I Became an Illegal Cheat User

5 – Entrance Exam (5)

After passing the second test, I found a bench within the campus instead of the auditorium and sat down to catch my breath.

“Phew, phew….”

I took deep breaths to calm my nerves.

Despite having expelled everything in my stomach, the nausea persisted.

The hallucinations and the debuff from the poison had disappeared, but a new debuff, the aftertaste of the otherworldly bitterness, seemed to have appeared.

“…Crazy antidote. I recognized it when my character said those words in the game monologue….”

– ‘…It’s very, very bitter. I never want to drink it again.’

Normally, there was no script even when I drank a potion and ate something in the game.

But every time I took the ‘antidote,’ a script would pop up above the character’s head.

Thinking about it, I genuinely felt sorry for my character.

Gulp, gulp.

“The bitterness still won’t go away….”

Even though I had gulped down the 500ml bottle of water that the exam guide had given me after the first test, the lingering bitterness in my mouth showed no signs of fading.

If I had known, I would have gotten something sweet too.

But then again, I probably wouldn’t have been able to buy something sweet like chocolate or candy since I had already spent all the money I had on preparing for the exam.

I briefly thought about feeling depressed because I had no money, but I quickly brushed off the idea.

Just enrolling in the academy would bring in a certain amount of living expenses, and there were dungeons and areas operated by the academy where I could hunt monsters and earn money.

“There is some discrimination, though.”

Due to the rules established by Baek Yuhwa at the Academy, there is a bit of discrimination in the rankings.

The Arena Academy, where the ranking system is implemented, determines the rankings in the ‘Duel Tournament,’ also known as the ‘Ranking Battle,’ held every season.

Each season, a total of 300 people enter the academy.

After determining temporary rankings through the initial entrance exam, the rankings are reassessed in the ‘Duel Tournament.’

While good class attitude or achievements may earn additional points, it doesn’t compare to the points gained by defeating opponents in the ‘Duel Tournament.’

Hence, the Arena Academy considers the ‘Duel Tournament’ to be the most crucial.

…Though it gets overshadowed later by the presence of extraterrestrials invading towards the latter part.

“In the game, the clear condition is ‘Achieve 1st place in the Academy Ranking,’ but now that it’s become reality, who knows.”

That’s probably because, aside from the main quest, there’s also something called an ‘Ending Quest.’

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Ending Quest

【Clear Conditions】

– Survival of all main characters

– Annihilation of extraterrestrial beings

– ???

– Reward: ???

– Failure: World destruction (also failure if the characters fall into corruption)

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“What could that third condition be?”

And what about the reward?

Surely, it’s not as simple as arbitrarily merging into reality and giving and taking between illness and cure.

The developers even gifted cheat tools to the player; it must be something different.

“Phew.”

A deep sigh escaped.

The lingering bitterness still makes the head spin.

Something sweet would be nice right now.

While thinking about where to find something like candy, as he leaned back on the bench’s backrest.

“Yeehaw, Mr. 5th place!”

“Ah!”

I shouted in surprise when I suddenly heard a voice from behind.

“Um…I didn’t know I would be so startled….”

I must not have anticipated how surprised I would be, as the person who startled me let out a slightly flustered voice.

“No, who are you to startle someone…?”

I turned around, intending to say something in response to being startled.

But I swallowed my words.

Short hair cascading around the neck.

Pink hair and iris like cherry blossoms.

A woman with a fresh and lively beauty, different from Seoyeon who possessed elegance.

“…Shehui Asuka?”

The person who startled me was none other than Shehui Asuka.

No, why is she…?

“Yes, I’m Shehui Asuka~”

As if surprised by my calling her name, Asuka grabbed the backrest of the bench and hopped over, sitting next to me.

Then, she looked at me with a mischievous expression and spoke.

“Mr. 5th, what are you doing here?”

“…I was just getting some fresh air.”

“W-Why?”

“…I wasn’t feeling well inside.”

“You’re not feeling well? Why?”

“….”

Why is she being like this?

Asuka’s behavior right now is what players do in games when they become interested in someone.

But I haven’t done anything to make her interested in me yet.

…No, maybe I have. I just don’t know it.

“Could it be…?”

When I finished the first test and returned to the auditorium, all the main cast members were gathered.

And all of them were looking at me.

Among them, Shehui Asuka was looking at me as if she found it amusing.

“Is that the only reason you’re interested?”

The point at which heroines and likability are generated is after entering the academy.

In the game, even if you rank first in the entrance exam, heroines don’t show any interest in the player.

But both Lee Seo-yeon, who greeted me first, and Asuka, who does show interest, are exceptions.

Maybe because it’s reality, it seems a bit different from the game.

“I should recognize that.”

Still, it’s not so bad.

I have to make contact with the lead characters because of the ‘ending quest.’

It’s better if I initiate contact first.

Was I too absorbed in my thoughts?

“Moshi moshi (Hello~)?”

“…Ah.”

Asuka was shaking hands with me in front of my face.

“You finally noticed me.”

I pulled myself out of my thoughts and looked at Asuka properly, who stood up, letting the wind play with her hair.

“With such a cute girl beside you, it’s a waste to ignore her.”

Then, putting her hand on her waist and looking at me, she spoke with a playful tone.

“Mattaku (Really)….”

“…?”

“Oh, don’t you know this? It was trendy in Korea recently.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. In various communities, cute characters were being imitated by saying ‘Mattaku….’ So, I tried it.”

There was such a thing?

…But, she’s Japanese and participates in Korean community culture?

“Rank 5 doesn’t seem to have much interest in current trends.”

“…Yes, I’m the type that falls behind in trends a bit.”

It hasn’t been long since I entered the game world, so how would I know about that?

I’ve been busy preparing for the entrance exam, and I haven’t had time for things like communities.

Probably, it will continue to be like that.

“Well, that won’t do! You’re about to enter the academy soon, and if you fall behind in trends, you won’t become popular!”

“Ah, hahahaha.”

It’s okay….

It’s fine not to become an insider…

I appreciate you reaching out, but can’t you just leave me alone?

However, unlike my wishes, Asuka, next to me, stopped talking and looked at my smartwatch when the alarm rang.

Ding.

[The third exam will begin in 10 minutes. Test-takers, please gather in the auditorium.]

[This message is sent to the test-takers who passed the second exam.]

It seemed that the notification on Asuka’s smartwatch was the same as mine, as she glanced at my smartwatch, which rang with the same alert, and smirked.

“As expected, Mr. 5th place. I knew you’d pass the second exam too.”

After saying that, Asuka added, “But…,” and paused.

“Seeing you already out of the exam hall… it seems you’re ranked higher than me.”

For instance…

“…like 3rd place?”

“….”

How did she guess… that I passed as the 3rd?

“You have the expression of ‘How did she guess?'” Asuka laughed as if finding it amusing.

“Well… Mr. 5th place, no, now 3rd place… anyway, 3rd place, you came out of the exam hall right after me.”

Asuka is 4th.

‘Come to think of it…’

Asuka had the talent for mental defense.

‘I envy her.’

Her mental defense.

While some had to take medicine to pass, others passed with talent without experiencing bitterness.

‘I’ll definitely obtain it.’

Mental defense.

Once again, I made a resolution.

“Anyway, 3rd place. Let’s both pass and attend the academy together!”

As Asuka rose from the bench, she clenched her small fists tightly and shouted, “Fighting!”

After that, she hurriedly ran towards the auditorium with determined steps.

“Oh, right!”

But suddenly, she stopped in her tracks, approached me again, and said, “Here, a friendship token!”

She placed something in my hand.

Then, once again, she shouted “Fighting!” while tightly clenching her fists, and ran towards the auditorium.

Watching her, I couldn’t help but let out a wry smile.

She was truly an energetic woman.

…But a friendship token?

I looked down at what Asuka had given me.

“This, this is…”

And I was greatly moved.

What I held in my hand was none other than the sweet thing I had longed for so desperately.

“Is Asuka a goddess…?”

And it was ○she chocolate, no less.

&

&

&

“Now, it’s time for the final exam.”

The headmaster, whom I had seen in the first exam, appeared again.

Standing in the auditorium, the headmaster looked at the examinees, including me, and waved his wand towards the empty air.

Then, of course, metallic bracelets appeared in front of the examinees with a small light.

– Everyone, please put on the bracelets.

A person who seemed to be an instructor below the headmaster, using a microphone, informed us of the bracelet’s wearing instructions.

Click.

Following the instructor’s guidance, I put on the bracelet on my wrist.

Snap.

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HP: ■■■■■■■■■■

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On the surface of the bracelet, something resembling a health bar in a game appeared.

“Ladies and gentlemen examinees, the bracelets you’re wearing have protective spells engraved on them.”

The instructor raised his wrist, displaying the bracelet for everyone to see.

Then, the headmaster waved his wand slightly towards the instructor.

Swoosh.

A small magical sphere flew towards the instructor.

Thud.

The magical sphere touched the instructor’s body, causing a small explosion.

However, the instructor remained unharmed.

Upon closer inspection, a thin magical shield surrounded the instructor’s body.

Tick.

A small alarm sounded from the bracelet on the instructor’s wrist, and the ‘HP’ bar decreased by one.

Pointing to it, the headmaster explained, “When attacked like that, the protective spell inscribed on the bracelet activates, absorbing the damage on your behalf.”

The headmaster continued speaking.

“You’ll see your HP bar on the surface of the bracelet. When attacked, it will decrease by one, and the stronger the attack, the more bars will be depleted. If you lose all bars, that examinee will be eliminated from the test.”

There were a total of 500 examinees in the auditorium right now.

Only 300 will be admitted to the academy.

Exactly 200 will be eliminated.

‘Everyone seems tense.’

Whether they were leads or supporting roles, everyone had a nervous expression.

Looking at them, I felt a slight tension building up within me.

I can’t afford to be complacent, but being overly cautious doesn’t guarantee avoiding elimination either.

“We will provide detailed instructions through smartwatches in the examination room. So, everyone.”

The headmaster waved his wand towards the empty air.

“Do your best, everyone.”

With those words, the scenery changed in an instant.

Ding.

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【Arena Academy Exam Guidelines】

The final exam is the “Trial of Strength.”

Give your all to defeat enemies and survive using the strength and skills you possess.

[Your admission rank will be determined by the scores obtained in this exam.]

*Scoring Method*

1. Demon Elimination: 100 points

2. Contestant Elimination: 200 points

3. Obtaining Hidden Items: 500 to 1000 points

– Time Limit: X

– The exam will continue until the final number of participants reaches 300.

– If there is no movement for 10 minutes, it will be considered as refusal to participate, leading to automatic elimination.

– If the ‘HP’ bar on the bracelet is depleted, elimination will occur.

– If you wish to forfeit, press the forfeit button on the smartwatch. Your remaining HP will instantly vanish, and you will be automatically eliminated, returning to the main hall.

Tip: Do not limit your means and methods. However, fatal injuries leading to death are not allowed.

Tip2: Make good use of hidden items. They might turn unfavorable situations in your favor.

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After reading the unusually lengthy exam guidelines.

[In 5 seconds, the exam will begin.]

[5]

[4]

[3]

[2]

[1]

…Beep!

[Exam Starts]

…

…

[Remaining Count: 500]

The final exam had begun.