Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Events at Arcana (2)
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Kang Chang-su was a B-rank Psyker with a simple physical enhancement ability.
His power itself wasn't anything special. It was just a pathetic superpower that made the body tougher and sturdier.
But in Arcana's upper echelons, where A-ranks called the shots, Kang Chang-su had claimed the number two spot across the entire school with that one ability alone.
Innate BQ—Battle IQ—and razor-sharp combat sense.
Unlike his hot-blooded image, Kang Chang-su stayed remarkably calm and calculating in fights. He was a hunter hopeful who knew exactly how to play to his strengths.
His ability might have paled compared to his peers, but he'd bridged that gap with sheer intellect, earning rave reviews from instructors as a future pillar alongside Yubyeol-ha.
In the original story, even Kim Si-hu had personally asked him for coaching tips. The guy commanded real trust among the cadets.
"Even Arcana cadets struggle with that training... but you stuck it out to the end. Impressive. Baek Do-hyun, right? I'm Kang Chang-su. Let's make the most of this next month."
Kang Chang-su extended his hand.
I eyed his thick, callused palm, etched with the marks of endless training.
"Sure. Let's get along."
I gripped it and shook firmly.
"Chang-su. What's with the new guy?"
We'd just finished when someone slipped up quietly from behind.
"It's Ichika. Just chatting—this Do-hyun kid caught my eye."
"Hmm."
The girl Kang Chang-su called Ichika stared me down.
"He's ridiculously pretty. Thought you were a girl for a sec."
"Name says it all... guy's a dude."
By the way, this Ichika girl had a massive crush on Kang Chang-su.
The rumor was infamous around Arcana.
She'd shoot death glares at every girl who flirted with him, so word spread fast.
Of course, the even denser Kang Chang-su—worse than Kim Si-hu—just shrugged off the gossip with a mental "bullshit."
"Fine. Whatever if he's a guy......"
The murderous edge faded from Ichika's eyes.
My body had been twitching under that stare moments ago.
"Chang-su, time to head back."
"Yeah."
Ichika and Kang Chang-su wandered off.
I watched their retreating backs from the sink area.
Kang Chang-su and Ichika.
They seemed like your standard hunter hopefuls on the surface. But they were the ringleaders of the Irregulars—the misfit crew set to unleash chaos on Academy City in Chapter 2.
Behind those diligent, cheerful facades lurked hearts as rotten as midnight shadows.
People really are unknowable.
"Why the wistful stare?"
Yubyeol-ha sauntered over after CBRN training, flapping her sweat-soaked tracksuit.
"Spotted some potential friends... Anyway, looked like you had fun earlier?"
Her rolling on the ground, clutching her gut—it was burned into my brain.
"Honestly? Funniest thing all year."
I twisted the hose faucet and hosed her down.
Splash!!
Her tracksuit clung transparently, underwear on full display.
Dripping, she gawked at me blankly.
"......"
Moments later, awareness hit. Yubyeol-ha exploded in fury and pummeled me.
Her face flushed beet-red, eyes brimming like she might cry. I thought to myself:
Unintentional sexual harassment—a bit unfair. But spotting the black panties I'd designed? Total win.
'Loli chars need grown-up undies, no question.'
Seo-ah's old gospel rang true.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
In that empty sink room, Yubyeol-ha beat the tar out of me.
Help.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Arcana's classes? Pure hell, every last one.
Fitting for an elite hunter academy—I'd braced for tough drills and lessons.
But after possessing Baek Do-hyun and bulldozing crises, I figured classes would be cakewalk.
Vampire stats plus my smarts? Thought it'd spark a "Who the hell is this temp student?" power fantasy arc.
"Class 1 Dimensional Beast C-Hydra—the only way is infiltrating its camouflage to smash the core! This drill simulates hunting the core from inside its disguise......"
"To hunters, comrades are life itself! Unless you're a Special-Class like Hell Dog, solo ops are suicide! So we're simming comrade revives on a Dimensional Beast-infested battlefield......"
Why's this place sim-obsessed?
Ended up treasure-hunting while swimming in foul, high-acidity slime.
Dashing across bullet-riddled sand, cradling a dummy.
All that misery just to scrape by Arcana's curriculum.
What even are hunters? Respect for Lee Gyeo-ul surged inside me.
Though the real torture? Yubyeol-ha cackling like a maniac every time I flailed.
Grinning at a teammate's suffering. Rotten girl......
"Puhahaha...... Ahaha!!"
Post-class, drained beside me, she stomped and wheezed with laughter.
"Enough."
A final choking gasp escaped her.
"Sorry."
Yubyeol-ha desk-slammed, shoulders heaving.
Yeah. Funny's funny.
Finally free of laughter's curse, she dabbed tears and panted.
"Gonna hyperventilate......"
"Fun times? Mission accomplished."
"Told you this morning. Trainings here's brutal......"
I stared blankly at the chalkboard.
Yubyeol-ha and I lingered alone in the quiet room.
Others bailed for personal drills or after-school fun.
Silence blanketed the space.
Sunset spilled through windows, painting everything crimson.
I spoke softly.
"Seriously thinking of faking sick for the month."
She shuddered once more, barely stifling giggles.
"Huuu...... You nailed the last one, though."
"Did at that."
Last class? Hologram Dimensional Beast takedown, TL;DR.
2030 tech pinnacle—no physics, but combat-real as possible.
Exhausted from prior hell, I went full throttle on my power. Subbed the holo-beast with C-rank-impossible results.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Level 2 - Thermal Manipulation The ability to control heat. Everything before you ignites, and everything freezes solid. Output matching an A-rank Psyker. The barrier shielding your body is part of this power too. Evolution Conditions: 200 Evolution Points, receive ■■ from Aria.
This stemmed from my upgraded trait too.
Power control slipped—cold sweat at the incoming hassle. Luck struck: holo device glitch. Brushed off as a glitch.
"Man, Arcana cadets are all monsters......"
Today's lineup was mere iceberg tip for them.
Stuff that'd break average stamina or grit.
Vampire physique let me barely hang; my old body? Toast.
Yubyeol-ha beside me? Looked badass.
Stoic through agony, top cadet unchanged.
Number one score, no less.
Just a tiny, fragile girl up close...
She smirked, arms crossed all cocky.
"Hmph. Took you long enough. Arcana's full of die-hards only... Bound to be impressive."
My hand drifted unconsciously to her twintails.
"What......"
She blinked, puzzled.
"Just... you've been grinding hard. Respect."
Her badass display today? Fruits of surviving alone post-monster orphanhood.
I ruffled her hair in praise.
"M-mu-mumble?! What?! Get that pig hoof off me... now!!"
True to her tsundere rep, she flushed and flailed.
Commotion died. Time for the real talk.
"Got the Society's next target."
"......Spill."
Arms crossed, awkward glare locked on.
What they craved via Irregulars.
Leading to Chapter 3: Academy City Assault.
"They're gonna wreck the city's containment camps. Spark citywide chaos."