with him?"
His patience must have run out seeing me talking to the girl he likes. However, this kind of approach isn't very smart considering Nayun's personality.
"Ah?" Nayun looked irritated at him. "That's none of your business, so go away."
Although they were good "friends" in the novel, it was still too early. And his love was never reciprocated in the novel, as Nayun fell in love with Kim Suho. And because he couldn't overcome Kim Suho, Jhin Jonghak becomes a villain later on.
I was a little curious about how my presence would affect his choice.
Jhin Jonghak was surprised at the cold way Nayun responded to him. Just as he was about to speak again, the teacher announced the last team and ended the training.
At that moment, my eyes met Yoo Yeonha's. I had noticed she had been looking at me and Nayun for a long time with Shin Jonghak. However, her eyes carried a slight hint of something I couldn't perceive.
"Hmph."
She quickly turned away and walked off with a disdainful huff.
Why the hell did she seem irritated?
♬♡♢♤♧ ����������������������♬♥♦♠♣
Today's combat training came to an end.
It was time to head to the academic club. After that, I would have to do my daily training. Even with my perseverance at its maximum, and doing all the physical exercise that the little time I have allowed, the change in my variable stats was low.
As I walked, Yoo Yeonha appeared by my side.
"What a coincidence."
Even though we were heading to the same club.
"... What were you talking about with Nayun?" She suddenly asked.
"Curious?"
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
"It's not like it's a secret or anything. She's thinking about starting a club."
"A club?"
"Yes, a pharmacy club. You know about her brother, right?"
"Oh..."
At this point, it's practically unlikely for a Cube cadet not to know about Chae Jinyoon's critical condition, who has been in a coma for 4 years.
"So she..." Yeonha muttered.
"Wants to start the club to search for something that will help her brother," I replied. "She's not going to start the club right away, but I think she'll invite you at some point. It would be good if you accepted when the time comes."
"...Alright."
She'll probably accept. We quickly arrived at the club and entered. I decided to go to a seat in the corner. Unexpectedly, Yeonha followed me and sat next to me.
Yun Hyuk, the club president, was already at the podium. Putting on his glasses, he seemed to be organizing the notes from today's class.
I took this moment to do something I had been thinking about. I grabbed my laptop and turned it on. Although I hadn't tested it, it's probably possible and will help me a lot. I tried adding an additional setting to the laptop.
[When Ayanokoji Kiyotaka is positioned 50 meters away from a target that has undergone changes in its configuration, the content and summary of the change will be sent to Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's laptop.]
[*Doesn't work on targets with a certain level of importance, for example, main characters.]
The reason I added this new function was because I thought it would be more efficient if I was told about a change through an objective means rather than having to perceive it and then be informed by the co-author. The restriction I placed was basically to reduce the cost of PH, as I don't have many at the moment.
Still, it cost me 200 PH for this setup. It was practically all I had.
Although I have to create a Talent to create elixirs and know about the ingredients, I don't need to hurry. My goal for now is to get large amounts of PH.
Moreover, this setting will also help me in another way.
"Why the hell are you moving your hands at nothing?" Yeonha asked me.
"Don't worry too much about it, it's a hobby."
"Hobby? You're weird..."
Said the woman who likes to eat junk food.
Not long after, 43 freshmen arrived along with 20 seniors. At seven o'clock, Yun Hyuk began the first lecture of the academic club.
"Today, we're going to discuss the vital points of monsters. As I'm sure everyone knows, the location of a monster's vital point is crucial information to defeat it. You can see how critical this information can be by looking at Senior Sister Seo Youngji. By reaching the peak of this skill, she reached the top 2000 in the hero rankings."
A hologram of Seo Youngji's specifications appeared on the projection screen.
A Hero's specifications were summarized in strength, dexterity, durability, constitution, and magical power. Except for dexterity, Seo Youngji's specifications were all under intermediate ranking, but her dexterity was classified as master level. Just to be clear, only 300 heroes in the world had such a level of dexterity.
"Senior Seo Youngji even hunted a high-level monster alone."
As he said, Seo Youngji was a well-known character in this world. Although she had an introverted personality, I was sure I would get to know her since she played an important role in the story.
"Hey, Yeonha."
"What? I'm trying to pay attention."
"Can you move your head closer? There's something extremely important I need to tell you."
"What the hell are you..." Although she was complaining and with a face, she did what I commanded and moved her head closer. "What is it?"
"But don't think that monsters' vital points are the same as humans'. For us, the eyes, heart, and head serve as vital points, but this... cough-cough." Suddenly, while speaking, Yun Hyuk coughed loudly.
"Ah, I'm sorry."
He apologized with a shy smile. Nevertheless, I could feel his irritation as he looked in our direction.
"What's wrong? Spit it out already," Yeonha whispered irritably.
"Ah, I'm sorry. I forgot, I'll tell you when I remember."
"What the hell..."
Quickly, she moved away and returned to paying attention.
To add to what Yun Hyuk was saying before he interrupted himself, the vital point of a monster becomes weirder the higher its level is.
"Now, let's take a look at an example."
In an instant, a hologram of a monster appeared on the screen.
Although it looked similar to a mountain tiger, its giant body, red eyes, and fierce teeth clearly indicated it was not a normal tiger.
"This monster is called the Mountain Tyrant. It can be classified somewhere between intermediate and high ranks. As one of the first monsters to appear during the Outcall, it has been known for 50 years, but its vital point has still not been discovered."
With that, Yun Hyuk paused and made a meaningful smile.
"... at least, that's how things are publicly. In reality, even if an individual or a guild knew its vital point, they wouldn't reveal it to the public. They probably wouldn't be allowed to."
He was right. In this world, information was an industry. There were large corporations solely focused on collecting and researching information about monsters and, on a smaller scale, detectives and private detective agencies gathered and sold information. As such, leaking such information was heavily penalized.
Of course, demanding that this information become public would help humanity greatly in fighting monsters, but the power of capitalism suppressed any debate on the matter.
"Now, where do you think the vital point of this Mountain Tyrant is?"
Yun Hyuk gave Yoo Yeonha a meaningful look. The vital point of a mountain tyrant, Yoo Yeonha probably had no idea.
However, his gaze quickly shifted from her to me, and I caught a brief glimpse of a completely distorted look of irritation. It lasted less than 1 second before his face returned to normal. Thanks to the Thousand-Mile Eyes, I was able to notice, but I doubt anyone else did.
Just as I thought.
"..."
Yeonha seemed unaware. Seeing how she was playing with her hair and looking around, it seemed like she was embarrassed for not knowing the answer.
"Would anyone like to guess?"
I, of course, knew the answer. However, I didn't raise my hand or speak up. And I didn't need to because a girl did.
From that moment on, I began to casually converse with Yeonha in a low tone.
...
...
...
...
The academic club continued for two hours. Although I engaged in conversation with Yeonha at times, I was still paying attention. Unexpectedly, there were many interesting pieces of information that were not detailed in the novel. The difference between magic and spells.
Magic, at its core, is the manifestation of cosmic energy present in all beings and elements of the universe, but to be simpler to understand, people simply call magic something supernatural.
On the other hand, a spell is a specific form of magic, a technique or incantation that uses words, gestures, and ingredients to achieve a desired result. Spells are like tools within the vast arsenal of magic, each with its own function and purpose. They can be used for healing, protection, etc.
The main difference between magic and spells lies in their application and complexity. While magic is an abstract and universal concept, spells are concrete and specific methods of using that energy.
"We have a party planned at a nearby restaurant! It'll be great if you can come!"
Anyway, after the club ended, Yun Hyuk announced that there was a party at a nearby restaurant.
For some reason, Yoo Yeonha seemed interested in going.
"Are you going?" I asked.
"Well, I'm curious about the vital point of the Mountain Tyrant. Aren't you?"
"Why would I be curious about something I already know?"
"Huh?"
"If you come with me, I can tell you, how about that?"
"...What are you planning?"
"Is an invitation from me strange to you?"
Public information about the Mountain Tyrant was scarce to say the least. Not only did its strength vary greatly from individual to individual, but it also lived in an extremely remote location. Although its leather was sold at a high price, it was difficult to plan a hunt when one couldn't be sure of the efficient number of people to bring.
Yoo Yeonha would be the successor of a major guild.
So that's why Yun Hyuk acted as if he knew the vital point of the Mountain Tyrant.
Yoo Yeonha had a "guild lineage." Her clan rose to power during Outcall 50 years ago, thanks to the huge success of the head of the first generation of her family.
Her family was still a successful hero clan, but Yoo Yeonha had a bit of an inferiority complex. Compared to a true noble clan, she felt her family was below. That's why she viewed Shin Jonghak favorably, and it was also why she was overly obsessed with decorum.
And I'm going to use that to my advantage.
"...You're still asking me that?" She responded, giving me a suspicious look. "How the hell would you know about that?"
"It's your choice whether to believe me or not. However, I'll say this—you might regret it if you choose not to believe. Not just about the Mountain Tyrant's weakness. I know the weaknesses of other monsters too. Of course, I won't be saying anything for free."
At that moment, Yun Hyuk suddenly appeared between us.
"Yeonha-ssi, are you coming to the party? And you?" He asked politely to both of us.
"..."
Yeonha didn't immediately respond. She was probably weighing the pros and cons of choosing to believe my word or not. Whatever she chooses, it's up to her. That same choice will determine how things will unfold later.
And then, she shook her head at him.
"Sorry, but we have another commitment," she said.
"...Oh, a commitment...?"
"Exactly," I quickly spoke before Yeonha could respond. "If you'll excuse us, we're leaving."
"Hey!"
Yeonha let out a small yelp when I suddenly grabbed her hand and pulled her to my side. She tried to break free but showed a surprised look when she felt my strength.
"Oh, I see..." Yun Hyuk responded with a shaky smile. "Good luck to you both..."
I didn't respond and walked away with her. Once we were out of his sight, she spoke to me again.
"Hey, wait... let go of me!"
I complied and released her. At that moment, she shot me an extremely annoyed look.
"What the hell was that? And why the hell did you pull me like that? I thought you were going to crush my arm."
"Ah, sorry. I didn't realize I was using that much force."
"Forget it... why the hell did you pull me like that?"
"I really don't understand what you mean. How about we grab a soda?"
"You... no, why the hell would I want a soda?"
"Well, I thought you liked it. What did I give you before?"
For some reason, she turned her head away before answering me.
"I threw it away... don't change the subject! Did you act that way because you think Yun Hyuk is a Djinn?"
"I wonder. Anyway, I don't think that's the information you want, is it?"
"..."
She looked at me for a few seconds. Seeing how I didn't seem willing to answer her other questions, she sighed before speaking.
"Fine. The Mountain Tyrant's vital point. Do you really know where it is?"
"If I didn't know, I wouldn't have told you that, right? The Mountain Tyrant's vital point is on the heel of one of its hind legs."
The information about the vital point in the novel is very sparse. The information about the Mountain Tyrant's vital point appears in a single small line. If my memory wasn't good, it was impossible to remember such a detail.
"There's a blue mark on the back heel. But its DNA determines whether it's the right or left side. That's probably why its vital point hasn't been discovered until now."
The author of the novel was probably inspired by Achilles' heel when giving a weakness to the Mountain Tyrant. It's one of the few creative and different things about this novel.
"Its body is tough, but that blue mark on its heel is the only place that's soft. That's the Mountain Tyrant's vital point. If you create a strategy to attack that point, it should be easy to kill it."
The value of this information should be tens of millions of won. But considering my current credibility, it shouldn't even come close to the real value.
After I finished explaining, Yeonha looked at me with great intensity. Probably thinking whether I'm lying or not. I just remained calm as always while waiting for her to make a decision.
"...How much do you trust this information to be correct?"
After a while, she finally asked me that question.
"About 95%."
I couldn't claim with 100% certainty. However, it was unlikely that this configuration would be altered, as tiny details seemed not to have been touched so far.
Her face looked very thoughtful.
"As I told you before, I'm not giving this information for free. Your Guild works with the 'Essential Arsenal,' right?"
"Ah, yes," she answered.
"If my information is really correct when you and your guild go after the intermediate monster 'Mountain Tyrant,' I want you to buy me the Desert Eagle from the arsenal."
Although I'm satisfied with my training pistol and the modifications I made to it, a personal firearm is something that would be very useful to me. Since Yeonha and I weren't very close yet, I didn't want to ask for too much. However, in the future, I would go after other things. Also, even if I invested my PH in the training pistol, it would probably only be at the same level as the Desert Eagle.
I gave Yoo Yeonha valuable information.
Now it was just a matter of waiting.
♬♡♢♤♧ ����������������������♬♥♦♠♣
On a dark winter night, Yoo Yeonha was deep in thought as she tapped her desk with her pen.
Tomorrow, the elite team of the guild 'Essence of the Strait' would set out to hunt a Mountain Tyrant.
They had secretly purchased information about the location of a single Mountain Tyrant living in Mount Kumgang, and they had already confirmed its size with a scout.
It was estimated to be of intermediate-high rank, grade 1. Its skin strength reached Promentium, a tough ore found after the Outcall. As such, the guild would earn astronomical income if the hunt were successful.
But Yoo Yeonha was worried about one thing. It wasn't for the safety of the elite hunting team. The current vice-leader of 'Essence of the Strait' held too much power. She felt her position as the guild's successor was threatened.
Right, Yoo Yeonha's concern was about that. To succeed the guild smoothly, she had to start making contributions.
Because of this, she had no choice but to take a risk with the information Ayanokouji passed to her.
In the end, Yoo Yeonha turned on her Smartwatch. Using its communication functionality, she made a phone call. Soon, the receiver picked up, and a hologram screen appeared.
(Yes, young lady?)
On the screen was Kim Sangho. He was a veteran in his forties and was her father's most trusted right-hand man. Since she was a child, Yoo Yeonha treated him as her real uncle.
(Is something wrong?)
Although she made the call, Yoo Yeonha was too embarrassed to say anything.
She remembered Ayanokouji's words. Since she met him, he never changed his demeanor. However, the way he spoke about the Mountain Tyrant's vital point... he seemed very confident. Moreover, he also said he knew the vital point of various other monsters, although she found that ridiculous...
He was Japanese, so he was 16 years old. However, his behavior didn't seem like that of someone his age. If only she had access to the recordings of the fight in the museum...
"Um, I'm just saying this just in case. The weakness of the Mountain Tyrant."
(Huh?)
"The heels. Whether on its left or right heel, there should be a blue mark. Try stabbing that place; it's its vital point."
Strangely, her voice spoke this with great confidence.
♬♡♢♤♧ ����������������������♬♥♦♠♣
In the middle of the night, I glanced at the laptop with new interesting information thanks to the new configuration.
[A configuration change has been detected.]
[Yun Hyuk - His feelings for Yeonha are increasing sooner than expected, and he's getting impatient. Currently, he feels jealous of Yeonha's "relationship" with Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.]
"Sooner than expected, huh. Seems like it worked better than anticipated."
I must have gotten the settings change information when he approached me and Yeonha at that time.
Well, it's better to sleep now.
...
...
When I opened my eyes, the bright morning light shone through the curtain.
Not having to worry about the White Room was quite nice.
After dragging myself to the bathroom and washing up, I put on my uniform and left the dorm. It took me 10 minutes to finish everything.
However, before leaving, I gave the laptop one last check, and notifications popped up.
[You obtained 140 PH.]
[Your luck was activated, receiving a bonus of 40 PH.]
[You obtained 80 PH.]
[Your luck was activated, receiving a bonus of 20 PH.]
That was interesting. Every day I gained a small amount of PH, but I think my interactions during yesterday's combat training helped a lot to earn this much. When I become relevant enough in the story, I should be able to earn more than 100 PH every day.
Moreover, the luck statistic is really good.
Once outside, I saw other cadets getting ready for class. It was still early in the morning, but they were busy laughing and chatting. Seeing them enjoying their school life, I thought about myself. I could count Nayun as my friend, but I wasn't sure about Yeonha yet. But besides them, I had no one.
Getting a girlfriend was also one of my priorities for later.
I hurried my pace toward the classroom.
...
...
Before I knew it, it was break time.
I stood up and was about to leave when Yeonha appeared by my side.
"Excuse me."
She spoke to me. At that moment, several pairs of eyes turned our way. The most prominent ones were Chae Nayun, Shin Jonghak, and Jin Hanjun (one of Shin Jonghak's lackeys who liked Yeonha).
"Yes?"
"You... how did you know?"
"I was right?"
"Yes..."
In fact, I was also very curious to know if the settings for the Mountain Tyrant had not changed. If this unknown co-author wanted to change everything I knew, tough times would await me from now on. Fortunately, this information remained the same.
"However, I don't understand... how did you know?"
"Do you think I would just tell you?"
..."
She didn't immediately respond. Looking around, she apparently realized we were attracting unnecessary attention as her face turned red. I thought she would leave, but apparently, her curiosity was too great.
"You said you know the vital point of various other monsters, didn't you?"
"I said that?"
"You did!" She suddenly exclaimed and quickly quieted down.
"Hey, what are they talking about?"
"Why is Yeonha talking to that cadet who chose a firearm?"
"Do you think they're together?"
"That's absurd!"
[You obtained 70 PH.]
It's a kind of attention I didn't want, but it helps me anyway.
"Whatever, you don't have to speak..." Embarrassed by all the attention she was receiving, Yeonha turned around and was about to leave.
"Do you remember what I said earlier, right?" I spoke, and she stopped walking before turning to me.
"Yes, I do. I'll send it to you tomorrow. I'll send the location and time through your smartwatch."
She left as soon as she said that.
...
...
A theoretical class on Wednesday ended, and at 3 p.m., the anti-personnel training began.
In a reasonably large training field, cadets paired up and started training like last time. Not far away was Instructor Yoon Seoyeon.
"Hey."
A sharp voice stabbed my ear from behind. I didn't need to turn around to know that the person calling was Chae Nayun. However, for some reason, she was looking at me with scary eyes.
"What was that with Yeonha in the classroom?"
"What do you mean?"
"Don't play dumb. Why did she yell at you like that? You're not going to tell me that one of the things you needed to resolve involves Yeonha?"
If I say she's right, what will she say?
"You're overthinking it; it's nothing like that."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Oh, I see."
Her face tells me she doesn't believe me at all.
"Anyway, do you want to train with me?"
"There's no way. My opponent is the instructor because of my firearm."
"Eh, that weird instructor." For some reason, she shivered. "Anyway, it's not like your firearm can hurt me, so let's go."
What happened between her and Instructor Yoon Seoyeon?
"You'll get hurt."
She looked at me with a confident smile after my words.
"Ah, how confident. So get your butt off the ground and let's see if your words hold true."
"Why do you want to train with me? Don't you already have a partner for this training?"
"I can train with him next time," she shrugged. "Are you going to tell me you're afraid to face me?"
Faced with her smile, I stood up. She technically stood at 165 cm tall while my height was the same, about 175 cm. Because of this slight difference, I towered a bit over her.
For some reason, her face turned red as I approached.
"Is that really what you think?"
Our faces were very close when I said that.
She froze and didn't respond.
"Cadet Chae Nayun, come back."
The instructor finally intervened. Her words brought Nayun back to her senses, and she quickly backed away from me.
"As long as no one has a firearm to train, no one can fight Cadet Ayanokouji Kiyotaka except me."
"Well, you heard her. Come back when you have a firearm."
At my words, she growled before pointing at me.
"Enjoy it while you can, you little shit."
She walked away. As she walked, she muttered in a very low tone, but I was able to hear perfectly.
"That was dirty play..."
What exactly did she mean by dirty play?
"So, Ayanokouji, are you ready?"
One thing I noticed about Instructor Yoon Seoyeon was that she always added the word "cadet" every time she spoke to a Cube cadet, but I was an exception to that.
I had a bad feeling about it.
"Yes."
As soon as I answered, she smiled and snapped her fingers.
"I'll be a bit harsher, so come at me."
Why did I have the feeling she was enjoying this?
♬♡♢♤♧ ����������������������♬♥♦♠♣
Thursday was the hunting club orientation. But since cadets weren't required to follow instructions, I decided to skip it for this week. I also skipped the reading club anyway.
I was currently at Angelical Cash, a café near Seoul. I was waiting for an item at this place. Just to be clear, cadets were able to use portals 6 times a month, as long as they filled out a form.
Right on schedule, the shop door opened.
A man in a black suit and sunglasses walked in with a suitcase. After looking around for a moment, his eyes met mine. I just gave a small nod. Striding with his long legs, he approached me.
"Ayanokouji Kiyotaka?"
"Yes, that's me."
The man placed the suitcase on the table without sitting down.
"Here's the item. Please take a look."
"In a hurry? You can take a seat."
I pointed to the chair in front of me. Before receiving this item, I wanted to do a quick test.
"... hm."
He sat down without complaint.
"Anyway, let me take a look now."
I opened the suitcase.
With an elegant sound, the case opened. A bright light emanated from inside.
"Wow."
Laid on a luxurious red velvet were a platinum pistol and a box. It was even more beautiful than in the photo. However, there was another item in the suitcase that I didn't ask for.
"As promised, this is the Desert Eagle with a complete kit and a box with 60 rounds of pinnacle-grade magic bullets. Additionally, the lady threw in a bonus for you. They're high-quality flexible combat gloves."
I didn't waste much time and checked the settings of my new weapons.
[Desert Eagle]
[High Rank] [Attribute: Metal]
A masterpiece-level revolver. Contains several additional effects.
「Attack Power Amplification - 1/10」
「Low-Ranking Magic Weight Reduction」
「Intermediate-Ranking Magic Recoil Control」
[Magic Bullet]
[Pinnacle Class] [Null Attribute]
44 Macon steel mana bullets with condensed high-purity mana.
[Attack Power - 4/10]
Even without needing to modify the Desert Eagle and the bullets, I could kill a low-category monster.
Next, I checked the settings of the combat gloves.
[Combat Glove: Eclipsar]
[High Rank] [Attribute: Fortified]
An exceptionally high-quality combat glove, made of reinforced and flexible materials.
「Impact Resistance - 1/10」
「Intermediate-Ranking Shock Absorption」
「Low-Ranking Physical Damage Reduction」
「Attack Power - 2/10】
"Although I'm not complaining, why did she decide to give me this bonus?"
I couldn't help but ask. The complete Desert Eagle kit must be worth around 40 million. However, I had no idea about the value of these gloves.
"I have no idea. She just said it might be useful for you, as you seemed to be quite physically strong."
So it was when I pulled her, huh?
"I see."
"Well, I'm off then."
He bid farewell and left. I checked the amount of PH I had: 350.
After checking, I looked at the combat gloves and decided to put them to the test. I quickly noticed that they were indeed very flexible. It would be nice if they also gave something to help increase my speed...
Well, I'm expecting too much.
It's time to go.
♬♡♢♤♧ ����������������������♬♥♦♠♣
After leaving the café, Jin Sechan got in touch with Yoo Yeonha. She asked as soon as she answered the call.
"Did you deliver the item?"
"Yes."
"Was there anything special about it?"
"Well, that's..."
There was nothing "special," but there was something he found strange. No matter how much he thought about it, the man's behavior wasn't what a 16-year-old should have. Not to mention, it was almost as if he knew who Jin Sechan was...
"Yes?"
"Yes, there was something..." Jin Sechan began, carefully choosing his words. "He wasn't what I expected. There was something... different about him. Something that doesn't fit the image of a 16-year-old."
He paused briefly, pondering how to adequately express his impressions.
"He seemed... experienced. More than he should be. His body language, his expressionless demeanor... it's not something a mere cadet would be capable of exhibiting. Moreover, there was a look in his eyes, a gleam of knowledge beyond his age. It was simply eerie."
Jin Sechan sighed, feeling intrigued by the complexity of the young man.
"I can't say for sure what it is, but there's something about him that leaves me unsettled. Maybe it's just an impression, but... there's more to this boy than just a facade."
He waited in silence, pondering the possible ramifications of his observation.
"I see. It's as I thought. I really have to recruit him for 'Essence of the Strait'."
"Although it's your decision, I'm afraid I have to warn you."
"Warn me about what?"
"Miss, be very careful with this cadet."
Jin Sechan had just a gut feeling about Ayanokouji Kiyotaka that he didn't tell Yoo Yeonha.
The feeling of being in the presence of a true monster.
ℙ𝕖𝕣𝕗𝕖𝕔𝕥 𝔼𝕩𝕥𝕣𝕒
Well, that's it.
What did you think of the chapter?
I was actually planning to continue, but I realized I had written too many words, and it was really far from where I wanted to stop. Well, to explain what I plan without giving away too much, it's a big acceleration in Yoo Yeonha's arc that's going to happen much earlier than expected.
This chapter followed the events of the novel somewhat, with some changes that anyone who read it definitely noticed right away, like Yeonha's group ranking first in the maze exploration training. In the original, the team ranks third.
Also, I'm sure you noticed that there are a lot more dialogues than in the original. Very different dialogues, too, because Ayanokouji changed some things and he doesn't act like Hajin in the scenarios. I also plan to have him go get the Æther earlier than in the original as well. Plus, there will be a little unexpected surprise. Well, in short, I added a lot of original dialogues because I wanted to make this story more "rich" in detail. Please, tell me what you thought of that. Are the dialogues fun to read or did you find them tiring?
As soon as this chapter is out, I'll probably be writing the next one. I won't promise, but I'll try to cover Yeonha's arc all in the next chapter. If I can't, then it'll be in the next 2-3 chapters. And I don't intend to take as long as I did to publish this chapter again.
But in case you don't know, I had surgery to remove a large mole that was growing on my back. Apparently, it was nothing serious, which is a relief.
What crazy theory does Yeonha have about Ayanokouji? Who among you will guess the misunderstanding she's going to have? Hehehehe
Anyway, tell me what you thought of this chapter and what you thought of the richness of the dialogues :)
It will still take some time before the entire original story goes to hell, but when it does, hehehe.
(P.S.:) I almost forgot, but that part of Nayun mentioning starting a club is inspired by her route in the original novel. For those who don't know, basically there's an ending for all the girls, Nayun, Rachel, and even Yeonha (although her ending has fewer chapters compared to the other two). I think Rachel's was around 45 chapters, Nayun's 40, and Yeonha's around 20+.
See you in the next chapter.