Make an Offer
As we moved into the ninth, tenth, and eleventh weeks of training, it seemed like the users were finally getting into the groove. Those who struggled with even a simple long run in the first week were now breezing through more than twenty laps with smiles on their faces. Watching them complete every training session without a single dropout, I couldn’t help but smile with satisfaction.
The number of remaining participants was just over eighty, which was quite unusual for the User Academy. As the final graduation week, the thirteenth week, approached, a peculiar atmosphere began to permeate the academy.
The first noticeable change was in the instructors’ attitudes towards the new users. Not all instructors were from the Golden Lion Clan. Seventy percent were from major city clans, while the remaining thirty percent were selected users from smaller city clans on temporary assignment.
Initially, the instructors were harsh, barking orders as if they wanted to kill us. But gradually, they became more amiable. It wasn’t uncommon for them to secretly take a user or two out for a nice meal. Some even made offers right after training sessions, though this was reserved for those with a certain level of skill.
The newly assigned lifestyle instructors were a sight to behold. Beautiful female instructors were assigned to the male users’ dorms, and charming male instructors to the female users’ dorms. Anyone with a bit of sense could see the intention behind these personnel changes.
With training ending earlier, there was naturally more time for us to meet up. Lately, whenever I met with Ahn Hyun, Ahn Sol, and Yoo Jung, they seemed to be looking to me for direction on their future paths.
“What are you planning to do, hyung?”
“Oppa, what about you? You must have received a lot of offers. Do you have any plans?”
”…….”
While I appreciated their trust, I felt it was important for them to think for themselves rather than blindly relying on me. I tried to convey this as gently as possible, and Yoo Jung responded with a pout.
“Who said I wasn’t thinking? I just want to hear your thoughts first.”
“I’m still considering my options. What if my decision is different from yours?”
“Then, of course, I’ll follow you, oppa.”
“Same here. I trust you, hyung. Go, hyung!”
Ahn Hyun, who had been listening, nodded in agreement. It seemed like they thought of me as some kind of lucky charm. When I asked why, Ahn Sol grinned and said, “Listening to Suhyun oppa always brings good fortune.”
I shook my head with a wry smile. The dedication I showed during the initiation and the academy’s reputation seemed to have created a significant synergy effect for them. While I was grateful for their trust, I wanted to keep my thoughts to myself for now. I planned to speak up before graduation, but it didn’t feel like the right time yet.
Kim Hanbyul had stopped showing up altogether. I heard that she and Yoo Jung would pass each other without a word. Given her potential to rank among the top female users, it seemed several clans were eyeing her.
While those with potential were weighing their options with a sense of pride, many users who hadn’t received offers were growing increasingly anxious as graduation approached. There were clans in smaller cities or general cities they could join, but some users were still holding out hope for a spot in a major clan. Rumor had it that some female users were resorting to bold tactics, using their newfound familiarity with the instructors to seduce them.
Watching the others grow more relaxed, I reminded them to focus on training since we were still in the training season. The academy’s three-month duration wasn’t arbitrary. The golden period for rapidly increasing one’s abilities varied by user but generally fell between 90 to 100 days.
Though they grumbled, they fell silent when I mentioned that they might regret not training harder later. To set an example, I dedicated myself even more to training. Before reaching the level of a Sword Master, I had never skipped a day of practice.
Time continued to pass, and graduation season was drawing near.
As we entered the thirteenth week of training, graduation was just a day away. The users were gradually wrapping up their time at the academy. While the instructors were strict during training, they were quite lenient outside of it. During this time, users would either take care of personal matters or gather in small groups to chat.
The day quickly passed, and night fell. On the last night, users sharing the same dorm had a simple celebration. The instructors turned a blind eye, advising us not to go overboard. This wasn’t unique to my dorm; other dorms were doing the same.
The celebration wasn’t extravagant—just some dried meat and alcohol from our supplies. But the users, excited to see alcohol again, eagerly indulged, chatting and drinking merrily. Ahn Hyun and I exchanged a glance and nodded before quietly slipping away. Yoo Jung had suggested we have a private celebration of our own.
We managed to sneak out without a hitch, as everyone was already quite tipsy, chanting “We did it!” with their arms around each other. With all the commotion, sneaking out was a piece of cake.
As I habitually checked my pockets, I realized I had forgotten my cigarettes. I told Ahn Hyun to go ahead to our meeting spot while I returned to the dorm to retrieve them. Though Ahn Hyun said I could do without, I had a habit of smoking while drinking.
After grabbing my cigarettes, I headed back out. Our meeting place was a secluded corner of the academic information center. It was a bold move, but at this point, we were unlikely to get into trouble.
The night sky was dark, casting shadows over the ground. I hurried across the large, empty field towards the building. As I passed by the restroom, I heard a strange, breathy moan.
“Ahh… ugh… ahh…”
My keen hearing hadn’t missed it. Curiosity piqued, I cautiously opened the restroom door. Despite my careful movements, the door creaked loudly. But before I could worry about the noise, a sultry heat enveloped me from within.
“Ahhh… ahh… ohh!”
The scene inside was chaotic. Clothes were strewn about, and a user wearing an instructor’s cap was atop a woman, who was moaning beneath him. Her short, dark hair was splayed across the floor, and her legs, with their graceful lines, were spread wide, flailing in the air. I was sure I’d seen her face before.
The man on top was definitely an instructor. With each powerful thrust, the woman’s body arched like a fish, her cries echoing in the restroom.
“Quiet… down! Your moans… are too… loud!”
“But, instructor, you’re being too rough… ahh… ohh…!”
With each word, he moved rhythmically. Exhausted, he finally stopped, his hips still, as the woman clung to him tightly.
They savored the moment, and then the woman spoke, her face a picture of bliss.
“You promised, right? You’ll let me join your clan?”
“Don’t worry. After the graduation ceremony tomorrow, wait for me. I’ll take you with me.”
With that, they resumed their movements, the restroom filled with their lewd sounds. Having pieced together the situation, I quietly closed the door. While not as coercive as in the Western Continent, such occurrences couldn’t be entirely prevented. Even in the strict Northern Continent, if a new female user willingly used her body as a bargaining chip, there was little to be done.
I decided it was best to head to the information center quickly. As I turned to leave, I was startled.
“Gah!”
”…….”
I let out a gasp without realizing it. Hanbyul was standing right behind me, watching me intently. Despite being off guard, I hadn’t sensed her approach. I must have been too focused on the unexpected scene. Composing myself quickly, I spoke calmly.
“You scared me. How long have you been there?”
“I went to your dorm to talk, but you weren’t there. I saw you go back in and then come out, so I followed you.”
“So, you saw what was in the restroom…?”
Though I didn’t finish the question, she seemed to understand. Her cheeks flushed as she avoided my gaze, indicating she had seen everything from the start. Though I felt a bit exposed, I hadn’t done anything wrong, so I decided to remain confident. We needed to leave the area to give the couple their privacy.
I walked quietly, trying to muffle my footsteps, heading towards the Academic Information Center. She followed behind me, her steps quickening until she matched my pace. Together, we walked side by side under the cold moonlight. The awkwardness from earlier lingered, and silence stretched between us until Hanbyeol spoke first.
“The woman we saw inside earlier is probably Lee Ji-young.”
“Lee Ji-young… I think I’ve seen her once or twice.”
“Do you not know her?”
Hanbyeol looked at me with wide eyes, and I tilted my head in confusion. Of course, I wouldn’t know her. She wasn’t particularly talented or close to me, so how would I know? She was pretty enough, but compared to Yujeong, Sol, or Hanbyeol, she was just average. I answered matter-of-factly.
“No, I don’t know her. I’ve never even spoken to her.”
Hanbyeol’s face relaxed with relief at my response. I grew more curious about this Lee Ji-young. Why was Hanbyeol so relieved that I didn’t know her? Before I could ponder further, Hanbyeol spoke again.
“It’s better if you don’t know her. Even among us, she doesn’t have a great reputation. As you saw earlier… there are rumors. I never thought I’d see it myself, though. But why were you there?”
“We were having a graduation party at the Academic Information Center. On the way, I heard strange noises from the bathroom, so I opened the door and saw… that. Anyway, since we ran into each other, do you want to join us?”
I wanted to say, “You’re coming, right?” but given the distance that had grown between us, I couldn’t bring myself to say it. She lowered her head, staring at the ground. Her ears peeked out from her jet-black hair, and I found them endearingly small. As I indulged in this trivial thought, I noticed her lips parting slightly.
“I’d like to talk for a bit.”
She had mentioned wanting to talk. I had no reason to refuse, so I nodded willingly. It had been a long time since we had a conversation like this.
“I received an offer from the Golden Lion Clan.”
”…Oh.”
“They usually don’t take in new users right away, but they’re expanding this time. They said they could help me grow, especially since I’m a mage. And… they recommended me as a candidate for a leadership position.”
I let out a deep breath at her words. I expected her to come straight to the point, but the mention of a leadership recommendation surprised me. I didn’t understand how they could help a mage grow. But more than that, recommending her for a leadership position seemed excessive for a new user, even if Hanbyeol had great potential.
Unless she had a secret or rare class… The thought hit me, and I stopped in my tracks. Hanbyeol looked at me with curious eyes, but I ignored her and activated my third eye.
『 Player Status 』
Name: Kim Hanbyeol (0 years)
Class: Jewel Mage (Beginner)
Nation: Unsettled
Clan: Unsettled
True Name · Nationality: One from the Stars · Handler of Beautiful Light and Luster · South Korea
Sex: Female (22)
Height · Weight: 170.5cm · 45.0kg
Alignment: Lawful · Chaos
『Abilities』
“Oppa…?”
Her voice snapped me out of my daze, and I nodded reflexively, albeit reluctantly. Why? How? What? Questions swirled in my mind, but I needed to regain my composure.
<They said they could help me grow, especially since I’m a mage.>
Indeed, a Jewel Mage would need clan support to grow, given the immense cost of using jewels as magical catalysts. But that wasn’t the issue. Hanbyeol hadn’t told me she was a Jewel Mage. And the fact that the Golden Lion Clan recommended her for a leadership position suggested she might have revealed her class to them.
A sense of betrayal surged within me, but I quickly let it go. I had decided to treat her as a friend, and if necessary, let her go. Yet, the sudden rush of emotion revealed lingering feelings.
If I had known she was a Jewel Mage, a secret class, my attitude might have been different. But I refused to justify my actions by focusing solely on my perspective. That was something I despised.
I pushed aside my emotions, filling my mind with cold logic. I took a deep breath and steadied myself. From now on, I would treat her as a fellow user, not as a younger sister.
“I heard the Golden Lion Clan made you an offer too.”
Hanbyeol spoke with a calm face, and I replied just as evenly.
“I said I’d think about it.”
“Have you decided?”
“Yeah. I’m going to decline. I don’t want to join a clan.”
”…Why?”
Her body flinched at my words.
I paused, then resumed walking. She followed, and we exchanged glances filled with unspoken, complex emotions.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Someone asked about this before, so I mentioned it in a previous note, but there are many ways to obtain secret or rare classes. It’s not standardized. The unpredictable nature of the whole plane includes such scenarios. Just in case anyone was wondering… ㅇㅅㅇ
『Reader Comments』
Life of a Person: Congrats on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd! The settings are similar, but the atmosphere is different. They’re not actually sisters. Haha.
JoWoon: Yes! I hope you enjoyed it! This is the kind of comment I wanted! I was so flustered before… :)
Blami: I was at a full 15, so I added it with Yoon. Hehe.
Let’s Play, Yeook: I was worried about writing a fast-paced development for the first time, but I’m glad it worked out. ㅜ.ㅠ
Golem: As I commented above… the former meaning is stronger. ㅇㅅㅇ
GradeRown: You can assume they have the stats to support their strength. More details would be spoilers, so no comment. :)
Kriasen: Oh, I see. If I keep writing, maybe I’ll make it to the rankings someday? I’ll keep trying until then. (And please don’t hate Hanbyeol too much. ㅜ.ㅠ)
hohokaya1: I think your questions will be answered in the next chapter. Look forward to it.
Toranoanal: Fun is the top priority. I’m relieved to hear it’s evolving in a good direction. I’ll keep working hard.
Reader C: Right?! ㅇㅅㅇ Please look forward to more! ㅇㅅㅇ!
Baek In-Timothy: I’m still a beginner, so my writing is heavily influenced by emotions. Maybe it’s because I have a habit of writing while listening to piano music.
Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivrusk: Your questions will be answered in the next chapter. Haha.
That’s all for today.
I hope you always read my work with a relaxed mind.
Favorites, recommendations, comments, critiques, and questions are always welcome.