Changing Gazes - 4
A few days had passed since we returned from the mission. The other cadets had finished their assignments too, and life at the Academy was back to normal. Not that it was easy, of course.
Training, Taylor-style training, archery practice, and grinding skill proficiency on top of all that—it was pushing my body to the limit. But I could still smile.
"Hehehe~."
"Heh."
Yoo Choa beside me and Cheon Suho were grinning ear to ear too. And why not? The gear in their hands was no ordinary stuff.
"Grade 2 gear from the Hero Association..."
Crafted by master bowyer Hwajin-go. Infused with mana to boost power and accuracy.
Mental Power +0.1
Accuracy Increase
Limited Repair - Hero Association
It was a whole grade higher than the archery gloves I already had. Yoo Choa got shoes, Cheon Suho a shield, and I got the bow.
Truth be told, I'd have preferred a crystal orb or staff to boost mental power—stuff suited for buffers like me. But this world didn't have buffers yet. No dedicated buffer gear existed, so the bow, with its mental power boost, was the best I could get.
The limited repair penalty sucked—it meant only the Hero Association could fix it—but I'd live with it. A 0.1 mental power boost was huge, and the accuracy up would help with shooting on the move.
"Whew. So, clubs are all that's left now?"
"Ah, right."
Yoo Choa, fiddling with her commendation reward, snapped her fingers.
"Yohan. What club did you apply for?"
"Archery and Thousand Li Pursuit Club. You guys?"
"Fitness Club for a warrior like me. Oh, and Travel Club too."
Cheon Suho puffed out his chest confidently.
Travel Club, huh.
"Hey, can I expect some local specialties when you guys go on trips?"
"Nothing expensive."
"Thanks!!"
A friend from the class that went to Jeju Island brought back a ton of tangerines—I scored some too. Apparently, they'd done their mission at a tangerine farm. My room even had that faint citrus scent now.
Life hack: Dry tangerine peels make great air fresheners. Small joys for the common folk.
"I'll repay you with some dried peels!!"
"...Dude, I have plenty of tangerines too."
Did their class have a Jeju returnee too?
"Okay, Yoo Choa, what about you?"
"Me? Uh... Dummy Fabrication Research Club and..."
"And?"
"Um..."
She scratched her head.
"Thousand Li Pursuit Club."
......
The entry test for Thousand Li Pursuit Club was a hunting trial. Teams of three competed to bag the most monsters in a designated zone. Team assignments were completely random.
Get lucky, and you'd team up with strong players for an easy ride. Get unlucky, and you'd suffer. That was how it worked in the game, and it probably still did.
"Elizabeth, Jin Siyeon, and Yoo Choa—three powerhouses. If I luck into two of them..."
Wouldn't count on that luck, though. In the game, I'd save-scum the draws, but no such cheat here...
Only one answer, then.
"Namu Amida Butsu. Patron Yohan graces us again."
"Just here to steady my mind."
"For prayer, the main hall awaits."
Prayer meta it is. Three thousand prostrations while fervently wishing for good teammates—better than doing nothing. Might even boost mental power.
The head monk led me to the main hall, and I dove right in.
"Namu Amida Butsu... Namu Amida Butsu..."
The clear wooden fish clacks echoed as I kept going. Sweat soaked me, muscles ached. But way easier than my first time. So I prayed hard.
Please, good teammates!
"Namu Amida Butsu..."
I started at dawn; it wrapped up late afternoon. Hard work paid off—strength and mental power up! Pumped!
After a shower, sweat-drenched clothes discarded, the head monk was waiting.
"I'm Academy-affiliated at heart. Heard you did big things, Patron Yohan. Care to share what's troubling you?"
He offered tea on the porch. No secrets, so I sipped the iced brew and spilled.
"Just trying to join a club. Teammates are random draw, so I prayed for good ones."
"Hahaha. Namu Amida Butsu. Desire, eh?"
"Who lives without desire?"
"Not calling it bad. You're no Buddhist, Patron... Hope you get what you wish."
No more chat. Just quiet tea. Watching the sun dip behind the mountains, I finished mine and stood. The head monk handed me something.
"Take this."
"What's this?"
"It'll help you, Patron."
A prayer bead for rosaries.
"Aid our temple, and you'll collect them one by one. Namu Amida Butsu. Gather all 108 for a fine treasure."
Bead from the Bodhi tree fruit, infused with temple energies.
Current beads acquired: 1
Oh? The event from the game. Get buddy-buddy with the temple faction, and you'd start collecting Nahans 108 Prayer Beads. String all 108 for the top-tier Nahans Rosary.
"Such a treasure..."
"Namu Amida Butsu. Small vehicle eradicates desire; you embrace it. Collect that desire to reach enlightenment, no?"
His warm smile faded into the distance as I gripped the bead tight.
Whoa. Didn't expect this here. In the game, I'd hunted it elsewhere. Prayer meta paid off big.
Back at the dorm, night had fallen. Grabbed hot water from the first floor for ramen, and there was Dorm Supervisor Kwon Heryu at my door.
"Something up?"
"Here."
A single sheet of paper. Hunting Club Thousand Li Pursuit Club Entry Test Schedule Notice.
Annex front tomorrow.
Test: Saturday Round 1. Failures get Sunday Round 2.
Thursday today, so draws tomorrow, tests right after. Same as game—fine.
"Thanks."
"Give it your all."
He clapped my shoulder with a grin and left. I headed inside.
Friday. Friday... Should be okay, right?
I grabbed my communicator.
"Who is this."
A few rings, then a curt voice.
"Hello? Chairwoman. Kim Yohan here."
"Yeah. What."
Straight to business. No preamble?
"Weather's been nice lately, huh?"
"Rained yesterday."
"...Weather's been awful lately, huh?"
"Spit it out."
"Could I trouble you for training tomorrow?"
Elizabeth or Jin Siyeon would work, but for immediate gains, Chairwoman's lessons were best. Fridays were open, per her. With new bow and gloves, time to drill mobile shooting. Not skills yet—just muscle memory for emergencies.
"Got it. Archery range tomorrow. Anything else?"
"Nah, that's it."
"Right. Heard about the lab. Good work. Rest up."
Done in a flash. Mission accomplished.
Now, just wait for team draws tomorrow...
Next day, after classes, Elizabeth, Jin Siyeon, and I headed to the annex. Plenty of hopefuls for Thousand Li Pursuit Club. A senior yelled,
"Applicants, line up and draw!"
Small beads in a big bin. We drew one by one. I got A, Elizabeth D, Jin Siyeon... D.
Doomed.
Yoo Choa left, huh?
"Hey! Yohan!"
Yoo Choa waved, sprinting over with her usual bright smile. She tilted her head at Elizabeth and Jin Siyeon.
"Huh? Who're they?"
"Yohan's friend, Elizabeth Taylor! Ohohoho! And you are...?"
"Ah, Yoo Choa. We partied last time. Nice to team up~."
"Yes! Me too!"
"...Hmph."
Jin Siyeon just snorted.
"Where'd you draw?"
"Me? A. You?"
"Oh..."
Prayer meta worked? Universe won't let me die completely!
"Eek... Lucky! Fine! Competition it is—I won't go easy!"
Elizabeth clenched her fist. I pleaded,
"C'mon, go easy."
"...If you insist! Ohohoho!"
"Hah! Have fun. I'm out."
Jin Siyeon scowled and found her group. Moments later, Elizabeth's other teammate approached.
"Oh? Hyejin."
"Ah, Choa, you too? Group D?"
"D it is!"
"Whoa?! Elizabeth?! This'll be fun!"
Top of the year as a bonus— she's thrilled. Not jealous at all.
...Really.
"Hey, who's our last in Group A?"
"Dunno...?"
"Hm. You're here too."
Familiar face! Max Miller flashed his A bead, stone-faced German.
Max Miller. Solid longsword user, tanker viable too. Tank-DPS-buffer complete.
Great comp. Prayer meta delivers. Next time, straight to prostrations.
Details tomorrow, so we split. Declined Yoo Choa's lunch invite—meeting the Chairwoman soon. Max had stuff too.
Yoo Choa pouted, but no dice. Crying won't change it!
I hit the archery range. Cadets buzzing at the entrance.
"Here."
"Yes."
"Let's start."
The Chairwoman, hair tied back messily, stared me down.
"No mercy."
Music to my ears.