20. The Cheat Character

* * *

Our protagonist Si-woo found himself in quite the predicament. Getting dragged away by Bulbbadda – this wouldn’t have happened if Eun-ha had just stayed home quietly like a good girl.

Yu-jeong was essential for saving the world. Unlike before regression, I had plans to meet her later. But since Eun-ha already made contact, I decided to get closer by triggering the cafeteria incident myself.

Pre-regression, Yu-jeong and I had history, but now I’m just “that naggy girly man” to her. I never wanted a harem anyway – the world takes priority.

“That bitch Eun-ha… I’ll get my revenge!”

Eun-ha?

A tanned blonde girl’s words caught my attention as she ran past.

“Hey, what happened with Eun-ha?”

“Ugh, that bitch insulted us, beat us up, and got us detention while she walked free…”

No way Eun-ha would do that. These idiots were clearly shifting blame.

“Student council doesn’t punish innocents. You messed up, didn’t you?”

“Guh.”

“Touch my friend again and you’ll regret it.”

They fled from my killing intent. Normally I’d ignore them, but with the world at stake, I can’t have them becoming villains who threaten Eun-ha.

Arriving at the clubroom, I found two women half-undressed in each other’s arms.

[Oh my]

“So girls can do that too?”

[Stop pretending to be naive]

“I’m a man, how would I know?”

[Many constellations are female too. But that’s quite the sight. You okay though? She was yours before regression.]

“Priorities have changed.”

[Damn, Eun-ha’s technique is insane! Look how Yu-jeong’s arching! That’s some fountain action!]

Watching felt… strange. Yu-jeong was my lover before. I’d resolved not to pursue romance this time to save the world, yet seeing this gave me the oddest feeling of having my girl stolen.

And they looked way more into it than we ever were.

“Wait, does lesbian sex count for virginity?”

[Who cares. Damn, she’s good. Makes me want to incarnate.]

Divine Sword wielder Choi Si-woo and his constellation weapon were unknowingly falling under Eun-ha’s devilish charm.

* * *

After classes, our protagonist gathered all heroines for a dungeon run through the broadcasting club. The academy objected due to Black Cult threats, but our magnificent Divine Sword wielder persuaded them.

“Wait, this party composition is whack.”

Si-woo – swordsman
Reina – archer
Han Suji – spearmaiden
Yu-jeong – hacker(?) with Electronic Warfare
Me – irregular steam-powered knife fighter

All DPS. And Yu-jeong’s EW only works in certain dungeons.

“No mage or healer?”

“Relax, I brought medkits. Club budget bought potions.”

“That’s not a healer, sunbae.”

Since when are potions equivalent to healers?

“I chose a mech dungeon so Yu-jeong sunbae could shine. And Eun-ha.”

“What?”

“Best defense is strong offense. More DPS means less need to defend.”

So just zerg rush everything. Since when was he this type? Normally he’d insist on balanced parties. But EW is godly against mechs.

“I’ll observe from the rear today. Want to see your skills.”

“As you wish.”

Why does he keep blushing when looking at me? Surely he’s not developing feelings now.

“Dungeon’s called Mecha Land. Recommended C-rank but we’re inexperienced.”

“We’ll learn by doing. Eun-ha leads, I’ll take rear.”

This bastard’s pushing responsibility on me. Well, seeing EW firsthand won’t hurt.

Mecha dungeons have robot monsters with cores, traps, lasers – get hit and missiles fly or limbs get severed.

“Ah, so that’s why we’re zerging.”

Si-woo brought Yu-jeong to showcase her power. He’s already assessed me after the Seung-jun fight.

“Eun-ha, no Black Cult here right? I’m scared.”

“Since when were you scared of anything?”

“I’m a girl too!” Suji clung to me.

“Uh huh.”

“The legendary spearman Kim Jae-su’s apprentice afraid? Pathetic.” Reina scoffed.

“Hmph!” Suji pouted after being pried off.

Upon entering:

“KYAAAAH!”

“GACK!”

What the hell is Si-woo doing back there? The occasional screams are disturbing. Is he playing haunted house sound effects?

“Oh, trap room.”

“Let’s skip the treasure. Not worth the hassle.”

I’ve read about Mecha Land. First trap room launches missiles if you touch the chest. EW could disable it instantly.

*ZAP*

Electricity coursed through the walls before the lights cut – traps disabled. Yu-jeong stood grinning with glowing blue eyes.

“Damn, what a cheat.”

Originally, she was too busy protecting idiot Si-woo to use EW properly. Now he’s just making weird noises in the back while she breaks the game.

Her EW is absurd – just eye contact destroys everything. How OP is this ability?

“Do we even have anything to do?”

“Right? Sunbae’s broken.”

Reina and Suji looted gold-filled chests. Enough to live comfortably for a while after taxes and splitting five ways.

“What’s Si-woo doing back there with those weird noises?”

“No idea. He’s weird sometimes.”

Now officially labeled as strange, Si-woo remained in the rear.

“I initially found him attractive, but there’s something… off. Not boyfriend material.”

“Yeah, handsome but gives uncomfortable vibes.”

Si-woo’s already lost three heroines. At this rate he’ll die a virgin.

But why this dungeon? He knows Yu-jeong’s EW trivializes it. The reward – – contains lost knowledge that originally got him Cheonsan Group sponsorship through Yu-jeong’s sister. Though it got stolen by Black Dragon Society villains temporarily.
Is this really coincidence? Did he know about the reward?
[Intruders detected. Activating golem defense systems]
Floating metal fragments assembled into massive golems – physical attack immune unless overwhelmingly strong. My and can’t compensate for my strength deficiency.
My body’s weird – strength growth is abnormally slow despite being an awakener. Reina’s spirit arrows or Suji’s elemental weapons would work, but magic’s troublesome.
Reina and Suji were handling the golems fine now that traps were disabled.
“Sigh.”
I feel like a troll. Yu-jeong hugged me from behind.
“Nobody’s perfect.”
“What am I good at?”
“That was my first time passing out from pleasure.”
Let’s not talk about that. I may have gone overboard applying all my “techniques.” Even I didn’t expect those sounds from her.
“But I can handle these.”
Small spherical golems with four legs occasionally appeared – like Dragoons from RTS games. Annoying but their exposed cores were easy prey for my acceleration.
*CRUNCH*
Even small fries fall to pure speed. Mecha Land’s maze-like design was trivialized by Yu-jeong’s trap dismantling.
“Never knew dungeons could be this boring. All your fault, sunbae.”
Reina and Suji complained too. Understandable – Yu-jeong’s solo carrying. Originally this was Si-woo’s spotlight, but with him going “Ugh! Ack! Kyah!” in the back, Yu-jeong’s making it look easy.
Come to think of it… could they save the world without me?