Chapter 58: Perfect Score on the CSAT
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Returning to the life of an exam-taker after two years brought a fresh wave of emotions. Normally, I'd have spent the day before praying fervently for a miracle on the CSAT, meticulously preparing everything with a solemn heart, and hitting the hay early. But no, plenty of leisure here.
The night before, I'd spent tormenting Shim Uran until dawn, arriving at the exam hall with a hollow-eyed, drained face. A chuckle escaped me anew.
'A few years back, I was desperately praying to gods I didn't even believe in, taking full baths, foot soaks, the works, and collapsing into bed the moment 10 p.m. hit.'
"Shim Uran, huh."
Just for fun, I'd told her the night before that I was taking the CSAT. I fired off a casual reply and shot a message to Eunseo.
I pocketed my phone without checking her response. Eunseo probably wouldn't even have a moment to glance at it anyway.
I entered the assigned exam room. Everyone was frantically reviewing simple notes or scribbles, doing one last check on a year's worth of grueling effort. Ahh, such a familiar sight. Tiresome as hell now, too.
A few hours from now, when the CSAT wrapped up, joy or despair would etch itself on their faces. The failures would give up or retry; the passers would enter university, graduate, and slot into society as corporate drones, civil servants, or some other cog in the machine.
And two years ago, after bombing my last shot at the exam, I'd watched that scene in hollow futility—not even worthy of being a cog, the protagonist of my own pathetic life.
The delinquent with athletic talent who veered off into school violence. The stunning aspiring idol gunning for arts/sports admissions. The model student with average looks but brains and diligence keeping them in the top ranks. Even the leads, let alone the supporting roles, all carried some singular shine somewhere.
That star-like brilliance they possessed, the talent that drew every eye. None of it had been permitted to me.
I'd clawed my way up to touch realms never meant for me, grinding until my hands bled. Opportunities to change one's life come to everyone, but only those born with the talent to seize them actually do.
'Until now, I'd thought it was because past-me was so pathetic, unworthy even of grasping a chance.'
But no. Past-me wasn't some talentless trash who got distracted by girls at the crucial moment. It was all the curse's manipulation.
'Things are different now.'
Fallen stars lack the power to rise again, left only to gaze skyward in despair. But this shooting star had gained the fuel to soar back into the heavens.
No need to take in more of the scene. I sat, crossed my arms on the desk, and bowed my head. Then, just like that, I slept.
Tap tap. Someone nudging my shoulder jolted me awake. Half-lidded, I took the Korean language exam paper and OMR sheet for the first session, pulled a computer ballpoint from my pocket, scribbled randomly, and face-planted again.
The same repeated for the second session, math. Other test-takers and proctors shot me weird looks, but I ignored them. Third session, lunch, fourth—all passed in sleep.
That's why I'd deliberately pulled an all-nighter the night before. Nothing to kill the boring, no-phone time but sleep.
"Finally over!!!"
"Fuck!!! Fuck!!!!! You fucking shit!!!!"
The final bell rang, and as students turned in their papers and OMRs, they went berserk.
'Hope that joy sticks even after seeing their scores.'
I hadn't managed that. But this year would be different. "...Right?"
Banking solely on quest rewards, no studying, sleeping through the whole thing. Luckily, the notification popped up.
First Trophy to Make Me Shine has been completed.
WeLike – Enhanced Shooting Function Update. [WeLike +1]
Reality Correction
Beauty Skin
Enhanced Shooting: Freely adjustable angles and viewpoints (future excluded) for photos and videos.
'Huh? WeLike updating out of nowhere?'
Unease began to creep in. This function would get me into Seoral University? How? Changing angles wasn't much different from a tripod, and viewpoints just meant shooting the past... Seoral U and...
'Past... the past?'
Then it hit me. The reason for the enhanced shooting reward.
The moment I got my phone back, I snapped five photos with enhanced shooting, shifting the timeline. Korean, English, math, two inquiry subjects. CSATs are marked via OMR cards by default—five OMR pics saved to my album.
The exam hall emptied out, leaving it deserted. I perched on a desk alone and fired up the internet.
"As expected, faster than light—Korea's hagwon industry."
A whistle slipped out. Answer keys were already up.
"Whoa. Getting a perfect CSAT score is a breeze."
CSATs are infamous for strict cheating crackdowns. But all caught cases were mid-exam with gadgets or cheat sheets. Post-exam, after OMR collection? Phone away.
And with enhanced shooting, I could capture the past, edit with reality correction, and apply it to reality.
A quick tweak later, my all-random OMRs became perfect-score OMRs.
WeLike – Enhanced Shooting. The real prize it handed me.
Its magic lay in pairing with reality correction to tweak the past. Lotto numbers etched in databases? Untouchable. But OMRs take time to input. Knew it was wrong. Cheating, no doubt.
'But so what.'
Desire for Change and Desire to Show Off scream wildly.
Right now, fulfilling desires was paramount.
'Keep chasing desires like this, and I might end up in hell after death.'
Didn't matter. I'd do anything to claim what I'd dreamed of.
Upon resolving all curses in this life, upon the user's death, they will ascend to the paradise of Tarmasia.
The Desire Fulfillment App's assurance was unnecessary. Even without it, I wouldn't have hesitated.
Thus, I achieved the dream I'd harbored since 19, one I never realized. Perfect CSAT score, admission to Seoral University.
Enhanced shooting's new trophy for me.
***
CSAT results dropped. News said 13 perfect scorers total. No clue since I didn't solve a thing, but apparently tougher than usual.
Of course, one name was Song Yunho. Mine.
"Yeah, Mom. I'm good. Real good. Putting in for Seoral U, Yeonhui U, Goguryeo U. Haha, yeah. I'm your proud boy, right? What? Banner up in the neighborhood? Perfect score after four tries ain't brag-worthy, hahaha!"
After well-wishes for my hardships, the call with Mom ended. Neighborhood banner: Boom! Produced a CSAT Perfect Scorer!
"Hahaha, too embarrassing to live here now."
Scratching my head, I headed to the bathroom to wash up.
"Hmm~ hmm~ hmm~"
A tune escaped my nose. Three years, three fails at exam life. Made it all the fresher.
Post-CSAT November and December are the so-called high school senior break. Curriculum unfinished, but after 12 years from elementary to the fruit of it all—the CSAT—no student or teacher fancies more studying.
'Not a senior, but applies to me and Eunseo too.'
Eunseo missed just two across all subjects. Seoral U locked in.
'Dinner mention got me hungry. What's for lunch?'
Craved chicken, so I ordered braised chicken via delivery app.
'Right. Sent all my cash as capital to Shim Uran.'
Asking a mere partner to bet her life—had to show trust. Kept bare living expenses, sent the rest. Forgot to check balance since; already tapped out.
I sighed. Fuck. Money troubles again.
Beauty center needed tens of billions to launch properly. Had plans for capital, but daily cash was an issue now.
First, listed winning lottery at 10% off on secondhand app.
Contact came instantly. Sold 500k won ticket for 450k cash.
'Cash life for a bit.'
Gotta hit the casino soon. Time passed; evening hit. Headed out to meet Eunseo.
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