Geumgang Academy Administrative Hall, Director’s Office
So Hye-yul welcomed Gang Han-byeol, who had returned after proving his skills.
She had already been briefed by Oh Seung-a in advance, and thus was aware of his performance inside the artificial gate.
“I had some expectations, but I never imagined you’d clear a grey gate alone. I thought you’d get help from Chief Secretary Oh Seung-a midway. But you defeated a Rank 2 boss monster all by yourself. That’s impressive. Anyone else would’ve buckled under that kind of pressure.”
“I flinched at first, but then I realised I had no reason to be afraid. The mountain where I trained with the Master had plenty of creatures stronger than that thing. Compared to them, this one seemed manageable. The pressure that was weighing down on me even started to fade halfway through the fight.”
“…So your soul must have developed a resistance to pressure just from battling a boss monster. Many hunters train tirelessly to build that kind of resistance. To think you gained it from a single encounter—it’s remarkable.”
So Hye-yul spoke with pure admiration.
Her amber eyes glinted with curiosity, shimmering with intrigue. She leaned forward slightly.
“Hmmm…”
“…”
Her eyes swept over him like a scalpel.
Under her gaze, Gang Han-byeol felt a subtle unease.
It was as though he wasn’t merely being looked at, but scanned—stripped of his clothes, his soul under inspection.
He took a discreet step back, withdrawing from her proximity, then changed the subject.
Only then did her gaze soften.
“So… does this mean I’ve passed?”
“If we’re calling it a pass, then yes. With your abilities, even the board won’t be able to object openly. Though it won’t put all their doubts to rest either. Han-byeol, do you know how many exams incoming students at our academy typically go through?”
“No, not exactly…”
“They take a written test on the mainland, a qualification exam to prove they’re worthy, and then five rounds of practical tests. That’s seven exams in total. We filter candidates thoroughly before choosing our students. We even consider middle school academic records—formally, at least.”
“…”
“Compared to that, your admission process was greatly simplified. So naturally, some members of the board are dissatisfied. I hesitate to say this to you, but… Jeong-jin has made a lot of enemies. Just the fact that you’re his disciple will rub some people the wrong way.”
So Hye-yul gave a bitter smile.
To-Gwi Seo Jeong-jin.
It was no secret that he’d earned the resentment of both villains and hunters alike with his eccentric personality and odd habits.
Han-byeol, who had learned from him, was all too familiar with this fact.
So when she mentioned his master, Han-byeol didn’t panic. Instead, he quietly considered her intentions.
“What should I do, then? Would it help if I took additional tests to satisfy them?”
“No, there’s no need for that. They wouldn’t be satisfied no matter how many tests you take.”
“Then…”
“How about this instead? You complete a mission assigned by them. If you pull that off, they won’t be able to object. I’ll make sure the difficulty is adjusted to a reasonable level. Of course, since the mission might interfere with your academic life, I’ll arrange for proper compensation. Not a bad deal for you either, right?”
“…”
So Hye-yul proposed gently, her voice calm and persuasive.
It wasn’t a bad offer, all things considered.
But Han-byeol was cautious.
What is she scheming?
From her mannerisms and the direction of the conversation, he could tell:
This had been her plan from the beginning.
She fully intended to hand him a mission.
…She’s up to something.
But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t read the calm smile she wore.
Even if he asked, she likely wouldn’t tell him her real intent.
She’s Master’s old companion, and… doesn’t seem like a bad person.
In the end, there was nothing to rely on but his instincts.
After a moment’s thought, Han-byeol opened his mouth.
“Alright. I’ll follow your lead, Director.”
“A wise choice. I’ll get in touch with you soon.”
With the assurance of fair compensation, he decided to accept the proposal.
So Hye-yul, pleased, lightly clapped her hands.
Then, she pulled a card from her pocket and placed it on the table.
“This is for you, Han-byeol.”
“…Director, what is this?”
“It’s your dorm keycard. A student who was supposed to move in had to cancel due to unavoidable circumstances, so one room became available.”
The card was a shade of green close to olive.
On its front was the emblem of Geumgang Academy, and on the back, a stylized image of Peridotite, along with the room number.
“The dorm you’ve been assigned to is the Peridotite Dormitory. It ranks third from the bottom among the twelve dorms at the academy. Among the five dorms allocated to new students, it’s the third from the top. Honestly, I wanted to assign you to Jade Dormitory, the highest among the five, in honour of your connection with Jeong-jin… but unfortunately, there were no vacancies.”
“No worries. As long as I’m not sleeping outside, it’s fine by me.”
“I appreciate your attitude. With your abilities, you’ll be eligible for a higher-ranked dorm by the second semester. For now, you must be tired from the long trip, and I’m sure you’ll need to unpack. Get some rest at the dorm. I’ll take care of your enrollment paperwork.”
“Thank you, Director!”
“I hope you enjoy your time here.”
Having finished his business, Gang Han-byeol stood.
He gathered the luggage he’d placed by the wall and exited the director’s office.
Left alone, So Hye-yul turned her gaze to a box sitting on the table.
…
A box sent by To-Gwi Seo Jeong-jin.
It was part of the assets he had donated as a condition for Han-byeol’s admission.
She opened the box.
Click.
Inside—concealed by magic that masked its presence and laced with security spells—was a single key.
…
A completely black key.
So Hye-yul reached out carefully and picked it up, murmuring softly.
“I’m glad it arrived safely.”
Later That Day
In my past life, I lived modestly, buying only what was absolutely necessary.
With barely enough salary to scrape by, I had no room for material desire.
At most, I’d splurge a bit on a game once a month—that was it.
But now… here I was, arms full of shopping bags, buying way more than I ever imagined just to live alone.
After dinner, I wandered around the nearby shopping complex, and now I had to carry paper bags even over my shoulders.
Honestly, all I need is a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, and maybe a coffee pot. The dorm already has a fridge and a microwave.
I never had any dreams of living alone in style, so I meant to only buy the bare essentials. But somehow, I’d ended up with this mountain of stuff.
I’d been swept up by the cheerful energy of people enjoying their shopping.
And Ha-neul packed me with stuff, too.
Not just Yeon Ha-neul, either.
At some point, Ko Eun-bi and Lisa joined in and started picking out things I’d need.
The three of them had their heads together, chattering and planning like they were decorating their own room.
―Gyeon-woo, you need to buy this too.
―A diffuser? Do I really need one…?
―Of course you do.
―You can’t not have one!
―It’s essential.
―…Fine. Just pick one, then.
―How about this scent? Lemon herb.
―Lemon herb is refreshing, but how about something sweeter?
―Oh! I use this brand at home. Highly recommend it. It smells amazing!
In my past life, I never used diffusers.
Even if I placed one at home, I could never tell if it actually did anything. Plus, they were consumables—I didn’t want to keep buying them.
That money could buy me a decent bowl of soup.
Even now, I didn’t care for them much, even though my mom had placed one in my room.
But to these three, picking out a diffuser was a matter of grave importance.
They spent tens of minutes discussing it.
Eventually, I had to step in and declare—
―Let’s just buy them all.
―You think you can carry everything?
―Wow. Rich kid behaviour…
―Won’t it be too heavy?
I figured it didn’t matter how much I spent.
So I whipped out the sponsorship card my father gave me and swiped without hesitation.
And it didn’t stop there.
―They probably have shampoo in the dorm. Do we really need to buy more?
―Yes, absolutely.
―You’ve got to use quality shampoo!
―Hair is everything.
―…You guys handle it.
Shampoo, body wash, miscellaneous items…
I bought whatever they told me to, swiping the sponsor card every time.
That’s when a message came from my father.
[Dad]: Son… what on earth are you buying so much for?
Me: The girls told me to.
[Dad]: Girls? Besides Ha-neul? The twins? Wait… Are they all girls?
Me: The ones who were in that photo with me after the afterparty.
[Dad]: Swipe that card as much as you want. Don’t feed them cheap food.
[Dad]: You treat them to meals.
Me: Already did, actually.
[Dad]: Good boy.
The Road Back to the Academy
It wasn’t just me—everyone who’d gone shopping together was in the same state.
Each of us was burdened with so many bags, we stood at the edge of the sidewalk unsure how we’d ever make it back.
That’s when I made a decision.
“We’re taking a taxi. No other choice.”
“Yeah… probably for the best. Not easy to solve this with magic either.”
“I vote taxi too.”
“Same here!”
“Ugh… transportation in the Academy City is already expensive, and taxis are brutal…”
“I’ll cover the fare. Don’t worry about it.”
“Huh? Really? Then I won’t hold back—thanks!”
No one objected.
Ko Eun-bi, who had looked like she was about to cry over the taxi fare, immediately perked up.
I chuckled at how fast she switched gears.
Soon, we made our way to the road to flag one down.
Luckily, there were plenty of taxis waiting nearby, and it didn’t take long to get one.
“Wow, you all bought a lot. New students, I take it?”
“Yes, we’re heading to Geumgang Academy.”
“Nice. Good school. Alright, hop in.”
The taxi driver got out as soon as he saw us and popped open the trunk.
We stuffed as much as we could into the back, and agreed to hold the rest in our laps.
“Ha-neul, you get in first.”
“Oh, thanks.”
“Gyeon-woo, we’re riding in luxury now!”
“I’ll repay you somehow later.”
Yeon Ha-neul, Ko Eun-bi, and Lisa—each cradling bags in their arms—climbed into the taxi one by one.
Once Lisa was inside, I closed the door and began moving toward the front passenger seat.
That’s when a familiar voice rang out.
“Hey! Do Gyeon-woo! What about us!?”
“We’re supposed to get our own taxi!?”
“Should we grab the one behind you!?”
The triplets stood a little ways back, arms overloaded with shopping bags.
They looked like puppies abandoned by their owner, staring at me expectantly.
I gave them my verdict.
“You three can run back.”
“WHAT!? Are you serious right now!?”
“Hey, that’s a joke, right? You’re joking?”
“Say something! Do Gyeon-woo!”
“You’re not carrying too much, so running with it will be good training.”
The triplets stared at me like I’d just declared the end of the world.
No, it was more like I’d betrayed them—dogs betrayed by the very human they trusted most.
But I was being sincere.
They needed training.
In a way, this would be good for them.
And for the record, I held no grudge.
“Well then. I expect you back before the day’s over.”
“HEY! How can you say that with a straight face!?”
“To Geumgang Academy, please.”
“You psychopathic lunatic!!!”
They yelled something behind me.
Unfortunately, I was already inside the taxi, so I couldn’t make it out clearly.
The taxi sped forward, and soon they disappeared from the rearview mirror.
They looked like they were about to chase after the car, but seemed to give up halfway through.
Train hard, kids.
I hoped they’d understand that this was all for their growth.
Someday, when they reached greatness, they’d look back and realize they couldn’t have done it without me.
Or so I told myself.
Meanwhile, Lisa looked troubled in the backseat.
“Is it really okay to just leave them like that…?”
“I… I think I’ll just keep my thoughts to myself.”
“…Since I’m getting a free ride, I don’t think I’m in a position to complain.”
I glanced into the rearview mirror.
Yeon Ha-neul had turned her head to the window.
Ko Eun-bi gave a sheepish chuckle.
Lisa leaned forward, poking her head between the driver and passenger seats.
I shrugged, playing it off casually.
“They’ll be fine. They complain, but they always do what they’re told. Makes training them worthwhile.”
“…You call that training?”
“Sure do.”
“Hmph… if you say so.”
Lisa clearly wasn’t convinced, but she didn’t press further.
The taxi driver chimed in helpfully.
“Hah! Guess you don’t know this, miss, but that’s how guys are. It’s how we bond—guy style.”
“…Is that so? Sounds like mischief to me.”
“Exactly! Mischief is part of it!”
Not really.
But I didn’t bother correcting him. I just leaned against the window, watching the scenery blur past.
Meanwhile, Lisa had become the driver’s new conversation partner.
“I’ve got this one friend, right? Whenever we’re drunk, he just leaves me on the street and tells me to get home myself.”
“…Isn’t that kind of dangerous?”
“Only if you’re not sharp. Gotta stay on your toes!”
“Ah… I see.”
The driver was a talkative one.
Having spent the whole day on our feet, none of us really had the energy to chat. We half-listened to the stories floating through the air.
Lisa, who had never taken a taxi before, was the only one still actively engaged.
Thanks to her, the ride was surprisingly peaceful.
Eventually, we arrived at the Geumgang Academy dormitory grounds.
“Alright, kids. Take care at school!”
“Thank you, drive safe.”
We stepped out of the taxi.
Despite clearly being tired, Lisa bowed politely to the driver before he left.
The moment the car vanished from view, she let out a long sigh.
“…Why didn’t any of you warn me?”
Ahem. “Thanks for enduring that.”
“Yeah, seriously, good work.”
“Mm-hmm! You did great, really!”
Lisa looked at us like she’d just been betrayed by her own teammates.
We awkwardly avoided eye contact.
No one dared admit that we’d used her as a human shield to absorb the driver’s chatter.
Jade Dormitory, Late at Night
We made our way toward Jade Dormitory.
Maybe it was because of the hour, but the academy grounds were lit with warmth. Every dorm we passed glowed with the light of late-night activity.
From some balconies, silhouettes stood enjoying the breeze. Others were vague shadows moving about their rooms.
That’s when I caught sight of a particular dormitory.
That one…
Even from a distance, the jewel embedded in the dormitory’s nameplate gleamed with a distinct yellow-green light.
It could easily be mistaken for an emerald.
But I knew better.
Emeralds were the gem of our dorm. The gem on that plaque was unmistakably peridot, also known as olivine.
Even without seeing the name, the colour alone told me it was Peridot Dormitory.
I wonder if he’s there now.
If things were progressing as they had in the game—
After passing So Hye-yul’s test, Gang Han-byeol would have been formally admitted to the academy and received his first recurring quest.
Recurring quests were designed to keep players engaged, sometimes even tying directly into the main story.
Around the same time, Han-byeol would be assigned to the Peridot Dormitory, thanks to a last-minute room opening.
The same building I was staring at now.
Should I go say hello?
By now, he’d be unpacking, settling into his room.
I considered it.
Then shook my head.
No. Showing up unannounced would be weird… It might mess with the story in ways I don’t want.
In the game, Han-byeol becomes close to his roommate in Peridot Dormitory.
Park Sa-gun, a guardian-type character and a classic “explainer” personality. He becomes a key companion to Han-byeol, helping him adjust to the academy city, especially after years of isolation training with Master Seo Jeong-jin.
Even if he wasn’t part of the main plotline, his role couldn’t be ignored.
If I interfered now, it might disrupt their first meeting.
“Why are you staring at that dorm?” Yeon Ha-neul asked, her eyes curious.
“Oh, no reason… Just caught my eye. The jewel was sparkling.”
I brushed it off with a vague excuse.
Then we continued past Peridot Dormitory and headed toward our own: Jade Dormitory.
When the elevator stopped at each floor, we took turns saying goodnight.
“Today was so much fun! Let’s hang out again tomorrow if we can! Sleep well!”
“I’ll get off here. Everyone did great today. Rest well.”
Ko Eun-bi and Lisa got off first.
Soon, Yeon Ha-neul reached her floor.
“I’m heading in too. What’s your plan for breakfast?”
“There’s a cafeteria in the dorm, so I’ll probably eat there, depending on when I wake up.”
“Text me when you’re up. Let’s eat together.”
“I don’t know what time I’ll wake up… If you’re hungry, go ahead without me. Or just call me.”
“Fine. If you’re not up by ten, I’m calling. You better answer.”
“So that’s a ten o’clock alarm, huh? I guess I don’t need to set one.”
“Excuse you. I’m not your alarm.”
“Please and thank you. Sleep well.”
“Geez… You too. Goodnight.”
With that, we made plans to meet in the morning.
As the elevator doors closed, she waved at me until I was completely out of sight.
I waved back.
[15th floor.]
The elevator stopped.
I stepped out into the hallway and headed straight for my room.
That’s when I ran into Yong Hae-rang.
“Yo! Do Gyeon-woo! Long time no see!”
“Hae-rang? When did you get here?”
“About an hour ago, I think? The campus is huge. I didn’t think I’d actually get lost even here, but yeah…”
“Honestly, with you, I’m not even surprised.”
He looked like he’d just gotten out of the shower.
A damp towel was draped over his shoulders, and he wore light clothes that left his limbs exposed.
As always, his muscles were sharply defined.
Damn, those arm muscles…
Even without flexing, there was no sign of sagging skin—just solid, toned biceps.
They were thicker than mine, by far.
And if he did flex, the difference would be even worse.
…So unfair.
I didn’t skip training either, so why wouldn’t my muscles grow like that?
The harsh truth of genetics stung more than I wanted to admit.
“Why are you out in the hall anyway? Heading somewhere?”
“There’s a training facility here, right? Figured I’d get a light workout in before bed. You?”
“Sorry, but I’ve been out all day. I’m beat, and I’ve still got to unpack. Let’s train together another time.”
“Aw, shame. Oh—are those all the things you bought?”
“Yeah. Looks like a lot, huh?”
“More than a lot. You sure you didn’t shop for graduation day too?”
“Well, it sort of… got out of hand. But you might end up like this, too. Living alone requires more stuff than you think.”
“Seeing you like this… Maybe. But I’d rather skip shopping altogether and spend that time training.”
“What, and just go without essentials?”
Honestly, with Yong Hae-rang, I wouldn’t be surprised.
Rooms on the top floor came with nearly everything pre-installed, so technically, he could survive without shopping.
But then, as if to contradict that very thought—
“Who said I’m going without?”
“What? Then what’s your plan?”
Hae-rang replied coolly.
“Dude, it’s the 21st century. You don’t need to go outside to buy stuff. Ever heard of online shopping?”
“….”
“There are sites that deliver the next day. Here in Academy City, people mostly use AcaMarket. I might give that a try.”
“…You’ve got to be kidding.”
“Hm? Sorry, didn’t catch that. You said something?”
“This isn’t even your character.”
“…Huh?”
Hae-rang looked genuinely confused.
I groaned inwardly.
Damn it. If I knew this would happen, I’d have just ordered everything online, too.
Why hadn’t I thought of that?
Worse, the fact that even Hae-rang had thought of it before I did stung my pride more than I cared to admit.
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