Chapter 65: It's Not Only Riders Who Transform (2)
The Academy was a training ground for ability users.
It was also a place where they polished how, where, and when to use these abilities.
Essentially, the Academy proclaimed itself a ‘Hero Training Institution’.
It was a place where we hoped that those who had learned and mastered their abilities at the Academy would not become villains and, at the same time, taught them how to fight against villains.
Depending on the perspective, it could be quite controversial, but some called Sejong Academy a ‘military academy’.
A training ground for combatants to confront villains or demons.
When spoken in this way, the ability users or their families would express significant discomfort. Still, if you looked at the actual curriculum, practical training occupied a considerable amount of time.
The first major episode in the original work, ‘Treasure Hunt’, was also the same.
During this turmoil of treasure hunting, which could be considered the climax of the first volume, the main task was for teams of two to seek the goal assigned to them.
The field was the entire Sejong Island.
…However, each team had a designated area. Since the main purpose was to find items within that area, surveying the entire Sejong Island was unnecessary.
-Just investigating would be boring, right? So, let’s reduce the number of treasures compared to the number of teams.
-Do we really need to fight each other?
-We should provide an opportunity for children to unleash their abilities.
-Are you saying we should legally make them fight each other?
-Of course. Isn’t it enough to have them bring the treasure to the finish line? Whatever happens in the process… as long as they don’t inflict serious injuries, they should just move on.
As if fearing someone might call it an era of endless competition, the professors and teachers at the Academy turned the treasure hunt into an outright competition.
-Cut the number of students appropriately. And evenly distribute students in each zone.
-So, does that mean a first place will come out of each area?“
-Yes. The first places will then be conscious of each other and grow while competing. Don’t children normally grow by fighting? Haha.
-It would be troublesome if they became demons.
-If they turn into demons in a competition like this, they are bound to become demons later anyway. We must cut off the sprouts with mold early. Break their necks before they enter society. That’s how other sprouts can grow well. Isn’t it so?
The professors at the Academy, the core of the teachers, thought like this.
-Raising a psychic is like raising a fruit. We pick out the special and superior fruits from numerous ones and make them the ‘heroes’ of this era. We put the average and inferior ones out on the market and weed out the worthless ones. Especially the ones that have mold or carry germs. We have to eliminate them early on.
-Are Ability Users as common as fruits to be compared like this?
-Ah, that. Compared to the Middle East or Africa, we are fruits. If we are fruits, then aren’t they elephants?
-It would be fortunate if there were even elephants. Haha. I agree with your statement, Professor. We need to nip those who would become villains or demons in the bud.
It was a time when only those with abilities survived. After the great upheaval, the era of omnipotent abilities had arrived.
-But will students participate in this training simply under the guise of treasure hunting?
-We pit them against each other with grades, prize money, and authorized absences at stake. Is there anything more beneficial for students?
Those who found the treasure would earn internal grades.
Those who found the treasure would receive the prize money called the Munsang.
Those who found the treasure would receive an ‘authorized absence’ approved by the Academy.
-What?! If you find the treasure, you get test points, money, and vacation days?!
-Ah, it’s a treasure jackpot, hehe.
-Although it’s called a treasure, the rewards after obtaining it are the real treasure, aren’t they?
The reaction of the Academy students was enthusiastic. Even those who had no interest in competition would desire at least one of the three rewards.
-So, if you get the treasure, we don’t have to take the midterms, right?
-That’s correct, student. You’ve already proven your abilities in the treasure hunt, so what’s the point of an exam? Of course, you can take it if you want.
-Ah, then, of course, I’m not taking the midterms. I’m going to find that treasure!
Those who disliked studying desired the test scores they could get without taking the exam.
-How much money? Is the Munsang worth 5,000 won? Haha.
-It’s said to be 1 million won.
-… Isn’t 1 million won just a small amount to an Ability User?
-A minimum of 1 million won.
-Wow, it was not Munsang but a check?
-Moreover, the first-place prize money is 100 million won.
-Wow, crazy. Does the Academy have too much money?
-It seems they do.
-Ah.
This was a substantial amount of money for those students who were short on money.
-Miss, you should participate.
-I’m fine. I don’t need money, and I can get a perfect score on my own. Why should I struggle to become a partner with someone I don’t like and search every corner of the island?
-You’ll get approved absences depending on the time it takes to obtain the treasure. The first place can… take five days off.
-…Then I could study during those five days! I’ll go right now!
-It’s a vacation, though.
-Studying by myself is relaxing! Ohohoho!
Those who wanted to spend their time more efficiently could get their own free time.
This treasure hunt, one of the main events, didn’t usually cause a huge accident every year, but this year, the year the protagonist was admitted, was different.
As expected of the climax of the first volume of the light novel, a huge accident would occur.
And I was in that event-
“Mr. Do, why are you taking a leave of absence on the day of the treasure hunt?”
“I’m going to read a fantasy novel at home.”
“……I thought you might participate.”
“What? Brewer. I’m a librarian. Why would a librarian participate in such training?”
I would not participate.
“I’m neither a student nor a teacher at the Academy. I’m a librarian.”
“…Then what about the Goblin?”
“The Goblin is different.”
As Do Ji-hwan, I was not participating.
“If you take a leave and go rampaging as the Goblin, won’t people misunderstand? If the Goblin appears, you won’t have an alibi.”
“That’s why I need to create an alibi.”
I pointed outside to Brewer.
“Do you want to take a walk with me at night for a moment?”
“A walk?”
“Yes. To create an alibi for Do Ji-hwan.”
Late at night, nearing dawn.
“Goodbye.”
Choi Ki-woo, the owner of ‘Nara Store,’ a Haegnul24 convenience store on Sejong Island, lamented as he saw people staggering out of his store.
“I want to become an Ability User too.”
Ki-woo is not an Ability User.
However, the reason he was running a convenience store, a Haegun24 chain store, no less, on Sejong Island was because his younger sister was an Ability User.
There was a 10-year age difference between him and his younger sister.
There were about 4 siblings in between them.
His 10-year-old sister this year was a student at the Sejong Island Academy, and Ki-woo, who had just become an adult, was working on Sejong Island as her legal guardian and ‘family’ for mental care.
In reality, he was working as a salaried store owner at a convenience store, thanks to his younger sister.
Excluding the fact that he only worked at night and that E~D class Ability User students worked part-time on weekdays, earning a monthly salary of 6 million won wasn’t a bad environment for Ki-woo.
The only annoying thing about this job was that various things unfolded at night when he was minding the convenience store counter.
Chime, chime.
As the door opened, a tall man wearing a black baseball cap, a grey hoodie, and jeans entered.
Looking at the mask he was wearing, Ki-woo momentarily worried he might be a robber, but a robbery on Sejong Island would be like saying that the Goblin was residing on Sejong Island.
“Welcome…!”
Ki-woo was about to greet the man but swallowed his saliva when he saw the woman following him.
The woman also wore a hat and mask, but she was following the man in a body-hugging tank top and dolphin pants.
Could it be?
Could it be for ‘patriotism’?
“Honey, can I buy melon milk?”
“Buy it.”
“Should we also buy some beef jerky? We ran out of snacks.”
“Beef jerky? Good. 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.”
Ew.
Ki-woo tried hard to suppress his churning stomach.
‘I know you two are patriots, but do your patriotism at home!’
Why did they have to come to the convenience store and do that?
There was no nuisance quite like them.
While there were plenty of men drinking and making a mess or old men wearing fishing vests demanding cigarettes on the mainland, there were many nuisances of a different kind in a convenience store on Sejong Island late at night.
“Sigh.”
Ki-woo naturally sighed at the sight of the insects sticking to the glass wall.
‘Even those insects are reproducing. What is this?’
“Checkout, please.”
While Ki-woo was lamenting, the couple bought various items and placed them on the counter.
“Please include a bag as well.”
“Ah, yes.”
Ki-woo immediately scanned the barcodes of the items, and the man placed his Taeguk Watch on the sensor.
“Honey, this one.”
“…Hey.”
When the woman brought something with both hands, the man openly scolded her.
Ki-woo was curious about what it was, and when he took a quick glance-
“Leave it in its original place.”
“Aww, why?”
“Why are you even thinking about buying that?”
“One isn’t enough. Let’s buy two since we’re here. Okay?”
Ki-woo finished calculating in his head.
If there were 12 in one, then there were 24 in two?
“When are you planning to use all that?”
“We have the day off on Friday, so we can do it all weekend.”
“You couldn’t even use it all last time, saying you couldn’t do it anymore.”
“This time! It’s different! Honey, okay?”
What?
Could it be that the woman couldn’t keep up with the man’s tempo?
“…Sigh. I’m sorry. Please calculate this as well.”
“Ah, yes. Yes.”
Beep.
Ki-woo scanned the barcodes of the two boxes.
The couple immediately took the bag and left the convenience store, and Ki-woo looked up.
“Friday…day off…weekend. Ha.”
He shook his head in disbelief.
“Traitors. I hope you find a hole and do some patriotism.”
Ki-woo went outside and chased away the insects that were clinging to the wall in pairs with a broom.
“All you couples should go to Ulleung Island!”
Read latest chapters at f(r)eewebnov𝒆l Only