Why Is Everyone in This Dating Sim Trying to Kill Me?!

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Translator: Vine

Chapter Title: Midterm Evaluation (1)

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A first-year male student had defeated an academy instructor in a sparring match.

Despite this shocking event, the world remained surprisingly quiet.

While the fact that a male student, admitted through the male quota system, had defeated a 'fighting dog' could have been an incredibly interesting and entertaining topic, the news that this same male student had even defeated an academy instructor was dismissed as an absurd and impossible rumor.

Even among the students who witnessed the scene that day, the prevailing opinion was that "Instructor Hong Ji-na had merely gone easy on him, treating him like any other academy student." For the general public, whose access to academy information was restricted, there was no doubt about it.

Two months had passed since then.

In a game, this would have been just a skipped time between events, but now that the game had become reality, two months was an honest period that required repeating 24 hours sixty times over.

'Hmm, I should have been clashing with the Hunter Management Bureau by now, if things had gone as originally planned…'

I was sweating profusely, in a horse stance with a heavy, house-sized chunk of iron strapped to my back.

"Stop. Rise."

At the indifferent voice from ahead, I took a breath and straightened my legs.

The chunk of iron remained strapped to my back.

Baek Seol-hee spoke with an expressionless face.

"Now, try taking a step."

"Yes."

I briefly replied to the instructor's words, focusing all my attention on my toes.

It was a footwork that involved spreading the surface area of the sole of my foot to avoid leaving any traces or sounds on the ground.

To take a step without leaving a mark on the ground, all while carrying a house-sized chunk of iron on my back.

This was a prerequisite for the footwork technique called 'Stealth Walk' (暗行步) that I was currently learning.

'But no matter how I thought about it, this didn't seem like basic swordsmanship.'

I inwardly repeated this thought, feeling it was far too late to do anything about it now, and infused mana into my lower body.

It was just taking a single step, yet I had experienced countless failures so far.

Perhaps the training hadn't been meaningless, as I had now succeeded in making my footsteps appear normal even while carrying the weight.

However, I had never once succeeded in meeting Baek Seol-hee's standard: "walking without leaving any footprints at all."

It was supposedly a training method that simultaneously cultivated the lower body, which was fundamental to all sword techniques, while also teaching footwork.

Honestly, I doubted if it was even physically possible.

But she had already demonstrated it herself, proving it was possible, so I didn't voice my doubts.

'Focus.'

*Whoosh—*

Sharpening the blade of my consciousness, I slowly lifted my right foot.

Brushing the ground, I extended my foot forward.

'Distribute the weight sufficiently across the entire sole of my foot…'

I didn't quite understand the difficult instruction about finding the intersection point where the sole and the ground pushed against each other.

But thanks to my accumulated experience, I somehow extended my foot at the appropriate timing.

And the moment my center of gravity shifted to my extended right foot—

My left leg trembling, I lifted it and stepped forward.

*Squish!*

My left foot sank deep into the soft ground.

'…Ah, damn it.'

"You succeeded."

"Huh?"

I lifted my head with a flustered expression.

Didn't she just see my left foot sink into the ground?

My foot was currently squishing the ground, right now?

Baek Seol-hee gestured with her chin.

She pointed to my right foot.

Slowly, I lifted my right foot.

There was no trace left on the ground.

Even though I had shifted my weight and stepped heavily.

"…Wow. It actually worked."

As I stared at the pristine ground in wonder, Baek Seol-hee spoke.

"The Stealth Walk (暗行步) is a movement technique embodying a shadow. Even if you leave a single trace in a hundred steps, it's considered a failed technique. However, you have only succeeded in a single step. So do not get ahead of yourself."

She gave a stern warning.

The slight twitch at the corner of her lips, however, betrayed her considerable satisfaction.

'Even with her expressionless face, I could read her now.'

"Yes, I will keep that in mind."

I grinned and bowed my head.

"Still, hmm. A success is a success, so I shall give you a gift."

"A gift?"

"Yes, though calling it a gift is perhaps not entirely accurate…"

Baek Seol-hee subtly turned her head, letting her words trail off.

Her face remained expressionless, but when the instructor adopted this posture, it meant she was feeling somewhat embarrassed.

'What is it?'

*Whirr—*

Baek Seol-hee took out a blue pill from her spatial storage tattoo and offered it to me.

'…This is!?'

My eyes widened as I confirmed what she had offered.

'A Mana Boosting Pill!!?'

A gacha item just popped up out of nowhere again?

What's more, it wasn't just a common resource; it was an SSS-rank rare resource that appeared with abysmal drop rates.

I stared at Baek Seol-hee with a bewildered expression.

"No, I'm really grateful if you're giving me something like this, but why suddenly…"

"Is it not soon time for the midterm evaluation?"

Ah. The midterm evaluation.

My eyes darkened at the mention of it.

'True, I'd been taking it easy for a while.'

Originally, the early-game story immediately after the tutorial revolved around Ryu Jin-ju's clash with the Hunter Management Bureau.

It was a plot where the corrupt director was ousted, Ryu Jin-ju took his place, picked fights with Velvet Academy, and various incidents followed.

However, thanks to Instructor Baek Seol-hee and the swift actions of the Fiend Extermination Squad seniors, the replacement of the bureau director was averted.

The Hunter Management Bureau was currently focusing on strengthening its internal affairs rather than external matters.

That was why the entire early story arc had been skipped!

And that time had been fully dedicated to training.

'The midterm evaluation is right after the Hunter Management Bureau story.'

Certainly, having this Mana Boosting Pill would be a significant help in the midterm evaluation.

'Still, this Mana Boosting Pill… isn't it too much…?'

It was a rare resource with abysmal drop rates in gacha, so what would it be like in this world without gacha?

I didn't know for sure, but it was probably an elixir that even Baek Seol-hee herself had never consumed.

To just hand over something so precious without taking it herself?

Well, from my perspective, I just had to swallow it and keep my mouth shut.

Perhaps my thoughts were evident on my face, as Baek Seol-hee spoke in a calm voice.

"This was originally yours. I obtained it from Kim Ji-won as payment for the debt you incurred."

Ah. Director of the Hunter Management Bureau, you mean?

'I'd completely forgotten about that.'

Honestly, while I had personally incurred a debt from him back then, I hadn't really expected to gain anything from it.

'He's not even a character who appears in the game, so how would I know?'

Still, he was the Director of the Hunter Management Bureau, so I had incurred the debt hoping he might be of some help later.

As expected, the instructor had everything planned out, didn't she?

"I called it a gift, but on second thought, I wonder if it truly is. I apologize, I used your rights as I pleased. Since I arbitrarily used a right you had planned to save for later…"

"Oh, no! Not at all! If I can receive something this valuable, I absolutely should!"

I hastily waved my hands.

'No, what is this master talking about!'

If I could obtain a Mana Boosting Pill with that personal debt, it was a massively profitable deal. No, it was more like she'd completely overturned the market.

I didn't even know she had this pill, but if I had gone and asked for it, would Kim Ji-won have readily given it up?

I was absolutely certain he wouldn't.

It was precisely because it was Instructor Baek Seol-hee that he readily handed it over.

Even Director Rina watches the instructor's every move, so how could the Hunter Management Bureau Director possibly refuse?

Before the Butcheress's blade, all were equal.

'Director Kim Ji-won must be crying tears of blood right now.'

I thought of Kim Ji-won, who had been stripped of this valuable resource, and offered my sincerest apologies internally. Still, I wouldn't give it back.

At the same time, my eyes sparkled with renewed respect for Baek Seol-hee.

"Hmm, I'm glad you say so."

Baek Seol-hee, seemingly embarrassed, subtly averted her gaze and offered me the blue pill.

"Sit in a lotus position and consume the elixir."

"Yes!"

I sat cross-legged and put the blue pill she handed me into my mouth.

The pill melted away on my tongue the moment it touched it.

A clear, refreshing sensation filled my mouth.

* * *

Behind the Story.

The day before,

Velvet Hunter Academy Director's Office.

"…So, there's a midterm evaluation coming up, and you're worried about Jin Yu-ha. And that's why you came to see me?"

*Nod.*

Baek Seol-hee nodded with a calm face.

Director Rina opened her mouth, looking as if she didn't know what to do with this doting disciple-lover.

'He's worried about that kid and wants to give him something…?'

It was utterly preposterous.

What kind of person was Jin Yu-ha?

He was a first-year student who entered through the male quota system, yet he was a troublemaker who brought all sorts of chaos wherever he went.

He suddenly appeared, won the entrance sparring match, then incorporated Shin Se-hee and Kang Do-hee, two students of particular concern, into his party. Then he dealt with a mutated fiend in the academy, and even defeated an instructor!

Even his impudent gaze, constantly searching for something to exploit whenever they met, was still vivid in Director Rina's mind.

The scene of Baek Seol-hee and Jin Yu-ha exchanging sword blows, both radiating chilling killing intent.

'That monster.'

Director Rina, praised as the 'Magic Empress' and second to none in talent, rarely gave such an evaluation to a student.

'But who is she worried about?'

Watching Baek Seol-hee coddle that monster as if he were a delicate, weak child made her feel like her insides were twisting.

She should be worrying about the other students taking the test with him!

Rina pressed her brow.

"…Seol-hee, I know you care for that child, but this is overstepping your bounds."

"Overstepping?"

Baek Seol-hee tilted her head, as if she didn't understand.

"Yes, you're trying to give special treatment to one student in the midterm evaluation! Furthermore, if I, the Director of the Academy, provide it, how will the world view it?!"

"I believe it's Velvet Academy's core principle to support and promote individuals with outstanding potential. On the contrary, the world will praise us for producing an exceptional student."

*Tremble, tremble—*

Rina bit her lip.

If only she weren't so good with words!

It twisted her guts to see this woman, who had always maintained a lofty demeanor as if she had no interest in disciples, spouting such uncharacteristic words.

"No! And that kid will manage to eat well and live comfortably no matter what harsh environment he's thrown into, so don't worry about him!"

At Director Rina's vehement refusal, Baek Seol-hee frowned.

'If the Director says no…'

The next place she visited was the Hunter Management Bureau.

"What? What kind of absurd thing are you talking about? Demanding an elixir?"

Kim Ji-won, the Director of the Hunter Management Bureau, was busy working when the sudden uninvited guest, no, Baek Seol-hee, appeared, and he made the exact same expression as Director Rina.

"The Director owes Jin Yu-ha a personal debt."

"…Uh, yes, that's true."

"But he didn't demand anything at the time, considering the circumstances."

Even though Jin Yu-ha had incurred a personal debt from Kim Ji-won then, he hadn't specifically demanded anything.

Baek Seol-hee thought he had been considerate of Kim Ji-won, who was busy trying to sort out the chaotic Hunter Management Bureau.

It was natural, given that her disciple was always so respectful and seemed to live only taking losses, but…

She didn't like it.

"My disciple was considerate of you. He must have intended to wait until you had somewhat organized and settled the Hunter Management Bureau. However, even now that things are somewhat settled, you haven't contacted him once."

Baek Seol-hee spoke with a chilling voice.

Yes, all these selfish hunters were like this.

Kim Ji-won replied in a meek voice, directly stung by her words.

"…W-would an elixir suffice?"

"Yes, an elixir that boosts mana. An S-rank."

"Ma-Mana!? A-An S-rank?"

Kim Ji-won's mouth hung open in disbelief.

An S-rank Mana Elixir…!

Did she even know what kind of value that held?

No matter how much he owed Jin Yu-ha!!!

"I know you possess it."

As the leader of the Fiend Extermination Squad, Baek Seol-hee had connections spanning a considerably wide area.

Among them was information about an elixir Kim Ji-won had acquired long ago.

"So it would be best if you quietly hand it over. If you intend to renege on your word after receiving my disciple's goodwill…"

*Shing—*

Baek Seol-hee glared at Kim Ji-won and drew her sword.

Kim Ji-won's face turned ashen.