Don't Borrow the Money...
As soon as class ended, students began to gather in small groups, whispering amongst themselves. The air was thick with hushed conversations, and the subject of their gossip was, naturally, Im Bukjin.
A few female students stole glances at him, their eyes shimmering with a mix of curiosity and newfound admiration. Yet, despite the lingering stares, no one dared to approach him. The classroom slowly emptied as the lunch bell rang. While the academy provided meals for all its students, Bukjin found himself in a bit of a predicament.
To eat, one needed a meal ticket. Bukjin, however, didn't have one. He had lost his on the very first day he transferred to the 3rd Junior Swordsman Academy. At the time, he had looked down on the academy's food as if it were mere animal feed, vowing he wouldn't touch it even if he were starving to death. Back then, he had simply ordered the servants of the Jeon-cheon-hu Manor to prepare delicacies and deliver them to the school. But now... the loss of that meal ticket had become a genuine tragedy.
In a secluded corner of the academy grounds, two figures spoke in low tones.
"I never imagined that Im Bukjin would actually defeat Bing Ryun with some hidden strength," a female voice whispered.
"It was certainly unexpected. But he's only stronger than Bing Ryun; his talent still has its limits," a male voice replied dismissively.
"Senior Brother Oh, this is the same Im Bukjin we thought was just a mindless scoundrel. He was hiding his power all this time. It might look easy on the surface, but it might not be. Are you sure you can lure him into a trap and force him to sign a contract to make him your slave?"
"Haha, if it weren't a challenge, it wouldn't be fun. A man of my stature needs a worthy target, doesn't he? Junior Sister Mok, rest easy. I have a hundred different ways to lead that fool into a pit."
"Very well. I shall look forward to your good news, Senior Brother Oh."
By noon, the early summer sun beat down with increasing intensity. The area around the second-year cafeteria was swarming with students. Bukjin and Wang Chung were huddled on the steps about half a block away from the entrance, staring at the building and swallowing hard.
Countless students passing by shot Bukjin looks of pure contempt.
'Im Bukjin, that trash... to think he'd see a day like this.'
'Serves him right.'
For the students who despised him, the sight of Bukjin unable to even enter the cafeteria was a source of great entertainment. As time ticked by, Bukjin’s head began to swim from the hunger. His patience finally snapped.
'Dammit! I can't take it anymore. I'll steal it if I have to! They wouldn't actually expel me just for taking some food, would they?'
Bukjin gritted his teeth and started to stand up. Just then, a voice called out.
"Well, well. If it isn't Im Bukjin. That's quite a unique sitting posture you've got there."
The voice was smooth and deceptively warm. Bukjin looked up to see a student approaching with a pleasant smile. He was handsome, with bright, sparkling eyes and fair skin. Between his brows sat a single red birthmark. Rather than detracting from his looks, the mark added an air of confidence and vitality to his refined features.
"Im Bukjin, you know who I am, don't you?"
The boy’s smile was tinged with an unmistakable pride. It was no wonder; the students passing by were looking at him with eyes full of envy and respect. To Bukjin, it felt like the gaze of die-hard fans at a pop star's concert.
Bukjin stood up and sized him up.
'Who is this guy? Another one here to mess with me? Should I stay in character as the scoundrel and start a fight right here?'
A flurry of questions raced through his mind. He decided to play it cool and see how things developed. He adopted a nonchalant expression, acting as if he couldn't care less.
"I don't. Who are you?"
The student maintained his friendly smile and replied kindly, "My name is Oh Sobang."
'Oh Sobang? One of the three great geniuses of the second year at the 3rd Academy?'
The name clicked in Bukjin's memory. Oh Sobang spoke again, his expression hovering somewhere between a smile and a smirk.
"Im Bukjin, I've come to help you."
"Huh? Help me?" Bukjin crossed his arms, looking intrigued. "Were we ever that close?"
He lamented the fact that his body's memories hadn't fully integrated with his consciousness yet. 'Did the old me actually have a good relationship with this guy?'
Oh Sobang shook his head and laughed softly. "Not exactly... I just don't really care whether my relationship with someone is good or bad when I decide to help them."
"Then what do you care about?"
"If I had to say... my mood?"
"Your mood?"
"When I'm in a bad mood, I wouldn't feel a shred of pity even if someone knelt and begged at my feet. But when I'm in a good mood, I'll help even a pathetic beggar who's on the verge of starving to death in the street."
"What? Are you trying to pick a fight? Are you calling me a pathetic beggar on the verge of starvation?" Bukjin demanded, putting on a show of fury.
Oh Sobang just chuckled and shook his head. "Now, don't go misunderstanding me. That's not what I meant. To be honest, in my eyes, you're actually worse than a beggar."
The students gathered around the cafeteria burst into laughter. They marveled at Oh Sobang’s wit—he had delivered a massive insult without using a single curse word.
"Wh-what? You son of a bitch, do you want to die?" Bukjin continued his act of outrage. In reality, he wasn't bothered at all. This brief exchange had confirmed one thing: Oh Sobang was no friend. In fact, the guy clearly despised him. So why come here offering "help"? There was obviously an ulterior motive.
'Fine, let's see where this goes.' Bukjin knew he couldn't afford to miss even the smallest opportunity right now.
"Haha, don't get so worked up. From where I'm standing, it looks like you're in desperate need of money. What if I told you I'd lend you some... interested?" Oh Sobang asked with a grin.
"Huh? Money? Really? Hahaha! Now we're talking. Let's hear it." Bukjin’s face brightened instantly, as if he couldn't contain his greed. He decided to dance to Oh Sobang's tune.
Seeing this, Oh Sobang’s smile widened. 'It's this easy? He really is as brainless as the rumors say. I was worried about how to lure him in, but he's practically jumping into the trap.'
"Of course, I'm serious. Go ahead, tell me. How much do you want to borrow?" Oh Sobang asked casually.
"Alright. I don't want to overdo it, so let's start with 20 gold coins."
The surrounding students gasped. They couldn't believe the audacity of this fallen noble's son. To have the thick skin to ask for 20 gold coins while in such a pathetic state was beyond their imagination. But what shocked them even more was Oh Sobang’s response.
"20 gold? Fine. But there are conditions."
"What conditions?" Bukjin narrowed his eyes. 'He's actually going to do it? This is getting interesting.'
"I'll lend you 20 gold now, but you must pay back 40 gold in one month. How about it?"
"What? You're a total scammer! Throwing stones at a man drowning in a well... you're nothing but a loan shark!"
"The interest is high, I'll admit. But Im Bukjin, do you really have a choice? Is there anyone else in this academy—no, in all of Unmong City—who would lend money to a scoundrel like you? Besides, without money, you won't last long in this school, even if you hide like a turtle in its shell."
"The interest is too damn high!"
"Hmm... if you don't like that, I'll give you another option."
"What option?"
"Let's make a bet. If you take first place in the Academic & Martial Arts Competition the day after tomorrow, you don't have to pay me back a single cent. Consider it a gift. But if you fail... well, you still don't have to pay. Instead, you'll sign a slave contract with me. If you don't take the top spot, you become my personal slave from that moment on. How does that sound?" Oh Sobang proposed with a laugh.
On the surface, Bukjin looked like he was agonizing over the decision. Inside, he was howling with laughter. He had seen right through Oh Sobang's scheme.
'You sneaky bastard. So that was the plan. You're trying to trap me.'
According to the laws of the North Sea Empire, a person who sold themselves into slavery became the absolute property of their master. Their life and death were in the master's hands. A slave had no dignity, and the master was free to treat them however they pleased. It was a brutal system.
However...
Bukjin had a cheat code that defied all common sense: his smartphone. If he used it correctly, taking first place in the competition wasn't just a dream—it was a certainty. He continued to feign hesitation, even though his mind was already made up.
Watching from the side, Wang Chung realized things were heading in a dangerous direction. He grabbed Bukjin’s sleeve and shook his head frantically.
"Young Master, you mustn't! Please, don't borrow the money...!"
Oh Sobang smirked at the sight. "Im Bukjin, the only reason you're still safe is because you defeated a 3rd-grade warrior like Bing Ryun. You've survived this long with your hidden strength, but who knows what the future holds? You're clearly aiming for a high rank in this competition just to stay in the academy, aren't you? There are too many people outside these walls who want you dead; staying here is your only choice. But without money, you can't even eat. You'll starve to death before the competition even starts. Whether you die now or die later, it's all the same. The help I'm offering is your only real chance. As long as you're alive, there's always a chance to turn things around. What do you say?"
Oh Sobang laid out his argument with practiced ease, his face beaming as he waited for Bukjin's answer.