CHAPTER 136

5 a.m., Saturday

Do-Jin and Da-Hee stared at the western horizon suspiciously, wondering if today the sun would rise from there.

Fortunately, the glow of dawn soon came from the east; it seemed this world was the one they knew.

Do-Jin and Da-Hee’s frowns deepened, and they gulped nervously.

“...Then, why?”

What happened?

Just as they were thinking the worst, they heard footsteps. The two of them became even more nervous; there was no strength in those footsteps, so they didn’t seem to belong to the people they were waiting for.

Who is it?

They were atop a reclusive mountain that rose twenty kilometers above the dormitory grounds. The mountain was located in a spot unfrequented by others, and the terrain itself was quite rough, so who else would climb it so early in the morning?

After weekends, the only ones they’d ever seen here at dawn were themselves, Hae-Rin, and Jae-Hyeok.

That’s right.

This was the morning training course that the Seed team used every weekend.

However, Jae-Hyeok was absent; normally, the team leader woke up earlier than anyone and reached the summit first. Yet, there was no sign of him today.

Is this even possible?

Jae-Hyeok had never once broken a promise when it came to time, and he was more passionate about training than anyone else.

Do-Jin had to become stronger to avenge his parents, but even he sometimes couldn’t handle Jae-Hyeok’s fighting spirit.

How could Jae-Hyeok be late? Not only him, not even Hae-Rin had ever been this late.

The sun hadn’t risen in the west, so that could only mean one thing: “D-did something happen to him?” Da-Hee asked nervously.

Do-Jin silently clenched his fist. He wanted to deny her words, but he couldn’t. Although Do-Jin didn’t know the details, Jae-Hyeok had always been involved in the worst incidents around school. Moreover, the atmosphere at school had been chaotic ever since the Disciplinary Department and the Student Council had issued a search and seizure for bald people.

Do-Jin gritted his teeth. He couldn’t help recalling the Association’s unusual hostility during Jae-Hyeok’s admission re-examination, and felt nervous.

Could he have been kidnapped? Do-Jin knew Jae-Hyeok was strong, much stronger than any ordinary second-year student. However, he was still lacking in many ways compared to adults.

“Let’s go down. I need to go back to the dormitory building first.”

Just when Do-Jin decided to search for Jae-Hyeok personally, the owner of the footsteps arrived at the peak. Do-Jin and Da-Hee’s expressions brightened.

“Kang Jae-Hyeok!”

“Mr. Jae-Hyeok!”

Surprised by the enthusiastic welcome, Jae-Hyeok scratched his cheek. These guys really care about me.

“Sorry, I’m late,” he said.

Da-Hee trembled. “I was worried. You didn’t even show up to training last night.” She looked Jae-Hyeok up and down, taking in his haggard appearance and the bags under his eyes. “Are you feeling very okay?”

Jae-Hyeok was about to answer when the sound of footsteps and wheezing reached his ears.

Thirty seconds later. Hae-Rin also arrived at the summit, gasping heavily. Her always-straight bangs were messy for once, with most of her forehead exposed.

Do-Jin was astonished. “Wow, you also look terrible. Just what is going on? Is some kind of contagious disease going around?”

“That isn’t... ” Hae-Rin tried to speak between breaths.

Jae-Hyeok explained, “We went out yesterday.”

“What? Who did you go fight this time?”

“Why didn’t you include us?”

Do-Jin and Da-Hee puffed out their cheeks and stomped their feet. Their reaction made Jae-Hyeok feel a bit upset.

Do they think the only thing I do is fight?

Was he unknowingly being treated like Kang Dae-Seong?

Jae-Hyeok’s brow twitched, but then he smiled proudly. “No, Hae-Rin asked me to choose a gift for her father’s birthday. It’s been a long time since I’ve last been outside. Naturally, we played together. Don’t you guys know what playing is? We are just a little tired from visiting restaurants, watching movies, playing games, and taking pictures... You know, the normal stuff. Right, Hae-Rin?”

“Right.” Hae-Rin nodded with shining eyes. From here on, I, Hae-Rin, can confidently say I know how to play with friends.

Do-Jin tilted his head. “Did you go on a date?” Jae-Hyeok’s explanation made it sound completely like a date.

Da-Hee also blushed and pointed at the two of them. “D-date!? Y-you skipped training, and it’s even exam season!”

“We just hung out like normal people. Isn’t this what ordinary people do?”

Jae-Hyeok shared the photos he’d taken the day before.

There were nearly three hundred verification shots; this was the proof Jae-Hyeok had secured in advance. The pictures showed the two of them all across the city, experiencing everything the city had to offer.

“See? Isn’t it normal?”

Yesterday, the old pharmacist had shared more than one story about Kang Dae-Seong’s school life. Naturally, none of them were good; Kang Dae-Seong’s personality was so flawed that he hadn’t made any real friends.

Jae-Hyeok worried Hae-Rin would think everyone from the Kang family was the same. To protect his Kang family’s name, he had worked hard yesterday.

I’m different from Kang Dae-Seong.The Kang family I will lead will also be different.

“Yes, it’s definitely normal. We spent the day like normal friends.” Hae-Rin responded loudly. She hoped Do-Jin and Da-Hee would stop asking questions sooner. She didn’t want others to find out yesterday was her first time playing with a friend.

Do-Jin’s eyes became suspicious.

To a point, Do-Jin had grown up relatively normally. During childhood, he had frequently played with Loren, who’d stayed in South Korea for a few years. That was why he immediately knew Jae-Hyeok and Hae-Rin were acting suspicious.

What’s so normal about playing to the point of disrupting your normal life?

Just as Do-Jin was about to question them further, Da-Hee laughed.

“Yes, yes. The two of you had a lot of fun in a normal way. Well done.”

Da-Hee was the only one with an intact family. And before awakening, she had attended a regular school and had a lot of friends. She might’ve experienced a big incident when she was young, but she got through it thanks to the Yaksha’s help.

In other words, she was the most ordinary person in the Seed team.

She could tell what Jae-Hyeok and Hae-Rin were concerned about, and she felt a mixture of sadness and admiration for their efforts. Despite their hard lives, they were trying hard to be like others.

“You two are the most ordinary friends.”

Da-Hee’s words made Jae-Hyeok and Hae-Rin smile.

“Well, of course... ”

“Y-yes... ”

Sensing the mood, Do-Jin soon came to the same realization as Da-Hee and could only scratch his head, feeling complicated.

In some ways, these two were even more pitiful than he was.

***

Between two coffins, Loren sat.

Coffins were familiar objects for Necromancers. After all, Necromancers often used complete corpses for their Skills. The coffins were needed to store and transport them.

“I think the same way,” Loren mumbled. “No matter how long he stays here, he will always be alone. In this pathetic country that has grown complacent with its false peace, who can understand his sorrow and darkness?”

Loren ran a gentle hand over the coffins of the people he loved and cherished the most. He vowed, “Don’t worry, I will take him with me.”

With exam week around the corner, all the students had been absorbed in their studies over the past few days, so much so that the streets and parks had become emptier than usual.

How silly, memorizing solutions to situations inside gates like mathematical formulas. Loren couldn’t help but sneer.

At this moment, young players in Europe were challenging the gates directly and learning through personal experience. How could the students of Lion’s Castle compare? It was clear to Loren that they would challenge gates relying solely on what they’d learned in class, inevitably leading to fatal mistakes.

He could never entrust Do-Jin to a place like this.

“It won’t take long.” Loren kissed the two coffins and then stood. “I’ve already seen just how lax this place becomes around exam time.”

Thinking of the upcoming exam week, Loren’s eyes glowed gold in the dark room.

As the National Treasure candidate of Austria, Loren’s visit to South Korea as an exchange student had become a popular topic in South Korea; since a European necromancer came to South Korea—which was regarded as a weak country—to learn, the whole nation couldn’t help being enthusiastic toward him, with many self-praising articles citing Loren as proof that South Korea’s educational system was the best in the world.

However, reality was different.

Loren saw no value in South Korea. Even as a child, his family had only brought him to South Korea because of their close relationship with Do-Jin’s parents. No, ‘close’ was an understatement. If not for Do-Jin’s parents, Loren wouldn’t have survived.

“Do-Jin, it is time for me to repay your parents.”

Loren returned the two coffins to his inventory and left the room. He had returned to this foreign land for his friend. And he would do just that. Having decided on a plan, Loren’s expression was resolute.

“It’s time you come back with me.”

***

On the first day of exam week.

Name: Baek Do-Jin

1) When classifying the risk level of hunting grounds inside a gate, what is the first thing to look for?

2) When encountering an Otherworlder inside a gate, how can you identify their affiliation?

3) Which of the following isn’t suitable for avoiding a turtle dragon during breeding season?

4) Is there a way to survive if the quest fails?

5) What should you pay attention to after completing a boss raid?

......

......

That afternoon, Do-Jin was walking down the street, looking more like a sick dog than a mad one. His shoulders were slumped, and his eyes were blank, soulless.

I... I didn’t know anything...

The fact that there was no training scheduled during exam week only made Do-Jin feel more despair.

It meant the school wanted students to spend their time studying, as if exam results were as important as training.

If they’re going to do this to me, then what’s the point of levels? Do-Jin sighed.

In fact, he knew the truth deep down: Players needed to level up to become stronger. But in order to level up, players had to attack increasingly difficult gates, and the more difficult the gate, the more knowledge was needed to succeed.

Do-Jin wasn’t good at studying and resented this reality. But it was reality nonetheless.

I thought everything would be easy once I awakened...

Do-Jin arrived at his destination, shook his head, and looked up. A magnificent library loomed before him.

Sigh, but nothing ever is.

He had never thought he would come here. Just looking at the building made Do-Jin dizzy, but he firmed his heart and thumped his chest.

Pull yourself together.I can’t fall behind any longer.

He was the only second-year student on the Seed team. However, what else about him was like a senior other than his year? What if his grades fell behind and he had to repeat a year? That would be really terrible...

No, wait?

Wasn’t it better to repeat a year?

Then I would be in the same year as Jae-Hyeok, right?

No, no. I can’t. He had to graduate as soon as possible and go out into society to become stronger. Do-Jin’s red eyes shone as he entered the library.

He looked as if he was heading to war alone.