Misunderstanding (2)

The schedule for resuming practical classes was announced on Tuesday. But the dungeon practice session didn't go as planned. The preliminary investigation of the academy's internal training dungeon hadn't been fully completed yet.

"As announced in advance, instead of the dungeon practice experience today, we'll be touring Gwangmyeong Cave here in Suwon City. It's a general dungeon rather than a special one, and we'll focus on safe zones, but just in case, prioritize safety in all actions."

Taking sub-instructor Yang Han-na's advice as the signal, the cadets formed ranks and entered the dungeon. Yang Han-na added,

"Today's evaluation will be replaced by a tour reflection essay, so observe carefully. Submit the practice tour essay on the academy homepage by midnight tonight. Late submissions will be penalized."

Most cadets' eyes sparkled as they eagerly observed the real dungeon, but I wasn't particularly interested. I'd seen enough of them in my previous life to be sick of it.

Walking along with the group, I lagged to the back when something caught my eye.

Huh, what's this?

Curious, I brushed off the dirt covering it, revealing a jet-black key.

A key? Looking closer, it wasn't an ordinary modern key—it was large and thick, like something from the medieval era. Using Appraisal confirmed it wasn't ordinary.

Channeling mana into the key made it point in one direction like a dowsing rod. There must be a hidden dungeon inside this one.

Why the hell is this lying here?

Sometimes dungeon monsters dropped these extra dungeon entry keys. Probably someone who cleared a monster didn't check the drops properly and left.

But why here of all places... I was mulling it over when suddenly—thud—something hit behind me.

Turning around, Go Su-young had smacked her head into the wall and was grimacing fiercely.

"...Ah, shiiit. What the hell."

In that moment, it hit me. Oh, this was originally the key Go Su-young was supposed to pick up.

The memory came late. Go Su-young finds the hidden dungeon key, asks Choi Ji-seong since no one else will go with her, and they clear it together. Yeah, that's definitely it.

Damn, Go Su-young's lucky. But that luck's mine now.

I'll take it for now. If my memory's right, three people could clear that dungeon no problem.

I pocketed the key, grabbed Go Su-young, and rejoined the cadet ranks.

A day after submitting the tour reflection essay. Wednesday.

After classes ended, I headed to the library. Entering the reserved third floor triggered a notification.

Reaching my familiar secluded spot, I started sorting books as usual. Since I'd filled the quota quite a bit last time, I got the reward quickly.

As expected. This time it was a whopping 10,000 points.

"Jackpot."

But the rewards didn't end there.

"Whoa."

I had no idea there was a hidden achievement like this... Total surprise reward.

Probably get extra rewards for completing achievement chains.

Nice. I smirked at the unexpected windfall, but checking my smartwatch showed the library closing soon.

Time to head out.

Then I remembered the secret note from last time. Scanning the nearby bookshelves with Appraisal flooded me with info like a wave, making my head spin.

Limiting the scan and checking bit by bit made it manageable.

Nothing this time either, huh.

After a thorough search, I dusted my hands. What the hell was that note anyway?

As I pondered, a sudden dizziness hit hard.

"Ugh."

Clutching my forehead and staggering, a strange hunger stirred inside me. Thinking about this odd hunger brought one fact to mind.

Oh yeah, Void Tendril was in a fasting state now.

Already fully digested, huh. Digestion time passed way faster than expected.

Wonder what to feed it this time.

Conveniently, I had the necklace from last hunt. But it felt like a waste somehow.

If I had a mana stone, I'd feed it that. Should've bought one from the market.

But the market only sells processed mana stones. Processed ones have different effects from raw.

"..."

As I thought, my gaze landed on an ancient book on the shelf.

What if I fed it this? Something special might happen.

This area has sparse CCTV since even book sorting here is a mess. One book missing won't get noticed.

After agonizing, I grabbed a book from the corner, fed it, and digested.

Proficiency up, but no stat gain. Figures, no special energy means no stat change.

Before I could regret it, I reluctantly fed it the Clay Worm Spinal Necklace from before.

Not stats, but resistances went up. And two at once: general and fire.

"What the hell."

Feeding items gives random options from the item as abilities? Might as well test the Ring of Durable Defense I bought recently.

Unlike the necklace, the stat gain sucks, and 80-hour digestion.

From this, I deduced two things.

First, monster-material items give way better stat efficiency than mass-produced goods.

Second, items take much longer to digest than mana stones.

Finished my business on the third floor and headed down. Rounding the stairwell corner, a familiar face appeared.

Ha Yeon-si.

"..."

She was coming out of the second-floor library entrance, two books tucked under her arm. Probably borrowing for the reading circle OT.

Sensing my gaze, she spotted me and said,

"...What're you staring at."

Tch, what else would it be, you birdbrain.

She belatedly hid the borrowed books behind her back and scowled. That expression was just like a mean big sis hiding tasty snacks from her little bro.

Ugh, blockhead chick.

She'd probably already chewed out her dad and gotten the bodyguards pulled for OT day. Sighing, I walked past her.

Glancing at the book title as I passed: "...Romance novel?"

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tossed it casually, but Ha Yeon-si made a weird noise.

"...This isn't about you."

Who said it was? She's not exactly normal either.

I shook my head and left.

Ha Yeon-si checked the reading circle OT schedule, then had a massive fight with her father. Because of the hunting circle incident last time.

She succeeded in getting the bodyguards removed for the reading circle OT. Probably figured it was less risky than hunting.

Right after, she checked the reading circle's KakaoTalk group. The OT participant list included Imir, as expected.

He's planning to stick around till the end, huh.

"Hmm..."

Maybe her dad backed off easily because of Imir's presence. Might be best to pretend she doesn't know he's there.

"...Should I borrow some books."

Better to have at least one for the reading circle OT. With that thought, Ha Yeon-si ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠headed to the second floor.

Browsing loans, a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠novel caught her eye.

It was a romance novel.

"..."

Since it's reading circle OT, maybe a reading aloud or discussion. Better pick something presentable.

"Ahem."

In the end, Ha Yeon-si borrowed two: the romance novel and a weird philosophy book.

Heading out happily, she bumped into Imir coming down from the third floor.

Instinctively, she hid the books behind her back. But Imir glanced at the title as he passed.

"...Romance novel?"

Ha Yeon-si's pointed ears twitched sharply.

"...This isn't about you."

The title and situation were too similar; easy to misunderstand. She blurted it out hastily, but Imir just shook his head and left.

What was that reaction?

"Argh..."

Embarrassing. Her ears flushed red.

Days blurred ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with classes and training, and suddenly it was Saturday. Reading circle OT day.

Arriving at the portal station, a crowd had already gathered. I checked my gear while scanning participants.

Reading circle cadets, Choi Ji-seong, Ha Yeon-si, and Mo Ye-ji.

Mo Ye-ji came too. Seeing her neatly dressed brought the butterfly effect to mind again.

She won't have Oh Chun-hwa show up as the real body instead of a dummy in this incident, right?

Makes me uneasy. That's when Oh Chun-hwa, disguised as reading circle president Han Ga-rin, appeared.