Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: College Life
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A power that far exceeded my expectations!
Lee Shin marveled inwardly.
‘This is good.’
Both its speed and power were far better than I'd expected.
No matter how you looked at it, these weren't the stats of a D-rank summon.
However.
“Hmm?”
After retracting the tentacle, Lee Shin narrowed his eyes.
The tentacle looked somewhat tattered.
Lee Shin checked the status message.
[A part of the body has been damaged by a strong impact. If the body is completely destroyed, it will be forcibly unsummoned.]
[An unsummoned familiar can be resummoned after 72 hours.]
Reading the explanation, Lee Shin nodded in understanding.
‘…So that’s how it works.’
The tentacle’s power and speed were excellent, but conversely, its physical durability was extremely low to compensate for its rank.
This was where the purpose of the Harden skill, which he had wondered about, became clear.
‘It’s essential for attacking.’
If he just shot the tentacle out, its low durability would cause it to be unsummoned after just a few attacks.
“Come out.”
“Yes.”
Having roughly figured it out, Lee Shin immediately prepared for a second attack.
He aimed for the same spot as his first attack.
“Hoooo…”
Lee Shin took a deep breath and focused his mind.
*Twitch!*
The tentacle reacted at the same time, twitching.
The tentacle swayed gently from side to side according to Lee Shin's will.
‘……’
It was a simple movement, but it was part of the process of Lee Shin getting a feel for controlling the summon.
It didn't take long for Lee Shin to get the hang of it.
‘I think I’ve got it now.’
Having gotten a feel for the controls, Lee Shin immediately shot the tentacle out.
*Fwoosh!*
The tentacle shot out like a bullet.
In the blink of an eye, the thorn-shaped tip of the tentacle was right in front of the target.
‘……’
A speed that a normal user would find difficult to even react to.
However, with his incredible reflexes, Lee Shin used the skill at the precise moment of impact.
Harden.
*Crrrack!*
The moment Lee Shin used the skill, the tip of the tentacle hardened.
And right after that.
*CRASH!!!*
A deafening roar echoed out.
The tentacle completely shattered the wooden post that had been left half-dangling.
Lee Shin retracted the tentacle to check its condition.
‘Did it work?’
It did.
The power was the same as before, but the tentacle was completely undamaged.
The strength of Harden was greater than Lee Shin had expected.
[The duration of Harden is ending.]
[Harden has been deactivated.]
Of course, the price was a duration so short it only lasted a few seconds, but Lee Shin was satisfied.
If both the strength and duration were mediocre, it would be useless, but with one clear advantage like this, even a D-rank summon could be quite useful.
‘As long as I get the timing right, it should be fine.’
That was Lee Shin's overall assessment.
It seemed like it would take a lot of practice to use it while moving in sync with his body, but if he could master it, it would become a powerful weapon.
‘I'll have to keep using it while hunting.’
The control method was unfamiliar, so it still required a great deal of concentration.
But with continued practice, he was confident he could wield it like one of his own limbs.
Having roughly checked its performance, Lee Shin checked the time.
9 PM.
Lee Shin felt a bit disappointed.
‘I want to check out the arena too…’
But it was too late.
He had to go to school early tomorrow for an assignment, so he had to log off now.
It was a shame, but he decided to be satisfied with receiving all the quest rewards and checking the summon's performance.
“I’m logging off.”
“Okay, see you tomorrow.”
“Oh, right.”
Just before logging out, a thought occurred to Lee Shin and he spoke to Arthur.
“I won't be on until evening tomorrow.”
“Ah… okay.”
Arthur looked curious as to why, but he didn't ask.
Since Lee Shin hadn't mentioned it first, he just assumed there was a reason.
Besides, he didn't think Lee Shin would tell him even if he asked.
“Then I'll get on first and practice my shooting.”
With a small nod, Lee Shin logged out.
***
Sunday morning.
Yonhee University Library.
The library was bustling with students.
It was that time of year when assignments and exams started piling up, leaving students incredibly busy.
The same was true for Lee Shin, which was why he had made a rare trip out of his house on a weekend.
“…Hah.”
Lee Shin sighed at the sight of the library crowded with people.
For Lee Shin, who had to act calculatingly to fit in with those around him, a space like this was incredibly draining.
‘I should have suggested we meet somewhere else.’
He regretted it now, but it was too late to change.
If he had to pinpoint the cause, it was his own fault for casually saying anywhere was fine when they were deciding on a location.
‘There they are.’
Lee Shin waved at a few students he saw in the distance.
They were his classmates, assigned to the same group for this project.
Lee Shin greeted them.
“Hey.”
At that moment, the complaining look from just before vanished, replaced by a natural smile on Lee Shin's face.
It wasn't a smile of genuine pleasure, but the well-practiced, good-natured expression he had perfected in front of a mirror since childhood.
It was his specialty.
Thanks to this, the classmates who spotted him smiled back in return.
Lee Shin got straight to the point.
“Should we get started? We have a lot of other assignments too.”
“Yeah.”
Let's finish this quickly and get out of here!
At Lee Shin's words, the other classmates nodded.
It was true; they really did have a lot of other things to do.
Perhaps because the years of online classes had ended this year, the professors were competitively handing out assignments.
As a result, most of the freshmen were struggling to stay afloat under the barrage of assignments.
“How much have you done?”
“Me?”
But Lee Shin was a little different.
Lee Shin replied to his classmate's question with an awkward smile.
“I’m… almost done with everything.”
“I see… What? Really?!”
“Actually, this is my last one.”
At his words, his classmates' eyes widened, and they began to whisper among themselves.
“Didn't we just get this assignment last week?”
“Wow… he must do nothing but study at home.”
‘Hmm?’
And so, his classmates came to a completely wrong conclusion!
In truth, this was a result of Lee Shin's usual behavior.
He usually made up various excuses to skip most gatherings.
If he had a bad image, he would have just been seen as someone with poor social skills, but…
…the good image he had built up was too strong for that.
“…Well, something like that.”
“I knew it…!”
Of course, contrary to their misunderstanding, Lee Shin really did nothing but play games at home.
The reason he was able to finish his assignments so quickly was purely thanks to Si-eun's help.
She had graduated from the same department as Lee Shin and was a talented individual who had even gone on to graduate school.
Whenever Lee Shin got stuck, he received her help, allowing him to finish all his assignments in a fraction of the time it took others.
*‘Again? I want to rest now…’*
Of course, Lee Si-eun had struggled a bit…
*‘This is really the last one.’*
*‘You've said that more than ten times.’*
*‘For real this time.’*
*‘…Hey!’*
In any case, the assignments were finished quickly.
Lee Shin looked at his exhausted classmates and said.
“Let's just finish this one up quickly.”
“……”
“If we finish early, I can help you with your other stuff in the remaining time.”
“Gasp. Really?”
“I have some time until 2 anyway. If you have any questions, just ask.”
At Lee Shin's offer to help them using his own time, his classmates quickly regained their energy.
Thanks to that, a few hours later.
*Tap, tap.*
Lee Shin neatly straightened a thick stack of printouts and looked around.
“…Should we call it a day?”
In response to his question, his classmates stretched and replied.
“Yeah. We've done all the important parts.”
“Let's finish the rest on our own and compile it in a group chat.”
“Sounds good.”
They had more or less wrapped things up.
Those who were leaving packed their things, while those staying to work on other assignments took a short break.
Lee Shin was in the latter group.
He had said he would help with their remaining assignments if they finished early, and he still had time.
‘I’ve got about two hours left.’
Lee Shin turned to the remaining group and spoke.
“Is there anything I can help with?”
But the response he got was different from what he expected.
One of his classmates asked, a look of realization on his face.
“…Oh, right! Shin.”
“Yeah?”
“We have the school festival coming up soon. What are you planning to do?”
Lee Shin was caught off guard by the sudden question.
“What festival? Was there something like that?”
“You know. The Yon-Ko Games.”
“Ah…… right.”
Lee Shin replied after a long pause.
He had so little interest in such events that it took him a moment to recall the meaning of the word.
‘No wonder.’
Lately, I've seen a lot of banners and stuff posted around campus.
I never paid them any mind, so I didn't realize, but they must have been for this event.
The Yonhee University festival is a joint event, so it's always huge.
His classmate continued.
“I'm on the planning committee. If there's anything you want to participate in, you can tell me now.”
Lee Shin asked.
“Is participation mandatory?”
“It's not mandatory.”
“Oh, really?”
Lee Shin's face brightened.
However…
“Uh… but it would be great if everyone could participate in at least one event if possible.”
“Why.”
“As you know, our department is small, so we're a bit short on people.”
“Ah…”
“Of course, if you can't, it can't be helped… but would you be willing?”
“……”
Lee Shin sighed inwardly.
It was phrased as a question, but it was hard to say no when put like that.
Maintaining a smile, Lee Shin nodded.
“Then I'll do it.”
It was a necessary choice to avoid standing out in a bad way.
Lee Shin asked his delighted classmate.
“What events are left?”
“Basketball, soccer, baseball…”
‘I don’t like physical contact sports.’
“…Oh, and there's a gaming event too.”
“Huh?”
Lee Shin's head turned.
“Gaming?”
“Yeah. It's a classic game, but… didn't you say you liked classic games before?”
“I did. What game is it?”
“LoL. 5v5 matches.”
“Oh…”
“And this tournament, including the finals, all happens in one day.”
It was the best possible compromise.
Lee Shin nodded and said.
“I'll do the gaming event. Sign me up for that.”
“Okay. Got it. I'll let you know when the schedule is out.”
“Alright.”
“Thanks. Oh, and…”
“…There's more?”
Reacting to the “and,” Lee Shin asked with a slightly wary expression.
Isn't one thing enough? What else is there…?
“Huh? Oh, this is about something else.”
But thankfully, it wasn't what he was worried about.
It was more puzzling than worrisome.
“Ahem! You interested in going on a group blind date?”
“…Go on what?”
“A group date. We've got one set up with the girls from the Western Painting department.”
It was a 4-on-4, and he was asking if Lee Shin wanted to join, saying he'd save him a spot.
Unable to understand the intention behind the question, Lee Shin tilted his head.
“You couldn't get enough people?”
“No?”
“Then why me?”
“Well, the thing is……”
In response to Lee Shin's genuinely confused expression, the classmate who made the offer scratched the back of his head sheepishly and replied.
“Because it seems like they'll only come if you're there.”
“Ah……”
“……”
“…I see.”
Moments like these were always difficult.
Unsure how to react, Lee Shin simply remained expressionless.
Taking that as a sign of refusal, his classmate pleaded desperately.
“Please! Shin. Can't you just come this one time?”
“…That's a bit much.”
Lee Shin played hard to get.
The desired response came out immediately.
“Then you can just come to fill the spot. No, please, just fill the spot. It was really hard to set this up…!”
“Alright, then.”
Lee Shin accepted right away.
Just filling a spot wouldn't be too difficult.
It would be good for his image, too…
He could get some free coffee, then make a reasonable excuse to leave midway.
“Gasp. Really?”
“It's not a big deal. It's fine.”
Lee Shin answered without hesitation.
But in the next moment.
“…Hmm?”
A strange sense of unease suddenly flashed through his mind.
“Who did you say we're meeting?”
“Huh? The Western Painting department.”
Western Painting.
It was a department Lee Shin had no connection to.
And yet…
‘…Why does that sound familiar?’
A tickling sensation in his head.
He felt an inexplicable nagging feeling, as if he were forgetting something important.
“……”
“What's wrong?”
“…It's nothing.”
Lee Shin shook his head at his classmate's curious question.
Then he pushed aside the thought that had briefly surfaced in his mind.
He decided to take it easy, thinking that if it were truly important, he'd remember it later.