The Skill Thief of the Great Lake

The Great Lake. Located on the western side of the floating city, it was a massive artificial lake occupying roughly ten percent of the academy's total area. Responsible for supplying water to a floating city several times larger than Yeouido, it was famous for the variety of aquatic life that had been transplanted into it despite being man-made. Access was normally restricted except for the sections opened to residents for recreation and leisure. But today was different.

"The Great Lake... huh."

Rowing the oars of the prepared boat, Princess Kim Eun-ha muttered to herself. One bag of supplies and a small skiff. Those two things were the entirety of the test. She had known there would be a survival-themed exam held on the Great Lake, but she hadn't known the exact details. She never imagined they would hand out something this tiny and simply tell them to survive on their own.

Clicking her tongue at the academy's cruelty, Kim Eun-ha glanced at the approaching boat of the crown prince.

"Eun-ha, what are you going to do?"

"Since I've already achieved my objective, I'll explore every corner of the lake. It's an artificial lake, so it has everything—mangrove forests, waterfalls, rapids, waterspouts, underwater facilities, you name it."

"That's true, but... this objective you achieved... it wouldn't happen to be..."

"Namgung Min's elimination, of course. It was inevitable."

Kim Eun-ha nodded firmly as she spoke. The crown prince had been about to ask if that wasn't too cruel, but he lost his words at his sister's determination and simply rowed in silence.

The surprise attack that happened the moment it began. And Namgung Min, who couldn't do anything before being eliminated. It was possible precisely because the combat ability he had shown in regular classes wasn't particularly impressive.

'I was certain during the survival test. Namgung Min was the top candidate for elimination.'

His performance at the entrance ceremony and in classes had seemed competent, but she had wondered how he would fare in an individual exam. The previous survival test had proven it beyond doubt. Namgung Min's survival itself was already the biggest variable in any test.

In cruder terms, he seemed like the type who would incite the entire student body, eliminate all the promising candidates, stir up internal conflict, and then slip away.

'I feel a little bad, but...'

Of course, she possessed human emotions too, so she did feel some pity for Namgung Min, who had been eliminated so helplessly. He had helped her during the assassination threat, and after talking with him and growing closer, she had stopped adding "-ssi" to his name. In fact, within the academy, the only two people she didn't use honorifics with were her older brother Kim Seong-il and Namgung Min.

And...

'Why is this?'

She had clearly made the best possible decision, yet for some reason her chest felt tight.

'Namgung Min.'

Was it because of him? That fortune teller was an inscrutable mystery. He always maintained a smile and composure, knew everything, and solved everything. Just like at the entrance ceremony, during the assassination attempt, and in class.

"......"

But friendship was friendship, and the test was the test. Thinking that way eased the tightness in her chest a little.

"Brother, you haven't forgotten who we were eliminated by during the last survival test, have you?"

"...I understand."

"Ah, and if possible, please stay away from the Hero. After coordinating with Namgung Min beforehand, he keeps coming after us to eliminate us. It's annoying."

"Got it. By the way, shouldn't we row faster?"

"You're right. Let's go!"

"Attack! Sink their boats!"

"If they fall completely into the water, they're eliminated! Hurry!"

"You infidel bastards!!!"

"Hey! Get away from Teddybear!"

The small—or rather, not so small—spheres launched by the princess, Liu Yen, and Lane Arthur. Thanks to the aftermath of eliminating Namgung Min, a chaotic melee had broken out among countless students right from the starting point.

Falling completely into the water meant elimination. To fulfill that simple condition, they smashed and sent each other's boats flying. The question of why this was called a 'survival' test had vanished long ago.

Countless boats were destroyed. Countless students fell into the water. But unfortunately, the true culprits behind it all were nowhere to be seen.

Lane Arthur had floated his boat away somewhere using his Psychic Power, Liu Yen had accelerated with some kind of artifact and fled long ago, and only the princess was swiftly escaping by rowing with pure physical strength.

"...We've gone ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠quite far. Shall we part ways here?"

"............"

"Brother?"

"...As you already know, this lake is home to many creatures."

"......Brother."

"Among them... is the Skill Thief. Please be careful."

"........."

Splash.

Despite the crown prince's concerned words, the princess—unlike her usual self—didn't even reply. Her face was terrifyingly expressionless. The crown prince watched her go, then let out a sigh.

Had he been too insensitive? Still, it was something that needed to be said.

'Yeah, she'll be fine.'

When it came to the Skill Thief, no one knew more than Eun-ha herself. If it was his sister, who still couldn't forget what happened that day, then surely nothing would go wrong. The crown prince comforted himself with that thought.

Three minutes after the Great Lake survival test began. Twenty percent of the students had already been eliminated.

*

"Here's your coffee."

"Ah, thank you."

"No need for thanks."

At the shore of the Great Lake, in the eliminated students' lounge the academy had prepared in advance, I was resting while sipping coffee. It was called a lounge for the eliminated, but the building was practically a hotel, boasting an absurd size and presence.

Since I was the first one eliminated, I was the only student in this vast space. But judging by the commotion over there, a whole crowd of eliminated students would be pouring in soon.

I sat down next to Charles Teddybear—the head examiner and physical instructor in charge of this test—who had brought me the coffee, and leaned back in my chair.

"...Honestly, the academy was quite worried about you."

"Is that so?"

"Like with the last survival test, a trickster who shakes up the board is refreshing the first time or two, but if it happens every time, it's nothing but a headache."

"Wow, that's pretty blunt..."

"This is the sanitized version from the meeting minutes."

......Just what kind ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of image did the instructors have of me? It was one thing for the students, but what exactly had I done to the instructors for them to react like this? They even gave me a penalty, didn't they??

"But haven't I become the honorably first eliminated student?"

"Yes. All the instructors were surprised."

"Because I was eliminated so quickly?"

"No. They praised the fact that there are students who think the same way as the instructors."

"........."

Wait a second. Didn't that mean the instructors would have made me their top priority for elimination too? Was this the moment to laugh? Was it?

While I was sorting through my complicated thoughts, Charles Teddybear let out a small chuckle and took a sip of his coffee.

"In the end, targeting you first was the wise choice."

"...Well, I suppose I should think of it as the aftershock from the survival test."

Maybe I should have held back on the teabagging back then? Though it's not like I actually mocked them—I just did some zergling rushes...

"By the way, there are going to be a lot of eliminations, aren't there?"

"...That too. This is going to give the evaluators a real headache."

"Ah, Instructor Charles? They're calling for you over there."

"Rest comfortably. I'll come back later and keep you company."

"Take care."

After seeing Charles Teddybear off, I could see water spraying up and hear noise coming from the distant starting point.

...The theme of this test was 'survival.' It followed the same logic as the previous survival test. Naturally, the evaluation would comprehensively assess the students' behavior, judgment, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and abilities with a focus on survival time.

'But everyone got eliminated right at the start.'

Even from here I could see the water splashing violently. At a glance, it looked like quite a few had already been eliminated. Since this was an important test, they would be sensitive about their grades. How on earth were they supposed to evaluate all of that?

But last place was definitely me, right?

'Is this what they call repaying friendship...!!'

What wicked bastards. And annoyingly enough, the fortune I drew with my class skill had been completely accurate. Unexpected things happened right from the start, and students who shouldn't have cooperated ended up working together. But what was that last part? What did it mean that I was barely released...?

"............"

Whatever. I don't care. I'm already the first eliminated and dead last, so what's the point of worrying about it?

More importantly, I had a different goal...!

'The Skill Thief.'

The name of this event and a creature native to the Great Lake. Originally it lived deep in the lake, so even if they held the test here there should have been no chance of encountering it... but as was common in academy games, something always went wrong.

An accident where one of the students came into contact with a Skill Thief. And because of that...

'They get expelled.'

The Skill Thief literally stole the class skill of any class holder it touched. The stolen skill wouldn't return unless the Skill Thief was killed, and a class holder who lost their class skill became a shell of their former self. Class skills were usually the core of a class holder's identity—which was exactly why mine was treated like a useless burden.

In the event, one student would lose their skill to the Skill Thief, after which the creature would disappear. In the end, the student who lost their class skill couldn't keep up with classes and would end up dropping out. It was an unsettling event that could be called the opening act for dropouts in Romance Academy.

'Expulsion means banishment from the game.'

You could never meet a student who had dropped out. The only thing you got was a tragic explanation in the epilogue after reaching an ending. Whether they were from the Imperial Family, a Tycoon, a Saint, or a Hero, the ending for expelled students was always tragic.

That was why I hadn't paid much attention to the test itself. Preventing the Skill Thief was far more urgent.

'The student who falls victim to the Skill Thief is chosen at random.'

Meaning even a main character could be helplessly taken out. In fact, during the fifth round, there had been a case where the Saint was hit by a Skill Thief and dropped out.

That was the one thing this event told the player:

'Slip up even once and it's over.'

Do whatever it takes to prevent the expulsion. It was motivation for the player to diligently pursue character events, training, and favorability building.

But was there even another player who had progressed the game all the way to the Skill Thief? It was a trash game that made you want to delete it from the start.

'Anyway, I need to get out of here.'

If I stayed in the eliminated students' waiting room like this, I'd be trapped until the test ended, Skill Thief or not. Once more eliminated students arrived and I somehow persuaded Charles Teddybear, who was in charge here, I should be able to slip out.

I shifted my gaze down to the bag beneath the pier. The sturdy bag we had been given before the test was meant to hold supplies prepared for survival.

While other students might not have, my bag was packed with items specifically meant to lure and neutralize the Skill Thief. With this, I could definitely——

"Ah, Namgung Min. I'll be taking your bag."

"...Pardon?"

"Eliminated students must return their bags."

"Ah........."

"And if your clothes are dry, you can head up to the rooms! Since you'll have a private room, you'll be able to rest comfortably until the test ends!"

"........."

Click.

My bag was taken away, I was ushered into a hotel-like room, and the door closed behind me. The room was luxurious yet neat, even equipped with a TV and computer.

Looking around, I saw CCTV installed as a precaution against unexpected situations, along with a polite notice explaining that eliminated students must remain in their rooms for the sake of the test's fairness.

It was a realistic countermeasure you didn't see in the game. I sat down blankly on the bed.

...It was needlessly soft.

"What now?"

All the effort I had poured into preparing for this event had come to nothing. The situation felt utterly hopeless.

'The Skill Thief? The expulsion?'

What the hell was I supposed to do?

While I clutched my throbbing head at the unexpected development, I heard a commotion from downstairs.

'Are the eliminated students arriving?'

Since a lot of them must have been eliminated, the noise was loud enough to reach all the way up here. More importantly, I needed to think of a way...

"...Huh?"

For the briefest moment, an idea flashed through my mind.

'Ha, haha.'

Normally I would have dismissed it immediately, but right now I had no other choice. My mind began spinning rapidly, and the corners of my mouth naturally turned upward.

Wearing my usual relaxed smile, I walked to the door and knocked.

Knock.

Knock.

A voice answered from the other side. It clearly belonged to an academy employee.

"What is it?"

"Are the eliminated students arriving now?"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Yes, they are."

"I thought I heard my friend's voice... Would it be all right if I went down to check?"

"Pardon? One moment......... Yes, that should be fine. However, I'll accompany you as a precaution."

"Of course."

The door opened and a well-built young man followed behind me. Just like how they had kept me waiting at the base during the survival test. It was the academy's effort to prevent eliminated students from influencing the exam.

But today, that effort would crumble.

"Hey! Move it! It's cramped!"

"What are you saying after you eliminated me too!"

"To think I'd be eliminated so pathetically........."

"My knees still hurt!!"

"How is the grading going to work now!? I absolutely need that scholarship!"

When I went back down to where I had been earlier, well over a hundred students had gathered and were raising a ruckus. They argued about why I had been eliminated too, shouted that the places they were hit still hurt, and kept asking what would happen to their grades if they were eliminated like this.

In that space filled with countless voices, noise, and complaints...

Clap.

Clap.

"Everyone, don't you feel like you've been wronged?"

I gathered their attention with quiet applause and opened my mouth. It was a strangely familiar line. At first only the students nearby turned, but then more and more looked over. As those who recognized my face increased, the room gradually fell silent.

".........!!"

Before long every student was focused on me, and Charles Teddybear, who had heard my words, could only look up at me with an expression of disbelief.

'Isn't one student dropping out better than this?'

In truth, if the academy hadn't stopped me, I wouldn't have gone this far. If anything, shouldn't the academy be thanking me?

Yes, that was right.

I smiled as if to reassure them. It was the same smile as always.

"Fellow students, won't you listen to what I have to say?"

It was the same kind of incitement as always.