Chapter 38: Preliminary Preparations (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 38: Preliminary Preparations (1)
Breaking News: Leilan Academy Proves Its Worth.
Leilan Academy, which had disappointed many by allowing a string of terrorist attacks this year and faced doubts about its status as the premier academy after an internal professor incited an incident, has begun to reclaim its lost honor. The academy successfully thwarted a terrorist attack yesterday after perfectly acting on prior intelligence.
The Chairperson nodded as she read the article that came out this morning.
“Mhm, good. It turned out well. This is all thanks to Cadet Kang So-hyun.”
“You know that officially, I didn’t do a thing, right?”
“Of course.”
When I handed over the information about the terror attack to the Chairperson, I only asked for two things.
First, my involvement was to be kept entirely secret. Officially, the attack was to be prevented through intelligence the Chairperson had gathered in private.
Second, to catch one of the traitors within the academy, we had to act as if the terror attack was actually happening. Those were the two conditions.
I wasn’t sure about the first, but I thought she might refuse the second because of the risk that something could go wrong. However, the Chairperson readily accepted the proposal.
— Make a mistake? Who? Me?
That’s what she had said.
Well, I suppose she has every right to be confident.
“Well, there are some who say it could have been dangerous, and others trying to pick a fight because a cadet caught another traitor, but they’re a tiny minority. I’d say our image is mostly restored.”
“That’s a relief.”
“By the way, do you really want nothing in return? I know we have to keep this a secret, but considering what you’ve done, I could reward you personally, even if it’s not from the academy.”
It seemed that between my previous groundwork and this latest incident, the Chairperson’s affection level had risen significantly.
She was looking at me with eyes so sweet they practically dripped honey, as if she were staring at a precious treasure.
“I don’t need anything, so just keep the secret well.”
But really, I didn’t need anything.
To be precise, there were things I wanted, but they weren’t things that could be obtained with power or money, and I had my own ways of getting them.
However, the Chairperson didn’t look too pleased with my answer, as if she found it unsatisfying.
“Are you naturally lacking in greed?”
“No? I’m not that kind of person at all.”
“Liar. If you were a greedy cadet, you would have tried to use that information to strike a deal with me.”
Indeed, it might look that way, but I am a transmigrator.
I had plenty of excuses prepared for my conversations with the Chairperson.
Here I go, Chairperson. Are you ready for my answer?
“That’s what amateurs do. If I did that, I’d lose a valuable card: your trust.”
“Ho-oh.”
“I’m laying the groundwork so that when I truly need help, you won’t be able to refuse. So, don’t take it too favorably.”
“Do people usually say that out loud?”
“Yes, because what I’ll ask for isn’t something you’d hate.”
I thought it was a decent answer, but the Chairperson was still looking at me with a somewhat pitying gaze.
“I can’t tell if you don’t realize the value of what you’ve done, or if you’re just naturally kind-hearted.”
This wasn’t the reaction I expected. Honestly, I was going for something like, ‘I’ll look forward to seeing what you ask for,’ with a spark of interest. Instead, she was looking at me with the same eyes I use when I look at Professor Cathy.
Uh, Chairperson, I think there’s a misunderstanding. I’m not as much of a pushover as Professor Cathy, you know?
“Cadet Kang So-hyun. I won’t be disappointed in you just because you ask me for a favor. As long as it’s not something completely absurd, of course.”
I knew that.
The Chairperson could be mischievous with people she found interesting, but she was even more generous to those she favored.
Since she was likely more interested in me than she was in the original Lilac, she’d probably grant almost any request.
But I really didn’t need her help right this moment.
I had finally cleared out those damn early-game villains, so no major incidents would happen for a while. As for the traitor remaining inside the academy, I planned to handle him myself for certain reasons.
Well, I could have asked for some spirit medicine I’d been eyeing to bolster my health, but…
“Oh, did you think of something you want?”
She said she wouldn’t be disappointed, but I could see it in her face—she was expecting something exciting. If I just asked for some medicine, she’d be let down.
It wasn’t likely, but it would be a waste if she lost interest because of something like that.
“No. I’ll call you if I think of something later.”
She looked strangely disappointed but soon nodded in agreement.
* * *
After Kang So-hyun left, she watched his retreating back and let out a small sigh.
“Why is that young thing so guarded?”
She felt indebted for his help this time, and she had liked his character for a while now. She wanted to give him something, but the problem was that he refused to take anything.
Since his body was weak, she was prepared to give him high-quality spirit medicine if he asked. If he wanted a cool artifact befitting his age, she was willing to give him that too.
But the boy rejected her kindness to a degree that felt almost cold.
Was there a reason?
“Hmm, this is troublesome.”
If she hadn’t made a promise to that cutie Cathy, she would have secretly dug deeper into his background. But because of that promise, she couldn’t even conduct a background check.
“No, perhaps he’s guarded because he noticed that side of me.”
She was well aware of her own hedonistic and impulsive tendencies.
Since he seemed to know bits and pieces of the future, perhaps he had seen a future where they had a falling out?
“Hmm, I don’t think that’s it.”
At the very least, he was the most interesting cadet she had met in recent years.
She didn’t think she’d get bored of him just because he asked for a few gifts.
“Wait. Maybe he really is planning to ask for a massive favor.”
If he truly understood her personality, then perhaps he was acting this way specifically to live up to her expectations.
“Then I suppose I can look forward to it while I wait.”
— I am going to save the heroes.
When she first heard it, she thought it was just youthful bravado. But seeing what he had shown her so far, she felt she could actually expect something from him.
“Now then, I wonder what our cadet with the bold ambition to save heroes will show me next?”
She turned her gaze back to the documents she needed to organize, anticipating his next move.
* * *
I had already decided on my next task.
I was going to kill the last traitor remaining inside the academy.
To be precise, I couldn’t kill him in my current state, so I planned to finish the preparations to deal with him.
He wasn’t an early-game villain like Choi In-ho or Jin Gyeong-tae; he actually had a significant role. But if I left him alone, things would get way too complicated.
Considering the incidents that were bound to happen, getting rid of him wouldn’t cause any major issues.
I had already neutralized the barrier-using villain he used as a henchman in the early stages, as well as Choi In-ho and Jin Gyeong-tae. He probably didn’t have any subordinates he could use right now.
And personally, there was something I needed to get from him, so now was the perfect time.
Anyway, that was why I was preparing to get what I needed.
“Glad to see you. Honestly, I didn’t think you’d come this quickly. Should I say thanks?”
When I went to the club room Cheon Yu-hak had told me about, five cadets were staring at me, centered around him.
Aside from Cheon Yu-hak and Ju Ri-ra, they were all new faces, but I recognized them all.
Two looked at me favorably, two were indifferent, and one was looking at me with hostility.
This was better than I expected.
Honestly, I thought everyone except Cheon Yu-hak would absolutely hate me.
“So, I take it you’re planning to join our club?”
“Yeah, that’s why I’m here.”
“Haha, welcome to the hunting club, Silver Bullet.”
Oh, god.
Even though I knew it was coming, the moment I heard the club name, I felt my soul leaving my body.
I thought ‘The World’s Greatest Sword’ was a bit much for a club name, but ‘Silver Bullet’ was the perfect name to remind me that these kids were still suffering from a serious case of eighth-grader syndrome.
“You don’t like it?”
“No, I like it. It means a silver bullet, right? A silver bullet that pierces through monsters.”
“See, Ju Ri-ra? I told you he’d hate it.”
“…Is it really that bad?”
Good grief. It wasn’t in the Setting Book, so I naturally assumed Cheon Yu-hak was the culprit, but the real criminal was someone else.
I’m sorry, Yu-hak. I was prejudiced.
“Then should we have gone with ‘The One and Only Under Heaven’ that you suggested, or the ‘G-Zon Club’ that Jae-hee mentioned?”
Damn it. Yu-hak, I’m not sorry at all. It’s six of one and half a dozen of the other, but I guess Silver Bullet is the best of the lot.
…Or is it? Depending on your taste, maybe ‘ziZon Club’ is actually better?
“We’re planning to go hunting this weekend. Do you want to join? Participation is optional, but I’d like you to show up at least once every three times.”
“Yeah, I’ll go.”
“Alright, then…”
“But where are you guys going to hunt?”
“This brat, Yu-hak is the one who decides—”
The scrawny guy who had been glaring at me finally thought he found an opening and stepped forward, but Cheon Yu-hak raised a hand and lightly restrained him.
“Do you have a better idea?”
“Are you interested in dungeons?”
“Hey, do you think just anyone can enter a dungeon?”
The scrawny guy interfered again, but Cheon Yu-hak nodded for me to continue.
“If you ‘accidentally’ enter a dungeon that isn’t being managed by the state, you’re allowed to clear it for the sake of survival, right?”
“You’re speaking as if you know the location of an unofficial dungeon that isn’t under state management.”
When I gave a small smile and a nod, everyone except Cheon Yu-hak looked at me with suspicious eyes.
Have these guys been lied to their whole lives?
“That sounds very attractive if it’s true, but I’ll need to verify it. What do you want in exchange for giving us that information?”
“It’s nothing much. I just get first pick of one of the rewards for clearing the dungeon.”
“This little… I’ve had enough of you…!”
“Woo Jae-hee.”
“Hey, Yu-hak! You’re the club representative, so obviously the dungeon rewards should—!”
“Do I have to tell you to shut up?”
“Ugh…!”
“Sorry about that. Please continue. Do you know the specific scale or difficulty of the dungeon?”
“I have a rough idea. It’s reliable information, so you can trust it.”
“We don’t have a track record yet, so the seven of us here are the only members. Do you think we can clear it?”
“Easily.”
Actually, the final boss might be a bit difficult, but I can handle that part, so it’s fine.
“Fine. Then our first activity will be clearing a dungeon.”
“Yu-hak! Are you really going just because of what this guy said!?”
“Why not? If we can actually clear a dungeon, it’ll be a great achievement. The academy will even give us points for it.”
“What if he’s just talking out of his ass!?”
“What would I gain from doing that?”
“You’re close with Lilac. How do we know you’re not trying to screw Yu-hak over so that guy can pull ahead alone?”
At those words, not only Cheon Yu-hak but even Ju Ri-ra’s expression soured.
Man, that’s a bit unfair. I already handed over the barrier villain to him because I was worried he’d fall behind Lilac, and this guy is talking trash without knowing anything.
“Hey, Woo Jae-hee. I told you not to bring up Lilac since we finally made peace.”
“Woo Jae-hee. I’m starting to regret letting you on the team. I was willing to overlook your personality if you had the skills, but don’t cross the line.”
“Damn it. Why are you both taking his side…!”
It seemed he was upset because his friends weren’t backing him up.
He probably felt like a rolling stone was pushing out the settled one.
There, there. Seventeen is an age where you can feel that way. Big brother understands everything.
“Honestly, I don’t like having a scrawny brat like this in the club either.”
But will Cheon Yu-hak forgive him?
“Woo Jae-hee.”
The guy flinched, realizing he might have gone a bit too far, but after glancing at Ju Ri-ra, he doubled down instead.
Aha, I see how it is.
It didn’t seem like he joined out of loyalty to Cheon Yu-hak like the others.
Right, it’s the age where you want to act tough in front of the girl you like.
Actually, I wouldn’t mind stepping back if you don’t like me, but I need your help at least this once.
“Hey, then do you want to make a bet with me?”
“A bet…?”
It seemed unexpected that I would say such a thing while everyone was glaring at him, as he looked at me with suspicious eyes.
“Yeah, a bet.”
Ah, Jae-hee. You should know this.
Half the people who suggest a bet first are con artists.
It’s a life lesson that’ll serve you well, so make sure to engrave it in your heart.