Specificity and Speculation
"…Ah, that mad dog."
Two hours later, I dragged my battered body back to the dorm. At least the dungeon experience and monster preview were handled via online notices after the fact. Lucky break.
"…I'm gonna die."
If not for the bracelets, I'd have been totally fucked. Maybe because they were worth 20 million won in cash. Especially since I was wearing a pair—the effect was solid. Expensive shit does deliver.
By the way, the shop has a function to convert points to cash. Exchange rate is 2:1—2 points for 10,000 won. But there's a limit.
"…The bracelets' mana durability must be wrecked."
All mana gear needs energy to operate, like electronics. If batteries power gadgets, processed mana stones fuel mana gear. And those processed mana stones are ridiculously pricey…
Lying flat on the dorm floor, the bracelets' effects slowly restored my vitality. Once I felt halfway human, I stripped off my cadet uniform and showered. The cold water to clear my head only made my body heat up, bringing on a wave of drowsiness. Checking my smartwatch, it was an awkward hour. Sleeping now might mean skipping dinner.
"…Might as well hit the convenience store."
But first.
I lay on the bed and pulled up my status window.
Physical durability sharply increases.
Health stat +0.1
Physical durability sharply increases.
Health stat +0.1
Physical durability sharply increases.
Health stat +0.1
The status window lit up with a barrage of flashy alerts the moment I opened it.
"…Fucking hell."
How brutally does he have to hit for my health stat to go up with every blow? Just how many times…
"…Some kind of warning, maybe."
Hellhound Park Dae-sik. Mad Dog Park Dae-sik lives up to the nickname—once he catches a scent, he doesn't let go until he's sniffed out the prey's secrets. Persistent to the point of annoyance. That's why people call him Mad Dog instead of Hellhound.
"Doesn't even know how dark it is under the lamp… sigh."
Frustrating, but I can't spill anything about the demons right now. The second my info leaks, I'm assassinated.
"…Huh."
Besides the health boosts, something else caught my eye.
Special stat generated.
Acquired special stat 'Tenacity'
"…Oh?"
Actions classified as reactions rather than standard training boost specific stats. Rack up a certain stat in a short time, and there's a tiny chance to unlock a special stat.
"Jackpot. Fucking jackpot."
1. Stat
2. Special
3. Resistance
The higher this stat, the better you endure all forms of attacks.
Misfortune doesn't always end badly. Snagging a special stat this early is huge.
I checked my full stats while I was at it.
Strength: 9.2
Health: 12.4
Intelligence: 8.1
Dexterity: 8.7
Technique: 9.3
Tenacity: 1
Luck: 3
Excluding the new tenacity and luck, most stats had grown evenly.
"…Got beat so much, health skyrocketed."
What, double health event? Still, tenacity alone is a massive win.
Anyway.
…Yawn. So tired.
I set an alarm and closed my eyes.
[Message received.]
────
Missed the alarm somehow. Or maybe shut it off in my sleep. Checked the time—about four hours passed. But my body felt like I'd slept ten hours straight. Vitality bracelets are cheat items.
Stretching, I checked the message on my smartwatch.
[Check dungeon experience notice. Posted on academy homepage.]
[Check monster practical notice. Posted on homepage.]
Some instructors post class notices on the academy homepage. I could access it via smartwatch, but the controls suck, so I booted the computer. Academy cadet welfare is top-notch—every dorm room has a personal PC.
Logged in with my cadet number, and notices popped up in my enrolled courses list.
"…Toughen up and come ready, huh."
It was a notice asking to report any allergies, special constitutions, or health issues in advance. First day of practicals gonna be brutal.
I was about to shrug it off and close the page when something in the corner caught my eye.
[1st Year Concept Board]
1st Year Concept Board. A pinned section for highly upvoted posts by freshmen cadets. Lots of activity since before orientation.
…Might as well peek.
I clicked in without thinking. First post that grabbed me:
There's this weird freshman cadet who went from 280th to 120th this time. Was bottom-tier since officer academy days—usually that locks you in the shitter. How's the growth speed even possible?
No need to read closely—it was about me.
"…Well, look at this."
Posted yesterday. Guess that's why I got all those points. Poster was anon with the classic consonant 'ㅇㅇ'.
Curious, I clicked in.
Content: Weird freshman cadet climbed from 280th to 120th. Bottom-feeder since officer academy—should be stuck in the gutter. Growth speed like that possible?
Why switch from spear to fists? Sparring with Choi Ji-seong talk, digging for info on him. That's it.
Content was meh. But the comments? Cadets' reactions were weird.
Some surprisingly positive takes on me.
And baseless haters.
"…No parents."
I scrolled calmly. My Choi Ji-seong spar probably drew attention. This post had tons of comments. Roughly 50 defending, 40 hating. Rest conspiracy crap: academy lobbying, instructor connections, dean's secret kid, etc.
"…Wish I really was the dean's secret kid."
Nah, that'd be risky. Whatever.
Skimming indifferently, one comment grated on me.
What a loudmouth know-it-all.
"…Sigh, what do you know."
Posted one minute ago. No expectations, I replied.
Refreshed after more comments—surprise reply already.
Protein for every meal, huh? Why ask if it's me?
Calmly replied.
Ah, got it. Some people can't be reasoned with.
"Sigh… why am I arguing with kids."
Reality hit. Tried to ignore and close, but new reply.
Got hooked on my comment. Defended myself subtly.
Fair. Outsider might think so. But with Mad Dog Park Dae-sik and academy shit, it's not. Plenty evidence, but…
Dropped minimal info, then quit.
Pay? On anon board? Then it hit me.
Wait… hold up.
I typed to test.
1 sec, 2, 3… Replies that were nonstop halted over 30 secs. Then comments started vanishing.
"…Ha Yeon-si confirmed."
Golden Horizon guild leader's daughter, world's top info guild heiress Ha Yeon-si. Insatiably curious info hound with a two-faced shady personality. Clocked her from "PrecogKiller" anon. Already hustling like the guild-founder-to-be she becomes.
"…Pfft, hilarious."
Didn't expect her scraping intel here. Fun seeing new sides to characters.
Chuckling, new reply on mine.
Too lazy for more, I shut down the PC.
* * *
"Whoa, shit."
Ha Yeon-si's heart dropped.
"What the… this guy…"
…Identity pinpointed. How?
Cadet board is pure anon. Designed so even the dean can't track—cadets only. How…
"…Some talent?"
Cadets don't know each others' powers exactly.
"Shouldn't have deleted comments…"
Panicked and wiped them. Thief spooked by own footsteps.
Deep in thought, she vowed to tread more carefully from now on.