Episode 30: The God of Buying the Dip

Baek Si-ah.

Ordinary family background, ordinary middle school life.

One day while assembling her hobby Gundam model, she witnessed it come to life and awakened her supernatural ability. After ability testing, she enrolled in the academy.

Though everyone expected her to become a blacksmith, Baek Si-ah instinctively wanted to roam battlefields defeating monsters like the heroes she saw on TV.

Due to her combat-unsuitable abilities, she was expected to be placed in the lowest E-class if accepted at all. However, Eve recognized her ability’s uniqueness and promoted her to a higher class.

Rumors of Eve’s recommendation spread instantly. Fearing they might lose grouping opportunities with talented upperclassmen, D-class students subjected her to near-abusive bullying…

Yet Baek Si-ah possessed strong willpower, never abandoning her heroic path despite severe school violence.

Her first meeting with the protagonist occurred after her crushing defeat in the student council election. When classmates threatened her to drop out, she defiantly shouted she’d rather die than quit. As a student moved to assault her, the protagonist intervened – beginning their connection.

After hearing about Baek Si-ah’s talent, the protagonist introduced her to his blacksmith friend in A-class. She disappeared for a long time before suddenly gifting him game-breaking equipment during midterms, marking her rise to prominence.

She created new communication devices that worked inside mana-disrupted Gates, eventually developing cutting-edge weapons and AX-Man Suit-style battlesuits worthy of hero movies.

Her adorable appearance stoking furnaces in shop/weapon enhancement screens made her a top 10 popularity poll character… And establishing early connections with Korea’s greatest blacksmith wouldn’t hurt.

‘Since Baek Si-ah isn’t limited in weapon production quantity, giving her more crafting experience before meeting the protagonist could enhance her first weapon for him…’

“M-Mr. President? What brings you here…”

-Yun Se-ah?! Why’s the student council president here! If she reports our bullying, we’re finished!

-Why do the chairman and student council president both favor that parachute bitch…!!

“Everyone quiet. I heard Miss Baek Si-ah is here.”

‘Let’s see…’

Looking around – freshmen startled by the celebrity’s sudden appearance, and several students terrified their bullying might be exposed. Exactly as expected.

-Crash!

-Who dares treat me like…!!

The trash-canned student scrambled up angrily, then froze upon recognizing me, realizing his helplessness.

-What’s wrong with him? Actually insane?

-His life’s over. Wasn’t he some guild heir? If potion supplies get cut off, won’t his guild collapse?

‘You’re all the same.’

You criticizing him from afar are the same defeatist maggots who bullied Baek Si-ah.

“………..!!!”

-Clatter!

The fierce-looking student who’d dominated this classroom moments ago now faced contemptuous stares. Whimpering, he kicked open the door and fled.

‘This is world-class Raon Academy?’

Now I understand why students from other Korean academies apply to transfer here.

‘Though other Korean academies’ standards must be… quite severe.’

Regardless, I wish these rotten students would abandon the hero’s path.

‘Should I have Deok-bae handle them?’

Unlike trash like Yun Seongho, harsh assignments and classes will naturally make many quit. I should request Eve raise admission standards.

“Um…”

A fallen student raised her hand and slowly stood up.

“Yes, do you know where Miss Baek Si-ah is?”

Messy bangs, oversized uniform – I thought she couldn’t be Baek Si-ah but…

“Th-that’s… me.”

‘She looks different from the illustration.’

I’d been searching for someone identical to the artwork.

<><><><><><><><><><>

<Information>

<Name: Baek Si-ah>

<Age: 18>

<Alignment: Inquisitive, Madness>

<Skill List>

<Genius Blacksmith (A)>

<Greatly increases weapon crafting/enhancement success rates>

<Craft Master (S)>

<Can materialize perfectly understood structures. Created items grant additional combat effects>

<Stats>

<Strength: C>

<Defense: D>

<Magic Power: F>

<Stamina: F>

<Agility: D>

<Luck: A+>

<><><><><><><><><><>

‘Confirmed, Baek Si-ah.’

Found her.

“Nice to meet you. Could you accompany me briefly?”

The person who’ll craft my staff.

…

…

…

After class, I prepared an empty club room with chairs and a full-length mirror instead of the student council room, where Kang A-yul and others might make Baek Si-ah uncomfortable.

“Any problems in class?”

“Ah, yes… thanks to you.”

As acting student council president, my authority remained considerable. Thankfully, D-class students stopped bullying Baek Si-ah after the incident.

‘Good.’

“First, this way.”

“Huh…?”

When I gestured toward the mirror chair, Baek Si-ah looked at me with slight surprise.

“When swinging swords, long bangs obstruct vision. Though not professional… May I trim your bangs?”

“Ah, y-yes!”

After cutting her hair like the original work, “Gloomy Female Student #1” instantly transformed into “Top 10 Asoma Popularity Poll Character.”

“Th-this is my face?”

“Happened while trimming. Do you like it?”

“Uh… yes, I love it.”

Without holding her hand, I finished styling and led her elsewhere.

“This is the area for non-combat students. Called… the Industrial Class.”

Molten metal flowed as scorching heat struck our faces – the academy forge.

-Clang! Clang!

-Ssssssssss…!!

Metal boiling and cooling sounds repeated endlessly. White steam billowing from chimneys announced the heat. Beside me, Baek Si-ah’s face contorted.

“Bringing me here… Are you suggesting I quit being a Striker for the Industrial Class too, like the chairman?”

Seeing the forge triggered her PTSD. Our hard-earned affinity threatened to collapse under her uncomfortable gaze.

“Hmm… You might think that, but my perspective differs from the chairman’s.”

I roughly sketched a human figure on the blackboard.

“Your skills are <Craft Master (S)> and <Genius Blacksmith (A)>. While optimized for Industrial Class students… from another angle, they’re powerful skills.”

I armored the figure. Some parts had missiles, others lightsabers and shields – futuristic components.

“Equipping armor you crafted using <Genius Blacksmith (A)>’s enhancement effects, then receiving <Craft Master (S)>’s corrections…”

The chalkboard revealed not a weak human, but a knight in Gundam plastic model-style armor dominating battlefields.

Baek Si-ah’s pupils trembled violently.

“How about it? Looks cool, right?”

How many would tell someone perpetually denied being a Striker “You can do it”?

Originally she’d discover this through her own growth… but sadly, I’m too weak to wait.

“…………President, help me. This sounds crazy but… if you want anything in return, I’ll do absolutely anyth…”

The girl who refused transfer to Industrial Class now stared at me with fanatical eyes…

The footsteps of a resolved genius…

“Of course. Yuseong Group always welcomes talent.”

I absolutely won’t let this opportunity slip away.