Chapter 27
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Singing Girl (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-Mana suppression, right? I heard that's what they put on handcuffs for imprisoned criminals. Probably engraved with this rune.
Criminals?
"So if it's for criminals, it activates without injecting mana?"
-Yeah, probably. I think the rune itself has the power to interfere with mana.
I nodded and pocketed the metal plate, then engraved all the runes from the tablet onto it.
It took about 30 seconds per rune, so engraving all 12 didn't take more than a few minutes.
"Hey, check that out."
"Whoa. Moving like that, no machine needed."
"Way better than a machine. Machines aren't that fast."
"She's totally born to craft magic items."
As I focused on engraving, the other students stopped their work to watch and gasp in admiration.
I hadn't meant to draw attention, but I ignored it and examined the finished 12 runes before asking Lee Seojun.
"Is 12 the end of them?"
-Who knows? Even in the game, I only used artifacts, so I don't know much about magic items.
"No idea how to find more runes, huh?"
-Probably find them in towers or gates? You likely got this one from there too.
Lee Seojun turned out to be no help at all when it came to magic items.
'Actually, there's a way to get more runes.'
I stopped there and turned to look at Instructor Park Tae-yong.
I figured he'd be more useful than Lee Seojun on magic items.
Bang!
Just then, Instructor Park Tae-yong shot up from his seat with a bang.
All the students, including me, turned to him. He looked like he'd made a monumental discovery and said to me,
"Cadet Lee Seongmin! This is a groundbreaking discovery! I drew the same rune to test it, and durability increased by over 10%!"
He meant the previous 7% durability boost had jumped to over 10%.
To me, they looked about the same, but not to him.
"You look confused. If we figure out the differences and connections between the original rune and the one you drew, we can draw ones that boost by 10% or more."
"So you've found potential for further development."
"Exactly. This is publishable in an academic journal. You've shown a new path forward for stagnant magic item research."
Instructor Park Tae-yong strode over and gripped my hands tightly with both of his.
"Cadet Lee Seongmin. Please uncover this connection and present it to the academy."
"······."
These runes came from [Item Duplication] and [Equipment Evolution].
Uncover a connection that the entire academy could understand and present it?
If it was truly necessary, I'd do it somehow, but I didn't see the need, so I shook my head.
"Why don't you uncover it and present it, Instructor?"
"Me? Why?"
"I drew it on instinct. Can't exactly say to the academy, 'It just felt right to draw it this way.'"
"Hmm."
Instructor Park Tae-yong frowned, clearly displeased, and groaned.
To convince him, I opened my mouth again to explain.
"Presentations should be done by someone who can find the connections and formalize them into theory."
"But you discovered it, Cadet Lee Seongmin. The honor would be immense···."
"It's fine. I prioritize advancing magic items over that."
At my words about advancing magic items, Instructor Park Tae-yong's eyes widened.
He gazed at me with deep emotion and said firmly, as if vowing,
"I understand your intent, Cadet Lee Seongmin. In that case, I'll uncover it and list you as co-author."
Co-author?
I wondered what that meant, but his expression said refusing wouldn't fly.
After a moment's thought, I figured it was no big deal since I wouldn't show my face anyway, so I nodded.
"Sure. If that's easier for you."
"Easier? It's only right."
Instructor Park Tae-yong spoke as if it were obvious, then looked at the runes I'd just engraved.
"But these are exact copies."
"Wanted to try the originals too. The rest can wait."
"Mm. Alright."
He looked a bit disappointed at my answer but soon offered a courtesy.
"By the way, tomorrow's the weekend. If you need it, feel free to use this room anytime."
"This classroom?"
"Yes. All the tools are here. And if you make any magic items, I'll authorize ownership under my discretion."
At the mention of authorizing ownership, Lee Seojun, listening nearby, let out a small gasp.
-Whoa. That's preferential treatment.
"······?"
Didn't they say you could keep items made here anyway?
As I glanced at Lee Seojun thinking that, he explained.
-Usually, it's just class-assigned items or exam free projects. But now he's approving even personal creations.
I nodded at his words.
If that was the case, it was indeed exceptional.
'Hmm.'
So I offered something he'd like.
"If I make new runes, I'll show you."
"Oh! That'll help uncover their secrets faster."
"Yes. Actually, I have some questions about runes···."
Lee Seojun had been useless on magic items.
So when I asked Instructor Park Tae-yong my questions, he answered kindly.
"Mana suppression? Highly efficient rune. Assume 20% mana reduction. Someone with 100 mana drops to 80. But two make it 64, not 60."
100 → 80 → 64 → 51.2, diminishing like that.
In simple terms, mana suppression effects weakened with multiples.
"If the rune damages, it loses efficacy. So hiding it like protective covering is standard. Usually double-layered metal plates."
I nodded after hearing about rune combinations and material properties too.
Not many rune types was a flaw, but the explanations still helped.
"Fewer classes mean this is nice."
I sat leisurely on a bench even after lunch, during afternoon class time.
With only six classes, my afternoon was free.
-No points though.
Lee Seojun beside me pointed that out.
Points were given at class end by instructors, so skipping meant no points.
"Yeah, that's a shame."
Ultimately, max points meant attending everything.
Or···.
'Impress the instructors.'
I checked the points from Instructor Park Tae-yong this time.
[Points: 180] (+10)
Seemed instructors could give up to 10 at once discretionally.
Even so, thinking I'd get 10 points every magic item class now, I decided to move on to the next thing.
"Anyway, time to catch those gamblers."
-Oh, Lee Seongmin. Can I make a character again this time?
"Again?"
Lee Seojun nodded with obvious ulterior motives.
-You weren't planning to go after the gambling site operators in your real form, right?
"Right."
Attacking in my current look could cause issues later.
-So we need a new character. Traces will remain this time, so let's make a good one.
"How?"
-Whatever we do to their group second. Might as well make an outside activity character.
"For outside activities···."
I pondered his words briefly and got it.
"Staying only at Hero Officer Academy is too passive, so make one for outside too?"
-Exactly. Outside activities let us intervene in external incidents easily.
Staying at the academy meant only defense, pure passivity.
Using Absolute Clone to break that, Lee Seojun suggested going proactive.
"Lots of incidents outside?"
-Gotta stay three years, all kinds happen.
I nodded.
Showing up per incident was fine, but separately, an outside character seemed necessary.
'Need money first anyway.'
Earn money to help Go Ha-seul that Lee Seojun worried about.
Heard her mom was ill, needed sibling living expenses too.
"Yeah, outside like you said···?"
Mid-answer, a faint singing voice reached my ear.
I trailed off and turned toward it.
-Huh? Lee Seongmin?
"Ah, heard singing from somewhere."
His reaction said he hadn't heard.
But at "singing," he guessed and replied.
-Singing? Probably Joo Ha-yeon.
"Joo Ha-yeon?"
-You saw her in mana control class.
"Ahh."
Mana control class: deep green hair, doll-like pretty girl student.
"4th place but can't handle mana, right?"
-You're 1st though.
"······."
Equating my mana issue to hers?
-Still, if you heard singing, worth checking. Rare talent even here at Hero Officer Academy.
"What talent?"
He answered.
-Spirit arts.