Play Dead IV

Yoo Yeonha soon notices the slight change in her bag. The condensation from the Coke makes her textbook wet.

"That nutjob."

She takes out the Coke with a frown. Just when did he put it in? That little rat.

"Huuu~"

After a deep sigh, Yoo Yeonha releases her magic power. It seeps into the paper and separates the moisture from her textbook. The collected moisture falls to the ground as she retracts her magic power.

"Huuu~"

Yoo Yeonha breaks out in a cold sweat. She feels extremely proud at the same time. The magic power application she is performing is difficult even for professional heroes. It looks simple but is actually quite mysterious and complicated.

"When I see him again…"

Yoo Yeonha twists her lips as her sense of pride turns into anger. "That talkative bum. I'll need to ask the guys to educate him."

That thought only briefly lasts for a short second. She fiddles with the Coke in her bag and checks for anyone nearby.

Cough. She takes out a handkerchief and wraps it around the Coke before placing it back in her bag.

"Hmmm."

But then, she notices something poking from her textbook as if teasing her to check it out. Her curiosity wins over her moment of awkwardness about hiding the Coke.

"What is this?"

From the paper, it reads—

"Dear, my precious Yeonha.

The vital point of a Mountain Tyrant is a blue mark on the heel of the creature's hind leg. Give me Essence of the Strait Guild stocks, and also a lot of money. I will be happy if you give me even 1%. I will send you my bank account later. 

Please deposit the fee for the information in my bank account.

Sincerely, the friendly and mental Hyon Hyung."

"This… motherfuc—"

Yeonha tries to calm herself, but the crazy mofo is getting on her nerves. She crumples the paper in anger, and in her blind rage, she ought to rip it to shreds.

However, in the end, she decides against it. What if he is telling her the truth?

At the back of her mind, there is no way that is going to happen. So openly telling her a weakness of a monster species is like trolling her. The weakness of specific monster species is a secretly kept knowledge and is worth a lot of money.

There is no way someone will so freely spread information about a monster that its weakness is yet for others to learn. Moreover, with no strings attached… But what if… there really is a crazy mofo out there?

...Someone daring enough to conduct business transactions this way?

Unbeknownst to Hyon Hyung, his status as the crazy bastard is meeting a promotion— to a crazy mofo that is peerless both in his shenanigans and randomness.

***

I and spending my remaining time this Friday looking around the facilities of Cube. While strolling around and honing my observation skills, I play with a pencil as if a dagger. The pencil dances in between my fingers with both accuracy and agility.

When night is almost upon me, I pick up a random restaurant with relatively cheap food.

After eating outside and treating myself to something nice, I return home while juggling a bunch of knives, growing more intimate with the sharpness of the blade. The path I choose to return to the dorm is convoluted with fewer people and quite a long walk. It will be a detriment if there are passers-by as they might mistake me as a psycho for playing with the knives. Moreover, if an accident occurs with juggling my knives, I will feel bad if someone gets cut.

I know that there are facilities for me to train, but if I can sneak in training time every chance I get, the better my chances will be.

It is necessary I become more accustomed to sharp things as in the future, it will be inevitable that I will be cutting some people up.

The thought makes me wretch.

How low have I fallen?

Well, there is no falling, really…

Who am I kidding?

When I get to my dorm, I immediately change my clothes to another set of training clothes as I still have an appointment with Kim Suho who should be waiting for me at the male dormitory's rooftop.

At the start of the evening, Suho checks up on me. The two of us romantically er... brutally... yes... We brutally share a moment while we breathe the air around us together doing our best to get more training… I smile ear to ear… Ah~ this golden opportunity... Hugging the protagonist's thigh is the best...

"I cannot help but notice… Perhaps, are you thinking something rude about me…" Kim Suho suddenly comments as he fingers his earlobes with his pinky.

"Yeah," I grin. "I am thinking about something perverted."

"What do you remember of Akatrina?" He suddenly asks.

I want to joke a bit more, but I acknowledge the question is too serious for me to play it coolly. "Not sure. It resembles this world's medieval era, except Akatrina has magic and really amazing swordsmanship… Hmmm… And… that's pretty much it…"

I glance at Suho. He tries to hide it, but something is bothering him.

"Do you think they will come here?" He asks, his eyes droning to a distant memory.

"Devils? There are a lot of Djinns already... Normally, my normal response will be that I don't know. Will they come? I don't know." but that thing is... I know that they will come. "For some reason, I feel like they will come. Call it a gut feeling." My answer is vague, but my intention reaches him.

"I see... It is best we always assume the worst-case scenario..." Suho nods appreciatively, but clearly, there is this hopeful expectation in his eyes. If I am as ignorant as him, I will definitely feel the same.

The mention of the Devil has caused Nayun, Suho, and me to connect. This is our fortune. I have a hand in these connections being realized, and while this is happening not out of my clear intent. I believe I have become somewhat of an impetus.

If not for my shenanigans on the first day of class, Chae Nayun would not even notice me. At that time... The intent of my shenanigans is to create an impression on Kim Hajin and the main cast, but I manage to profit from something more.

This connection I have with Suho is something I value dearly.

And these connections will only continue to grow... to Yoo Yeonha, Shin Jonghak, Rachel, Kim Hajin, and maybe even to Chae Nayun who has been previously hostile to me.

"How did you die?' Suho asks, his eyes distant, perhaps reimagining the events before his eventual death.

I continue on my lie with my Akatrina origins. "I am lucky enough to not die at the hands of the Devil... I am stabbed to death by a manic bandit. My mind is pretty young and fragile back then, so I don't really remember well..." I fake genuine sadness trying my best to kill the conversation lest I reveal flaws of my deceit.

"Do you remember the grotesque big red monster? Back in Akatrina? Its name is Morax. That Devil… Those Devils... I don't want them to appear in this world." Suho adds, a bit glum, but he tries to show a more positive outlook while he recalls that horrifying memory.

To be honest. I have not seen it… Just read it…

I know Morax, he is the big bad of Akatrina. "I think I am already dead before I get the chance to see it." Again, another lie. To kill the lie, there must be closure to it. Thus, I fabricate my origin. "Maybe because I don't remember much, I died young… How young, I don't know… But I remember… I idolize you Savior-nim… I told you, right… I was your fan…"

A distant quiet grows between us while I try to correct my breathing. I feel that Kim Suho's meditation method is working less and less effectively for me... and quite fast, which is annoying.

And then, Suho notices. "Was? Why is it in the past tense?"

Instead of I am your fan, my words are 'I was your fan'.

I do not smile. It is only natural. I show him an indifferent look. "Because now, I am not your fan. I am now your supporter. We are comrades now, aren't we?" Such a cheesy line, but I like the way I am saying it to him. It fits just perfectly in the context.

***

Kim Suho. His 'Suho' means Savior or Protector. He doesn't know his parents' motives for naming him as such. Honestly, it is cringe, but he loves this name more than his name from his past life.

He walks back to his dorm in mindless contemplation.

Every time he ponders on his last world's ultimate fate, he only grows more scared for the world he currently lives in. Is this world next?

The end of the world, of Akatrina, of everything is what allows his transmigration. It is a morbid way to think, but if not for that impossible zillionth chance, he will not experience this paradise.

Yes, there are Djinns too, and a lot of villains. But this world is full of heroes. People who are more of a role model for him than the Knights and Nobles back in his old world.

Kim Suho loves this world more than his old world, and that is a fact. Thus, he decides to protect it with all his might. Becoming a Hero is just his first step toward his ambition of protecting this world.

"Chae Jinyoon," The name of Chae Nayun's big brother rolls sourly in his mouth. Kim Suho's mind wanders to the darker echoes of his imagination.

"Chae Jinyoon," The man who currently possesses the Devil's Seed.

A question that Suho dares not entertain enters his mind. His long-time friend and sparring partner, Nayun, how does she know of the Devil's Seed? The technology of this world is incredible but why use the exact term 'Devil's Seed'? This becomes a suspicious part of Nayun.

Maybe, he has to confront her.

No. He has to kill Chae Jinyoon.

That night, Suho cannot sleep as he turns left and right from his bed, thinking of ways to kill the Devil. Only he can do it. His attribute should be able to do it.

***

I wake up with a startle from my alarm clock.

"Oh shi— I am gonna be late…"

I make quick work of myself. No need to comb! I shower and brush my teeth at the same time. I wear socks and underwear at the same time. I wear my inner shirt and pants at the same time. I wear my shoes, and then… I tie my shoelaces while wearing my staple cube outer garment at the same time.

My hands are in a blur as I fix myself up. To think, that I am going to use dual wielding this way… It is just amazing. Maybe, this can be a form of a new training regimen. 

"Looks nice on you bro…" I praise myself in front of the mirror, exuding positive vibes.

"I FEEL LIKE CONQUERING THE WORLD!" I shout with spirit while I run for the portal station. It is a big day.

[Traveling Club Announcement] — There will be a short trip on Saturday for freshman orientation.

Yep. Today is Saturday, and I cannot be late for my Club Activities. Fortunately, I have arrived just in the nick of time. I am huffing and puffing and can hardly breathe. "H-Hajin… Lend me your shoulder, man…"

I use Hajin as my crutch while I adjust my breathing.

Yoo Yeonha passes by us, and suddenly comments. "Oh, it is the two crazies…"

Hajin, "???" He is entirely perplexed.

Meanwhile, I simply go my way of teasing Hajin. "Dude, I told you… The thing you did last time. It looks like you are definitely flirting with her… Now, she is calling you crazy..." I throw Hajin immediately under the bus when I know in fact I am also to blame for Yeonha's snarky remark.

Yeah, friendship, right?

My bad, Kim Hajin-ssi.