Hidden Achievements Unlocked!
It wasn't like some overwhelming power surged through my entire body or anything.
It was satisfying, sure.
But instead, I could feel the shocked stares of the instructor and the other kids around me.
I could milk this a bit more if I wanted.
"Good work. I'll be heading out now."
"Uh... yeah."
I moved on right away.
The quicker I finished, the more time I'd have to rest.
Better wrap this up fast.
No need to drag it out.
Only one test left: the speed trial.
And the instructor in charge was...
"Hahaha!"
Ji Suhyun, unleashing unpredictable attacks wildly inside the small field.
For some reason, her face looked utterly delighted.
The speed test focused on reflexes and evasion, so she wasn't a bad pick...
"Huh? What's this? You skipped everything else to come straight here?"
She looked shocked at my perfectly fine state, clearly not expecting I'd already cleared the other tests.
"This is the last one."
"Huh? Already? You must've blazed through them."
"I'm a bit tired. Could you make this quick?"
Her lips curled up at my words.
"Quick? For real?"
"Please."
With a snap of her fingers, Ji Suhyun formed a small field.
"Just survive inside for 3 minutes—no, 1 minute."
"...One minute?"
"Yep. For real. Survive one minute, and you get full marks. Or do you want the standard treatment like the others?"
"One minute, please."
"Okey-dokey~"
As I stepped into the field she'd made, I replayed her words in my head.
The condition was just to last one minute.
Evasion or blocking counted, too.
In that case...
This'll be a breeze.
Her voice echoed from inside the field.
Outside, Ji Suhyun grinned with eager anticipation.
"Yes. I'm ready."
At the same moment, goosebumps prickled across my skin as the atmosphere shifted.
The mana density in the field had changed.
"No worries here."
I pulled the key from my pocket and jammed it into the air, twisting.
A golden effect swirled, revealing a small warehouse before me.
It was the [Interdimensional Warehouse] I'd gotten from the 'Semi-Finals Match'.
"Here goes!"
I kicked the door open, slipped inside, slammed it shut, and checked my watch to start counting.
59... 58... 57.
Not a sound from outside. Pure peace.
The treasures and items filling the space soothed my mind just by looking at them.
28... 27... 26.
I rolled a gold coin across my palm to pass the time.
4... 3... 2... 1.
Time to head out.
Stepping back outside revealed an astonishing sight.
"...Didn't you say I wouldn't die?"
The ground inside the field had completely vanished.
Even the exterior of the top-tier durability [Interdimensional Warehouse] was scratched up.
Seeing the kids outside pale as ghosts, I could guess what happened.
"One minute's up."
"You told me to endure it, Instructor. So I did."
If she'd said something like 'dodge well' or 'block it properly,' I wouldn't have pulled this out.
I could've gotten flak for cheesing the test with an item.
But she'd set no specific conditions—just endure for full marks.
That was all on Ji Suhyun.
"You'll give me full marks, right?"
As I strolled out, teasingly asking, she sighed.
"Hah, fine. You sly fox. A deal's a deal—now scram to somewhere else."
And then, another unexpected message popped up.
A brand-new achievement I'd never seen before.
This confirmed my suspicion: when I crossed into this world, unknown achievements must've been added or updated.
"Yep. Thanks for your hard work."
In the end, I was the only one coming out golden.
Better bounce before any unnecessary backlash hit.
* * *
After school.
Once all classes ended, I stood in front of Class C, waiting for someone.
'Isn't that the guy from Class A?'
'Han Yujin? Yeah, that's him.'
'Why's he in front of our class?'
I killed time on my phone, but whispers about me kept drifting over.
They didn't sound unpleasant, so I just kept scrolling silently—
"Why're you here?"
A voice dripping with irritation rang out, unmistakable even to a stranger.
I looked up to see a furrowed brow.
"Jeong Ui-hoon."
"What."
Right, he was in Class C.
"None of your business."
"Fair, but what kinda trouble are you planning for our class? As class rep, I can at least ask, right?"
He was Class C rep?
I wasn't here for anything bad, or even anything major, so telling him wouldn't be hard...
But for some reason, ignoring him felt way more fun.
I waved past him toward Choi Yeon, who was just exiting the classroom.
"Over here."
"Oh, sorry. Fell asleep during homeroom."
"You fall asleep during homeroom?"
One cheek was red—must've face-planted on her desk.
Still half-asleep, she stared blankly at me.
Jeong Ui-hoon glanced, confirmed it was her I'd greeted, and suddenly eyed me.
"Why're you with Choi Yeon...?"
"None of your business. Let's go, Choi Yeon."
"Okay."
His final expression was a mix of confusion and exasperation.
He had to be dying to know why.
Especially since Choi Yeon, who'd kept her distance despite warming up, was now walking side-by-side with me.
A strange sense of satisfaction bloomed in my chest.
I nearly let out a victorious "Woo-hoo!"
Suppressing the grin threatening to break free, we walked the hall.
Choi Yeon eyed me with those still-sleepy eyes.
"...You seem in a good mood today."
"Do I?"
"Yeah. Kinda... your eyebrows are less tense than yesterday."
Eyebrows?
I didn't know you could read moods from those.
"And you? How're you feeling today?"
"Huh? Oh... jealous."
"Jealous?"
"Someone took first in power measurement from me."
"That must sting."
"Yeah."
She said it straight, but her expression remained unreadable.
Maybe check the eyebrows? I tried, but couldn't spot any difference from usual.
Still tough to read her.
"Oh, thanks for coming to pick me up."
"Yeah? Figured you'd get lost again if I didn't."
"True. I'd probably be wandering everywhere..."
She was one of CS's infamous directionally challenged characters.
So I'd invited her to the club room beforehand, just in case. Good call.
"Like I said last time, if the club building paths are confusing, take that elevator. Your student ID's registered."
"Got it. Straight right from the club annex, right?"
"Behind you."
"Oh, behind. Yeah. Memorized."
...Why do I feel uneasy?
I tapped my ID on the elevator, and it descended.
With a heavy rumble, the doors opened to the basement, revealing the kids already gathered outside the sub-room.
"Boss is here?"
Youngje sweeping the floor.
"Choi Yeon! Come on in!"
Sea-a waving from her computer.
"...Heh heh. Yeah, gotcha~ I'm a guy~"
Jinwoo pulling aggro online.
With Choi Yeon joining, the whole club was assembled.
"Thought so yesterday, but... it's huge."
"Top-tier size among club rooms if you go by space. Want a proper tour of the facilities?"
She nodded, but her gaze drifted elsewhere.
That way... the training room?
"Wanna see the training room?"
"Yeah."
As expected from a training fanatic—the gear-packed training room caught her eye first.
We stepped in together, and the pre-set AC blasted cool air over me.
"Club training room. Loaded with 'Another String' machines like top guilds use. Side panels adjust weight, resistance, etc. Wanna try?"
She nodded again, wordlessly sitting on one in a sloppy posture.
"Grab there and there. Yeah. Back straight. Lift when I say."
"Okay."
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity—first time on gear like this.
Makes sense; Cheoncheon Sword House trained with waterfalls, rock-splitting, cliff climbs—old-school stuff.
This modern tech must feel fresh.
Behold, ancient one: this is progress.
"Sets the weight you're holding. I'll start with some."
Sea-a did 150kg, so maybe 200kg?
I ramped it up slowly. Choi Yeon went "Oh. Ooh."
"This is cool."
"Pricey stuff."
Finally at 200kg, I told her gripping the handles:
"Slowly extend your arms upward."
She raised them deliberately toward the ceiling.
200kg lifted like nothing.
"Heavier?"
"Heavier? How much?"
"Double this."
"...Double?"
400kg—serious weight, even for Awakeners.
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
Confirmed again, I cranked it to 400kg.
She extended once more—slower, straining a bit more.
Managed eight reps before lowering slowly.
"Tough?"
She shook her head.
"...Tasty."
"Huh?"
"Muscles taste good."
"Ah."
...Looks like the training room just gained another regular.