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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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“Who the fuck are you?!”
I turned my head slightly and saw Han Yuri’s trembling pupils. Fear was etched in them.
At the same time, a dozen small meteorites orbited her protectively.
It was her Unique Skill, [Meteor Shower S].
She was in full combat mode.
I slowly loosened my grip on her wrist.
“What are you talking about? I’m Lee Seong-hyun. I’m on the same team as you.”
“Cut the crap! That’s not what I’m asking!”
Then what the hell were you asking? I was getting frustrated with her cryptic bullshit.
I looked down at Han Yuri with a cold stare. Her hand trembled as she muttered,
“Yeah… this is it. That bloodlust, like it’s tearing me apart… How much did you underestimate me and Lee Seol to just let your killing intent leak out like that, you assassin bastard? You’re dead.”
“…”
Was my killing intent leaking uncontrollably?
I thought I had it suppressed, but maybe the control mechanism malfunctioned around these two.
Another thing to be careful about.
I clicked my tongue internally and feigned an innocent expression.
“I think there’s been a misunderstanding. I didn’t mean anything like that.”
“Don’t make me laugh. Do you not know who my father is? I might let it slide with other kids, but Lee Seol and I are different. We spar with monsters like that every day. We’d have to be suicidal to miss killing intent like that.”
“It was just simple competitive spirit. It’s not strange to want to test yourself against the top two first-years, is it?”
“Ha. Seriously. Shameless to the end.”
Han Yuri grabbed my collar with her free hand.
“Hey. The killing intent I felt, only top-tier Hunters like my father can emit that. But for the bottom-feeder of the Academy to have it? Anyone would find that strange, wouldn’t they? Or am I just full of myself and drowning in paranoia?”
“That’s…”
“And Lee Seol, too. She felt something was off and chased after you, right? Knowing her, she probably thought she did something wrong and went to apologize. Clueless that you were trying to kill her.”
Ah.
The pieces were finally falling into place.
In the end, it was my fault for getting carried away right after returning and losing control of my emotions.
‘Figures.’
Of course, these two wouldn’t have regressed just to chase after me. But a question remained.
“So you put me on the same team to lure me in?”
“I don’t do petty manipulations like that. I was planning to kill you before you could do anything to me, sooner or later.”
Despite her bold words, her arm trembled.
Like prey bluffing in front of a predator.
I raised both hands in surrender.
“I have neither the intention nor the ability to kill you.”
“Then what the hell makes you so…!”
“I’ll show you my status window.”
“What…?”
Showing your status window. It meant complete trust in the other person, and a way to prove your innocence.
Considering people rarely showed it even to their families at this stage, my offer was quite radical.
“Here.”
“…”
Her gaze fixed on the status window I displayed.
<Unique Skills>
[Forward S]
<Skills>
[Somewhat Clumsy Curse Removal A / F]
[Aggro B / F]
[Self-Recovery B / F]
The worst of the worst.
Considering Equivalent Exchange didn’t even show up because it was unranked, it was a truly pathetic status window.
A skill set that barely met the minimum requirements for Academy admission. Seeing such a meager status window, Han Yuri’s suspicions should easily dissipate.
However, contrary to my expectations, Han Yuri’s gaze was locked on the [Forward S] skill.
Cold, calculating eyes.
The fear and trembling from moments ago seemed like an act.
[The Witch of Love and Hate]
Yes. That was ‘that’ bitch’s look.
“Forward…”
She muttered the word, its meaning unclear.
Then she released my collar. The witch-like aura surrounding her vanished.
“Ha… to think I’d be intimidated by such dirt-poor skills…”
“Were you intimidated?”
“Don’t be ridiculous! I wasn’t intimidated! I was just being cautious!”
“Sure, sure.”
“Fuck, I’m serious!”
“Alright, alright. I believe you.”
I chuckled wryly and shrugged. She gritted her teeth and fumed. Just then, the door opened.
It was Choi Ah-hyun.
“What’s going on? A bonding session without me? I’m feeling a little left out.”
“What’s that in your hands?”
“Drinks and snacks! The best way to bond is over some booze!”
So that’s where she went.
“I’m not drinking. I have to study.”
“Scared?”
“That kind of weak provocation doesn’t work on me. I’d rather spend my time learning about monster weaknesses than…”
“You’re scared.”
“I’m not!”
“Then come on. Let’s drink together.”
“You’re dead. I’m going to give you such a hangover that you’ll be seeing the Han River tomorrow.”
“Keke. Please, do your worst.”
She immediately took the bait.
It felt like Han Yuri, who hadn’t spoken a word before, had warmed up a bit. If I could maintain this distance, I should be able to control her easily.
But there was something that bothered me.
‘What was that?’
The aura that shifted around her for a moment when she saw my Unique Skill.
It was the look of the witch who terrified everyone. It didn’t affect me, but if Choi Ah-hyun had been there, she would have pissed herself.
‘I’ll have to keep an eye on her.’
Contrary to my worries, the drinking session went smoothly, thanks to Choi Ah-hyun’s cheerful personality.
“Seriously? You don’t wear any makeup?”
“Nope.”
“Wow, that’s cheating. Your mother must be a real beauty, too. A mother-daughter pair of goddesses… The world is so unfair…”
“But you’re a great runner. I saw it on the news. The 100m sprint prodigy enters the Academy.”
“Beep! Embarrassing black history detected.”
Choi Ah-hyun kept the conversation flowing by constantly talking to Han Yuri.
Thanks to her, I could get some rest while the two of them chatted away. When their conversation finally lulled, Choi Ah-hyun shifted her target to me.
“Seong-hyun, do you have any siblings?”
A typical getting-to-know-you question. But I couldn’t answer easily.
Because my mother, father, and older sister were all dead. I didn’t know how they died.
I only heard the ‘fact’ that they had passed away while lying in a hospital bed.
Not wanting to ruin the mood on our first night together, I avoided answering.
Sensing my hesitation, Choi Ah-hyun asked a different question.
“Then what’s your ideal type? Guys always have one.”
“I don’t know.”
“Why bother asking? It’s obviously a pretty girl with a nice body.”
Han Yuri interjected curtly, giving me a condescending look. I just shrugged.
“I value personality over looks. No matter how pretty a girl is, if our personalities don’t match, it’s hell.”
“Bullshit. I’ve never met a guy who says that and actually means it.”
Han Yuri’s voice dripped with venom. I put on an aggrieved expression.
“It’s true.”
“Alright, alright. I believe you. But judging by the way you’re talking, you must have broken a few hearts in your time, huh?”
Choi Ah-hyun poked me in the side playfully, her face full of mischief.
I ignored her and looked at Han Yuri.
She was fiddling with her paper cup, lost in thought.
I passed the baton back to Choi Ah-hyun.
“What about you two?”
“Huh? What about us?”
“Your ideal types. It’s not fair if only I have to share.”
“Hmm…”
She wiggled her white toes and swayed back and forth. Then she giggled and scratched her cheek.
“Someone like family?”
“Family?”
“Yeah! A lovey-dovey relationship is nice, but I want someone I can share everything with, someone who knows me inside and out.”
Choi Ah-hyun’s words reminded me of another witch.
[The Witch of Memories], Yoon Se-ah.
My childhood friend who attended a different Academy. She had a similar vibe to Choi Ah-hyun. It seemed women unexpectedly desired to know everything about their men.
“Okay! Now it’s Yuri’s turn! What’s your ideal type?”
“I don’t have one.”
“Aw, come on. Don’t be a buzzkill. Tell me~”
“I really don’t.”
Her tone suggested genuine disinterest, and Choi Ah-hyun backed off with a sigh.
As we continued our idle chatter, the two of them, excluding me, got completely wasted.
“So I’m stuck cleaning up, huh?”
With my sigh, the bonding session came to an end.
The next day.
5:00 AM.
We were at the Hall of Challenges.
Sticky notes covered the walls. Each one acted as a portal to a dungeon, a lifeline that could save our lives.
The Academy provided these “assignments” so students could safely develop their abilities.
If you were about to die in a dungeon, you could shout “Give up!” and be transported back here.
‘It’s a substitute for exams, and the fastest way to raise your rank.’
“Ugh… My head’s pounding… Did we really have to come this early? The sun’s not even up yet…”
“Don’t you know the best hangover cure is a good fight? Power through it.”
“You’re a demon… Yuri, are you okay?”
“…”
Han Yuri clutched her chest, looking nauseous.
The previous night’s revelry was clearly taking its toll.
It would have been safer to wait until they were completely sober, but this time, I couldn’t afford to wait.
‘I have to get the first-clear reward.’
The first person to clear a first-year assignment received an Academy-exclusive skill.
A 1.5x bonus to special reward drop rates upon assignment completion, and double skill proficiency gains during the assignment.
It was an insanely efficient skill.
I had to get it, no matter what.
Now, while everyone else was still hungover from their bonding sessions and drinking parties, was my chance.
Besides, assignments were typically done after 9:00 AM, when classes started, so I was sure we were the only ones here.
“The ‘Goblin Encampment’ assignment is fine, right?”
“Whatever. I’m hunting solo anyway.”
Han Yuri, the perpetual lone wolf.
Well, it was the easiest assignment, so Choi Ah-hyun and I could handle it easily. I tore off the sticky note and looked at them.
“If you’re ready, let’s go in.”
“Yeah, just a sec.”
Choi Ah-hyun tapped on her phone, probably contacting someone.
Since electronic devices didn’t work inside dungeons, some people sent messages beforehand.
She pocketed her phone.
“All done?”
“Yep. Let’s go!”
Just as I was about to shout “Challenge!” while holding the sticky note…
“Hey! Lee Seong-hyun!”
“…!”
A male voice I shouldn’t have heard here.
I quickly turned my head to see Lee Seol and the rest of Team 1 walking towards us.
Why…?
What were they doing here?
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They just so happen to be early as well