WebNovels

Chapter 5 - Chapter 5

The inventory looked like a tiny drawer.

 A simple system—place something into the square slot, and the item would be stored.

Even if I already knew that much, seeing it with my own eyes felt strangely new.

But there was something off….

'Wait, what the hell is that?'

One of the slots in my inventory didn't look normal.

It was just one square, but instead of holding a single item, it looked like a bookshelf packed tight with notebooks.

Weird. Way too familiar a sight.

'No way…?'

On a hunch, I hurriedly pulled one out.

Sure enough, it was a notebook.

And on the cover were the numbers: "72.3."

'Hold on. This… this can't be real, right?'

Of course, I recognized that number.

 After all, I was the one who wrote it there myself.

It meant March 2072—the month I filled that notebook.

Flip! Flip!

Flipping through the pages, I confirmed my suspicion.

These were the same notebooks I'd been compiling since middle school—my "Awakener Curriculum" notes.

A complete preparation guide I'd built year after year, recording Polygon's classes, tests, and systems, so that the moment my talent finally bloomed, I could immediately catch up.

'…Unreal.'

I'd never had a chance to use them before.

 But now?

This was basically a roadmap to the future.

In other words, it was nothing less than a complete walkthrough guide no one else in the world had.

"Wait… don't tell me they're all still here?"

Back when I was a student, I'd only written down school curricula and major events.

But once I became a reporter, I started recording even the smallest incidents and rumors.

All the precious scraps of information I gathered while being kicked around in the field…

Every bit of it was here, alive, inside my inventory.

Then, another message popped up before my eyes:

[Would you like to activate the search function?]

Search? There's even a search function?

'No way. Does that mean I can call up whatever material I want?'

On impulse, I tried it out.

"June 2081."

That was one month before the Balrog's Temple Dungeon appeared.

I had definitely written down everything up until then.

And then—

Swish.

One of the notebooks inside my inventory slid forward.

I snatched it up and quickly checked the contents.

"…Damn."

The exact events I'd recorded up until last week were still there.

If this one survived, that meant all the rest did too.

"…Jackpot."

Of course, there was no guarantee the future would unfold exactly the same.

But even having knowledge of what might happen was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for someone who had returned to the past.

'And on top of that, I've got a fortuitous encounter skill.'

These notebooks contained more than I could count—major incidents, hunters' awakening abilities, dungeon strategies.

Even the exact moments when certain hunters would awaken their talents.

If I combined all that knowledge with the mysterious skill I'd obtained….

"…I might actually become the greatest Hunter this time."

The ultimate goal I'd chased all my life.

A Hunter at the very top.

 The one the whole world looked up to.

'This time… I can do it.'

The thought made my heart pound.

 A rush of emotion welled up, and I bit down on my lip.

'All those years of effort… they weren't wasted after all.'

I'd studied endlessly, researched endlessly.

I'd analyzed which talents were most efficient in which scenarios.

 I'd done it all alone, tirelessly, without rest.

And now, I finally had the chance to show it to the world.

I'd been given the opportunity, and the ability, to do so.

As for the inventory, I already knew the basics, so I didn't waste time reviewing.

It wasn't all that complicated to begin with.

The three rules to keep in mind were:

1. There's a weight limit—you can't store everything.

2. The first time, you can only place up to three items inside.

3. Only items related to dungeons can be stored.

That much alone was enough to make the inventory practically mine.

'So… does that mean all these notebooks count as dungeon-related?'

I glanced at the row of notebooks inside.

Well, not like I planned to share them with anyone anyway.

 Better they stay in here—safe, hidden, untouchable.

After the video ended, Han Seung-hee said a few more words, but I shut it off.

I'd seen it dozens of times already, and right now she wasn't what mattered.

What mattered was figuring out the truth of this "fortuitous encounter" skill.

'There must be penalties, and probably hidden mechanics too.'

The only thing I knew for sure was this:

If I performed a certain action toward a certain person, I could steal their skill.

Though I still couldn't tell if that meant theft or copying.

'And I don't even know what that "stage" business means yet.'

When the ability first activated on Yong Sang-jae, I'd clearly seen the words "Stage 1."

If there's a Stage 1, then there must also be a Stage 2.

Meaning even after stealing skills, there's more to unlock.

And since the name itself was "Fortuitous Encounter," chances were high I could trigger it with multiple people—stealing multiple skills.

Which meant to test it, and to make the best use of it, the first thing I needed was—

'A place with lots of ability users.'

And in Korea, there was one obvious answer.

My eyes flicked to the computer screen. Right on cue, a promo video was playing.

— "The place where your talents will bloom: Polygon!"

— "The world awaits its future Hunters!"

— "Have a gift? Apply now!"

The very next morning, I headed straight for the teachers' office.

It was the weekend, but I knew Teacher Jang Dong-un would be there.

As the youngest on staff, he was always drowning in work.

 And this was third-year middle school season—application time for high schools.

Of course he'd be here.

Just as I reached for the door—

"Oh? Baek Kang-hyun?"

A voice I didn't miss at all rang out behind me.

I glanced back to see a half-bald man standing there.

So there's still a little left up top.

When I ran into him during high school, he was already a full-blown octopus.

"…Teacher."

Of all people, I remembered him clearly.

He was the one who constantly hammered into me that I had no talent, that it was impossible, that I should just give up—

 always comparing me to Yong Sang-jae and grinding my self-esteem into the dirt.

'Yep, the future Octopus himself.'

Looking at his head now, still hanging on by a thread, I couldn't help but smirk, knowing it would all be gone in three years.

"…Why are you staring at me like that?"

"Huh? Me? I wasn't."

"No, really. It's weird."

"It's just… I'm happy to see you. That's all."

"Happy? I literally saw you yesterday."

"Ah… right."

Well, technically true.

 When I woke up back in this time, it was already after school, so I hadn't thought of it.

But still—couldn't I be glad to see him again?

As expected of the future Octopus. Cold-hearted as his hairline.

"This is weird. Really weird…."

He kept muttering, looking unsettled.

 His instincts were sharp, I'd give him that.

Curious, I tried observing his face.

'Observe.'

Nothing popped up.

'So you can't see a status window if they're not an ability user.'

Not surprising—Octopus here was a powerless normal.

 Which meant no status to display.

Another fact confirmed.

"Baek Kang-hyun. Aren't you coming in?"

"Oh, right."

I followed him into the teachers' office.

Unfortunately, the truth was my business here was with him.

He was my homeroom teacher in third year, after all.

"So, what brings you here on a weekend, Kang-hyun?"

"Ah, I just wanted to check my school record."

"Your record? Oh, so you've finally picked a high school?"

His eyes lit up.

Well, of course. The sooner students decided, the easier his workload got.

Back then, I had stubbornly shouted "Polygon" right up until the entrance exam day. The memory made me chuckle.

I really had believed I would awaken, no question.

"Yes… something like that."

He used to keep asking me: still Polygon? Haven't changed your mind yet?

And every single time, my answer was the same: Polygon.

Because I refused to give it up.

If Yong Sang-jae, judged an S-class like me as a kid, was going there—

 how could I not?

"Hah! Finally, Kang-hyun's come to his senses. See, Polygon's tough without talent. I know you admire Sang-jae, but some things just aren't possible."

…Not exactly.

Now I was tempted to tell him I still planned to apply to Polygon, just to see his reaction.

'Nah, waste of time.'

I had too much else to do today to pick fights with Octopus.

"Let's see… your record should be… ah, here."

"Thank you."

He handed me the folder, and I skimmed through it quickly.

Korean, math, social studies, science… all comfortably top-tier.

Damn. I really had been elite back then.

'Behavior and conduct should be toward the back….'

Given how meticulously I'd prepared, it should all be spotless.

 Still, no harm in double-checking.

"Ugh, too much coffee. Kang-hyun, I'll be right back."

"Sure, go ahead."

I barely even glanced at him, my eyes glued to the pages.

"Damn, this is tight."

No matter how many times I checked, it was flawless.

Past-me had been relentless—there wasn't a single weak point.

Extracurriculars, volunteer work, even minor competition awards—everything was perfect.

'No way I'd ever get cut in the paperwork stage with this.'

Seriously. I'd nailed student life. No regrets.

'All I need is a copy, then….'

Now the only thing missing was my talent certificate.

I checked again. Still "Under Evaluation."

But that wouldn't be an issue.

After all, "Frost Shaping (S)" was listed right beneath it.

'Everyone already knows I've always been flagged S-class.'

Every test I'd taken said I had S-rank potential.

If the result came out S because of Frost Shaping, it was fine.

'Alright. I can do this. Polygon… here I come.'

More than ever, I needed to get into Polygon.

If you want to catch a tiger, you go into its den.

Which meant if I wanted an S-class awakening—

'I need to be where S-class talents are overflowing.'

The single place where the most gifted teens gathered.

The school that always had the fiercest competition.

Polygon Hunter Academy.

The very place I had failed to enter in my last life, simply because I hadn't awakened.

But now, things were different.

'I'm going this time. No matter what.'

Satisfied, I closed the record.

Now the last step was just organizing my paperwork.

When suddenly—

"…Baek Kang-hyun?"

A familiar voice from right behind me.

I turned my head—and froze.

Of all people.

'It's the weekend. So why the hell is Yong Sang-jae here?'

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