Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Scholarship Orientation
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The scholarship lounge attached to the faculty office.
Five cups of coffee sat on the clean white-toned table.
Steam rose gently, and everyone sipped in silence.
The newly selected special scholarship recipients were Baek Sa-young, Cheon Seo-yun, Lee Dae-ho, and me.
"Welcome. Let's have a great year together."
The orientation was led by Kim Mi-young in place of Lee Taek-jin, who was attending a professors' meeting.
"Your duties as scholarship students will vary. From simple paperwork to assisting with lecture prep. On days when professors attend academic conferences, you'll accompany them too—"
She explained everything patiently and clearly, but it barely registered.
The boundaries of causality are dulling...
That recent message kept circling in my head.
If it was the reward I desperately needed, it was likely something like mana-related gear or info on Yoo So-young's whereabouts.
Gear I could understand, but actual intel too?
.
.
I tried to guess, but what were the odds.
If I could predict events from a single word, I'd be a webtoon artist myself.
I'd have a job at NASA studying space or something.
So there was only one way.
Hurry up and farm SP to check it myself.
If it was Yoo So-young-related, perfect, but I decided not to get my hopes up.
Otherwise, the disappointment would hit hard...
Enough to shake my resolve in an instant.
I shook off the distractions and focused on Kim Mi-young's words.
"Starting next week, you'll work one day a week in pairs of two, and the stipend will be 3 million won at the start of each month."
She was just hitting the most interesting part.
3 million won?
For just four days a month?
Insane.
I jolted in surprise, but apparently I was the only one.
"Got it."
"Please don't be late!"
Everyone else reacted calmly.
Elite talent commands top pay, huh?
Ta Academy was one of the world's top elite institutions, so it made sense.
Great, but it left a bitter taste.
It was about the same income as when I pulled all-nighters drawing webtoons.
Did I even have money on hand?
I suddenly wondered about my finances.
Most facilities were free, so I'd been numb to it until now.
Money was essential for living, so I hoped it was plentiful...
I'd check soon.
Even without family support, as a scion of a great house, my account balance should dwarf what I had before.
"That's everything I have to relay. Shall we form the pairs now?"
With that, Kim Mi-young pulled out a square box.
Inside were four wooden sticks.
"This is to pick your partner for the semester—drawing lots is the fairest way."
Kim Mi-young flashed an uncharacteristically bright smile as she pushed up her thin glasses.
In that instant, our eyes met without anyone going first.
Among us, the ones to absolutely avoid pairing with.
Me and Cheon Seo-yun.
"We're really doing a draw? Ah, TA teacher, can't I just pair with Baek Sa-young?"
Cheon Seo-yun spoke up first.
Muttering that she didn't want to pair with me while glancing my way—it was blatant provocation.
But who said she could just claim Baek Sa-young? I was right here, eyes wide open.
"You think whining will change anything?"
"What? Whiiining?"
"What's wrong with it? Asking for special treatment instead of a fair method isn't very adult."
"Wow, listen to that bratty tone. You're doing this just to spite me—admit it, you don't wanna pair with me either."
"Then you pair with Lee Dae-ho. I'll take Baek Sa-young."
Frankly, this was the cleanest solution.
Most scholarship episodes revolved around Baek Sa-young anyway.
"Are you nuts?"
"Kids, what about my opinion..."
"Ahem. Hm..."
But somehow the mood turned weird.
Cheon Seo-yun aside, even Baek Sa-young and Lee Dae-ho looked flustered.
Ah...
It hit me then—we were still awkward with each other.
Their faces were so familiar I'd forgotten.
"Such... fierce competition. In times like these, nothing beats a draw."
Luckily, lottery enthusiast Kim Mi-young intervened at the perfect moment.
She shoved the box forward again, and I figured that was for the best.
I already knew what Baek Sa-young would draw.
Probably first and third sticks paired, second and fourth.
I'd set the order myself when drawing that scene.
So Baek Sa-young and Cheon Seo-yun would pair up, the other with Lee Dae-ho and...
Who was it?
Some guy, I think—details were fuzzy since I'd sketched it roughly.
"Sigh, whatever. I'll draw."
Meanwhile, Baek Sa-young reached in first and predictably took the first stick.
If I grabbed the third...
Whoosh—
Then it happened.
A pot-lid-sized hand shot out and snatched the third stick.
...Too fast to react.
"I drew first—no complaints, right? No set order anyway. Heh heh."
Lee Dae-ho, who'd been dead silent till now, had swooped in at the crucial moment.
Why the hell was this slowpoke suddenly...
Was he sulking?
"Everyone's rejecting me. What can I do? Gotta draw first at least."
He was sulking. Totally.
The mountain of a guy hated being left out and wanted in on something.
But why the third one?
As things went sideways unexpectedly and my head spun, a skinny hand appeared and took the second stick.
"Alright. Fate's in my hands now—I'll forge my own path."
Forge my ass. It's already ruined.
Talk about jumping on the bandwagon late.
Oblivious Cheon Seo-yun struck a dramatic pose.
"Baek Sa-young, what number?"
"Me? Number 1."
"Okay, just wait—I'm basically the calm Barry Canal my ass... What the fuck..."
Her face froze, then twisted completely as her trembling eyes darted between me and Lee Dae-ho.
Then she desperately eyed Lee Dae-ho like a consolation prize.
As if that'd change anything.
"Uh-eng? Uhahaha, I'm 3. Number 3!"
Lee Dae-ho burst into roaring laughter.
Predictable. Wishing for tact from a musclehead was asking too much.
"TA, TA teacher. Can't we redraw? Who draws without an order?"
Cheon Seo-yun clung desperately, grasping at straws.
"It's right here."
But a straw was just a straw.
True to her professor's TA, once it was no, it was no forever. Done deal.
...Should I just bail?
Pairing with Cheon Seo-yun seemed like it'd bring needless hassle, so I seriously considered it.
* * *
Thursday morning dawned.
After yesterday's ordeal leaving me mentally and physically drained, I finally slept deeply for once since arriving in this world.
[Time Remaining: 13 days 15 hours 22 minutes]
And still that much left—makes me too full to eat.
"People really need full pockets... no, full time."
Obvious, but it hit home.
And it poured fuel on my already burning determination.
This week was lockdown period, next week external episodes—so fine.
But from the week after, I'd head out and scrape up time however I could.
With luck, I'd rack up achievements and SP too.
Then closer to that 100-point milestone.
I hurried out of the dorm.
Today was elective lecture day—Ta Academy students picked one class related to their major.
Brewing Arts major, so obviously a brewing lecture.
What did I choose?
No choice really.
Only one: 'Understanding and Analysis of Incantation Formulas.'
Bang.
The reason became obvious the moment I entered the classroom.
One, two, three...
Not even twenty students.
"Sheesh."
Not some brand-new literary club. Just twenty second-year Brewing Arts students?
I let out an involuntary chuckle, then casually headed to the back row.
Whether it flopped or not was none of my business.
"Isn't she from the Brew Clan?"
"Wow, her hair's legit navy blue."
"Skills must be no joke."
....
What was this vibe.
"No way. I hear she's low-ranked."
"But Cheol-su said she surprised him. Killed it in diagnostics."
Like a new Maltese in a pet shop.
Everyone stared holes through me—my skin prickled.
Hidden cam?
Fleeting thought, but given Park Ha-yul's past, reasonable suspicion.
I'd never felt this much friendly attention before.
...Super awkward.
Felt like wearing ill-fitting clothes.
"Um, hi?"
A chubby male student approached hesitantly.
"You probably don't remember, but same major. I'm Choi Cheol-su. Before you switched, I was the only Brewing Arts in Class A."
"Cheol-su?"
Fuzzy, but familiar name.
Info search and hacking specialist, I think...
Main major Brewing Arts?
As I puzzled, Cheol-su scratched his head.
"Kinda weird vibe, right? Sorry. First time seeing a Brew Clan direct lineage up close. As you know, the Brew Clans are the root and pride of Brewing Arts. So... uh, yeah..."
"..."
"So... what was it?"
Why ask me?
Did he memorize lines or something?
...This guy's kinda weird.
I nearly chuckled when a sharp voice cut in.
"Choi Cheol-su. Better sit down now, no?"
Tall, slender build. Brown hair tied up top—striking girl.
Her...
Unlike Cheol-su, Brewing Arts rep and sole named character—identity clicked instantly.
Lee Yun-ji.
Not Brew Clan level, but from renowned Thunderclap House in incantations—unified rank 23.
Genius at formula interpretation per her setting—strong pride in brewing arts, haughty character.
"If you like her so much, ask for an autograph."
"N-No, that's not—"
"Why embarrassed? Want me to get it for you?"
"N-No. Let's talk after Park Ha-yul."
Lee Yun-ji spoke again, and Cheol-su bolted to his seat.
"Hm—"
A bit overkill, but not typical classmate dynamic, so understandable.
One quirk of Brewing Arts manpower shortage.
One prof handled first- and second-years together.
So even for simple facilitation, the rep filled in—naturally gaining authority.
"More students is definitely welcome. But excessive attention can be poison sometimes. Must be burdensome for her."
Lee Yun-ji warmly scanned the room, then smiled at me.
Seemed considerate to anyone watching, but...
"Look at that?"
It reeked of oddly familiar emotions.
Contempt, disdain, hostility—negative stuff.
I could guess why.
Thunderclap House and Brew Clan bad blood.
Finally felt like Park Ha-yul.
Better than mindless fawning—like slipping into fitting clothes.
The eager ones would come to me anyway.
[Trait: Manifestation activated.]
Lecture my ass.
Better grind Three Calamities and boost comprehension.