[Earth Gogok (A+)]
▷ Small growth bonus to the lowest-ranked trait
▷ …….
▷ …….
A gogok is a totem-type item, and its effects apply simply by keeping it in your inventory.
At the moment, my lowest-ranked trait was the C-rank [Move Command].
Most of my other traits were already A-rank or higher, so it would continue providing a growth bonus until they were brought up to a similar level.
And if I gain a new trait, I can raise that one the same way.
That alone made it more than worthwhile to send Go Hyeon-woo off with the strategy guide and ask the Fist King and Sword Queen for help.
But the gogok’s true value was still far from being revealed.
Because it’s a set item.
[Earth Gogok (A+)]
▷ Small growth bonus to the lowest-ranked trait
▷ Heaven-Earth Set [1/2]: ??
▷ Heaven-Earth Set [1/2]: ??
▷ Heaven-Earth-Human Set [1/3]: ???
▷ Heaven-Earth-Human Set [1/3]: ???
▷ Heaven-Earth-Human Set [1/3]: ???
If I obtained the [Heaven Gogok] and completed the Heaven-Earthset, two additional effects would be unlocked.
And if I collected Heaven, Earth, and Human and completed the Heaven-Earth-Human set, three more effects would be added.
Its overall performance exceeds even S-rank items.
That made gathering three A+-rank items more than worthwhile.
And one of them, naturally, could be obtained in—
The underground floors.
The deep levels. An A-rank dungeon.
Back in first year, both I and my companions lacked the necessary specs, so we put it off. But this year, we were more than capable of taking on the challenge.
So I added “Complete Heaven-Earth-Human” to my list of future objectives.
The next topic of conversation was the [Invitation].
When I explained that it could arrange sparring matches with powerful individuals, Go Hyeon-woo, being a martial artist to the core, showed tremendous interest.
“Is such a thing truly possible?”
“She’s already received one.”
As I answered, I pointed to the side, and Hong Yeon-hwa excitedly began recounting her experience.
The place she visited after receiving the invitation; the many powerful people there; the Ruby Magic Tower Master of the previous generation Hong Hyeon-ah who had come out to greet her personally; and her duel with her…
“…And then she showed me how fire magic should really be used. It was on an entirely different level.”
“Hoh.”
“Afterward, I also did the [Harship] quest. I cleared it and learned a new spell.”
“So such things are possible.”
Go Hyeon-woo could not hide his admiration.
Soon, he looked at me with eyes full of anticipation.
“Could I also receive one of these invitations?”
“Of course. That’s why I brought it up.”
“I would be most grateful if you could arrange it.”
“Once the cooldown is over, and after I use it for Seo Ye-in, you’re next.”
While chaining [Octopus Limbs] to Father-in-Law and Mother-in-Law No. 3, the 10 days ×4 multiplier was in effect.
When I cast [Time Share], [Deja Vu] luckily triggered, but even after shaving off that much time, I still had about two more weeks to wait.
And the reason I was prioritizing Seo Ye-in over Go Hyeon-woo wasn’t anything complicated.
▷ Cooldown when used on a bonded target: 7 days
“There’s a 30% discount applied.”
“That makes me want to form a bond immediately. It is only unfortunate that the circumstances do not permit it.”
“There’s nothing we can do about it right now.”
I planned to form a bond with Go Hyeon-woo after he fulfilled his sect’s long-cherished wish.
He had not even attempted the Blood Wind Sword (not really) yet, so that was still a long way off.
Still, since he was next after Seo Ye-in, he would not have to wait all that long.
Meanwhile, Han So-mi had been listening to the conversation with great interest.
Though she was not as obsessed with martial arts as Go Hyeon-woo, she was still a proper martial artist herself, so naturally she was just as interested in sparring with powerful opponents.
Before long, she shot her hand into the air and spoke up.
“I want an invitation too!”
“Sorry, but that’ll be difficult.”
“Why?!”
“It’s a VIP benefit.”
After Go Hyeon-woo, it would be Dang Gyu-young’s or Hong Yeon-hwa’s turn again.
Since they were bonded, not only did they benefit from reduced cooldowns, but they also ranked higher in terms of development priority.
For the time being, I would have to focus [Time Share] entirely on the Harship quests, which meant the invitation’s cooldown would remain at seven or ten days.
It would already be a tight schedule just rotating it among the original four members of the group.
And if I had to squeeze someone else in, like I had with Elder Moyong or Father-in-Law and Mother-in-Law No. 3, it would become even tighter.
Han So-mi tilted her head.
“Go Hyeon-woo is a VIP too?”
“He’s on the VIP waiting list.”
“Then I want to get on the list too!”
“Do you even know what that means?”
“Nope! I still want it!”
Just like with going down to the underground floor, it seemed she had simply decided to follow Go Hyeon-woo no matter what it was.
As Han So-mi continued chanting, “VIP! VIP!”, I sensed several people approaching from outside the room.
A moment later, Song Cheon-hye appeared.
She seemed to be in the middle of her patrol and was accompanied by several other members of the Student Guidance Committee.
In a gentle tone, she admonished her.
“So-mi, people can hear you in the next room, so—”
“Hi, Cheon-hye!”
“—let’s keep it down.”
“Hi, Geum Jo-han! Hi, Seul-bi!”
But Han So-mi merely waved both hands enthusiastically, beaming from ear to ear.
Geum Jo-han and Lee Seul-bi returned the greeting with expressions that said she was impossible to handle, while Jo Byeok, standing behind them, exchanged a brief nod with me.
Soon, Song Cheon-hye noticed me as well, and her face immediately brightened.
However, the moment she realized Hong Yeon-hwa was standing beside me, she quickly composed herself.
“…It’s been a while.”
“It has.”
“Why haven’t you contacted me?”
“Was something wrong?”
“No, but it doesn’t have to be. There doesn’t need to be a reason, does there?”
“I figured you were doing fine.”
When I answered indifferently, Song Cheon-hye shot me a sulky look.
Apparently, she had hoped I would reach out first, but what could I do? Winter break had already ended.
After letting out a small sigh, she changed the subject.
“What were you talking about just now? VIP?”
“Yeah. She keeps saying she wants in.”
“So-mi? Into what?”
“It’s still too early for you….”
I meant it was too early for her to become No. 4, but Song Cheon-hye seemed to interpret it differently.
The twitch in her brow made that obvious.
“I’ve improved a lot, you know?”
“Have you?”
“Try facing me in a duel sometime. You won’t be able to make fun of me anymore.”
“Did I ever make fun of you?”
“You did.”
“What did I say?”
“……”
When I deliberately played dumb, Song Cheon-hye flared up and opened her mouth, only to shut it again.
It seemed her pride would not allow her to repeat it out loud.
At the same time, letting the matter drop felt like admitting defeat, leaving her looking visibly frustrated.
Just then, Geum Jo-han cut in and brought the conversation to an end.
“You can continue this later. We should get going.”
“…Fine.”
They were in the middle of patrol duty, so they could not afford to spend too much time chatting.
With that, Song Cheon-hye led the Disciplinary Committee members out of the room.
Though not before leaving me with one final remark.
“Just wait! Later! Definitely!”
***
As I spent time chatting with my companions about this and that, and sharing snacks we had bought from the vending machines, the view outside the train window gradually turned completely blue.
Which meant the train was crossing a huge lake.
In the distance, the outline of Dungeon Island could be seen faintly on the horizon.
Go Hyeon-woo and Hong Yeon-hwa each made a comment.
“It seems we are almost there.”
“Let’s start getting ready.”
After tidying up our seats and doing some light stretching while we waited, the train gradually slowed before finally coming to a stop.
When we stepped outside, the scene looked much the same as it had during our first year.
A chaotic sea of countless students packed together.
Song Cheon-hye and the other Student Guidance Committee members were waving batons and shouting directions.
“Freshmen this way!”
“Second- and third-years, take the path on the left!”
“Freshmen! Don’t follow the upperclassmen! This way!”
Before long, the crowd began moving slowly in a single direction, and we followed along.
As we walked, a familiar head of gray hair caught my eye in the distance.
Seo Ye-in.
It looked like she had arrived on the same train.
She appeared extremely disheveled, as if she had been asleep the entire trip and had only just woken up.
She drifted along helplessly with the flow of the crowd, then turned her head as though she had sensed my gaze.
“……!”
Seo Ye-in waved at me gently.
Then she tried to make her way over, but it clearly wasn’t easy.
She kept getting bounced this way and that like a ping-pong ball.
Eventually, realizing it was hopeless, she mouthed a few words.
“…Help.”
Even as she did, another student bumped into her while passing by.
In response, the Immortal Kim Ho Kim Ho Pot she was carrying slowly began to rise.
If I left her alone like this, there might soon be an indiscriminate pot-throwing incident.
So, before things escalated, I spoke to my companions.
“I should go get her.”
“So Miss Seo was here.”
“I’m heading over first. Catch up with me.”
Crossing through a crowd this dense would have been a tremendous hassle even for us, but I had no need for that.
Because I’ve got Blink Kim Ho.
As I focused and cast the spell, my vision shifted in an instant.
The next moment, I had arrived at my destination.
Seo Ye-in immediately walked over and stared up at me.
“I missed you…”
“It hasn’t been that long.”
“It felt long…”
As if determined not to lose me again, she grabbed hold of my sleeve.
Meanwhile, the rest of the group appeared to have chosen the more conventional option of walking over.
Unlike the sword-wielders who had to get around on foot, Hong Yeon-hwa was a noble who knew how to use Blink, yet she was nobly making her way over with the rest of the group.
She was even taking the lead and clearing a path.
Several times, she nearly collided with other students along the way, but each time she avoided them by the narrowest of margins.
All the while, her eyes flashed with obvious irritation.
The freshmen who happened to meet her gaze immediately apologized.
“…I’m sorry.”
“Coming through.”
“Yes, Senior.”
The freshmen quickly lowered their eyes and stepped aside.
As this atmosphere spread, students instinctively began avoiding Hong Yeon-hwa’s path.
Thanks to that, joining up ended up being easier than expected.
Smiling faintly, Go Hyeon-woo spoke first.
“Miss Seo, it has been a while.”
“Mhmm…”
Still seemingly half asleep, Seo Ye-in slowly nodded in response.
Hong Yeon-hwa greeted her as well, and Han So-mi cheerfully chimed in.
“Hello, hello!”
“……”
Seo Ye-in gave a small nod in return while quietly slipping behind me.
She seemed subtly uncomfortable around Han So-mi, probably because Han So-mi was basically a walking ball of energy.
A sloth and a whirlwind were natural opposites, after all.
“Let’s get moving for now.”
If we kept standing around, we would only get in the way of people passing by, and the constant bustle was distracting.
So I urged the group onward.
In the direction we were heading stood a massive building resembling a gymnasium.
The Grand Auditorium.
It was the place used for entrance ceremonies, graduation ceremonies, and all sorts of major and minor events.
When we entered, countless students were already seated in long rows of chairs.
The first-year seats were located toward the front of the first floor, close to the stage.
The second-year seats, on the other hand, were in the rear section or on the second floor.
“Since we’re here, let’s sit upstairs.”
The view was better from there, after all.
So we took a row of empty seats on the second floor and began looking around.
Before long, my gaze drifted toward the first-years.
Most of what I could see were the backs of people’s heads, but among them was one I recognized.
Dang Eun-bi.
She was chatting away animatedly to the person beside her, who, judging by the circumstances, was most likely Dang Gyu-young….or rather Dang Gyu-ri.
She definitely looks quite different.
It seemed the disguise item provided by the academy administration was doing its job well.
The fact that she had her hair tied up in a ponytail was probably helping too.
Meanwhile, Seo Ye-in was staring off in a different direction.
She kept tilting her head in confusion, so I asked,
“What is it? Did you see something?”
“……? I don’t know.”
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