[Academy Achievement]
[Congratulations! Awaken Chamber Clear!]
[Reward Granted: Stat Bonus]
——————————————————
Awaken Chamber
Freshman (1st Year) Ranking
1 – Melissa de Prominence: Trial 1 (00:41)
2 – Caeran Hiss: Trial 1 (00:58)
3 – Anonymous: Trial 1 (6:34:01)
.
.
.
——————————————————
Trial 1: Time limit set to 3 hours.
——————————————————
‘Was it too embarrassing?’
Thanks to me, there were new rules added about the time limit on the leaderboard.
When I came out, promised to the honorary professor Sinatis to clear it, her face was all red.
– twitch, twitch
And she was trembling her hands as if frustrated.
For a monster, it was a cute reaction.
Maybe because in the novel, she was a loyal and pure character who only looked at the hero Kroon?
Even if Trial 1 didn’t have a time limit, I was prepared to come out if the administrator called it out…
But I unexpectedly gained something.
– “I dislike you.”
– “Don’t come back again.”
Anyway, I was pushed out of the chamber like that.
‘At least they honored my request to keep it anonymous.’
If I put my name out there, the supporting role passive might trigger and I’d possibly receive penalties again.
Plus, considering my reputation, there were probably a lot of guys who would challenge it.
It’s best to bury it like this, right?
Rubbing my stiff arms, I opened the status window.
“Stats.”
——————————————————
▶Status
[Strength]: 1.1 -> 1.4 (new)
[Endurance]: 1.0 -> 1.6 (new)
[Dexterity]: 1.1 -> 1.2 (new)
[Magic Power]: 1.0
[Mana]: 1.0
[Mental Strength]: 1.0 -> 1.15 (new)
[Perception]: 1.0
[Specialization]
Circle Magic (1)
Crossbow – Proficiency (1) (new)
——————————————————
“Pathetic, pathetic.”
Is my base stats so low, or was it just that the stat increase for the reincarnated hero during Closed Beta was pathetic?
Even after receiving a reward for passing the trial, there wasn’t any dramatic growth.
But there was a new line under specialization.
——————————————————
▶[Crossbow Proficiency] [1]
[Based on half the maximum range of the crossbow, the minimum hit rate is corrected to 50%.]
[From now on, critical hit probability will apply when using a crossbow.]
——————————————————
“Guess the grind paid off.”
It was definitely the same as the game system.
I had gained the minimum proficiency needed to use crossbow weapons.
If it were other weapons, I could have learned additional damage or specialized skills proportional to magic power or strength, but crossbow didn’t have those perks.
Instead…
[Current Gems: 5337]
“Sweet, sweet.”
The reward for ranking third was very sweet.
The admission bonus and basic funds were about 20,000 gems, and I got a whopping 5,310 gems.
1 gem was about 100 won in Korean currency, so I had quite a bit of money now.
From now on, it seems like I can freely use the personal training room and practice room.
I can also have proper meals.
“As soon as the personal training room opens tomorrow, I’m pumping iron.”
I’m feeling motivated.
Since I’m treating this character as a failed charm point, acting petty seems like the solution.
‘It’d be perfect if I had a fatigue recovery item now…’
Since it was already past midnight, all facilities like the academy cafeteria or convenience store would be closed.
“Wait, I wonder if the black market is open at this point?”
The black market.
I’m talking about the mysterious suitcase dealer and the fencing dealer, Goot, found in the underground tavern from [Reincarnated Academy] Chapter 2.
Think of it as a second-hand marketplace that guarantees anonymity.
The suitcase merchant has a simple trading system.
Student A leaves items with the black market representative, and Student B can buy them.
Then the sale proceeds are split between A and the representative.
Since it was established by beastmen settling near the academy, the smell of illegal activities was prevalent, and it was very suitable for money laundering and shady transactions.
Thus, in the story, students got involved in this black market as the detective concept, and it later completely disappears.
So, from this point, the usage period is until Chapter 2; it’s temporary.
‘Gotta suck the honey while I can.’
Since it’s before Chapter 1, I don’t know what items are available, but with the money I have, I should be able to buy something.
*
In the old town next to the academy’s commercial district.
The streets with flickering lights seemed like they’d go out any moment, were filled with laborers from nearby jobs gathering to drink and dance.
– “Drink!”
– “Cheers!”
In [Reincarnated Academy], Claris Academy, established under direct imperial contract, had restricted access, but these nearby towns had sanctuaries, so wandering mercenaries used it as a resting point.
‘Feels a bit like fantasy here…’
In the dark, winding alleys, it felt eerie, but thankfully I had no trouble finding the representative.
“Welcome…”
A lazy voice greeted me from the fur coat… no, the cat girl.
I didn’t want to despise beastmen, but since they wandered like gypsies without a residence, one must be cautious.
So when buying items, it’s safer to find a fencing dealer who offers the upfront payment instead of a beastman.
In the novel, Edwin got conned believing in a beastman too.
“I’d like to see the items…”
“Take your time…”
I searched for useful items among what she spread out on the suitcase.
.
.
.
“Hmm…”
——————————————————
[Professor’s Building Meal Ticket]
[Rarity: E]
[A meal ticket that allows you to use Claris Academy’s Professor’s Building Dining Room.]
[Central Dining Room Meal Ticket]
[Rarity: E]
[A meal ticket that allows you to use Claris Academy’s Central Dining Room.]
[Fitness Center – Usage Right]
[Rarity: E]
[A usage ticket that allows you to use Claris Academy’s fitness center for 2 hours.]
[Vitality Potion]
[Rarity: D]
[Stabilizes fatigued mind and body. Effects decrease as endurance stats increase.]
[Mermaid’s Scream]
[Rarity: C-]
[A potion that allows underwater breathing. Lasts for 30 minutes.]
——————————————————
Since it was early on before the black market appeared, among all the odds and ends, this was the best stuff I could find.
‘If I want something better, I’ll have to come back later…’
Mermaid’s Scream would definitely come in handy soon.
When the academy curriculum starts, there’s a dreadful test from the bald professor Harpan that involves using mana sensitivity to find an object hidden in the lake.
On the surface, it tests sensing abilities, but in reality, it’s all about holding breath underwater, so it was unfair, and students protested.
Under normal circumstances, Caeran would come in first, defeating Melissa’s pride who had confidence in her magic.
Here, the item he used thanks to his lucky trait was the Mermaid’s Scream.
Now that I think about it, he was also involved with the black market; maybe he got it through this route.
Additionally, there’s only one hidden dungeon in the academy, which is an underwater dungeon, so there are honey items like this.
Only 2 bottles in stock.
‘I’ll take them all.’
Caeran is a villain. Just look at how he treats the heroines.
To avoid his ending, Edwin, the hero, must be supported, so it’s only right to preemptively eliminate anything that might indirectly benefit him.
After picking my items, I asked the merchant.
“Do you have utilization rights for the practice room?”
“None…”
“Well then, I’ll take the fitness center utilization right.”
“It’s 30 gems… give it to me.”
This greedy little brat!
The standard price in the academy is 25 gems.
Looks like I’m an unseasoned freshman, and she wants to overcharge me.
“Then, how about this?”
Showing her Mermaid’s Scream, she answered lazily.
“…1,000 gems.”
‘As expected.’
I felt I made a good move by testing the waters with the fitness center ticket.
Feels like she’s quoting one or two times the actual value?
I immediately followed up.
“The original price for the fitness center usage is 15 gems, though?”
“……”
The fact that it’s actually 25 gems, but since she fell silent, I knew I hit the mark.
I seized the momentum and started haggling.
“Ticket for 5 gems, potion for 400 gems.”
“12 gems for 650 gems…”
She had a dazed expression but didn’t easily back down.
What a stubborn and audacious cat.
“500 gems total.”
“600… I’m sleepy…”
– swish
After saying that, it seemed like she was going to close up shop.
“Well, I’ll buy both bottles, making 1,100 gems. Add one Vitality Potion to that.”
“…Take it as you like.”
Thus, the deal was struck.
She had a lazy personality, so when there were too many calculations, she tends to just settle.
‘You’ll regret it later when I report you for illegal street vending.’
It might be a business for her with nothing to lose, but considering the hidden piece, I had no choice.
Well, if needed, I could stock up…
When the deal wrapped up and as I organized my belongings while exiting the alley.
“Hey, junior, are you okay?”
Someone whispered right next to my ear.
“…”
And when I subtly turned my head, facing me was a girl with thick black hair, tall, and wearing a student uniform adorned with a badge symbolizing an upperclassman.
Even though it was someone I’d never seen before, I was sure.
It was the shadowy Liris who tried to turn ‘Lev Denec’ into a demon!
She smiled at me brightly.
“What were you doing here?”
