chapter 9

After hurrying inside and acting like we were scared of the monsters, we started to gather information about what was going on. We found out that there are three leaders of the school, and the lower-class students were like slaves, while the students with good skills were like soldiers. We were considered soldiers because of the skills we showed them.

"Haeun, we have 4 hours before the system is up and running again. We need to leave before that happens."

"Okay, so do you know where the sword and the person you're looking for are?"

"I found where the sword is, but not where the person is."

'Kim Min-joon, the guy I'm looking for, is going to be one of the three leaders of the Heavenly Trial and is going to be one of the opponents that the characters have to fight to become the Heaven's savior. But right now, in the game, he's just a high schooler.'

"Hey, you pieces of trash, what are you doing over there? Pick up the boxes and place them in the storage."

"Okay--tremble--I'm going--tremble--"

"Hey, what are you doing over there? Leave him alone."

"Hey, Haeun, what are you doing? Stay here."

"But don't you see that kid being harassed by the other guy?"

"I know, but if you act out, they will get suspicious of us. And that's the kid I'm looking for, so I'll deal with it."

"But... okay, I'll leave it to you, Hyun. Just help the kid."

"Yeah, I was going to help him anyway."

"Hey, you, Kim Min-joon, can I help you?"

"Huh, why do you want to help me?"

"No reason, just wanted to."

'I know that I'm helping him because I want him to join us, but I feel how he feels because I was bullied too when I was in school.'

"But why help me? They're going to bully you too."

"Huh, bully me? They can try, but I don't think they can do that."

"Why do you think so? Are you strong?"

"You could say that."

"We're here. The storage. You can place the box there."

"Hmm, right here?"

"Yeah."

"Hey, Kim Min-joon, why don't you fight back? I mean, you have the skills to do so."

"What? I can't fight back with my skills; they're weak."

"Huh, weak? Who told you that?"

"It was the first leader."

'Huh, that's why Kim Min-joon isn't in the top three of the world chart. Who is this first leader person?'

[#######]

[World Chart: A board that ranks the players based on their powers and skills. It was implemented in the second update, v1.3, and was made to let other players know how strong the competition was. It was for the characters in the game, and you could not see real players' ranks because it was single-player.]

"Hey, Kim Min, who is this first leader person?"

"Huh, don't you know this? The first leader is the head of the school. He was the student council president, and because he had a strong skill, he became the leader. He judges the students and their power levels and ranks them."

"Hmm, I see."

'That means the leader must have a peek skill or a skill that makes him able to see characters' skills, but I don't think he has the peek skill since it's rare, and I never heard about this character in the game before, so I don't think he's special.'

"Hey, what's your name?"

"Who, me? My name is Hyun... no, my name is Cha Yeon-woo. I thought I told you my name, but I guess I didn't tell you."

"Yeah, you didn't."

[#######]

[1 hour until system reboot]

[Please retreat before the character is discovered.]

'Shit, I have to get the sword and Kim Min on my side quickly before time runs out.'

"Hey, Kim Min, do you want to come with us?"

"Go where and with who?"

"Me and my partner."

'######, open and purchase the skill Mind Chat.'

[#######]

[Mind Chat: A skill that makes the character able to talk with their partners through their mind.]

Cost: 10,000 coins

Mind Chat:

[Hey, Haeun, come here.]

[Huh, Hyun, how are you able to talk to me through my mind?]

[It's a skill. Don't worry about it and come here.]

[Huh? Okay.]

[But where are you?]

[I'm outside in the storage room.]

[Ah, okay. But warn me about these things beforehand.]

"My partner is coming, so wait."

"So, what do I get for joining you?"

"What you are going to get from joining me is power and the ability to defeat the bastards that made you like this."

'I know it sounds corny, but it's true.'

"Okay, I'll join you. But one thing, make me kill the bastards that bullied me."

"Okay, do what you want."

"Hey, everyone, enter the auditorium. The first leader is going to talk."

'I think it's time to put my plan in action.'

"Hey, Haeun."

"Huh, how did you know I arrived just now?"

"Because I'm him."

"Huh, are you okay? Do you have main character syndrome or something?"

"No, nothing like that. I was just making a joke, but it looks like it didn't work. Hey, Kim Min, this is my partner, and she's going to carry out the plan."

Mind Chat:

[Huh, which plan is that?]

[The one I told you before we entered the school. Did you forget?]

[Oh, that one!]

"Hey, Haeun, let's begin."

"Okay, master."

"Huh? Master?"

Mind Chat:

Haeun: [Can't you take a joke?]

After talking to Haeun and Kim Min, I went into the auditorium with Kim Min, and Haeun went to carry out the plan. After lining up in the auditorium based on our ranks, the first leader began to speak.

"Hey everyone, it's nice to see you all here. I am the first king."

At that moment, my skill activated.

[#######]

[Your skill has identified a threat. The system is analyzing the threat. The system can't identify the character. The character is not a character. The status window cannot be read. The character is a virus that needs to be terminated. §§§§§ can't identify the threat. Please retreat.]

"Huh, what's going on?"