Chapter 20

Chapter 20

I Became the Only Non-mage in the Academy.

Episode 20: Reward (2)

Seo Ye-bin regarded me with an intrigued expression.

Her eyes shifted from my own to the Black Heavenly Demon Sword at my waist before she smiled softly.

“Out of all the people I’ve encountered, you’re the most interesting one.”

Kim Ara and Ershil sensed the weight of Seo Ye-bin’s words.

“Do you desire something?”

“I did have a desire, but it was satisfied just moments ago.”

“Ah, I see. Was it something from the Dean’s storehouse?”

Seo Ye-bin closed her eyes and lapsed into silence briefly.

“There’s something strange about your eyes.”

“Are you referring to my eyes?”

“Yes, the way you look at me is different from the rest. You don’t exhibit the usual emotions toward me. No awe, no fear… You lack even basic curiosity.”

The corner of Seo Ye-bin’s mouth curled upward.

“It’s as if you already know everything about me.”

Following this remark, Seo Ye-bin fell silent once more.

She regarded me with a look of curiosity, as if trying to discern my origins.

“Do you have further questions?”

“Plenty.”

“I’m willing to answer each one, provided you can pay the appropriate price.”

“How bold. Unfortunately, I cannot accept such a proposal.”

A wry smile accompanied Seo Ye-bin’s slight grimace.

“Only a limited number of students can acquire items from the Dean’s storehouse. The school thus selects only the exceptional ones. It’s a matter of performance. I was the one who implemented that rule. It would be absurd for me to disregard it.”

After observing me for another moment, Seo Ye-bin spoke up again.

“If you desire it, demonstrate your worth. We shall meet again before long.”

“Is it going to be that soon?”

“Yes, anticipate that day… The Dean has arrived. Follow him to the storehouse and seek out what you wish.”

With that, Seo Ye-bin fixed her gaze on me one last time.

“I’ll keep an eye on you.”

Her smile took on a playful edge.

Accompanied by Ershil and Kim Ara, I departed.

Click-clack.

Entering the hallway, we encountered Instructor Seo Woo-ju alongside a petite girl who resembled a middle school student.

She had dark circles under her eyes and wore a white coat that hung loosely on her frame.

Barely reaching a height of 152 cm, she stood before us.

“Introduce yourselves. This is the Dean.”

“Hello!”

“Don’t shout too loud; it hurts my ears.”

The Dean frowned and spoke.

I stepped back a little. The Dean didn’t like tall people sticking close to her.

But if they were too far away, she disliked that as well, as it made her short stature obvious.

“Don’t stand behind me.”

“Yes? Yes…”

The Dean sent Kim Ara back. Kim Ara was tall, after all.

‘Well, of course.’

But her height was natural.

If Kim Ara has the blood of giants, the person called the Dean has the blood of a clan known as dwarves.

Even the weapons she casually made were worth millions outside.

“What did you talk to the principal about?”

The Dean looked at me and asked.

“She gave us advice.”

“Really? It seems like more than just advice.”

Yawning, the Dean spoke.

“Be careful. If the Principal takes a liking to someone, she doesn’t hold back.”

I knew.

The Principal was greedy for talented individuals, and there was only one reason why the Dean would say something like that.

‘She doesn’t want to be bothered.’

The Principal’s means of enticing talent often involve various things made by the Dean.

“Gosh, really! Did the Principal say she would keep an eye on Lee Seo-ha?”

Ershil said with a surprised expression.

At that, both the Dean and Instructor Seo Woo-ju stopped in their tracks.

“The Principal said that?”

Instructor Seo Woo-ju looked bewildered, glancing briefly at me.

“Well, it makes sense for you. A normal student would have shown something if taught until now, but you…”

He had a confused expression.

However, the Dean’s eyes were filled only with irritation.

“Dean, can you handle shadow snakes? I caught one recently, but it’s difficult to deal with.”

“Of course, I can handle them.”

“It’s a shadow snake on the verge of becoming an Imugi.”

“What’s left of it?”

“Scales, meat, and blood are left.”

“Just the scales… no, I’ll take the blood too.”

The Dean pondered for a moment.

“But I’ve just blown through my research funds and can’t give you money… want to take one more item from the storehouse?”

“Um, just one…”

I adopted a thoughtful expression.

The shadow snake’s corpse I had was worth about 100 million combined.

But now we were headed to the storehouse with tools properly made by the Dean.

Considering their value, accepting the offer was definitely a gain.

However.

The Dean was a pushover.

She was such a pushover that if she fixated on a material, she would impulsively buy it at a high price, and she was indifferent about how her pre-made tools were used, as long as they weren’t used by villains.

I looked at the Dean.

Her eyes, filled with longing, turned towards me.

Shadow snakes were rare materials.

‘Let’s just do a small favor.’

I pondered for a moment and then nodded.

“Good choice.”

The Dean smiled contentedly.

We entered the corridor.

A giant door appeared. The lock was so large that my face could fit in it four times.

As the instructor raised his hand, dozens of magic circles appeared, and with a clank, the door opened.

“Wow.”

“More than you expected?”

“Of course. These are items donated by heroes and crafted by outstanding students.”

The storehouse was vast.

There were countless weapons, gauntlets, armor, accessories, and more.

Yet, there were more armors and accessories than weapons.

This was because Korean Hero School initially selected weapons through weapon selection.

“So, Lee Seo-ha can choose two items here. The rest of you, pick one each.”

I strode confidently inside.

I had already decided what to pick.

“Lee Seo-ha?”

I chose a pair of earrings shaped like silver-winged threads.

And a bracelet.

Analysis.

[Whispers of the Spirit (B)]

Contains the power left by the wind spirit.

: Adds 3 agility.

: Creates a wind barrier up to 3 times a day.

[Subspace Bracelet]

A bracelet with subspace embedded.

: Can hold up to 300 kg of weapons.

: Has 30 compartments for storing items.

I brought the Whispers of the Spirit to my left ear.

The earring clung to my ear.

“I feel lighter.”

The effect was immediately noticeable.

The addition of 3 agility points was more perceptible than I had thought.

“You chose quickly.”

“Yes, I had some information. Ah, Ara, not that one. Try this one.”

“That one?”

I recommended a belt.

It was frayed, but it was the right choice for Kim Ara.

“It’s related to the giants.”

“Really? Okay.”

With a bit of advice from me, Kim Ara chose the belt.

I then approached Ershil.

“Um.”

Ershil was frowning, contemplating between a pair of earrings and a ring.

“How about this instead?”

“That?”

I pointed to some jewels rolling around.

“Yeah, they seem to suit you.”

“Me? I mean, I do look good in jewels, but just… Oh?”

Ershil paused mid-sentence.

Perhaps Melanie was giving Ershil some advice.

Soon, Ershil chose a jewel, as I suggested.

“You know too much. Is there a spy in the school?”

The Dean was astonished.

I just smiled awkwardly.

“Huff.”

I exhaled deeply, feeling as if my lungs would burst.

“Good work.”

Kim Seo-hyun handed me a drink.

I didn’t hesitate and drank it down in large gulps.

Training ground.

I was sitting there, having just completed my workout.

Kim Seo-hyun began his exercise.

He was lifting a bench press that weighed over 500 kg.

I watched with tired eyes.

How does he lift and lower it so quickly?

‘Status window.’

Ding.

▼

[Name: Lee Seo-ha]

Strength: 4

Agility: 8 (5+3)

Endurance: 6

Mental: 5

Dexterity: 6

Concept Stats

Heaven Defying: 2

◈ Talents

-「Viewing(-)」, 「Incomprehensible Talent (A-)」, 「Dexterity (B+)」

◈ Skills

-「Black God Martial Arts(?)」, 「Alturn’s Arcane Alchemy (B)」, 「Ikar’s Advanced Spirit Control (C)」, 「Black Island Sword Technique (D)」

◈Physique

-「Heaven Defying Body (S-)」

I felt a sense of pride looking at my steadily increasing stats.

I usually hated working out, but seeing such growth made me work hard even if I disliked it.

Then, I sensed someone approaching.

Hong Yu-hwa.

She approached me, wearing a red tracksuit.

“Here, the thing you asked for.”

Hong Yu-hwa handed me an emblem containing red flames.

“Thank you.”

An item I won from a bet with her in today’s alchemy class.

The favor I asked Hong Yu-hwa was simple.

I wanted to visit the ‘Tower of Dreams’ this weekend, and I asked if she could get a permit for me to go there.

“Need anything else?”

“Anything else?”

“Yeah. For a prize after winning against me, this seems too cheap.”

I barely held back my laughter.

This was why I liked Hong Yu-hwa.

She valued herself highly yet didn’t slack off in her efforts.

“If I need another favor, I’ll tell you later.”

“Okay.”

With that, Hong Yu-hwa headed out of the training ground.

I looked at the emblem.

This week, an incident will happen.

A villain, a Mine, will cause terror in the city center with others.

The target was Kim Seo-hyun.

I needed to stop it.

‘Can I stop it…?’

Normally, I wouldn’t worry about such things.

But the difficulty level of this world was hellish.

So far, it’s been easy within the school, but as the main story begins, I might encounter enemies I can’t handle.

Still.

‘I have to struggle as much as I can.’

I will definitely survive.