Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Main Quest #1 Reward
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Main Quest #1: The reward for being selected as a special scholarship student is a whopping 7 days.
I never intended to give up from the start. I was just waiting for a chance at contact, however slim.
“How dare you…….”
Lee Tae-jin shook off his hand roughly, his eyes filled with irritation and contempt.
It was a violent reaction, as if he'd gotten shit on it……
[Keyword: Reason for successful mana core implantation]
[Search successful.]
[Scanning as much as possible.]
I'd bought enough time.
A brief pause later, the change began.
“Suuuuck──────!
Mana drained out, bringing a fierce headache, followed by a jumble of unfamiliar information flooding in.
[Mana depletion. Scan halted.]
[Comprehension: 90%]
It was almost instinctive recognition.
Knowledge of demonic beasts, which had been less than an ant's eyelash, now swirled around like a single hair's worth.
I spoke up before it got any later.
“It’s not the recipient.”
……?
“The agent of change isn’t the human—it’s some of the mana cores used in the experiment. A portion of their property that rejected humans has altered. For example…….”
Still, I figured I should cover for the sudden skinship from moments ago, so I used it as an example.
I dragged it out at length, but a reasonably plausible load of bullshit came out.
“Does that answer it?”
I looked at Lee Tae-jin with a much more relaxed expression.
His confident face twisted in an instant, like a scrap of tissue tossed into the trash.
Well, that probably meant I was right.
“Seriously?”
“Dunno. Me neither.”
The students buzzed at the unexpected turn.
“Anyone know the answer?”
“Who’d study the latest trends in demonic beast studies?”
The small commotion grew until it rang in the ears.
“Quiet!”
Lee Tae-jin barked it out.
……Unexpected.
“Is that correct?”
“It’s sloppy, but the direction matches.”
He could’ve just said it was right.
Beating around the bush was a skill in itself, I guess.
……The secondary test will be combined with tomorrow’s diagnostic evaluation. Since it directly ties to special scholarship selection, give it your all.
Lee Tae-jin turned on his heel and strode away.
But that’s it? Just ends like this?
It felt like a successful wrap-up, but something nagged at me uneasily.
By then, Lee Tae-jin had regained his signature blank expression and handed over a small note.
“Ah, almost forgot. Park Ha-yul, student—3 demerit points. You pay the price for touching a professor without permission.
…….
Yeah, figures. No way that guy would let it slide.
Grades weren’t on my radar anyway, so I didn’t care.
“That’s the schedule. Anyone hoping to change majors, submit your application by 6 p.m. tonight.”
Orientation ended slightly past the scheduled time.
Lee Tae-jin slammed the door on his way out of the lecture hall.
“Ugh, thought my heart was gonna stop. How’re we surviving a year of that guy’s mug?”
“It’ll work out. Let’s grab food.”
The grumbling students soon brightened, packing their bags.
A few glanced my way, but none approached.
I started packing to leave too.
Time was limited, and I had a lot to do.
Tszzt.
But the rippling space ahead grabbed my ankle.
[Achievement-431: Defied Professor Lee Tae-jin]
[15 hours added as reward.]
[Time remaining: 1 day, 15 hours, 4 minutes]
[10 SP (Story Points) acquired for a satisfying development.]
[SP held: 10]
Achievement?
Looks like extra rewards come with actions……
Scoring a full 15 hours was a big win, but my eyes lingered on the last message.
Story Points…… Wasn’t that the main quest reward too?
Suddenly recalling 4885’s message was no coincidence.
Survival and satisfying development. Remember those two things.
“So survival is the remaining time, and satisfying development means……?”
I’d thought it’d be a long journey.
Pitch-black darkness.
A night street where even moonlight didn’t seep in, visibility zero.
Then, a streetlamp flickered on—tak—illuminating the path ahead.
* * *
Pleasant sunlight poured down, mild spring breeze blowing.
With orientation over, Taehak buzzed with life for the first time in a while.
The streets brimmed with chattering voices and bursts of laughter.
Joo Ah-rin and her friends gossiped nonstop about what just happened.
“But what’s up with that Park Ha-yul guy?”
“What?”
“I mean, did we even know he existed? Did you see him say whatever to Lee Tae-jin’s face?”
“Yeah, saw it. ‘I’ll prove it with my skills, so no need to worry.’ Like that.”
“Hehe, cringey lines, but the vibe was cool.”
“Right? Not just me? Good family, tall…….”
“And?”
“His face too…….”
“What, it all boils down to looks again?”
“Hey! It’s not like that!”
Everyone eyed it with interest.
Except one with a bored expression.
“Ah-rin, what about you?”
Walking side by side, Joo Ah-rin answered in a tone as flat as her face.
“Not my type.”
“Why not? He’s hot.”
“Not my taste.”
“Family’s decent too?”
“That’s even worse.”
She held a consistent attitude, unshakable as a sturdy bed.
If anything, she seemed annoyed by her friends’ interest, furrowing her fine brows as she spoke.
“You guys know he’s ranked 700th, right? For a prestigious family kid, that says it all.”
“What?”
“Whatever. Drop it. He’s not a good guy.”
Joo Ah-rin’s attitude went beyond frustrating—like she knew something more.
“Hmm. Ah-rin’s acting suspicious? You know something, don’t you?”
“Right! Both from prestigious families! Met at some social thing already?”
Her friends shrieked and made a fuss, but she jutted her chin and marched ahead.
“Dunno. Never met.”
“Yaa! No food? New French place nearby.”
“Busy on first day. Gotta prep for tomorrow’s diagnostic eval.”
It wasn’t a hasty excuse.
Joo Ah-rin really was one of Taehak’s busiest students.
Looks, family, grades—all top-tier, yet she never slacked on effort.
Harsh family traditions, innate ambition—it was a duty she took for granted.
A kind of noblesse oblige.
The dignity a prestigious family member must never lose.
The lofty pride that mustn’t bend.
She tempered herself endlessly for it.
* * *
Meanwhile, the physical training room, one day before the diagnostic eval, was packed with determined students—no room to step.
“Whoa, he lifted that without mana?”
“Look next to him. Lee Dae-ho’s not backing down either.”
In the especially heated corner, Taehak celebs Baek Sa-young and Lee Dae-ho were in full rivalry.
Jealous glares accompanied—the barbell weights pushed to the limit, arms trembling as they held, endured, endured—
Kuuung.
As if on cue, they dropped simultaneously.
Baek Sa-young wiped streaming sweat, groaning.
“Damn, can’t keep up with your strength.”
“What? You say that to my face? At your weight class? What the hell’d you do over break anyway.”
“You know my usual routine. Recite it?”
Lee Dae-ho, head a size bigger than Baek Sa-young.
Ranked 15th overall elite, but he threw up his hands in defeat.
“Fine. No point hearing it—self-loathing only. Lounge? Tie, but you win, so drinks on me.”
“Sweet. Rest up, one more set.”
“Madman.”
Baek Sa-young grinned at grumbling Lee Dae-ho.
“Go if we’re going. Cheon Seo-yun’s coming afternoon. No rest then.”
……Ah. Cheon Seo-yun? Skipped class but shows for training?
“Morning issue, right? Why hate?”
“Wouldn’t you? Training maniac……. Wait, not ‘guy.’ Anyway, another psycho joins. Bet she’ll train till dawn.”
Bickering, they headed to the lounge beside the training ground.
Grabbed a can each, sat in a corner.
Topic skipped eval, hit today’s surprise.
“Lee Tae-jin went too far, right?”
“What?”
“Primary test, my ass—trick question. You didn’t know either, Baek Sa-young?”
“Obviously. Demonic beast studies—one of my hated subjects.”
Gulp—
Baek Sa-young swigged his drink, recalling Lee Tae-jin’s problem.
Way off the intent, really.
Meant to test basics, but impossible without prior info.
“But how’d Park Ha-yul know? Rumors say he’s a real oddball.”
“Oddball?”
“Yeah. Friend from same dept year one said he holed up in dorms, skipped classes…… Not normal anyway.”
“Sick or something?”
“Maybe? But why apply for scholarship? Prestigious family—plenty of backing.”
“Who knows his deal. Not selected yet anyway.”
“Yeah, slim chance.”
Objectively, Park Ha-yul’s odds near zero—no point dwelling.
“But hey. First time meeting our Park Ha-yul today, right?”
“What? Why ask me? Diff depts before, no club overlap. Unless you met private, today’s it.”
“Hmm…….”
“Why?”
“Build, voice—feels familiar…….”
“TV? Looks like some actor. Guy’s handsome.”
Baek Sa-young frowned slightly, then waved it off.
“Anyway, forget it. Just déjà vu.”
“What a letdown.”
“Up now. Rested plenty.”
“Al, already?”
“Yeah, rest too long and it hurts more.”
Baek Sa-young stood first, tossing empty can lightly at trash.
Ting—
Crumpled can swished in perfectly, hole-in-one style.
* * *
Empty lecture hall, everyone gone.
Sat alone in the gloom, deep in deduction, prediction, assumption.
Conclusion: Must collect SP.
No known uses yet, but who knows.
Gather enough, maybe get Yoo So-young info.
So quests and achievements essential, no exceptions.
Even if it means derailing the original plot……
More desperate than ever.
“Hurry.”
Calmed excitement, focused on Main Quest: special scholarship.
Simple selection: diagnostic eval results only. No extras.
4 spots—top 4.
Primary test today cut applicants to six.
Odds better than 2:1.
“Hmm.”
But numbers alone mislead.
Baek Sa-young, Lee Dae-ho, plus today’s no-show.
Those three locks—really just one spot left.
Tch.
Laid out, confidence waned.
“Confident I’ll flunk? Yeah right.”
No matter how I sliced it, that last spot was mine.
Knew eval format, had execution—failing harder.
Issue not results, but method.
Official setting: sorcery over armament manifestation……
Pulled grip tok from pocket.
Stuck phone back—bluish glow swirled.
[Academic Comprehensive System ‘Gauri’ activated.]
[Name: Park Ha-yul]
[Series: Superhuman]
[Approved.]
Still Superhuman Series, not Sorcery.
Sorcery human, but no talent—switched early.
Sensitive senses, Resilient Recovery probably pushed physical traits.
“Need to switch series ASAP…….”
Outline set, checked assigned dorm.
Unpack quick, head training ground, practice for real.
Essence of Eastern abilities: sorcery.
Ousted by magic lately for complexity, slowness—second fiddle.
But unmatched destructive power.