Chapter 18
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: First Class (4)
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The battle wrapped up smoothly after they took down all 50 goblins.
That was way easier than I expected.
Lee Seojun couldn't hide his surprise, having dispatched the goblins without breaking a sweat.
Oh Ye-rin, unlike in the virtual training room, sensed how straightforward the fight had been and showed real delight.
"Wow. So that's why we team up. It's nothing like fighting solo."
Jeong Yu-mi and Park So-yul nodded in agreement.
Cheon Seo-yun, on the other hand, gave me a strange look.
She must have picked up on how much I influenced the battle.
If someone else had joined instead of me, Cheon Seo-yun probably would've just done her sword dance solo and called it a day.
With that in mind, I stepped out of the combat arena and glanced around to see how the other teams had fared.
"Argh... Damn it. We crumbled because we couldn't hold out against that?"
"Look here. I think my arm's broken."
"Close, though. We took down 20 goblins."
"Shit. Who said 50 is a breeze?"
The other teams had apparently finished their fights already and were sprawled out on the ground.
They looked like a routed army—every one of them must've lost to the goblins.
Lower level than I thought.
Right as that crossed my mind...
Instructor Kang Ju-young approached from one side.
"Only Team 4 managed to wipe out the goblins."
Her gaze lingered on me in particular.
As an S-Rank hero, she probably had a good idea of what role I'd played.
"Hand over your watches. I'll award points, including store credit."
The downed students shot envious looks at the mention of points.
The ones still waiting, meanwhile, seemed to think they could just bag some goblins too—no big reaction from them.
Beep—
You have acquired 10 points.
Oh.
Including store credit, it was more than what I'd gotten before.
Still just 10 points, though.
I glanced at my watch to check my total points so far.
Points: 145 (+10)
It was a decent amount, but still felt short.
That said, since I handled my own meals, my points would only grow—they wouldn't shrink.
"10 points! Wanna hit the cafe with this?"
Oh Ye-rin suggested using the fresh 10 points on dessert.
Jeong Yu-mi looked tempted deep down, but Cheon Seo-yun and Park So-yul suddenly turned to me.
Hm.
Cheon Seo-yun was probably thinking about my [Collection Cuisine Summon].
Park So-yul, meanwhile, seemed to be wondering about our private talk I'd mentioned.
Guess I should handle Park So-yul first.
Having my thoughts read was inconvenient in all sorts of ways.
So I turned down Oh Ye-rin's idea to sort out Park So-yul's issue.
"Sorry. I wanna rest until the next class."
"Huh? The practical combat class isn't over yet, so you can chill in the meantime."
Her words made me wonder if we'd have to wait for all 38 remaining teams to finish.
"No need for that."
Luckily, Instructor Kang Ju-young nearby confirmed we didn't.
"Cadets who finish their fights are free to go. Watching the others could be helpful, of course."
Fighting dozens of monsters wasn't something you saw every day, so she had a point—it'd be educational.
But not for me.
"Next up, Teams 5 through 8. Step forward."
As she called the next groups, everyone looked to me like they were waiting for my cue on what to do.
"Just do whatever you want. Cafe for those who wanna go, rest for those who don't."
"We're a team for once. Wouldn't it be better to hang out, get to know each other?"
Oh Ye-rin had a point, but Park So-yul's situation was more pressing.
"Let's do the cafe next practical class."
"..."
Oh Ye-rin glared at me, full of dissatisfaction.
Since I'd shot her down before, I promised we'd go next time for sure.
"I'll definitely go then."
"Too late."
She whipped her head away, grabbed Jeong Yu-mi, and stormed out of the group arena.
I let out a small sigh at that, then turned to my original goal: Park So-yul.
"Park So-yul. Wanna talk for a sec?"
"Sure."
Cheon Seo-yun didn't expect to be the one left behind like this.
Cheon Seo-yun blinked as I called Park So-yul aside again, glancing between us.
I couldn't just leave her hanging, so I excused myself to her.
"I'll just be a minute."
"A minute?"
"Exactly that. Won't take long."
She nodded.
Lee Seongmin's got his hands full.
Lee Seojun chimed in after seeing me smooth things over with Oh Ye-rin and Cheon Seo-yun.
I knew talking to Park So-yul alone wouldn't be easy, but I kept a straight face.
"Let's go."
I led Park So-yul to a quiet spot beside the building, away from any signs of life.
This should do.
No one could sneak up without my senses picking it up.
If someone could, that'd be impressive in itself.
"You're popular."
Alone with me, Park So-yul commented on Oh Ye-rin and Cheon Seo-yun.
I wasn't sure about popular, but it wasn't important anyway.
"More importantly, doesn't reading minds get uncomfortable?"
"...It does. But why ask?"
She eyed me suspiciously as we cut to the chase.
"I can get rid of that ability for you."
"..."
I figured she'd be thrilled, but her gaze turned wary instead.
"Come to think of it, you knew I can read minds, Lee Seongmin. How?"
"Got a source nearby."
"Ah. That Lee Seojun guy?"
Surprisingly, she named him.
She had thought about him back in the group arena.
She caught it then.
Specifically, when I'd considered asking Instructor Kang Ju-young about her S-Rank status.
"Yeah. That's him."
She confirmed it by reading my mind.
Annoying ability, I thought—and decided to seal it right away.
"Anyway. I'll take care of it."
As I stepped closer to seal her ability...
Whoosh—
Park So-yul suddenly backed up a step, keeping distance.
"Park So-yul?"
"Why do you wanna remove my ability? Isn't it because it's a problem for you?"
"It is a hassle, but not that bad. Just a favor."
"Who'd believe that?"
Her response made me realize I'd botched the opener.
She already knew I knew about her power, and approaching directly hadn't helped her suspicions.
Should I back off... Ah, she heard that too?
She nodded like she had.
I came clean, watching her nod.
"Honestly, it's not a huge deal. As long as you don't go blabbing."
"Then it'll be a problem soon."
"But you'd have to live with it forever."
"..."
She seemed to buy that I could remove it.
She wrestled visibly between losing the power and digging into my identity and motives.
"For now, it's a freebie. Later, I'd charge."
Free seal now, paid later.
"What kind of charge?"
She picked up on it and asked.
"Curious? Decline, and come find me later."
I left it at that, mind blank.
I could've just subdued her and sealed it by force.
But going that far over one ability felt excessive.
Then Park So-yul spoke up.
"I could expose your secrets and blackmail you instead."
"Blackmail? Doubt there's much to leverage."
She claimed she'd blackmail me, but I didn't see what with.
Even if things went south and I left the Hero Officer Academy, no big loss.
"I could just train solo."
Bonus: keep world-class crime groups in check or wipe them out.
My thoughts leaked as-is, so I didn't care.
"Training? That's your goal?"
"Close enough. Personal training and world peace."
"World peace?"
I gave her a third option as she pressed.
"Or join me. I'd let you control the ability freely and tell you everything you're curious about."
"Everything?"
"Yeah. You've got 3 seconds, or I'll take it as a no."
"You said world peace earlier? Part of some hero association-like group?"
"3, 2."
I counted down slow, ignoring her questions.
As the numbers dropped, she looked unusually tense.
"1."
"I'll cooperate."
Just before zero, she agreed.
"But only if you're really working for world peace."
"Doesn't matter... You into world peace?"
It made sense to ask.
Someone who read minds would've been disillusioned by people plenty.
Human distrust? She'd have it bad—and interest in world peace seemed off.
No way, I thought.
"Honestly, no interest. But what you're hiding? Yeah."
I nodded; she seemed truthful enough.
From what I see, she'll dig up everything she can from Lee Seongmin and make her own plans.
Lee Seojun, who'd been listening silently, offered his take.
It felt plausible.
Eh, doesn't matter anyway.
If she crossed the line first, I'd handle it then.