NOVEL NEXT Chapter 32 - How to Prepare for the Exam(7)
In fact, there were several times when Na Yuri doubted the con artist’s behavior.
For instance, when we were eating lunch…
“You don’t like meat, right?”
“My taste buds changed.”
Or when we were training…
“You always used a conductor’s baton, but it seems you’ve changed your mind?”
“The flag looks cooler, don’t you think?”
I don’t know if the con artist is impressive for being so shameless with his answers or if Na Yuri is for letting it slide.
…Maybe she doesn’t doubt him because he was trash before and after the possession.
Still, considering how much Na Yuri dislikes the con artist, will our practical exam… be okay?
That worry was short-lived as time continued to pass.
I finished getting ready to head to the training ground and sat on the bed. Since there was still time before I had to leave, I decided to check the Meta System.
I reviewed the appearance sections and audience reactions in detail.
[Meta System] [Current Meta Points: 1500]
It had already reached 30 episodes. I started reading from episode 24, which covered the fox bead incident.
I skimmed through the episodes I hadn’t read yet, as I had previously combed through the rest to understand the con artist’s thoughts during the fox bead incident.
These episodes covered when things peaked and the time we arrived at the lake, dealing with the human zombie horde.
[Episode 24 Appearance Section] 085
I considered giving Kang Na-hyun the information she needed, but I stopped myself.
The nine-tailed fox had a lot of Easter eggs in the game.
One of them was that if the player skipped all the abnormal event triggers and went straight to the lake to return the bead, the fox would say, “You know what this is and took it from there, didn’t you?” and wouldn’t give the reward. You never know what might happen if you don’t follow the correct procedure.
Hang in there a bit longer, Kang Na-hyun. I’ll make sure you get two items.
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She doesn’t understand.
Why doesn’t she get that this is the best option? Reducing variables is obviously the most important thing.
…Or maybe she just doesn’t know anything? I held back a sigh.
The blue flame you can get there is an item that drastically reduces the difficulty of the “abnormal situation” event in practical training.
Although you can get another blue flame during the training, there’s no guarantee, so I felt the need to secure it now.
If I could explain it like that, Na Yuri would understand too.
But I couldn’t. I’d just have to deal with Na Yuri’s drop in affection.
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As expected, Kang Na-hyun suggested I choose all three items.
I figured it would be good to let her have some credit here.
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Reading the script again was starting to annoy me, so I quickly scrolled through.
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The main character is really taking advantage of Kang Na-hyun, lol.
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Ah, lol, the heroine is just a tool.
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Her crying is cute.
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Heroine tears, slurp slurp.
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What’s wrong with this pervert?
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If it were me, I would’ve taken all three items, lol. The main character is such a pushover.
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What? Who would give up all three items in that situation? This doesn’t make sense.
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No, that’s just how the character is, lol. What were you even reading?
I quietly raised my middle finger to the comments section.
What do you mean “originally” like that?
…No, wait. It just means I’m acting really well. Calm down.
[Episode 25 Appearance Section]
Episode 25 didn’t have much. I went and got the items. That’s it.
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I used Insight on the items Kang Na-hyun brought, and I was stunned.
One item was a permanent cure for all status ailments.
The other was…
…A key to the tower? And it had their blessing?
A key to the tower that I didn’t know about?
How could there be something I didn’t know about in a game I mastered?
As expected from the Easter egg incarnate, the nine-tailed fox.
Kang Na-hyun probably took the key just for the blessing, without realizing its true value, but that was a good thing.
I’d have to make up an excuse later to retrieve or exchange it for something else.
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Oh, she brought back something good, lol.
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Huh? A key we don’t know? Is this foreshadowing?
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Now things are diverging from the game’s plot, huh? I get it, I get it.
…Looks like they figured out the key’s secret.
Damn it.
I’ll need to figure out how to keep the con artist from taking the key.
Speaking of which, if the accessory’s effect is to cure status ailments, could it also work on Ihana’s “curse”?
I hesitated briefly on who to give the accessory to and decided to hold off for now.
I turned off the Meta System, gathered my gear, and headed to the training ground.
Maybe because it’s test season, but the training ground was packed. I absentmindedly watched the crowd, thinking they must be doing last-minute practical practice.
It wasn’t hard to find my group. I just followed the direction people were staring.
We were a group that drew attention, whether in a good or bad way.
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However, today, we were drawing even more attention than usual, and I could guess why.
I trudged over and joined the group that was attracting all this aggro.
Surprisingly, Na Yuri was with the con artist, preparing for the practical test with us. Though she clung to me, whining about ditching the con artist, it wasn’t anything new, so I let it slide.
The training room was our usual spot—Room 101.
Just as we were about to head there,
“Um, Yuri, Hana!”
A girl called out to us, specifically to Na Yuri and Ihana. She was a bright pink-haired student with her hair rolled up in bun-like twists.
Even in a world where multicolored hair was common, that hairstyle really stood out.
Wait a minute, didn’t I see that hairstyle during club interviews…?
Before I could remember, the girl approached us and cautiously, but firmly, said,
“Would you like to join our team for the practical exam?”
It seemed her team had three members, leaving two spots open. She was boldly asking us to leave our group and join theirs.
I already expected this scenario. With all the attention on us, it made sense someone would try to recruit us.
In Guardian Academy’s practical exam, students form teams of five and engage in combat. Naturally, the stats and abilities of each member are crucial.
But our group had six members. If we stayed as is, one person would be left out.
Given that this girl was making such a direct offer, her team probably had some confidence in their abilities, thinking they could pull one or two of us in.
“I’m sorry, we haven’t decided on a team yet.”
“Sorry.”
But Na Yuri and Ihana swiftly declined her public recruitment. The pink-haired girl turned bright red and backed off.
Public confessions, recruitments, or anything in front of others isn’t a good idea. I silently felt a bit of sympathy for her as she tried to muster up the courage.
However, after that first blunt rejection, more offers flooded in as we made our way to the training room.
“Hey, Siwoo! Wanna join our team?”
“Sorry, still thinking it over.”
“Hana!”
“Yuri!”
It was clear they were deliberately avoiding the con artist, me, and Choi Soo-jung. Their intentions were obvious.
Choi Soo-jung had great abilities, but as a mixed-blood, she was avoided.
I had once cleared a gate, but being from Class F meant my skills were still in doubt.
And the con artist… well, he’s a con artist. Na Yuhan’s reputation preceded him.
If anyone leaves our group, it’ll likely be one of those three getting recruited.
Maybe all three of them will go. Friendship is one thing, but grades are another. They might decide it’s more beneficial to team up with stronger students.
Then, who would fill the spots?
I thought about a few of my friends from Class F. Honestly, they were… not great. Beginners, and from Class F, no less.
But with Choi Soo-jung and me, we could cover two weak links, I guess.
As I calculated things in my head, watching the recruitment drama unfold like it wasn’t my problem…
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Someone approached me.
“Um, are you Kang Na-hyun?”
A woman with disheveled purple hair stood before me. She had a gentle face, but her eyes behind her glasses gleamed with an odd intensity.
Who is she? I started to search through my memories from the original story when…
“Please participate in my experiment!”
With that one sentence, she instantly revealed her identity.
Wait a minute. Is she that character?
I felt the blood drain from my face.
“Oh…”
The con artist made an ambiguous noise of interest.
“Experimeeent?”
Choi Soo-jung tilted her head, confused.
“An experiment?”