Chapter 193
Chapter 193
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 194
Chapter Title: Unexpected Connections and Top Ranks
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I met Ha-ryeong's gaze.
I had no idea what he was thinking, but he was looking at me with deep, soulful eyes.
What was this? This was the first time facing Ha-ryeong as Kim Seon-woo.
Then I remembered the fact that Ha-ryeong had taken an interest in 'Kim Jin-woo.'
Since I shared some resemblance with Kim Jin-woo,
he must have been feeling some doubts related to that.
This wasn't good.
Ha-ryeong was an S-Rank Demon.
Even within the Ten Demons Assembly, where the top Demons gathered, he was among the strongest.
There was nothing good about catching the eye of someone like that.
I naturally averted Ha-ryeong's gaze and looked at Lee Seo-jun instead.
"Lee Seo-jun. You said the remaining time is free, right?"
"Yeah, that's right. Today's schedule ends here."
"I see. Then since there's nothing else to do, should we head back to school?"
Lee Seo-jun shook his head at my words.
"We came all this way. It'd be a shame to go back already. There's lots to see around here. Let's check it out."
"Sounds good."
Shin Young-jun chimed in.
"Kim Seon-woo, what about you? You're not gonna bail alone again, are you?"
"Nah. I'll stick around."
Lee Seo-jun showed a surprised reaction to my words. Choi Seo-yoon beside him did the same.
"Oh. For real? Great, then."
Honestly, there was no real need for me to stay here.
But with Ha-ryeong and the original story's major villains gathered in this place, I couldn't help feeling uneasy.
If something happened while I was gone and Lee Seo-jun or the others got hurt, it'd be a headache.
That was when it happened.
A man with an unfamiliar face and Ryang-ryang appeared behind Ha-ryeong.
Wondering who the man was, I used Character Insight, and it turned out he was a B-Grade Demon I didn't know.
He was probably one of Ha-ryeong's subordinates who didn't appear in the original story.
"Ha-ryeong-nim, the investigation is complete."
"Good work."
Ha-ryeong replied like that, then turned his gaze to Ryang-ryang.
Ryang-ryang avoided Ha-ryeong's gaze. It was the look of someone guilty about what they'd done during the match.
"We'll talk about today's incident later when we get back."
According to the original story, Ha-ryeong had planned to use Ryang-ryang to promote his main business of underground events.
But Ryang-ryang's sudden outburst today had ruined all of Ha-ryeong's plans.
He looked calm on the surface, but he was probably pretty pissed inside.
"Huh? Found it!"
At that moment, a voice came from behind.
The voice was so loud that my head turned automatically toward it.
It was Baek Eun-seong and Natasha, their identities hidden with face masks.
"Wow. Great match today."
At Baek Eun-seong's sudden attention, Ryang-ryang glanced at Ha-ryeong.
It was a look asking how to respond.
In the end, Ha-ryeong stepped forward himself.
"Sorry, but the fighter isn't in good condition, so please leave."
Ha-ryeong reached out his hand, trying to push away the approaching Baek Eun-seong.
That was when it happened. Natasha stepped forward and grabbed Ha-ryeong's arm.
"I know you. I forgot for a moment since it's been 21 years."
Ha-ryeong nodded, indicating he knew her too, at Natasha's words.
"I think I know who you are as well. Aren't you a subordinate of that arrogant one who tried to gain freedom in a human body?"
"And you. Didn't I hear that the one you served abused his great powers and died from the backlash?"
Natasha shot back, laced with killing intent.
I was eavesdropping on their conversation, feeling puzzled.
Because I couldn't understand what they were talking about.
It seemed like they were referring to 'Jin Cheon-woo' and the previous generation's Demon King, the 'Prophet Demon King'...
No, more than that, were they acquaintances?
There was no such description in the original story?
Baek Eun-seong, caught between the two, looked back and forth before speaking.
"What? You know each other? Who's this?"
"Someone I had a small connection with before you joined the team. No, not a person."
"Not a person? Then what? Don't tell me a de—"
"Shh. I'll tell you later. Let's go."
Natasha grabbed Baek Eun-seong's arm and pulled him back, then they disappeared somewhere.
Ha-ryeong watched them silently before taking Ryang-ryang and vanishing somewhere as well.
In an instant, an unknown storm had swept through and passed.
I mulled over their conversation again, lost in thought.
From the content, it seemed like Jin Cheon-woo and the Prophet Demon King had met. Why?
I was deep in speculation about Ja-un and the previous Demon King's relationship.
That was when Shin Young-jun, who had gone somewhere briefly, approached us.
"Hey. There's a mystery virtual game center on the second floor!"
Having finished the enjoyable yet exhausting schedule, we were walking toward the main gate of the Wizard Academy.
Looking up at the sky, it was dyed in red sunset hues.
Time drags during training or school classes, but on playdays like this, it flies by.
"Ah, I'm stuffed."
"Me too. Wasn't that meat sauce amazing?"
Lee Seo-jun and Shin Young-jun walked side by side in front of me, chattering noisily about today's events.
Things at the arena, things at the game center, things at the restaurant, and so on.
Listening to their stories from behind made me unconsciously recall today's events.
The most memorable was the encounter between Ha-ryeong and Natasha.
There was no depiction of their meeting in the original story, so I watched them nervously, wondering if something would happen.
Fortunately, no major incidents occurred.
I was worried the flow might change from the original again, but it was fine.
If Ha-ryeong and Natasha had started fighting...
No. Thinking about it, if they fought, I could easily take out one of the major villains, so it might actually be a good development.
"Umm!"
Lost in my thoughts while walking, a clear voice rang out.
Turning my head, I saw Choi Seo-yoon stretching her arms high.
Her movement was so big that my gaze was drawn there involuntarily.
Our eyes met exactly then.
Choi Seo-yoon approached my side with light, cheerful steps, as if seizing the moment.
"The games were fun today, right? You looked like you were enjoying it a lot earlier."
"Yeah, they were fun."
It was genuinely fun, playing without a care for the first time in ages.
A survival shooter game using mystery virtual space.
A virtual reality game I'd only imagined, so it was thrilling and exciting.
It even subtly favored me because it followed real physical abilities.
The downside was the usage fee exceeding 100,000 won per hour.
"Let's go again next time. I know even better places than the one today."
Choi Seo-yoon said in a cheerful voice.
"Oh, and there are tons of great restaurants there too. Senior, anything you want to eat? I can find out for you."
I looked at Choi Seo-yoon chattering away nonstop. What had her so excited? Her words just kept flowing.
I'd felt this before, but Choi Seo-yoon's positive energy had the power to make those around her feel good.
That must be why she was so popular.
Then our eyes met again.
Choi Seo-yoon blinked her big eyes, then smiled prettily.
Seeing that, I couldn't help but smile.
"What are you even planning to do?"
I said it, packing in multiple meanings and emotions.
Choi Seo-yoon tilted her head, not understanding.
"Pardon?"
I shook my head.
"Nah, don't mind it."
8 PM.
Back at the dorm, I was staring at Gretel from behind like a hyena stalking prey.
Gretel was munching on sausages while watching TV, oblivious to my gaze.
I crept up to Gretel stealthily. Then, with quick speed, I reached for the plump, ripe fruit on her head.
At that instant.
Whoosh!
Gretel spun around instantly to face me. She'd sensed my killing intent(?).
She stood up on her short legs from her spot, trying to distance herself from me.
But I wasn't about to let her escape that easily.
Flash!
I activated 'Instant Acceleration.'
Perceived time slowed, and my body exploded forward.
Gretel summoned tree vines toward me right away, but she couldn't block my Instant Acceleration movement.
Dodging all the extending vines stylishly, I rolled on the floor and reached for Gretel's fruit.
Pop!
"Eeek!"
Gretel let out a scream of pain and knelt like a warrior stabbed by a sword.
In my hand was a fully ripened yellow fruit.
[Mysterious Demonic Tree Fruit (S)]
Classification: Spiritual Medicine
Description: Upon consumption, Stamina and Speed increase by 5%.
Improves constitution. Allows more flexible body movement.
Expels bodily waste, emitting a pleasant fragrance.
Makes it easier to gain others' favor.
"Hmm."
The fruit's effects weren't much different from the Demonic Tree Fruit I got last time.
5% stat increase and constitution improvement.
Since my body was already quite flexible, the flexibility effect appealed to me a bit.
"...But what's this pleasant fragrance?"
A useless option attached.
Should I think of it as saving on perfume? I don't even wear perfume.
"Better than nothing."
Plus, it makes gaining favor easier, so not bad. Better than dislike.
I opened my mouth to swallow the fruit.
Then I felt a stinging gaze on the back of my head. Turning around, Gretel was looking at me with tears welling in her eyes.
I realized this wasn't the time to leisurely eat the fruit.
"Gretel, sorry. Did it hurt a lot? Come here."
I pulled Gretel into a hug.
Ring ring! Ring ring!
I jolted awake to the alarm from my Smart Student Notebook.
"Argh."
Like last time, I'd passed out after eating the fruit.
I got up, stretched, and activated Outsider's Benefit to check the backlog messages.
[Due to the Dragonkin trait 'Potion Amplification' effect,
additional stats acquired.]
[Acquired additional Stamina 0.73, Speed 0.4.]
The fruit's effects applied properly, including Potion Amplification.
I immediately checked my status window.
［Stats］
Stamina: 77.59
Strength: 76.57
Mana: 64.1 Speed: 42.61 Agility: 73.3 Dexterity: 29.2
"Oh ho."
My stats had risen quite a bit.
They were already high lately, and percentage increases made the efficiency insane.
A few more fruits and I'd surpass 100.
"Sniff sniff."
I checked my body's scent.
It was supposed to smell nice, but I couldn't really feel it.
Maybe the effect hadn't fully kicked in yet.
Next, flexibility.
Testing body flexibility is simple.
Just do the splits.
I slowly spread my legs.
My previously stiff legs, unable to open beyond a certain angle, now spread wide easily.
"Oh. Oh. Ooooh?"
Doing partial splits, I effortlessly reached a full split. With focus, I could go further.
At this level, ballerinas have nothing on me.
"Ah, right. Time to get ready for school."
I quickly washed up, had a simple breakfast, and said to Gretel, sprawled asleep in a star shape.
"Gretel, I'm off."
I opened the dorm door and headed to school.
Arriving in the classroom, students greeted me warmly.
"Seon-woo! Hi!"
"Seon-woo! Heard? Final exam results come out today. Must be nice for you."
Final exam results today, huh.
Overall 5th was already locked in, so no butterflies or nerves.
Still, seeing the report card with my own eyes would feel good.
"Yeah?"
"Oh. Kim Seon-woo's confidence and chill vibe?"
"Ugh. Jealous of that nonchalance."
Ignoring the extras talking to me, I sat down.
Gazing blankly out the window, a greeting voice came from behind again.
Turning, Yu A-ra entered, face half-covered with a scarf over her coat.
"A-ra. Heard exam results drop this morning."
"......Yeah?"
Yu A-ra nodded. She didn't look thrilled.
Probably estimating her own scores.
Our eyes met then.
Her eyes held rivalry, envy, complex emotions as she looked at me.
Then a student checking their Smart Student Notebook shouted loudly.
"Huh? Exam results are out!"
As if on cue, every student pulled out their Smart Student Notebooks.
Yu A-ra glanced around, then trudged over and sat beside me.
"What?"
"Curious about your rank. Let's check together."
Yu A-ra said coolly, unwrapping her scarf.
"......Sure, whatever."
Scores would be public anyway, no issue.
I pulled out my Smart Student Notebook and accessed the info system.
Yu A-ra scooted close to look together.
Then she paused, looking up at me.
"Did you change shampoo?"
"Nope?"
Yu A-ra tilted her head, sniffed, and pressed even closer.
"Whoa, hey hey. What's with you?"
Freaked out, I leaned back.
Undeterred, Yu A-ra closed in more, then pulled away.
"......Something smells nice. Not cologne."
The fruit effect?
I sniffed myself again. Nothing to me.
"Sniff sniff. Dunno what you mean."
"Yeah? It definitely smells different."
Yu A-ra shoved her face in again.
"Hey, stop."
At my firm refusal, Yu A-ra backed off.
"......Fine. Let's check scores."
"Yeah."
I turned back to the Smart Student Notebook.
The comprehensive info system... Ah, there.
［2nd Semester Final Evaluation Grades］
［Kim Seon-woo］［2-A］
［Practical - 1st Place］
［Theory - 1st Place］
［Final Total - 5th Place］
"......Huh?"
Yu A-ra beside me looked shocked at me.
I was a bit surprised too, confirming with my own eyes.
['Final Top 5' achievement unlocked.]
[Reward: 10,000 points acquired.]
['Practical 1st Place' achievement unlocked.]
[Reward: 5,000 points acquired.]
['Practical and Theory Simultaneous 1st Place' achievement unlocked.]
[Reward: 5,000 points acquired.]
I stared blankly at the report card.
I'd expected 5th overall, but seeing 'Practical 1st Place' stirred complex emotions from deep within.
Then, the back door slid open, and Lee Seo-jun entered. He seemed unaware of the results yet.
Yu A-ra looked at Lee Seo-jun, then back at me.
"......You beat Lee Seo-jun. Congrats on 1st."
The Regressed Extra Becomes a Genius