Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: Theory's a Dud, But Instincts Are Innate
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Theory's a total bust, but maybe her instincts are just naturally gifted?
Even with a simplified version, it wouldn't be easy to memorize the principles of the Three Disasters Technique through the body alone.
Yet Cheon Seo-yoon absorbed it like an octopus sucker or a bone-dry sponge slurping up water in one go.
After guiding the flow of mana a few times, she got the hang of it right away.
She might look a bit dim-witted at times, but she's a genius on a whole different level from ordinary people. A few more coaching sessions, and she'd be able to do it solo just fine.
"Next time, I'll buy you food again."
"Yeah. Just bring some beef. I'm wiped out."
"B-Beef?"
We packed up the leftovers and left the training grounds.
We kept up the silly banter all the way straight to the dorms.
The chirping of crickets was getting pretty loud, making me really feel like summer had arrived.
"......!"
But then, at some point, I sensed presences from others.
One at 10 o'clock to the right.
The other from behind, near the training grounds.
Both had unusual auras, and they even felt somewhat familiar.
No need to check them out deliberately, but maybe because of the new item I'd gotten?
A sudden urge to test it out surged up, so I pressed the right chronograph button on the watch Jeong Ae-ri had gifted me.
Whiiiiiing.
Two fly-sized micro-drones launched into action.
Target: reconnaissance. With a mental command, Fly A and B scattered toward their respective targets.
I put some distance between me and Cheon Seo-yoon as I checked the watch.
The screen split into two, sharing the drones' views in real time.
The first to arrive was at 10 o'clock right.
I pulled out the left chronograph button entirely and stuck it in one ear.
It clung to the ear canal, functioning as an earpiece.
Once I was set, a flame-red long hairstyle soon came into view.
It was So Yi-hyeon.
She stood there with arms crossed, staring our way.
With a pretty intrigued look, mumbling something about us being closer than expected, and reconnaissance this and that.
I could feel her thick interest directed at me.
Looks like I've made the scouting list.
Too bad, but I won't be joining Rank 8.
It's way too hectic there.
Battles every other day would leave no time for quests.
Whiiing whiiing.
I toyed around with controlling the drones to get a feel, then recalled them.
No point in peeping on people without reason; that's not my hobby.
Fly A's mission was done. I shifted focus to Fly B.
Soon, silvery hair like the Milky Way appeared on the left screen.
It was Reina.
She'd been in the same training grounds, just exiting the entrance and glancing around.
Pacing like she was searching for something, then she turned toward us—me and Cheon Seo-yoon.
"......Is she stalking me?"
It sure looked that way, and the words slipped out loud.
"What?"
"Nah. Just some fly buzzing around."
Cheon Seo-yoon asked, but Fly A was returning right then, making for a perfect excuse.
"Want me to swat it?"
No can do.
Even if I told her to, she wouldn't catch it easily.
I'd enhanced its flight capabilities, so it dodges casual swats with ease.
"Let it be."
I waved her off, then a certain assumption popped into my head.
What if Reina, aiming for saintess material, was like Satan playing protector.
Guarding me from a hypothetical foe born of misunderstood greed.
"Nah, no way......"
But I shook my head right after.
Just a coincidence in place and time, probably.
She's a saintess candidate, after all.
A training maniac on par with Baek Sa-young and Cheon Seo-yoon, plus she has to recharge holy power with daily prayers for set hours. Super busy.
No way she'd have time to tail me around.
Whiiing.
Anyway, with Fly B back too, the midnight test flight wrapped up smoothly.
Results: satisfactory.
I'd gained a stealthy new pair of eyes, after all.
"Speaking of which."
I set aside my thoughts and pondered tomorrow's schedule.
Not who to meet, but what training to do.
Nice to have some solid solo grind time for once.
Midterms just ended, so plenty of buffer before the next main episode.
"Oh, right. Aren't you coming to club?"
Club?
"What club?"
Dodam had resumed activities, but I'd gotten Jeong Ae-ri to legally excuse me.
The exploration club had gone on a couple more trips since the auction house, but I skipped them on purpose.
What I needed to care about was next week.
The Italy trip where all the protagonists go together.
"Kendo club. Il Do Yang Dan."
But Cheon Seo-yoon mentioning it jogged my memory.
"Oh yeah......"
I was in the kendo club.
I'd joined early for second-semester events, but got too busy to pay attention.
Cheon Seo-yoon clicked her tongue with a pretty ominous look.
"The president's been nagging about it. Says if you show, you're dead meat."
"That hothead? Why......"
"Says you're the most unreliable freshman he's ever seen."
Gulp—
My throat bobbed without thinking.
That senior's the type who follows through.
"......Tell him I'll show up soon."
"Better to just quit."
"Nah. I'll go. Gotta go......"
No small amount of anxiety, but I can't miss the second-semester quests.
"Anyway, steel yourself before you go."
I parted ways with Cheon Seo-yoon at the dorm entrance.
Fatigue was starting to hit, but I had stuff left to do, so I headed to my desk.
As usual, I gave blood to the flower bud.
You're pretty— You're awesome— The best—
I fired off the three-compliment combo.
[......]
The familiar dot-dot-dot message etched into the air.
For the record, Greed had no memory of anything from entering the Akashic Records until coming out.
Probably 4885 excluding it on purpose.
Anyway, the flower bud's bloom was getting close.
I'd put in daily effort, so high expectations were natural.
I was about to wipe it down even more carefully with a water-dampened handkerchief when......
Bzzzzt.
A text came in right on cue.
[From: Joo Ah-rin]
[Tomorrow 6 PM. Does that time work?]
Why 6 PM, out of nowhere.
She'd asked so oddly that I fired back.
[Why 6?]
The reply came after a slight delay.
[...You asked for spaghetti.]
"Oh, spaghetti....... Huh?"
She's actually doing it?
It caught me off guard.
It was basically an SP-induced accident.
But I appreciate the thought, though this feels off.
So I asked.
[...You sure you can pull it off?]
I knew Joo Ah-rin had zero connection to cooking.
That was her canon setting.
Plastered right there in her character traits like Park Ha-yul's 'social misfit': 'Devil's Chef.'
Better to call it off for both our sakes.
She's busy anyway—no time wasted. And I don't have to eat it......
[Don't push yourself. Let's just forget it. You've never cooked before.]
I sent what I thought was a considerate text.
[...Push myself? That's a weird way to put it. Why would cooking be pushing it?]
......
But the razor-sharp reply felt like it had an actual blade attached.
[No, I mean. You're busy, so no need to......]
[This is embarrassing. You think I can't cook, right? That's a blatant misconception.]
Not a misconception—I'm certain.
[I never thought I'd say this, but look forward to it. This is your last chance—no next time.]
Anyway, too late to back out now.
I'd bungled the rejection and hurt her pride, it seems.
[Alright, got it. Don't overdo....... No, don't try too hard.]
I reluctantly agreed, then opened the item shop right away.
If I had to eat it in front of Joo Ah-rin, it was a crisis in another sense entirely.
A satisfied face might be too much, but I had to at least stay poker-faced.
"No taste numbing agent or facial paralysis pill?"
I hurriedly browsed the shop.
* * *
Meanwhile, Joo Ah-rin was staring holes into her phone, burning with unexpected motivation.
"......Push myself?"
I can't believe it.
A word I'd never heard, and a humiliation I'd never faced.
I'd lived busier and harder than anyone.
There are no set limits in the world. Nothing's impossible. That's what I'd always told myself.
But to hear that over something as trivial as cooking.
I'd had no plans to half-ass it, but I wasn't going all-out either if it turned out too good.
"Gotta do it right."
Joo Ah-rin murmured her resolve, then opened her SNS secret folder.
[Special Day, Special Menu] Park Jong-won's Octopus Abalone Ginseng Chicken Soup Spaghetti.
She pulled out a notepad and pen, diving into a thorough read.
.
.
But what the hell is this.
Sashimi? Eucommia ulmoides bark 60g, Angelica sinensis 15g, 3-year-old astragalus 60g.
Brand-new terms popping up as ingredients made Joo Ah-rin freeze, blinking her big eyes.
"Ahem."
She retreated for now, scrolling down to the next step.
But it jammed right from the start again.
It called for a huge pot to make broth and a steamer for the octopus......
"Steamer?"
A pot's a pot— what's a steamer?
The only steamer I know is steamer weather.
In the end, Joo Ah-rin fled to the kitchen like a refugee.
She checked the cabinets one by one, inspecting cookware after ages.
The check took a grand total of 3 seconds.
"Nope."
Lacking a ton of stuff.
Just a pot big enough for instant ramen, its stand, and one rice bowl. That's it.
And even those were school-provided, not bought.
Which made sense, really.
Joo Ah-rin basically had no appetite, so nearly every meal was salad and yogurt. Or a protein shake.
Optimized solely for nutrient intake.
"It's fine. That happens."
Joo Ah-rin nodded lightly, taking a step back.
With such meager gear, maybe switch menus......
But thinking of the recipient made that impossible.
That guy...... doesn't seem to have simple tastes.
From a prestigious family, knows all sorts of things, feels like a sharp critic.
No way plain food would earn his praise.
So what choice did she have.
She had to challenge it somehow.
"Hmm......"
Joo Ah-rin tapped her fingers in thought, then grabbed her phone.
Some lacks she admitted.
Then get help—that was the fix. Luckily, she had a solid chef nearby.
Left home early, so 6 years solo living, whips up most dishes in 10 minutes flat. Hands like lightning.
SOS to that chef for gear support and advice, and she'd breeze through this hurdle.
After a few rings, a gruff voice leaked from the receiver.
-What? You up?
Joo Ah-rin raised her voice in delight.
"Seo-yoon, what're you doing right now?"