Kang Mina (1)
Everyweek, the internet community exclusive to Daehan Academy students. It's a place where useful info gets shared—incidents or accidents involving hunters, guild details, new gates, monsters, you name it. With all that good stuff, tons of students use it.
Being a community and all, there's a free board too, and since yesterday, it's been blowing up with talk about Kim Siu's duel against Yoon Seoa.
The electronic scoreboard in the one-on-one arena showed Kim Siu: Win, Yoon Seoa: Loss, along with what looked like a phone-recorded video.
Most reactions were straight-up disbelief. Yoon Seoa, who had never lost once—her first defeat was unbelievable enough, but to the academy's bottom ranker? How many people could buy that?
Guys jealous of Yoon Seoa jumped on the chance to trash her.
Some called Kim Siu sneaky.
A few opinions no one paid much mind to.
A minority showed positive vibes toward Kim Siu.
Good or bad, Kim Siu's name was starting to spread.
Getting taller really does change how the world looks. Fewer students around since I got here early. My sudden growth spurt left my ankles showing—kinda awkward, but not bad.
Gotta get new pants tailored.
They say the air tastes fresher up high, and damn if it doesn't feel that way.
Super refreshing.
Not top-tier handsome, but the kind of warm look that turns heads once or twice. "Poor guy, must've suffered next to Kang Minji." Standing beside a top-1st-year beauty like her, how many comparisons had I endured? Even normal folks turn into squid next to her—being her partner was mental torture.
Yeah, some inferiority complex for sure!
Minji's too kind to say it, but yeah, comments on my looks happened a lot around her. Jealous dudes were brutal behind my back. But now? No more worrying about that shit. Might not match her perfectly, but this'll hold up anywhere.
Definitely different.
More sneaky glances than before—mostly from girls, so it must be working.
"Kinda noisy, huh."
__Heard the rumor? Yoon Seoa lost yesterday?__
__What? Her? No way—to who?__
__Kim Siu, apparently.__
"Ahem..."
Everywhere I went, yesterday's duel was the topic. Hearing my name now and then felt like I'd leveled up in fame. Too many eyes could be a pain, but then I locked eyes with some chatting girls.
__Look at him. Thinks we recognized him? This might get annoying.__
__Dunno who, but he's kinda hot.__
__Wanna ask for his number?__
__No way! Hurry, we'll be late for the duel.__
"..."
Do they really not recognize me just 'cause my face changed? Maybe the name's famous now, but the old face isn't.
"Might be easier that way?"
The whole school's buzzing. Classes are done, so yeah. One-on-one duels end all evals—semester over. Then four weeks of break. Folks like me who finished day one get to chill. Out-of-towners head home or catch up on fun.
Normally I'd grab a part-time gig, but not anymore.
Duels ain't over, so most stuck around. "Gotta watch the upperclassmen tournament."
Unlike random 1st-year matchups, upperclassmen do brackets. More experience means better quality—must-watch for 1st-years to learn counters and tactics. Big corp guilds scout too, so it's the real main event compared to us newbies. With break after, everyone's hyped. Three hours till start—campus feels empty.
Worried she might not show, but nah.
"She's inside?"
One lingering question: What happens to customization on load?
Machina, you said fate points aren't affected by loads, right?
Yes, that's correct.
So if I use fate points on customization, what happens on load?
I dumped 76P into looks. Losing that would make me rage-quit.
Points are not refunded.
Wait, does my appearance reset?
Changes are not reset.
Whew, but loading back with the new look? That risks blowing my awakening cover.
Guess I gotta wait then.
Save/Load: LV2
Designate and load Save Points to return to that moment. On death, loads the last saved point.
- Current save points available: 2
- Points refresh one week after designation. Load resets cooldowns too.
- Time until refresh: 40:13:12
What are you waiting for?
The save point refresh cooldown, duh.
Um... don't you know each slot has its own separate timer?
What?
I tapped the first slot—the one saved before entering Professor Kang Mina's office originally.
- Time until refresh: 00:00:00
'...Save.'
Hadn't loaded the first slot, so I didn't know. Sealed it off mentally to avoid temptation.
Tell me about stuff like this from now on.
...You really didn't know?
A fragrant floral scent—familiar aroma. I sat naturally at the big central table. Professor Kang Mina's office. Across from me, she fidgeted anxiously.
Took her a bit to clock me as Kim Siu at first meeting. Didn't tweak much, but the difference is that stark?
She knew what I'd say. Kept glancing at the mark on her wrist.
Check her favorability maybe?
Favorability higher than the rock-bottom I expected. Power of looks?
Some effect, sure, but not all.
Seeing me fight Yoon Seoa probably convinced her the cave story wasn't bullshit. Saving Kang Minji bumped it back up.
Which way to play this...
If it was zero, straight to TA duty. But it's up unexpectedly.
Can I raise it more here?
Being nice might nudge it a bit. But to lover levels? Marriage material? Nah.
Impossible.
Kang Mina broke the silence first.
"First off, I'm sorry."
"Sorry?"
"Not believing you back then and speaking carelessly—that was my fault. I want to apologize."
"So, you want to call the bet off?"
I waved my marked hand. Her eyes flickered briefly.
"No, I'm not that shameless. The condition was any request, right?"
"Yeah, I won, so keep your promise."
I eyed her leisurely.
"Need money? I can give you some."
"No."
Money's easy post-regress. Short-term pinch, but no sweat.
"...Artifact then? Nothing too crazy."
"Nope."
"Recommendation letter? Can't guarantee guild entry, but I can write a good one."
"Not that either."
Every denial, she offered more. But not what I wanted.
"What do you want...? Changing exam scores is off-limits."
I just shook my head.
"Professor."
"...Yes, Kim Siu?"
"All of you."
"Pardon?"
"I want you."