Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Masked Man (8)
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In the spacious room.
A fragrant body scent wafted through the air, reminiscent of an armful of Cornus flowers in early spring.
-Scritch scritch.
The pleasant scratching of the pen nib against paper tickled his ears. The blanket draped over his knees was thoroughly infused with the scent of Cornus.
There was a saying that pheromones clouded the mind.
Indeed, throughout his studying, that aroma kept distracting him.
A soft, plush fragrance that gently enveloped his sinuses.
He lifted his gaze to Cornus, who was focused on her studies.
"......Mm."
Perhaps struggling with a problem, Cornus brought the end of her mechanical pencil to her lips and furrowed her brows.
Her cheeks looked like they would stretch out if he tugged on them.
"Heh heh."
"......?"
Hearing the laughter, Cornus lifted her head with a pout.
"Why?"
"Just found it funny."
"What's funny?"
"Everything from one to ten."
"Si-heon is acting weird today."
The weird one was obviously her, yet she was oblivious.
Resting his chin on his hand, he grinned.
Still...
'She needs to make some friends.'
Because she was such a high-and-mighty princess, others hesitated to approach her.
No... more accurately, the atmosphere had somehow turned out that way.
Up close like this, she was such a cute friend.
Yet others didn't realize it. If someone discovered it, she'd become popular in no time. Guys and girls alike would flock to her, calling her cute.
Unable to resist, he reached out and pinched her cheek, feeling its soft texture.
-Streeetch.
"Si-hee-on? Wha'cha doo-in'?"
"Wanted to touch it."
-Smack!
The back of his hand stung from the hit.
"Feels weird."
Cornus glared at him with crescent-shaped eyes, interrogating him.
Her large golden irises sparkled beautifully in the light today.
'Should I tease her more?'
"It's a prank friends do all the time."
"......Friends do it often?"
She seemed to believe him.
Cornus pondered for a moment before slyly offering her cheek.
"Then do it."
"Not doing it now."
As if she never imagined such a response, Cornus blinked her round eyes.
Unable to hold back, he burst into laughter, and this time she shot him a fierce glare.
"......Always teasing."
"You know it, huh? Sorry. Should I stop?"
"......"
No reply came.
He wanted to say a few more things, but decided against it to avoid getting hit.
He quickly changed the subject.
"How's the exam studying going?"
"Decent. Academy problems are easy."
"True...... So, think you can top the rankings this time?"
"Dunno..."
Trailing off, Cornus rested her chin on her hand and stared intently at him.
As if blaming him.
Of course, he was solely thinking about pinching the cheek puffed out by her hand.
"It's all because of Si-won."
"Not Si-won, Si-heon. When are you going to call me by my name properly?"
"......Si-heon."
Cornus let out a sigh.
For all her complaints, perhaps it was her position.
She seemed worried about grades and such.
Soon, she asked,
"Is Si-heon aiming for first place?"
"For now? But you're aiming for it too."
"Yeah. I'm not losing. Not in this."
Emphasizing her words like a vow, she glanced up at the bed.
He followed her gaze.
The Cornerus family crest, patterned with brown and bright yellow flowers, hung by the bedside, gleaming brilliantly.
Tearing her eyes from it, Cornus muttered like a declaration of war.
"I'm not losing. Exams aren't for friends."
She crossed her arms, signaling battle readiness.
He watched her with amusement before chuckling and continuing.
"Jeong Si-woo was practicing like crazy too. You have to beat him first for top spot."
At the mention of Jeong Si-woo, Cornus's face hardened coldly.
As he said. And as she knew.
Neither he nor Cornus had each other as their mountain to climb.
That guy who always showed freakish combat prowess.
He held the glorious title of top student, but Lee Si-heon had yet to see Jeong Si-woo's full power.
No matter how outstanding his own skills.
If what Jeong Si-woo had shown so far wasn't everything, the story changed.
And who knew. He might have means to perfectly hide his abilities, like Si-heon did.
As long as Si-heon concealed his power with the status window shell, no opponent could gauge him.
Jeong Si-woo might be the same.
He was a World Tree husband candidate, after all.
'Friends are friends.'
Rivals when it's rival time.
For some reason, it felt exhilarating.
Like back in childhood, competing with friends over trivial grades.
"I'm not losing to either."
Seeing her competitive fire, he agreed.
He too.
He had never lost a serious academic battle.
"What if you lose?"
But it needed a simple wager for flavor.
Hearing the question, Cornus widened her eyes and tilted her head.
"Why?"
"Just a bet. If you beat me...... hm, I'll introduce you to three friends."
"......Three!?"
Perfect gift for the friend-thirsty Cornus.
Not even grasping why the bet, her eyes sparkled instantly.
"I'll do it."
"But you have to stake something equal."
Cornus tapped her chin, pondering deeply.
If one friend hooked her that much, what matched three?
He was inwardly curious.
"Something equal?"
"Yeah, something equal."
Squeezing her eyes shut, Cornus drummed her temple before exclaiming "Aha!"
What could match friends?
Full of anticipation, he leaned in.
"Sex!"
......
"Huh? Uh, uh-huh?"
"Sex."
"For real? You're nobility, think it over. I don't wanna die to your secretary."
"We can do it secretly."
He was dumbfounded, speechless.
"W-With me?"
To his flustered question, Cornus nodded casually.
A very fresh nod.
"Who else but Si-heon?"
Three friends...... were worth that much?
At her sincerity, he freaked out.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "What is this mess."
A bet with Baek-do.
A bet with Cornus.
Win or lose, it spelled trouble.
In the training hall, finishing his stretches for sore shoulders and back, Cheon-do slyly asked upon seeing him.
"Some worry on your mind?"
"Right now, as a man, I'm one step from doom."
"Hearing that tells me it's trivial. Just charge in."
Charging in sounded oddly fitting.
"Master."
"What."
"A girl I know suddenly says in a bet that if she loses, we'll have sex. Does that mean she likes me?"
"......Are you insane?"
Maybe too personal.
"No, which girl says that?"
"Exactly."
"Stop grazing like a cow and get in stance."
He shut his mouth. Bitter taste lingered.
Today, he missed Se-young...... It hadn't even been days, but maybe call her.
Of course, separately, he took training seriously.
"You're bulking up more."
"Yeah, well."
Lost fat replaced by muscle, lines emerging—he felt his frame developing nicely.
Asking just in case, Cheon-do replied matter-of-factly.
"Born with a heroic constitution. More precisely, acquired postnatally."
Indeed, growth now dwarfed before.
Far beyond enrollment days of raw talent.
Loosening shoulders, he infused mana and punched the air.
-Whoosh!
Fist slicing air, light whoosh sounded.
"This enough for first place?"
Confidence bubbled, but worry persisted.
Pre-Purgatory smash him would've eaten it easy.
Now, he could toy with top cadets.
But compared to then, still lacking.
'At least I can take Baek-do in one shot...... sorta.'
Developed enough for one ultimate technique.
Satisfy with that?
"Jeong Si-woo?"
"Yes. That's the problem."
"I tested him once after you mentioned. Indeed, unfathomable vessel."
Ideal hero from layered effort and talent.
When he, fresh isekai drop with no sword basics, clashed blades, instinct screamed.
This guy's destined anywhere.
Not knowing jack didn't mean no eye for talent.
"But Lee Si-heon, same for you."
"True. I'm pretty strong."
"......"
Cheon-do pulled something from her pocket and swung.
-Thonk! It smacked his crown.
"Ack!"
"Arrogance is sickness. Always think you can lose."
-Roll roll.
The object tumbled down his hair.
Entranced, he caught and examined it: a bright red bead.
"What's this?"
"Prototype weapon I mentioned. Infuse mana, shifts to suitable form. Use if desperate."
Weapon of mistletoe imbued with Heavenly Demon power.
One-of-a-kind top-rank in this world before him.
'Incomplete, but...'
With it, victory assured.
He stared, caressing it long.
"No issue using. Probably no one notices. Not plain enough to recognize."
For some reason, it sounded like, Do you really need it?
Won't stop you, but satisfied winning with it? Cheon-do's sly taunt laced in.
"Master, know this?"
"What?"
"In games, I love cheat keys. No holds barred, really."
Undetectable super weapon. Drool-worthy.
Munchkin games fun. Max stats in Romance of Three Kingdoms. Infinite money tycoons thrilling.
"So you'll use it?"
"Listen to end. If game, yes."
Usual excuse. Even think cheats fine on deathbed.
But only no-choice scenarios...
"Here."
He tossed the bead to Cheon-do. She caught effortlessly one-handed.
"Black Path."
Black dogwood.
Spear fixed in vision shatters like glass.
Krunch—surging black mana.
Slipping on training gauntlets, wrist belt secured, he exhaled lightly, eyeing Cheon-do.
Cheon-do eyed him like, Oh really?
Amused, affectionate gaze.
"Exam soon, Master. Said post-exam too busy for training."
"Oh ho?"
Cornus, Jeong Si-woo, Im Jong-hyun.
Formidable rivals, each overwhelming alone.
Now reflecting, honestly doubted.
"What, not charging? Disciple's hand itching."
No confidence in losing.