Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Back in the Day PC Bang (1)
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Shwaaa.
"Phew, that's refreshing."
I let out a cool stream of water.
Back in the day, if you got caught pooping at school, everyone would tease you mercilessly for crapping your pants at school.
It was worst in elementary school, and it dragged on into middle school.
Usually by third year, people hesitate a bit, but an atmosphere forms where it's natural to just poop at school.
"What're you staring at? First time seeing someone take a dump?"
"N-no."
I chased off the guy staring weirdly as he opened the door.
But why'd he plug his nose on the way out?
Was it that bad?
Hurry back and take a deeper whiff.
Anyway, being this upfront about it meant zero issues.
Thinking back, it was ridiculous.
Idols poop, presidents poop—making a fuss about pooping is just weird.
Or get rid of the urinals in the boys' bathroom like in the girls', and just have stalls.
That way, unless you're observing if the kid's pooping or peeing, it's quantum superposition—you'd never know.
"Huh? This actually works pretty well?"
I muttered that as I washed my hands.
Glancing at the mirror above the sink.
"Don't I look kinda lively now?"—that's shower talk.
What I wanted to check was something else.
Clear Grade: Sub S+
You cleared it very successfully.
Sub S+ grade bonus reward granted.
You may choose one of three rewards.
The status logs that popped up alongside the curry I made earlier.
Now I had to pick my sub quest reward.
By the way, S+? Never got that even in college.
College maxes out at A+, anyway.
"Kinda feels like there's SS, SSS, EX, including +0- variants."
Even so, S+ is top-tier.
In hunter stories, protagonists hit S-rank earliest at volume 3, usually 5.
Munchkins start at EX.
[1. Back in the Day Inssa Essential Item: North Face Himalaya +3 Enhancement]
[2. Essence of a Total Loser Absorbing 37 Years of Negative Energy]
[3. Basic Life Points Jar]
1's an inssa item.
2's an assa item.
Last one's a standard status-related item.
Names give no clue, so check descriptions first.
Starting with the first padding jacket.
『Back in the Day Inssa Essential Item: North Face Himalaya +3 Enhancement』
▶ Description: The ultimate inssa item from back in the day.
▶ Effect: Durability stat +3 instantly during fights. Charm stat +3 while trendy.
(※Durability stat created if none exists.)
Of course.
Fits the name perfectly.
Yeah, never worn one, but it looked like it'd hurt less getting hit.
Problem was, the hitter wore it, not the hittee.
"Do I need it?"
No need to agonize.
Stamina would've been nice, but why need durability assuming I'll get hit?
Max that and survive getting hit by a car?
Tip✍ Stats get harder to raise as they increase, but no upper limit exists.
Huh? Then maybe it's legit?
Survive cars, then bullets?
Like those random killers from the debate.
Life's unpredictable.
"In that light, not bad for unlocking durability."
Still, check all three.
Next, 2: Essence of a Total Loser Absorbing 37 Years of Negative Energy.
『Essence of a Total Loser Absorbing 37 Years of Negative Energy』
▶ Description: Condensed essence from Han Kyung-jun's 37 years of loser force.
▶ Effect: Injects loser aura into target, turning them into a loser. Lasts 37 years typically.
(※Duration varies by target's personality and traits.)
"......"
I froze mid-wash.
Water kept running, nagging about waste.
Drip.
Shut off the tap first,
then check the third.
『Basic Life Points Jar』
▶ Description: Eat money, poop money~ Eat points, poop points~
▶ Effect: Smash jar for +1~3 Life Points.
Last one's simple.
Safest, most reliable...
But all rewards feel meh.
Not useless, just... meh at first glance.
Sub quest bonus, I guess.
Still, pretty special for a sub.
"Can I pick later?"
Reward selection deferred.
Poof.
The status window vanished.
Whew, good.
"Gotta clear other quests hard from now on."
Subs exist, so mains must too.
No main yet, not sure what it'd be.
But this sub showed what the status wants.
Tip✍ Higher Charm stat positively impacts quest clear evaluations.
Status window, you really wanna make me popular, huh?
"Starting next Friday, we'll have CA class, so don't forget to decide where you'll do it today."
Next week, classes till noon Fridays, CA afternoons.
CA's Creative Experiential Activities or whatever.
Not real clubs like in delinquent webtoons or Japanese school mangas.
Even lazier than clubs.
Usually, movie club: teacher plays film, does work.
Kids watch, slack, chat, sleep.
No real memories, forgot all about it post-middle school.
"Anyone undecided, submit to teacher by Monday?"
What'd I pick?
Science club, like first life.
Surprisingly OP.
Most popular: movie club, just watch nothing.
Science club's same.
Always EBS science docs or subtitled foreign ones.
Kids sleep, study, whatever.
No chatting—science club kids all assas like me, no one to talk to.
Occasional Iron Man—pure bliss.
So science club again.
Not big deal anyway, hate hassle.
Movie club's popular, noisy—picked least popular to spite status.
It'll stomp mad wanting me inssa.
"Class rep, stand and bow."
"Attention. Salute the teacher."
"Good. Have a great weekend, everyone."
"Yes~"
"Teacher, have fun with hubby too!"
"Pfft hahaha!"
"You little rascals...!"
Homeroom ended, dismissal time.
"Yo, PC bang go?"
"Ugh, broke."
"I'm good. Where?"
"New spot by GX Mart. 500 won per hour."
"Whoa, dirt cheap."
Typical Friday dismissal chatter.
Clack, clack.
No friends to walk with, anyway.
No desire, so grabbed bag, bolted first.
"GX Mart side's gotta be Jollaman PC Bang, right?"
Fun fact: I planned PC bang too.
"Guess I'll hit somewhere else."
Not the same one.
Know PC bang's biggest pests?
Just-outta-school middle schoolers gaming together.
Farther from school, close to home.
Alley by Sunshine Village Complex 21.
No apartments, just studios, villas—shady neighborhood entrance.
Next to Holala Oven Chicken, basement PC bang: few kids, quiet enough.
"Kids yelling in Pao characters, cursing, game noise... ugh."
Beyond noisy, pure racket.
Pao game's character skill yells are insane.
Max volume: "Konoha Whirlwind! Konoha Whirlwind! Earth Style! Earth Style!" daily baseline.
Other games' BGM: "Fire in the Hole! Fire in the Hole! Ah fuck, snipe!!" nonstop.
Classic 2008 PC bang scene.
Why go anyway?
"Asked parents for high-speed internet, gotta hold out till then."
Internet plus new PC soon.
Convinced on net properly, but PC can't nag like a kid.
Didn't know as kid.
Later heard family was tighter then.
I, oblivious first-year, parents hid it masterfully.
Now it's on me.
Middle school body—no jobs, limited options...
"...Tch, if college regress would've tutored."
Still, middle school regress better.
Physical/legal limits huge sans parents,
but way more time gained.
Frustrating regardless.
"Regressed with status cheat, yet... not easy. Ngh."
Quantum computer revolution.
Easier said—regression alone won't do it.
"Do what I can now."
Can't act yet, but prep plenty.
Ding.
Descending ominous basement stairs, open door—target PC bang.
Counter part-timer glances over.
College girl vibe.
Gaming on counter PC, spots customer, half-rises, sits back seeing kid.
Focuses monitor, resumes game.
"Plenty seats, sit anywhere. Prepay?"
She's on Sudden Attack & Defense.
Domestic hit FPS.
PC bang part-timers gaming? Old news.
Her aim sucks hard.
"Postpay."
Postpay possible then.
Prepay cheaper.
But prepay 1hr, lose track, sudden shutdown—worse.
Machine warns "5 minutes left"—hate that more.
Schlick.
Sit deep corner random seat.
Boot PC, straight to internet.
Type familiar address.
-Dudududu!
-Fire in the Hole!
-Gogogo! Waaah! Waaah!
-You have not enough minerals.
Others scattered, deep in games.
Me solo on weird English site.
arxiv.org