novelraw Chapter 41 : Chapter 41
Chapter 41 : Chapter 41
Chapter 41: Trainee Reporter
“Ah, over here.”
As I stepped outside, someone waved at me.
The words that a sunbae called me and the glimpse of blue hair.
Naturally, I thought it would be Jin Cheongha Sunbae.
However, contrary to expectations, the one standing there was a different figure.
Blue hair.
Clear and deep blue eyes.
At a glance, he resembled Jin Cheongha.
But he was taller and his physique was more robust.
His slightly angular jawline and eyes were also more masculine.
Jin Cheonglim.
Originating from a collateral line of the Cheongryu Family, the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Zero Times.
“Ah, it was you, Sunbae.”
When I spoke, Jin Cheonglim narrowed his eyes and laughed.
“Hm? Aha, confused me with Cheongha?”
His lips smiled, but his eyes were not smiling at all.
‘Ah, did I make a mistake.’
Feeling somewhat embarrassed.
“One could get confused. Since the blue hair, the symbol of the Cheongryu Family, probably suits Cheongha best.”
Jin Cheonglim waved his hand dismissively and withdrew his gaze from me.
Though he spoke like a joke, a cold current flowed somewhere.
“Yes? No. Just because the kid who called me said ‘Sunbae is looking for you’. I wondered who it was and realized it was you, Sunbae.”
As I spoke quickly, fortunately, Jin Cheonglim scratched his head.
“Ah, I see! Sorry sorry. I jumped to conclusions.”
He laughed it off, but I sensed it intuitively.
It seems better to avoid bringing up topics related to Jin Cheongha as much as possible in front of this person.
“Today, you know. About the reportage article you submitted before. Came to say I read it well.”
The time has come.
Ttiring-!
[Task: Challenge! Scoop Reportage!]
[Catch a scoop and write a reportage article!]
The Zero Times entry quest received before going to the Mystery Hall.
The goal of preventing Seol Hayun's collapse in advance was achieved, and now it was time to receive additional rewards.
A reportage article where a reporter covers and reports on the incident scene directly.
I suffered a bit writing the article while in the hospital bed.
“Honestly, I was surprised.”
Jin Cheonglim said.
“Didn't know you'd get caught up in such a huge incident. Was worried if the shock was too big too. To think you'd write that as an article and submit it! Think you have talent as a reporter.”
As Jin Cheonglim operated a drone, a holographic document floated in the air.
Familiar title, familiar sentences.
It was the article I wrote.
Jin Cheonglim started reading one sentence among them aloud.
“We survived. However, the price was in silence. Nameless traumas wander above the hospital beds, and someone still fears the shadow beyond the door…….”
Jin Cheonglim's appearance speaking the sentences as if savoring them.
“The sentences are good, and the angle1) was caught well too. Above all, taking ‘aftereffects’ as the core theme seems really excellent. Not a simple event flow or battle report, but a reportage containing the fear and responsibility felt directly by the person who received the commendation. Flawless even as a main front page top article2).”
Somehow felt embarrassed.
Feeling like my diary is being read aloud in front of the teacher.
Furthermore, didn't know he would evaluate it this seriously.
“So, you expect the result, right?”
Jin Cheonglim continued looking into my eyes.
“It's a pass.”
After a beat of pause, his tone adding on was plain.
“Zero Times Trainee Reporter, final pass. Met the qualification criteria, and the evaluation was in the top tier too. It was unanimous without objection.”
Jin Cheonglim took out a thin case from his pocket.
A card with a blue strip around it.
[Press Pass]
[Zero Times]
[Ryu Jinwoo]
“Came to give you this.”
The moment the press pass was placed in my hand, a system message appeared.
Ttiring-!
[Tactical Manual]
[Completed ‘Task: Challenge! Scoop Reportage!’.]
[Passed as a Trainee Reporter for Zero Times.]
[Acquired 10,000 SP and ‘Press Pass’ as goal fulfillment reward.]
Ttiring-!
[Fulfilled the goal excellently.]
[Additional reward is provided.]
[Acquire 20,000 SP.]
[Acquired Passive Skill ‘Reporter’s Sense’.]
▶ Can grasp the precursor of incidents occurring within a certain range. Coverage quests occur, and upon achieving the goal, certain rewards are acquired. (*Ability enhancement occurs according to reporter grade increase.)
Countless messages poured in instantly beyond counting.
As if saying they'll take care of me properly for the hard work.
‘This is why one must join a club.’
While intoxicated by the myriad texts delivered by the Tactical Manual system window and the newly acquired ability.
Ppibik-!
An alarm sound rang in reality too.
[Biometric authentication completed.]
[Reporter Ryu Jinwoo's biometric information has been recorded.]
“With this, the entry procedure is complete. Congratulations once again. Starting as a trainee reporter now, but in my view, seems you'll move up quickly?”
Jin Cheonglim patted my shoulder lightly.
Didn't matter if it was a trainee reporter.
Since I already know numerous scoops through the original work.
As long as I unravel them well, the reporter grade will naturally follow.
Moreover, Zero Times' information network was no different from a key telling me exactly when and where the incidents I know will explode.
‘Can even prevent really big accidents in advance.’
Maybe the real start is from now.
As the incidents I can handle increase, the room to intervene in the story also widens.
And to cover higher grade incidents, need to raise the reporter grade.
Therefore, the goal became clear.
Official reporter within this semester, minimum department head by next year.
“Keep the press pass well. It's quite useful than it looks. Can enter restricted areas within the academy. Since external institution access permission is also issued separately at the Zero Times level, it will be handy.”
He knew as well.
In fact, this press pass is a truly hidden cheat item.
Even in the game, if one has a press pass, the ‘maps’ one can go to explode in number.
Usually, one has to acquire qualifications in other ways, but the press pass allows entry under the pretext of ‘coverage’.
Of course, the range for trainees is not wide.
Since the structure is that access authority widens as reporter grade rises.
But if one becomes an official reporter, and further rises to the position of department head?
‘Will be able to enter tremendous places.’
Needless to say if rising up to editor-in-chief.
I squeezed the press pass tightly and felt the texture.
Reassuring. Reassuring.
“Then since you passed, wanna go see the typesetting? While looking around the department room too.”
While attention was sold on the card, Jin Cheonglim tossed a word.
“Typesetting?”
“We are publishing a paper newspaper too. Should I call it the pride of a press company. Gathering every other Monday to make the printed newspaper.”
The work of arranging articles, photos, and various images to make a printed newspaper.
In other words, Jin Cheonglim explained that typesetting is the process of making a paper newspaper.
Does interest me somewhat.
Anyway, it's work I have to participate in going forward.
If there's a problem, today is Monday.
“I have afternoon training.”
“Ah don't worry about that. Zero Times typesetting schedule is classified as an official schedule. Means you can skip training. Of course, if there is important training or schedule, we excuse you from typesetting. If you want, it's okay to observe starting today. I’ll convey it to the administration office.”
“Then let's go.”
Can even skip training? Can't resist this.
I nodded.
Like that, following Jin Cheonglim headed to the Zero Times department room.
Around the time we were passing a quiet promenade in the middle of the campus.
“Oi! You there, freshman.”
A voice mixed with quarrel flew from behind my back.
For some reason, a familiar intonation.
Turning my head, a man wearing a black jacket was approaching.
Short shaved hair with scratches engraved on the side, wearing sunglasses on his eyes.
Broad shoulders despite pale skin showing he was never sickly.
On the sleeve and chest of his jacket, a golden crown emblem embroidered with gold thread glistened.
‘Crown.’
The club in charge of notoriety among Zero's 4 Great Clubs.
That symbol is the Golden Crown.
“Remember me? I owed you some back then.”
No way I wouldn't remember.
The guy who came straight to the classroom as soon as the rumor that I beat Jin Cheongha exploded.
Saying Jin Cheongha's rival is himself.
Yang Giran.
Crown's executive and Zero's problem child.
Famous for his twisted personality as much as his certain skills.
And when he came to the classroom last time, he suffered humiliation somehow because of me.
“You, getting mentioned here and there often lately.”
He approached with big strides and attempted eye contact.
“Shall we talk a bit?”
Smirking- ssik- he lifted his chin.
Before I could answer anything.
“Sorry but difficult as he has business.”
Jin Cheonglim stepped up first.
Yang Giran's head turned toward Jin Cheonglim.
While twitching his lips threateningly.
“What, was it Jin Cheonglim?”
Yang Giran let out a sneer.
“Is your nuna doing well? Tell her to be prepared to get smashed once within this month.”
Yang Giran muttered fishily.
If it's a figure worth referring to as ‘nuna’ to Jin Cheonglim, there's only one person.
“Told you clearly before too, but Jin Cheongha is not my nuna. Family is same but lineage is different.”
Jin Cheonglim responded with a cold tone.
Then Yang Giran snickered and opened his mouth again.
“Ah right. You are that what, that right?”
Nodding his head at Jin Cheonglim, he continued.
“Leftover.”
“If possible, would be good if you use the expression ‘collateral’.”
As Jin Cheonglim answered lightly, felt the air turn cold instantly.
Tension continued as if breath tightening.
Soon Yang Giran's gaze headed to my hand.
[Press Pass]
The moment he saw that, he curled up the corners of his mouth as if he caught something.
“What? Did you go under Jin Cheonglim?”
Voice mixed with ridicule.
“Making a fuss about beating Jin Cheongha, receiving a commendation. The choice you made is merely here?”
Yang Giran threw his head back and snorted.
And glancing at Jin Cheonglim again, approached closer to me.
Yang Giran, rolling the inside of his cheek with his tongue for a moment, raised his head as if he made up his mind about something.
“Good. Thought of something interesting.”
Slightly raising the corners of his mouth, continued speaking.
“You, not a place like that…….”
He tapped the crown emblem embroidery on his chest with his fingertips.
“How about here?”
Triumphant expression.
Confident smile.
All meaning was contained in those short words.
Crown.
The proposal to give a chance to enter that kingdom.
And at that moment.
“Just what are you trying to do now?”
Jin Cheonglim's voice popped out with a sharp tone.
A cold and low voice, completely different from the tone smiling softly just a moment ago.
The smile disappeared without a trace before anyone knew, and a deep shadow settled below the corners of his mouth.
He had no choice but to be.
Now Yang Giran was blatantly touching upon Jin Cheongha in front of Jin Cheonglim.
Furthermore, extending a proposal to steal a member right in front of his eyes.
“Why? I’m just giving a chance.”
Yang Giran said laughing slyly.
“Got a problem?”
Short words, but provocative nuance.
Strange tension flowed between the two people.
Heavy silence as if the air itself was hardening.
‘F*ck what is this.’
And I was standing in the middle of it.