Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: Shattered Bottle Dream
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Crack-!
A sound rang out. At first listen, it resembled a sandbag bursting, but then came the heavy splat of liquid slapping the floor. The subsequent clinking was unmistakably shards of glass scattering across the ground.
Like paint diffusing when a brush is dipped into clean water, red mingled with the transparent liquid and green-tinted glass fragments strewn on the floor. It was blood flowing from my head.
I lay face-down, staring at the scene for a moment, then lifted my gaze upward. As I raised my head, blood trickled down my forehead, gradually dyeing my vision crimson.
The first thing I saw was a half-shattered green glass bottle. A soju bottle. It seemed the sound from moments ago was this bottle smashing against my head.
When hit with an empty soju bottle, it made a clearer clang, but being struck with a full one produced this bursting noise.
Of course, the bottle hadn't hurled itself at my head like some suicide bomber. I lifted my blood-reddened gaze a bit higher to look at the man who had smashed it down on me.
He was a man gripping the broken soju bottle upside down in one hand, breathing raggedly. His slightly dilated pupils and the faint tremor in his hands were telltale habits of the mentally unstable.
The man glared down at me with bloodshot eyes and said,
"You shouldn't have been born, scum like you."
It was my father.
"Ah, fuck... a dream."
I muttered as I opened my eyes and sat up. My back wasn't soaked in cold sweat... It wasn't a nightmare, just a dream from my childhood.
"......"
Not a nightmare, but still an unpleasant one. Is today just cursed with bad luck? I grumbled to myself as I headed to the bathroom for a shower.
Someone once said dreams evaporate quickly due to their volatility. After showering, changing into my uniform, and leaving the dorm, it had already faded from memory.
"Anis, good morning~"
"Good morning."
As I entered the classroom, Yoon Na-rin greeted me with a smile.
"Ah, good morning, Anis..."
"Yeah, good morning."
And for some reason, Han U-sol was sitting right beside her. Maybe because we'd talked a bit yesterday, his tone wasn't as stiff as before.
But these two, already sitting together like a couple? It pissed me off.
Figuring Yoon Na-rin would get mad if I sat next to Han U-sol, I took the seat beside her instead. As we chatted idly, I caught sight of the video Han U-sol was watching on his phone.
"You watch soccer?"
"Huh? Yeah... You into it?"
"...Which team do you support?"
"Man City."
...Of course the munchkin protagonist roots for a powerhouse. Fucking bandwagoner. I clicked my tongue softly.
"Anis, do you like soccer too?"
"...Yeah."
"Which team?"
"..........Arsenal."
"Oh no, how'd that happen..."
Han U-sol gave me a pitying look as he said it. I heard a faint pfft of laughter.
"You bastard! You just laughed at me!!"
"Ah, Anis!? Calm down!"
Yoon Na-rin startled and held me back as I lunged at Han U-sol.
"You ever seen an invincible season!?"
"Haven't done the invincible, but we make Champs League every year."
"Fuck off! Let go!!"
Yoon Na-rin had to pry me off Han U-sol for a while after his taunt got me riled up.
Lunchtime approached, and we headed to the cafeteria.
"Anis, sorry... I got too excited since you like soccer too..."
"...It's fine. I wasn't that mad."
Han U-sol, who had subtly provoked me repeatedly, finally got chewed out by Yoon Na-rin and apologized to me.
Han U-sol didn't put on that stiff face when talking soccer. Whatever the case, I wasn't displeased that we'd gotten a bit closer.
We ate while diving deep into soccer talk, then shifted to weapons.
"Design comes first, no question."
"...But isn't performance more important?"
Han U-sol and I shared interests like soccer and weapons, but our tastes were polar opposites. Performance over design? What kind of nonsense is that?
Performance drone.
And this guy favored ranged weapons just because they're convenient.
Fucking ranged simp.
My affinity for him dropped a point hearing he used ranged weapons.
"...I don't really get your conversation."
Yoon Na-rin seemed bored, unable to join in.
"Kids, did you know there's a training ground behind the main building?"
Teacher Silbi said. Wait, there was?
"You're aspiring heroes, but hardly any students use it after hours~ I figured you might not know."
...Teacher Silbi sounded sarcastic, but I genuinely had no idea.
Maybe check it out after class.
I'd felt it during yesterday's spar, but this body was considerably weakened.
Seemed like a good idea to check my condition there.
After classes at Acamedy Academy, I headed to the training ground. Yoon Na-rin and Han U-sol came along too.
The training ground was divided into close-range vs. ranged, physical vs. magic systems.
Yoon Na-rin, being ranged magic, practiced hitting flying targets from afar, while Han U-sol and I, close-range physical, smashed charging magic beast-shaped robots.
Crunch-!
I caved in the head of the last remaining wolf robot with a mace. Sparks flew with a zap, and it stopped moving.
I'd tried most weapons, from basics like swords and spears to niche ones like maces and hammers.
I've weakened a lot.
My weapon handling proficiency and available skills seemed intact. But strength, speed, and stamina had dropped sharply. Judging by the mana measurement, mana capacity had likely decreased too.
Not sure exactly, but... around level 50 maybe.
Max level in the game was 200. Level 50 meant physical abilities at about a quarter. Lower stats meant weaker skill power too.
Should've raised it with a more normal build...!
If I could use high-tier skills, it'd be better. Chasing romance left me half-baked.
"Y-You really know how to use every close-range weapon..."
Han U-sol, watching from behind, said in admiration.
"...You can only use swords?"
"Yeah... Sword's the base for melee, guns for ranged..."
I clicked my tongue inwardly. Tsk tsk. No romance at all.
"...Your turn now."
"Okay."
Han U-sol and I were betting who could clear the robots faster. Prize: one wish.
I can win. I'll claim a weapon with the wish!
It took me 1 minute 32 seconds to destroy 10 wolf robots. An academy record.
Han U-sol entered the training room and took position. Countdown began.
5...4...3...2...1!
The inner door opened, and 10 wolf robots charged. Han U-sol activated his ability upon seeing them.
"Huh...?"
And 10 weapons materialized behind Han U-sol.
Boom-!
Unidentified projectiles fired from his summoned weapons, stopping all robots shortly after.
[Clear Time: 52 seconds]
Not long after I'd set the academy record, another announcement of a new record.
W-What the hell. Cleared in under a minute.
"Ch-Cheater!!"
Coward! Ranged weapons are cheating! My complaint echoed through the training ground.
"I'll claim the wish later."
Han U-sol grinned.
"Wish..."
Heading home after parting from the group at the training ground, Han U-sol muttered absently. Wish. Being a teenage boy, his mind wandered to naughty thoughts.
No, don't think weird stuff.
If Anis had read his mind just now, she'd probably despise him. He shook his head to banish the lewd demon.
Feels a bit more comfortable around Anis now.
Yoon Na-rin's advice to talk as much as possible despite the nerves had worked. He couldn't treat her fully naturally like others, but consistent effort brought smoother speech.
And it wasn't for nothing—lately, Anis initiated conversations more often.
Didn't expect her to like soccer.
Anis and Han U-sol shared more overlapping interests than expected. Weapons made sense given similar abilities, but soccer was surprising. He'd assumed a quiet girl like her wouldn't care. Teasing her excitedly and seeing her flare up was refreshing.
They matched in interests but diverged subtly in tastes. If anything, he was pragmatic, she romantic.
That subtle gap sparked enjoyable tension in their talks.
Maybe use the wish for a date next time. He muttered to himself.
Hmm... Might be tough without Na-rin.
Even now, alone with Yoon Na-rin absent, he tensed up and spoke stiffly. A date like this? He'd blow it for sure.
Date? Don't count your chickens.
Dates could wait until they closed the distance and he acted naturally.
With that thought, Han U-sol quickened his steps home.