Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: It's Okay Because I'm a Genius Even on a Time Limit
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Manifestation.
The process of turning imagination into reality is simple yet intricate.
It's like gears meshing without a single millimeter of error—sharpening the senses to a razor's edge is key.
[Trait activated: Sensitive Senses.]
In that sense, another trait—Sensitive Senses—proved immensely helpful.
With the trait's power added, it felt as if time itself slowed to a crawl.
A profound silence and stillness descended, enough to momentarily forget the enemy before me. Focus.
Focus again.
Next, drawing from the hyper-realistic memories deeply etched into my mind through Elaboration, I pulled up the information on the armament I wished to manifest.
I visualized a single sword, identical to the real thing. Again and again.
[Beginning manifestation.]
A cascade of pure white light particles scattered across my vision.
Manifestation particles.
These were like tools that visually rendered abstract visualizations.
Wriggle, wriggle—
The particles responded to my will, shaping themselves into the form of a sword.
First, the blade emerged, followed by its seven branches. Thirty-four characters on the front, twenty-seven on the back.
A total of sixty-four engraved characters adorned both sides of the blade.
*This sword can repel all enemy weapons... To be divided among the kings of the feudal states... Crown Prince Buyeo Giyeon of Baekje hereby bequeaths it to King Jik of Wa for future generations.*
There was only one sword embodying all these unique traits.
A heroic-grade armament from Baekje's golden age.
Korea's national treasure, said to fell several yokai with its aura alone and slay hundreds of demonic beasts, now manifested in illusory form.
"Chiljido."
[Chiljido (Replica)]
[Grade: Heroic (Mid)]
[Side Effect: 100% increase in Strength and Agility, crowd control effect within 10m radius]
All that remained was materialization.
But great power always comes with a price.
[Insufficient mana for materialization.]
[Insufficient mana for materialization.]
.
.
For Park Ha-yul, already burdened by a mana-deficient constitution, this was poison.
Instead of giving up, I raised my stake.
"Limit performance to 10%."
[Insufficient mana.]
"Limit usage time to 10 seconds."
[Still slightly insufficient.]
Finally, I offered my most valuable card.
"I offer 30 minutes of my remaining 2 hours as sacrifice."
Time...
「Time-Limited」
Description: A trait born from the constraint of time. A shackle tightening around the trait holder's life, yet also another possibility. Time can be used like currency. (Max 3 days)
The sole strength of the Time-Limited trait.
Using time like currency to compensate for the mana shortage.
"This should be enough to accept."
[Conditions met.]
[Materializing.]
[Remaining time: 7 minutes]
Nearly all my mana drained away in an instant, but the cold metallic touch filled my outstretched hand.
[Chiljido (Replica)]
[Performance Limit: 10%]
[Effect: 10% increase in Strength and Agility, crowd control effect activated within 1m radius]
Extreme fatigue crashed over me—my legs trembled, the world spun—but I had only 10 seconds.
Thud-thud-thud.
No time for hesitation. I gritted my teeth and charged at it.
The 10% boost in Agility and Strength lent me power.
Kieeeek—
The drooling beast lunged with savage ferocity.
I had zero combat experience—my only brush with a knife was slicing onions with a kitchen blade—but...
Hummm—
The clash ended anticlimactically.
As it entered the 1m radius, the Chiljido's crowd control effect kicked in.
Kikik... Gig... Kik... Gig...
It slowed dramatically, then froze completely.
…………………….
Its long, sharp claws halted a hair's breadth from my face.
Chills ran down my spine, but I was better off than it.
Forced into sudden restraint, it could only roll its bloodshot eyes frantically, veins bulging.
"You should've picked your targets more carefully."
Demonic beasts feed on human flesh and souls by nature—no room for guilt there.
I swiftly parted its hair, locating the bulging occipital protuberance—the center of the brain nodule—and thrust the Chiljido in.
Puk—
No gush of blood, no gruesome spray.
Heroic-grade armaments inherently repelled demons, so deep penetration wasn't needed.
Sizzle-crackle.
Moments later, a crunching sound echoed as black ichor oozed from the nape.
The man-eater parasite was safely neutralized.
The Chiljido's power would purify the demonic energy, and the wound would heal soon.
The rest was up to the woman.
If she hadn't been fully possessed yet, she'd survive. Otherwise...
Pity, but beyond reporting, there was nothing I could do.
Tzzzt.
With the Chiljido fulfilling its role and vanishing, the awaited messages appeared.
[9th-grade Man-Eater Parasite eliminated.]
[Tutorial Quest completed successfully.]
[Quest reward: 5 days added to remaining time.]
[Demonic beast elimination reward: 10 hours added.]
[Remaining time: 5 days, 10 hours, 6 minutes]
An unexpected windfall.
Gaining time just from slaying demonic beasts.
I wanted to go for round two right away, but my condition was poor.
Barely holding myself up after burning through mana to its limit.
[Trait activated: Resilient Recovery.]
[Recovery speed nearly doubled.]
Without this, I'd have collapsed outright.
"10% was overkill. Should've gone with 5%."
In hindsight, it was excessive. Still, a valuable lesson from the mistake.
My part was done. Report it, head home—the rescue team would handle cleanup.
"Excuse me. A moment, please."
That's when someone called out to me.
A young man appeared out of nowhere, striding toward me.
Exhaustion sparked irritation, but...
...Who was this guy?
He soon crumbled to ash like a handful of cinders.
"I'm a Taehak student. Sorry, but I need your cooperation."
I didn't even glance at the ID he presented.
Proof enough came from his face in the moonlight.
Flawless skin like a saint's. Straightforward features matching his upright heart.
First time meeting in person, but I'd drawn that face thousands of times—I'd know it anywhere.
Baek Sa-young.
A paragon of justice, the aggregate of Yoo So-young's favoritism.
The true protagonist of this world, who should have slain the man-eater and saved the woman in my stead today...
It was the novel's prologue, so I'd planned to intervene early, eliminate it discreetly, and slip away.
Karma for stealing his role?
Never imagined it'd lead to this face-to-face.
Not the time.
I yanked my cap low and replied.
"What's the matter?"
"I was passing by and sensed mana fluctuations. As you can see, the situation's a bit..."
"Situation?"
"Yes. Could I see some ID?"
Baek Sa-young eyed me and the fallen woman warily.
Misunderstanding...?
Fair enough. Nothing to hide.
Even I, Park Ha-yul, was a student at Korea's top academy, Taehak.
But revealing my identity? Debatable.
After a moment's thought, I decided.
"My status isn't light enough to show some punk like you."
Deception it was.
Park Ha-yul's time to shine was far off—no need to stir trouble.
That odd speech pattern helped here.
"So Taehak really is a mess these days."
"What do you mean by that?"
"882nd class? Or 883rd?"
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
"Could you be a senior?"
"I did graduate from Taehak, but don't call me senior. I don't want a dimwit like you as a junior."
"Ah..."
Blending military-style ribbing with the arrogance ingrained from noble families via Elaboration left Baek Sa-young flustered, struggling for words.
No one had ever so thoroughly disrespected Taehak's sanctity.
"Sorry for now. But reprimands after confirming identity..."
"Emergency Protocol 1: Prioritize victim welfare. Forgot? Who's the professor who taught you this garbage?"
"Well."
"First-year, right? Then Jin Yun-ki?"
"...You know the professor?"
Know him? I'd drawn him plenty.
Thick as thieves with you, too.
"If that woman was in critical condition, racing against every second, she'd have died today because of you."
"S-Sorry."
"Sorry? Just words?"
"N-No, sir."
Baek Sa-young awkwardly approached the fallen woman.
He checked her state, then spotted the nape wound and widened his eyes.
Realizing she'd been possessed by the man-eater.
...
Why stare so intently? It's just a stab mark.
Starting to worry I'd botched it somehow.
Baek Sa-young approached with a stiff face and bowed politely.
"I didn't realize. Leave the cleanup to me."
His suddenly more formal tone felt awkward, but the issue was resolved.
As expected.
No matter the protagonist, he was still a green rookie.
Time to go?
Hiding my shaking legs was at its limit—perfect time to part ways.
"Got it. I'm off. Handle it well."
"S-Senior."
Baek Sa-young's urgent voice called out then.
He scratched his head sheepishly and asked cautiously.
"...If I may be so bold, are you with the Yosaldae Special Task Force?"
"What?"
Why would I be?
The settled situation started veering strangely.
* * *
Yosaldae Special Mission Unit.
Or Special Task Force for short—a dream assignment brimming with Taehak students' aspirations.
High-difficulty missions targeting high-grade demonic beasts and white-rank demons or above.
Unmatched prowess to back it up.
Plus the secretive mystique of solo operations.
The inner wolf every guy harbors—a object of envy.
"Thanks to you, I've learned a lot. Name's Baek Sa-young."
"...I see."
"I'll repay today's debt when opportunity arises. Take care."
Baek Sa-young bowed deeply, holding it long.
His way of showing respect, perhaps?
Definitely Special Task Force material.
The cool aura and refined poise were top-tier.
"Report first, then we'll talk."
Snapping his head up, Baek Sa-young called for rescue, then scurried back to reexamine the stab wound that had shocked him earlier.
"...Incredibly clean."
He stared, still incredulous.
Man-eater parasites were tricky despite their grade.
They weaponize the host's body for charges, hard to subdue without injury. The brain nodule's a lethal vital point—mess up the stab, and the host dies before extraction.
Yet this woman's wound was pristine.
Like surgery under full anesthesia: precisely the nodule, minimal depth and scope.
And the real shocker...
The wound was healing on its own, like self-repair.
"Living Sword?"
They say reaching sword mastery lets you infuse intent to alter properties.
"Insane..."
Only today did he realize his professor's once-laughable claim was no exaggeration.
That skill level? Awakener ranks from 10th Order to 1st—at least 4th Order.
No, maybe 3rd?
Even most Taehak professors couldn't match him—fitting assessment.
The world's vast, full of the strong.
"Could I ever reach that level?"
The brief but intense encounter lingered, swirling in Baek Sa-young's heart.