Chapter 21
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: To Become Stronger (3)
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3 a.m.
After finishing my shower, I lay down on the bed.
It was so soft and comfortable that just lying down made me drowsy.
I stared at my open hand.
It was still trembling from the aftermath of the skill.
'Finally... the rock...'
The rock that had seemed like it would take forever to break had shattered in an instant.
Yoon Ji-yeon really can't teach people, that's for sure.
It was thanks to Yoon Ah-young.
Her lukewarm reaction after I broke the rock bothered me a little.
'Hmm... whatever.'
The biggest change since regressing is that the future is shifting bit by bit.
The people around me were changing because of my actions.
From small things to major events.
It's true that it's hard to react to every single moment.
Me becoming vice class president was a huge change in itself.
But I had expected it.
As I get stronger, the future is changing slowly but surely.
[Powerful mana has been detected from the 'Blue Room' dungeon in Gangwon Province. Hunter Headquarters dispatched investigators but found no significant anomalies. Meanwhile, those on site...]
The TV news droned on in the background.
It was about the 'Switch Weapon' that would originally have been discovered a bit later.
But because I acquired it, the intense mana scent must have spread everywhere.
Me having this weapon is, in a way, proof that the future has changed.
And I need to react quickly to the futures I know about.
"The monster appearances... the Anyang Station Pigman attack... the war... plenty of things coming up."
I can't respond to everything that might happen.
For example, Brazil collapsing under monsters or something like 'Resistance' is beyond my reach.
But I'll do everything I can.
Even if it costs my life, if I can exterminate the monsters, this life means nothing.
"Ah. Hold on."
The Anyang Station Pigman attack.
That one's pretty recent.
'Probably... next week?'
If my memory's right, here's what happened in that incident.
That day, the city guard's radio comms were a mess, and the guard captain had ditched his duties for somewhere else.
The attacking monster was a Pigman.
A monster that several healthy adult men could take down.
But they failed to stop it, and the results were horrific.
201 dead.
29 missing.
380 injured.
Property damage around 20 billion won.
And it's happening this weekend.
I can't just ignore something I know about.
Next weekend.
Time to prepare.
I looked at the photo on the desk, the one of me and my little sister.
In the picture, she was smiling with me.
"..."
When I die and meet her, she'll tell me I lived well.
Everything's for that.
[...And now for the next story. A serial killer targeting 'Kang' surnames is rampant worldwide. The killer only targets hunters with the 'Kang' surname. This marks the 21st murder. The investigation team is expanding their net.]
Beep.
I turned off the TV.
Time to sleep so I can go to school tomorrow.
I closed my eyes and fell asleep right away.
General studies class.
"Ghouls are tricky mid-grade monsters despite their appearance. Their lifelines are especially tough. This will be on the exam, so take notes."
Still the insane academic fervor.
I lost interest and slipped my hand into my pocket.
Wasting class time like this is a huge loss.
So I decided on mana training.
To prepare for the 'Anyang Station attack' next week, I can't just sit idle.
The method's simple.
Gather a tiny amount of mana that others won't notice and cancel it.
That way, I train and build resistance to mana cancellation.
I released the tiniest bit of mana without the professor noticing.
And repeated the cancellation.
In the academy, professors aside from instructors are basically 'educators' versed in theory.
They won't detect this minimal mana.
True experts are risking their lives in dungeons right now.
'Phew... max 103 times, huh.'
Mana cancellation tires me out, and 103's my current limit.
Over that, and mana deficiency penalties hit like anemia.
But I'm not stopping here.
"...Cadet Kang Tae-hyun."
"Yes, sir."
Scrape.
I stood up while still canceling mana.
The professor looked pissed.
"Is my class that boring for you? Hand in pocket, sweating like that."
Damn. Misunderstanding.
"No, Professor."
"Then answer this. Get it right, and I'll give you an A without attending the rest."
Oh. My lips twitched, but I held it in desperately.
Showing joy here would get me marked.
"Explain ghoul strategies, the formula, and how to handle infected people."
Got it.
Tough question for first-years.
Professor's baiting me to fail.
No worries.
"Ghouls resist standard physical hits and basic elemental magic. Use light-attribute skills. Holy Night's formula reduces fire magic density below 1% and detonates via mana compression, not emission. Or basic skills emitting gathered light inside the body. For infected, within 3 minutes of infection, sever at least 10cm above the site. If impossible or over 10 minutes, eliminate the target."
I rattled it off flawlessly.
Admiring murmurs erupted around.
"Ahem. Perfect."
Professor coughed awkwardly, flustered.
I finally smiled.
'Jackpot. Huge win.'
Monster Studies is 5 hours a week. Saved all 5.
Lunchtime.
Cadets split between eating simply in class or heading to the cafeteria.
I went with the former.
As the semester neared its end, class composition solidified.
Some originals left, replacements came in.
New recruits greeted after each period.
I handed trade authority to Lee Jae-yeol, so nothing for me.
He's a genius at this.
"Sent out excess ranged dealers, focused on healers and tanks. How's big bro's recruitment skills?"
"Wow. Impressive."
My half-hearted reply furrowed his brow.
"Thanks for the authority, but aren't you too disinterested?"
"Huh? Really? I'm doing it for you."
"Huh? For me?"
"Worried my opinion would mess up your 'perfect' plan. Or should I care? I suck at this, even if combat's my thing."
"Uh... huh?"
Simple guy.
He brightened and laughed.
"Oh, yeah? Makes sense now."
"Yeah, yeah. Keep trusting me."
"Sure. Just you."
Lee Jae-yeol thumped his chest.
If he lacked talent, I wouldn't have given it to him.
Don't want my school life messed up.
"Bro. Not eating?"
Mitsuda approached smiling.
...Maybe cafeteria today.
I stood.
"Gonna eat. Let's go."
"Yes! Japanese today? I know a great place..."
"Korean food."
"Got it! Korean for me too."
We left class.
The academy cafeteria is massive.
Not just big—enormous.
Serves first and second-years, professors, instructors, guards.
All cuisines, even top chefs.
Top chefs cost points, though.
Reason they flock there: hunter-optimized nutrition.
Input personal data, get tailored meals.
I grabbed my pre-set meal and headed to a seat.
A familiar silhouette: woman eating alone.
Waist-length blonde hair.
Neatly placed bow and quiver.
Irina Delebayne, obviously.
"Bro. Seat here. Sit."
"...Sigh. You two eat."
"Pardon?"
I approached her.
She startled, scanning around.
Her bodyguards were MIA.
"Where's your security? Eating alone?"
"...Can't bring them on campus. Mind your business."
"...Brat."
I sat across, picked up chopsticks.
She scowled, protesting my seat.
"My choice. You mind yours?"
"...Tch. Commoner talk."
"...Stop with the commoner crap. Total snob."
"W-what? Snob?"
No point talking. Ate.
Then Irina placed something on the table.
Avoiding my eyes, she handed a wallet.
I took it, opened.
One card: gleaming gold.
"What's this?"
"...My card. For outings... no limit. Use it. ...For last time's points! Don't misunderstand."
"Ooh. Thanks. Will use well."
Frequent weekend outings. Useful item.
Unlimited card.
S-rank item, easy.
I don't act without reason.
She's heiress to a top corp.
Sure to need her someday.
No harm cozying up.
Plus, SONIC guild run by her corp is top-tier.
"Hey."
"...Yeah?"
She poked her food.
"Reconsider what I said last time?"
"Nah. No."
Corp's corp, hunter's hunter.
Humanity's shield can't rust.
Can help other ways.
Training aid, points like this.
But pride? Irina Delebayne.
She won't bend for my offer.
"...Ugh... Fine."
Fuming, she grabbed her tray and left.
Special Training Instructor.
Special training day.
Place for dungeon scenario drills.
C-Class donned combat gear, prepped for deployment.
"I'm survival instructor Jake. Don't get complacent in my class."
Jake, scars everywhere.
Could guess his path.
Cadets gulped.
"In 22 years, 22 cadets died in special training. One per year average. None this year yet... Don't think it'll skip you."
He opened the barricade.
Cold wind howled.
Below: endless snowy mountains.
Theme: 'Extreme Cold.'
First discoverer probably unaware.
Freeze without prep.
"Die in training? Public calls it honorable... But it's a dog's death. Better goblin chow."
True.
"Survival till afternoon end. Goal: boss kill, escape. Lowered monster levels for trash like you. Do well."
Jake finished; drop signal lit.
Class pres Lee Jae-yeol grabbed rappel first.
Then descended one by one.
I waited my turn.
Turn by turn, C-Class high-alt dropped.
Last: me.
Grabbed line, leaped.
(To be continued in the next installment)