Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 053
Chapter Title: Ranking Battle (1)
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Thanks to Min Chae-ryeong's consideration—or lack thereof—I managed to snag some vacation time right after discharge and headed straight to the Green House dorms to meet Kang Ha-neul.
She'd officially reenrolled and moved into the dorms at the same time. After what happened, she couldn't keep living alone in that one-room apartment. The dorm application period had long passed, but they made an exception due to the assault incident, letting her in late.
And so, my destination was the Third Girls' Dorm, tucked away in one corner of the Green House grounds.
Whether in fiction or reality, girls' dorms were usually strict no-man's-lands. Sure enough, the Green House girls' dorm forbade male entry except for specific official business.
Yeah.
Except for those specific official business cases, that is.
"I'm Ahn Su-ho from the Special Countermeasures Division of the Academy Security Force. I called you this morning."
I flashed my badge to the General Division guard stationed at the dorm entrance. Fitting for a girls' dorm, she was a woman.
She alternated between scrutinizing my badge and my face, then asked in a skeptical tone with half-lidded eyes.
"...You're here to question first-year Kang Ha-neul, right?"
"Yes, that's correct."
She gave me a once-over from head to toe, paused for a moment, then reluctantly gestured for me to enter.
To reiterate, girls' dorms were sacred no-man zones. However, for Academy-related business like mine, entry was permitted during daytime hours when most students were out.
Anyway, long live Special Countermeasures Division perks.
"Kang Ha-neul's room is 403. As you know, don't go anywhere else. Especially not the communal space deeper inside on the first floor—there's a bathhouse and gym facilities, so—"
"I know. I'll handle my business quickly and leave."
"Please do."
Escorted by the guard, I headed straight to Kang Ha-neul's room.
-Knock knock.
No response from inside.
I'd notified her I'd visit at this time, so maybe she'd stepped out? But the bustling noises from within suggested she was definitely home.
-Knock knock.
"Kang Ha-neul?"
Another knock and call.
Still no answer. Pressing my ear to the door, I faintly heard a voice...
'No way...'
A strange sense of déjà vu hit me. I gently tried the handle—locked.
But locks like this were no obstacle for me. A Special Countermeasures Division badge doubled as a master key for Green House facilities. Anywhere without special security clearance, and it'd open virtually any door.
-Beep!
The badge unlocked it, and I eased the door open.
And then.
"Yes~ Everyone! Don't forget to subscribe, like, and hit notifications! Ah! Thanks a ton for the 10,000 won donation from Harvard Mutt! Nyaang! Nyaaang!"
There was Kang Ha-neul, wearing her signature cat-ear headset, putting on an adorably cutesy act in front of her monitor. The screen showed a chaotic broadcast interface and a vaguely familiar AOS game.
"Yes! I have a schedule soon, so I'm planning to end the stream in about an hour. Huh? Explain who that guy was who broke in last time...? Manager, ban that guy. I announced it, but mentioning guys in my room gets you banned! No, why keep demanding an explanation? Anyway, let's go wrap up the final round... Huh? A guy behind me? I said don't bring that up! What? Right now? Someone's behind me right now...?"
She turned her head and locked eyes with me.
"Ah."
The next instant, Kang Ha-neul moved like lightning. She swiftly killed the camera and mic, canceled her game match, and minimized all broadcast windows.
The whole sequence took about 0.7 seconds.
Impressive superhuman reflexes, I thought admiringly. Then, her face flushing like a green apple, she yelled at me.
"H-How do you just barge in like that?! You should've knocked first!!"
"I knocked twice and called your name. You're the one who didn't answer."
"Then you could've called from outside the door! Why'd you come in on your own?! And how'd you even unlock it? I definitely locked it?!"
"That’s..."
I deliberately pressed my badge to the door. It beeped, locking it again.
"Whoa, insane..."
Stunned by the master key's power, Kang Ha-neul stood from her seat.
"What's that? An Academy master key? Does that exist? God, I want one so bad—can I have one too?"
"You can get one after graduation if you join the Security Force."
"Eh, that’s a bit..."
She shuddered in genuine disgust. It was a joke to begin with, and I had no strong attachment to the Force myself, but seeing her react so viscerally felt oddly amusing.
"No need to make such a face. The Security Force isn't that bad."
"What're the hours like?"
"...9 a.m. to 6 p.m."
"Overtime?"
"Occasional night patrols or on-duty shifts..."
"Pay?"
"Special Countermeasures starting salary is around 4,000 after taxes, I think. Hazard and performance bonuses separate."
"Benefits?"
"Uh, full free access to Academy facilities, gear provided, and... Wait, why are you asking?"
"You said it wasn't that bad? Figured I'd consider it if it sounds good."
Obviously a joke. She'd turned down hunter life and all superhuman jobs due to the risks—no way she'd join the Force, no matter the perks.
"Anyway, is the stream okay?"
"Worried now? Of course not. A guy crashing a female streamer's broadcast? Ugh, seriously. Gonna be fielding 'explain' demands for days..."
"How many viewers even?"
"Last I checked... around 300?"
Surprisingly high. I didn't know much about streaming, but 300 viewers for someone barely two weeks in? Not bad at all. Plenty streamed for years without cracking triple digits.
"What kind of stream draws that many so quick?"
"?? Just a normal game stream? What, thought I'd do something weird?"
Wasn't meowing cutely in a cat headset while gaming weird? The thought crossed my mind, but I kept it to myself.
"Plain game content lacks differentiation, but I've got this eye-catching hook, right?"
Kang Ha-neul spread her arms proudly, showing off her figure. The loose boxy tee stretched taut, revealing the surprisingly ample swell of her chest.
"A cute girl like this acting all friendly like your close junior, piling on the charm and playing the games they love—how could they resist watching? And it's not just facecam; I game well too!! My reactions are killer!! I even play along with all the weird memes other streamers dodge!! They can't handle it!!"
She flashed a thumbs-up with a sly grin. A far cry from her broadcast persona moments ago.
"If that mic's still live, you're in deep trouble."
"It's off for sure! Worst case, if it leaked, I'd pivot to 'evil streamer exploiting brain-dead viewers' concept! If that flops, new account!"
Her confident tone sent chills down my spine.
She knew the streaming world inside out. Her avatar ability was primed to milk every penny.
'...How did the prideful Kang Ha-neul end up like this?'
This had to be the Blissful Heavenly Demon's doing, but the intent was baffling. She'd pulled all kinds of drifts in the original—now internet streaming too?
"So, what's up today? You said it was urgent."
That jogged my memory of why I'd come.
"Right. Something I need to tell you."
"About the incident?"
I nodded. Tension gripped her; cold sweat beaded in my palms. I took deep breaths to steady my racing heart.
Today, I'd tell her about Min Chae-ryeong.
Who she was, what kind of person, how suspicious and dangerous, her ties to multi-ability research like Director Na Joo-yong, and that she was targeting Kang Ha-neul too.
I'd agonized over spilling it, but decided to tell her.
Per the extra quest, I'd build a solid bond with her going forward. With Min Chae-ryeong gunning for her, she deserved to know her threats.
"Any progress on the investigation?"
"None yet. Culprits and backers still a mystery."
"Huh?"
Then why come? Her face said it all as I pulled a small note from my pocket.
"This is—"
"Shh."
She hushed at my gesture. I leaned close, blocking any view of the note, and unfolded it.
"Gasp."
Reading the intro, she swallowed softly.
[Beware of eavesdropping. I'll convey what I need to say in writing. Burn this note with your ability after reading.] Her eyes widened—what the hell? I pointed to the next line.
[To the point: My direct superior, Team Leader Min Chae-ryeong, is involved in multi-ability research like Director Na Joo-yong. She's targeting you for similar reasons.] [This room might have hidden cameras or bugs. Read the rest alone in a safe spot. To avoid suspicion from sudden silence, play along with my words from now on.]
"...No progress on the investigation, but don't worry about another attack. Green House security is airtight. That's why I came today—to reassure you. And check on you while I was at it."
She stared at me tensely. Lips dry, she licked them, then folded the note into her pocket.
"...Just a welfare check? You crashed my stream for that?"
"Didn't expect you streaming in the dorms."
"What's wrong with that? Single room, solid soundproofing. National Academy perks, huh."
She bantered awkwardly, eyes darting for hidden cams.
"Glad you're doing well, anyway."
"...Not really."
She shrugged lightly and perched on her chair.
"Jumping back into Academy life after nearly quitting—tons of hurdles. Missed two weeks of classes, can't keep up. And this ranking battle starting this week... Combat training? Zero prep, and they throw me in against other students. Dying inside."
Ranking battle. The word snapped a forgotten fact to mind; my eyes widened.
'Already that time?'
The ranking battles were a key original story arc packed with events. Kang Ha-neul's dark turn started with losing to Han Winter there.
In the original, she'd clawed up ranks to challenge then-top Han Winter—but that was original Kang Ha-neul.
Personality and power flipped 180 now; no repeat performance.
'No major changes in other students yet, so rankings probably following original.'
It started Monday. Han Winter vs. Ryu Tae-hyun should've happened.
'Wanted to see that, but hospitalization timing sucked.'
First-semester battles were same-year only. Freshman opener: provisional #1 Han Winter vs. #2 Ryu Tae-hyun.
Symbolic top clash drew crowds. Han Winter sought payback for prior unofficial losses, but lost publicly.
That sparked her obsession, advancing their relationship.
Probably unchanged, but maybe ping Ryu Tae-hyun soon.
Looking up, Kang Ha-neul huddled anxiously in her chair.
"Something wrong?"
"The ranking battle. Ranks don't matter. But fighting national elite picks all semester? Wanna forfeit everything, but minimum 10 matches mandatory."
"First one's when?"
"Today. 2 p.m."
2 p.m. Exactly two hours away.
'What the fuck.'
Streaming with her debut match looming.
"...No prep?"
"Prep what? Not planning to win. Nothing to do pre-match but game to unwind."
Ranks truly meant zilch to her. Made sense for a near-quitter.
"Anyway, I'm restarting the stream. What about you? Not staying, right? Business done."
She subtly tapped her note pocket. Mission accomplished.
No plans after. Meant to head home, but...
'Ranking battle at 2 p.m.'
Time to kill—why not watch hers? As I suggested watching her stream then heading to the arena together,
"...Seriously?"
She stared like I'd spouted nonsense.
"Even for thick-skinned me, showing you my cutesy stream tone is super embarrassing! Fine for the battle, but respect my privacy here and leave? You've invaded twice already—unlocking and crashing mid-stream."
I smacked my lips regretfully. Curious about her stream style, but no dice.
'Wait. Just find her channel online.'
No nickname, but unique look'd make it easy. Two hours till battle—plenty to search.
"...Got it. See you in two hours."
I left her room and started hunting streaming platforms on my smartphone.
[Noble Sky] Blame Bug Died!!! - Viewers: 297
I found Kang Ha-neul's channel exactly 20 minutes later.