NOVEL NEXT chapter 8
8 – The First Cheat (1)
Inside the academy, in the monitoring room.
Until the second exam, an air of camaraderie filled the monitoring room, but now silence hung heavy.
The instructors, who had been analyzing and evaluating the talents and abilities of the examinees they were monitoring, found their mouths sealed shut.
Even the two instructors who were closely monitoring Lee Yujin fell silent.
And so, a brief moment of silence passed.
“…Huh.”
One of the instructors, Kang Cheolsu, broke the silence with a short exclamation.
“…Impressive.”
The female instructor, Lee Yeonji, also murmured in admiration.
“Yujin, this guy. Quite something.”
Kang Cheolsu gazed at Lee Yujin reflected on the monitor, his eyes shining.
Having been with Arena Academy for 20 years, Kang Cheolsu had seen many examinees, taught many students, and debuted many graduates as heroes.
But an examinee like Lee Yujin was a first in his career.
It felt more like witnessing a veteran hero who had been through countless battles than an examinee taking an entrance exam for the academy.
Thorough preparedness, outstanding power, and daring decisiveness.
Who could think that this examinee, not even 20 years old, possessed all these qualities?
“Honestly, there are many examinees with abilities surpassing Yujin’s.”
Lee Seoyeon, the daughter of Korea’s transcendent, Sword Star, and the next successor of the large guild, Mirinae.
Arthur Pendragon, the heir to the knight king and the next successor of the large guild ‘Round Table’ in the United Kingdom.
Asuka Shuhei, the daughter and successor of Japan’s transcendent, Twin Sword Dragon Shuhei Kento.
Noah, the first-generation transcendent and the son of Gloria, the guardian saint of the United States.
Note that Noah is even said to be a candidate for sainthood.
In addition, there were many examinees with outstanding bloodlines, family backgrounds, and abilities in the examination room.
In contrast, Lee Yujin lagged behind in every aspect.
Bloodline? None.
Family background? None.
Ability? Weak.
From the first exam onwards, it was observed that Lee Yujin’s physical abilities were the weakest among all the examinees taking the test.
When darting through the forest, avoiding electric fields, she ran with determination, but unlike other examinees, she quickly noticed her stamina draining.
As for mental abilities…, I still don’t know.
Judging by the energy Yeujin displayed, it might be high, but perseverance, willpower, and wit are unrelated to mental abilities.
However, regardless of physical or mental prowess, among the new examinees, Kang Cheol-su rated Yeujin the highest for admission this time.
The instructors here felt the same way.
“I hope the day of classes comes quickly.”
Teaching such exceptional students as an instructor is as enjoyable as it gets.
Kang Cheol-su chuckled while watching Yeujin reflected on the monitor.
&
&
&
The entrance exam has concluded.
Both successful and unsuccessful candidates returned to the auditorium without much to do, dispersing as guided by the orientation staff.
Before that, the orientation staff had gathered the successful candidates separately, including me.
They mentioned that details about the admission date and guidance would be available later through the smartwatch.
The smartwatch distributed during the first exam was now owned by the successful candidates only.
To simply give away a smartwatch with the latest technology.
Truly, the world’s top academy. They have a lot of money.
Returning to the studio apartment where I had stayed since checking the smartwatch’s functions, I lay down on the worn-out mattress.
“Ugh…, it’s tough when you have to run yourself.”
The game ‘Arena Academy’ supports VR systems.
So, although most of the content can be enjoyed on the computer, when it comes to combat, it switches to VR for a first-person perspective.
However, since it was a game and not reality, even if I moved and fought in first-person, the system only consumed and recovered stamina. There was no actual fatigue or exhaustion.
Still, being in the world of ‘Arena Academy’ turned into a real, not virtual, reality…, it was fun.
Very much so.
At first, it was disconcerting that the game became reality, but after enrolling in the academy, seeing characters I had only seen virtually, and greeting them in person, it was both comforting and fascinating.
Not through the eyes of the character but through my own.
Not with the character’s body but with mine.
Being in a world like the characters in the game.
Engaging in conversations with the characters from the game.
How exhilarating it was.
If I were to describe this feeling, it’s like the excitement of being a fan from afar, and then having the object of your admiration approach you and strike up a conversation.
Savoring that fluttering sensation, I pulled up a message window that had been tucked away in a corner of my vision since the end of the exam, waiting to be checked later.
[You have completed a quest. Open the quest window to confirm your rewards.]
As if urging me to check, I eagerly pulled myself up, leaning against the wall.
Main Quest: ‘Enrollment.’
Although I hadn’t fully enrolled in the academy yet, perhaps because I met the conditions to enroll by passing all the exams, something, whether it was a deity or an unknown developer, generously marked the quest as completed.
Swiftly.
My hands brushed in anticipation, feeling the rising excitement.
I’ve completed numerous quests and received countless rewards before.
But those were all within the confines of the game.
Now that the game had become reality, the rewards felt like a first-time experience, causing my heart to race.
And above all, there was something in the quest rewards.
‘A random cheat usage permit.’
It might be just one, and it’s random, not specified.
But since it allows the use of the ‘cheat’ from the ‘cheat tool’ that I couldn’t use like a dangling carrot until now, my mouth watered.
“I shouldn’t get my hopes up too much…”
The higher the expectation, the less shocking the betrayal when it happens.
But since there’s a possibility of using cheats, I can’t help but have expectations.
Anyway, calming my trembling hands due to the excitement from expectations, I opened my mouth and spoke its name.
“Quest window.”
At that very moment.
────────────────────
Main Quest Chapter 1: Quest Clear
────────────────────
Under the golden-shining quest title, rewards flowed down like a stream.
────────────────────
“As a reward, ‘3,000 points’ will be granted.”
“As a reward, the ‘Point Shop’ will be unlocked.”
“As a reward, ‘1 random cheat usage permit’ will be given.”
And.
Bingbappababam!
[☆★Achievement Bonus!☆★]
As the echoes of the explosion reverberated, a message window resembling the ‘☆Special Gift from the Developer★’ that appeared when Pangpar first possessed me emerged, emitting a rainbow-colored glow.
Following that, new rewards, shining in a golden hue like the quest names, were listed one after another.
「First Trial: ‘Achieve 5th place’」
「Additional reward: ‘5,000 Points’ will be awarded.」
「Second Trial: ‘Achieve 3rd place’」
「Additional reward: ‘Choice of B-grade Item’ will be awarded.」
「Third Trial: ‘Achieve 1st place’」
「Additional reward: ‘2 Random Cheat Usage Permits’ will be awarded.」
“…….”
I couldn’t say anything.
I blinked repeatedly, verifying the rewards.
And after a moment.
“Oh.”
What came out of my mouth was a single exclamation containing all the meaning.
&
A celebration of rewards that could render one stupefied.
Amidst that celebration, I managed to regain my composure and closed the quest window, exhaling a warm breath that had built up within me.
“……Even if you give it away like this, is there anything left?”
I’ve played the game ‘Arena Academy’ for a whopping 30,000 hours, but I’ve never received such lavish rewards before.
And next to the points, it was written, ‘Additional rewards based on achievements,’ so I thought they would only add more points.
But… it wasn’t just points; they were showering me with a plethora of other things.
‘I’m stuffed.’
It felt like being served a steak after devouring pork belly.
“Does the developer show favoritism?”
The developer who possessed me here.
The developer who gifted an illegal program called a cheat tool as a legal one.
Ah, dear developer!
If you’re watching me, unlock a good cheat for me!
With that plea, I closed my eyes and prayed for three seconds.
The moment I opened my eyes, I immediately activated the ‘cheat tool’.
────────────────────
[☆Arena Academy☆]
[v 1.0 plus 8 Trainer]
– Invincibility
– Infinite health
– Unlimited stamina
– Infinite mana
– Infinite items
– Speed limit removed
– Super accuracy
– Enemy slow motion
────────────────────
“Wow, feels like it’s been a while.”
Since I first opened the cheat tool.
It’s only been three days since then.
On the first day of possession, I enrolled for the entrance exam.
On the second day, I hurried around to gather items necessary for the exam.
And today, the third day, I was busy taking the exam.
And now!
It’s the long-awaited day when I finally fulfilled the conditions to use the cheat!
With an expectant heart, I reached out with trembling, excited hands towards the cheat tool.
The first thing I tried was the ultimate among cheats, ‘Invincibility.’
Boom!
[There are no available Special Cheat Usage Rights (10).]
[Confirmation of possession of Random Cheat Usage Rights by the player.]
[Would you like to use the Random Cheat Usage Rights? YES / NO]
A brief sound of pages turning resonated, accompanied by a message indicating the unavailability of use and a prompt to confirm the usage of Random Cheat Rights.
Without hesitation, I pressed the YES button firmly.
[Confirmation of acceptance for the use of Random Cheat Rights.]
[Before the Random Cheat Rights are applied, we will verify the quantity.]
“…What?”
Confirming the quantity? What on earth does that mean?
Following the confirmation of usage acceptance, a message appeared regarding the verification of the quantity, furrowing my brow in confusion.
And the anticipation that had swelled in my chest rapidly deflated like air escaping a balloon.
[…It has been confirmed that the player currently possesses 3 Random Cheat Usage Rights.]
“Ah, no way.”
It couldn’t be what I was thinking, right?
[We will now list the cheats corresponding to the quantity of Random Cheat Usage Rights.]
“Ah, damn it!”
I had hoped against hope, but was it really happening?
────────────────────
【Available Draw List】
1. Infinite Energy.
2. Infinite Items.
3. Remove Speed Limit.
4. Super Accuracy.
*You can draw only ‘1’ cheat with the available ‘3’ rights.
────────────────────
[Would you like to use ‘3’ Random Cheat Usage Rights? YES / NO]
“…”
Only 4 out of the total 8 cheats were listed.
As soon as I saw that, the fiery warmth in my chest turned icy cold, extinguishing the excitement fueled by anticipation.
“Hmm…, I had anticipated it.”
When I suppressed the invincible, there was an announcement that 10 ‘Designated Cheat Usage Permits’ were required. I had wondered if there might also be a ‘Random Cheat Usage Permit.’
“But I never thought it would really be like that…”
A sense of disappointment caused my body to slump.
However, that feeling lasted only a moment.
“Still, the fact that I can use cheats is something.”
My mood brightened again.
Although the most appealing cheats like invincibility, infinite health, infinite mana, and slowing down enemy motions were missing!
The currently available unlimited energy, infinite items, speed limit removal, and super accuracy were still excellent cheats without a doubt.
No, honestly, they were not at all inferior to the S-class talents or skills possessed by the main characters.
They might even be better.
Sweep.
With growing anticipation, I reached out towards the usage confirmation message.
“If I’m going to get something, let it be infinite items.”
While other things were good too, what I felt was the best right now was infinite items.
Because the possibilities with the infinite item cheat were incredibly vast.
“It’s not like I don’t have money right now.”
Anyway, no matter.
Thinking so, I firmly pressed the ‘YES’ button.
And then.
Ding-ding-ding-ding!
[Infinite Energy] → [Infinite Items] → [Speed Limit Removal] → [Super Accuracy]
The roulette started spinning rapidly, making sounds in the order mentioned.
And after a while.
….
……
Brrring!
The first cheat was drawn.