13. Strike First to Win!

* * *

Meanwhile. Kim Seung-jun’s house.

“Aigoo! We’re paying all this tuition and you won’t even go?”
“Shut up! What’s it to you if I don’t go?”

A middle-aged woman and a boy were arguing.

The boy’s name was Kim Seung-jun. Since middle school, he’d begged to attend Hanseong Academy, barely scraping by with backdoor connections and money.

After seeing the dungeon practice announcement on the academy website, imagining Si-woo and Eun-ha’s exploits made his blood boil, so he skipped school entirely.

“Your sister worked hard to pay your tuition!”
“Ah, shut up!”

The hot-tempered fire-attribute “filial son” ignored his mother and went to his room, punching the wall.

“Damn it! Choi Si-woo! Yoo Eun-ha! I won’t let you get away with this!”

He was beyond furious. The anger was unbearable. Where could he vent it?

Ever since childhood, he’d craved the Divine Sword. That those two bastards were chosen instead was unacceptable.

Right. He needed to find a way to kill them. He had to.

“Oh? And what exactly will you do about it?”
“What do you think? Poison their food or something.”
“Kukuku. How petty.”

A strange voice made him look around-his room had turned pitch black.

“W-who are you?”
“How dare a lowly worm be curious about me?”

Kim Seung-jun gritted his teeth.

Who did this intruder think he was?

Just imagining those two bastards showing off in the dungeon made his blood boil. Why should he endure this injustice?

“Why must I endure this injustice?”
“!!”
“Because you’re worthless, of course.”

Was this mysterious being here to mock him?

He wanted to lash out but found himself paralyzed.

“But I can give even a worm like you power to face them.”
“R-really?”
“Only that much, though. How you use it against Si-woo and Eun-ha is up to you.”
“Th-thank you! Thank you!”

Kim Seung-jun bowed deeply at the unseen voice. But then-a black hand pierced his chest from the darkness.

“Guhhk!”

As something lodged in his chest, he lost consciousness.

* * *

Meanwhile. Divine Sword user Choi Si-woo was at the academy.

Normally he’d join the dungeon expedition, but as a regressor, it’s meaningless. Better to prepare for the coming enemy.

Hence why he’s here.

[So what’s your plan?]
“First, we deal with whoever’s behind Kim Seung-jun. Seung-jun himself can be handled by Reina or Han Suji. That’s why I asked the instructor to put Reina in my place.”

Kim Seung-jun is nothing. The arrogant bastard pulling his strings is the real target.

[The problem is Eun-ha. Her power isn’t ordinary. Even I, a Constellation, sense something…alien about it.]
“I agree. But that’s why I trust her. We must eliminate Seung-jun’s backer to save her.”

The Black God Cult.

A fanatical group spreading chaos alongside the Seven Deadly Sins.

They plague Hanseong Academy for opposing them-and Yoo Eun-ha was their victim.

[Hmm. Perhaps.]
“I can’t let Eun-ha die. For her sake and humanity’s.”

In the past, the monster core implanted in Eun-ha went berserk, creating a massive gate.

The academy suffered heavy casualties.

Though the gate was destroyed, America’s insistence on annihilation over gradual sealing caused magical energy to spread, increasing gate appearances in Korea.

Regardless of personal feelings, the Cult’s monsters must be stopped.

Originally worshipping the Black God, they allied with the Sins to survive persecution.

[There-someone breaking the academy barrier.]
“I see them.”

Figures working near the back gate.

Today, when all students are dungeon-bound, the Cult sets up dark rituals to corrupt the hate-filled.

“Preparations complete?”
“Shouldn’t we ambush them inside? Hehe, taste those brats.”
“Idiot.”

Hypocrites praising their god while committing every crime.

Because of them, Korea faces a gate crisis.

“I won’t forgive this.”

Light enveloped Si-woo’s sword.

* * *

My head hurts. Just riding the bus almost made me carsick.

Damn Fire Bat. Told her I get motion sickness. One day I’ll take that bat and spank her ass raw.

Should’ve used Acceleration and Parallel Processing instead.

Then it hit me-if the original’s already twisted, what else changed? More villains besides Kim Seung-jun?

Swallowing bile as I exited the vehicle, I spotted a pink-haired washboard running over excitedly.

“Hawawa! Hawawa! Over here!”
“Oh. Bbeopmi-jjang.”

Perfect timing. In her hands-my requested weapon.

“White-haired unnie. This is for you.”
“Looks expensive.”

Definitely not mass-produced. A long sword perfectly balanced.

Ah, this cool, weighty sensation. After enduring humiliation for so long-

“…It’s really heavy.”

Not even a greatsword-why so heavy? Without body enhancement, swinging it is a workout. But the blade’s luster speaks to its quality.

“Only 10 million won.”
“Wait, I never helped you with 10 million worth of favors?”
“It’s also hush money.”

Hush money? My first bribe.

“Meaning?”
“Actually…our guild registered this dungeon as boss-free.”
“Ah.”
“If the Association finds out there was a boss, we’ll face massive fines. Hawawa, Bbeopmi-jjang almost got in trouble!”
“……”

Huh. Reporting this could make me rich.

This involves hunter lives-10 million won is nothing.

And Bbeopmi-jjang talks too much.

“Hey Bbeopmi-jjang. For silence, help me with one more thing.”
“Hawawa? What is it?”

Her face paled, ready to agree to anything.

“Stand guard near the dungeon entrance, just in case.”
“Hohhh! Understood!”

At my kind request, Bbeopmi-jjang stationed herself nearby.

This preempts any non-Seung-jun interference from the twisted plot.

But where’s Si-woo?

He’s nowhere in sight. Shouldn’t he be here? Did he not get off the bus?

Wait-I didn’t see him on it either.

Where did that bastard go? Off slacking somewhere?

“Eun-ha!”
“Wha-? Scared me.”
“Who was that washboard girl earlier?”

Only Bbeopmi-jjang fits that description.

“You saw her-a washboard?”
“That’s not what I meant! After what you did to me, how dare you look at others?”

What absurd misunderstanding. Ah, karma?

“What’s this? She owed me a favor-hence the weapon. See it? Unlike you with mythic-grade gear, I have to borrow.”
“Hmph.”

Is she seriously jealous?

Must want me to do something perverted in the dungeon.

I’ve no interest in stealing heroines, but this Si-woo seems to get off on it, unlike the original.

With his massive harem, losing Han Suji is fine.

Pouting, Han Suji joined Reina’s gossip circle to badmouth me.

Those two are useless now. The priority is-Si-woo.

“Hey, didn’t expect you to come.”
“Thanks to someone’s big mouth.”
“That’s life, kid.”

No wonder Jin-seok dumped you.

Not important now. Si-woo is. That idiot’s slacking instead of powering up-my hands tremble, head throbs.

“Where’s Si-woo?”
“Your husband? Skipping the dungeon.”
“Who said he’s my husband? You reading anonymous boards too?”

The academy forum’s still in chaos.

Posts claim Si-woo’s my husband, that I’ll bed anyone-male or female. The harassment is unbearable.

But reporting them all is impossible.

“Who are you calling ‘ahjumma’?”

Kim Ji-hye flicked my forehead.

“Yes, next ahjumma.”
“You brat. Anyway, Si-woo said he had business. Somehow knew to skip this.”
“Shouldn’t you drag him back now?”

That lunatic. Grinning like a creep whenever he sees me. The world rests on his shoulders!

If he’s really skipping, we’d need to make Jin-seok protagonist again.

Wait-he asked to put Reina in his place?

So Reina’s in this team? Then she can handle Seung-jun.

“How? I’m hands-off.”
“Too lazy, obviously.”

At my words, Fire Bat’s temple twitched as she scribbled on the team list.

“Announcing teams now! Everyone listen!”

Having Reina would be great. But-

Team 3: Kim Cheol-su, Yoo Eun-ha, Kim Seung-jun, Park Jae-sang

Two nobodies, Seung-jun, and me.

We’re doomed. Where the hell is Si-woo?

Even using Kim Cheol-su and Park Jae-sang as meat shields won’t save me.

At least I have this weapon. Should I kill with it?

“You said Reina’s joining?”
Pouting, I confronted Fire Bat-she hit me with the list.

“Need balanced teams, idiot.”

We’re screwed.

Thanks to Fire Bat’s trolling, I’m stuck with nameless extras.

“Eun-ha, looking forward to it.”
“Me too. I’m weak, but let’s do our best.”

I expect nothing from you two.

“Same here. Let’s cooperate well.”

I politely greeted the extras. The problem is Seung-jun-his gaze is unsettling.

Now it’s full-on visual assault levels of staring.

This is dangerous. In this altered world, death could come anytime.

His aura’s different too. A Black Cult-like symbol glows faintly on his neck.

Wait-we’re still outside. A cheap monster like him would be one-shotted by Fire Bat.

Time for my best survival strategy.

As the would-be rapist stopped staring to approach with a friendly smile-

“Hey, Eun-ha. Let’s work well tod-“

Strike first to win!

THWACK!

I kicked Seung-jun’s groin with all my might.

His eyes bulged as he crumpled, clutching himself.

Then I shouted at Fire Bat, who was staring:

“Instructor! This bastard’s Black Cult!”