Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: It's Okay Because I'm a Genius Even If Time-Limited
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Honestly, there was more than enough evidence that Kim Mi-young was the demon.
"First, the building blueprints."
They had marked the demon's location right near the escape point from the start.
"And item 5 of the five naming principles for combat support duty..."
No additional support provided—handle it on your own—it stated outright.
Of course, an inexperienced Taehak cadet in actual combat might have overlooked these details.
But if they had just ruminated on the mission without forgetting it, even with Kim Mi-young as the instructor and a familiar face, it was well within the realm of something they could respond to.
"The mission was to quickly rescue all the hostages and guide them to the escape point. Not hand them off midway... Does that explain it?"
I asked the question back to Kim Mi-young, who was playing the role of the demon.
She had asked for an explanation, so I had answered with utmost sincerity.
"Impressive..."
Kim Mi-young nodded with an awkward expression that was more forced than usual, trying to smile.
...Did I go too far calling her a demon bastard?
Sensing some lingering resentment from her over-immersion in the role-play, I cautiously spoke up.
"So, should we fight now?"
"No way."
"Ah, good..."
"But maybe just one hit..."
"Pardon?"
What did I just hear?
"Never mind. Go ahead."
"..."
"Go on."
"...Yes."
I hurried past her before she could change her mind.
As soon as I reached the escape point with the three scarecrow hostages, a record appeared on the electronic board.
[Rap time: 17 minutes 31 seconds 21]
[You have successfully completed the mission.]
Oh ho. So it does show a message when you do it right.
That was something even I didn't know.
In the original story, everyone failed—there wasn't a single passer.
I returned with a light-hearted yet dignified demeanor.
"..."
But the atmosphere was noticeably different from when I left and right after I returned.
Excluding Baek Sa-young's group, with whom I'd built some rapport and who were somewhat friendly toward me.
The rest seemed hesitant, eyeing me warily in a strange way.
Tilting my head slightly, I could hear the whispering voices of the students.
"Wow, that gives me chills. How did he figure it out?"
"That guy's definitely smart. Personality aside."
"Who?"
"Park Ha-yul."
I just gave a wry smile.
The person in question couldn't care less, but it was unsightly seeing them gossip among themselves.
"Hope an achievement pops up."
It was then, as I smacked my lips in regret and walked back to my seat.
My forward vision suddenly distorted.
[Achievement-497: The Man Who Made Lee Tae-jin Stand Twice]
[10 hours added as a reward.]
[Gained 10 SP for the refreshing development.]
Why this...?
Standing up itself probably wasn't that impressive—it felt like some symbolic metaphor, but I had no idea.
...Whatever.
I decided to just be satisfied with getting the SP.
Thanks to it, the pressure of needing to replenish what I'd spent eased a bit.
* * *
The evaluations continued for two more days after that.
The elective lecture 'Understanding and Reflection on Formulas' wrapped up at a level not far behind Lee Yun-ji, and the liberal arts lecture 'Demonic Beast Studies' turned out to be an unexpected hurdle, forcing me to spend 1 SP.
The assessment task was something akin to dissection.
A practical where you find the demonic energy core inside the heart of a 9th-grade demonic beast, the Revenant Hound.
[Dissection scalpel and Mezenbaum] + [Skilled Handling]
[+Effect: Dissect demonic beast corpses like a pro.]
Borrowing the power of the enhanced equipment, I finished it without issue.
With this, all evaluations were done except for the individual sparring.
Most would be A+ grades, so climbing to around 50th place seemed feasible.
I'd know for sure when the grades and rankings were announced in a couple weeks.
"Anyway..."
I was sitting alone in the dorm right now, mulling over the two messages I'd just received.
[Victory! Kendo Club 'One Stroke, Two Cuts' orientation will be held today at 7 PM in Training Hall 9. New members, please attend on time...]
[Special lecture by author Roberto. 'Eternal Moment' will be held today at 7 PM in the club hall. A surprise gift for new members is prepared, so we hope for lots of participation.]
One was kendo, one was painting.
Coincidentally scheduled for the same day and time.
With only one body, I couldn't attend both.
...
The dilemma didn't last long.
Cheon Seo-yun had recovered somewhat, so the more pressing matter was Joo Ah-rin.
That sleazy demon was surely biding his time for an opportunity, and I couldn't afford to play the fool yelling 'head' like some lucky sap.
Of course, gauging by the original story, the incident wouldn't happen for another two weeks... But hadn't I already experienced twists multiple times?
The world didn't move according to what I knew...
I had to keep possible interventions from 4885 in mind too.
"Guess I should prepare for that soon too."
Thinking of it, I turned on the internet.
To prepare the dagger I'd shove down that bastard's throat, I accessed the familiar green window and searched for Demon Hunt Net.
Demon Hunt Net.
In simple terms, it's a site that arranges illegal entry to hunting grounds.
Main users are awakeners who can't access hunting grounds normally.
Like criminals, undocumented illegals, etc. Most have shady identities, so it might seem risky and unsuitable for a clean-cut Taehak cadet, but that's not the case.
Taehak cadets were officially banned from hunting grounds too.
The reason being they couldn't pursue private gains with their public status, so quite a few ended up active on Demon Hunt Net knowingly or not.
One of the protagonists was among them, which was how I knew about the site.
Please set your nickname.
Anyway, I habitually typed 'Poet of Abundance', then thought better of it and changed it to 'Time-Limited'.
Your nickname is Time-Limited.
Please review and agree to the community activity rules.
1. All transactions and contracts here are the user's responsibility.
2. Based on clause 1, this community bears no legal liability in case of incidents...
Yeah, yeah.
I quickly agreed and looked for a broker to arrange hunting ground entry.
Scanning the promo board, I soon found a suitable one.
Poison Snake.
#Surisan #Every Saturday #NoID #20% #500,000 won
Here, NoID meant no identity check, 20% was the commission cut from demonic beast kill rewards, and 500,000 won was the entry fee.
In other words, pay 500,000 won and it didn't matter if you were a ghost without ID or a Taehak cadet unable to hunt privately.
I hit reply and wrote a comment.
└Interested in joining. Please leave contact in PM.
Confirmation would bring contact soon enough.
For me, with business somewhere in Surisan's hunting fields, this was the best option.
"Think I've done everything I need to."
With urgent matters settled, I checked the time.
Still three hours until 7 PM.
Might as well do Samjae Breathing or train.
I plopped down on the living room floor and crossed my legs.
[Beginning Samjae Breathing training.]
[Trait, Sensitive Perception activated.]
Focusing on inhalation and exhalation, my vision darkened, senses sharpened narrowly, inner self deepened, and the world grew distant.
In that vast ocean, I alone rose and dove deep, chasing the blue waves.
* * *
[Remaining time: 19 days 23 hours 54 minutes]
The sky dyed by sunset. White clouds flushed red drifting across it.
I entered Dodam's club hall.
Glancing around casually and about to sit anywhere, a prickling sensation hit, and someone spoke.
"Ah, hello."
It was Min Young-ji.
She approached, brushing her signature straight bangs with her left hand, adjusting her black horn-rimmed glasses with her right.
"Wanna sit here?"
The seat next to me was empty—it was just a polite offer—but a flicker of embarrassment crossed Min Young-ji's face.
It faded quickly as she nodded.
"Sh-sure?"
She awkwardly perched on the edge, posture uncomfortable.
Ah, she's the type who can't refuse even empty words.
Realizing it was too late.
Couldn't tell her to leave now, so I tried to converse as naturally as possible.
"...So you've always been into drawing?"
"Yeah. Hobby since I was little."
After a few more not-so-easy exchanges, a familiar voice rang out.
"Class A meeting? Mind if I sit next to you?"
It was Joo Ah-rin.
She sat and immediately gave me a cheeky look.
"Decided to show off your skills, huh? Because of the reactions around you?"
"What?"
"Nothing."
What's with her.
I had questions but let it slide.
Soon, huge cheers erupted as Roberto appeared.
Roberto was dressed in a checkered double-breasted suit like from Kingsman, leaning on a cane.
"Nice to see you all. Lots of attendees today too. Ah, anyone wanting photos, take them now. Posing during the lecture might be tricky."
Maybe because Korean is so widespread globally.
Click-click-
His fluent Korean for a foreigner drew a barrage of flashes in response.
Fortunately, Joo Ah-rin wasn't holding her phone like before, but I was still uneasy.
She was usually prickly as could be, but her passion for art burned like a furnace spewing flames.
If 4885 twisted events and Roberto approached using his author status, she'd likely fall for it.
"Shall we begin? Today's lecture topic is Impressionism."
Anyway, separate from my worries, things proceeded smoothly.
Roberto raised his cane and pressed down firmly on a point in the air.
The hall's four walls shifted, holograms repelling the darkness inside.
One side: Luncheon on the Grass, Olympia, Sunrise...
Impressionist masterpieces from this world hung there, opposite: Manet, Monet, Renoir, etc.
The masters of Impressionism etched across.
What demon puts this much effort into a lecture?
A chuckle escaped me unwittingly, but I seemed alone in the annoyance.
Around me leaked genuine admiration and applause—
"Ah."
Joo Ah-rin's pupils shifted too, dyed in purer artistic desire than ever, straining to take in even one more sight of the spectacle.
To check, I deliberately asked about something else.
"What about the wolf?"
"..."
"Investigation stalled? That cunning bastard making it hard..."
"Ah, shut up for a sec... Ah, sorry. I'm a bit excited. Not now—later."
"Huh? ...Oh."
As expected...
She's totally hooked.
I eyed Roberto lazily with half-lidded eyes, then undid my meditative state.
I'd have to keep watch anyway...
"Better train."
Just in case—not out of jealousy or inferiority from losing to him.
I actually believe anyone has the right to discuss art and painting.
But not that guy, the illusory demon Roberto.
To him, art was merely a tool to manifest his traits.
That's why I rejected it.
Art discussed by a false artist isn't art.
Just a scam.