episode_0004

Finally, it was Ewayoung’s turn that everyone had been waiting for.

Just how strong is she really?

“As seen before, choose a weapon and attack the scarecrow. If you can endure it, go ahead and endure it.”

“·····.”

Ewayoung picked up the training wooden sword and walked towards the scarecrow step by step.

Thud!-

Stopping in front of the scarecrow, Ewayoung turned her head towards me, waving her hand.

Wave wave- I followed suit and waved my hand, making Ewayoung’s face brighten even more, feeling healed.

Thud-thud-thud-thud-

-Why only him, why only him, why only him, why only him, why only him, why only him, why only him, why only him

-I want a girlfriend too, I want a girlfriend too, I want a girlfriend too, I want a girlfriend too, I want a girlfriend too

Let’s ignore the voices coming from behind.

“Wow, are you two friends? You seem to get along really well.”

“Yes, childhood friends. ··Wait a moment, it’s starting now.”

Han Seyoung, Kang Jinhyuk, Jung Yuna, Lee Yuseong.

Although the four playable characters failed to defeat or subdue the scarecrow, they left long scars or noticeable marks.

If Ewayoung is as strong as these four, the future’s power will only grow stronger. Consequently, the range of strategic choices will also widen.

Ewayoung adjusted her stance and swung her sword towards the scarecrow.

Swish-

And thus, Ewayoung’s scarecrow striking test came to an end.

Silenceㅡ

···Isn’t it normal for there to be a thud or a smack when hitting a scarecrow with a wooden sword?

Considering the lack of energy emanating from Ewayoung, it doesn’t seem like she underwent physical enhancement.

Could it be a misswing? Ewayoung doesn’t seem like the type to make such mistakes, right?

Swoosh- Thud-!

The scarecrow was precisely sliced diagonally, its torso falling to the ground.

????

??????

What? Is this even possible at this stage?

Normally, one would have to level up several times to defeat the scarecrow. Moreover, what Ewayoung achieved was solely based on her skills. Without external help, without utilizing her mana. Solely based on her own abilities.

“····!!”

“···Impressive…”

“Wow···!”

The assistant preparing to evaluate from the side, the professor closely observing Ewayoung’s actions, and even Han Seyoung beside them couldn’t help but be amazed.

Ewayoung, you’ve been hiding such skills. I feel a bit envious. ··Actually, I’m not really envious, don’t get upset!

…..

···Oh, could it be?

Upon achieving accomplishments, merely possessing them grants fixed bonus stats or special techniques and unique attributes obtainable only through achievements.

While it’s common knowledge that it becomes increasingly difficult to raise stats as they increase, stats obtained through achievements are different.

They are just appended with a + modifier, so the stat display would show something like 10(+10).

So does this mean that all the effects of the 99% achievements I painstakingly gathered before possession are now applied to Ewayoung…?

…..

Yes, let’s treat Ewayoung well from now on.

Let’s treat her even better than before.

If she resents me, it could lead to a breakup….I haven’t done anything wrong, have I?

When I first met Ewayoung… she always thought of me first, yielded to me, came to me first, talked to me, agreed to anything I suggested.

On days I didn’t leave the house, she stayed with me until dinner time.

There were days when she wished me a happy birthday faster than my own parents did.

Even when I was unwell and couldn’t move, she came into my room to take care of me.

Not a single day passed without her visiting me.

Yes, not a single day, without fail, for 15 years.

····Huh? How come Ewayoung and I get along so well?

I… I haven’t done much for her until now.

She wouldn’t dislike me, right? If she did, she wouldn’t have looked at me earlier. ···That’s right, isn’t it?

Realizing that all the effects of the achievements were now applied to Ewayoung, I once again got lost in thought.

Just now, watching Hwayoung’s swordsmanship, things I had forgotten start to come to mind one by one.

The past moments that seemed a bit like trash start to come into view, but this isn’t it.

Achievements. Hidden achievements.

There are a total of 3 hidden achievements, one of which is obtained by clearing the hardcore difficulty [Conqueror of the Tower].

This adds a function that allows you to adjust the tower’s difficulty to your liking.

The Extra difficulty, with its random structure appearing at each floor in the highest difficulty, is an unnecessary scarecrow achievement for someone like me who seeks challenges.

Another one is an achievement I haven’t unlocked yet, so I’ll skip over it…

An achievement called [Hero, Appear].

I acquired this achievement around the time I memorized almost all hidden pieces and branching choices after 8 years.

Acquisition conditions: Clear less than 10% civilian and hero casualties until the ending.

All playable characters and supporters survive.

All top heroes domestically and internationally have relationships above amicable.

Before entering the 100th floor, all major stats are at least 95.

Possess 7 or more high-grade (M) skills.

Possess 3 or more top-grade (M) skills.

Solo defeat of raid boss on Tower’s 50th floor or higher (1 time).

Solo defeat of all named bosses in sub and side scenarios.

Conquer Tower’s 100th floor before graduating from the academy.

As soon as I achieved this and posted the unlocking conditions on the community, the bulletin board instantly caught fire.

It felt like most users on the community were in that kind of atmosphere, reminiscent of a scene where a man throws a computer in the trash in a sitcom drama.

Given the insane unlocking conditions seemingly designed not to be broken, the effects of this achievement were also tremendous.

—

[Hero, Appear] – Active

All stats increased by x1.3

Skill proficiency requirements relaxed by 60%

Experience gained increased by 200%

Unique ability release difficulty reduced by 2 levels

Skill acquisition difficulty reduced by 4 levels

When leading a party, all stats increase by 1.2 if placed at the front

+Skill: Indomitable Spirit temporarily activated

Acquire Nature’s Beloved (M)

Acquire Weapon Mastery (M)

Acquire Limit Breakthrough (L)

—

Having that screen up while eating would make you feel so satisfied that you wouldn’t need separate side dishes.

If you were to display the Hero’s Talent, wouldn’t such overwhelming performance abilities come to mind? The achievement effect.

If all the possession effects of the achievement apply as they are, wouldn’t the hidden achievement of [Hero, Appear] also be reflected in Hwayoung?

Especially the last Limit Breakthrough (L) skill.

Breaking the limit to exceed the maximum stat of 100, literally surpassing the limits and potentially reaching the realm of demigods—entering an unknown territory beyond race boundaries.

Truly, if Hwayoung received the achievement effects of [Hero, Appear], she might actually become the hero I dreamt of, surpassing even me, who merely dreams of being a hero with the ability to control my body for just 10 minutes.

No matter how much I wield the strongest sword in this world, no matter how much harder I try than anyone else, in the face of overwhelming talent, I am nothing.

In that case, am I really…

…amazing!

Jealousy must be proportional.

Moreover, it’s Hwayoung of all people who possesses such talent, so why should I be jealous?

Instead, I should be happy that my ally is strong, right?

If only I had unlocked the remaining [???] achievement, I could have made myself even stronger here. It’s a pity…

“….?”

“….!”

“…..”

Looks like the professor and assistant are checking Hwayoung’s stats. It’ll be over soon.

“Hankyeol, Hankyeol!”

“Huh, huh? Oh, why? And we’re classmates, so it’s okay to talk.”

“Ah, is it really okay? Thank you. By the way, your childhood friend’s evaluation seems to be over now. The evaluation grade must be S grade, right?”

“That’s right. What else could it be if not S grade?”

“Saengdo Ewayoung, comprehensive evaluation grade: S.”

An utterly expected result.

Chatter about this starts circulating among the nearby Saengdos.

Incredible – powerful – beautiful – isn’t she at the level of a graduating student? – How high are her abilities? – I want to date her – Whoever was just saying they wanted to date her, if I find out who it is, I’ll smack them in the back of the head. I’ll smack them hard.

Oh, besides Han Seyoung, Kang Jinhyuk and Jung Yuna are also holding their weapons tightly, smiling as they watch the scene.

Competitive spirit.

Im Yuseong… Wow, there’s a gleam in his eyes.

Admiration… perhaps? They’re not bad at all, I like it.

“Kyeora~”

Tadat-

“Don’t run, you might trip.”

“Eek-”

As soon as the evaluation ends, Hayoung rushes towards me. I catch her by the collar.

“F grade: 72 students, E grade: 79 students, D grade: 43 students, C grade: 50 students, B grade: 33 students, A grade: 22 students, and… S grade: 1 student. The evaluation for all 300 students is now complete.”

The assistant said that all students’ evaluations have been completed.

“Good job, everyone. You can go in now.”

“Yes. I’ll go in first.”

Bowing to the professor, I grab my beads and leave the training ground.

“This gives us an idea of your levels. Not bad, quite a few Saengdos received high grades this time, so I’m feeling good. …And Saengdo Ewayoung, you receiving an S grade in the evaluation test is a first for you. You can be proud.”

That’s right, Hayoung, you’re awesome.-

Hehe, I’m the best!-

“And we will rank you all, including Saengdos from other fields, so please wait a bit longer.”

After leaving the training ground, there’s a bulletin board right in front of you. Find your name on it and enter your class.-

“I hope we end up in the same class.”

“If we don’t, I’ll beg the principal until we do.”

I’m really scared because that seems likely.

“Hangyeol, I hope we end up in the same class!”

Han Seyoung approaches us, walking alongside us. She said it’s fine to speak casually, but her tone has changed.

Grrr…

Huh. What’s this? What’s going on?

When I turn my head in the direction of the sound, there’s only Ewayoung.

As always, she’s smiling brightly. Cute. Pretty.

She wouldn’t make such a fierce sound. Maybe I misheard.

“Ahaha…”

Han Seyoung suddenly takes a step back.

I don’t get it.

·····

“Ugh… I should have had a check-up before taking the exam… It’s lucky that everything broke down only after I finished grading the last Saengdo….”

Shuffle shuffle… creak…

A figure enters the storage room.

The assistant who was grading in the weaponry field enters the storage room, groaning.

“Sigh… I’m already broke, and these emotionally engraved beads are expensive… Ugh!! I didn’t sign up to be an assistant…!”

“Phew… Let’s leave this here for now, and let’s go, whether we take it or leave it…”

“I bought those expensive beads to receive praise, they said it would last for 3 years without any issues… But then they lured me with special discounts for additional options… Where are the heroes with stats over 100 anyway? I’m not even touching boss-level monsters with these beads… These enchanters are all useless…”

Creak- thud!

The assistant leaves the broken bead in a corner, closes the door, and exits.

…And the bead that was thought to be broken starts working again.

Tick-

Name: Unknown

Strength: 37

……Tick-

Strength: 137

………Tick-

Strength: 157

Crackle! Flash! Disintegration!!