Chapter 34
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Academy's Summer Vacation (3)
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"Then, can I borrow your smartphone for a sec? There's a registration process."
I handed over the smartphone I was holding, and she placed it on a perfectly fitting cradle before starting to tap away at the keyboard.
The devilish woman who was typing rapidly on the keyboard like a machine asked me,
"So, where are you planning to go? It looks like all your quests are completed. This is your first time, but you studied dungeons during exam period, right? Even the lowest ones. You must've hunted goblins in the practical exam for midterms or finals. So you have experience with goblins. That's why most beginners target goblin dungeons first."
I had fought zombies in the lower layers before, but choosing a basic goblin dungeon seemed like the better option.
In combat without using mana, you can't ignore differences in size and build.
Goblins were on the smaller side, but their mobility was average, making them definitely one of the easier monsters to handle.
"Yes. Goblins. Since my skills are still lacking, please pick somewhere with fewer of them."
"Got it. Now, for someone to join Yoo Sian on his first dungeon experience... Hmm. Who's available... Is a guy okay with you?"
"Yes. Doesn't matter."
I hadn't even mentioned breaking up with Seo Yeon, but I couldn't figure out why she kept trying to pair me with a girl.
I wasn't particularly into girls, but maybe having a female guide or senior boosted the male students' morale?
From that perspective, pairing with the opposite sex might be more efficient.
"Guides for goblin dungeons will mostly just watch unless variants show up. So they're coming along, but it'd be good to meet them beforehand and get some advice, right? Speaking of which, are you fully prepared for the dungeon? Even for a goblin dungeon, standard-issue weapons and armor won't let you perform at your best. How about getting properly fitted ones while you're at it?"
"Oh. I didn't think of that. I figured standard gear would be fine."
I knew the performance of the armor well enough.
Even when goblins hit me, it only hurt a little.
Weapons... I didn't use them much. How do I get a good one?
Just yesterday, I'd been smashing zombies with a baseball bat, so I hadn't felt much need for gear.
"Then I recommend meeting your guide ahead of time. They get paid for consultations like that anyway, so it should be fine. The guide I picked for you is currently at Global Academy."
"Yes. I'll do that."
She seemed pleased that I was obediently following her advice today, nodding with a bright expression as she handed back my smartphone.
"Go to the Dungeon section in the Student Services app."
I followed her instructions and operated my smartphone.
"Once you join the party, your dungeon code should pop up. Did you check it?"
"Yes. Tomorrow at 9 a.m. We're going via warp gate, so assemble 20 minutes early. Penalty points if you're late."
"Penalty points are important, so don't be late. Check the companion section too; your guide should be listed there. Contact them through the app today. Got it?"
"Yes. No classes today, so I can do it."
With our business at the dungeon management office seemingly done, I stood up, and the devilish woman pointed to the silver name tag on her left chest.
"My name's Lee Da-young. Call me Lee Da-young Counselor, Counselor Lee Da-young, Big Sis Da-young, whatever. We're from the same region, and you're a gem I discovered. Let's get along."
"Yes. See you later, Counselor Lee Da-young."
"Picking the farthest one, huh? Fine. See you later, Yoo Sian, Q Class freshman at Global Academy."
'Pulling a number ticket means long lines, so to keep using Q Class privileges, maybe I should just get friendly with her?'
The thought crossed my mind, but I still harbored a bit of resentment.
After meeting a few more times, that feeling might fade, and we could get closer. With that in mind, I slipped out of the crowded dungeon management office.
After leaving the dungeon management office, I opened the Student Services app as Counselor Lee Da-young had taught me, went to the Dungeon section, and found the guide.
"This should do it."
[I'd like to consult about gear before entering the dungeon. Could we meet?]
That ought to be enough.
Right then, a call came through the app.
I answered, and a man's voice came on.
"Yoo Sian? That you?"
"Yes. Is that the guide?"
"Yep. You want gear advice? Come to the Student Services gear workshop."
Weapons Workshop. A place at Global Academy that crafts weapons and armor tailored to students' styles.
With top gear crafters gathered from Utopia, the quality was excellent. Everyone was recommended to get a custom weapon with student discount before graduating.
Outside, it'd cost 30% more, but the difference in performance wasn't that big.
It was called a workshop, but they handled everything gear-related, including rentals, so it was worth checking out.
"Yes. I just left the dungeon office, so it's close. Heading there now."
"Huh? Then take one step to the left?"
Suddenly left? Wondering if he was nearby, I stepped left.
"Now one to the right."
I stepped right once more.
"Found you."
A man in a green work uniform waved and approached me.
His brown hair was grown long and tied back, swaying like a ponytail as he walked.
Up close, his face had a reddish tint like from working near fire, and his scruffy beard suggested he didn't care much for grooming.
"I'm Torres, your guide for tomorrow. Yoo Sian, right?"
"Yes. Yoo Sian. Nice to meet you, Guide Torres."
"Great. Let's head to the gear workshop."
I followed Guide Torres to the workshop.
It was a huge factory-like building separate from the dungeon management office, divided into individual rooms.
The massive forge we entered was lined with gear that put standard-issue to shame.
I glanced around for price tags, but there were none—just displays.
As I browsed, Guide Torres asked,
"First time at the gear workshop?"
"Yes. Feels a bit late on my part."
"Everyone moves at their own pace. Alright, let's start the consultation. Seems like your first gear purchase. Any preferred weapon type?"
A baseball bat flashed in my mind, but I thought using a sword against evolved zombies would've made things much easier.
Or not? Maybe a blunt weapon? Would a sword even pierce that steel-like skin without shattering on the first hit?
Still, sword it was.
"Planning to use a sword."
"Sword. Universal choice. Starters often move to spears, staffs, or even pistols."
From cold weapons to modern firearms, huh.
Like Tae Won-ho, mastering shooting skills could yield insane power easily, but they were hard to learn, so most used them for self-defense.
Modern guns guaranteed power even when stamina or mana was low, impossible to ignore.
"Could I see some pistols too?"
"I don't make pistols, but I can introduce you. Back to swords—what skills do you have, Yoo Sian? Weapons are usually tailored to amplify your skills."
I don't have weapon skills?
Survival Instinct was so versatile it had no restrictions.
"No skills related to weapons."
Torres looked puzzled at my words.
"Finals just ended at Global Academy, right?"
"Yes. Yesterday."
"And no main weapon skill?"
"Yes. None."
His gaze turned a bit strange.
"With a Status Window, swinging a sword an hour a day for a month gets you basics. Not even that...?"
It felt like he was saying I wasn't worth crafting a weapon for, but that was unfair.
"I did two hours a day for three months straight. Seems like my constitution doesn't generate skills from repeated actions."
"A student like that exists?"
"Right here."
I knew I was unusual.
Those not aiming for the academy, considering giving up their Status Window, avoided creating skills on purpose.
They used the Language Blessing to study languages but skipped sword training or actions that might spawn specific skills.
Sealing the ability also sealed talent in those skills, turning them into dullards.
Thus, Global Academy aspirants fell into two types.
Those building diverse skills from childhood, combining and refining them into personal combat styles and main skills.
Regular students probably tested tons of skills before focusing on mains.
Or like Seo Yeon, learning nothing but entering anyway—better for advanced skills.
Hard-to-learn heals or offensive magic outside.
"If you can't learn skills at all... Academy life, even Utopia, would be tough..."
He was pitying me, so I figured I should mention learning skills yesterday.
"Ah. I'm Q Class, so I learn them differently. Kinda randomly, though."
"Phew, that's a relief. Quest users will manage somehow!"
And there were quest users viewed with such prejudices.
They got good skills without proportional effort, seen as freeloading.
I'd wasted three months, but yesterday I learned three in perceived 7 days, real time 1 minute.
But seriously, why no next quest? Did clearing too many at once cause it?