Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Enchantress - Interlude
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[※ The content of the previous chapter 'Hypnosis (4)' has been revised. Since it has changed significantly, please go back and read it first. Thank you.]
The rift that had engulfed the uninhabited island vanished.
The island's terrain had changed a bit(?) in the process, but that was unavoidable for a special-grade danger rift. Terrain shifts were par for the course with those things.
Unlike regular rifts that only swallowed living creatures, special-grade danger rifts encroached on the land itself. That's why transcendents often obliterated the terrain entirely when sealing them.
Yet this island had only lost a portion of itself, and the rift closed?
Setting aside the inevitability, it was sheer luck.
At least it hadn't been wiped clean off the world map.
Of course, it was unfortunate for the Academy.
They couldn't use it as a training ground anymore.
Special-grade danger rifts were tough even for non-transcendents to handle.
But Kali, captain of the 9th Subjugation Unit, was a top-tier superhuman on the cusp of true transcendence.
Nearly a half-transcendent, in other words.
And the missile she used wasn't ordinary—it was a special weapon forged from silver and holy power.
No matter how high-grade this rift's core was, infused with demonic energy as it was, it couldn't withstand a massive, holy-power-packed missile.
Only someone like Kali—a half-transcendent with her 'Telekinesis' skill—could pull off that destruction. A regular top-tier superhuman could fire missiles all day and not dent the core.
"Lee Yoo-jin, you okay?"
『Urk... ah... ack...!』
Kali descended from the sky and stomped on Hypnosis's head as she checked on me.
The concern in her voice suggested she, like Gray, had ties to my parents from this world.
I could only manage a wry smile.
"Haha... yeah, I'm fine. Just collapsed from mana exhaustion."
"Good to hear."
Kali gave a small smile and stroked the ring on her left thumb.
A palm-sized mini case materialized in the air with a faint glow.
Click.
The lid of the floating case popped open.
A blue pill in tablet form rose from inside.
"It's effective for mana recovery."
With her words, the pill slipped into my open mouth.
Only after it slid down my throat did I close my mouth under my control.
"Oh."
As expected of a mana recovery pill.
The mana refilled at an incredible speed.
Spirit Ability Pills boosted mana recovery too, but they primarily enhanced mental strength or expanded the soul's capacity—permanent stat boosts from a single dose. Effects like full-body cleansing or faster mana regen were just bonuses.
Mana recovery pills, on the other hand, focused purely on refilling mana, like chugging an MP potion in a game. It surged right in.
The effect cut off once I hit about 30% recovery.
'Wonder if she'll give me one if I ask.'
I'd never managed to make one myself.
Beyond the cost of materials, they were so rare I never got the chance.
Now was the time to stock up.
It'd prevent me and the others from collapsing due to mana depletion.
I bolted upright as the exhaustion faded and strength returned.
Just as I was about to ask Kali for one—
The closed case containing the mana recovery pills flew toward me.
I stared at her in bewilderment.
"Take it."
Kali said coolly.
"...Can I really have it?"
"Yes. It's a gift."
"......"
Emotion welled up, leaving me speechless.
But it also felt burdensome.
'Ah, so this is how the kids feel when they get Spirit Ability Pills.'
Now I got it. From the giving side, I hadn't realized. Receiving something so precious for free made me question if I even deserved it.
Still, no point refusing a gift offered freely.
Especially since I'd been about to ask anyway.
"...Then I'll gratefully accept."
I bowed and stowed the mini case in my inventory.
[88][Mini Case (Mana Recovery Pills x7)][9999+]
'...Running low on slots soon.'
Inventory had 100 slots total.
Only 12 left now.
'Gotta sort it out back at the dorm.'
As I thought that, Hypnosis's scream echoed deafeningly.
『Kieeeaaak—!!』
I straightened and looked—Kali was ripping tentacles off Hypnosis's head with telekinesis.
『S-stop—! St-stop—!!』
But Kali didn't stop.
Her face emotionless, she yanked the tentacles upward.
Moments later—
Rip rip rip...!
Like tearing out a fistful of hair, three tentacles were wrenched free from Hypnosis's head.
『Aaak—! Aaaaak—!!』
"Noisy."
Kali frowned slightly and touched the ring that had summoned her gun.
A 1-meter steel plate infused with holy power appeared.
Hypnosis's head floated up, bumped the plate—
Screeeech...!
The plate crumpled with a chilling grind.
『Aak—! Aaak—! Aa...』
Hypnosis's screams ceased.
Well, it was probably still screeching.
Inside the coiled steel.
"Finally quiet."
Kali let out a satisfied hum.
Her body floated upward.
"Lee Yoo-jin, with the rift gone, you should be able to return to the Academy now."
The rift that jammed the smart watch signals was gone, so the HP bracelet should work normally.
Proof: Flashing lights nonstop from the outpost.
Everyone was heading back now that the rift had closed.
"Top student—!"
Asuka waved from atop the barrier.
I waved back, and she approached the limp main-cast kids nearby.
She punched their bracelets—and hers—with her cute little fist.
"See you at the Academy...!"
Before her words finished, light burst from the bracelets, and she vanished.
The main-cast kids too.
"Cute kid."
Asuka was adorable.
"Lee Yoo-jin, your girlfriend?"
"Not... sure yet."
"Not sure yet, huh..."
A faint smile crossed Kali's impassive face.
"You're cute too."
With that, she and the steel-wrapped Hypnosis floated higher.
At a certain height, Kali spoke.
"See you soon, Lee Yoo-jin."
Then she left the island.
I punched the bracelet on my left wrist.
Beep, beep.
⚔ STATUS ⚔
HP: □□□□□□□□□□
The HP bar on the bracelet shifted from black to white.
Light poured from it, enveloping me.
Moments later—
"He's here!"
"The last remaining student has returned!"
"All of Class 1-A safely back!"
I'd returned to the Academy.
Ah, I just wanted to crash at the dorm...
"No abnormalities in your body, but stay admitted for the day just in case. Got it?"
"...Yes, understood."
"Then I'll step out. Hit the call button if anything hurts even a little."
Slide, click.
I was hospitalized now.
Not just me— the entire Class 1-A was in the Academy-managed hospital. Due to exposure to the special-grade rift's demonic energy on the island, they wanted to check for anomalies. Noah's holy barrier had blocked it, but better safe than sorry, so we complied.
A few hours in—
"Ah... I wanna discharge already."
I already missed the dorm.
The Academy hospital was top-notch, single rooms and all—no complaints there. But the reason for my grumbling?
"Why does hospital food taste the same everywhere—absolutely awful."
"Gonna pull out the pork rice bowl again?"
But nah.
"No, better not... the nurse sister would scold me."
I sighed deeply and closed the inventory I'd opened. Then flopped onto the bed.
"...Dorm bed's still the best."
Soft, but not that instant-sleep comfort.
"Haa... discharge tomorrow, just endure."
No way they'd extend it another day. If they did, I'd call Instructor Kang Cheol-su...
"...Nah."
He's probably stressed too—no need to bother him with this.
I sat up against the headboard and activated the smart watch hologram to skim articles until the doctor came.
📰 Breaking News
'Arena Academy' Attacked by Fallen The academy's main gate was destroyed in an assault by the Named Fallen 'Pride' and hordes of Fallen, resulting in 25 instructors dead. In response, the government extends deepest condolences to the families of the deceased instructors and demands accountability from the Academy founder, Martial God Baek Yu-hwa, for allowing the attack...
📰 Breaking News
Is 'Arena Academy' Okay Like This? The Named Fallen 'Hypnosis' assaulted the uninhabited island under Arena Academy jurisdiction during midterms, killing 20 first-years. They were all from Classes B and C—top students passionate about their studies...
📰 Breaking News
'Superhuman Association' Also Attacked.
📰 Breaking News
Why Are the Fallen Suddenly Doing This?
Behind-the-scenes stuff you couldn't see in the game.
The Academy attack matched the game.
But instructor deaths and student casualties from joint training? Never covered.
Those news reports stirred deep unease in me.
Not people I knew well.
Instructors, B and C Class students.
Faces glimpsed in passing.
Still, the gloom came from those B and C students.
"...Should've flunked them sooner."
Mercy had no place there.
"Haa."
I sighed deeply and stared blankly at the ceiling.
Reaching up absentmindedly, I pulled over the flashing quest window in the corner of my vision.
"Yeah... gotta shake off the gloom with rewards."
I opened the minimized quest window.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
Great Achievement Quest 【Survive.】 All means and methods allowed. Survive. (Complete) ※ Support forces arrive in 20 minutes! ※ You must not die. - Reward: 200,000 Points (additional based on performance), ??? - Failure: Everyone dies.
✅ QUEST CLEAR
Great Achievement Quest: Complete
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
「'200,000 Points' awarded as reward.」
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
[Unbelievable feat achieved!] [Settling feat details.]
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
「Survived special-grade danger rift.」
「Rewards increased.」
「Exceeded 'survive' directive of the feat.」
「Rewards increased.」
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
[Feat details settled.] …. ……. [Distributing rewards.]
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
「??? Reward: 2x A-Grade Talent & Skill Selection Tickets awarded.」
「??? Reward: 3x Grade-Up Tickets (B-Grade or lower) awarded.」
「??? Reward: 2x Random Cheat Usage Tickets awarded.」
「??? Reward: 1x Selected Cheat Usage Ticket awarded.」
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
「Perfect command of entire Class 1-A.」
「Additional reward: 200,000 Points awarded.」
「Perfect survival of entire Class 1-A.」
「Additional reward: 2x A-Grade Item Selection Tickets awarded.」
「Survived special-grade danger rift (reward boost+).」
「Additional reward: 1x Grade-Up Ticket (A-Grade or lower) awarded.」
「Survived against vastly superior foe.」
「Additional reward: 3x Random Cheat Usage Tickets awarded.」
「Reduced Named Fallen 'Hypnosis' to near-death (reward boost+).」
「Additional reward: 1x S-Grade Item Selection Ticket, 2x Selected Cheat Usage Tickets awarded.」
"Wow."
Look at this reward explosion.
Gloomy mood lifted instantly.