Chapter 10
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Spreading Rumors (3)
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Hero Academy's first day of classes was nothing particularly noteworthy.
'Feels like a mix of high school and college.'
The schedule couldn't be adjusted, but you could choose the subjects you wanted to take. Because of that, even classmates might not run into each other at all except for commuting to and from school. Anyway, the first day proceeded mostly with explanations of each subject due to this unique class structure.
Interesting ones, ones you had to learn, ones you didn't want... The cadets seriously pondered which subjects to take while listening to the descriptions.
"Geon-ho, what subjects are you going to take?"
Everyone except one person, that is.
"Do whatever you want."
"W-we could take them together."
"You're just planning to follow me around completely."
A quick glance.
Marren's subject selection sheet was completely blank. And, in a truly 'coincidental' fashion, my own sheet was also blank. Up to this point, you might think it was just one of those things, but Marren was openly fixated on my selection sheet.
Who in the world decides to copy their desk mate's choices for an entire year just to get close? It was truly an unbelievable story.
"I-it's not a bad thing..."
Thinking about it, it wasn't entirely wrong. But could this even be categorized as good or bad? It was a completely different issue that didn't fit into such classifications.
'Anyway, she'll probably follow me even if I fill it out secretly.'
After manipulating even my desk mate status, what was a subject list to her? Concluding that she'd follow no matter what, I openly wrote down my choices.
[Understanding Close Combat]
[Understanding the Relationship Between Dungeons and World Geography]
[Control of Qi Flow and Mana Operation]
[Basic Physical Training and Fundamental Sparring]
[Shamanism and Artifacts I]
The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th subjects were mandatory, while the 1st and 5th were electives chosen based on preference. This was where tastes diverged the most. Marren looked at my sheet and copied it exactly.
Rather than doing it secretly, her openness was somewhat likable, so I had nothing to say. Besides, first year was the time when you'd see each other the most anyway, making it perfect for building connections.
"Oh, and by the way, clubs are mandatory rather than optional for first-years, so please try to gain a broad range of experiences."
"Yes, sir!"
The cadets replied in perfect unison to Professor Ran's words and began chattering about which clubs to join.
'There's more to do than I thought.'
From subject selection to clubs. The academy had more fun elements inside than expected.
"Once you decide on a club, make sure to tell me, Geon-ho."
"...You have zero intention of hiding it, do you?"
"They say distance breeds indifference in the heart, so... it makes sense for us to stick together."
I don't recall ever saying I wanted to be friends with you.
'Definitely a kid from a wealthy family, raised with tons of love—overly self-centered.'
The problem was that she'd lived in such a perfect environment that fostered that self-centeredness. Grown without any lacks, possessing everything she wanted, she was paradoxically innocent. And with her sweet peach scent and ample chest pressing in, who wouldn't like it?
With her natural charm too, if this weren't my second time around, I might have become a pushover.
'Anyway... I'll have to deal with things one by one.'
As I thought that, Marren suddenly spoke up again.
"Geon-ho, if you have any items you're not using tomorrow among the things you use, could you bring them for me? Something full of your scent... A pillow would be great if possible... Or the dress shirt you're wearing now, or p-panties... would be fine too."
"W-what did you say?"
What the hell is this crazy girl saying?
Stunned, thinking I'd misheard, Marren continued without pause.
"W-well, to get close, it seems best to follow the superstition I believe in... So, keep that in mind and please do it... We're desk mates, after all."
What does being desk mates have to do with that? I tried to respond, but the moment I met Marren's eyes, no words came out.
Eyes that truly believed it was the right thing. Pupils filled with conviction that were madness incarnate. No matter how much I was rumored to be a wastrel son, compared to Marren, it was nothing.
"Then... I'll trust you to keep your promise and head out first. I have something to do..."
With those words, Marren left her seat, and I just blankly watched her back before standing up myself.
The academy schedule was set to end early today anyway, so there was only one issue to handle right away.
'Shall I go meet Jang-seok.'
It was time to collect my money.
"You gave your answer faster than expected. I thought you'd need time to think."
"It's something I can mull over even after meeting."
Kim Jang-seok responded to Kim Geon-ho like that, then impassively examined his son's expression.
'He's definitely changed.'
Normally, he shouldn't even be able to meet my eyes properly, let alone lift his head.
Whether he'd eaten something or was hiding it, his son was undoubtedly showing a different side from before.
"You're the first to enter here without tensing up."
"Why tense up just for a father-son meeting?"
The place where Kim Jang-seok was now wasn't a typical office. It was a private chamber for handling the most critical and confidential matters. Here, Kim Jang-seok always extracted gains through one-on-one meetings.
Who could face the Mountain Lord clan's leader's pressure without fear? Such people were exceedingly rare, and Kim Jang-seok was quite surprised that his son was one of them.
"You used to fear me quite a bit before. I worried a lot seeing my child tremble before his father..."
"Ah, sorry, but since I'm busy with public and private matters, how about we cut to the chase quickly?"
"You're the first to interrupt me."
"A son can be a bit rude to his parents sometimes."
The most excruciating part of such father-son conversations was for the servants listening nearby.
'Every word drips with killing intent...'
'No way the young master was always like this?'
'I'm struggling just to keep breathing without passing out.'
Even in one-on-one meetings, attendants were always present for service. Setting tea, preparing drinks, fetching documents, etc. The staff assigned for odd jobs could barely maintain their composure amid the swirling tension between father and son.
Kim Jang-seok seemed calm as he spoke, but he was emanating killing intent, and Kim Geon-ho leisurely smiled while meeting those murderous eyes. The tea drinker was fine, but the pourer's hands trembled uncontrollably.
The longer this continued, the higher the real-time reevaluation of Kim Geon-ho. At the moment when everyone except the parties involved was tense, Kim Jang-seok got straight to the point.
"So, what is it you want?"
"Two items from the Mountain Keeper Vault, and independence on information rights."
"Impossible."
"Three from the Mountain Keeper Vault, independence on information rights."
"Impossible."
"Two from the Mountain Keeper Vault, independence on information rights."
"Impossible."
"Then the deal's off. I can't go lower than that."
Smooth.
The conversation ended so anticlimactically, squandering all the prior tension. Kim Geon-ho even stood up immediately, showing no intent to probe further.
"Deals like that will leave you with nothing."
And it was Kim Jang-seok who stopped such a Kim Geon-ho. For the first time, the man who always seized control in every negotiation had lost the initiative and was clinging.
"I'm giving you a bargain."
"How far do you plan to squeeze with just one monster corpse?"
"That's why I'm saying it's a bargain. You sit at the table without knowing the true value of the trade item—talks won't go anywhere."
'Who taught you to negotiate like that?' met with 'A guy without basic trading sense dares to negotiate?'
"Are you really unaware of an undiscovered monster corpse's value, or are you testing if I'm an idiot?"
Don't negotiate like this. I carefully contacted the Mountain Lords first for a reason.
Not content with subtle prods, Kim Geon-ho openly provoked Kim Jang-seok's temper. The servants trembled, fearing they'd get caught in the crossfire.
"Kuhahahahaha!!!"
Dispelling such worries, Kim Jang-seok smacked the armrest and burst into hearty laughter.
"Indeed, even if picked up, you're still a son of the Mountain Lords."
"Ah, yes."
"Two items, and independence. You aimed for this from the start and asked big, right?"
"..."
"Deal. It was fun after a long time."
"Thank you."
The atmosphere shifted in an instant with one man's expression and tone. Kim Jang-seok was a living calamity, an eternal storm. The servants had never dreamed someone could stand unshakeable before him.
'The world said Seok-ho would be the heir...'
'But based on today...'
Even thoughts trailed off there. Committing it fully to mind felt irreversible.
"Then I'll be going."
In the space where the atmosphere hadn't cooled, Kim Geon-ho rose gracefully, opened the door, and left.
No one could think him a wastrel son from such conduct.
'I really thought I was dead.'
Huu-, clatter clatter clatter.
The moment he stepped outside, a deep breath escaped as if waiting, his jaw trembled, and his legs went weak. The killing intent from one of the world's strongest, who would become a main villain in the future. It transcended mere manageable threats into something entirely different.
A matter of life or death.
Any hint of faltering would have meant death. Even during light conversation, suspicion never ceased.
He had to endure spine-chilling killing intent until the very end. Without Ferocious Tiger's power, he might have foamed at the mouth and convulsed long ago.
'Anyway, I got everything I wanted.'
The incomplete humanoid monster corpse held little actual value. It was mere foreshadowing for the future—nothing more, nothing less. The real importance lay in what was to come. Yet he sold it dearly due to information asymmetry.
Gaining information independence was jackpot enough, but snagging two Mountain Keeper Vault items made it a perfect deal. This solidified future preparations considerably.
'And I'd marked some things in the Mountain Keeper Vault.'
Among valuables deemed precious, the most prized. A vault storing rare dungeon byproducts or artifacts—that was the Mountain Keeper Vault. Only those permitted by Kim Jang-seok could enter.
Not even family could just walk in, yet he'd secured two items. Plus, information independence rendered Hobong's surveillance meaningless. Effectively, Hobong was now just his errand boy.
'Time to go claim my loot.'
Calming his still-trembling body, he headed straight for the Mountain Keeper Vault. Sweet farming time began.