Rewards (2)

Seo Yeobin looked at me with an intrigued expression. Her gaze drifted to the Black Heaven Demon Sword at my waist before she flashed a soft smile.

"Out of everyone I've seen so far, you're the most interesting."

At Seo Yeobin's words, I felt Kim Ara's and Erhil's eyes on me.

"Is there something you want?"

"There was, but it was fulfilled just now."

"I see. So the communion's items were your goal."

Seo Yeobin closed her eyes briefly and fell silent.

"Strange eyes."

"My eyes?"

"Yes. Unlike the others, you don't hold any emotions toward me. No doubt, no awe, no fear... not even the usual curiosity."

Seo Yeobin lifted one corner of her mouth.

"It's as if you already know everything about me."

With that, Seo Yeobin went quiet. She observed me with an expression that seemed to say, Where did this kid roll in from?

"Do you have any other questions?"

"Plenty."

"If you offer a fair price per question, I'll answer as many as you like."

"Bold words. Unfortunately, that's not possible."

Seo Yeobin gave a wry smile.

"The number of students who can obtain something from the communion's warehouse is limited. That's why the school selects the most outstanding ones. The process is all based on achievements. I made those rules myself. It would be laughable if I broke my own rules."

Seo Yeobin watched me for a moment before continuing.

"If you want something, rack up achievements. We'll meet again soon enough."

"Soon?"

"Yes. I'm looking forward to it... Ah, the communion's already here. Follow her to the warehouse and find what you want."

With that, Seo Yeobin looked at me.

"I'll be watching you."

She flashed a playful smile. I led Erhil and Kim Ara outside.

Clack, clack.

As we stepped into the hallway, Instructor Seo Wooju appeared alongside a petite woman who looked about middle-school age. Dark circles hung heavily under her eyes. She wore a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠white robe haphazardly thrown on. Her height was barely 152cm.

"Introduce yourselves. This is the vice principal."

"Hello!"

"...Don't shout so loud. It hurts my ears."

The vice principal scowled as she spoke. I subtly stepped back. The vice principal disliked tall people crowding her. But if they stood too far away, she hated how it highlighted her short stature.

"...You, don't stand behind me."

"Pardon? Oh... okay."

The vice principal sent Kim Ara back. Kim Ara was tall, after all.

Well, makes sense.

But her height was only natural. If Kim Ara carried the blood of the giants, then the one called vice principal bore the blood of the dwarf clan. Even her roughly made weapons fetched billions outside.

"So, what did you talk about with the principal?"

The vice principal asked, looking at me.

"She gave us some advice."

"Really? Doesn't sound like mere advice."

Yawn—the vice principal stretched and yawned.

"Be careful. The principal doesn't care about consequences when she takes a liking to someone."

I knew that. The principal had an insatiable hunger for talent. And the reason the vice principal said this was simple.

She doesn't want the hassle.

The principal's methods for reeling in talent mostly involved the vice principal's creations.

"Whoa, really? The principal said she'd be watching Lee Seoha?"

Erhil said ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with a surprised look. At her words, the vice principal and Instructor Seo Wooju halted.

"...The principal said that?"

Instructor Seo Wooju stared at me in bewilderment. His gaze lingered on me briefly.

"Well, it makes sense for you. With normal students, you'd see what they've learned by now, but you..."

A confused expression. But the vice principal's eyes were filled only with annoyance.

"Vice Principal, do you know how to handle shadow serpents? I caught one this time, but processing it is tricky."

"Of course I do."

"It's one right on the verge of becoming an Imoogi."

"...What's left of it?"

"Scales, meat, and blood."

"Just the scales... No, throw in the blood too."

The vice principal pondered briefly.

"But I've blown through my research budget, so I can't pay cash... Want to take one more from the warehouse?"

"Hmm, one more..."

I made a thoughtful face. The shadow serpent corpse I had would fetch about 100 million combined. But the warehouse we were heading to held the vice principal's properly crafted tools. No matter how you valued it, accepting was a win.

However.

The vice principal was a total softie. So much so that once her eyes lit up on materials, she'd impulse-buy at a premium, and as long as her creations weren't in villains' hands, she didn't care how they were used.

I looked at the vice principal. Her eyes pleaded desperately toward me. Shadow serpent was a rare material, after all.

Just a little affinity boost.

I feigned hesitation before nodding.

"Good choice."

The vice ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠principal smiled contentedly. We headed deeper into the hallway. A massive door loomed. A lock big enough for four of my faces appeared. When the instructor placed his hand on it, dozens of magic circles etched themselves, and it clicked open.

"Whoa."

"More than I expected."

"Naturally. Heroes donated them, and outstanding students made them."

The warehouse was vast. Countless weapons lined the shelves, along with gauntlets, armor, accessories, and more. But there were far more armors and accessories than weapons.

Korea Hero School had students select weapons first through the weapon arsenal.

"Alright, Lee Seoha gets two. Everyone else, one each."

I strode inside. I already knew what to pick.

"Lee Seoha?"

I pressed Whisper of the Spirit to my left ear. The earring adhered perfectly.

My body feels lighter.

The +3 Agility hit immediately. Bigger impact than expected.

"Picked fast."

"Yeah, I had some info. Oh, Ara, not that one—try that."

"That one?"

I recommended a belt. Frayed and worn, but perfect for Kim Ara.

"It's giant-related."

"...Really? Got it."

A quick explanation, and Kim Ara picked the belt. I headed to Erhil.

"Hmm."

Erhil frowned, torn between an earring and a ring.

"How about that instead?"

"That?"

A few gems scattered where I pointed.

"Eh, it suits you?"

"Pardon? I do look good with jewels, but something this cheap... Huh?"

Erhil paused. Probably Melanie advising her. Soon, she picked a gem as I suggested.

"You know way more than 'a bit.' School got a spy?"

The vice principal looked baffled. I gave an awkward smile.

Huff.

I gasped for air. Lungs felt like bursting.

"Good work."

Kim Seohyeon handed me a drink. I chugged it without hesitation.

The training ground. I'd just finished my workout and collapsed. Kim Seohyeon started his. He benched over 500kg. I eyed it with dread.

How does he lift and lower that so fast?

Status window.

Small but steady stat gains filled me with pride. I hated gym normally, but seeing progress made me push harder.

Then, footsteps approached. Hong Yuhwa. She wore red gym clothes and came over.

"Here, what you asked for."

Hong Yuhwa handed me an emblem containing crimson flames.

"Thanks."

Item from our alchemy class bet today. My request to her was simple: Could she get a permit for the Illusory Dream Tower field trip this weekend?

"Nothing else?"

"Else?"

"Yeah. This is too cheap for beating me."

I stifled a laugh. That's why I liked Hong Yuhwa. She valued herself highly but never slacked on effort.

"I'll ask for something later if needed."

"Fine."

Hong Yuhwa left the training ground. I eyed the emblem.

This week, an incident happens. A demon and villains terrorize downtown. Target: Kim Seohyeon. I had to stop it.

Can I?

Normally, no worries. But this world's difficulty was hell. School was manageable so far, but once main story kicked in, enemies beyond me might appear.

Still.

I'll struggle as hard as I can.

I would ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠survive no matter what.