Chapter 87. Im Sol's Laboratory

Chapter 87. Im Sol’s Laboratory

‘Easy.’

The written test was honestly just tiring on the hands, not actually difficult.

I easily got a perfect score on the morning written exam for magic usage.

I hadn’t checked the grading, but unless the textbooks and research papers were wrong, I should’ve gotten a perfect score too.

“Hey, let’s compare answers.”

“People who say ‘let’s compare answers’ usually bombed the test.”

“Yeah, well I did better than you~.”

“That test was seriously hard.”

“Agreed. Everyone’s scores are going to be wrecked.”

After the test, the lecture hall was filled with the buzzing chatter of cadets.

“Argh! I swear the professor gave us this one, but I got it wrong...”

“It’s okay, Lucy… You’ll get it right next time.”

The twins were also chatting about the test.

“Guys, let’s go get some food. I’m hungry.”

Naturally, I had no interest in that.

“Lee Hoyeon, didn’t you totally ace the test? You look way too relaxed.”

“Eh, it was okay.”

Everyone will know once the grades are out, so there’s no need to brag.

We headed to the student cafeteria for lunch.

“Mmm~ Delicious. The cafeteria steak is actually really good, why don’t more people eat it?”

“Right? I think it’s the best too.”

Lucy and I were diligently cutting our steaks, while Lumi huddled in and scooped up her omelet rice.

“Y-Yeah…”

“Lumi, why do you look so down?”

“It’s just… everyone keeps staring…”

“...That’s true.”

‘Ah, so this is what it means to be famous.’

Everyone eating in the cafeteria kept sneaking glances at us.

To be precise, they were probably looking at me.

I’ve gotten way too famous lately.

Thanks to that, the annoying guys who used to pick fights stopped, which is nice… but now there are way more people staring, and that’s uncomfortable too.

“Don’t mind it. They’re just curious.”

“Y-Yeah. Got it…”

Click!

I even heard the sound of a camera shutter from somewhere.

I looked toward the sound, but there were so many people it was hard to tell who it was.

‘Damn, this is driving me crazy.’

Is this what Moon Surin feels like all the time?

I think I get it now… But her case must be even worse.

“Ugh, this is scary.”

“What’s scary?”

“It’s nothing.”

I stuffed food into my mouth as fast as I could to get out of the cafeteria quickly.

*

The afternoon written exam also flew by in a flash.

The difficulty of the questions was so high, it looked like the cadets were completely overwhelmed.

Ding—

Just as the exam ended and I was about to leave the lecture hall, half the cadets’ smartwatches started pinging.

【Victoria Academy 1-on-1 Duel Preliminary A Group Team 3 – Lee Hoyeon. Please report to Arena A by 4:30 PM.】

“It’s the notification for the prelims.”

“I got mine too. It says Arena B.”

“I didn’t get one….”

“No wonder the written test ended early. Alright, I’m heading to the arena. See you tomorrow.”

“Bye-bye! Lumi! Come with me to Arena B!”

“Mhm. Okay.”

I said goodbye to the twins and rushed to Arena A.

There was already a decent crowd waiting at Arena A.

Not just from Class A—cadets from other classes were gathered too, so it looked like a tournament with random picks from all of first year.

“Next! Team 2, get up here!”

A professor standing on the arena stage was guiding the cadets.

At the professor’s instruction, two male cadets stepped onto the stage.

You wouldn’t know who your opponent was until they stepped up on stage too.

This was really just luck. If two strong ones were paired in prelims, one of them would be screwed.

“Ready, begin!”

I wasn’t interested in their match, so I just stared at my smartwatch and waited for my turn.

“Winner! Jeon Youngjoo!”

After a few exchanges, the winner was soon decided.

Clap clap clap

Since everyone around me was clapping, I joined in a few times.

“Next! Team 3, get up here!”

I quickly stepped onto the arena.

Let’s see…

My opponent stepping onto the arena looked vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t recall exactly who he was—just some extra.

No need to be nervous.

“U-Um, Hoyeon.”

“Yeah?”

The guy awkwardly opened his mouth.

“I-I’m sorry about last time. I didn’t mean for it to go that way, but things just kinda… happened.”

What’s this guy going on about?

I slowly traced back my memories.

Where did I see this face? I know I’ve seen him before, maybe in Class A?

“Ah…”

I remembered.

He was the extra hiding behind Do Jinhyuk.

One of the guys who was giggling behind Do Jinhyuk when he tried to start something at the beginning of the semester.

“It’s fine. I don’t care.”

“R-Really? Thanks.”

I looked at the relieved guy and began channeling mana through my body.

“I’ll finish this quickly. Don’t worry.”

“W-What?”

If he’d just kept his mouth shut, I might not have noticed… Some people really do dig their own graves.

*

After finishing the duel in an instant, I went to see Professor Im Sol.

The visit was partly to say hi, partly to introduce Baek A-Young.

There were other things too—like helping with her thesis. Honestly, there was plenty to do if I put my mind to it.

It felt like it’d been a while since I came, so I was oddly nervous.

★ Heroine Status Window

【Im Sol】

- 【 Affection: 50 】

- 【 Lust: 25 】

- 【 Appetite: 30 】

- 【 Fatigue: 40 】

Current Status: Finished grading tests. Might have some time left after working on the thesis.

‘Wow, I really need to step it up.’

After checking Im Sol’s status window, I felt I had to work harder.

Of course, 50 affection isn’t low by any means.

But given the level of skinship we’ve had, I expected it to be higher. To think it’s only 50 even after that—should I be impressed, or disappointed?

“I’ve still got a bit of grading left. Want to sit and wait there? Feel free to help yourself to snacks or coffee.”

“Sure.”

I sat on the sofa in the lab and started unwrapping some chocolate snacks, popping them into my mouth.

Watching Im Sol grade test papers so intently, a natural question popped into my head.

“I came to visit, but… is it okay to meet with a professor during exam week?”

Isn’t it normal to limit contact with professors or even restrict access to their offices?

I was a little worried it might cause trouble.

“It’s fine. We take an Oath of Mana not to leak anything about the exams.”

“A-An Oath of Mana…”

So they had that here too!

“Why are you so surprised? First time hearing about an Oath of Mana?”

“…No. It’s just my first time seeing one in person, so it’s kinda fascinating.”

Now that I’ve learned about the existence of the Oath of Mana in this mana-based world, I’d better be extra careful not to break it.

“If you’ve got nothing to do, help me out.”

Im Sol used magic to send about twenty pages from the towering pile of documents my way.

They were student test answer sheets.

“…Professor, no matter what, isn’t it wrong to have a cadet do the grading?”

“It’s fine. Just don’t tell anyone.”

“….”

Well, I can’t talk to her until she finishes anyway.

Thinking positively, I started helping grade the test papers.

*

A high-ranking member of the Iris Guild. Sebas Chan.

Today again, he was tailing Lee Hoyeon.

He was certain something was going on, but now that Lee Hoyeon had entered Professor Im Sol’s lab, he was stuck wondering how to find out what was happening inside.

Then—

Sebas Chan sensed someone.

Someone was hiding on the opposite side of the building.

‘Their level… is about the same as mine.’

Until yesterday, there wasn’t anyone like that lurking around Lee Hoyeon.

‘So I’ve been found out.’

It’s safe to assume Lee Hoyeon noticed my presence and assigned a bodyguard.

The fact he could bring in such a skilled person in just one day shows how important he is.

‘I don’t know who’s backing him, but it’s at least someone on Elise’s level.’

There was no way I could reveal myself now. The Iris Guild must always remain in the shadows.

The moment our identity is exposed, it’s the Iris Guild’s loss.

Sebas Chan swallowed nervously and began to retreat.

*

Secretary Jung, the right hand of the Korean Hunter Association’s president.

While digging around to find out the connection between Baek A-Young and the academy, he uncovered one crucial piece of information.

‘There’s a cadet at the academy who’s very close to Baek A-Young.’

Today, he infiltrated Victoria Academy to investigate that cadet.

Even if it was just investigating a cadet, he did it with full effort.

He moved without ever being noticed, leaving no trace behind.

But…

‘Someone’s here.’

Someone was hiding directly across from him.

It felt like they were protecting Lee Hoyeon.

And their aura wasn’t ordinary.

‘That level… Top-tier even among A-Rank Hunters. I can’t make contact.’

Someone was clearly watching over Lee Hoyeon.

If Secretary Jung sensed them, then they must’ve noticed him too.

As soon as he reached that conclusion, Secretary Jung swiftly withdrew.

At the same time, the presence he had sensed vanished as well.

They probably also found it troublesome to clash with him directly.

“Lee Hoyeon… just who’s backing you?”

Secretary Jung wiped cold sweat as he began writing his report.

*

“Huh?”

“What’s wrong, Professor?”

Im Sol, sipping coffee across from me after finishing her work, furrowed her brows.

“I thought I felt a disturbance outside, but it vanished instantly. Maybe I imagined it.”

“…?”

What’s up with her all of a sudden?

“By the way, did the exam go well?”

“Yes.”

I could say that with confidence.

I’ll be ranked first, after all.

“Oh ho, the magic written exam wasn’t exactly easy this time.”

“Want to bet? I’d put money on having gotten everything right.”

“No thanks.”

“….”

Too bad. I could’ve squeezed something out of her.

“Pfft, I’m just not into betting. Sorry.”

Im Sol laughed, sipped her coffee, and then said to me—

“By the way, you got in touch with someone named Min Yeji, right?”

Why is that name suddenly coming from Im Sol? I mean, I did contact her, so I didn’t deny it.

“How did you know? She asked me to join her guild, and when I refused, she suggested going into business together.”

“You turned down joining her guild? That’s the Ironblood Guild, you know.”

“Well, I just don’t feel like joining anything right now. There’s still a long time until graduation.”

With so many heroines around, there’s no way I’m leaving the academy early.

By then, my value will go up anyway, so no need to rush—and frankly, with how complicated things are with the girls, joining a guild would just be messy.

“Hmm. It’s your decision, so I won’t say anything. But I definitely don’t recommend going into business with her.”

“Why’s that?”

Is it some kind of MLM scam or something?

“No, I got curious once and received her business proposal before… haah. Forget it. Just don’t do it if I tell you not to.”

★ Heroine Status Window

【Im Sol】

- 【 Affection: 50 】

- 【 Lust: 25 】

- 【 Appetite: 30 】

- 【 Fatigue: 40 】

Current Status: She might even put a bikini on a male cadet. That’s how obsessed with money she is…

Seriously, what situation would ever make me have to wear a bikini?

Gulp

I began to rethink everything about this Min Yeji person.

*************************************************

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