Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Exam Preparation
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Moon Soo-rin trudged back to her dorm after seeing off Lee Ho-yeon.
Victoria Academy cadets basically lived in the dorms, but they could live off-campus if they requested it.
Moon Soo-rin hated constantly running into other cadets in the dorms, so she'd gotten a place of her own.
"Haa..."
Without even showering or washing off her makeup, she stripped off her clothes haphazardly and collapsed onto the bed.
"I should wash up..."
She always felt like she couldn't move at times like this.
If only I could stay like this forever. The languid haze wrapping around her body, the soft bed cradling her in this moment.
But time didn't let Moon Soo-rin rest.
She dragged her weary body to the bathroom.
She scrubbed herself clean from head to toe and wiped the makeup from her face.
By the time she'd finished her light skincare routine, it was already past 11 p.m.
The thought of repeating another irritating day starting tomorrow morning piled on the stress.
"Did he send the text?"
Still, the dinner with Lee Ho-yeon—someone she'd met because of work—had been incredibly fulfilling.
They'd chatted so animatedly that they'd run an hour over schedule, cutting into her sleep, but it had been worth it.
Lee Ho-yeon really was her healing spot, her emotional sanctuary. Someone she absolutely couldn't let slip away.
More helpful than her father, who knew where he was, or her grandfather lounging in the chairman's office.
"He replied right away."
The list she'd sent to Lee Ho-yeon.
She'd compiled every elixir the academy could prepare on short notice and handed it over.
Of course, that list fell far short as compensation. She planned to procure artifacts or other items on top of it.
She'd told him to let her know if he needed anything else, so he'd probably point out whatever was missing after checking the list.
Ho-yeon: I'm a mage, so the Millennium Snow Ginseng should be enough. Noona! "Huh...?"
What did that mean? Enough with the Millennium Snow Ginseng?
Me: Ho-yeon, are you saying you want more Millennium Snow Ginseng? I'm really sorry, but... it's hard to get more. How about I get you a mana-related artifact instead? The Millennium Snow Ginseng was an elixir that increased mana capacity.
Elixirs that boosted mana capacity were popular because one's innate capacity was fixed, and the only way to expand it was over time.
Even the one jin they had on hand was only available because it was the academy; any other guild wouldn't have been able to procure it.
Ho-yeon: No, no! Of course one jin is plenty! How could I ask for more here. If you have extra, give it to yourself, noona. '...Is he being serious?'
One jin of Millennium Snow Ginseng. To ordinary people or hunters, it was an elixir they could only dream of.
But it paled in comparison to the merit of bringing the Saintess to the academy.
The benefits they'd gain from that would let them buy countless such elixirs.
Moon Soo-rin pondered the reason deeply.
No matter how good a person he was, no one would give up elixirs like that.
In monetary terms, they were worth tens of billions—no, hundreds of billions.
Of course, skimping on them would strengthen her leverage in negotiations with the academy and Lee Ho-yeon... Huh?
'Wait a minute...'
Moon Soo-rin recalled their conversation at the restaurant.
'As I said, the Saintess coming to the academy is thanks to you... so we've decided to express our gratitude.'
'I did it all for you, noona, so of course I'd be grateful for compensation.'
"Ho, could it be...?"
Really for my sake...?
"Ah, no. That can't be."
Moon Soo-rin shook her head vigorously to clear her mind.
No. It was just a misunderstanding.
She gathered her thoughts and typed a reply with trembling hands.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "One jin of Millennium Snow Ginseng is a huge score."
An elixir worth tens of billions per jin.
Of course, the other elixirs tempted her too, but what I needed most was mana capacity.
That's why I'd picked the mana-boosting Millennium Snow Ginseng.
Ding-!
A reply came from Soo-rin noona.
Soo-rin Noona: Are you sure one jin of Millennium Snow Ginseng is enough? Nothing else you need? Why does this noona keep trying to give me more when I say I don't need it?
Her favorability must have shot up so high she's willing to give me her share too.
Can't let that happen.
Me: Of course that's fine. Don't worry about me—take care of yourself first, noona. You looked pale; make sure to eat something good for you. I sent the reply loaded with kind words.
Soo-rin Noona: ...Thanks. I'll definitely repay you. Moon Soo-rin seemed satisfied with my sincerity.
"Kuh... At this rate, I'm prime A-rank husband material."
Satisfied with my people skills, I closed my eyes in bed.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Haa..."
And at the same time.
Ellis was clutching her head while studying.
She slurped her coffee, organizing the rest of Modern Hunter Studies, then stretched to relieve the pounding headache.
"Haa, my head. But why hasn't Dad gotten back to me?"
He'd definitely said he'd send the commission voucher after her cute text, but there was no reply.
"He's always up at night, so it's weird."
Given Dad's schedule of sleeping days and working nights, he couldn't be asleep. Maybe work piled up?
No way he ghosted my aegyo, right?
Ellis texted her father.
Me: Daddyyy...? When are you sending the commission voucher? ㅠ.ㅠ? Her hand cramped so bad it felt like her eyes might roll back, but to get a favor from her father, this was the way.
It doubled the effect.
Dad: Ellis?! Sorry. Dad just finished work. Calling now. "Not a call, though..."
Rrring-
Despite Ellis's wishes, the phone rang insistently.
Her whole body shuddered at the thought of voicing aegyo aloud, but she had no choice.
Keeping promises was a matter of pride.
"Hewwo, daddyyy~?"
- Ellis! What's up?! Something happen at the academy?
A booming voice exploded from the phone like there was a fire.
Ellis squinted one eye but rolled her tongue anyway.
"Daddyyy, why haven't you sent the commission voucher you promised~?"
- Oh, that... I'll send it right away. The guild execs whined they couldn't free up their schedules, so it took time to chew them out.
"Ahaang~... No need to rush, take your time~."
She hadn't specified a deadline, so slow was fine.
Of course, using excuses to not give it at all would bruise Ellis's pride.
- Of course I'll give it. ...But why do you need a commission voucher?
"Uuuung~... Ellis needs it badwy. Pwease just once~..."
- O-Okay! If Ellis needs it, Dad has to give it! ......But who are you giving it to?
"Thanks, Daddy! Wuv you~!"
- Ah, Dad loves you too! Ellis! I'll send the commission via Sebas Chan! Love you, Ellis!
"Nyeaaang. Hanging up now~. Bai bai, Daddy~."
- Okay! Dad's always thinking of you, always for you...
Click.
"That should do it. Eww..."
Ellis rubbed the goosebumps on her arms with her palms and took another sip of coffee.
Dad had persistently asked who it was for, but luckily aegyo got her through it.
"Lee Ho-yeon... You have to win that exam."
Fueled by the aegyo she'd just unleashed, Ellis burned with determination and dove back into studying.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Not getting up? Exam day's today."
I woke to Lilia kicking my legs from beside the bed on the mattress.
"...What time is it?"
I hadn't stayed up that late last night, but my body felt strangely heavy.
"7:50."
"Shit."
My foggy mind cleared instantly at the time.
I kicked off the covers and threw on my cadet uniform.
"Yawwwn, heading out right away?"
Lilia yawned too, apparently just woken herself, as she saw me off.
"Class at 8—gotta run!"
"Wash your face at least. Eye boogers."
"...Thanks."
I splashed water on my face and left the dorm with bedhead.
Time: 7:52.
I concentrated mana into my body.
Who'd have thought I'd use acceleration just to get to class?
Learning stuff always pays off eventually.
Wind whipped my face as I sprinted across the academy grounds. No other cadets heading to class made it feel really late.
The first-year classroom building entered my view.
Time: 7:58.
Thud thud thud. Slide-
I dashed up and flung open the A-Class door.
Cadets' gazes stabbed into me, along with Professor Kim Jin-hyuk's icy stare.
"You're here."
"Hah, hah, sor, sorry..."
"No tardy penalty. Sit quick. Was explaining the exam."
"Thank you."
I hurried to the seats next to Lucy and Lumi.
Yesterday's eight straight spars must've hit my stamina harder than I thought—invisible damage.
Mana capacity had been razor-thin too.
Needed to eat that Millennium Snow Ginseng ASAP and boost it.
"Dude, overslept? Your hair's a mess."
"Yeah, woke up and it was 7:50."
"A-Amazing. Did you study all night?"
Lumi's awed voice came from beside me, eyes sparkling like she'd witnessed something epic.
"Nah, not that..."
"Right, sure. You pulled an all-nighter studying, huh?"
"I said no..."
Why wouldn't they believe me no matter what?
The kids behind shot me wary glances too.
Whatever. Think what you want.
"Enough chit-chat. Focus."
Professor Kim Jin-hyuk said it while looking my way.
'Why only at me?'
Getting stares without doing much—protagonist life is tough.
"You've all gotten the EveryDay notice, but next week is all midterms."
Aaaah--...
Cadets' groans filled the classroom.
Professor Kim Jin-hyuk ignored it like always and continued.
"Written exam today. Tomorrow: group exam and live monster practical. Friday: 1v1 duels in tournament. Prelims during free time today and tomorrow too—note it."
Written today, huh.
Written exams covered memorization like Modern Hunter Studies and problem-solving like cipher decoding or inverse calculations.
Full day of written exams meant testing straight through morning and afternoon.
"Plenty flop the written after prepping only practicals and cry blood tears. Practical's fun, I get it, but don't neglect written. Late advice since exam day's today, though."
"Yes, sir~."
Written's no sweat for me.
Sorry Ellis, but gonna take first and stir some jealousy.
"Next week's schedule next week. Head to exam rooms."
Professor Kim Jin-hyuk finished announcements and left.
Moving to exam rooms meant probably field-specific in the morning, general in the afternoon.
"Lucy, where's the exam room?"
"You didn't even check? How rushed were you?"
"Sorry sorry. Same place anyway, let's go. You too, Lumi?"
"Yes. Mage written exam for me too."
"Let's go~."
I followed Lucy and Lumi to the new classroom.
Into the first-year mage lecture hall.
Ellis was there too.
She's taking the mage exam too, huh.
While Lucy and Lumi hit the bathroom together, I went to greet Ellis.
"Ellis, study hard?"
"...Pulled an all-nighter?"
Ellis eyed me warily with hollow eyes.
You're the one who did—why say that?
"No, I didn't..."
Maybe rivalry? Harsh scrutiny just for coming unwashed one day.
Just overslept, that's all.
"Anyway, good luck. Fighting."
"...I'll take first, watch me."
Ellis scowled and turned back to her book.
Was purely cheering her on today...
★ Heroine Status ★ [Ellis] Favorability: 36 Lust: 25 Appetite: 30 Fatigue: 40 Current Status: Is Sebas Chan still not done? He's not the type to handle things this slowly... Sebas Chan? Who's that.
Personal stuff? Anyway.
I shrugged and returned to my seat.