Ch.65Chapter 3. Riders Aren’t the Only Ones Who Transform! (2)

The academy is a training institution for ability users.

It’s also a place where they hone how, where, and when to use their abilities.

In other words, the academy presents itself as a “specialized hero training institution.”

It’s a place that teaches the skills learned at the academy, hoping students won’t become villains, while simultaneously teaching them how to fight against villains.

Depending on one’s perspective, it could be quite controversial, but some call Sejong Academy a “military academy.”

A training ground for combatants against villains and demons.

When put that way, ability users and their families often express considerable displeasure, but looking at the actual curriculum, practical training takes up a significant portion of time.

The first core episode in the original work, “Treasure Hunt,” is no exception.

In this treasure hunt commotion, which could be considered the climax of the first volume, the main mission is for pairs of students to search for their assigned targets.

The field is the entire Sejong Island.

…or so they say, but each team has a designated area, and since the main purpose is to find items within that area, there’s no need to search the entire island.

-It would be boring if they just search, right? So let’s make fewer treasures than the number of teams.

-Do you really have to make them fight each other?

-The kids need opportunities to unleash their abilities.

-You’re making them fight each other legally?

-Of course. Just have them bring the treasure to the finish line, right? Whatever happens in the process… as long as no one gets seriously injured, we can overlook it.

True to our competitive era, the academy’s professors and teachers have explicitly turned treasure hunting into a competition.

-Cut down the number of students appropriately. And place students in each area in a balanced way.

-So there will be a first place in each area?

-Yes. The first-place winners will be conscious of each other, and they’ll grow while competing. Children grow through fighting, don’t they? Haha.

-It would be troublesome if they became demons.

-If someone becomes a demon just from this kind of competition, they were bound to become one later anyway. Moldy sprouts should be cut early. We should break their necks before they enter society. That way, other sprouts can grow well. Don’t you think?

The academy’s professors and core teachers hold this kind of thinking.

-Raising ability users is like growing fruit. We select special and premium grade fruits from numerous ones to make them this era’s “heroes,” put the medium and low grades in some market, and filter out those without commercial value. Especially those with mold or bacteria should be eliminated early.

-Ability users aren’t as common as fruits, are they?

-Ah, well. Compared to the Middle East or Africa, we’re like fruits. If we’re fruits, they’re like elephants, aren’t they?

-It would be fortunate if they even had elephants. Hehe. I agree with your words, Professor. We should cut off the sprouts of those who will become villains or demons early.

An era where only the capable survive.

After the great upheaval, the era of ability supremacy has arrived.

-But will students participate if we just tell them it’s a treasure hunt training?

-We’ll offer course credits, prize money, and official absences. What could be more appealing to students?

Those who find the treasure shall receive internal evaluation scores.

Those who find the treasure shall receive prize money in the form of gift cards.

Those who find the treasure shall receive “official absences” permitted by the academy.

-What?! If we find the treasure, we get test scores, money, and holidays?!

-Just find that treasure, hehe.

-It’s called a treasure, but aren’t the rewards after finding it the real treasure?

The academy students’ response was enthusiastic.

Even those not interested in competition would want at least one of the three rewards.

-So if I get the treasure, I don’t have to take the midterm exam and still pass?

-That’s right, student. If you’ve already proven your ability in the treasure hunt, what’s the importance of an exam? Of course, if you want to take the exam, you can.

-Ah, then of course I’ll skip the midterm and find the treasure!

For those who dislike studying, test scores without having to take the exam.

-How much money? Will it be like a 5,000 won gift card? Haha.

-They say it’s 1 million won.

-…Isn’t 1 million won just pocket change for ability users?

-At least 1 million won.

-Wow, not a gift card but a check?

-And the first place prize is 100 million won.

-Wow, insane. Does this academy have money to spare?

-They have plenty.

-Ah.

A substantial amount for students short on pocket money.

-Miss. Please participate.

-No thanks. I don’t need money, and I can get 100 points in all my studies on my own. Why should I pair up with a partner I don’t get along with and search every corner of the island?

-I hear that depending on the time you acquire the treasure, you’ll be granted official absence days. First place… can rest for five days.

-…Then I can study during those five days! I’ll go right away!

-It’s a holiday, though.

-Studying alone is my rest! Ohoho!

For those who want to use their time more efficiently, autonomous time.

This treasure hunt, one of the main events, hasn’t had any major incidents in previous years, but this year, when the protagonist enrolled, is different.

As the climax of the first light novel volume, a tremendous incident occurs.

And I, for this event-

“Manager Do. What are you doing with a day off on the treasure hunt day?”

“I’m going to read fantasy novels at home.”

“…I thought you might participate.”

“What? Tavern Owner. I’m a librarian. Why would a librarian participate in such training?”

I’m not participating.

“I’m not a student or an academy teacher. I’m a librarian.”

“…Then what about the Goblin?”

“The Goblin is different.”

As Do Ji-hwan, I’m not participating.

“If I take a day off and run wild as the Goblin, wouldn’t people get suspicious? If the Goblin appears, my alibi would be gone.”

“So you need to create an alibi.”

I pointed outside to the Tavern Owner.

“Would you like to take a walk with me tonight?”

“A walk?”

“Yes. To create an alibi for Do Ji-hwan.”

* * *

Late at night, close to dawn.

“Have a good night.”

Choi Ki-woo, the owner of Haeguneul24 ‘Nara Branch’ on Sejong Island, lamented as he watched people staggering out of the convenience store.

“I want to become an ability user too.”

Ki-woo is not an ability user.

But he works as the owner of a convenience store, specifically a Haeguneul24 chain store on Sejong Island, because his younger sister is an ability user.

The age difference with his sister is 10 years.

There are about 4 siblings in between.

His sister, who is 10 years old this year, works at Sejong Academy, and Ki-woo, who just became an adult, works on Sejong Island as his sister’s legal guardian and “family” for mental care.

In reality, he’s working as a salaried convenience store owner thanks to his sister.

With a monthly salary of 6 million won and E to D-grade ability user students working part-time on weekdays, with him only working nights, it wasn’t a bad environment for Ki-woo.

If there was one annoying thing, it was that various incidents unfold during the nights he mans the store counter.

Ding-a-ling.

As the door opened, a tall man wearing a black baseball cap, gray hoodie, and jeans entered.

Seeing him wearing a mask too, Ki-woo momentarily worried he might be a robber, but a robbery occurring on Sejong Island would be like saying the Goblin is residing on Sejong Island.

“Welco…me.”

Ki-woo was about to greet him but gulped when he saw the woman following the man.

The woman was also wearing a cap and mask, but she was following the man wearing only a tight tank top and dolphin pants.

No way.

No way for “patriotism”?

“Honey, can I buy a melon milk?”

“Go ahead.”

“Should I get some beef jerky too? We’re out of snacks.”

“Beef jerky? Sure. But didn’t you say you don’t like it getting stuck in your teeth?”

“If it gets stuck, you can remove it for me.”

Ugh.

Ki-woo forcibly suppressed his churning stomach.

‘I get that you’re patriots, but do your patriotism at home!’

Why come to the convenience store for this?

There are no worse troublemakers than this.

While mainland has plenty of drunk men causing scenes or old men in fishing vests demanding cigarettes with Drunken Fist, Sejong Island has different kinds of troublemakers at night convenience stores.

“Haah.”

Ki-woo sighed involuntarily at the insects sticking to the glass wall.

‘Even those insects are reproducing, but what am I doing?’

“I’d like to pay.”

While Ki-woo was lamenting, the couple brought various items to the counter.

“Please give me a bag too.”

“Ah, yes.”

Ki-woo immediately scanned the barcodes of the items, and the man placed his Taegeuk Watch on the sensor.

“Honey, I want this.”

“…Hey.”

When the woman brought something in both hands, the man openly scolded her.

Ki-woo glanced to see what it was-

“Put it back where it belongs.”

“Aah, why?”

“Why are you buying two boxes of headache medicine?”

“One box isn’t enough. Since we’re here, let’s buy two boxes now. Okay?”

Ki-woo did the mental calculation.

One box has 12, so two boxes would be 24?

“When are you planning to use all that?”

“You have Friday off, so we can do it all weekend.”

“Last time you said you couldn’t take anymore and didn’t use them all.”

“This time! It’s different! Honey, please?”

What?

Could it be that the woman can’t keep up with the man’s tempo?

“…Haah. I’m sorry. Please ring these up too.”

“Ah, yes. Yes.”

Beep.

Ki-woo scanned the two boxes.

The couple took their bag and immediately left the convenience store, and Ki-woo looked up.

“Friday…day off…weekend. Ha.”

Shaking his head.

“Traitors. Go get a hole and do your patriotism.”

Ki-woo went outside and used a broom to chase away the insects sticking to the wall in pairs.

“All couples should go to Ulleung Island!”