Chapter 25
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: A Tangled Mess (2)
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As I entered the classroom, I felt every eye turn to me.
Among them, two people were staring with particular intensity.
One was, of course, Choi Jihoon, who looked like he wanted to kill me.
The other was Shin Jia, who was looking at me as if seeking some kind of permission.
I understood Choi Jihoon's glare without even having to think about it, but what was up with Jia?
Vvvv-
Just then, my smartphone vibrated.
It was a message from Jia.
[Should I take care of him?]
...Are you some kind of hitman?
Take care of what?
[I'll take his head off cleanly.]
Shin Jia glared at Choi Jihoon with the eyes of a demon fresh from the depths of hell.
Her gaze was murderous. I quickly sent a reply.
[Don't say such crazy things.]
[But I can't just let this non-burnable trash who insulted you get away with it, Seonjonim! (Determined rabbit emoji)]
An insult.
It was true that a high-ranker challenging a low-ranker could be seen as an insult.
The ranking system at the Superhuman Academy was point-based. The greater the difference in rank, the more bonus points were awarded.
That's why challenge rights were usually used on higher-ranked or similarly ranked individuals. It was more profitable that way.
But Choi Jihoon had deliberately used his challenge right on me, a low-ranker.
A rank 103 beating a rank 497 would earn him almost no points.
On the other hand, a loss would cost him a massive amount of points.
So why, despite all that, did he challenge me?
The answer was simple.
He was just picking a fight.
*I don't like you, and I want to publicly humiliate you in front of everyone.*
That was more or less the message.
It was only natural for Jia, who practically worshipped me, to be furious.
But I, the target of it all, wasn't the least bit angry.
[Let him be. He's using his challenge right to serve me up some points. I should graciously accept.]
After all, how could I not be grateful?
My goal was to break into the top 10 within six months anyway, and here he was, creating a shortcut for me.
[Are you going to win?]
[Yes.]
[But it will be difficult to win using only the abilities you've shown so far.]
She was right.
As I was now, I could never beat Choi Jihoon.
Even with 'Predator's Killing Intent,' a trait that could somewhat ignore durability, nothing changed.
[If Choi Jihoon uses his Mana Armor, your F-rank Strength will be useless.]
Unlike in the last friendly match, Choi Jihoon would be using his mana.
His rare trait, 'Mana Armor,' which created armor from mana.
[I know.]
My 'Predator's Killing Intent' was a Fear-type skill that caused the opponent's body to convulse, chipping away at their 'Durability' stat.
I had no way to break through his Mana Armor.
For now.
[But there are still two weeks until the ranking match, right?]
[(Surprised rabbit emoji)]
Two weeks is a long time.
I just need to find a way by then.
[So it's a scenario! The scenario where you grow drastically in two weeks!]
[Something like that.]
Though strictly speaking, it wouldn't be a scenario, but actual growth.
[But will it be okay? For you to reveal your power.]
[Yes. A reason came up, so now I have to participate in the localized war.]
[(Pondering bear emoji)]
[Is it perhaps related to the appearance of that demon?]
...Why is she suddenly bringing up a demon?
The ones who show up in the localized war aren't demons, but those bastards from the Seekers of Truth.
Well, I guess they're one and the same.
[Something like that.]
[I knew it. Then I won't get involved in this matter.]
[Okay.]
With that, the chat ended.
I looked up from my phone and met Choi Jihoon's sharp gaze, which was still fixed on me.
Then, I trudged toward my desk.
I'll expose your true identity.
As we got closer, Choi Jihoon muttered coldly.
Go ahead.
I replied with a smirk.
* * *
Time flew by.
My routine for the past week went like this.
5:40 AM to 7:30 AM.
Endure Instructor Pi Jinho's hellish training.
8:40 AM to 6:30 PM.
Attend classes at the academy.
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
Help Ha Siyeon with her mana training while doing some light training of my own.
9:00 PM until I sleep.
Organize my plans and review the scenarios I'll have to face so I don't forget them.
There were minor changes down to the minute, but the past week had generally followed this pattern.
It was a very structured life.
I don't think I've ever lived this methodically, not even in the military.
And today was Saturday.
The day to finally check the results of my training.
Hoo. Please, just let me reach F-rank.
My official stats at the academy were F-rank.
But that was only because F-rank was the minimum standard.
Strictly speaking, my stats were unranked. Below F-rank.
Therefore, my first goal was to raise all my stats to the F-rank level.
To stand on the same starting line as everyone else.
Please.
I was currently in a private training room off-campus.
This place was filled with the latest equipment for accurately measuring stats.
Adjusting it was simple.
I just had to use the interface window attached to the side of the machine.
First, Strength.
I stood in front of the strength training machine and entered the stat value.
[F(1/99)]
And that was it.
The machine's weight was now optimized for F-rank Strength.
Now, all I had to do was lift it.
If I could lift it, I'd have achieved F-rank.
If not, I was still unranked.
I sat down at the machine.
Took a deep breath.
Gathered all the energy of the universe.
And squeezed every muscle in my body to lift the weight.
Hnngh... huh?
A deflated sound escaped my lips.
Not because it was hard, but because it was too easy.
The sound came out because the weight shot up before I could even properly exert myself.
...Why is this so easy?
* * *
I was sitting in a caf near the private training facility, blankly sipping an americano.
To put it simply.
I had achieved F-rank in all my physical stats, including Strength, Agility, and Stamina.
I was dumbfounded.
It was so easy that all my previous worries felt pointless.
Was this the synergy between my boiling pure blood and Pi Jinho's hellish training?
All those hellish days hadn't been for nothing.
The thought naturally lifted my spirits.
At this rate, maybe I could reach E-rank and D-rank in no time.
A sense of anticipation welled up inside me.
Of course, I knew it wouldn't be that easy. F-rank was, after all, just the minimum threshold.
Even if reaching E-rank was somewhat manageable, climbing to D-rank and beyond was no simple feat.
Countless superhumans remained in the D to C-rank range until retirement, which said it all.
But seeing this glimmer of hope was enough.
My will to work even harder surged.
I smiled, feeling on top of the world.
Vvvv-
That's when my smartphone vibrated.
[Yuhwa]
It was a call from Yuhwa.
What's this about?
I hear you're having a showdown with the eldest son of the Soosung Group?
I didn't even have a chance to say hello.
And where did you hear that?
From Jinho.
Wasn't the fact that you two are close supposed to be a secret?
What's the point of hiding it from someone who already knows?
That's true.
This ranking match. You're going to win, right? Since you said your goal was to participate in the localized war.
I have to.
I'm looking forward to seeing what you'll show me this time.
Are you coming to watch again?
Of course.
...Is she really that busy?
Isn't she actually super free?
Maybe she's just rolling around in bed right now.
Ah. I have to go. I'll call you again later.
With that, Yuhwa hung up.
It seemed she really had just called out of boredom.
No, it would be more accurate to say she called out of loneliness rather than boredom.
The betrayal of 'Kim Shinwoo' was likely still a thorn in her heart.
She probably thought about it all day when she was alone.
Knowing Yuhwa's personality, it would probably last for at least half a year.
Then again, I'd be the same way.
To find out that the person who'd been by your side for twenty years was actually a traitor and a murderer.
How shocking must that be.
Sigh.
Still, what could be done?
I couldn't just leave a traitor be, knowing what he was.
I'd just have to hope she'd overcome it on her own. And I knew she would.
I downed the rest of my americano in one go and stood up.
For the first time in a while, I had no plans today.
So, what should I do?
Hmm.
I have some free time.
Maybe I'll go see Geumho.
The ruins would have monsters, so I could get in some practical training too.
If I asked Geumho to bring them to me one by one, it wouldn't be dangerous.
And with no one around to watch, it would be a good chance to practice flying with the wings I recently acquired.
* * *
Geumhooo~
I shouted as I entered the Golden Sanctuary.
Thud, thud, thud!
With a thunderous sound, Geumho appeared in the distance, running toward me.
He charged at an incredible speed, as if he'd missed me terribly.
I wondered what I'd do if he crashed into me at that speed.
But, as if remembering my warning from last time, he gradually slowed down.
Grrr.
He stopped in front of me and gently nudged his head forward. His expression seemed to say, *What took you so long!*
Sorry. Hyeong was a little busy.
I rubbed Geumho's face vigorously.
Gyaoo.
Geumho wriggled his body with pleasure. Ah. So healing.
Is this what they call Geumho therapy?
Agh. If only you could leave this place, I'd take you with me for real.
He's so great.
Cute and strong.
His size is a bit of an issue, but it's not like tamers don't exist in this world. I'd just have to claim he's a beast I tamed, pass the obedience test, and that would be that. From that moment on, Geumho would be designated as my pet.
Of course, that was impossible as long as he was bound to these ruins.
Geumho. Hey, could you bring a monster over here?
Krrng.
Geumho's ears perked up. He gave a confident grin and turned with a noble air.
Now, if I just waited a bit, he'd bring back a monster.
Then I could get some practical training with it. If things got dangerous, I could ask Geumho for help.
That's why I'd brought all my gear.
Ah. I'm looking forward to this.
I wonder what an A-rank dagger feels like in my hand.
...Saying it like that makes me sound like some kind of perverted murderer.
Grrrrrr!
I heard Geumho growling in the distance. He must have brought a monster.
Time to get ready to fight... huh?
...Geumho?
Seeing Geumho emerge from the darkness, I was momentarily stunned.
Grar?
What is that?
I asked, pointing at Geumho's mouth. Or more precisely, at what he was holding in his mouth.
Geumho tilted his head, then set down what he was carrying in front of me.
Krrng.
He then gave a triumphant grin. His expression seemed to scream, *Praise me!*
Cute.
He was cute, but...
...I asked you to bring a monster. Not 'what used to be a monster'.
What am I supposed to do when you bring me a carnivorous deer that's been turned into minced meat?
!
At my words, Geumho's ears shot up.
With an expression of complete surprise, he looked back and forth between me and the 'what used to be a monster' on the ground.
Geumho's eyes trembled violently. He seemed quite flustered by the fact that he hadn't fulfilled my request.
Grrrng.
Then he picked up the minced meat in front of him with his mouth again and tried to stand it up on the ground.
Thump-
It fell over.
He set it up again.
Thump-
It fell over again.
...Grrng.
K-thoom-!
As if angered that it wouldn't do as he wished, he slammed it into the ground.
And then, miraculously, the minced meat that used to be a monster stood on the ground.
It almost looked vaguely alive.
Krrng.
Seemingly satisfied with the result, Geumho looked at me and beamed.
An expression that seemed to insist, *It's fixed now, right? So praise me!*
...G-Good job! Geumho!
I couldn't bring myself to betray that look. So I praised him for the time being.
Gyaaarrr.
Finally satisfied with my words, he began rubbing his face against me again.
...Could you maybe wipe the blood off your mouth before you do that?
This is brand new gear, you know.
I gave a bitter smile and stroked Geumho's head.
Alright, Geumho. This time, can you bring one back without any injuries?