Chapter 15

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 15

Chapter Title: First Class (1)

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The next day.

"...?"

I came out for physical training as usual today, and spotted two female cadets next to me.

One was Cheon Seo-yun, just like yesterday, and the other was the unexpected Hong Ju-a.

'What's Hong Ju-a doing here?'

If my memory was correct, Hong Ju-a had skipped physical training yesterday.

Lee Seojun's comment confirmed that my memory was spot on.

In the meantime, Hong Ju-a approached me directly, apparently having some business with me.

"Lee Seongmin. I need to talk to you for a sec."

"Shoot."

Hong Ju-a glanced back and forth between me and Cheon Seo-yun beside me.

Her expression suggested she wanted to speak privately, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but she soon gave up and spoke again.

"Practical Combat class. Take me on your team."

"...Team?"

At the mention of a team, Cheon Seo-yun next to me also looked at Hong Ju-a.

'Come to think of it, she's obsessed with grades, right?'

That was something Lee Seojun had told me in the auditorium yesterday.

It seemed she was asking this to get good grades in Practical Combat.

"Sorry, but I've already got all five team members."

"I know. Kick one out and put me in instead."

"... ."

Her brazen response left me speechless for a moment.

"Pretend you didn't say that. I can't kick someone out now."

I rejected Hong Ju-a's request without a second thought.

They were members I'd personally recruited, so I couldn't drop any of them.

But Hong Ju-a, as if she'd expected my answer, continued nonchalantly.

"Just give me the okay. I'll handle the rest."

"That won't work either. What am I supposed to tell the others?"

"Or you could drop out. I'll make it worth your while."

I glanced at Hong Ju-a at the mention of compensation.

Getting someone with 70 potential like her would be a great reward, but that wasn't realistic.

'The best she'd offer is probably points or cash.'

So I just kept running without responding.

I turned to look at him after his comment.

"... ."

After hearing Lee Seojun, I started seeing Hong Ju-a in a new light.

She probably knew this and was desperately trying to switch onto my team.

'Impressive.'

What impressed me wasn't just her persistence, but how she maintained her confident demeanor despite it all.

Most people abused from childhood would show traces in their expressions or attitude, but not her.

'Still, I can't swap team members.'

I ignored her and kept running, and Hong Ju-a finally gave up and headed back toward the dorms.

Just like Lee Seojun said, she'd come out without doing training to beg me to swap her in.

"She had a fearful look in her eyes."

Cheon Seo-yun beside me summed up Hong Ju-a's state succinctly.

"She seemed obsessed with her score."

"You don't care?"

"Me? Not really."

I currently held first place over Cheon Seo-yun, but who knew what future exams would bring.

My ranking might plummet, but my life hadn't been smooth enough to fret over something like that.

'It's just points, after all.'

"... ."

That gave me a tiny reason to care about points.

Of course, it didn't change my mind.

"Oh, by the way, Cheon Seo-yun, why'd you ask to join my team?"

I'd meant to ask yesterday, but hadn't gotten the chance after blurting out the truth.

"No one else to team up with."

"There were tons of people around you."

"Didn't know any of them."

A surprisingly simple reason.

"You're slowing down."

After answering, Cheon Seo-yun pointed out my running pace.

I still hadn't adjusted to Absolute Clone, so there was nothing I could do.

"I can't keep up any faster. Go ahead."

"Buy me food later."

...Food?

Thanks to Lee Seojun's helpful translation, I understood and let out a small sigh.

Having to save points for a Skill Stone, buying food felt like a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠reluctant expense.

"Don't want to?"

She picked up on my expression and asked.

No point lying here, so I was honest.

"I'm saving points to buy a Skill Stone. Can't spend them carelessly."

"Skill Stone... ."

But if it was just a meal, it wasn't impossible.

As I pondered, Instructor Choi Ji-an, who'd already reached the turnaround point and was heading back, came into view.

She blocked our path after spotting me staggering along with Cheon Seo-yun beside me.

"Both of you, hand over your watches."

"Now?"

"Should I wait around until you get back? Sorry, but I've got my own duties."

Beep―

"Advance payment. Hit the peak and come back."

I got my 5 points and wondered what would happen if I just slacked off and headed back.

Betraying the instructor's trust might make life tougher going forward.

'Keep running.'

It wouldn't build my stamina much, but it would raise Absolute Clone's proficiency.

That was the point of training—for proficiency and points—so no reason to stop.

'When the hell will this reach 100%?'

At this rate, it'd take 1-2 years at least.

I needed some special method, but for now, I kept running to the peak.

"Oh, Cheon Seo-yun. Hold up."

I stopped her as she started descending right after reaching the summit.

"What?"

"You said something about food earlier."

I hesitated on whether to reveal this ability, but I trusted Cheon Seo-yun not to blab.

"Not exactly buying, but I can give you food."

"...How?"

It was the ability I'd gotten as a wish from my contract with the Creation God.

The systems and skills from 12 years of online games—specifically, a cash skill.

'Collection Cuisine Summon.'

This skill randomly summoned 1 to 10 dishes from my collection.

It was a cash skill, meaning bought with real money in the games.

Flash!―

A burst of pure white light appeared, followed by five dishes materializing.

'Five this time.'

The number didn't matter.

I could use it repeatedly anyway.

"...!?"

Lee Seojun and Cheon Seo-yun gawked at the summoned food, eyes wide.

"Creation-type innate ability...?"

'Creation-type?'

I shot Lee Seojun a look demanding explanation.

"... ."

It seemed extremely rare here.

Plus, I could summon not just food, but weapons, armor, accessories, potions—anything.

'All cash skills from online games.'

I turned to Cheon Seo-yun, still staring at the food.

"Keep it secret, obviously."

She nodded quietly at my request.

Her reaction said enough—no need for more words—so I handed her the dishes.

'Variety too.'

Steak, spaghetti, sandwich, chicken, fried rice.

Cheon Seo-yun eyed the food and utensils in astonishment, then slowly took a bite.

"...!"

Her eyes widened again—it was delicious.

She chewed faster and faster, devouring the dishes quickly.

'Should I summon more?'

Thinking of Oh Ye-rin clearing nine plates at the buffet, I figured Cheon Seo-yun was similar and summoned another batch.

As expected, Cheon Seo-yun polished off a whopping 14 plates before making a satisfied, stuffed-cat face.

I was pondering how her small frame handled 14 plates when Lee Seojun chimed in.

I glanced at him for explaining "physical-type."

That tiny body outputting 10x normal strength explained the appetite.

I vaguely suspected 3-point meals wouldn't satisfy her.

Good to know she ate moderately normally.

"Let's head back."

"Yeah."

At my suggestion, Cheon Seo-yun nodded and grabbed a wide, flat rock nearby.

"... ."

Was she planning to ride it down this time?

We'd taken time eating after summiting.

I'd planned to use Warlord's Weapon like yesterday, but hadn't expected the rock.

'Whatever, let her have her way.'

I applied Warlord's Weapon to her rock.

She sat comfortably atop the floating stone.

'Perfect sitting height.'

I did the same to a nearby rock and sat.

We descended in an instant at a speed incomparable to the climb.