Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Tailing Shadow and Shopping Dilemma
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“Phew~ Feels refreshing.”
After finishing my shower, I tossed my training uniform into the laundry bin and changed into casual clothes.
Most people bring their own, but I just used the academy’s stuff, so I didn’t need to worry about it. The academy staff like me handle the laundry anyway.
“Man, what do girls that age even like? I have no clue—tricky. Guess I’ll just talk about the academy or awakeners.”
I was mulling over some conversation starters as I headed down from the academy building when I felt someone watching me from behind.
Just to be sure, I opened my status window and checked the minimap. Someone was tailing me, keeping a consistent distance.
‘Hmm, an academy girl? Is spring finally visiting my life? Ayoung’s already a handful… yeah, right. Looks like a tail.’
A quick glance showed a skirt swaying—petite build, slender frame. Definitely a female student.
Of course, it didn’t seem like she was after romance, so I immediately started guessing who sent the tail.
‘That clumsy gait and movements rule out scavengers. Gotta be guild-related, 100%. Chatting with guards and other girls means she’s a real academy student. So, which guild?’
Two possibilities. First: Blue Dragon Guild.
No surprise there. They couldn’t snag S-Rank Jeong Min-su themselves, so their losses ballooned. They’re probably investigating all five guilds involved in the subjugation.
‘Yeah, I do look kinda suspicious.’
A dedicated staffer suddenly joining the subjugation team? Even if it was due to manpower shortages, shoving a valuable exclusive staffer in there would raise eyebrows.
That’s probably why they stuck a tail on me.
‘If it’s not Blue Dragon Guild, maybe someone digging into Ayoung’s side? Eh, no big deal then.’
Just your typical academy faction squabble.
Finals were over, so break was coming up. As expected from the academy, there were vacation assignments: Heaven-Class students had to clear a dungeon under association guidance.
Not overly demanding—they just needed to clear a dungeon one or two ranks below their awakener level and write a report. But parties had to be students only.
‘Oh, that could be a good topic.’
Perfect conversation fodder for Ayoung. I filed it away mentally and decided to see how far my tail would follow as I left the academy.
“Mister! Over here. Hurry! Hurry!”
“Don’t rush me. Where we headed anyway?”
“Haven’t decided. We’ll just wander the busy streets, stop if something looks fun. Luckily, there’s tons of hotspots around the academy.”
True enough.
Like any college district, the academy area was bustling with food joints and entertainment galore.
Especially thanks to the academy, shops catering to awakeners popped up everywhere—novel stuff for normals, so crowds flocked and turned it into a thriving commercial hub.
“What do you usually do to unwind, Mister? Bet you hit the local spots before awakening, working at the academy and all. Today’s on me, so we’ll go where I wanna.”
“Not much wandering for me. Mostly holed up in my dorm watching dramas or surfing the net. Only went out for company dinners—grill joints or karaoke, that’s it.”
“Wow, super boring! Didn’t think about trying stuff in your teens or twenties? Oh, wait—you started at the academy in your twenties, so teens were…?”
“Facility oversight. Did high school there too. Then they kicked me out at adulthood, army service after, applied to academy staff, got in. End of story.”
“Eek…….”
“Before oversight, the Grandmaster incident hit. Seoul’s power vacuum turned into monster and dungeon chaos—I lost home, parents, everything. Came to in the facility.”
No need to dredge it up, but to calm this hyper girl, I spilled it all.
The effect was huge—her sky-high energy crashed into a stunned expression.
“Ugh… uh… um… Sorry.”
“Nah, ancient history. Plus, it’s a topic that’ll come up eventually, so might as well now. Won’t shock you later when messy stuff hits.”
“Oh~ I only know the Grandmaster incident from textbooks. Pre-birth for me—zero clue.”
Makes sense. Not exactly a feel-good event.
An awakener dubbed Grandmaster—pissed at government and association overreach—cursed them out on live TV and bolted overseas with his entire guild force.
『Fuck this shit, can’t deal anymore. How much bullshit before I snap? Goddamn! Escaping this hellhole Joseon!』
“Didn’t expect the textbook to print the curses raw—no bleeps, no mosaics.”
“He was a first-gen top awakener with the Grandmaster title. Saved humanity, flaws and all…….”
Sure, his exit screwed my life, but as an adult, I get why he snapped.
Even a legend like him acted out—what could a scrub like me do?
Government and association claimed reforms followed, but it was lipstick on a pig—same crap underneath.
‘No, actually a step back?’
Only difference: some power shifted from government/association to guilds.
Did guilds run better? Nah—they bulked up their orgs to control awakeners even tighter.
“Anyway, dumped heavy stuff on a fun outing. And it’s all ‘back in my day’ to you—total buzzkill.”
“Kinda, but you’re not ugly, so tolerable. Your serious face is filling. Wouldn’t spare a glance if you were!”
“Good to know.”
“P.S., Mom’s tastes match mine—if I like you, she might too!”
Info I didn’t need, but the mood lightened up.
Mid our random chatter, we neared a gear shop for awakener weapons and armor. She lit up.
“Oh! Beowulf’s got new gauntlets? Kyaaah! Wave attacks, burst mode, voice-activated consumables from storage. +15 Str, Vit stats! I want it so baaad~”
“Hmm…….”
Normal for awakeners to crave better, stronger gear.
Lifelong gig—natural.
Following her gaze to the display model, I gawked at the price tag.
How many zeros? Holy crap, awakener gear’s pricey.
“Cheap for mass-produced. Oh, right—what do you wear in dungeons, Mister? No way barehanded?”
“Huh?”
Never saw the topic swerve to my gear.
Couldn’t exactly say, ‘Yep, rocking legendary items.’
Only bought gear was a basic iron sword—couldn’t truth-bomb, so bluff time.
“Association set, obviously. Cheap, reliable, durable—good for rookies up to D-Rank.”
“Heard that gets you targeted by scavengers…….”
Association set: stellar cost-performance made it newbie fave, but that drew heavy scavenger heat.
No magic perks, but top-tier shock absorption, easy maintenance—lawsuits from rival makers.
Perfect cover for me, since I don’t have one.
“Weapon?”
“Weapon? Just a basic iron sword.”
“You’re hitting D-Rank soon—time for an upgrade? D and up means magic-defending foes, big mid-to-large monsters. Weapon’s key!”
“Y-Yeah. Planned to, but been busy helping your mom. Haha.”
Damn, no escape.
Even if I begged her to report fake stats hiding my power, saying ‘Nah, don’t need it’ here would scream suspicious.
‘B-Rank me knows weapons matter—why’s this guy chill with an iron sword for D-Ranks? Stronger than I thought? How strong?’
Yeah, my near-SS stats plus legendary armor mean I could skip the sword, punch ’em barehanded. But backing off fuels suspicion.
To dodge doubt, act like I need D-Rank dungeon gear.
“Perfect! Let’s check ’em out. Window shopping! Window shopping!”
‘Don’t need it, but oh well.’
Thanks to (Unique) Myeong's Knight Grandel's Martial Talent, my ‘iron sword’ was pristine despite countless foes—like a treasured blade.
Trailing her into the weapon shop, I had no choice but to browse.
“If you’ve got cash, refit armor for D-Rank too. ‘Up to D’ is the limit—not consistent peak performance. Always spec with margin.”
‘Hiding strength ain’t easy.’
“If it’s money, I’ll lend interest-free. Wanna buy it for you, but my funds are limited……. Gear’s vital! Life’s one-and-only!”
I know.
But I’ve got armor already—legendary that returns no matter what!
Caught off-guard by this crisis.
Pondering escape as she excitedly dragged me somewhere.
“Hmm~ What to look at first?”
‘Shit…….’
Fighting S-Rank demons might be less dire.
Sweat beading, tension rising in this curveball.
Stay calm, focus. I’d stall by pretending to pick a weapon.