Written Exam

The theory class was coming to an end.

Lee Dojin thought. This… I might fail if I’m not careful?

He suddenly realized that he hadn’t paid much attention to the theory classes.

Come to think of it, during every theory class, he had let the lectures slide by and often spent time reviewing his numerous past battles.

“If you properly listened to my previous lectures, just this summary should be enough to organize everything.”

‘I’m doomed.’

Only about half of it was organized in Lee Dojin’s head.

Isn’t there anyone?

A friend who took proper notes.

Lee Dojin looked around. He had asked Jia, but she said she didn’t have anything like lecture notes because her learning method was different.

The professor left the classroom. Lee Dojin stood up from his seat and quickly scanned his classmates.

As the ‘freshman representative’ and top-ranked entrant, Lee Dojin could receive four years of tuition support.

However, if his written exam score fell below 60 points, he would lose that qualification for that semester.

‘It’s ambiguous.’

He might be able to score 60 points, but it would be better to safely exceed the cutline if possible.

Lee Dojin’s gaze stopped on one person.

It was Kang Changhyung, the youngest son of the <Power> Guild and disciple of King Wang.

He was intently looking at what appeared to be a notebook of lecture notes.

He raised his head and glared at Lee Dojin as he approached.

It was because Lee Dojin had never approached him before.

“What are you looking at?”

Lee Dojin ignored Kang Changhyung’s sharp reaction and focused on his notebook.

“Why are your notes so well-organized, it doesn’t suit you.”

“…Did I, fucking, make the kids do it? Huh? Everyone here is strong.”

“No. It just really doesn’t suit you.”

Usually, the chances of a blonde guy who uses his fists being good at studying were slim.

Lee Dojin didn’t view it that narrowly, and just really thought that studying didn’t suit his tyrannical fists.

“How do you think kids from big companies are educated? Emperor studies and whatnot. That’s somewhat true. Even if you don’t try hard, you instinctively end up working hard.”

“I see.”

So that’s how such skillful, systematic note-taking was possible.

Lee Dojin was genuinely impressed by the neat, straight handwriting without any distortion.

While his own handwriting was sometimes hard to read even after three or four days, Kang Changhyung’s writing was neat and easily legible to anyone at a glance.

“Can I borrow it?”

“I don’t mind since I’ve memorized it all anyway. But what will you do for me if I lend it?”

“…Money?”

Kang Changhyung snickered at Lee Dojin’s words. As if it was absurd.

“Money my ass. Money is something that only overflows in my wallet. Let me use your day as I please.”

“Perhaps, your preference is…”

“I like women. Okay? Just go to a dungeon with me once. I’m asking you to fight me once.”

Kang Changhyung’s eyes were full of fighting spirit.

Well, if that’s what it was. Lee Dojin readily agreed.

Kang Changhyung clicked his tongue once and handed over his notebook.

Someone appeared behind Lee Dojin. Light pink hair rose up.

“What are you doing?”

“Preparing to study.”

Baek Hwayeon’s eyes widened when she saw the organized notes in Kang Changhyung’s notebook in Lee Dojin’s hand.

“Wow, Kang Changhyung. You’re unexpectedly good at studying. Is this gap moe or something?”

“Aish, shit!”

Kang Changhyung furrowed his brow as even Baek Hwayeon subtly teased him.

Baek Hwayeon abruptly held out her right hand in front of Kang Changhyung.

“Friend! I invite thee to our study group!”

“What are you saying… you didn’t study either?”

Baek Hwayeon took Kang Changhyung’s notebook from Lee Dojin.

“Yeah, wow. So this is what Dungeon Exploration Theory was about?”

Kang Changhyung twisted his mouth.

“Hey hey, that’s from the lecture that ended 5 minutes ago, you know? The class the professor just left?”

“I don’t know.”

“…There’s no hope.”

Kang Changhyung scratched his blonde hair. Somehow, Baek Hwayeon’s words didn’t seem like a joke.

Baek Hwayeon opened her mouth again.

“Be our cramming teacher.”

Lee Dojin chimed in.

“It would be really helpful if you explained it once.”

Kang Changhyung let out a deep sigh.

“Fine, fine, you sword-wielding airheads. I’ll teach you just for today. Just today.”

Lee Dojin, Baek Hwayeon, and Kang Changhyung studied theory classes together until 11 PM.

In the campus reading club room.

The three were studying in the club room thanks to the seniors’ consideration.

Kang Changhyung, with his blonde hair slicked back, looked at one woman with a genuinely pathetic expression.

The crown of light pink hair tied in a ponytail was clearly visible.

“Hifyuuu…”

A stream of liquid was flowing from Baek Hwayeon’s pink lips.

It was drool.

Lee Dojin, focused on the book beside her, hadn’t noticed it.

Kang Changhyung continued speaking with his mouth twisted strangely.

“Wake that up. Let’s stop here.”

“Oh, okay.”

At Kang Changhyung’s words, Lee Dojin finally noticed the drool falling from Baek Hwayeon.

Fortunately it was thin, if it had been a lump it would have looked quite obscene.

Of course, Lee Dojin didn’t mind much. He just pulled out a sheet from the facial tissues placed on the desk.

He wiped Baek Hwayeon’s mouth with that tissue.

“Mmm… nyah.”

Even as her mouth was being wiped, Baek Hwayeon showed no signs of waking up.

Kang Changhyung let out a mocking laugh.

“It’s not the first time you’ve seen her drooling?”

“I’ve seen it a few times during training too.”

“Does she know you’ve seen that?”

“Probably not.”

“Keep pretending you don’t know. If she finds out, she’ll seriously fall into self-loathing. She might not be able to look you in the face for a week.”

“I will.”

Lee Dojin chuckled too.

Certainly, drooling was one thing, but if she found out that he had wiped her drool more than once or twice, she wouldn’t try to make eye contact for a while.

Swish-

After completely wiping her mouth, Lee Dojin patted Baek Hwayeon’s shoulder to wake her up.

Baek Hwayeon opened her round eyes and, upon seeing Lee Dojin’s face, seemed relieved and raised the corners of her mouth in a smile.

“Let’s stop now and go back to our dorms.”

Baek Hwayeon yawned demurely, covering her mouth with both hands.

Not knowing that her image had already been thoroughly ruined.

“We can’t. I don’t think I’ve properly looked at it yet.”

Kang Changhyung, sitting next to her, clicked his tongue.

“It’s already 11 o’clock, human.”

---

The deepening night.

Iroaz Academy, heading towards midnight, was quiet.

A short-haired woman wearing a black women’s tank top workout clothes was sitting on a bench.

Choi Bit-na was perplexed by Lee Dojin’s call.

‘Has Dojin ever called me first? Personally?’

Choi Bit-na thought carefully.

‘He hasn’t.’

It was quite a blow to her pride, but it had never happened even once. Though their connection had only been for a month to begin with.

‘I’ve received too much.’

The connection created by the mock dungeon exam.

Awakening as a martial artist.

That was achieved by Lee Dojin’s hand.

Even her master, the Spear King, taking her as a disciple was ultimately due to the luck of being paired with Lee Dojin.

Someone sat down next to Choi Bit-na on the bench.

“You came, master.”

Lee Dojin was also wearing training gym clothes.

Lee Dojin glanced around slightly. It seemed better to walk lightly than to sit on the bench and talk.

“Shall we walk a bit?”

“Okay.”

Choi Bit-na and Lee Dojin walked along the walking path within the academy.

Here and there, students could be seen walking in pairs of men and women like them.

“Are they all campus couples?”

Choi Bit-na muttered.

“I don’t know.”

Lee Dojin spoke indifferently, as he had no interest in whether others were couples or not.

‘Sigh, what did I expect from my master?’

Even if he went on a date, he’d probably want to do it in a dungeon.

Lee Dojin was that kind of guy.

The two walked at a jogging pace as if they were really exercising.

Thud thud

‘But at least he matches my pace.’

Choi Bit-na felt a subtle consideration.

The two soon sat down on a bench that appeared.

“Master, did you study for the written exam?”

“Roughly.”

“Me too, roughly. As long as it’s not embarrassingly bad, it should be fine.”

Choi Bit-na was confident. Confident that she would advance to the next class in her second year.

And the criteria for class advancement was based more on skill than written exams.

“Next year, I’ll be in the same class as you, master. I’m going to write a miracle of rising from combat class 10 to class 1, that’s what I’m saying.”

“It might be possible. If it’s you, Bit-na.”

“So that means you’ll come to the Prism Guild often during summer vacation to be my sparring partner?”

Lee Dojin recalled the things he had to do during summer vacation.

Ask the instructors and vice principal he had built some rapport with about the whereabouts of Iroaz’s principal.

End the bad relationship with Sword Emperor So Daecheol.

Obtain a hunter license.

There were quite a few clear things he had to do right away.

“If possible.”

“Okay. But why did you call me? It’s not just for a walk. Night exercise is good though.”

Choi Bit-na spoke while looking at the lights of Seoul’s buildings spread out far below the slope.

“Have you ever worn earrings?”

Choi Bit-na’s sharp eyes turned to Lee Dojin.

“Earrings? I got my ears pierced before graduating high school. For a change of mood. But I only wore them a few times.”

At those words, Lee Dojin leaned his face close to Choi Bit-na.

“W-what?”

Lee Dojin looked intently at Choi Bit-na’s ears with an indifferent expression.

“That’s good. We can do it then.”

“Do what?”

Lee Dojin took something out of his spatial pocket.

It was earrings.

More precisely, earrings that were sold as a set with Baek Hwayeon’s necklace.

Therefore, the diamond design was identical to Baek Hwayeon’s necklace.

A round diamond at the center and additional gems spread out like a fully bloomed flower.

The earrings were a small size that could be worn comfortably.

“It’s a gift. I bought it at the Black Market. I’m giving them to a few people I’m grateful to. I thought earrings would suit you.”

Choi Bit-na, who received a pair of earrings from Lee Dojin, stared blankly at the earrings.

“…They’re pretty.”

She raised her head to look at Lee Dojin again.

“W-what did you give others?”

Lee Dojin answered very honestly.

“Necklace, bracelet.”

This time, Choi Bit-na leaned her face close to Lee Dojin.

“So there are no earrings? You only gave them to me? You thought about what would suit me? You, you judged with your own head?”

Words poured out like a machine gun.

It seemed like a strange thing was mixed in at the end, but Lee Dojin didn’t pay much attention to it.

Lee Dojin thought for a moment.

It was true that as soon as he saw the earrings, he thought of Choi Bit-na who maintained her short hair.

He thought they would look beautiful while moderately softening Choi Bit-na’s sharp eyes.

“Yeah, I thought earrings would suit you.”

“…So I’m the only one who got earrings. T-t-that’s fine then.”

Choi Bit-na needlessly tucked her side hair behind her ear.

Of course, Lee Dojin didn’t pay attention to each of those actions.

“It’s late, so let’s go in now. See you again soon.”

“O-okay.”

Choi Bit-na, who returned to the women’s dormitory, put on the earrings while looking in the mirror.

“…They’re pretty.”

And she kept looking at herself wearing the earrings from various angles through the mirror.

For over 20 minutes.