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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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‘Was I being too arrogant?’
As he headed towards the Martial Arts building after sacrificing Kim Seok-cheol, doubts began to creep into his mind.
His plan was to achieve a stable true ending by controlling variables and only proceeding with routes he could handle.
It sounded plausible, but upon closer inspection, it was ridiculously unrealistic.
Fortunately, Kim Seok-cheol and Gi Joo-seon were a good match. Gi Joo-seon was searching for the perfect intersection between equipment and magic, based on mana circuits, and Kim Seok-cheol showed immense potential in that area.
Kim Seok-cheol also had the ambition to become a nobleman by succeeding as a blacksmith, so joining the research student path would definitely be advantageous for him.
The problem was that he hadn’t intended for any of this to happen.
‘I couldn’t even control that situation, and I’m talking about eliminating variables?’
He had already resorted to desperate measures to escape the research students, and then there was Meiri, clinging to him like glue.
He had failed as soon as he made up his mind. It was laughable how unrealistic his plan had been.
It was working out for now, but he couldn’t guarantee that it would always turn out this way.
‘Is it better to just do what I can and then deal with the consequences?’
The biggest difference between playing the game and actually being inside it was the inability to maintain an objective perspective.
When he played the game on a monitor, he could empathize with the character without getting too emotionally invested, treating it as a separate entity.
But now, he not only thought of himself as Lee Seok-hyun, but everything felt like it was happening to him.
Well, since he would actually die if he died in the game, it was technically happening to him.
This naturally made him more selfish, prioritizing his own benefit over the best possible course of action.
Eliminating variables in this situation?
Even a dog passing by would laugh at that.
‘Then for now…is the most pressing issue money?’
He had spent all his earnings on Mana Crystals, so he was practically broke.
Mirinae Academy provided scholarships, but it was a pittance compared to what he needed to accomplish.
And if he didn’t perform well on the midterm and final exams, he couldn’t even guarantee that scholarship.
He could figure out a way to earn money through weekend outings, so he put that aside for now.
He arrived at the Martial Arts building and started warming up.
“Oh, you’re early? Seok-hyun, can you spar with me again like last time?”
“Woo Do-hyun, are you already trying to cut in line?”
While he was stretching in the middle of the training grounds, Woo Do-hyun and Mijuran appeared.
Since they had both chosen Martial Arts as their sole major, it was natural for them to be there.
“Hi Meiri.”
“Oh, Meiri’s here too. Hi!”
“Hi.”
As soon as Meiri heard their greetings, she peeked out from behind me and waved.
It was as if she was using me as a camouflage tree.
Meiri was doing things that would only be acceptable because she was Meiri.
“But why are you here so early? Didn’t you eat?”
“Ah.”
Mijuran’s words made him realize that he had come straight to the Martial Arts building without stopping by the cafeteria.
So that’s why he was the first one at the training grounds even though he wasn’t taking Martial Arts classes.
‘In the game, meal times were just a skip button away.’
Now he had to do everything manually.
Come to think of it, he rarely had a proper meal since entering the game.
He had eaten the food the innkeeper prepared for him when he was staying at the inn, but…
That was more out of habit than conscious effort.
‘I have to take care of even the smallest details myself.’
Meiri, who had followed him without a second thought, looked just as clueless about meals.
He even wondered if she was even hungry, considering she hadn’t done anything all day.
“I’m not hungry.”
“Oh, okay.”
Meiri’s expression was so transparent that she answered before he could even ask.
“But why are you here?”
As I was thinking about how I needed to pay attention to these details in the future, Woo Do-hyun asked, his face filled with curiosity.
“What do you mean?”
“I was so happy to see you that I forgot, but Professor Gainad said you wouldn’t be able to take his Martial Arts class.”
“Oh, right. I heard that too. I remember him saying it with a really regretful expression.”
“Me? Why?”
He was glad he had decided not to control the variables. He wouldn’t even know what was happening around him, let alone control it.
He wasn’t too surprised, though. He had a hunch.
There was only one reason why Gainad would be regretful and why he wouldn’t be able to take the Martial Arts class.
“Because you have to take my class, of course.”
As if she had been waiting for this moment, Acasa’s voice rang out.
She appeared before them, dressed casually, and continued speaking nonchalantly.
“I was delayed in processing the class registration, so I was late in informing you. I went to the cafeteria to find you, but you weren’t there.”
But to think you’d be here, already preparing to warm up.
Acasa showered him with compliments as she slowly approached.
‘Wow, this is a bit too much.’
He had felt it during their first encounter, but Acasa was a walking weapon.
Even her seemingly casual steps seemed capable of tearing someone apart at any moment, and her gaze was distinctly different from an ordinary person’s.
If he had acquired the aura of a beast by consuming Ungbak’s internal organs, Acasa was a beast by nature.
“Not eating is a good choice. It’s better to empty an empty stomach than throw up in the middle of class.”
Acasa, who had just uttered a chilling line with a bright smile, grabbed the back of his neck like a mother cat carrying her kitten.
“I apologize, but I’ve had my eye on him since yesterday. You don’t mind if I take him first, do you?”
“I do mind.”
“A disciple must follow their master’s instructions without question. I will not tolerate any objections.”
“…”
Who would dare to object when Acasa spoke like that?
Even Meiri just blinked blankly, speechless, as she observed the situation.
Woo Do-hyun and Mijuran had been tense since Acasa’s arrival, standing stiffly with their heads bowed.
After confirming that there were no objections, Acasa put strength into her legs and leaped into the air.
“Let’s go, disciple.”
Unable to resist, I was lifted into the air by her hand.
To think I’d be kidnapped like this…
‘I avoided the research students, only to be kidnapped by Acasa…’
It was like escaping a wolf only to encounter a tiger.
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SWITCH
Acasa’s single-lineage inheritance.
It was called “single-lineage” because the conditions were so demanding that it was rare to find even one person who met them.
If the conditions were less strict, it might have been widely spread like other martial arts.
‘The conditions are insane.’
Everyone is born with mana and uses it to train their bodies. But Acasa’s single-lineage inheritance required a body incapable of using mana to achieve a level of physical strength comparable to those who trained with mana.
In other words, it was like demanding a paper airplane to perform like a real airplane.
‘And I’m the one who achieved it.’
Acasa leaped through the air, stepping on thin air, and then gently placed me down in a secluded area. She handed me some comfortable clothes to change into.
Looking around, he saw a house nearby and a training ground in front of it. It seemed like Acasa’s residence.
“Hmm…where should I begin… How about we start with introductions? My name is Acasa Ardel.”
“I’m Lee Seok-hyun.”
As soon as I finished changing, Acasa, as if she didn’t want to waste any time, immediately started the lesson.
She asked a few questions to assess my condition.
“From what I’ve seen, your body is incapable of using mana. Correct?”
“Yes.”
“Judging by the aura, it must be Natural Mana.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Excellent.”
Acasa seemed genuinely impressed as she patted my shoulder a few times.
She was probably trying to express her pride, but…
Her lack of social skills was evident.
‘It wasn’t that I couldn’t use it, but that I didn’t have any mana to begin with.’
There was a big difference between being unable to use mana and not having any mana at all.
Of course, Acasa, who had no way of knowing this, continued speaking.
“Now, before we begin the training, it’s time to reveal the name of my single-lineage inheritance.”
Acasa tried to build suspense, her expression telling me to prepare to be amazed, but…
‘Since I already know, I need to react accordingly.’
I mentally prepared myself to meet Acasa’s expectations.
“The single-lineage inheritance passed down through generations… You will be my successor, the inheritor of the Infinite Track.”
Acasa, who had just uttered a string of meaningless, grandiose words, wore a triumphant expression.
I immediately clapped like a seal, putting my social skills to work.
“Wow, Infinite Track! I’m so excited.”
“…That’s a bit too forced.”
“…”
I failed.
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[and anotha oneeee]
