Episode 22: Mock Dungeon (6)
“Jung Haein team has successfully acquired the artifact. Ending the exercise.”
The announcement signaling the end filled the ruins.
Only then did I relax my grip and turn my head.
The two remaining members of the opposing main team were already sprawled out on the ground, while Sion was placing her hand on the artifact.
Beside her stood Kim Dae-hyun and Yoon Sang-hyuk, their expressions calm and composed.
“It’s over.”
I said to Han Iri, who stood before me. He, too, didn’t seem inclined to continue fighting.
Looking visibly exhausted, he walked past me to pull Ju Han-gang, who was slumped against the wall, back to his feet.
Even if someone had passed out, there was no need to worry about serious injuries. All practical exercises were equipped with safety measures.
A portal appeared where the artifact had been. I began walking toward it to leave.
Just then, Sion came running toward me in a hurry.
“Haein, are you okay?”
She approached me, scanning my face and condition meticulously.
She seemed concerned because I had lowered my head earlier.
“I’m fine.”
“Are you sure you’re okay? Did something happen?”
“I think it’s because of that elixir I drank last time. It seems to be working better than expected.”
“Really…?”
Sion studied me for a moment, then nodded and turned her gaze to my wrist.
There, an obsidian bracelet was glimmering with a dark light.
I had just noticed it myself.
What’s this?
“What’s going on with this thing?”
I asked, looking at the sparkling bracelet.
“Well, maybe its effects are finally kicking in? It’s supposed to be a ‘vitality-enhancing’ bracelet.”
Sion mumbled as she gently fiddled with the bracelet with her fingertips.
“Yeah, it looks fine…”
I walked toward the portal with her.
Yoon Sang-hyuk and Kim Dae-hyun had already gone ahead.
Just as I was about to follow them, Sion stepped in close beside me.
“Do you want me to help you?”
“No, it’s not that bad—”
“Okay.”
Before I could finish my sentence, Sion hooked her arm around mine.
I gave my arm a little tug to try and free it, but she wouldn’t budge, so I gave up and just walked alongside her.
As soon as we entered the portal, the scenery in front of us changed rapidly, revealing the training ground.
All the seated students immediately turned their gazes toward us.
It seemed like we were the last team to finish.
Still holding onto my arm, Sion waved at the other students, greeting them with a confident expression as if she was enjoying the attention.
‘What’s she doing…?’
With all eyes on us and a beauty clinging to my arm, it felt like we were making an entrance worthy of a triumphant general.
The attention made my face burn with embarrassment.
I quickly made my way to my seat and whispered to Sion.
“Let go already.”
But Sion didn’t react at all to my request. Without changing her expression, she simply moved her lips.
“You should probably get used to it.”
“What do you mean by that?”
She didn’t answer my final question.
In the end, we returned to our seats just like that.
She was usually kind, but every now and then, she’d do whatever she wanted. Lately, those moments seemed to be happening a lot more often.
As I sat down, Han Iri walked out of the portal, carrying Ju Han-gang on his back.
“That guy’s awake, though.”
“Who?”
“The guy being carried—Ju Han-gang,” Yoon Sang-hyuk said indifferently.
It seemed like they were embarrassed because they immediately headed toward the infirmary.
“Great work today on your first mock dungeon class.”
The instructor in charge stepped onto the platform and began speaking.
“Let’s give a round of applause to Team 8 for leading the way and providing valuable insight.”
Clap clap clap.
A brief round of applause followed. After a few more announcements about upcoming classes, the instructor closed the portal and officially ended the session.
The students began leaving the training area one by one.
As I prepared to leave, a few students passing by stopped to talk to me.
“You’re Jung Haein, right? You did well.”
“You probably would’ve gotten in even without connections.”
“Haein, can I get your number by any chance…?”
I had planned to leave, but I paused to hear their brief comments.
It was typical of Gaon to recognize skill when they saw it.
Afterward, I returned my spear to the weapon rack near the door and stepped into the hallway.
Sion stayed by my side the whole time.
Since we had attended the same class, she suggested we have dinner together.
I had originally planned to just head back to my dorm and rest.
“When else are we going to get to eat together? We’re not even in the same class, so we don’t see each other during the day!”
…I gave in.
Once outside, the sunset sky through the windows caught my eye. It seemed quite a bit of time had passed.
On our way to the campus cafeteria, some eye-catching posters on the wall grabbed our attention.
Clubs…
They were posters promoting various clubs.
At Gaon, students are encouraged to join at least one club.
Technically, it was more of a “requirement” than a recommendation. Considering the mileage earned through club activities, joining a club was practically mandatory.
‘I really need to join one…’
In the original game, the club choices of the main characters varied depending on the storyline. I planned to skip the first-round application period and apply during the adjustment or additional application periods once I saw who had joined.
The other main characters had likely already applied.
Starting tomorrow, I should look into it and submit my application too…
“Haein, you haven’t joined a club yet? I haven’t either.”
I turned to look at her.
“Not yet. I’ve been too busy.”
“Then how about this one?”
She gestured toward one of the posters.
“Let’s sign up for this together. It looks fun, doesn’t it?”
Where was it?
Curious, I read the poster she was pointing at.
“Heal your academic fatigue with travel.”
The club she was pointing to was a travel club.
Wait a second…
In the bottom-right corner, there was an arrow and a small note that said, “Check the back for details.”
Feeling uneasy, I flipped the poster over to see what was written on the back.
“Couples-only applications. Bring your beloved partner with you…”
The message, accompanied by a provocative heart symbol, sparked all kinds of thoughts.
“…What?”
Suddenly, memories from the game surfaced in my mind.
Oh, this.
“That club.”
This club, one of the Easter eggs, might not seem problematic at first glance, but even its surface appearance was unusual.
A club perfectly In line with Gaon’s culture of encouraging both romance and club activities simultaneously.
It was also the basis for an episode where the protagonist would face an awkward situation if they applied to join it with a specific heroine.
Moreover, since all incoming students were at least 19 years old, there was no real issue with the club.
Sion, too, seemed unaware as she recommended it to me.
I completely flipped the poster over and showed her the content.
For about ten seconds after that, Sion said nothing.
Then her face turned bright red, and she hurriedly covered the poster.
“…I didn’t know.”
As I had suspected, she hadn’t realized either.
It had been 10 years since we’d known each other under her grandfather’s care.
“Yeah, I know.”
Since we were practically family, there was no way she would’ve knowingly recommended something like this.
At least, I hoped not.
***
After a hot shower, I stepped out into the living room.
“Ah, I’m so tired.”
It had been a long day.
No one knew my body better than I did.
Over the past 10 years of training, I’d come to understand it well.
My explosive power and performance were quite decent—good enough that even the old man acknowledged them.
But the problem was…
“My stamina’s… sucks.”
It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t great either.
If I kept exerting myself for too long, I’d run out of steam.
In the end, my weakness was endurance.
I sat in the center of my dorm room and began to observe the state of my body.
I had done a quick self-diagnosis at the hospital last time, but I hadn’t been able to fully grasp the problem.
‘Let’s take a closer look.’
Closing my eyes, I began to channel my mana deeply.
In an instant, explosive mana surged through my body, swirling and thrashing around like a rampaging beast.
The elixir I drank last time had undoubtedly increased my total mana capacity.
But it had also amplified the flow to the point where it was difficult to control, leaving my body in a chaotic state.
“So this was the issue.”
As I racked my brain, trying to figure out what to do, the obsidian bracelet on my wrist began to emit a soft glow.
The bracelet’s unique sheen pulsed rhythmically, like a heartbeat, and my mana responded to the light, halting its wild movements.
The obsidian bracelet began to stabilize the rampaging mana flows within me, firmly organizing them.
“What the…?”
I muttered in surprise, staring down at my wrist.
The previously rampant mana started moving in sync with the bracelet’s newly created flow, gradually finding balance.
What had been a turbulent torrent of energy now transformed into a gentle stream.
It was as if a dam, which once held back a violent river, was now skillfully controlling the flow through well-regulated gates.
I opened my hand and cautiously enveloped it with a small amount of energy to test it out.
The stability, intensity, and clarity of the energy—it was completely different from before.
“…Ha.”
A laugh escaped my lips.
No one knew my body better than I did.
As I slowly stroked the bracelet, I muttered to myself.
“Old man, this is perfect. Absolutely perfect.”
It was the moment my weakness disappeared.