Chapter 4
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Wastrel Son Kim Geon-ho (3)
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The lord of the mountains must be noble and towering. It was the corporate ethos of the Mountain Lords and the image that represented them.
Ruling from the highest perch, looking down on all below. That was the will of the Mountain Lords, and that will manifested as power. Overwhelming dominance and unyielding momentum.
These two were the source of the Mountain Lords' strength, and the man most suited to them was Jang-seok, called the Mountain Lord. Everyone below him looked up to him, aspiring to be like him. But in my first run, I was treated so poorly that even harboring such thoughts felt like a luxury.
'It took years just to get into the Third-Grade Martial Repository.'
A pathetic position where I couldn't even start from the same line as everyone else.
Even so, I never gave up, struggling desperately until finally, upon entering the Third-Grade Martial Repository, I discovered something unexpected.
'It was definitely around here somewhere...'
The Third-Grade Martial Repository usually had lax security and oversight, with only incompetent staff assigned to it.
As such, it was filled with commonplace junk, much like a used bookstore stocked only with basic arithmetic primers.
Swoosh, swoosh.
I brushed the dust off the books one by one, checking their titles. I'd told the staff to guard the entrance since I'd look around alone, so I had plenty of time.
Recalling my memory: aisle 542, shelf 5, book 18. Since the knowledge was categorized, it wasn't hard to find.
'Still right here.'
The treasure I'd unearthed while frantically scouring the Third-Grade Martial Repository, desperate for any change.
A single filthy, tattered volume amid the dusty tomes, without even a title, unregistered in any official records.
Ferocious Tiger.
The name of this book—and the power the Mountain Lords had rejected.
Not the sacred tiger ruling humans as lord of the mountains, but a monstrous beast devouring them, a harmful predator.
A savage inheriting royal blood yet unable to suppress its hunting instincts. With this power, I could sharpen my claws in secret.
'Last time, I was too late to learn it properly.'
Every power has its proper timing. In the first run, I'd missed every chance and despaired at my utter helplessness.
Shaking off the reverie, I pocketed the Ferocious Tiger without delay.
To master it properly, I needed the serum as a set, so there wasn't much I could do here right away. Or so I'd thought.
[Privilege :: Due to the effect of 'Back to the Beginning', you absorb the knowledge of Ferocious Tiger.]
[You can master and embody all forgotten aspects of Ferocious Tiger through the Mental Realm.]
[You have acquired Ferocious Tiger Energy.]
'Huh?'
This wasn't supposed to happen now.
The privilege was a boon, sure, but acquiring Ferocious Tiger Energy here posed massive problems.
Ruuuumble—.
A presence no wastrel son should possess erupted across the entire Low-Grade Martial Repository.
'Ngh...!'
Suuuwoooosh.
Like a newborn tiger roaring to announce itself just before the cry.
I hastily reined in the Ferocious Tiger Energy. I'd never wielded it properly, but basic control came from hundreds of readings.
"Forget everything you've seen."
Nod, nod.
I silenced the pale-faced staffer thoroughly and left the repository.
"I got the serum."
Thud.
Of course, I couldn't emerge right away, so the serum dropped from midair into my palm. Everything was perfect; the basics were set. Now, only one thing remained.
'Academy enrollment.'
The novel's main stage, the center of all events. It was time to enter.
The day of the academy entrance ceremony.
I, who was fated to rush alone with my luggage, now received flawless support under the Mountain Lords' backing.
'They're driving, carrying luggage to the dorm, handling furniture selection and even upkeep funds... Not bad.'
Just seeing Hobong, the Tiger Lackey secretly assigned to monitor me while driving, said it all. Jang-seok was probably flaunting his presence to lull me into thinking there was no surveillance. I wasn't fool enough to fall for such a sloppy ploy.
"Ugh... My body's so stiff."
"Isn't it because you slept too long?"
"Well, can't argue with that."
But how much longer?
Hobong, who'd been watching me, checked the nav and replied.
"About 40 minutes left. Feel free to rest more."
"Oh, yeah?"
Then I could keep going a bit. With that thought, I closed my eyes and slipped into the Mental Realm.
[Welcome to the Mental Realm.]
[You can train and master everything about Ferocious Tiger here from now on.]
The gentle guiding voice belied the harsh reality of this place.
'I really thought I'd die the first time.'
Unaware, I'd poked a lone scarecrow a few times. Then it moved and beat the crap out of me.
I took it without fighting back, nearly dying from the one-sided thrashing. The scarecrow's head read lv.1, and it hit me: I had to train by raising its level through the scarecrow.
Since then, I'd spent all day in the Mental Realm—or beating room—getting pummeled nonstop. Now its head read lv.4. I didn't know the max, but my current state wasn't bad.
—We're here, Young Master.
The external voice snapped me awake. The Mental Realm ignored spatial limits and reacted keenly to outside stimuli—perfectly practical. If only I'd had this in the first run; the world was harsh in many ways.
"I'll head straight to the ceremony, so Hobong, unpack my stuff in the dorm."
"That's..."
"You've been flexible since I sent you for the serum, so just do the same now."
Got it? And don't just unpack—mind the interior too.
Hobong nodded with a constipated grimace. If he was doing it anyway, why always nitpick?
Hero Academy
The massive letters greeted me as I stepped out of the car.
'Naming sense is something else.'
Built to forge heroes, this top academy had the world's talents clamoring to enroll. Naturally, my entry wasn't due to talent.
Adult circumstances, you might say. Bait to secure Mountain Lords investment and draw Kim Jang-seok's attention. I was the classic parachute drop, which was why Jang-seok had hesitated to send me.
Even as bait, as a Mountain Lord face's debut public activity, looking foolish meant better not to send me at all.
'Alright, time to move.'
In the first run, clueless me might've rushed to the auditorium to make the ceremony on time. But second-run me prioritized using future info over enrollment excitement. Weak and parachuted in, my path to shine was connections. My head brimmed with data on future bigshots, prioritized by approachability.
Swish, swish.
Stifling my presence, I slowly climbed the mountain behind the academy. From the first step, I maxed Ferocious Tiger Energy to suppress my aura—like a hunter masking scent and heartbeat. This was Ferocious Tiger's power.
'Going this far just for that one thing.'
A bit embarrassing, like plotting to sneak into the women's bath, but necessary. Fail to connect with her here on enrollment day, and I'd never get another shot.
'The sounds should be coming soon...'
How long had I climbed? By memory, the noise should've been audible nearby. Only birds chirping and leaves rustling so far. As I hurried to search further—
"Ahhng... Nng... Uuuh..."
A bold moan rang out, right on cue.
Squelch... Squelch...
A raw, wet chewing sound that drowned out the birds. Even without seeing, I could imagine how soaked her pussy was.
'Found her.'
Only one crazy bitch masturbated on the back mountain on enrollment day.
"Marren Mayribel, right?"
"Eh? E-Eh...? Kyaaahhh!"
Sorry for interrupting, but verification first. I revealed myself, and Marren shrieked, collapsing as if her waist gave out. Coincidentally, her fingering hand plunged into her pussy right then, her thighs quivering.
Squirttt.
"D-Don't... look at my pussy... Don't look... Ahng...!"
Telling me not to look at her pussy while climaxing and squirting nonstop—Marren Mayribel. Caught off guard, I froze as the fountain of pussy juice splashed my face.
"Hic... Sniff... Don't... look at pussy... Haaah... Nng..."
Squelch.
Even begging not to look, her arousal lingered as she fingered her pussy once more.
This was the Marren Mayribel I'd sought.
Lick.
Unconsciously, I licked the pussy juice trailing down my cheek.
'Sweet.'
True to a fantasy novel, it tasted like peach.