Chapter 30
Terminally Ill, but It's Okay — Episode 30
Class A, which had modestly celebrated the mission's success with pork belly, returned to Taehak only shortly before noon the next day.
"Whoa, what is all this?"
"All those people are waiting for us?"
Unlike when they had left, the entrance was fairly crowded. Reporters who had heard the news had flocked there to cover the story.
"To be precise, they're not waiting for us. They're waiting for you."
"Me?"
Baek Sa-young looked baffled at Lee Dae-ho's remark, but it was by no means wrong.
"Over there—which one is Baek Sa-young?"
"Could we get a word with you?"
The moment Baek Sa-young appeared, most of the reporters surged toward him, while a few looked for the special patrol team and watched for an opening.
The students looked quite flustered, but Kim Mi-young, who had at some point taken her place beside Baek Sa-young, calmly took charge of the situation.
"There's a separate reception area inside Taehak. I'll escort you there."
Thanks to that, there was no separate disbanding ceremony.
Since no one was looking for me, I slipped away at my leisure and headed straight to the dormitory.
Instead, it was only after I opened the familiar door, went inside, and flopped onto the living room sofa that it truly sank in.
"I really did finish it according to plan."
It had been a truly difficult episode.
Since I had carved out a path that had not existed and corrected our course along the way, deep fatigue and a sense of accomplishment washed over me at the same time.
As the urge to reward myself kicked in, I wondered if I should indulge myself a little longer.
But the moment I felt a floating sensation, I bolted upright.
"Not yet."
Now I had a fair amount of time remaining, so I could afford to relax a little, but my instincts still strongly resisted the idea.
My mind understood, but my body was still acting like I had the lifespan of a mayfly.
I sat down in front of my desk out of habit and began reviewing the gains from this quest.
First, I had earned two achievements from the civilian-support mission.
[Achievement-449: Story Adapter]
[You twisted the story and caught two birds with one stone: entertainment and results.]
[As a reward, 2 days are added to your Remaining Time.]
[You gain 15 SP for a satisfying development.]
[Achievement-761: The Man with Two Faces]
[You broadened the range of character utilization.]
[As a reward, 1 day is added to your Remaining Time.]
[You gain 10 SP for the satisfying development.]
Thanks to that, when I added up all the additional time and SP I had acquired—
[Remaining Time: 49 days 7 hours 13 minutes]
[SP: 60]
—it came to this much.
Just looking at those numbers was satisfying enough, but the gains did not end there.
The bonus income from this episode was even more spectacular.
"First, the new trait, Adversary of Demons."
It had not properly bloomed yet, so it was still at an immature level, but at any rate, it had ignited.
As befitted a bloodline trait preserved by only a tiny handful of sorcerer families, if I kept nurturing it until it fully bloomed, it was bound to become an absurdly powerful trait against Demonkin, on par with Manifestation.
"Also......"
Confirming the performance of Auxiliary Authority 1 through the battle with Kiat was another major achievement.
I couldn't help being impressed that it had instantly blocked a Demonkin's Demonic Energy with zero risk.
I also couldn't ignore how much the unsealing rate had surged after absorbing Midas's Demonic Energy—the very essence of Demonic Energy.
[Seal Release Rate: 97%]
It had stopped at an awkward point, but closing the remaining three percent was only a matter of time.
I was rather looking forward to which authority it would be this time.......
['Greed' puts a hand on its hip and thrusts out its belly.]
[It boasts confidently that it will exceed its master's expectations.]
Oh, really?
For a moment I imagined the sight and let out a chuckle.
Anyway, lastly, the reward I had picked up almost by accident.
I finished reviewing the episode by placing the mid-grade Magwang Ore in my desk drawer.
Given its value, I should be able to put it to good use.
"More importantly......"
For the sake of my plans going forward, I brought up the status window for the first time in a while.
▷ Strength: 4.7
▷ Stamina: 4.1
▷ Agility: 4.5
▷ Senses: 4.2
▷ Intelligence: 5.1
▷ Mana: 3.3
▷ Luck: 3
The average stat among Taehak students was roughly 6.
Since protagonist-level figures including Baek Sa-young were between 9 and 10, looking at the numbers alone, it could be called a bleak situation.
"You could say I'm basically a one-trick character built around Manifestation."
If I had my way, I'd buy boosts to all my stats and bring them up to the Taehak average, but that would be pretty inefficient.
For example, I could make up for my weak physical stats to some extent with Sorcery.......
It was time to stop stockpiling time and putting the decision off.
"If I'm going to be a one-trick, I might as well lean into it......."
I would put everything into Mana and slowly build up my weak physical stats through training.
The enemies would grow stronger with each quest, and I would have to grow stronger even faster to survive.
I decided to set aside normal methods for the time being.
I opened the Time Shop.
[The Time Shop (Lv1) is now open.]
There were only a few Armaments, and none had impressive grades, so I skipped them and went straight to the stats category.
I had deliberated enough, so I did not hesitate.
[Purchasing Mana stat.]
[Purchasing Mana stat.]
.
.
[You have purchased 10 in total, increasing your Mana stat by '1'.]
[The price of the Mana stat changes to 3 days 6 hours.]
First, I invested 30 days to raise my Mana stat by one point.
One point of Mana was roughly enough for one 1-star Sorcery cast, so my total capacity had increased from three casts to four.
It was a fairly meaningful result, but I had no intention of being satisfied here.
I took out a single book that had been tucked into the bookshelf drawer.
"Samjaegong."
The comprehension rate I had accumulated so far was 32%.
I'd worked on it whenever I had time, but quests came first, and preparing the Sorcery I needed immediately had delayed me quite a bit.
But I could not put it off any longer.
This week was my chance to focus on raising my comprehension.
Things were supposed to stay peaceful until the auction-house incident next weekend.
Since it looked like I could begin cultivation once I reached 40%, I set Friday as my target date.
"Let's get stronger."
I took one deep breath and reached out toward Samjaegong.
Once I'd passed out and come to again, I'd head to the physical training hall.
Recovery would be handled by the Nameless Shaman's Bracelet on my wrist.
* * *
"Student Joo A-rin, Student Baek Sa-young, good work."
"You worked hard too."
Joo A-rin, who had finished the final interview together with Baek Sa-young, arrived at her lodgings late in the afternoon.
The special patrol team's only female member and its team leader.
Her looks, which stood out wherever she went, and her unusual background as a member of a prestigious family had drawn the reporters' attention. But she wasn't particularly pleased.
Because she felt as though she had stood there as window dressing without having done anything.
It was embarrassing, but she gritted her teeth and endured, telling herself it was a helpful thing to do.
"First, let's wash up."
She headed straight to the bathroom to wash off both her unsettled mood and the grime from her body.
Shhhhh.
The sound of running water continued for quite a long time.
A short while later, Joo A-rin emerged with a much more relaxed expression and carefully opened the refrigerator door first.
Glug—
There, lined up in neat rows, various beers came into view.
"Hmm......"
What should I have?
She deliberated for a split second, then soon reached out and picked up a can of bitter wheat beer.
It was an ordinary, run-of-the-mill beer sold at the supermarket, but Joo A-rin unconsciously swallowed hard.
It was not an exaggeration.
An elite of a prestigious family who had always lived a planned life.
For someone whose only exposure to alcohol had been expensive wine and champagne when circumstances required it, this was a thrilling little escape and a secret hobby(?).
Joo A-rin deftly popped the tab, then slowly brought the can to her lips.
Glug, glug.
She could not quite bring herself to let out a satisfied “Ahhh,” but feeling a little giddy and with her face faintly flushed, she checked her phone.
And there was a rather important message from Secretary Noh.
[Miss, here is the separately compiled list of candidates regarding the formation of your direct team. Please review it and contact me.]
Formation of a direct team.
As a long-standing tradition unique to the Guardian Joo Family, it was a proving ground that every Joo Family heir over twenty had to participate in.
Using the funding distributed equally to them, they had to produce and report results, whether through investments or conquering a nest.
It was an important metric used to determine the succession ranking, so Joo A-rin, who had just turned twenty, was no exception.
And she had no intention of avoiding it.
She planned to prove herself by succeeding at nest occupation battles and building her power.
So that no one could lay a hand on her.
All the more for the younger sister she had to protect.......
[I'll look it over carefully and finalize it by Thursday, then let you know.]
The reply came immediately.
[Yes, Miss. Please deliberate carefully before deciding.]
"Figures. So much for taking it easy......."
Joo A-rin let out a shallow sigh and soon straightened her disheveled clothes.
She took out her laptop, accessed her email, and checked the list Secretary Noh had sent.
She had been absorbed in analysis for a long while when her phone rang.
[Hey, reply already.]
It was Cheon Seo-yoon.
Reply?
Only then did the messages that had arrived earlier catch her eye.
[Hey, I heard the civilian-support mission was a huge success?]
[What? Aren't you back now that it's over? Are you busy?]
Joo A-rin smiled slightly and sent a reply.
[I'm at my lodgings now. I was swamped because of interviews.]
That was a mistake.
Bzzzz.
A call came in as if Cheon Seo-yoon had been waiting for her reply.
The timing was too perfect to ignore.
"......I have so much to do, too."
The moment she reluctantly hit accept, a shouted complaint came blasting through.
—Wow, I should have gone too. Ugh, I'm so annnoyed.
She regretted it, but it was already too late.
Cheon Seo-yoon, who apparently hadn't had anyone to talk to, showed no mercy once she got going.
—When does the interview air?
—Club sign-ups start this week, you know. Got your eye on any?
It continued without pause, like a raging storm.
"Ask a little more slowly. The interview airs on the 8 o'clock news today, and the club I have in mind for now is the field study club. It has frequent authorized outings, so I can secure personal time, and it seems like it'd be good for writing my personal statement."
—Oh, the field study club? It looks decent. I'll do it too.
The call flowed along smoothly, centered on light chatter.
—Ah, thinking about going out to have fun makes me want a beer. But your palate's too fancy for that kind of stuff.......
"Gulp."
That is, if she had not choked on the beer she had just knocked back at exactly that moment.
—What was that suspicious gulp....... Don't tell me that's beer?
"Cough, cough. What beer—cough. Hah... Why would I drink something like that?"
—Then why are you coughing like that?
—I choked while drinking vitamin water. I can't do this. Let's talk again next time.
—Ah, wait. But is he okay?
—He?
—No, him. I mean Park Ha-yul.......
That person? Why that person?
It was the first time Cheon Seo-yoon had brought up a man other than Baek Sa-young or Lee Dae-ho, so Joo A-rin tilted her head.
—I'm asking because he went through a lot because of me during the Final Stage occupation battle. I was wondering if he was feeling okay.
Thinking about it that way, it did make sense.
"He did rest midway because he wasn't feeling well, but he seemed okay today. I didn't get a close look."
—Well, that's good then.
"Why, are you worried about him?"
—Huh? Worried about what? Why would I be! Anyway, I'm getting discharged around Wednesday, so I should be able to come to school on Thursday.
The call ended like that.
Joo A-rin quickly collected herself, stared at her laptop, and threw herself into selecting the members of her direct team.
* * *
"As long as he's okay, that's what matters."
After ending the call, Cheon Seo-yoon flopped onto her back, feeling much more at ease.
She just had to remember to repay the debt she owed him. She was also curious whom he'd meant when he said she resembled someone, but asking felt rude, so she decided to leave it alone.
More than that.......
"Field study, huh. Field study, field study."
Cheon Seo-yoon abruptly flipped over onto her stomach, accessed the school website, and searched for the club Joo A-rin had mentioned.
Recruiting new members to join the field study club 'Youth'.
The first field study trip is next weekend.
The destination is the heart of the Republic of Korea, Seoul.
※ Free time guaranteed
"Ooh, it really does."
In name it was a field study, but it was hardly different from going on a trip with friends.
How had a club like this stayed under the radar until now?
The question crossed her mind, but what did it matter?
It was even better.
"Okay, settled."
Just as she snapped her fingers for no particular reason, having seen enough—
Bzzzz— her phone rang.
It could not be Joo A-rin—she was busy. Then Baek Sa-young?
Cheon Seo-yoon grinned as she checked the message, then froze on the spot.
[Dear customer, hello. This is auction director Kim Gyeong-a. The 'Lorelei Necklace' you have long been searching for is scheduled to be consigned to the Sejong Auction House next weekend.]
......The necklace?
Cheon Seo-yoon's hand, gripping the phone, suddenly began to tremble.