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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Countermeasures? None
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'Countermeasures...? Yeah, practically none.'
Being an Academia staffer wasn't exactly a high-paying gig.
Which meant hiring bodyguards or anything like that was out of the question for someone as broke as me.
Even if I had guild connections, I wasn't in a position to get any real help from them when it came to influencing Academia students.
'Man, I really shouldn't have awakened...'
Yeah, if you traced it back, it was all because of that damn awakening.
If I hadn't awakened and gotten these skills and legendary gear, I'd just be clocking in at Academia like any other day. But because of it, I went and stuck my nose into shit that didn't concern me, landing myself in this mess.
'It feels like I'm being led straight down the path of an awakener by some schemer... But no time to bitch about it now.'
Even if it felt like a setup, there was nothing I could do about it right now.
I didn't want to sit around twiddling my thumbs, leaving my fate in that bastard's hands. And I sure as hell didn't want to end up handing over this legendary item I was wearing just to appease him.
***
Academia Earth Class, upper-year classroom.
"Damn it! Finally found you, you worthless staff prick. You dare screw with me and think you'll get away with it?"
At that very moment, after making calls all over the place, Jang Yunseok finally got intel on the Academia staffer who'd ruined his plans yesterday.
Having learned that the guy was a nine-year vet in Facilities Maintenance, one of the team leaders under that department, Jang Yunseok was thrilled to have pinned down his target—and absolutely furious.
"Calm down, Yunseok. Killing an Academia staffer during the academy program? That's gonna cause a huge headache. No upside beyond venting—what's the point? He's just a loser with nothing to his name anyway."
"Yeah, what do you gain from wasting your anger on trash? You just get your hands dirty. We could handle it, sure, but the losses outweigh any benefits by a mile."
"Exactly. Just ignore the bastard and focus on finals prep. Find some other prey, boss."
His cronies tried to cool him down, pointing out the downsides of offing a staffer.
Killing some insignificant nobody wouldn't improve his situation and might even draw unwanted attention from Academia, they argued.
They didn't give a damn about the staffer's rights—it was terrifying how little they cared—but that was just how the world worked these days.
"You idiots have no idea how big a deal the thing he ruined was. Fuck... I had to bring that alchemy bitch into the fold!"
But Jang Yunseok wasn't cooling off from his lackeys' soothing words.
Sure, if it had just been some disposable slut to toy with, he could've shrugged it off as stepping in dog shit.
But the girl he'd targeted yesterday had the alchemy skill trait. As heir to the guild, he needed her to solidify his position.
'Already stuck in Earth Class with my stats and skills lagging behind...'
Jang Yunseok was a C-rank awakener who'd been assigned to Earth Class instead of Heaven Class, where most mid-tier guild heirs and shoo-ins for major guilds ended up.
The gap between Heaven and Earth Class was like night and day.
Heaven Class gathered the top-tier awakeners responsible for Korea's security and defense—the nation's most critical talents.
With all the connections, prestige, and authority at stake, graduating Heaven Class was basically a prerequisite to inheriting the Avalon Guild master seat.
'Damn it! I was trying everything to get into Heaven Class! Can't boost my stat growth anymore! Tried every trick in the book... Fuck!'
Ever since entering Academia, Jang Yunseok had grinded levels for new skills and abilities, curried favor with the constellation overseeing his guild—but it all fell flat.
His last shot was building contribution points within the guild to shore up his standing.
That's why he'd targeted unique skill or trait holders to recruit. He'd lucked out spotting the alchemy girl first, only to have it blow up in his face.
"If I don't become heir, they'll shove me on the front lines until I die begging! Shit!"
His dream was to become guild master, manage personnel from the rear, raid safe dungeons, and bask in wealth and glory.
Fail that, and he'd be fighting the Slaughter King's demons.
"Well, dynasties do what they do—secure power by eliminating rivals. It's standard procedure. But that means we've got no time to waste on some staffer."
"No, I say we smash that prick even harder precisely because of that. If we let him slide, other staffers might screw us later. We need to make an example so no one else dares interfere."
Jang Yunseok's call for one punishment to warn a hundred wasn't entirely unpersuasive.
Worried about backlash splashing onto them if they pushed further, his followers backed off with a shrug.
"So how're we gonna do it?"
"There are pros for this kinda thing."
"Scavengers?"
Scavengers and demons were both hostile to humanity, committing crimes and atrocities, but with key differences.
Demons pledged loyalty to anti-human constellations, making deals or compromises impossible. Scavengers prioritized self-interest, so they could be bargained with—sometimes even humanity—if it suited them.
"What're you on about? Every mid-tier guild or higher has dirty dealings with scavengers. You know that."
Past or present, those with power and status always prepared the "fastest, most efficient" way to neutralize threats.
These days, that meant deals with scavengers.
Untouchable by guilds, associations, or the government, these criminal awakener groups scratched each other's backs through backchannel trades.
"Then we're good."
"For some Academia staffer? No need for big bucks, and they'll handle it clean. Heh heh heh. Once it's done, you guys just spread the word a little. Got it?"
With the scavenger commission locked in, Jang Yunseok figured Yoo Seongwon was as good as dead. His mood lightened enough to shift to finals prep.
***
I headed straight to our Facilities Maintenance chief and reported that Avalon Guild heir Jang Yunseok might be gunning for me.
Then I asked for a few days' leave to lay low—but got shot down.
"No way. Finals are right around the corner? Leave now? When every hand counts? Five days? You out of your mind?"
I'd half-expected it, but the chief was ice-cold in refusal. Probably worse since I'd already taken half a day off yesterday.
On the flip side, after slaving away like a dog for nine years, getting called crazy over five days' leave pissed me off. But I knew Korea well enough to get it.
"Besides, Academia's slogan right now is 'harmony.' Retaliating over something like that? They'd hammer you hard. So quit worrying and get back to work. You're not some rookie—what's with the fuss?"
That's exactly why I'm fussing, since I know how it works.
Of course, mouthing off my real thoughts wouldn't help, so I mumbled agreement and bailed.
That left one option.
'What else? Time to bolt.'
I'd tipped off the chief that Avalon's young master had me in his sights. If I vanished now, they'd suspect him first, 100%.
Sure, he'd cook up an alibi, but he couldn't dodge the whispers that he'd offed his obstacle.
And our chief? He'd rue losing a nine-year vet, a stain on his record.
'Later, I can crawl back saying I barely survived the scavengers.'
Rehiring? Cross that bridge when I got there.
No point fretting the future when the present crisis loomed.
Anyway, I started prepping to ditch Academia for a bit.
'Lesson plans, combat manuals, weapon handling, scavenger countermeasures. Gotta grab everything I can.'
This time, I'd stuff my brain full with Myeong's Knight Grandel's Martial Talent (Unique) courtesy of the (Unique) myriad-swords.
I downloaded what I could before clocking out, then hit the in-Academia mall for weapons—and leveled up while at it.
'Good thing I've got armor.'
"Ooh~ Team Leader Yoo, shopping for self-defense gear?"
"Word travels fast, huh?"
"Come on, a non-awakener with that look coming here? Obvious. You were all cocky about handling things, but got caught after all?"
If even this casual acquaintance at the gear shop knew, then yeah—when I ghosted, they'd blame those punks for sure.
Anyway, to avoid outing my awakening, I stocked up on standard awakener protective gear, potions, and grabbed a sword for defense.
"Wouldn't a stun gun beat a sword you can't even use properly?"
"You think Academia staff pay covers all that? You buying?"
"..."
Mention money, and he shut up fast.
Shopping done, I packed at my dorm right after work and bolted from Academia.
Just the other day, I'd been chilling in front of the TV, flipping channels without a care! Now? Skipping dinner to hunt monsters and level up!
***
"Haa~"
I took a cab to the city outskirts, passed the danger zone signs, and hiked into the dungeon mountains.
My destination: the lowest-tier F-rank dungeon.
F-rank dungeons.
Weakest of the weak—even normals could clear them with proper gear. Not even real dungeons.
Heck, they ran recreational hunting businesses there. Says it all.
"Whew~ No choice now. Ugh..."
[Dungeon Quest: 'Brutal Hound Subjugation' 0/30]
Reward: ???
Inside, growling dogs and the quest greeted me.
First time seeing them for real, not in training vids. This was the real hunter life—putting my neck on the line.
Grrr!
My foes: Brutal Hounds. Doberman lookalikes, but jacked with muscle, red eyes brimming with murder. No normal animal.
Woof! Woof!
"Whew~ Like it or not, here goes!"
Clang! Clang!
I swung my sword at the charging Brutal Hound.
My vision blurred as something enveloped me head to toe.
Vision cleared. Blood and guts from the bisected hound splattered my golden armor.
'Oh, right. Auto-equip.'
Golden Guardian Beast Armor.
Wear it once, and it stays in sub-space normally, auto-donning in combat. Legendary gear.
I hadn't tweaked the settings, so defaults held.
'Gotta change it later to only equip when I say.'
Thanks to the gear and prep, my first dungeon run went smooth.
Wild-animal-level foes made it easy enough, but Myeong's Knight Grandel's Martial Talent shone—hound corpses piled up, and with every swing, my stance and moves climbed steps, sharpening like stairs ascended.