novelraw Chapter 186 : Return to the Academy (1)
Chapter 186 : Return to the Academy (1)
After that, I returned to the hotel.
Three people with overlapping pasts.
The suspicion that our memories might even be fabricated.
And the reality that, even if we realized it, there was nothing we could do about it.
Or rather—should I be calling this “reality” at all?
My head was a complete mess.
Was this world even real?
Nam Yein—silver hair, pathetic aptitude rank, living as a hunter trainee while pushing forward to clear the scenario.
What if all of this was false?
What if everything was nothing more than a dream?
I bit down hard on my lip.
The sharp pain was very real.
“Phew…”
I let out a long breath and opened my inventory.
Whatever else was going on, I still had equipment to craft for All Around today.
As I picked up my hammer and began striking materials, the conversation with the two of them replayed in my mind.
Parents who had passed away.
Someone close who had committed suicide.
And starting Latesai to bury that pain.
Of those connections, maybe one thread tied to why we were here.
But why would that lead us into a world like this?
Unless… unless that kid somehow survived and wanted revenge on me.
Meaning this was all just a virtual world, and my real body had been kidnapped, strapped into some machine with my brain jacked into it.
Like wearing a VR headgear wired straight into the skull.
Yeah, right.
What kind of ridiculous novel was that supposed to be?
“Ah.”
I froze at the shield glowing into existence in front of me.
I’d meant to craft armor, but lost in thought, I’d made another shield instead.
“Damn. Wasted material.”
Muttering under my breath, I smashed it apart with my hammer.
Some of the key components remained, but most of the other materials were gone. A loss.
I got enough supplies anyway. I won’t miss my quota.
Even so, it left a bitter taste.
I shook my head hard, forcing myself to focus, and resumed my work.
Bit by bit, the distracting thoughts receded.
Until finally, my mind was filled only with the rhythm of creation.
I didn’t even notice the hours passing.
By the time I snapped back to awareness, two hours had vanished.
The equipment for All Around was finished, and I’d even completed the batch meant for Platinum Wings.
And with that, my Craftsman ability leveled up once more—Level 12.
That was when it happened.
[You may now appraise and craft Legendary-grade items.]
The voice rang directly in my head, snapping me wide awake.
At last!
The first thing I did was test if the ability really worked.
I already had the perfect candidate in my inventory.
I drew out the jewel I’d obtained back at HAUT, deep in the underground shrine.
In that hidden space—something that hadn’t existed in the game—there had been the statue of Caymon, the Valro Latesai and final scenario boss.
And inside the pedestal was a jewel radiating violet light.
The very first Legendary item I’d ever gotten in this world.
But because my Craftsman skill was too low, I hadn’t been able to identify it.
A place not in the game. An item not in the game.
I nearly burst from excitement back then, trying not to show it.
The moment I focused on the jewel’s violet glow, a voice echoed in my head.
[Ability ‘Craftsman’ activates.]
And at once, a status window appeared before my eyes.
“…Huh.”
As expected, it was tied to Caymon.
The problem was, it was only a material.
And since it was never in the game, I had no recipe for it.
Normally, recipes drop from monsters or can be learned from Craftsman NPCs.
But only if you’d invested points into the right passive skill tree.
Well. Maybe I’ll unlock something later when I level the skill further. And if not… I can always brute-force it. Combine it with other materials until something works.
Even if the result failed, at least a Level 99 Legendary material like this would survive the attempt.
But for now, there were things far more urgent than experimenting with this.
First, I had to raise the Demon’s Class members to Level 150.
Then, create equipment tailored to their abilities.
And prepare our strength for the Latessai, for the hidden bosses—while clearing the key events still left in the scenario.
“Ha.”
A laugh slipped out.
Just a while ago, my head had been too cluttered to focus.
Now it was crammed full of plans, urgency burning in my chest.
“Well, all I can do is keep moving forward.”
I wouldn’t lock myself away and stall again.
Once was enough for that.
“…If those memories really are mine, anyway.”
With a bitter smile, I packed the finished gear for All Around into an inventory box and left the hotel.
The next morning, Seoul was in an uproar.
On top of the Fortress Dungeon, five more had appeared overnight.
[Following the sudden emergence of the Fortress Dungeon, five new dungeons have been discovered in Seoul. The city is currently investigating them with the help of guilds such as All Around. If no extraordinary risks are found, these dungeons are expected to be opened to hunters, just like the Fortress Dungeon.]
[Hunters are expressing great anticipation, as the Fortress Dungeon was reported to yield far more demonic materials and relics than usual. Many wonder if these new dungeons will be the same.]
“…Mm.”
Bathed in the morning sunlight streaming through the window, I switched off the TV.
So the Phase Two dungeons are arriving right on schedule.
If things followed the game, every single Phase Two dungeon would appear in Seoul within the week.
Before the weekend, I’ll need to finish making full rare-item sets for Demon’s Class. After that, everything hinges on whether we can secure Legendary materials and relics from the dungeons.
A knock came at the door.
It wasn’t loud—more hesitant, almost shy.
That must be Lumina.
“Yein, are you up?”
As expected, her voice floated from outside.
I went to the entrance and opened the door.
“Good morning. Sleep well?”
Lumina smiled brightly.
“Mm. Did you?”
“Yeah.”
She nodded.
“You came to call me down for breakfast?”
“Yep.”
“Alright then. Let’s go.”
We stepped into the hallway and stopped by Meiling and Seoyui’s room to bring them along.
“Hey, did you guys watch the news?” Meiling asked while we waited for the elevator.
“News?” Lumina tilted her head.
“They said five new dungeons appeared in Seoul.”
“What?!”
At Meiling’s words, Lumina’s mouth dropped open in shock.
“They’re still being investigated, but it sounds like we’ll be able to enter them later.”
Her gaze turned toward me.
“Probably.”
“Do you think monsters and items will pour out there like in the Fortress Dungeon?”
They will. That’s exactly what Phase Two dungeons are designed for.
“I have a feeling they will,” I replied.
“In that case, the hunters swarming the Fortress Dungeon will spread out,” Seo Yui said.
“At least we won’t have to wait an hour like before,” Lumina added with a wry smile.
Just then, the elevator arrived, and we all stepped in.
After finishing breakfast at the buffet, I prepared to head out.
When I stepped into the hallway, Meiling was standing there.
“Where are you going?”
“…Don’t tell me you’ve been waiting for me?” I asked, dumbfounded.
She was dressed for going out.
“Ah…”
I turned at the sudden voice and saw Lumina, also in outdoor clothes.
A moment later, Seo Yui emerged from her room—likewise dressed to go out.
“Y-Yein, don’t misunderstand,” Lumina blurted quickly. “I was just planning to go out with Sister and Meiling today, but then I remembered you said you were meeting someone. It’s not like we’re trying to follow you or anything! We just thought, if it’s someplace we could go too, we’d tag along, and then after you finish your business, we’d go hang out together. As for Meiling standing there—it was just a coincidence, not like she was waiting for you on purpose, really…”
She rambled, but I got the gist.
“Well. I don’t mind if you come along. But Meiling… you might not want to.”
“What?! Why! Why am I the only one being left out?!”
She immediately snapped at me.
“I’m not excluding you. I’m being serious—it’s for your sake.”
“Then where exactly are you going?!”
I told them who I was meeting.
Meiling’s face froze.
Lumina and Seo Yui gave awkward, bitter smiles.
Forty minutes later.
We stood once again in front of a mansion we’d visited twice before.
I pressed the doorbell. The door opened to a familiar voice.
“Welcome.”
Kim Sang-sik looked at us as he held the doorknob. His voice sounded brighter than before.
“Hey there!”
From behind, Jodie waved her big arm and shouted a loud greeting.
“Tch.”
Meiling clicked her tongue softly.
See? I told you so.
Kim Sang-sik led us into the living room and served carrot juice. Apparently, he still drank this stuff.
“Have you all been well?” he asked, sitting on the sofa with his cup.
“Yes. Thanks to the mayor booking us a hotel, we’ve been living so comfortably it feels like we might get fat,” I replied.
“That’s good to hear.”
He gave a faint smile.
Maybe because Forward was on the road to ruin and his revenge was finally in motion, he seemed like a slightly different man.
“And how have you and Jodie been, sir?”
“We’ve been good!” Jodie answered for him. “But kind of busy.”
“Busy?” Lumina asked.
“We’ve been meeting with the Peacekeepers non-stop,” Jodie explained. “Because of the investigation into those bastards.”
“Ahh.” Lumina nodded.
“It’ll take some time, but they’ll pay the price,” Kim Sang-sik said, “Thankfully, we’re not the only ones fighting them. Others are, too, so it’s less of a burden. All thanks to you. Especially you, Yein. I’m grateful.”
“I’m glad I could help you and Jodie.”
We chatted for a while, the main topic being the newly appeared dungeons.
“You’ve already been inside the Fortress Dungeon?” Kim Sang-sik asked.
“Yes. I gathered some of my HAUT classmates and we went in,” I said, and told him about Demon’s Class.
“Hm. With your group, you’d gain more by training others there than by staying stuck at Gwangcheon,” he mused.
“Speaking of Gwangcheon, did you know it’s now owned by the Homar Foundation?” I asked.
“…Yes. I heard. Lord Riyu called me personally.”
That was news to me.
“He even asked if I’d consider returning to teach at Gwangcheon. Said there weren’t many clean people left among the staff.”
Great. That messes up my plans.
“May I ask what you told him?”
Kim Sang-sik gave a bitter smile.
“Unfortunately, I told him no. If he’s looking for someone clean, I’m the last person. Someone who’s walked such a twisted path has no right to train young hunters properly.”
So he’d refused.
“I see.”
“I…I don’t think that’s true,” Lumina said, her voice tense. “If I had gone through what you did, I could never forgive Forward either. That doesn’t make you a bad person.”
“I agree,” Seo Yui added. “If anything, someone like you is exactly what Gwangcheon needs.”
Guys. Stop.
I knew those warm, sunlit words were exactly what someone like Kim Sang-sik needed.
And I admired their kind hearts.
But if he started thinking, maybe I should go back to Gwangcheon, then my whole plan would be ruined.
“Thank you for saying that,” Kim Sang-sik said with a smile. “But I’ve decided. I won’t return as an academy teacher. I’m sorry.”
“….”
“I see… understood,” Lumina said sadly, while Seoyui nodded.
“Sir,” I said.
Kim Sang-sik looked at me.
“Could we speak privately for a moment?”
“…Alright.”
Looking slightly puzzled, he rose from the sofa.
He led me to his room. A bookcase stuffed with volumes, a neatly arranged desk, and a clean bed caught my eye.
Aside from office supplies, there were hardly any personal belongings.
“What is it you wanted to talk about?” he asked, offering me a chair before sitting on the bed himself.
I sat and spoke.
“Sir. I have a request.”
“A request?”
“Yes. Something only you can do.”
“…If it’s you asking, I can’t just refuse. What is it?”
“Please become the leader of Demon’s Class.”
“What?”
His eyes widened.
“To be precise… I’d like you to act as my proxy. A substitute teacher, in my place. Someone who can pass on knowledge and combat techniques to them—someone to be their fake teacher.”
“….”
Kim Sang-sik stared at me, mouth slightly open.
(End of Chapter)