The Price of a Perfect Score

A massive commotion erupted in the surroundings. Countless gazes—filled with shock, admiration, and a childish refusal to accept reality—converged on Bukjin.

"Wow, you submitted your exam in just fifteen minutes? As expected, Senior Brother Im is fast," Baek Geum-un said, sounding impressed.

However, the only response she received was Bukjin's gaze, which remained chillingly sunken. The reason his expression was so heavy wasn't because of Baek Geum-un, of course.

'Five students got a perfect score? That means... my prize money will only be two gold coins!'

It was a far smaller income than he had anticipated.

'Dammit!'

Bukjin continued to stare at the stone pillar. Below the names of the five students who scored 100, the names of those who scored 99 began to appear. There were about ten of them. Jo Pacheon was among the 99-point scorers.

Out of the seventy-two students who took the exam, the one with the lowest score was none other than Jeong Suchae! She had received an 89.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk! Jeong Suchae? That name sounds familiar. Which academy was she from again?" Baek Geum-un shouted at the top of her lungs on purpose.

"She's from the 6th Academy."

"She's the girl who was just mocking other students with that weird tone. Turns out the one who should be embarrassed is herself!"

"Hahaha! Empty vessels really do make the most noise!"

Several students joined Baek Geum-un in ridiculing Jeong Suchae. Her face turned a deep shade of crimson; she felt so angry and humiliated that she thought her head might explode. She had actually thought she performed much better than usual. She hadn't dreamed in her wildest nightmares that she would come in dead last.

But no one sympathized with her. Ak Hong-hyang was elegant and dignified, a mysterious beauty boasting fair skin and a beautiful mask. Naturally, the boys, eager to get on Ak Hong-hyang's good side, didn't miss the chance to tease Jeong Suchae.

It wasn't just for that reason, though. In truth, the seventy-two students gathered here were all renowned geniuses of the city. To them, failing to achieve a good grade was nothing short of an original sin.

Baek Geum-un's score was 95, placing her in the middle of the pack. Han Bul-bu and Ak Hong-hyang both received the same score: 97. They were slightly higher than Baek Geum-un, sitting in the upper-middle tier.

For the 3rd Academy, these scores were the fruit of truly relentless effort. In the past, the 3rd Academy would have been at the very bottom from the start, unable to even show their faces in public.

Ryu Gye-hae, who had escorted the students, was overjoyed upon checking the results. He personally approached the students and showered them with encouragement.

The students' exam scores and rankings were transmitted into the city via crystal screens with incredible speed. Many citizens who saw the results were engaged in heated discussions about the students' skills.

"Im Bukjin's counterattack is terrifying, isn't it?"

"To submit the exam in just fifteen minutes and get a perfect score! It's like watching the results of the old Im Cheon-seon!"

"Dammit! Im Bukjin got a perfect score? I bet against him taking first place! I'm about to lose five gold coins!"

"I heard that scoundrel has the ability to never forget anything he sees once. Is that true?"

"If that's for real, I'm betting all my money on Im ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Bukjin taking first from now on!"

The fervor of the citizens was immense in the plazas, taverns, academies, and temples across Unmong City. At the 3rd Academy in particular, nearly a thousand students and over a hundred teachers had gathered at the training grounds to watch the broadcast. The moment the scores were announced, a thunderous cheer erupted.

"This is insane!"

"It's a celebration!"

It was the greatest result in the history of the 3rd Academy's participation in the competition. Among the cheering students was Oh Sobang. Memories of his past interactions with Bukjin flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern. If he had known Bukjin would reach such heights, he never would have helped that enchantress Mok Simwol oppose him.

Furthermore, Ak Hong-hyang had originally been a student far below Oh Sobang's level. Yet, by staying by Bukjin's side, she had not only advanced to the finals but also achieved a score worthy of everyone's attention. To his eyes, her dazzling progress was entirely thanks to Bukjin's help.

Regret washed over Oh Sobang as he realized this. He turned his head to look at Mok Simwol, who was standing nearby. Still boasting her exceptional beauty as the 'Princess of the Masses,' she showed no outward emotion.

However, Oh Sobang understood Mok Simwol well. He could detect a faint glimmer of regret passing deep within her eyes. He suspected that her regret was likely far greater than his own. After all, Mok Simwol had once completely possessed Bukjin as her own. At that time, Bukjin had given her his everything.

But all of that was now merely a past that had scattered like smoke.

At the same time...

"Whoa! Big Brother Bukjin is truly incredible!" Ak Hong-seong shouted from the Gale Brotherhood's base.

Bang Sobaek, dressed in a green skirt and a sleeveless vest, stood leaning against a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tree with his arms crossed, saying nothing. However, the subtle shift in his expression suggested he was deep in thought.

Meanwhile, at the manor of the Gwan family, a prominent clan in Unmong City...

A vase worth ninety-eight silver coins was hurled to the floor, shattering into pieces. Gwan Bi-do screamed, his eyes bloodshot with rage.

"Dammit! Im Bukjin! I won't let you get away with this! Just you wait!"

At the Cheonri-haeng Merchant Guild, Jo Tak-eon and Jo Mu-yang, father and son, exchanged glances, their expressions finally relaxing.

Simultaneously, inside the city's legal gambling houses, people were frantically checking the results of their bets. In the largest gambling house in the city, the crowd was packed tight, their faces reflecting a kaleidoscope of emotions depending on the outcome.

Just then, a middle-aged man with a goatee, wearing a butler's uniform and carrying a Blue Bird Sword at his waist, shouted in delight.

"Hahaha! I won! Proprietor! Hurry up and bring me my winnings! Thirty-two gold coins! Not a single coin less! Hahahaha!"

He couldn't hide his excitement as he stared at the pouch bulging with gold coins. He was so happy he was on the verge of tears.

'I can't even remember the last time I touched this much gold! Ah! This smell of money! It's so fragrant!'

Thud!

The middle-aged man in the butler's uniform slammed all thirty-two gold coins he had just won onto the table.

"I'm betting on Im Bukjin to win! I'm betting all of this that Im Bukjin will get another perfect score in the second exam, Herbalism!"

The man was extremely agitated. Seeing him like this, a person nearby spoke up.

"Have you lost your mind? Herbalism is a completely different concept from History! It's a subject that requires not just a good memory, but understanding and application! It's on a totally different level from the first exam. Even if Im Bukjin takes first place, a perfect score will be difficult...!"

"He's right! In history, there has only been one perfect score in Herbalism, and even that was four years ago!"

"Hahaha! Leave him be! If he wants to lose his money, what does it matter to us?"

Hearing their words, the middle-aged man in the butler's uniform put his hands on his hips and spoke provocatively.

"Look at these foolish people! What do you know? Let's make a side bet! Everyone who just spoke, put up one gold coin each! If Im Bukjin gets a perfect score, all your gold coins belong to me. If he doesn't, I'll give each of you one gold coin!"

"What? You're offering such a sweet deal?!"

"Fine! Let's do it!"

"Count me in!"

"Me too!"

A short while later, sixty or seventy people had bet one gold coin each that Bukjin would not get a perfect score. Just as all the gamblers finished placing their bets, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a new image was transmitted onto the crystal screen.

It was the announcement of the results for the second written exam, Herbalism.

"The scores are out!"

"Everyone, quiet! Let's see the results!"

"Hurry! First place is... Im... Bukjin...?"

"And the score...?"

Every eye was glued to the crystal screen.

"Aaaaaagh!"

The moment the gamblers, who had been holding their breath in the massive gambling house, saw the results, a scream louder than anything heard before erupted. The sheer volume of the outcry was enough to make the roof of the gambling house tremble.

Through the crystal screen, everyone could see the name floating atop the stone pillar.

It was another perfect score, beyond any shadow of a doubt.

"Hahaha! I won again! See? Was I right? Will you acknowledge me now? Anyone else want to bet?"

The middle-aged man in the butler's uniform burst into a loud laugh. The faces of those who had bet against him turned dark.

"Haha, hurry up and bring me the money!"

His joyful voice echoed through the gambling house. In addition to his primary bet, he had earned seventy-six gold coins from the side bets. His total winnings from the gambling house amounted to eighty gold coins.

"Haha, I'm rich now!"

The smile never left the middle-aged man's face. Meanwhile, the others in the gambling house were ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wearing expressions of shock and disbelief at the unexpected and overwhelming result.

"He's a total monster! Another 100 points!"

"How on earth did he do it?"

"There's no way to cheat in the Academic & Martial Arts Competition! This is his genuine skill, without a doubt."

"I can't believe it. But there's no way he'll take first in the next exam, Mystic Array Studies."

"No... this time, I'm betting on him."

The gamblers were in a state of total confusion, their hearts conflicted.

This shock was just a small glimpse of the festive atmosphere sweeping through the citizens of Unmong City. Enthusiastic cheers similar to those in the gambling house were being heard everywhere. Many citizens were buzzing with excitement, discussing how miraculous it was to receive a perfect score in Herbalism.

And in the area within a three-hundred-yard radius of the 3rd Academy, a massive cheer erupted that could be heard across the entire city. Not only the teachers and students of the academy, but all the residents living in the school district were shouting with joy.

As the representative students of the 3rd Academy distinguished themselves in the competition, every resident of the district felt a surge of pride. It was a festival atmosphere where everyone was united in celebration.

At this very moment, countless people were looking at Bukjin—whom they had once considered nothing but a scoundrel—in a completely new light.