The principal, having dealt with me a few times before, had a look that said, “Well, here it comes.”
“Conditions, huh? I’ll meet them as best I can. What is it?”
“As you know, we’ve been receiving sponsorships.”
“You want me to contribute at least as much as the students, is that it? No, actually, I should be giving even more.”
After all, he was the one asking to be the model for the statue.
For reference, the current top sponsor is the Swordsmanship Club.
Second place is the Blacksmithing Club.
Even if they’re technically competitors as production-focused groups, there’s no harm in collaborating now and then. So I decided to reach out first.
Surprisingly, third place was the Martial Arts Club.
If the principal really intended to stand by his words, he’d have to contribute more than Kim Gap-doo at the very least.
While I was at it, I decided to be a bit more specific with my request.
“If possible, we’d prefer high-rank materials. Rare metals or gemstones would be great. Something shiny.”
“…Sure, I’m sure I’ve got something lying around.”
If he’s an S-rank Hero, there’s bound to be a stash of materials hidden in his inventory.
Some of it could probably be sourced from the Dragon Slayer Academy’s vault too.
The principal readily agreed, while the Sculptor Club president gave me a strange look.
I had a good idea what that look meant:
Those aren’t even going into this project, are they?
Of course, those materials have a different destination.
Namely, Kim Ho’s back pocket.
They’ll be used for various future statue projects.
The Sculptor Club president seemed a bit dissatisfied, as she was the one doing the work while I was collecting the support, but she soon realized it wasn’t such a bad deal.
Using rare materials would help her ranking shoot up quickly, after all.
The principal and vice principal didn’t say much either, seemingly trusting us to handle things properly.
“Is that all for the conditions?”
“There’s one more.”
“Sure, one more’s fine.”
“This one might be a bit difficult.”
“What is it?”
Under the principal’s pressing gaze, I motioned toward the Sculptor Club president with my eyes.
“When it goes into production, I’d like you to infuse the statue with True Qi.”
“…True Qi?”
“Yes. Just a small amount will do.”
“……”
As expected, the principal looked a bit hesitant.
Unlike magical power or internal energy, True Qi is not easily replenished. Even using just a tiny bit results in significant loss.
“I get why you’re asking.”
“I just want to do it properly, since we’re doing it at all.”
The statue would be modeled after a former S-rank Hero. If his True Qi were added, its effects would be greatly amplified.
There’s even a good chance it might gain an additional option.
“And if it’s infused with your True Qi, the statue will turn out to resemble you even more. Not that it won’t already look great….. the model itself is outstanding, after all.”
“…Ahem! Flattery won’t get you anything, kid!”
The principal waved his hand dismissively, but the corners of his mouth had already curled up into a pleased grin.
He had completely fallen for my shameless sweet talk.
Regardless of how pathetic the vice principal found the situation, the principal kept grinning proudly and eventually came to a decision.
“Fine! I’ll sacrifice this old body for the good of the school. But you’d better make it well!”
“I’ll do my best.”
“Now then, let’s figure out the pose!”
The principal gripped his sword again and began striking various dramatic poses.
Unable to bear the sight any longer, the vice principal turned her head away.
***
What followed progressed with lightning speed.
It was only a few days after meeting with the principal when a large space was cleared in the training center.
And now, we stood there, looking up at a huge metal pillar.
It was formed by combining the ingots we received through sponsorship in specific proportions, giving off a mysterious golden sheen.
“……”
Surrounded by the gazes of the principal, vice principal, other faculty, and countless gathered students, the Sculptor Club president slowly approached the metal pillar.
Then, she took out [Hero’s Valiant Spirit (A+)] from her inventory.
Fwaaaaash—
A radiant ball of light soaked into the pillar.
Next, the principal stepped forward, placing one hand on the metal.
A golden light flared from his entire body before quickly fading.
That signaled the completion of the True Qi infusion, prompting the Sculptor Club president to speak.
“I’ll begin.”
Then she climbed to the top of the pillar using the rope that had been set up in advance.
From the variety of tools hanging at her waist, she pulled out a hammer and chisel and began carving away, little by little.
Clang, clang, clang.
With each steady sound, the metal pillar gradually started to take shape.
However, it was so large that it seemed it would take quite a while before the finished result could be seen.
At first, the gathered crowd watched with interest, but eventually they began to grow bored and drifted away, until only the Sculptor Club president and I remained.
Clang, clang, clang.
I kept watching her work until my neck started to ache from looking up.
“Well, I guess my part ends here. I’ll be heading out. Let me know when you need me.”
“Hey, wait a moment.”
As I turned to leave, the Sculptor Club president called out to stop me. After a brief pause, she spoke.
“Thanks… for giving me this opportunity.”
“We’re helping each other out. I’ll be counting on you from now on too.”
“Same here. By the way… what’s your name?”
“You’re asking now?”
“You didn’t ask mine either. We’re even.”
“Fair enough. I’m Kim Ho.”
“I’m Kang Byeol.”
After exchanging names, Kang Byeol immediately returned to her work.
Once again, the rhythmic sound of her hammer echoed through the space.
Clang, clang, clang.
I took one last look at her and started walking away.
Looks like I’ve got myself a sculpting slave now.
Securing materials for trades was only a matter of time.
First up was completing the statue of the principal (full set), and that alone would take at least a week.
But once it was done, it would be my turn.
If I timed it right, I’d have it ready by the next strategy battle week.
Guess I’ll just wait and see.
I pulled up the side quest window that I had set aside for the past few days.
[Side Quest: 13th Week Duel Battle] (Completed)
▷ Defender role fixed; rank bonus and shield disabled
▷ Traits disabled: Retro-Recovery, Pain Delay
▷ Objective 1: Win with over 90% health remaining (2/2 times)
▷ Objective 2: Defeat enemies (4/2 targets)
[Please select your reward.]
▷ Safe Reward
▷ Jackpot or Bust
Normally, I wouldn’t have hesitated for even a second to pick the first option.
Because I know my own luck.
Trying to gamble without Lucky Charm(s help would only lead to ruin….like that teahouse owner.
Besides, the rewards had been upgraded through the Challenge Book, so even the safe option should be decent.
Then why had I kept putting it off?
It just… didn’t feel right.
For some reason, I didn’t feel like choosing anything at all.
I wasn’t in a rush, and I’d also been busy the past few days helping out with the Sculptor Club.
But I couldn’t put it off forever.
I stared at the quest window.
For some reason, I feel like today’s the day.
Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to test my luck just once.
Looks like I’ve been influenced by Seo Ye-in, or maybe Shin Byeong-cheol.
What if it turns out to be a bust?
I’ll need to blow off steam.
I’ll call Song Cheon-hye out and have an intense whack-a-mole training session with her.
Even after my reason tried a few more times to stop me, I shook it off and picked “Jackpot or Bust”.
“……”
Even after the quest window disappeared, I kept staring into empty space for a while.
Then, poof…
A rolled-up scroll appeared in the air.
Followed by a system message.
[You have acquired ‘Magic Scroll – Time Leap (S)’.]
Jackpot.
Even with the Challenge Book enhancement, getting an S-rank reward from a first-year weekly quest was extremely rare.
And as the name made clear, it was a time-type skill.
It was also one of the effects on the endgame item, the [Golden Pocket Watch]. Its effect?
Cooldown reset.
The moment it’s used, all skill and trait cooldowns are reset to zero.
Doesn’t matter if the cooldown is a week, a hundred days, or a year….
Spam all your cooldown-type skills, rip the scroll, and you can use them again like nothing happened.
I could use it myself, or it might be better to give it to Seo Ye-in.
If my guess is right, it should even reset the cooldown of ultimate skills.
Whoever ends up using it will depend on the situation.
Either way, I’ve got myself a powerful trump card.
I carefully stored the scroll in my inventory.
Then I repeated something Lucky Charm always said, like a catchphrase.
“Very lucky.”
She’s probably off training her mana ejection alone right now. Maybe I’ll let her use me as a pillow tonight.
I was thinking that as I walked when I suddenly felt someone watching me and turned my head.
Someone quickly ducked out of sight.
Of course, there weren’t many people that bad at tailing someone.
I spoke into the air in a textbook-reading tone.
“Felt like someone was there… or is it just my imagination?”
Then, pretending to be puzzled, I tilted my head and kept walking…before suddenly spinning around and activating Blink.
The scenery flipped in an instant, and there she was…. Song Cheon-hye was startled out of her wits.
“Eek!”
“What exactly are you doing here?”
“I-I was just surprised!”
“Then don’t do stuff that’s gonna get you caught. Especially when you’re terrible at hiding.”
To that, Song Cheon-hye replied while trying to play it off.
“I just… saw you while passing by and kinda followed you?”
“If you saw me, why not just say hi? Why sneak around?”
“Well, that’s…”
Once again, Song Cheon-hye avoided the question.
A faint hint of embarrassment crossed her face.
Seeing that, I had a rough idea of what was going on and nodded.
“You used Blink and hit the wall—”
“!!”
Song Cheon-hye hurriedly clamped a hand over my mouth.
She quickly looked around to make sure no one had heard, then looked back at me.
“…There’s no need to actually say it out loud. As long as you get it, that’s enough.”
“Looks like I lacked a bit of consideration.”
To sum it up:
Song Cheon-hye saw me while passing by and tried to come say hi but then remembered the time she crashed into a wall with Blink a few days ago.
It felt a little awkward to just walk away, so she hesitated and somehow ended up tailing me without meaning to.
There were a few clumsy parts in her story, but I decided to let it slide.
When I nodded in understanding, Song Cheon-hye gave me a curious look and asked,
“…Did something good happen?”
“How’d you know?”
“Just… felt like you were letting it go a bit too easily. You’d usually say a few more things.”
A keen observation, worthy of a devoted Kim Ho Replay fan.
“Yeah, something good did happen.”
“What is it?”
“Not telling.”
“Oh come on, why not?”
“Because I don’t feel like it.”
I said to the pouting Song Cheon-hye,
“Anyway, good timing. I was going to call you over.”
“For training?”
“Yeah.”
“Wait… Blink…?”
Her question carried a bit of hope, but I firmly shook my head.
“Still not yet. I told you before. You need to get used to moving your body first.”
“…Okay.”
“Alright then, let’s go.”
We picked an empty training room and continued our sparring.
I swung a toy hammer, thinking back to Senior Kang Byeol’s hammer drills.
Boing, boing, boing!
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