Chapter 121: End of Semester (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 121: End of Semester (2)
The break was just around the corner.
With only a few days left.
Officially, all coursework was finished, and grades had been finalized.
Students could be seen packing up and leaving all over campus, but most of the first-years remained.
Well, it wasn't as if the break would be all that different.
The dormitories would remain open for students who came from far away.
Above all, the training facilities here were the best in the country, second to none.
It was only natural that so many first-years chose to stay.
And my plan was the same.
For now, I planned to remain.
I had no intention of leaving.
“Hoo…”
Early in the morning, I was running a course along the campus.
Beside me, as always, was Yu Hana.
We had run together every day this past semester, unless something came up.
We were so in sync, we were practically longtime partners.
As I ran my morning jog, I naturally began to organize my plans for the future.
First, my primary objective was clear.
‘Bulgaram.’
The reward from the Association.
I had to exercise my right to enter Bulgaram's Workshop.
What kind of reward I would receive… even I didn't know for sure.
He has such a peculiar personality.
But one thing was certain.
Through this opportunity, I would definitely grow stronger.
After all, by possessing a Fragment, I had met the minimum requirement.
And second.
Acquiring a Fragment from a main character.
You could say the Association's reward was merely a stepping stone for this second objective.
There were three candidates, but…
The first target I had selected was none other than Yu Hana, sweating right beside me.
After our run, I slowed my breathing and looked at Yu Hana.
Beads of sweat glistened as they ran down her forehead.
Noticing my gaze, she smiled and asked.
“What is it?”
I watched her for a moment before speaking.
“Do you remember what we talked about back then?”
“Hm?”
She tilted her head.
“The trip. The one we planned to take together during the break. Any changes to your schedule?”
I asked again.
Yu Hana was an incredibly busy person.
I couldn't have any hitches in the plan.
Of course, I planned to take her one way or another.
Whether by coaxing… or by dragging her there.
“Ah… you mean that?”
She drew out her words before cautiously confiding in me.
“Well, about that…”
What is it?
Did something happen?
“I… I'm supposed to undergo the Succession with my father this break.”
Ah.
So that was it.
Succession.
Succession was a traditional ritual of the Yu Family.
A rite of passage where the family head officially passes their position to the heir—the next generation.
For several weeks, the head and the heir are completely cut off from the outside world, entering a Cave to do nothing but spar repeatedly.
Until the heir can defeat the current head.
It was an incredibly important event for her.
Because it was something she had to overcome on her own.
It was usually performed around the second year…
I nodded silently.
‘As I thought.’
It seemed I wasn't the only one who had noticed Yu Hana's ridiculous growth rate.
Her father and family head, Yu Mujin, must have realized it as well.
Yu Hana's skills had already far surpassed expectations.
Her growth curve was so steep that, from Yu Mujin's perspective, there was no reason to delay it any further.
“…Sorry. Are you disappointed?”
Yu Hana asked cautiously, watching my expression.
“Hm? No, it's not that.”
It wasn't that.
I was just wondering who to choose as the next target.
“It's not that I don't want to go. Absolutely not. Absolutely.”
Yu Hana muttered the same words over and over.
As if to emphasize that she wasn't refusing because she didn't want to go.
I gave a slight smile.
“Yeah, I get it.”
Well, even if she had said she didn't want to go with me, I had no intention of letting her off the hook.
If it weren't for the Succession, I would have taken her by any means necessary.
And with that, Yu Hana was moved down the list.
Now, I had to hurry and find the next target.
‘Who should it be?’
Kang A-rin, Cheon Yeo-wool.
It was time to choose one of them.
*
Before heading to class, Yu Hana couldn't bring herself to get out of her dorm bed.
Her heart was still pounding.
‘Oh, god… I actually did it.’
After much deliberation, Yu Hana had once again refused Jung Hae-in's offer.
But it wasn't a refusal born of selfish desire or a false excuse.
It was true that her father had proposed moving up the Succession ritual.
And it had come just when Yu Hana was agonizing over what to do.
The timing was perfect. In the end, feigning helplessness, she'd crazily accepted it.
For a moment, her heart sank, but strangely, that anxiety quickly turned into a sweet pleasure.
Her heart was still racing, pounding without rest.
With this, she would become Jung Hae-in's second.
Whether in Fragment, in heart… or perhaps, even in body.
But strangely, the thought didn't scare her. Instead, it made her whole body buzz with excitement.
A sweet guilt and the thrilling excitement of the forbidden mingled within her.
Could this be called a simple side effect of the game?
No.
Denying it now wouldn't change anything.
She could simply feel with her entire being that her tastes and principles had been broken.
-Tap, tap, tap.
Yu Hana left a message in the group chat.
For the people who would go crazier than anyone over this news.
[OnE]: Me
[OnE]: I decided not to go on the trip.
Then she closed her watch.
The moment she did, messages began flooding in like wildfire.
She could picture exactly what would happen next.
They would pretend they'd just had an epiphany.
Pretend they'd realized something while training hard.
Pretend they'd acquired it by chance.
From now on, they would strive like mad to prove to Jung Hae-in that they were worthy of a Fragment.
Each in their own way.
Though notifications chimed one after another, she simply smiled and closed her eyes.
Her heart was still pounding like crazy.
*
The Holy Land I had visited before.
Today was the day I was permitted my second entry.
As I've said time and again, there wasn't much to do at Gaon.
Train for a bit.
Bother Yoon Chae-ha with a game of Go.
Eat a meal.
Bother Yoon Chae-ha some more.
Because of that, I couldn't help but look forward to visiting the Holy Land even more.
‘Good.’
I'd be able to get some quality training in for the first time in a while.
My body was itching for it.
Just then, a message popped up on my watch.
[1000_y]: Should I bring the elixir?
It was Cheon Yeo-wool.
The elixir that had been given to everyone as a reward for the final exams.
I thought for a moment… but not today.
I decided the time wasn't right yet.
[belief_]: You don't need it today.
There will be a more suitable time.
Oh, right.
[belief_]: And wear some proper clothes today.
Last time, more of her skin was exposed to the air than was covered by her clothes.
Of course, I was a stone Buddha back then, so it didn't matter.
But I think things might be different now.
I don't trust myself.
[1000_y]: )
Ah.
It seemed Cheon Yeo-wool had other ideas.
I closed the notification and sighed.
Then, I headed for the Holy Land.
When I reached the entrance to the Cult's grounds, the atmosphere inside was quite different from the cold dawn air.
A warmth and divine power subtly radiating from within seemed to thaw every corner of my body.
As the large marble door came into view, I glanced around.
But Cheon Yeo-wool was nowhere to be seen.
I quietly asked a priest waiting nearby.
“Where is she?”
The priest replied with a subtle smile.
“She has already entered.”
So she was already inside.
After a short wait, the massive marble door opened with a heavy groan.
-Thud.
The moment I stepped inside, the door began to slowly close behind me.
Looking ahead, I saw a wide, clear space.
And in the middle of it, Cheon Yeo-wool stood demurely.
Today, despite being in the Holy Land, she was definitely dressed more modestly than usual.
“You're here?”
Cheon Yeo-wool spoke first.
“Yeah.”
We exchanged greetings and moved to our respective spots.
The air inside the Holy Land was strangely heavy, yet serene.
As if to prevent any impious thoughts from arising.
Soon, the training began.
It was the kind of training where you were swept up by the atmosphere, pushing your body and mind to their limits until you were beyond breathless.
“Agh…”
After several dozen minutes, every part of my body was screaming.
I'd overdone it since it had been a while, and now I was dead tired.
I finally collapsed, lying on the floor as I lifted my head.
‘It's about time…’
One of my main objectives today was to observe Cheon Yeo-wool.
I needed to see if she was in a state to receive a Fragment.
Catching my breath, I carefully watched her.
Unlike Yu Hana, Cheon Yeo-wool's threshold was distinct.
‘Dual Tasking.’
Her unique realm of wielding both Holy Method and magic simultaneously.
Even a fragment of that skill, even just the beginning—if she could just grasp a clue, it would be enough.
But for that very reason, her turn was likely to be postponed.
It was a skill from an incredibly high-dimensional realm.
Second year at the earliest?
It seemed it would still be too difficult for her.
Just then, Cheon Yeo-wool quietly exhaled and extended her left hand.
In the silence, a magic circle materialized above her left hand.
A clear, pure light.
The light of a superior Holy Method.
‘Not bad.’
It seemed she had already mastered deploying a Holy Method circle.
That alone was excellent.
But in the next moment, Cheon Yeo-wool raised her right hand.
“…?”
I watched her, puzzled.
And then.
-Crackle-zzzt.
A cold, sharp magic shimmered in the air.
She grimaced, trying to form a blue magic circle while simultaneously maintaining the Holy Method.
“…Huh?”
I muttered quietly to myself without realizing it.
“Dual Tasking…?”
It was clearly Dual Tasking.
Is this… even possible?
Cheon Yeo-wool, in a state of extreme concentration, bit her lip slightly.
Her fingertips trembled, and both magic circles wavered.
-CRACKLE-ZZZZT!!
In the end, with a flash of light, both circles dissipated at once.
A failure.
Cheon Yeo-wool stood there blankly for a moment, then pouted.
“Hmph…”
She shook out her hands with a look of lingering regret.
I stared blankly at her before finally speaking.
“What was that just now?”
As if just realizing I had been watching, she looked flustered for a second before quickly breaking into a bright smile.
“Ah… this?”
She scratched her head, embarrassed.
“Last time… after I wore the tiara, my holy power increased… and I guess something just clicked? I've been researching it lately. It's not working well yet, though…”
Only then did I realize.
Come to think of it.
Kang A-rin, Yu Hana, and Cheon Yeo-wool.
Of the three, the one who had received the most aid and support was Cheon Yeo-wool.
From Iano's Cross to the Tiara.
She had absorbed high-quality artifacts and all the immense holy power and mana that came with them.
Perhaps I had been underestimating Cheon Yeo-wool.
As I stared blankly, she slowly approached me.
She must have been concentrating hard, because her entire body was drenched in sweat.
Tucking her sweat-soaked hair behind her ear, Cheon Yeo-wool came closer.
Then, catching her breath, she asked me.
“…Why? Is there… something you wanted to say to me…?”
I just watched her.
It seemed the target for my trip had been decided.
