Chapter 27
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: How to Save Erina Esnatia
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"WHAT THE! I can't believe it. Getting mixed up with a loser like this!"
Erina Esnatia had been like this ever since she learned the truth.
"YOU total SHIT! FUCKXXXX KIMCHI!"
"Don't get so worked up, Erina Esnatia."
She flinched under my cold gaze, the shift in atmosphere hitting her hard.
"W-WHAT? What are you talking about...!"
"Fine, just like you said, I'm not Lee Seong-hyeon."
"SHIT!!! I knew it!"
"I told you not to jump to conclusions. Kim Si-woo is just an alias."
"Then... what's YOU really...?"
"Yeah, the one lurking in the shadows, mocking even the gods..."
"SHIT!!! That's bullshit too!!"
Oh, she's gotten smarter.
"You're right, it is bullshit."
"YOU!!"
"But who knows for sure. We're the ones who move in the darkness. Our true identities aren't revealed so easily..."
"SHIT!! Just shut up already, KIMCHI!!"
Her nickname for me had apparently evolved from K-Warrior to KIMCHI, capturing that Korean flair.
Kimchi's fine by me.
I like it.
"Anyway, since we're on the same team now, let's make it work, Erina Esnatia!"
"W-WHAT?"
Erina stared at me with utter disbelief.
"Let's overcome the hardships together!"
I'd saved her from certain death anyway, so she might as well pull her weight.
Not that she knew the details.
Erina Esnatia gawked at me like I'd lost my mind.
"Worst! This guy's a total psycho! Just being near him for a second pisses me off!"
Her outburst drew stares from around us.
Lee Seong-hyeon was among them, of course.
"Why the hell is that guy here...?"
Lee Seong-hyeon looked flustered and shocked.
'No need to hide my face anymore.'
The parties were already formed anyway.
Even if he spotted me now and took interest in Erina Esnatia, there was nothing he could do.
For a split second, Lee Seong-hyeon's eyes flashed gold.
He must be bothered by Erina Esnatia teaming up with me.
"Why pair up with that girl specifically? No way... Nah, he couldn't know."
Lee Seong-hyeon's face twisted as he eyed her abilities.
'Quit mumbling to yourself.'
Yeah, if you'd known about her power sooner, you would've snatched her up.
That's why I beat you to it.
Stew in your confusion all you want.
Whatever you think, her opportunity is mine now.
"BULLSHIT! Change! Switch teams!"
"Nah, can't do that. Go away."
"KIMCHI! Why are you doing this to me? Ah!! Is it money?! Money?!"
"No, I don't need your money."
"SHIT!! Then what the hell is it?! Don't tell me it's MY beauty?! Shit! This is bad! This beauty I honed isn't for weaklings like YOU!"
"...."
Oblivious to the fact that I'd just saved her life, Erina Esnatia kept making a racket.
"Alright, lively first day! That's the end of the orientation. Next class is the dungeon test, as mentioned. Until then, bond with your new parties."
With that, Professor Sin So-ah wrapped up her first lesson.
"No way! It can't end like this! Switch me!! Why are you doing this to ME!!"
"Should've read the contract before stamping it."
"You BULLXXXX MAN!!"
Looking at her, I doubted our party would bond anytime soon.
"It'd be nice if we could get along."
"You call this a horse?!"
"First party: Erina Esnatia and Kim Si-woo."
At Professor Sin So-ah's words, we approached the dungeon entrance.
Our duo was up first for the exploration.
The order matched party registration, so I'd deliberately sat next to Erina and rushed ours through faster than anyone.
'Just in case, though unlikely, Lee Seong-hyeon tried to register first.'
The gimmick turning the E-rank [Training Dungeon] into the C-rank [Temple of Destiny] was something Lee Seong-hyeon knew too.
If he'd gone first, he'd trigger the condition to open [Temple of Destiny]'s doors and claim the opportunity.
'From his attitude, he doesn't suspect I know about the gimmick.'
It'd be weirder if he thought I knew about a gimmick he discovered.
Even if he suspected, what could he do with all these eyes on us?
Especially with Professor Sin So-ah watching.
Still, this dungeon would definitely ramp up his suspicions about me.
'Now he'll really start getting in my way.'
"BULLSHIT! Why am I stuck with this MAN.... Where's my thrilling date with a strong, handsome guy..."
"Be satisfied with me."
"Satisfied?! SHUT UP, KIMCHI!"
After hearing the rumors about me circulating the academy, Erina had sunk even deeper into despair.
"How did ME end up with a KIMCHI like this..."
"Yeah, kimchi's delicious."
"WHAT?! You're making me sick!"
"As you probably know, this isn't a massive dungeon. It's fully explored, so stick to the route I explained, and you won't face more than one E-rank monster at a time."
Professor Sin So-ah explained the dungeon.
The inside of the [Training Dungeon] was essentially cleared.
Sure, a stray E-rank monster or two might pop up, but everyone here was a student hunter.
Plus, the second-years had all been through at least one field training.
In other words, it wasn't a high-difficulty test for their level.
'Compared purely to difficulty, Panpagia would be dozens of times tougher.'
"Pro-FESS-or! Is there REALLY no other way besides teaming with this MAN?!"
"Erina Esnatia, he might be more useful than you think? Hahaha!"
"No way! This guy's a fraud!!"
"Calling someone a fraud right to their face? Real classy."
"Just shut it, KIMCHI!"
Erina Esnatia fumed with her high-and-mighty attitude.
When did I ever scam anyone?
"Hey, that foreign exchange student seems off... She sick or something?"
"Told you, she's been weird lately. Probably on her period."
"She's pretty, but... Better stay away."
The students whispered about her behavior.
'Squad leader, huh.'
Her reputation was plummeting in real-time compared to [Awakening to SSS Hunter Academy].
How the hell did this happen...
"I'll take good care of you."
"SHIT!! What's with that look?! Gives me chills, KIMCHI!!"
Professor Sin So-ah addressed the gathered students.
"The training objective: reach the designated spot, authenticate via your watch, then return. Obviously, considering your levels, I've set up some traps myself."
Figured as much.
Just exploring the [Training Dungeon] would turn it into a footrace otherwise.
I knew all the mechanisms and types of traps Professor Sin So-ah would set.
The only thing I needed to worry about was the [Temple of Destiny] boss.
That's when Professor Sin So-ah sidled up to me with a sly grin.
"Oh, and Kim Si-woo."
"Yes, Professor?"
I smiled back at her call, but she wore a suspiciously wicked expression.
"I've prepared a special course just for you, so look forward to it!"
She fiddled with her watch terminal after saying that.
The students murmured curiously at her words.
"What's up with that first-year?"
"Why the special treatment?"
...Special treatment, yeah.
She'd cranked up the difficulty big time.
What the—
Why's she changing the test on a whim?
You're the professor.
Is this allowed?
Make me take the same test.
Erina Esnatia's here too, you know?
My head ached from the added worries.
But focus, and it'd be fine.
I knew most of the traps from [Awakening to SSS Hunter Academy].
"If you spoke true, this should be no problem, right?"
"Of course. You let me attend class, so I'll prove it as promised, Professor."
I replied with an innocent smile.
"...Why are you two talking in words I can't even understand?! Explain properly, KIMCHI!"
We passed through the cave-like entrance and entered the [Training Dungeon].
It was a mine inside the academy grounds—essentially a cave.
Dungeonization hit mid-excavation, so mana stones used in magitech glowed blue on their own.
'Pretty, sure.'
But something felt off.
Why did this beautiful sight leave a bad taste?
A substance pulsing with energy, emitting its own blue light.
Wait... isn't that just...
"This is Dungeon..."
Erina Esnatia looked around in awe.
"First dungeon for you?"
"FUCKING KIMCHI! Don't talk to me!"
"Calm down."
She glared the moment I spoke.
Then muttered to herself.
"If not for this dog, it'd be a date with a super strong alpha male. My fate is a dog's fate."
She had quite the advanced vocabulary.
Guess her Korean studies weren't all talk.
'As a KIMCHI, I'm proud!'
Erina Esnatia hugged herself, avoiding my gaze.
"Don't look at me creepy like that. Shit KIMCHI! YOU don't touch a hair on my body."
"SHIT kimchi? Fresh kimchi? Puhaha!"
"SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!"