Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Totally Screwed
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I'm totally screwed.
I have a saying I always use.
"Haha! Lachesis!! The one who gets scammed is the bad one!!"
Nope, that's not it. Sure, it's something I said, but not that.
[Meow. Sneaky meow. Then I'll take it back too meow. Promises are made to be broken meow!!]
"Ahh!! That's cheating!!"
That's not it either. No. What are these guys? Why are they stealing all my lines?
[Then just take Levatein? Hehe. No take-backs once you've received it. Money rules the world!!]
Who taught her that? Those words? I turned away from the two sharp gazes fixed on me.
Sorry.
Kids pick things up so fast, huh. Gotta watch my words. Probably. Yeah. I will.
Please, future me!
Ignoring the noisy trio playing board games behind me, if I keep going with what I always say: put out the most urgent fire first.
If there are multiple fires, you tackle the urgent one first, right? Even firefighters do that.
Wisdom of the ancestors. So here I am, studying. Even though they're being loud and distracting me from behind, I won't give in.
This is seriously tough. Why is it so hard? It was easy at first. I knew a lot. But as it got more advanced, my brain couldn't keep up.
Authors don't build super detailed worldviews. They just make up monsters on the fly. The ones who map out monster habitats and stuff are off making movies now.
My head hurts. Hurts so much. And now monsters I've never even created are popping up everywhere.
What the hell is this? Two-Headed Shark? It's called Two-Headed Shark but it only has one head? One head, but two mouths, one up top and one below? Siamese twins?
"What a joke."
Who made this damn world? I'm losing my mind. Clutching my aching head, I flipped between two notebooks.
Both were neatly organized and easy to read.
One had just the key points summarized neatly, the other transcribed the teacher's words verbatim. Comparing them made studying a breeze.
"I'm the best."
Bringing back both was the right call. Feeling sorry for the two who couldn't study because of me, I kept scribbling away.
One goal.
"Just avoid failing."
"Failing's fine, right?"
"No way."
Failing means something terrifying awaits. Hell training? Pass. The regular training is hellish enough—extra after that?
Just kill me. Eyes burning, I stared at the book.
"Aw, Seong-hoon, we just finished a round. Play with us? It's more fun with four."
Ignore. Not worth responding. You take the hell training alone.
[Daddy. Play with us.]
Ignore that too. You're too young to understand adult woes.
[Study or not, the result's obvious meow.]
I'll crush that smug attitude. I ignored every word. Just kept writing—
"Fine. Let's go. Seong-hoon's chickening out. We'll play without him. Can't be helped. Being scared of me is—"
"Hey."
I grabbed the blonde's shoulder as she turned away. I couldn't let that slide.
"What'd you say?"
"Huh?"
Chickening out? Chickening out?? You're dead. I'll show you what real life-or-death gaming is—!!!
"Ah."
[Mommy. I'm sleepy.]
"Levatein, shall we sleep?"
[Yeah...]
The blonde rubbing her sleepy eyes. Watching the big blonde carry her to bed, I realized.
"Screwed."
Totally, utterly screwed.
Test day.
I slumped into my seat with hollow eyes. Simple reason: I pulled an all-nighter.
And the next day too. And the next. Couldn't shake off the blonde pushing games on me. Every time, she'd ask if I was chickening out. How could I say yes?
As a strapping 21st-century Korean guy, no way. Ended up playing every challenge, until the blonde dozed off. Studied alone and watched the sun rise.
Sleepy. Dying of sleepiness.
Blissfully unaware of my mood, the blonde next to me was thrilled it was ending early.
Grinning ear to ear while seated, propping her chin, kicking her feet.
Then she'd glance over, smile, and ask what game after the test. We'll see if that smile lasts.
Before it started, I pulled out my phone and texted two people: silver-hair and black-hair.
The message, obviously.
[Sorry in advance.]
Question marks came back, but no reply. Sorry. Your sacrifices might be in vain.
Damn. Midterms over means tons to do—no room for hell training. No way.
Hit the treasure vault for loot, train with Shin Ga-yeon—can't add more to the schedule.
Eyes ablaze like a racehorse in the final sprint, I devoured the book. If I cram the memorization parts—
But reality betrayed me.
Five minutes in, my pen stopped. What is this? No clue.
Karma? Skimmed the test. Descriptive parts I knew plenty.
Unknown monster habitats? Sure, but hero formations? Piece of cake.
Filled those first. Knew more monsters than not. No blocks.
After five descriptives, eyed the multiple choice up top.
Daunting. First one: Twin-Headed Ogres' head count? Two, obviously?
Don't know what "twin" means? About to check two—
Stopped.
Two-Headed Shark had one head though...?
As I pondered, the cat next to me piped up.
[Why agonize over this meow?]
She pawed two like it was obvious. Twin Ogre has two heads.
Then why the Two-Headed Shark? Shook off the doubt.
Thanking my all-purpose Lakemon, hugged her to my chest and started solving.
[Three, I think meow.]
Probably not. But fate-seeing cat, so checked it. No hitches.
Just followed Lachesis's calls. Best familiar ever.
Finished checking as called—the bell rang. Perfect.
"What's with the smug face? Cheating much?"
"Shh! What if someone hears? Cheating? It's teamwork."
Right? Picked up Lachesis; she meowed. Don't underestimate our fated cat.
Finally hit that cliché flow. Class notes topper was who? Isia? Shin Chae-yeon? Forgotten. Anyway, she'll notice me now?
"Ah. Halfsies would suck."
"Ew. Rude."
Glared at her sticking out her tongue, then asked with my most pitiful look.
"How'd you do?"
"What do you think? Guessed everything. But who knows? Think I've got God's Blessing?"
If you did, you wouldn't be here. Pitied the hell-training candidate.
[Don't worry meow. She's the same meow.]
Looked down at the black cat. What do you mean?
[Meow? Didn't say meow? Fate-seeing has cooldown meow. Not like dungeon walking. Half the answers I picked—]
"Raphael."
Cut off Lachesis, eyed the blonde. Tilting her head innocently, clueless about her future.
Looks like mine's the same. Tears welling up.
"Grab some doenjang on the way."
[Meow?!]
Dinner's butterfly soup tonight.
"What do I do."
What do I do. What do I do. What do I do.
Isia stomped her feet. Test over.
Tomorrow, Lee Seong-hoon heads to the treasure vault. Kinda mad she wagered herself for that reward.
But she beat Lucy and learned Spirit Chant Severing, so no backing out.
Bigger issue elsewhere.
'He's coming to my house tomorrow!!'
Lee Seong-hoon, no less. To her home. Isia shot up and spun around the room.
The dizzy motion mirrored her head. Face already beet red.
A guy visiting to meet her dad.
This is like—
Isia shook her head wildly. Overdid it? Steam rising from her face, but no time to care.
Thought of her room. What's in there?
Sure, straight to the basement vault, but "never say never."
Prepare for disaster, obviously.
"Tosuni, Ratty, Owl Uncle, and the clothes."
Counting on fingers. Childhood plushies in her room.
And frilly clothes clashing with her image.
'Call in the morning to clear them out.'
Mom would pry, so staff it is. Grabbed her phone, resolve firm.
Swallowed hard. Rare chance to contact Lee Seong-hoon.
He ghosts random texts, so only seize openings like this.
Not plotting, but tense.
What to say? How've you been? Too formal.
Hi? Nah. Emoji?
"Too casual."
What to do. Then a text arrived.
From Dad.
[Bring only Lee Seong-hoon tomorrow. No girl tagging along, or no entry.]
"!!!!"
Isia's eyes widened. No bringing the blonde?
Fumbled phone. Forgot Dad's reply, called Lee Seong-hoon.
"Ahem."
Where's this boldness from? Stunned by her own impulse, waited. Connected quick.
—Hello?
"Ahem. Hi? Right now—"
—Hey! Hey! Don't run!! Running makes it worse? Ah, sorry. Busy now, call later. Hey!!
Huh? As it cut, Isia yelled desperately.
"Wait!!"
—Huh? What. Told you I'm busy.
"M-my thing's more urgent."
—.....? What.
Could picture his "What the?" face over the phone. Got annoyed, but played it cool.
"Tomorrow, come alone. Can't bring Raphael or they won't open."
—Oh. Got it. Busy now.
He's hanging up again! Yelled into the phone.
"Th-then have lunch with me tomorrow!!"
—Whatever. Hanging up. Hey!! Stop right there?!
Click.
Phone dead, but Isia stood frozen, holding it. What did I just say?
"Th-this."
Did it? Whatever it was? No idea. But.
"Yesss!!!!"
Jumped on the bed, dancing in joy.