Chapter 72: Isn’t Travel in Academy Stories Always Like This? (9)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 72: Isn’t Travel in Academy Stories Always Like This? (9)
To be honest, I was so flustered myself that I wasn’t even sure what I was saying, but thinking back on it, it wasn’t entirely nonsensical.
Right. I was actually the life-saving benefactor who rescued “me” from the threat of a high-tier species, and my purpose for being here was to test Lilac, so I used the comatose “me” as bait to provoke them.
…What kind of absolute bullshit is this?
I’m starting to feel a bit dizzy.
Originally, my plan was to wait for Lilac to awaken even a fraction of a different talent, pretend to be shocked—shouting something like, “You were hiding this kind of power…!?”—and then make my escape. But since the Synchronization had suddenly deactivated, further combat was impossible.
Ah, this is why test runs are so important.
I really shouldn’t jump straight into real combat without practice from now on.
— I am reflecting on it. To be honest, I underestimated him a bit, but his individual skill was better than I expected, so I ended up using quite a bit of energy.
I really wanted to argue, but what would be the point of bickering with Sun Wukong right now?
Escaping this situation was the more urgent matter.
Actually, since I had preparations in place, running away was something I could do at any time. The problem lay elsewhere.
If I were attacked right now, I wouldn’t be able to pull off that one-man army act from earlier; I’d just have to stand there and take it without even being able to resist. Thinking about it that way, pivoting toward gaining their favor didn’t seem like such a bad choice.
Let’s think positively.
Yes, I just blurted it out, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought.
No, it was actually good.
“Do you expect us to believe that?”
Of course, that’s assuming other people actually believe me.
Ah, honestly, even I wouldn’t believe it. LOL.
[Hmph, is there any reason not to?]
Professor Cathy’s expression crumpled the moment she heard my question.
Yeah, honestly, it was a total load of crap. There were plenty of reasons not to believe me.
A man wearing a horned dokkaebi mask and a tuxedo, who was just pulling off a one-man army act and provoking everyone, suddenly goes, “Ta-da! Actually, I’m the benefactor who saved your precious friend.” Who would believe that shit?
Even our Lilac was keeping his guard up with a suspicious look on his face.
It really was a stretch, wasn’t it?
However, I had a master move to turn this situation around.
[Then why don’t you ask the person involved, who just woke up over there?]
That’s right. Since I was both the perpetrator and the victim, it was only natural that I’d be the one to settle the matter.
Some of their gazes shifted from me to my other self.
I’m counting on you, my other self…!
Of course…! My other self…!
My clone, who had stopped coughing, looked around with a dazed expression before locking eyes with me.
“So-hyun, is everything this person just said true?”
Professor Cathy, who had rushed to my side faster than anyone, asked.
“Huh? Ah, yes, that’s right. He appeared and saved me when I was in danger. And after that, I remember hearing a voice telling me to sleep if it hurt, but…”
As I clutched my head and grimaced as if in pain, the startled professor patted my shoulder and told me it was okay.
I feel a bit bad for taking advantage of her kindness…
[Hmph. Can I assume the suspicion has been cleared now? I don’t mind doing more, but that Great One doesn’t wish for your exit just yet. He merely told me to come and test you.]
“…I am grateful that you protected our student. However, I cannot let you leave just like this.”
[Ho? And why is that?]
Once it was revealed that my words were true, the hatred and anger in the group’s eyes diminished significantly, but they still didn’t seem inclined to let me go.
“Since you’ve stated that you belong to an organization and that your purpose was to test our cadet, you must reveal who is behind this.”
Right, it would come to this.
Hmm, I should reach a compromise at a reasonable level.
What would be a good excuse that doesn’t provoke them too much while keeping the character intact?
[You speak as if you are in a position to grant favors, Professor. I don’t think those are words to be spoken by people who were being unilaterally overwhelmed by me just moments ago.]
Uh-oh, this is bad.
Why did I just provoke them in this situation?
Is this mask cursed after all…?
— I’ve told you several times, I don’t feel even a hint of an evil aura. It’s just your nature…
If it was a curse that even Sun Wukong couldn’t feel, it must be a truly serious curse.
— Fine, I’ll let it slide this time since I’m partly to blame.
[Keep this in mind. I am the one showing mercy. It is only because that Great One has not yet decided what to do with you that you are able to leave here alive. And you must not forget that your companion is safe only because I showed favor.]
Tension hung heavy on the group’s faces.
I’ve managed to coax them this far.
Now I just need to set the mood and make my escape, but I wasn’t sure how to end this in a way that looked plausible.
“May I ask one thing?”
The one who broke the suffocating standoff was Lilac.
Having confirmed that I was alive, he seemed to have calmed down a bit, as he was using formal speech again.
“What do you mean by saying you came to test me?”
Good job, Lilac. Thank you. Thanks to you, I can end this on a plausible note…!
[It is exactly as it sounds. To my eyes, you don’t seem all that impressive, but that Great One was wary of you. He said that while you are weak now, you might one day grow to stand in his way.]
“…Then wouldn’t it be more advantageous for your side to deal with me while I’m weak?”
The group looked at Lilac with startled faces, but I laughed as if I had heard something ridiculous and then looked at him.
[True, that’s not entirely wrong. If you truly have the potential to become that Great One’s adversary, doing so might be the easy and safe path. But tell me. What meaning is there in that?]
“…What?”
Striking the most stylish pose possible, I summoned the Black Shadow onto my hand and poured in all of my remaining Innate True Qi.
[I am asking what meaning there is in such a safe and easy path.]
As the Black Shadow awakened into the Dragon’s Shadow, the brilliant darkness that burst forth began to devour all the light and mana in the vicinity.
[That Great One is the one who will one day stand as the sole rule and center of this world. Nothing can stand in his way, and if something were to block him, he would naturally crush it all and prove himself.]
As I lost all my Innate True Qi, dizziness washed over me, and at the same time, my body began to rapidly collapse.
An unbelievable pain surged through me, and my body began to tremble with instinctive fear.
[If you are truly that Great One’s adversary, then become strong. Become stronger than anyone else and try to be the world’s hope. He will trample even the smallest, final hope you harbor and overcome every trial.]
The moment the darkness, having devoured all the remaining embers of my life, became a veil and stripped the world of all light.
— Residual life force has dropped to the minimum. Detecting a transferable target nearby. A forced exchange between the clone and the main body will occur.
“My” vision flipped.
What I saw before me was nothing but deep, brilliant darkness. Taking advantage of that darkness, I opened my subspace ring, and the artifacts were sucked inside.
By the time the veil vanished and my vision was restored, the villain in the wicked mask had already disappeared.
We had survived a powerful enemy.
…This counts as a perfect crime, right? No one knows, right…?
* * *
“So-hyun, are you really okay?”
The group, including Lilac, approached me.
No, I feel like I’m going to die.
I had lost all my Innate True Qi, except for the tiny bit I had left in the clone.
Since I have Resurrection, I’ll recover gradually, but the experience of dying and being forcibly transferred to a clone wasn’t exactly pleasant.
The sensation of losing all your Innate True Qi is something beyond pain or discomfort that’s hard to put into words.
I had used it almost to the limit before, but this was the first time I had truly used every last bit of it, and it’s a sensation I never want to feel again.
Fuck. Seriously, I’m never doing that again, even if I die.
But I couldn’t exactly say that out loud.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
Of course, even if I said I was fine, no one believed me.
Despite saying I was okay, pitying gazes poured over me.
I thought I’d never get used to those lukewarm stares, but I guess you get used to anything if it keeps happening.
The moment I tried to push myself up, Professor Cathy rushed over like lightning and grabbed my right arm, while my Elder Sister, arriving a beat later, grabbed my left.
Uh, I appreciate the support, but how am I supposed to get up if both my arms are pinned?
“So-hyun, why are you trying to get up so suddenly? What if you get dizzy and collapse…!”
Professor, I know you’re worried, but you realize the kids are watching, right?
“That’s right, So-hyun. Listen to Cathy-unnie.”
And why are you like this too, Sister? I don’t know what happened between the two of you, but it’s actually getting a bit scary.
Looking toward Kang Ha-ni and Lilac for help, the two of them approached and grabbed one of my legs each.
…What is this? Why are my four limbs being held? Did they actually figure out I was playing villain and now they’re going to pull me apart and torture me?
Then who’s going to pull my hair? Kim Ga-eul? Or Lee Yu-na?
“…Cadets? Let go. As the instructor, I will protect Cadet Kang So-hyun to prepare for any potential danger.”
…Professor? I’m really fine, you know?
“No, since it’s better for Professor Cathy to be free in case of an emergency, I’ll carry him on my back.”
Lilac. I know you mean well, but the Professor’s expression looks really bad right now.
“No, the monsters here are resistant to slashing attacks, so I’ll carry him.”
Ha-ni. I’m touched that you’re doing this even though you don’t like touching men, but you really shouldn’t, kid.
What if I accidentally touch you somewhere I shouldn’t?
Guys, more importantly, can’t you just let me walk on my own two legs?
Looking around for someone to help, it seemed unlikely I could expect anything from Kim Ga-eul, who was hovering hesitantly, unable to join in, and the other seniors didn’t seem to understand the situation very well.
How can there be so many people here and not a single person to help me?
Just as I was about to fall into despair, a warm light enveloped my body.
It was a recovery spell.
“Oh, Yu-na?”
Lilac looked at Lee Yu-na in surprise.
That’s right.
The one who had cast the recovery magic on me was the Pink Chihuahua, Lee Yu-na.
Actually, my dizziness was due to losing almost all my Innate True Qi, so recovery magic didn’t mean much, but I could tell just by looking at her face that Yu-na hadn’t cast the spell just to heal me.
Judging by her faint smile, she had provided me with an excuse.
Yes, this is what mutual aid is all about.
I guess building up favorability pays off; to think the day would come when I’d actually get help from Lee Yu-na.
“It’s working well. Thanks.”
In truth, it didn’t have much effect, but once I showed myself moving around right after receiving the recovery magic, everyone seemed to reluctantly accept it.
Yu-na…! Thank you…!
“…It seems like it’s all over for now, right?”
The moment one of the seniors said that, the atmosphere among the protected civilians brightened instantly.
The fact that it was over meant they could return home soon, and since there were no casualties, it was only natural for the tension to ease.
“No, it’s not over yet.”
But it wasn’t over yet. There was still one important thing left, wasn’t there?
“Huh?”
I smiled at the people who looked at me in surprise.
“The reward room is still left. This is a dungeon, after all.”
The biggest reason I didn’t stop this incident was because of the rewards here, so I couldn’t just leave, could I?
* * *
The disposal of rewards after clearing a dungeon is basically up to the ones who cleared it.
Well, in the case of special dungeons managed by the state, you might not be able to claim rights, but that’s a very special case, and this place isn’t state-owned to begin with.
The Alchemist of the Rose.
The treasury, filled with treasures created by a great figure from another world who devoted his entire life to it, was so magnificent that the word “splendid” simply wasn’t enough.
“Wow…”
Usually, an alchemist’s secret storehouse brings to mind an image of a dusty workshop, but the Alchemist of the Rose was a bit of a clean freak and an eccentric man, so his treasury and workshop were kept neat and tidy.
Not only were there various beautiful ornaments, but the reagents and experimental tools were also arranged so neatly that it was hard to believe it was an alchemist’s workshop.
“It doesn’t seem like there are any special traps or hidden boss monsters.”
After confirming the safety, Professor Cathy, who had been on guard, signaled the group that they could enter.
Well, there are no dangerous items here.
The Alchemist of the Rose was just a poor man who went mad due to an accident in his later years, but he actually liked humans.
Most people were captivated by the ornate decorations, but the main characters were different; each was finding the items they needed.
Lilac was looking at a sword and shield decorated with white roses on the wall, and Lee Yu-na was looking at a tiara with a rose vine design that was part of the set.
It’s quite rewarding to see them showing interest on their own in the things I was subtly planning to give them.
Lilac is great and all, but his gear stats are a bit lacking until he finds his true weapon. Lee Yu-na also has good compatibility with that tiara, so they’ve both found things that suit them well.
My Elder Sister and Professor Cathy were looking at the reagents while keeping an eye on the surroundings; since they both do a lot of physical work, they seemed to be checking if there were any good medicines.
“…How about this, Unnie?”
“Not bad. It looks like it would be good for one’s health.”
“This one looks good too.”
…You guys are planning to drink those yourselves, right?
Ha-ni, seemingly uninterested, was looking around until she found swordsmanship techniques from another world and showed interest. Finally, Kim Ga-eul…
“Wow, this decoration is so pretty…”
She was just looking at the flashy decorations with the other seniors.
Yeah, that’s our Ga-eul for you.
Me?
I already knew where what I wanted was stored, so I approached my target while pretending to just look around.
There were three things I was aiming for here.
First, the fortuitous encounter that would fix my body.
Second, the Philosopher’s Stone needed to entice Professor Park A-ram.
And the last one was a bit unique, but they were all gathered in one place anyway.
“…Found it.”
The deepest part.
The place he tried to hide by diverting intruders’ eyes with other flashy things and even using his lover’s mementos as a fake.
The true treasures of this dungeon would be behind this.
As I pushed the bookshelf aside and opened the shabby door that appeared, a smile naturally formed on my face.
A beautiful woman floating inside a crystal-clear glass tube, and treasures on either side.
— Who… are you?
She, who appeared to be unconscious, spoke to me.
“Hello. Nice to meet you.”
Glad to see you.
My villain ally candidate number three.
“I’m a villain.”
The small human in a flask. The Homunculus.