Chapter 139
Chapter 139
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 139
Chapter Title: New Ecosystem Adaptation ver.p.saebyeok(tp)
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[Part 2 Chapter 2]
§ New Ecosystem Adaptation ver.p.saebyeok(tp)
“Next time, don’t be late. You’ve got to get into the habit of showing up on time—that’s how life gets easier down the line. Now head to class.”
I’d figured she’d chew me out for being late on the first day, but instead, she said something reasonable and let it slide.
Before we were assigned to our classes, I caught a glimpse of the other kids who’d gotten their Awakener IDs—something was glinting on their arms.
It looked like students who received Awakener IDs were getting bracelets at the school gate that temporarily sealed their mana.
“Give me one of those too.”
A bracelet for Awakened.
Then I should get one to feel the part.
“But you’re unawakened, aren’t you?”
“Waaah.”
I made a dissatisfied face and whined, and the teacher’s expression softened.
“Oh dear, don’t cry. I’ll buy you one with a similar design later. More importantly, Saebyeok—it’s Saebyeok, right? Do you know where your class is?”
“…….”
I’d thrown a fit just to get one, but for no reason, I felt a little hurt.
And with that, I left the office, stripped of my combat ability.
“Hi there? New face! If anything’s bothering you, come talk to me anytime, okay?”
“…….”
On the way out, someone who seemed like another teacher greeted me kindly with a smile.
* * *
Did that new Association Chairman guy hand out money?
I sat in my assigned seat, spinning my pen, lost in thought.
I doubted that guy had just carelessly released kids into the school.
The warm, welcoming atmosphere among the teachers felt seriously off.
They usually either hated us or feared us—never this kind of reception.
Looks like he did bribe them.
Hated to admit it, but after running around trying to take down Kim Woosung, I’d learned firsthand that money really does have power.
‘There were quite a few nice teachers... Uncle Yuhyun. Gotta be careful not to violate the Kim Young-ran Law.’
Ah. Was it Kim Young-ran? Whatever.
It was probably to prevent any incidents, but somehow, it made the tip of my nose itch a little.
If it turned out to be true later, I’d have to buy him a meal.
But I’m broke right now. Guess I’ll tell Seol Do-yoon to cover it.
“Um...”
Lost in thought, my seatmate—some random girl—spoke up.
“Your name... is Saebyeok, right? Want this, by any chance?”
She cautiously offered me some Pepero sticks. I blinked slowly.
This girl’s eyes were full of goodwill too.
Uncle Yuhyun...
‘Did he bribe the kids too?’
It couldn’t just be sympathy for my looks or tragic backstory—the public opinion around Abyss kids lately wasn’t that great.
There was no reason for strangers to be this consistently nice all at once.
Goodwill that felt off usually had something fishy behind it.
“How much?”
“Uh... about a thousand won?”
“Cheap bastard.”
“H-Huh?”
I leaned forward, bit into the Pepero she’d offered, and chewed.
Maybe I was a bit excited right now, but I didn’t feel like turning down the snack in front of me.
‘Tasteless.’
“Hey, this shit tastes like ass.”
Flour and chocolate flavor. Not my thing.
Having woken up too early that morning, drowsiness hit me, so I let out a big yawn and face-planted onto my desk.
Before I did, my seatmate’s face hadn’t looked too great.
Guess the thousand-won thrill wore off.
“Saebyeok’s a bit rough around the edges with her words, so she gets misunderstood a lot... So please, please! Just don’t forget to say thank you when you receive something and sorry when you mess up. I’m begging you. It’d break my heart if you got misunderstood.”
Oh, right. Separately, she’d told me to say thank you when receiving something.
Thinking of Yuhyun brought it to mind right on cue.
“Still, thanks.”
I lifted my head and said it.
My seatmate’s not-so-happy face shifted subtly.
“Uh, uh. No biggie. So, what flavors do you like?”
“Dunno.”
I face-planted again and went to sleep.
For once, everyone I met being nice didn’t feel half bad.
* * *
“Saebyeok! Saebyeok! That kid said I’m pretty!”
Woo Jiyoon, who’d ended up seated right in front of me, chattered excitedly.
Seemed someone had complimented her looks.
“Did your burn scar show? I wanna keep that face from earlier...”
I propped my chin on my hand, blinked my sleepy eyes, and stared straight through Woo Jiyoon’s face.
There was a faint reddish-black mark on her cheek.
“Cheek. Looks like a bit of the scar’s showing.”
“Huh? But I reapplied the concealer on my cheek earlier... Must’ve rubbed off. Think they didn’t notice? Good.”
I yawned hugely as I watched Woo Jiyoon glance around nervously and reapply concealer to her face.
“Honestly, I think not covering it up looks better. Kinda badass when you’re fighting.”
“Your tastes are weird. Most people say it’s hideous.”
“You basing that on a survey or something? Fine, whatever—the facial markings are subjective, so opinions differ. But that’s it.”
The recent scar removal surgery had gone well; her skin tone was just a bit off, not nearly as bad as she imagined.
The supervisors were overreacting for no reason.
Woo Jiyoon suddenly stopped dabbing at her face and stared at me intently.
“…….”
“What.”
“……Nothing. You just talk kinda poignantly sometimes. Makes me think it’s your time to go.”
“Fuck off, why curse me like that all of a sudden. And that wasn’t to cheer you up.”
It was frustrating every time she glanced around at people I barely knew.
I scowled, and suddenly Woo Jiyoon burst out laughing.
“You know you’ve gotten kinda soft lately, right? And you’re the only one who talks about my scar like that.”
“What’re you on about. That uncle says it fine too.”
“Yeah, but... he’s got that ‘always says nice things’ vibe, so hearing it from you hits different.”
“Someone out there busting their ass to say nice shit is gonna cry.”
“We’re both thankful in different ways~ I just wanted to say you’re special to me.”
Humming, Woo Jiyoon referenced a video to cover her burn scar, fixing the uneven spots.
“No clue why, but the vibe’s good. I was worried about drama like in those school webtoons, but it was for nothing. Even saw Kyungseop chatting up some kids and fitting right in. He even approached them first?”
“Really?”
Unexpected...
Everyone seemed determined to start a new life.
Of course, I’d made a friend—one for proof in case Yuhyun checked on my school life.
My seatmate. Didn’t know her name yet.
...So, we’re still getting to know each other.
As I talked with Woo Jiyoon, someone approached from the side.
“…….”
It was Byun Woojin.
He came over beaming, arms full of snacks.
“…….”
He shared some with Woo Jiyoon and me, then looked a bit shy.
Byun Woojin waved his hand, gesturing for me to cup my ear—he didn’t talk much, but he’d whisper secrets to close friends.
“……The kids gave me these. Teachers like everyone too. No need to worry.”
Byun Woojin placed a stick snack like the one from my seatmate on my head and left the class.
Everyone’s faces were blooming like flowers, so I let out a hollow chuckle.
It’d been a while since I’d seen Byun Woojin this hyped.
For a moment, escaping the constant tense atmosphere for something soft and flowery like a spring breeze wasn’t bad.
§ § §
Thudding impacts continued.
Moon Serim had one leg pinning a student down, beating the crap out of them.
Even with the mana-control bracelet on, her base physical abilities remained intact.
Her fists trembled a bit from lingering tremors, but the blows still landed hard.
“What’s wrong? You’re Awakened, right? Trained and all? Fight back. Come on, fight back.”
Moon Serim grabbed the student’s collar and smirked.
It started when one student casually suggested a duel later, saying they were Awakened too, trying to bond.
The kid had just wanted some common ground.
“Look at her squirm. Fucking hilarious.”
Yeo Huhee clutched her stomach, cackling.
“Think you’re hot shit just ‘cause you Awakened as a flower-field reject? Seeing you prance around all proud makes my blood boil.”
The pinned student finally trembled and burst into tears.
“Whoa, crying now.”
The other Abyss kids in the class laughed at the sight of them crying.
When one tried to run, Yeo Huhee grabbed their ankle and tripped them.
Seeing them scared was thrilling.
In life, every place had its unspoken hierarchy. This little school was no different.
They all wore fake pity on their faces and offered hollow kindness, but Yeo Huhee preferred fear.
Pity came from being above someone, but fear was what you felt toward those above you.
Yeo Huhee, always weak and groveling at the bottom, wanted to play supervisor here at least.
First impressions mattered. These kids were pushovers.
Time to breathe the air up top for once. Being a leech on supervisors was exhausting.
‘Fall behind in the pecking order, and you’re fucked~’
Luckily, the posers lording it over here were a joke to crush.
Step one: start by stomping the weakest Awakened ones.