Kim Hajin stared at me for a second.
A second long enough to make my chest heave.
But then he looked away, fixed his eyes on Nayun… and turned away.
His back soon disappeared through the same tunnel he had used to get there.
''That freaking piece of...''
I remained hushed as the girl hissed insults in Kim Hajin's name.
The swearing show didn't last long, luckily.
"All cadets must cease raiding activities immediately. Leave the dungeon. I repeat: leave the dungeon. This is not a simulation."
The audio system in the dungeon seemed to still be working.
Its message said it all.
The simulation had gone wrong. Very wrong, indeed.
We were living proof of that, after all.
"So, should we go?"
"Apparently, that's the case."
Nayun walked toward the others, and I stood up from my seat.
Just like my memories of the manhwa, the dungeon raid practice was a disaster.
Security cameras malfunctioned shortly after the start, a real boss taking the place of a mana puppet, and a supervisory team that looked more like they were at a picnic than monitoring a training camp with superpowered teenagers.
"Hey! wait a second."
Nayun's voice reached me just before I crossed the door to the main hallway.
She walked toward me quickly, her bow already slung across her back, her brows furrowed in that way that made her look angry, even when she wasn't.
"Give me your contact information," she said directly.
I stopped.
Behind her, Sven pretended not to hear, but he was obviously paying attention.
"No."
"…Excuse me?"
"I'm not giving it."
I shrugged and turned away, following the others.
The girl stood there, looking like she'd been dumped.
But it wasn't like that at all.
I just… didn't know how that damn clock worked.
And wasn't in the mood to learn now.
________
My room at Cube was quite simple.
This was certainly due to my low ranking in the first-year cadet rankings.
Minimalist, clean, without much decoration beyond the necessary.
A well-made bed, a desk with a built-in holographic screen, and a bookshelf with half a dozen books I'd never read.
The only thing out of place were the posters.
Rachel in royal attire, half-turned to the side with her sword drawn.
Beside her were some heroes I didn't even know very well, but who must have been important to the original Liam.
Or maybe he just had strange taste.
[Very consistent with the user's tastes, really.]
"Oh, good night to you too, Luxxion."
I slumped into the swivel chair.
[Does the user realize they'll die of an ulcer before they're twenty-two if they keep making that face?]
"Fuck you," I said, resting my chin on my hand. "Apparently it's an unwritten rule that every time I end up in a new world, I'll have to nearly die against something ten times stronger than me, huh?"
[Not that it's hard to be stronger than a moron with a self-esteem crisis.]
"By your standards of insult, that almost sounded like a compliment."
[Not intended. Won't happen again.]
I let out a chuckle.
"Anyway, about Sven…" I began, staring at the ceiling. "He'll go insane soon. I think the Djinn transformation is just around the corner."
[Kim Hajin is most likely already in action.]
[Considering his track record, this isn't the kind of event he'd let slide.]
"Even so, maybe this is my cue," I commented. "I can intervene. Secure a few more narrative points, maybe."
[Indirect intervention?]
"Or direct. Whatever. As long as I gain something in the end."
The silence that followed was filled only by the soft hum of the room's ventilation system.
"But let me ask you," I continued, leaning forward. "If I take something that should be the protagonist's... does that break the plot?"
[Yes.]
"Like... a lot?"
[Enough to make the screenwriter weep blood.]
[However, as long as no one essential dies, and key events flow somehow, the story will adapt.]
[Presumably, this was the case with the last world.]
"Flexible, then."
[It's a process similar, and yet not similar, to the correction made so that you fit into these worlds without being considered a complete anomaly.]
[Malleable. To a point.]
"Ah, yes. I see."
I closed my eyes for a moment, and everything fell into place like pieces of a crooked puzzle.
My fingers drummed on the table.
"The Aether."
[Are you referring to the Aether from Minecraft?]
[I didn't think this would be your taste in mods for the game. Who knew you'd choose something good?]
"No, you shitty robot," I began. "I mean that item... The Aether. Hajin got it in the manhwa, remember?"
[Yes. I'm aware.]
[Don't tell me you intend to steal it.]
I shook my index finger in denial.
"So, technically it's not theft," I felt like a corrupt politician, explaining. "After all, I'm planning to get it before he does."
[Well... Good point. Unexpected, coming from you.]
[After all, you look like someone who would sell their soul for a glow-in-the-dark weapon.]
"If it glows, even better."
I got up and began taking off what was left of my uniform, getting everything ready for the next morning.
I had no time to waste.
Especially considering Hajin was going to the mountains either tomorrow or the day after.
"I need strength faster. This growing at a certain pace thing… it's not for me. Not here."
[What if I can't get it?]
"Even so, I win." I smiled. "Either I get the Ether, or I get some connection to Kim Hajin. That's worth its weight in gold too."
[You're a disgusting stalker.]
"Not a stalker," I corrected him. "A sicko with a plan. Say it right."
I threw myself onto the bed, feeling my muscles finally relax.
My head was still buzzing with ideas, but I surrendered to rest.
"That said, good night, Luxxion."
I closed my eyes.
And fell asleep with a smile on my lips.
____________
The next morning, I was already standing before the teleportation portal.
"Identity."
All this just to use the portal for free...
Another damn world where I was poor.
"Name?"
"Liam Han."
"ID number, please, and cadet rank."
Luxxion recited it to me, and I just repeated it.
"091489," I said. "Cadet rank 891."
"Destination?" he demanded.
"Mount Gari."
The officer scanned the card.
A beep confirmed clearance.
The light blue barrier shimmered in front of me, shimmering like a liquid curtain.
"Enjoy your time outside, cadet."
I took a step forward. And went through.
The light from the portal faded behind me, replaced by the soft sound of leaves rustling in the wind and the strong smell of wet earth.
Before me, Mount Gari stretched out like an ancient sanctuary, with tall trees and branches that looked like outstretched hands trying to block the sunlight.
Around me, dozens of figures wandered the forest with watchful eyes and strange tools in their hands—they were the famous Wild Ginseng hunters.
"Looks like the NPCs are out in force today," I grumbled, adjusting my backpack and ignoring the curious stares.
They seemed to think I was one of them.
[You called them NPCs. They're real humans.]
"Same thing, Luxxion. If they're not in my way, they don't exist."
[That's a pretty stupid thought on your part.]
I didn't want to admit it, but he was right.
"So, the weirdos are out in force today. Better now?"
He took a second to answer, as if considering.
The answer came quickly, cheeky:
[Much better.]
[The only problem is, the only weirdo here is you. The others are just working.]
"You piece of shit."
We'd already mapped this place out by looking online and researching.
I knew exactly where to go.
Just head down the side trail to the left, ignore the clearing with the spirit deer, and delve deeper into the forest.
The trail was steep and treacherous, full of moss and protruding roots.
And, of course, it was one of those roots that I tripped on.
"Shit."
I didn't fall, but I lost my balance enough to look like an idiot.
When I turned to see what had tripped me, my eyes lit up.
A wild ginseng.
A genuine ginseng, glistening faintly with particles around it.
As precious as it was rare.
Without hesitation, I tossed it into my inventory.
"This definitely shouldn't have been so easy."
[You just stumbled upon what men have spent years trying to find.]
"Really," I said. "Maybe I should play the lottery? I bet I'd be less miserable that way."
He didn't answer this time.
I was silent for a few seconds, just watching the path ahead.]
"But seriously, this is kind of weird. Like, creepily convenient."
[What are you talking about?]
"The fact that Kim Hajin is supposedly also going to find some ginseng," I began. "And just tripping over a root, too."
[I see.]
[Are you wondering if the story is adapting to you?]
"Something like that."
I took another step forward, this time more cautiously.
[That's theoretically impossible. Don't worry.]
"Really?"
[Yes. You're not pretty enough.]
I continued on my way.
The trail disappeared after a while, replaced by a cluster of vines leading up to a rocky wall.
The trees grew lower, the sunlight thinner. Moisture dripped down the rocks.
I began to climb.
''Okay... tall as hell.''
[You should consider the possibility that this part of the quest was intentionally made difficult.]
''Or maybe the author's just lazy. Hid the dungeon in a place no sane person would ever climb to.''
I hung between slime-covered rocks, slipped twice, and nearly died once.
Nothing new.
When I reached the top of the cliff, panting, I saw what I was looking for.
A dark opening, surrounded by blackened gray rocks.
Finally, I had arrived.
The Undead Dungeon -- my treasure pot.
"Bingo."