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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
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The opening ceremony concluded, and as the first-year representatives from each academy turned to leave…
“I have something to say.”
I spoke up, stopping them in their tracks. It was the perfect moment to address them—gathering them later would be a hassle.
“…?”
“What is it?”
Elua eyed me suspiciously, Raymay responded with polite curiosity, and Arak, with his usual gruffness.
The difference between those already on my hook and those who weren’t was clear.
Elua’s expression screamed, “What are you scheming now?”
“Don’t you think it’s time for a change?”
We stood in the center of the coliseum, all eyes on us. While it might seem like the right moment to get straight to the point, that wouldn’t work.
‘Jumping right into business would backfire in this situation.’
If a complete stranger approached you out of the blue with a business proposition, you’d likely refuse without a second thought.
The best approach was to ease into it, pique their interest, and subtly lure them in.
“This same competition, the same format, year after year… does it really hold any meaning anymore?”
If I’d been wearing a standard uniform, they might have dismissed me as just another student spouting nonsense.
But the red cap and sunglasses I wore, the image of an unconventional figure…
That drew their attention. They were curious, intrigued, waiting to hear what I had to say.
“How long are we going to keep squabbling amongst ourselves, academies against academies, faces flushed with rivalry? War isn’t a good thing, is it, Raymay?”
“Huh? Uh… well… yes, of course.”
“Elua, as a noble, you naturally understand, and Arak, as an aspiring knight, surely you know about chivalry, don’t you?”
“…I agree.”
Good, the groundwork is laid.
When addressing a crowd, guiding them towards agreement with “yes” questions was always effective.
It created a sense of camaraderie, subtly turning them into “yes men.”
I’d addressed each of them by name, drawing them into the conversation, setting the stage for my final move.
“I have a solution. But given the circumstances… I can’t go into details here.”
–Come to the back of the Mirinae Academy cafeteria in thirty minutes if you want to hear more.
With that, I turned and walked away.
Any further questions, any inquiries about my motives…
That curiosity itself would be the bait, drawing them to the designated location.
“Seok-hyun, do you really have something?”
“Huh?”
“I mean, what kind of solution?”
As I rejoined the Mirinae procession and headed into the coliseum, Woo Do-hyun approached, whispering.
He’d heard my whispered words from over fifty meters away?
‘His physical specs are truly unbelievable. He really is the main protagonist.’
I felt a pang of envy at the sheer disparity in our starting points, then replied.
“It’s a secret for now.”
“I see.”
Woo Do-hyun, realizing I wouldn’t elaborate, quickly returned to his position at the front of the line.
‘The truth is, I don’t have a solution yet.’
That was the reality.
I’d decided to expand the wager just five minutes earlier; there was no way I’d already formulated a detailed plan.
I wasn’t a genius, just a veteran gamer who knew the game inside and out.
But I couldn’t just stand idly by—the situation was escalating too quickly.
I’d thrown out a grand statement, creating the impression of a well-thought-out plan, buying myself some time.
Thankfully, it had worked perfectly.
‘Thirty minutes. That’s all I have.’
I had to come up with a plan that would satisfy the other academy representatives, something they’d readily agree to, something even someone as clueless as Elua would sign without a second thought.
‘I apologize, Master. This isn’t exactly what you had in mind when you taught me Infinite Track.’
–Whirrrrrr.
I activated Infinite Track, hoping the enhanced mental processing would spark an idea.
It was a textbook example of misuse, the antithesis of its intended purpose.
Thirty minutes passed quickly.
As planned, the first-year representatives, excluding myself, had gathered behind the Mirinae Academy cafeteria.
“Everyone’s here except the one who called the meeting.”
“He must have something going on. Let’s wait.”
“This is why commoners are so unreliable. Unable to even keep a simple appointment. What do they expect to accomplish without—”
As they waited, each offered their opinion on my absence. Elua’s final comment, however, struck a nerve with Arak.
With most of his academy’s students being commoners, he wouldn’t tolerate such blatant classism.
“Do you have to be so condescending? Nobles have no sense of consideration. Academy students should value conviction and pride above social standing.”
A sharp retort.
But Elua, fueled by noble pride, wouldn’t back down.
“Perhaps your low standing has lowered your standards as well? Defending tardiness just because he’s a commoner… It reflects poorly on your academy.”
“What did you say?”
“I’m simply stating the obvious.”
The knight’s pride and the noble’s arrogance clashed, sparks flying, the situation escalating quickly.
Raymay, witnessing the brewing conflict, knelt and began to pray.
“Oh, please stop this fighting, bring peace and harmony, and guide us towards a world of unity…”
“…”
“…”
An even more disarming tactic than a smile—prayer.
Elua and Arak fell silent, looking away awkwardly.
Raymay, pleased with the effectiveness of his prayer, stood up, brushing the dust off his knees.
“He seems like someone who knows what he’s doing. Perhaps that’s why he’s taking so long?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well… how many people casually address strangers by their first names?”
Raymay’s words made Arak recall his first conversation with Lee Seok-hyun.
‘He’s right.’
Even with prior information, casually using someone’s first name was unusual.
To engage in a conversation so naturally, without a hint of awkwardness, taking control and leading the discussion? That was far from ordinary.
“That’s why I came.”
The implied message—”I didn’t come here blindly like you”—made Arak and Elua glare at Raymay.
Raymay, unfazed, simply smiled brightly.
“Oh, my apologies! I’m late, I’m so sorry!”
Just as the awkward silence threatened to stretch into an uncomfortable standoff,
Seok-hyun arrived, perfectly timed.
He carried four cups of coffee, offering a casual apology as he handed one to each of them.
Seok-hyun then presented them with something extra, adding a quick explanation.
“These are Mirinae Special Deluxe Burgers. You can’t even get them if you wait in line. I pulled some strings and managed to get four.”
These aren’t just any burgers.
His tone was a blend of casual familiarity and polite formality, a strangely disarming combination.
A perfectly timed apology, followed by a generous offering—the three representatives couldn’t bring themselves to question my tardiness.
“Well, since everyone’s busy, let’s get straight to the point. Remember what I mentioned thirty minutes ago? I’ve fleshed out the details and prepared a plan.”
Seok-hyun pulled a document from his pocket and handed a copy to each representative.
Now, with both hands occupied, they were even less likely to interrupt.
“Take a look. There’s not much to read, really. It’s just a formality… After all, we’re friends now, partners in protecting this world.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Protecting the world?”
“…?”
Elua, recalling their previous negotiation, simply observed, but the other two weren’t so composed.
Seok-hyun’s continuous stream of impressive pronouncements had left them bewildered, unsure of what to question.
Moreover, the enticing aroma of the burgers and his seemingly urgent demeanor further disoriented them.
They should have been annoyed by Seok-hyun’s lateness, but they couldn’t express their irritation. They’d lost control of the conversation.
“Elua, this is about the contract we discussed. But this time, it’s not just nobles and commoners. It involves the clergy and the knights as well, so it’s a bit different.”
This is this, that is that, but the payout is different. It’s not just about fighting; it’s about entertainment and excitement.
His words flowed seamlessly, questions answered with seemingly relevant information before abruptly shifting to another topic. If they tried to circle back to a previous point, he’d provide a delayed answer before moving on again.
Later, Arak would describe this day as “the hamburger-induced confusion.”
Raymay, recalling the event, would say, “The devil who tempts the clergy already walks among us.”
Elua wouldn’t remember much; after all, nobles treated commoners this way.
And…
“Well, that’s when I knew I’d made it.”
Seok-hyun would recall this day as the beginning of his success.
There’s no better business than securing long-term contracts with promising young talents.
Seok-hyun was the only one smiling genuinely.
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The con to enter history books…