Chapter 79
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: The Precious Thing... (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
All the students checked the missions they had drawn from the roulette wheel.
Some wore relieved smiles at tasks that seemed somewhat easy, while others despaired over difficult ones.
"This is suspicious... It's the Vermilion Bird one..."
A man who had drawn number one grumbled incessantly, his mouth twisting in complaint.
Ignoring his insolent reaction.
"The submission deadline is one week from now! Whether you borrow it, steal it, or get it handed over outright—that's up to your personal abilities! Getting help from others or teaming up is part of your skill too, so don't hold back on methods or means. The quicker you submit, the more bonus points you get, so keep that in mind if you want top grades!"
With the shout of Bandit King Seo. D. Ohee.
The world ushered in the era of great thieves.
The first thing that happened was negotiation.
Cheon Luri boldly strode up to Geum Sihyeon.
"Scroll."
Seeing the [Retrieve the scroll from the 2nd floor of the women's/men's dormitory] in Luri's hand, Geum Sihyeon responded grandly.
"What's the price?"
The Heavenly Demon soccer kick nailed Geum Sihyeon's shin perfectly.
And before the overwhelming violence of the Demonic Cult, the future pillar of the Orthodox faction shed tears and submitted.
"Tch, tsk."
Moyong Taek clicked his tongue at the sight.
"What."
"......"
The moment those sharp eyes turned his way, he immediately invoked his right to silence to safeguard his life.
It was a heartbreaking scene where even familial love, subtly pushing his sister forward, crumbled before such ruthless martial might.
After the goal-accomplished pet Luri was led away by Myo Narang.
The three idiots shared their missions.
"Hmm... Mine's to bring back one bead from the rosary held by the Buddha statue in the academy director's office."
"Got it. Good luck."
"What."
After quickly ditching Unhak.
Geum Sihyeon scanned Moyong Taek up and down, gauging his value.
Does this guy count as one of Sister Seol's precious things?
By standard interpretation, family was a heavenly bond and naturally included among precious things.
But people always think within the confines of their own experiences.
Geum Sihyeon overlaid his own most logical example.
His little sister, Geum Siyu.
Precious? Not really.
Want to ditch her? Well, he did want to marry her off somewhere she'd never be seen again, so yeah.
Of course, if someone else roughed her up, that might piss him off a bit.
But he concluded she didn't fall into the "precious things" category.
Geum Sihyeon scrapped the plan to neatly toss Moyong Taek in front of Seo Dohee.
What you see depends on what’s in your eyes—a textbook case.
"Uh, Brother Geum, don't be like that—what's Brother Geum's mission?"
Unhak slyly draped an arm over Geum Sihyeon's shoulder.
Truly beggar-like affinity.
And the move of a martial genius who saw the potential in silver-tongued hypnosis.
No reason to shake him off, and fortunately, Unhak—who had bathed at dawn to prep for the exam—didn't smell like a beggar.
Geum Sihyeon handed over the scroll listing his mission.
"Whoa..."
Unhak let out a groan.
"Yoontaek, what's yours?"
"Retrieve one component from the Mind-Image Sword Debate video player in Debate Hall... yeah."
That was tricky in its own right.
Everything in the world functions properly only with harmony.
Missing even one part could shut it down immediately, and Debate Hall was Hundred Flowers Academy's top hotspot—never empty 24/7.
"Hmm..."
"Umm..."
Geum Sihyeon and Moyong Taek groaned in unison.
Of course, easy picks were rare among the roulette's nasty options, but these three had snagged the prickliest ones.
"But, ahem, hmm, uh, 'a woman's precious thing', ahem, that probably means..."
Unhak wore a bizarre expression, mixing coughs with his words.
The same image flashed through the three men's minds.
"Gah—"
Moyong Taek's kick landed squarely in Unhak's groin.
Geum Sihyeon averted his eyes.
A short while later.
Having hashed out a rough strategy, the three men set off in their own directions.
Geum Sihyeon headed to Debate Hall for the Mind-Image Sword Debate device.
Unhak went to scout infiltration routes into the academy director's office in the main building.
And Moyong Taek made a beeline for Moyong Seol.
"What, Yoontaek? What's up?"
"...Even you call me that, sis."
Moyong Taek sighed.
The crap Geum Sihyeon had spread was chipping away at his dignity everywhere.
Drool Taek, Cold Water Taek, Lava Taek.
Even the meaningless Shiny Taek...
But before he could stew in his anger, Moyong Taek looked up at Moyong Seol—and horror flooded his eyes.
"What the hell is that getup?"
"Hey now, that's no way to talk to your lovely sis."
"...Eat something bad?"
Moyong Taek wanted to gouge out his own eyes and slice off his ears.
Not her usual neat hair, but those pitiful twin braids—what the hell...!
And that coquettish, drawn-out tone.
Had his sister finally fallen into Qi Deviation? Doubting deep down, he desperately ignored the cringe.
"Sis, got anything precious?"
Instead, he threw out the question to escape this nightmare ASAP.
Moyong Seol's eyebrow twitched faintly.
"...Why do you ask? Out of the blue?"
"Ca-can't a brother... ask that between man and woman."
Hearing Moyong Taek's grumbling.
Moyong Seol's head spun.
She had clearly conspired with Seo Dohee to foist "that mission" on Geum Sihyeon somehow, so how was her little brother here asking her?
The original plan: she'd be active around the academy, their only real connection, so by his personality, he should've come straight to one of them...!
Suddenly, her eyes caught the scroll clutched in Moyong Taek's hand.
Snatch!
"Wh-what, suddenly?"
Brushing off his protest, Moyong Seol anxiously unrolled it.
[Retrieve one component from the Mind-Image Sword Debate video player installed in Debate Hall]
"Hmm~."
Her eyebrow settled back, and her eyes curved into huge arcs.
Hehehe.
Too shy to come himself, so he sent Taekie...!
Which means.
As expected, me...!
Feeling her sibling affection swell.
Moyong Seol patted Moyong Taek's head.
Under that ferocious pressure, he trembled like a rat hit by lightning, unable to even resist.
"Good job, my sweet little brother."
"Uh, uh..."
"Hehehe. Tell him if he comes himself, I'll~ verrry~ kindly let him know?"
"Uh, uhh..."
Moyong Taek felt a chill run down his spine but forced his expression steady.
"You too, sis—time to get married, right? Hehehe..."
He couldn't bear to look at Moyong Seol's menacing smile.
And he wrestled with his conscience.
Was it right to toss a friend into a frost spider's nest, lying in wait to snag its prey?
"Whoaaa..."
Debate Hall was still packed to the gills.
They said Mind-Image Sword Debate's popularity had exploded even more after the tournament...
No, it was finals season.
Don't these idiots study?
With a tinge of pity, he scanned the crowd filling Debate Hall.
"Worthless thing. Why are you here."
"What. I'm telling you now—I won't mix martial arts with a 5-0 loser."
"Urk...!"
Moyong Wicheon—whose nickname had evolved from "lowly thing" to "worthless thing"—geared up to sass back, so I shut him down immediately.
Where does a scrub dare talk to a master?
Ignoring Moyong Wicheon as he stumbled off with a defeated look, I glared at the video player on the ceiling.
A full leap could snag it—within reach.
But could I fend off those Mind-Image Sword Debate zombies, their eyes gleaming murderously, ready to mob or flog me?
That seemed like a stretch.
Plus, considering the grudges it'd rack up.
Way too risky just to boost Scchi Taek's grades.
[Cheon Luri: Get me the scroooollll]
[Cheon Luri: Candy too]
[Cheon Luri: Want ice candy]
[Cheon Luri: Can't find any lately?]
"...Am I a wallet?"
He frowned at the drawn-out chats, as if she'd forwarded them from some ice candy vendor.
A Demonic Cult so broke its sub-lord couldn't freely buy candy?
If they were that cash-strapped.
With Ten Thousand Gold Fortress's wealth, couldn't he just buy the whole Cult outright?
Buy it whole, and that uppity nose...
Whole. Buy it.
"!"
I'd lost my original intent.
Problems were meant to be solved with money.
Here I was, shirking the chaebol heir's noble duty.
And resorting to martial arts trickery?
Time for reflection. Deep reflection.
I strode confidently to Debate Hall's reception desk.
And.
"That video player—isn't it getting a bit outdated? Any interest in swapping for a new model? Ah, on the house."
Ranking 1st with 100 trillion in assets: Geum Sihyeon.
It was tournament-limited, but still—the first official tournament champ was me.
Two hours later.
Tempted by a tenfold dispatch fee, Ten Thousand Gold Hall's Xi'an main branch staff swooped in like sword-flying experts and thud-thud finished the swap.
"Thank you, Great Hero Geum Sihyeon!"
"Geum Sihyeon! Geum Sihyeon!"
"Ten Thousand Gold Fortress is a god...!"
"The image quality...! Pores are visibleee!"
"Gasp, even the underwear's rendered...!"
"Wang Sihyeon! Hwang Sihyeon! Hyun World Domination Hyunhyeonsei!"
"Tch... decent for a scrub..."
Thanks to the CRT-to-LCD-level upgrade, Debate Hall erupted into total pandemonium.
Me, Geum Sihyeon!
I basked in the adulation.
Detaching the old Mind-Image Sword Debate device and hauling it back to the dorm, Moyong Taek—who was already there—gaped in shock.
"...You didn't just rip it off haphazardly, right?"
"Bought it."
"Bought it?"
After explaining the whole story to the skeptic.
"...I'll repay this favor someday—"
"Over ten gold coins in gold alone?"
"—No need. We're bros."
"As expected, Drool Taek."
Yoontak couldn't even retort and looked away.
Instead.
"I tried not to say this, but..."
"What?"
"Avoid being alone with sis—no, Moyong Seol..."
"...!"
I glimpsed cosmic terror in Moyong Taek's quivering pupils.
What the hell had happened to him?
"If you put it that way..."
I humbly decided to heed my friend's warning.
Anyway.
I'd already found my own answer.
The next morning.
The first practical exam submission arrived at the Seo family head.
It was Geum Sihyeon.
"...Already? No way?"
Seo Dohee's pupils trembled faintly.