Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: It's Okay Because I'm a Genius Despite the Terminal Deadline
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Overblown expectations or hopes can sometimes make life even harder.
Right after getting the note, I'd hoped it might be info on Yoo So-young, but realizing there was no gain, I just passed the time indifferently.
And then the pitch-black night I'd been waiting for finally arrived.
Current time: 8:45 p.m.
By the rules, going out on a weekday was impossible in itself, but exceptions exist everywhere.
"Assistant instructor, hello. I'm heading to visit Cheon Seo-yoon. Ah, I'm fine."
After handling it lightly with one phone call, I left the dorm.
The night at Taehak felt completely different from the bustling daytime.
The streets were deserted, but the fluorescent lights illuminating buildings here and there seemed like signs that someone's day hadn't ended yet.
"Everyone's so busy."
Feeling a strange sense of kinship as I walked, I arrived at the portal station.
Beep----
Park Ha-yul student authentication complete.
Special outing approved.
When I held my phone up to it, the unmanned entrance system chimed its approval.
Climbing the stairs, I saw several doors.
"Gangnam, right?"
I checked the sign and headed to the far right.
Less than an hour until 10 p.m., so I hurried...
Clang-
But before I could even grab the handle, the door swung open.
I nearly collided with the person rushing out but managed to stop just in time.
"You..."
"You..."
Since we somewhat knew each other, no harsh words were exchanged.
"Excuse me. Don't people coming out get priority?"
"That's why I stood still."
"That's why we almost crashed. You should've fully stepped aside."
"What are you talking about? Who knows when someone's coming out?"
"No... Ugh, whatever."
But we couldn't avoid the pointless bickering.
Because the person I'd run into by chance was Joo A-rin.
She was prickly enough as it was, and today her mood seemed especially off.
Because of Joo Seol-ah...?
I knew she never failed to visit during her outings.
"But where are you off to? When you're not even fully recovered..."
Joo A-rin, fiddling unusually with her coat, asked me in surprise.
What should I say?
I'd used the sick visit excuse, but I wasn't actually going there, so as I pondered...
Joo A-rin's gaze lingered on my right hand holding the note.
I casually hid it behind me and made something up.
"Just. Heading home for a bit, figured I'd get some air."
"...I see. Rumors really can't be trusted, huh."
"Rumors?"
"Yeah. I heard you hardly ever leave the dorm."
Was there a rumor like that?
Well, the old Park Ha-yul would've done exactly that.
"Don't misunderstand; I didn't mean to pry."
"Ah, no misunderstanding here."
"Good. ...But since it came up, can I ask one thing?"
"What?"
"That bracelet... It's an armament, right?"
Bracelet?
How'd she even know that?
No need to hide it, so I admitted quickly.
"It's an armament, though not a great one."
"Who do you think you're fooling..."
"What?"
"Nothing. If it's a skill, it's a skill. Anyway, if our group assignment scores well this time, it'll be thanks to you."
"...?"
"Thanks... I guess. See you."
With that, Joo A-rin walked off coolly.
What was that about?
A very her-like way of saying thanks.
But that wasn't important, so I hurried toward the portal.
* * *
Current time: 9:55 p.m.
I arrived near the address on the note right on time.
Whiiiir~
The atmosphere was far from normal.
The street was lit only by a few streetlights, and even those flickered incessantly like they were faulty.
The ground was littered with all sorts of trash, filthy beyond belief.
"Is this really Gangnam?"
I'd imagined flashy neon signs and crowds, but not this eerie desolation.
Picking up a flyer blowing in the wind, I got a rough idea of the situation.
Gate Recovery Confirmed Zone. Relocation loan inquiries welcome. 010-1234-5678
This place was probably like the Nest but a different concept: a gate.
A fierce battle had raged here after demonic beasts poured out from spatial rifts.
No wonder it looked like an abandoned city.
Thanks to that, my destination stood out without me even looking.
Among the dark buildings, only one sign was lit.
"...Jackpot?"
But as I approached, the sign coming into focus felt oddly out of place.
"...Pawn... Pawnshop. Jackpot Pawnshop?"
What the hell.
A pawnshop was a place to pawn items or borrow money against them, right?
For a second, I wondered if the reward was an armament, but I decided not to jump to conclusions.
Doubts still lingered.
Why give an address and make me come here just to hand it over? It felt suspicious.
"So..."
I steadied myself and stuck to the plan.
First, I opened the shop and bought an item.
[So-So Human Skin Mask]
[Description: Cheap, but the face is pretty bad. (Angular face with slit eyes) Automatically alters voice to match appearance. Effect lasts up to 6 hours.]
[Price: 5 SP]
I'd eyed it since buying the bracelet.
A minor but useful contingency.
It could hide my identity, so no harm in preparing.
I put on the human skin mask without hesitation.
Checking in my phone mirror, a scruffy guy in his mid-30s stared back.
Testing the voice modulation, I made a sound.
"Ah, oh..."
Instead of my mid-range voice, a shrill masculine one came out.
Pretty good, huh?
A total transformation for 5 SP—great value.
With preparations done, I entered the building.
Cobwebs above, trash below, but I trudged up to the third floor.
A door leaked light.
Doing business in a place like this.
Doubts didn't fade even as I pushed the door.
Creak.
The pawnshop interior matched the outside.
Just one fluorescent light on the ceiling.
Dim was one thing, but the musty mold stench assaulted my nose.
The lone leather sofa was torn everywhere, practically trash.
Without the characteristic iron bars and desk inside, it could've been called ruins.
"Anyone here?"
I called out, pushing aside the unease.
.
.
I waited just in case, but no answer.
What is this place?
As suspicion crept up and I tried calling again...
Clank.
I sensed presence.
Screeech.
A door behind the desk creaked open halfway, rusted badly.
"You punks! I said tomorrow, can't you wait that long..."
...Punks?
"Oh, a customer. Please wait a moment."
Ignoring the awkward stare, the door closed, unlatched, and reopened.
"Ahem, the world's so rough these days, forgive my rudeness to a stranger..."
The employee was an old woman in shabby clothes.
Wild white hair, quite short—up to my waist.
Her bulging eyes and hooked nose radiated eeriness and stubbornness.
"So, what item are you here for?"
"Well..."
What to say?
I'd only gotten a note with an address, so I was stumped.
The old woman, who'd been waiting, asked first.
"No number? A five-digit code."
Code?
Something clicked; I unfolded the note.
[Tonight 9 p.m. Seoul Gangnam-gu Cheonsu 1-ro 435 11-905]
The last part: 11-905.
Guessing it was the code, I ventured carefully.
"11-905. That right?"
"Row 11, #905?"
"Yes."
"Hoh, you're the owner of the item in row 11, #905?"
Some backstory?
Her big eyes narrowed.
"Not the original owner, I bet. Transferred, huh?"
"Any issue?"
Seemed like probing, so I shut it down quick.
"No, not necessarily..."
"Then just hand over the item like a proper pawnshop. You must have tons of storied goods here—what's it to you?"
The old woman, looking baffled, slyly curled her lip.
"You're right. Forgot my place for a moment. Heh heh."
She rummaged under the desk, yellow teeth flashing, and clank—the iron bars parted.
"Follow me, young man. I'll take you to it."
Her reaction felt off, but I followed.
Thud thud.
Down a narrow left passage, a wide chamber appeared, filled with cabinets.
Wasn't this place supposed to be failing?
Surprised by the scale, the old woman wove through and stopped.
"Here."
"Thanks."
I bowed slightly and eyed the cabinet.
11-905.
Nothing special externally.
Just a standard office metal cabinet.
I reached to check quick.
"Hey! Don't just touch recklessly."
She grabbed my wrist right then.
What trick is this? I glared...
The startled old woman barked.
"What if the anti-theft magic triggers? That precious item blows up."
Anti-theft magic?
What's that?
"Then how do I open it?"
"Sheesh, what'd you eat tonight? Use the key, obviously."
...Key?
I'd only gotten a flimsy note.
"Tsk tsk, you came knowing nothing. Knew it. You look desperate, so I won't pry. But no key, no opening that cabinet."
What the...
Felt scammed; I clenched my fist.
No.
I reconsidered fast.
Sure, 4885 was a reckless punk twisting the plot, dooming healthy folks to deadlines, and...
Anyway, unreliable guy, but rewards were clean.
So what is it?
I mulled, lips tight.
Soon, one conclusion.
"Something's there."
A way to open without a key...
That's why no key given. Like a test.
"Let's go. Staying longer just hurts you."
"Wait."
I stopped the turning old woman.
"Young man, stubbornness won't make a key appear. Don't waste time..."
"Manifestation!"
Her words became the key hint.
"Whoa, you scared me."
"Granny. Turn around a sec?"
"That change...?"
"Just a moment. If it fails again, I'll give up."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Hmph. Keep your word."
Grumbling, she turned her back.
I activated instantly.
[Trait: Manifestation used.]
If none, make one.
I pulled a bundle of manifestation particles and shoved into the keyhole.
Squish squish-
Visibility no issue.
Controlled by will; I imagined shaping to the internal pins.
...But why so deep and complex.
More particles than expected; I got flustered.
But kept pushing.
The endless inflow stalled, then stopped.
[Materializing.]
[Improvised Key]
[Grade: E-]
[Material: Iron]
[Manifestation Accuracy: 99%]
Done.
Got the desired result.
I turned the key without hesitation.
Click.
Crisp sound; the cabinet door slid open smoothly.
Solved my way.
"Hoh."
Felt the old woman's gaze.
Subtle; how to explain...
"Ends like this, huh. ...Go on, open it."
Unexpectedly, no grilling.
She even swallowed dryly, excited.
"Alright..."
I fully opened the half-open door.
Hoped for Yoo So-young clue, but vowed no disappointment if armament.
Whoosh-