Chapter 13: Invest In Me!

What is the most certain way to succeed in this world?

There are many things, but most would agree on this:

Hone your Unique Traits or abilities and enroll in the academy.

That is the sure path to success.

Even if you drop out halfway, you'll still play a key role in a decent mid-sized company. And if you graduate, you'll prove to be an outstanding talent worthy of being nurtured as an executive in a major corporation.

Moreover, something called the Spirit Vein has been installed for the students of the academy.

Because of this Spirit Vein, both the magical and Murim worlds are desperately sending their students here.

'After all, training here is better than feeding them any ordinary artificial spirit potion.'

The level I personally felt was just as significant.

Thus, many are attending the academy.

"Why do you bring up that story?"

"Han Seojin's…"

"Teacher."

"…Teacher's attendance is slowly becoming dangerously low."

I didn't like the long pause but decided to ignore it.

Initially, the kid who hated to desperately call someone 'teacher' has changed this much.

'Anyway, attendance.'

Gulp gulp.

I think while drinking cola.

Thinking back, from the first time I woke up in an abandoned factory, this kid hardly ever attended the academy.

'But do I have to go to school at this age?'

That's the problem.

Moreover, I have no fond memories of the institution called the academy.

Neither in my second life nor in my third.

「You said you want the challenge this time, right? Wanna play LOL?」

Hmm, thinking about it, there weren't really any good memories in the beginning either.

My second life was about forgetting the bad memories of the first life, going to make connections with the Emperor, and accepting the offers from the Duke of Extermination and Duke of the Moon.

「Ha, is this Imperial Academy now admitting low-born mongrels and commoners?」

「Aren't you the guy who was recently adopted by a baron's family? The real mongrel is you…」

「You, let's duel.」

Back then, I never turned down a fight that came my way and fought like a madman.

But even in an academy assembled by the empire, no one caught my eye.

In my third life, I attended the Heavenly Martial Arts Academy.

The reason was to find someone useful and worthy of the demonic path while exploring the Central Plains.

「You, pretty playboy. To think you're seducing the Namgoong's young miss with just your looks. Maybe I can help make that face match your attitude.」

「Was breaking your nose not enough? To bring so many people like this. You're a shameless one, aren't you?」

…Hmm, really no good memories.

"But if you're expelled from the academy, will they just let you go?"

"…"

Should I seriously consider attending?

"Of course, there's another way. It's a bit like special admission…"

"Special admission?"

"It's on the teaching side…"

Teaching kids, huh.

I pondered for a moment.

They say geniuses can't teach others, but I'm different.

'If they don't know, just beat it into them.'

Even the world's biggest fool can be turned into a genius if it's beaten into them.

Ah, right, I forgot to ask the most important thing.

"Is there a cliff near the school?"

"A cliff? There's something similar…"

Ha.

So they don't have that either.

"…What's with that scary sigh."

"You don't need to know. Anyway, that's how it is, right?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Listen up."

"…You haven't even taken the test yet, have you?"

I drank cola, making a strange expression.

"Do you think I will fail?"

"It's hard to even imagine, that's the problem."

Exactly.

As I nodded, she made a face as if she had seen something unpleasant and took out her phone.

"Ah, do you have time today?"

"I do. I have to push you around today as well."

"…I heard you received a commendation for catching Nokgwi and Heuksa last time."

"If you've overworked your body, you should take some days off too."

…No matter what, I should receive at least 100 million.

–-

"What day is it today?"

"To think that Raging Thunder is coming, it's quite an event."

"There's a strange rumor. That the eldest son of the Iron-Blood Sword Clan is actually a hidden genius."

"Nonsense."

The place was bustling all around.

I could feel the glances. Seated leisurely in my chair, I yawned with ease.

"Aren't you a bit too relaxed?"

"So what?"

"Still, this is where Raging Thunder, Heo Yoonji is."

"Well, I seem less crazy than you, who called her Raging Thunder to her face."

"…She didn't hear that, did she?"

"Just because she was a bit far doesn't mean a hero of that caliber wouldn't hear."

"…"

Yoo Eunchae firmly closed her mouth.

It seemed she realized she had nothing to say.

Tsk tsk.

After all, thinking of running wild in a game world, but only playing games means one is a gaming addict.

A life of not going out, just playing games.

How do I know?

Because I am one.

I'm a pro gamer, and I have a team around me to help with diet and exercise.

"But you know."

"Yeah."

"People are paying too much attention to us, don't you think?"

"Because we're the main characters?"

"More like they're looking at us with probing eyes."

"I suppose so."

Among the scattered whispers, there were mentions of the Iron-Blood Sword Clan, and rumors that the so-called incompetent was actually hiding his fangs.

Or there were those who seriously claimed that all of this was a scheme concocted by the association and the Iron-Blood Sword Clan.

'What a joke.'

Sitting there, bored, someone approached us.

"Nice to see you."

Raging Thunder, Heo Yoonji, came towards us.

–-

I've seen her before, but this woman named Heo Yoonji had no reservations.

"It's been a while."

"It doesn't feel like it's been that long to say it's been a while."

Heo Yoonji laughed at Han Seojin's greeting.

Yoo Eunchae flinched beside him.

Why is he acting like that?

"My, my goodness! Miss Heo Yoonji remembered them?"

"Surely, their appearance is quite noticeable, but to that extent?"

Sounds of astonishment were heard around.

Hmm, should I think of it as senility if her memory is poor?

Usually, she was quite vigorous, but sometimes she showed such a state when overdoing it.

Han Seojin became lost in his thoughts.

After all, she's someone whom he cannot observe enough to make a conclusion.

"Speaking of which, your name was… Yoo Dongche?"

"Pfft!"

At Heo Yoonji's words, I almost spit out the cola I was reflexively drinking.

I guess I should think of it as senility.

"No, why can't you remember my name properly…"

"…Sorry. My forgetfulness is worse than I thought."

"More importantly, when is the event happening?"

"Not for a while. This time, it's because the eldest son of the Iron-Blood Sword Clan is receiving an award, so it seems like the higher-ups are also having a bit of a headache."

"Hmm, I guess you could say they're holding me to assert the authority of the association."

"…"

That's right.

Heo Yoonji looked at Han Seojin.

From the way he spoke, she could tell this child was different from the others.

He might look like a young child, but it felt like talking to an aged politician.

"But no matter how much I think about it, something's strange. I have a hard time remembering things because of the side effects of my Unique Trait."

"How bad is it…?"

"I still can't remember the name of an aide I've been with for three years."

That's a serious side effect indeed.

However, Han Seojin was puzzled.

Despite that, how come she remembered my name from the start?

"Could it be that you have a trait related to your memory?"

A trait, huh.

Han Seojin only has the traits of moonlight and his Unique Trait, Eternity.

'Come to think of it.'

 [Eternity]

 Magic is imbued with the attribute of Eternity.

The description of my Unique Trait came to mind.

Han Seojin thought deeply, "Does this attribute of Eternity also affect memory?"

-The award ceremony will now begin. First, from the Nukgwi and Heuksa…

Han Seojin organized his thoughts.

Now is the time to receive 100 million.

–-

"What are you going to do with that 100 million?"

"Live a life of leisure?"

"…What is that?"

Yoo Eunchae looked at me as if I was absurd.

Well, I haven't decided what to do with this money yet.

'100 million is really a lot of money, but it's ambiguously a lot.'

It's enough to do quite a few things.

But it's also not enough to do quite a few things.

"Then, how about investing in me?"

"In you?"

"Yes, I'm planning to invest in that Blacksmith from the Iron Tribe!"

Yoo Eunchae's words reminded me of the Iron Tribe member I met at the forge.

'Investment, not a bad idea.'

She had quite a talent.

If she hadn't been self-taught but had joined another tribe, she would have had enough talent to aim for the position of the next tribal chief.

"50 million won."

"Aw, spend a bit more."

"This is already spending a lot."

Investing is good, but I need to live first.

You never know when and where you'll need money. That's why I'm planning to save 80% of the money I've saved up.

Fortunately, since the reward money is given without tax deductions, it's 50 million won, otherwise…

I sighed and looked to one side as I said that.

I saw a man who had been giving off an unpleasant vibe for a while.

"Oh dear, did you notice me?"

"Gasp, Ah, Abel!"

Yoo Eunchae quickly hid behind me.

Regardless, the man tipped his hat to me, offering a gentleman's greeting.

"It's been a while."

'Was his name Abel?'

Someone I had crossed hands with before.

He also possessed a supernatural ability called Blood Realm.

"What, what! Are you going to attack me like last time?! I won't be taken down easily this time!"

"…I was quite rude last time."

"So, what kind of rudeness have you come to commit this time?"

"This time, you were summoned by the higher-ups."

"The higher-ups, you say."

Yoo Eunchae tensed up unusually.

"Yes, this time it's by the order of the principal."

Abel smiled mischievously.

'The principal.'

Come to think of it, I haven't heard anything about the principal.

「You need to be careful.」

Yoo Eunchae spoke to me.

Though I'm not sure what ability it was, Yoo Eunchae's voice buzzed in my head.

「The principal is not an ordinary person. She's almost the only transcendent left in society.」

「So?」

I secretly spoke to Yoo Eunchae through telepathy.

After a moment of surprise, Yoo Eunchae responded.

「Maybe to Han Seojin…」

「Hey, to the master!」

「Ah, is that what's important right now?」

「It is important.」

「Mushter.」

「What kind of way to speak is that.」

「…She's probably going to make an offer to the master.」

「An offer?」

「The principal is desperate for talent.」

It was a straightforward statement.

Desperate for talent, meaning she wants to recruit me.

「And the principal… if there's talent, she treats it accordingly.」

「Why is that dangerous?」

「Because 'treatment' includes giving missions.」

Indeed. Is she someone who enjoys high risk, high return?

I can tell what type she is. I've suffered a lot in my second life.

"Have you finished speaking?"

"…!"

Yoo Eunchae was noticeably disturbed by Abel's words.

This one really has a lot to learn.

"If you suddenly stop talking in front of someone, naturally, they'll think you're conversing, you foolish disciple."

"Ugh."

"A disciple…is that what you are?"

"That's right."

Abel scanned Yoo Eunchae for a moment.

Yoo Eunchae covered herself and hid further back.

"What's with that reaction."

"Your gaze makes me uncomfortable."

"I'll leave a disciple with nothing to see alone."

"No!"

"So, should I go right now?"

"Yes, I will accompany you."

Abel slightly bowed his head as he spoke.

"I'll go too!"

"Are you also speaking?"

Abel asked sarcastically.

"Well, it doesn't matter. You're also one of the people who've been appearing on the main list these days."

"Heh, you're saying I'm this promising."

Yoo Eunchae boasted, placing her hands on her waist.

"No, it's more because you're one of the troublemakers."

"What?!"

"Do you realize how many incidents you've been involved in since you entered school? Starting from the dungeon rampage incident, to the professor assault case, and even leading the whole Class B to attack Class A…"

Our student, she sure causes a lot of trouble, doesn't she?

Well, it was somewhat evident from her usual personality.

The feeling unique to troublemakers who rush into things with a 'let's just do it and deal with it later' attitude.

"If the principal hadn't found you amusing and let it slide, you would have been expelled without question by now."

"…Aren't you only talking about the bad things?"

"When a bad incident occurred, you defended well, so I'm only mentioning this much."

Abel glanced at me and said,

"The story turned out to be longer than I thought. Anyway, let's go."