[Translator - Helga ]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
Chapter 14
"Dragon Affinity, huh."
The next day, I found myself rereading the message over and over. It wasn't because the message was long or difficult to understand.
It was because the ability I'd gained as a reward was so extraordinary.
"I had a hunch there might be a hidden quest, but I never thought this would be the reward."
Hidden quests in this game, unlike regular quests, don't provide players with explicit instructions. That's why most players miss them entirely.
"Which is why the rewards for completing them are usually better."
When Arche first asked me not to tell anyone about the book theft, I had a vague feeling there was a hidden quest involved. I didn't know what the reward would be, but I was satisfied as long as Arche didn't join the rebellion because of it.
But Arche's hidden quest gave me more than I could have imagined.
[Dragon Affinity 1: Dragons are extremely arrogant and disdain to speak with inferior species. Because of this, dragons have created their own language to look down on all other races. Dragon Affinity will allow you to communicate with them on a basic level.]
It was literally an ability to empathize with dragons.
In this game, every villain and human, in addition to their traits, has their own unique abilities.
While traits determine the characteristics of a character's spells, abilities are like passive skills that automatically activate in specific situations for each character.
In my case, [Night Clan], which gives me a stat boost after dark, is a typical ability for a bloodsucker...
"Night Clan is a pretty rare ability too, but it's nothing compared to Dragon Affinity."
It's hard to find a creature as powerful as a dragon in this game.
Gianluca became one of the rebellion's most powerful forces because she reached a level of mastery over dragons, thanks to her extremely rare Dragon Affinity.
This was an ultra-rare ability that I, despite having acquired countless abilities over the past 137 playthroughs, had never been able to obtain.
"I've stumbled upon an unexpected treasure."
At this rate, I should be thanking Seo Su-kyung. Thanks to avoiding the trap set by that audacious woman during the thief quest, I've earned this incredible reward...
"Well then, I should return the favor to that guy... Caesar."
As I called out his name, the laptop screen turned on, and a familiar voice replied.
- Awaiting Professor Do Jin-hak's instructions.
Caesar, the AI assistant of Professor D, was very useful. Especially while studying the Deconstructionist Department in the lab, Caesar's artificial intelligence was of great help to me.
I had figured out how to bring Caesar here, even when I was away from the lab, by installing an application on my laptop and phone.
"Play Professor Do Jin-hak's Deconstructionist Department Basics 1."
- Playing Professor Do Jin-hak's Deconstructionist Department Basics 1.
A hologram of Professor D projected from my laptop, his voice filling the room. And then, in that tone of his that always seemed to suggest he thought everyone was beneath him, he began to speak.
"I don't expect much from you lot, but I figured I'd prepared a lecture that even you could understand. Don't worry, I've made it simple enough that anyone with a brain should be able to grasp it."
Despite those words, the lecture he'd created for the hologram was still incredibly difficult.
Even for someone who had inherited a bit of his essence, like me, it wasn't easy to understand. I couldn't fathom what he was thinking when he decided to make something this complex for beginners...
"...It's better than the first time I heard it, though."
While the content was still challenging, it was easier to follow than when I'd only studied the books and listened to the lectures in the lab. Since leveling up my trait recently, I'd gained a deeper understanding of Do Jin-hak's essence, which was proving to be quite helpful.
The fundamentals of the Deconstructionist Department.
The purpose of deconstruction.
The difference in perspective between the micro and macro worlds...
Before coming to this academy, I'd watched these lectures over and over, but I couldn't tell if they were in human language or alien. Now, little by little, the content was starting to sink in.
As I gradually understood the lecture, I found myself becoming deeply focused without even realizing it.
And then, an alarm went off in my head.
Ding-!
[You have begun to understand "Deconstructionist Department Basics 1."]
[Having understood a level "Intermediate" lecture, you sense a change in your intelligence.]
[Intelligence score has increased.]
[Due to the increased intelligence score, your understanding of the Deconstructionist Department has deepened.]
“Last week, I saw Chairman Okamoto at the corporate dinner. He was all smiles and brought up your ranking. He even pretended to be kind and recommended a specialist, saying that you might have a health problem.”
Seo Tae-hee recounted this, her voice calm, but her fists trembled involuntarily, as if she wanted to smash the wine glass she was holding.
Seo Su-kyung watched her mother silently, her lips pressed together.
“I don't care about anything else, but don't lose to Okamoto. Don't let that old fox look down on our family. If you can do that, the family won't be able to ignore you. Even if you can't aim for the position of heir..."
"...What kind of nonsense is that?"
Seo Su-kyung interrupted her mother sharply at that point.
The position of heir to the International Group. It was an extremely sensitive topic, an Achilles' heel for Seo Su-kyung.
She knew it. No matter how hard she tried, she had little chance of becoming the heir to the International Group.
Seo Su-kyung had a flaw that was known only to a select few in her family, a flaw that set her apart from the other contenders.
A fatal flaw that could not be overcome by effort or talent.
That's why Seo Su-kyung had to prove it.
That she was the heir, no matter what flaws she had. That she was the heir they were all looking for.
"Just beat Okamoto? I have to bring everyone above him to his knees too. That's the only way I can say I'm Seo Tae-hee's daughter. In this great Seo family."
Seo Tae-hee stared at her daughter in surprise. A chilling coldness radiated from Seo Su-kyung's eyes.
"Until then, just focus on supporting me, Mom. Spend money, use people, whatever it takes. Just like you've always done."
Having said that, Seo Su-kyung began to read the pages rapidly.
Seo Tae-hee could only watch, unable to say anything.
Vroom-
Just then, a sedan slowly pulled into the front gate.
Seo Su-kyung glanced at the car and her expression suddenly changed.
"...Anyway, you guys go on ahead. I'm busy now."
Saying so, she left her classmates behind and quickly disappeared.
"Tch... She always acts so high and mighty."
Nam Kang-ik watched Seo Su-kyung's retreating figure with a mix of envy and disapproval before heading to a bar with his classmates.
* * *
Once outside the campus, Seo Su-kyung walked along the road until the surroundings were quiet.
Vroom-
A sedan that had been following Seo Su-kyung from a distance was the only thing around.
After confirming that there was no one else nearby, Seo Su-kyung quickly walked towards the sedan.
Click-
The backseat door slid open as Seo Su-kyung approached.
As soon as she got into the car, it started to move. She didn't know where they were going, but Seo Su-kyung wasn't surprised at all.
Instead, she frowned at the woman sitting in the back seat.
"I told you not to come to the academy. I don't want people gossiping."
The woman Seo Su-kyung was annoyed with was well over 40, but her posture was straight from head to toe.
She replied to Seo Su-kyung's cold words with an even colder tone.
"Is that all you have to say to your mother after all this time?"
Seo Tae-hee, Seo Su-kyung's mother and the owner of the International Group, glared at her daughter with an imposing gaze.
The two of them stared at each other for a long time, their silent battle finally ending when Seo Su-kyung meekly leaned into her mother's arms.
Seo Tae-hee patted her daughter's back and said, "I saw you earlier, and it seemed like you were enjoying academy life. I thought you were the queen surrounded by her worker bees."
"They're just classmates. Are you here to nag me?"
"Am I that free? Of course, my daughter should have that kind of influence."
Seo Tae-hee pushed Seo Su-kyung away and took a document out of her bag.
Seo Su-kyung raised an eyebrow as she took the document and read the title.
- Core Theory Analysis of Deconstructionist Department Basics 1, 2, and 3.
"I heard you're taking a minor in the Deconstructionist Department this semester. I heard that the new professor is a very eccentric person and that not many students are learning properly from him."
Seo Tae-hee explained calmly, saying that she had managed to find this material with great difficulty.
"I've never told you that you have to be the best or that you have to reach the pinnacle. You've always done well without me saying those trite things."
Although her tone was calm, Seo Su-kyung could tell that there was a hint of bitterness in her elegant voice.
"It's okay that you're only ranked 5th in your class. I can understand that. But-"
Seo Tae-hee's eyes suddenly changed, becoming fierce.
"I can't just let the fact that the Okamoto family's child is above you slide. Not even for a moment."
The moment the name Okamoto was mentioned, the atmosphere in the car changed drastically. Seo Su-kyung closed her eyes tightly, knowing that this was inevitable.
"Our Seo family has been revered as the first founding hero since the Goryeo Dynasty. During the Joseon Dynasty, we led our soldiers in all the Japanese invasions, and during the Japanese colonial period, we helped Kim Gu achieve independence."
This again.
Seo Su-kyung was tired of hearing this. She had heard this family history countless times.
The centuries-old feud between the two families seemed like a fairy tale to Seo Su-kyung, who was born in the 2010s.
'How much longer do I have to listen to this?'
She hated being tied down to this outdated history. But what she hated even more was that she couldn't simply ignore it.
No matter how hard she tried to act nonchalant, she couldn't deny it. This boiling rage deep within her was the very force that had sustained the Seo family for generations.
“Last week, I saw Chairman Okamoto at the corporate dinner. He was all smiles and brought up your ranking. He even pretended to be kind and recommended a specialist, saying that you might have a health problem.”
Seo Tae-hee recounted this, her voice calm, but her fists trembled involuntarily, as if she wanted to smash the wine glass she was holding.
Seo Su-kyung watched her mother silently, her lips pressed together.
“I don't care about anything else, but don't lose to Okamoto. Don't let that old fox look down on our family. If you can do that, the family won't be able to ignore you. Even if you can't aim for the position of heir..."
"...What kind of nonsense is that?"
Seo Su-kyung interrupted her mother sharply at that point.
The position of heir to the International Group. It was an extremely sensitive topic, an Achilles' heel for Seo Su-kyung.
She knew it. No matter how hard she tried, she had little chance of becoming the heir to the International Group.
Seo Su-kyung had a flaw that was known only to a select few in her family, a flaw that set her apart from the other contenders.
A fatal flaw that could not be overcome by effort or talent.
That's why Seo Su-kyung had to prove it.
That she was the heir, no matter what flaws she had. That she was the heir they were all looking for.
"Just beat Okamoto? I have to bring everyone above him to his knees too. That's the only way I can say I'm Seo Tae-hee's daughter. In this great Seo family."
Seo Tae-hee stared at her daughter in surprise. A chilling coldness radiated from Seo Su-kyung's eyes.
"Until then, just focus on supporting me, Mom. Spend money, use people, whatever it takes. Just like you've always done."
Having said that, Seo Su-kyung began to read the pages rapidly.
Seo Tae-hee could only watch, unable to say anything.
Seo Su-kyung's intense focus as she devoured the theoretical texts left her mother breathless.
[Translator - Helga ]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]