A Buffer's Primer: Starting from Expulsion - 2
Kwon Heryu's story dragged on, but the gist was that I had to be out by tomorrow. No real complaints there. Even if I had any, what could I do about it right now? Yeah. Not now, anyway. I sat on the bed and closed my eyes.
Combining my current memories with those from my past life, a path would emerge. Surviving this brutal world as a trash-tier character was too risky without some strategy. Just sitting around yelling "buff me" wasn't my style. The smartest move was to ditch growth as a healer—my aptitude—and go full buffer instead. My heals ran on holy power anyway, and with my mental strength bonus, training them wouldn't yield much.
"But that's easier said than done..."
I wasn't some hero with a mentor to teach me skills. I knew where to find buffer artifacts, dungeons, or ruins, but heading there now would get me killed instantly. Buying a skillbook was out too...
"...Hmm."
My wallet held just three ten-thousand-won bills. Even if buffer skills were undervalued and cheap, this wouldn't cut it.
From my new memories, Azazel could be met on the true ending route. The academy offered plenty of skills, gear, and rewards too... So I'd stick close to the academy until then. Not that it'd be easy. The true ending wasn't a cakewalk. I'd need to meet the protagonist, nudge things right, juggle the semester schedule—and from that notice, the student council already hated my guts.
Tsk. So much to do.
I glanced at the mirror by the desk. A skinny black-haired boy with a blunt face grinned back.
Yeah. What can you do? It was done. Time to enjoy it.
The next morning, I packed my meager belongings and headed out. A few orphanage photos, some notebooks, three cadet uniforms—that was it. They fit easily in the academy-issued carrier, so moving was no hassle.
"You Kim Yohan?"
Using the map on my academy terminal, I'd reached the Ho Dorm. A plain-looking middle-aged dorm supervisor waited, probably tipped off.
"Go to room 201."
"Yes, sir."
I took the key and eyed the building. One word: shabby. Yesterday's Seong Dorm was sleek and luxurious; this was rundown—cracks everywhere, peeling paint you couldn't count.
But livable. I'd survived worse, both lives.
Creaky wooden stairs led to the second floor. Room 201 opened to...
"Hell yeah! Livable as fuck!"
Bed, desk, tiny shower and toilet in-room! Five-star hotel vibes!
"Ask if you have questions."
"Thanks."
After some pointers, the supervisor left. I dumped my stuff. No time to rest—time to move.
I grabbed my terminal and hit the bulletin board I'd scoped yesterday.
The academy's unified board was packed with promos. What caught my eye? Religious events. Gwaneumsa's Thousand Prostrations experience.
Buddha's Birthday here ran till May 4th. Get the head monk's approval in the prostrations, and you'd learn Diamond Protection—a buffer staple for defense buffs.
These filled up fast post-semester start, so I'd hit it today. Pre-semester, who else would grind prostrations for a trash buffer skill?
......
"Heh heh heh. Didn't expect two newbies before semester even starts."
The elderly monk with white eyebrows and beard—Gwaneumsa's head, Beopjeong Monk—chuckled warmly.
I was relieved too. Buffers got no love; folks only learned top-tier ones. Skills were limited, and without mastery, useless. Why chase a plain defense buff when viable skills needed grinding?
So I'd figured I'd be the only one hitting this well-known event pre-semester.
But here we were.
"The skill from Thousand Prostrations is Diamond Protection. Boosts your or others' defense."
There. Know what you're in for? Bail if you hate it.
I glanced sideways. Deep golden blonde like melted gold, stunning blue eyes, voluptuous even in loose robes—ample chest, perfect hips. Elizabeth Taylor, a main-party ally in Hero Academia, nodded confidently.
"I know! Mother's a Buddhist, so it's meaningful too!"
"I see. Let's begin. Not straight to prostrations—meditate to clear your mind first, then noon onward."
"Alright, companion? Let's go! Fate brought us—let's do this!"
"Uh. Sure."
"Same class newbie? Fate again—introduce! Elizabeth Taylor! Oh, casual's fine!"
"Kim Yohan. You casual too?"
"Oh! I prefer formal! Noblesse oblige! Ohohoho!!"
British nobility. She clung to aristocratic airs... Fine by her.
"Splendid."
"Noblesse oblige!"
Right word here?
"Here. No talking in meditation."
Two cushions waited in the meditation hall.
"Empty your mind, reach no-thought. May you gain from this. Namu Amida Butsu..."
"When's prostrations?!"
"After meditation and lunch. Namu Amida Butsu..."
Beopjeong left. I crossed my legs. Elizabeth, mom's Buddhist, did too.
Wooden fish and sutra chants echoed. I'd done this plenty—easy.
Mental Strength +0.01
Bonus rewards? Even better.
"...Ugh."
Easy for me, not her. Hyperactive high-energy type—static meditation's hell.
"Namu Amida Butsu..."
Beopjeong murmured; she straightened. But fidget.
"Namu Amida Butsu..."
"......"
Fidget again. She'd blow it; skill was mine.
Noon meditation netted +0.02 Mental Strength. Meh—early gains easy; later, days for 0.01.
"Ugh... tough."
Elizabeth pouted sullenly.
"But Kim Yohan, you aced it? Buddhist? Faith for Diamond Protection?"
"Nah. Just used to it."
"Oh! Dynamic stillness!"
Knew that term? She hummed, forgetting the scolding, bouncing along.
"Lunch, rest, then prostrations."
Temple lunch: mountain veggie bibimbap.
"...Oh. Oof."
She stared at the grass-fest. Caught my gaze, awkward grin.
"Ahaha! Temple food! Mom loved it! Dig in!"
I enjoyed; she wouldn't. Meatless? She starved.
No King Sejong here.
Post her picky lunch, short rest, to the main hall. Real deal now.
"Prostrations experience?"
"No."
"Nope!"
"Watch demo."
I memorized Beopjeong's form. Game text-skimmed; now real body—not easy.
"Begin."
Chants resumed. I faced the Buddha statue, started. Elizabeth, eager, too.
Strength +0.01
Mental Strength +0.01
Prostrations drained stamina and mental hugely—hence stat ups. But exhausting.
~500th: more ups. Then hell. Sweat poured, limbs shook, back ached.
No quit. Tough true ending ahead.
Mental Strength +0.01
Sweat clung gross, but no giving up. Other endings? Nightmare fuel. True route or bust.
......
"Well done. Both worked hard."
Thousand done. Brutal, but survived. Soaked, shaking.
Game early event drained HP hard—felt it.
"Hoo..."
Elizabeth sighed lightly. Sweaty but chill—unlike me.
"Kim Yohan? You okay??"
Her clear eyes worried. Proper noble response.
"This? Nothing."
Yeah. Piece of cake.
Showered post-prostrations, to registry. Clerk waited.
"Good work. Participation souvenir."
Top performer: Diamond Protection skillbook. Others: junk beads.
Grabbed mine; Elizabeth waited, holding hers, smiling, offering it.
"As expected, Diamond Protection suits you, Kim Yohan! Take it!"
Handing it over?
"Not vital for me, but you needed it! Noble virtue to yield! Ohohohoho!!"
Damn, cool.
"But wanna check who won! Open!! I did, obvs!!"
"Uh. Okay."
Crouched outside, opened boxes.
"....."
Mine: Diamond Protection skillbook.
Hers: worthless participation beads.
Air froze.
"Whoa! Wanted these beads bad! Thanks! Cherish 'em!!"
"O-Of course!! Ohohoho!!"
"Hahaha!!"
I slipped on the beads quick. Her face: redder than dawn sky.
Awkward. Cringe. To break it, calm offer:
"...Dinner? My treat—got this treasure."
She nodded faintly, still flushed.