An Unexpected Windfall
"This is the dormitory building. Guys on the left from the stairs, girls on the right."
After the exams wrapped up, Park Dae-sik led the new cadets to the dorms.
"Just so you know, this building has the most CCTV coverage in the entire academy. Anyone caught screwing around will regret it."
Park Dae-sik slammed his fist into his palm with a thwack-thwack, laying down the law.
"Official classes start next Monday, so get your shit together. Exam results and class assignments will be sent out via smartwatch sometime today. I'll hand out the smartwatches now—come up one by one when your name's called. Let's get started."
He began calling names in order.
"Kim Ga-ul."
"Yes, sir!"
"You're in room 301."
"Sir, yes sir!"
The cadets received their smartwatches one by one and headed to their rooms. Academy dorms were strictly one person per room.
"...Imir."
A moment later, it was Imir's turn.
"Yes."
"Your room's down that way. Here's your smartwatch."
Park Dae-sik handed it over, giving Imir a knowing look.
The only new cadet among them who'd fought bare-handed.
'A rare breed these days.'
Hero stat growth was simple and brutal: the more pain your body endured, the faster you leveled up. That's why, back in the day, plenty of cadets made fists their main weapon.
'But...'
Times change. Old ways get phased out. And the old paths always draw fire.
The seeds of a new era always trample yesterday's common sense to grow.
'No one grows stats the traditional way anymore. They know how torturous and pointless it is.'
Even back then, martial artists were the domain of the dirt-poor—folks who couldn't afford weapons and were forced to throw punches. The academy's wealth gap was stark even now. Only the best-supported seeds bore the finest fruit.
'...And yet, exceptions always pop up.'
Park Dae-sik recalled the spar an hour ago. He'd seen it clear as day: Imir channeling mana into his fist during the match with Choi Ji-seong. It was faint—easy to miss without focus. But his eyes had caught it.
Unlike the others, he'd been watching this foolhardy cadet who'd chosen his own path over Choi Ji-seong's.
'More interesting than Choi Ji-seong, even.'
Park Dae-sik cracked a sly smile.
"Imir."
"Huh? ...Yes?"
"Keep it up. I've got your back."
"Oh? Uh, yes, sir."
Imir bowed his head and headed to his assigned room.
"Holy shit... didn't expect him to talk to me like that."
I shut the door and let out a sigh of relief. For some reason, that look in his eyes felt off—like he was sizing me up, suspicious.
"No way he's pegging me as a demon, right?"
Demons. Humans who'd contracted with devils, lost their humanity, and threatened mankind. They lurked even inside the academy.
But none among the new cadets. For obvious reasons they didn't know.
...Which was why they always suspected and tested the freshmen.
"Did I show off too much or something?"
Come to think of it, the circumstances were suspicious as hell. Rank 280 in admissions—a nobody from prep school. Then suddenly acing the class placement exam, ditching his spear for fists, and holding off the genius poster boy Choi Ji-seong for three whole minutes.
...I'd suspect me too.
"Fuck it, whatever."
Nothing to hide anyway. Clean slate.
I unpacked while checking out the room. A compact one-room setup, about 500 square feet. Reminded me of my old college bachelor pad. Fully furnished, everything I needed.
"...Exhausted."
Still early evening, but I felt wiped. Back-to-back exams?
...Maybe crash for a bit. Plenty of time before dinner.
Shower and nap? Nah, I shook it off. Slacking now would make it harder to tighten up later.
'Gotta build good habits from day one.'
There was a damn good reason I had to grind.
I knew the future's bad end.
'...Total wipeout.'
What the hell happens fifteen years from now? How does a monster like Choi Ji-seong bite it?
The psycho manifesting mana as a freshman ends up dying with the other protags. Made zero sense.
"......"
Right now, I wasn't just outmatched by Choi Ji-seong—I couldn't touch Han Cheol-woo, Yoo Seong-won, Woo Yu-na, Ha Yeon-si, Mo Ye-ji, or Go Su-young either.
Leveling them up quick was one play, but the real fix was powering myself up. That way, even if fate derailed, I'd have options.
"...Time to move."
I stripped off my cadet uniform, showered quick, and threw on training gear. As I laced up my shoes, something clicked.
Oh yeah, the Contribution Shop sold vitality restoratives. Maybe pop one?
"Hm."
...Solid idea.
I pulled up the Contribution Shop window.
"Whoa."
But what greeted me was unexpected.
> [132 points acquired.]
> [100 points acquired.]
> [100 points acquired.]
> [1,500 points acquired.]
> [1,000 points acquired.]
> [150 points acquired.]
> [300 points acquired.]
> [300 points acquired.]
"......?"
A ridiculous pile of points had dropped.
"What the hell."
Checking the acquisition logs made it click.
> [Numerous individuals have taken interest in you.]
> [A key individual has taken interest in you.]
> [A key individual has taken interest in you.]
> [A key individual has shown great interest in you.]
> [A key individual has shown great interest in you.]
> [A special individual has shown slight interest in you.]
> [A special individual has taken interest in you.]
> [A special individual has taken interest in you.]
Total haul: a whopping 3,582 points. Added to my existing 1,002, that made for serious cash.
Sweet deal, but what the fuck did I do to earn it?
"No way."
Had to be the Choi Ji-seong spar. Attention from characters counted toward influence.
"The 'numerous' are probably regular cadets... 'key individuals' are academy staff like instructors. 'Special individuals'... the protags."
Rough math checked out. 132 regular cadets at 1 point each: 132 total. Two instructors with heavy interest, others standard. Three protags: two standard interest, one slight.
"The two standard from protags... Choi Ji-seong and Mo Ye-ji?"
Nah. Mo Ye-ji was pathologically indifferent to anyone but the main cast.
"Then..."
Han Cheol-woo, probably. Watched the spar and took notice. Even Mo Ye-ji reassessed after seeing it.
"Damn, jackpot anyway. Huge W."
No need for one-off vitality pots now. There were permanent recovery gear options.
Grade: Advanced
Type: Special Accessory
A bracelet that rapidly restores vitality.
• Increases stamina by 1.5x.
• Boosts vitality recovery by 150% during rest.
• Slows physical fatigue buildup slightly.
I dropped 4,000 points on the bracelet.
Geared up, I headed out for training. Two hours of grind, then hit the cafeteria.
Turning the stairwell corner, I spotted a girl climbing up from below.
"......"
Mo Ye-ji. Right, she'd nosebled out back there. Probably just got treated and made it to the dorms.
"...You."
She spotted me and scowled, expression dark.
"What?"
Maze test grudge maybe?
"You threw the maze match."
"Not that..."
"Then what?"
Mo Ye-ji suddenly held her breath, eyes widening. I knew what that meant. Precog kicking in.
"...Urk."
She clutched her forehead, staggering. Nosebleed again.
"Hey, whoa, you okay?"
"What... the hell are you?"
"...Huh?"
What nonsense was this?
"Hah... no, nothing. Forget it."
She reined in her power and brushed past me.
"The fuck. ...She eat something bad?"
I glanced after her, then headed to the training grounds.