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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Something Precious...
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All students checked the missions assigned to them by the spinning wheel.
Some smiled in relief, having received relatively easy assignments, while others despaired, burdened with difficult tasks.
"Something's fishy... This is rigged..."
There was also a man who had spun first, yet kept pouting and grumbling.
Unfazed by such insolent reactions.
"The submission deadline is one week from now! Whether you borrow it, steal it, or simply receive it, that's up to your individual capability! Getting help from others or working together is also a skill, so don't hesitate to use any means necessary! And remember, submitting early earns bonus points, so keep that in mind if you want excellent grades!"
With the shout of Bandit King Seo D. Ohui.
The world entered the Great Age of Thieves.
The first thing to happen was a negotiation.
Cheon Ruri confidently stomped up and stood before Geum Sihyeon.
"The scroll."
Seeing the scroll in Ruri's hand, which read [Bring the scroll from the 2nd floor of the female/male dormitory], Geum Sihyeon replied magnanimously.
"What's the price?"
The Demonic Heavenly Soccer Kick accurately struck Geum Sihyeon's shin.
Faced with overwhelming Demonic Cult violence, the rising star responsible for the future of the Orthodox Faction ultimately surrendered, tears streaming down his face.
"Hmph, tsk."
Mo Yongtaek clicked his tongue, watching the scene.
"What."
"..."
As soon as a sharp gaze turned his way, he immediately invoked his right to remain silent, safeguarding his life.
It was a dismal scene where even the subtle familial affection of trying to support his sister crumbled before such brutal force.
After the 'pet Ruri', having achieved her objective, was led away by Myo Narang.
The three idiots shared their missions with each other.
"Hmm... My mission is to bring one bead from the prayer beads held by the Buddha statue in the Dean's office."
"Right. Good luck with that."
"What."
After quickly writing Unhak off.
Geum Sihyeon scanned Mo Yongtaek up and down, sizing him up.
Would this bastard be included among Sister Seol's precious things?
According to common interpretation, family is a heavenly bond, and naturally, they could be considered precious.
But people always think within the confines of their own experience.
Geum Sihyeon superimposed the most rational example from his own life.
His younger sister, Geum Siyu.
Precious? Not particularly.
Did he want to abandon her? One could say yes, as he wanted to marry her off somewhere he'd never see her face again for the rest of his life.
Of course, if she got beaten up by someone other than him, that might be annoying.
But he concluded that she certainly didn't fall into the category of "precious."
Geum Sihyeon cleanly abandoned the plan of throwing Mo Yongtaek in front of Seo Dohui.
It was a classic case of seeing things through his own narrow lens.
"H-hey, Brother Geum, don't be like that, what's your mission?"
Unhak subtly draped an arm over Geum Sihyeon's shoulder.
Truly the camaraderie of a beggar.
And the action of a martial arts genius who had seen through the potential of the Silver Concealment Art.
There was no particular reason to shake him off, and fortunately, Unhak, who had finished his ritual bath this morning in preparation for the exam, didn't smell like a beggar.
Geum Sihyeon handed Unhak the scroll with his mission written on it.
"Huh..."
Unhak let out a groan.
"What about you, Yongtaek?"
"Bring a component from the Imaginary Sword Debate video playback device..."
That was a difficult mission in its own way.
Everything in the world functions properly only when in harmony.
If even one component was missing, it was highly likely to stop functioning immediately, and Simnyeongak was the most popular place in Baekhwahakgwan, never empty of people, 24 hours a day.
"Hmm..."
"Uhm..."
Geum Sihyeon and Mo Yongtaek simultaneously groaned.
Of course, there weren't many easy-looking tasks on the daunting spinning wheel, but these three idiots had managed to pick out only the particularly tricky ones.
"But, ahem, hmm, if you're talking about something precious to a woman, ahem, then surely..."
Unhak made a strange expression, mixing coughs with his words.
The same image flashed in all three men's minds.
"Gah—"
Mo Yongtaek's kick landed precisely in Unhak's groin.
Geum Sihyeon averted his gaze from the sight.
A short while later.
The three men, having coordinated their plans to some extent, went their separate ways.
Geum Sihyeon headed to Simnyeongak for the Imaginary Sword Debate device.
Unhak went to the main building to secure an infiltration route to the Dean's office.
And Mo Yongtaek immediately sought out Mo Yongseol.
"Oh, it's Yongtaek? What's up?"
"...Even you, Sister, are calling me that?"
Mo Yongtaek sighed.
The muck stirred up by Geum Sihyeon was splattering everywhere, eroding his prestige.
Cowardly Taek, Cold Water Taek, Lava Taek.
Even Yoogwang-Taek, whose meaning he couldn't even fathom...
But without a moment to dwell on his anger, Mo Yongtaek's eyes, which had suddenly looked up at Mo Yongseol, filled with horror.
"What on earth is that getup?"
"Oh, calling your lovely sister 'that getup'..."
"...Did you eat something weird?"
Mo Yongtaek wanted to pluck out his own eyes and cut off his ears.
Instead of her usual neat hair, what on earth was that ridiculous pigtail braid...?
And that coquettish way of drawing out the ends of her words.
Secretly suspecting that his sister had finally fallen into Qi Deviation, Mo Yongtaek desperately tried to ignore the unsightly display.
"Sister, do you have something precious?"
Instead, he threw out the question, hoping to escape this terrible experience as quickly as possible.
Mo Yongseol's eyebrow twitched slightly.
"...Why do you ask that? Suddenly?"
"Come on, can't a brother and sister... ask such a question?"
Listening to Mo Yongtaek grumble.
Mo Yongseol's head spun.
When she had conspired with Seo Dohui, they had clearly intended to assign 'that mission' to Geum Sihyeon no matter what, so why was her brother coming to her with the question?
According to the original plan, since only the two of them were actively involved and had connections in Baekhwahakgwan, given Geum Sihyeon's personality, he should have come directly to one of them to ask...!
Suddenly, her eyes caught sight of the scroll Mo Yongtaek was holding.
*Whoosh!*
"W-what, what was that, suddenly?"
Lightly ignoring Mo Yongtaek's protests, Mo Yongseol impatiently unrolled the scroll.
[Bring one component from the Imaginary Sword Debate video playback device installed in Simnyeongak]
"Hee-hee."
Mo Yongseol's eyebrows returned to their original position.
Instead, her eyes curved into a wide smile.
*Hehehe.*
He was too embarrassed to come himself, so he sent Taek instead...!
That means.
As expected, as expected, it's for me...!
Feeling a little more sibling affection well up inside her.
Mo Yongseol stroked Mo Yongtaek's head.
Under her ominous intensity, Mo Yongtaek trembled like an electrocuted mouse, unable to find a moment to resist.
"Well done, my good little brother."
"Uh, uh..."
"Hahahaha. Tell him if he comes himself, I'll be *very* kind and tell him?"
"Uh, uh-oh..."
Mo Yongtaek felt a shiver run down his spine, struggling to maintain his expression.
"You should get married soon, shouldn't youuuu? Riiight? Hahaha..."
Mo Yongseol's terrifyingly smiling face.
Mo Yongtaek couldn't bring himself to look at it.
And he was conflicted.
Was it truly appropriate to throw his friend into the nest of a frost spider, waiting only to ensnare its prey?
* * *
"Haaah..."
Simnyeongak was still bustling with people.
They said the popularity of Imaginary Sword Debate had surged even more after the Imaginary Sword Debate Competition ended...
No, it's final exam season.
These bastards, aren't they studying?
He observed the faces of the people filling Simnyeongak, a hint of pity in his gaze.
"You good-for-nothing. Why are you here?"
"What? Let me tell you now, I won't cross swords with someone who's 0 wins and 5 losses in 5 matches."
"Aargh...!"
Mo Yongwicheon, whose appellation had somehow progressed from 'lowly one' to 'less lowly one' and now 'good-for-nothing', was about to act cocky, so he immediately suppressed him.
How dare a rookie speak to a master?
Ignoring Mo Yongwicheon, who staggered away with a heartbroken expression, he glared at the video playback device hanging from the ceiling.
If he jumped with all his might and snatched it, it wasn't out of reach.
But could he shake off those Imaginary Sword Debate zombies, whose eyes gleamed ominously as if they'd already accepted poor grades or academic probation?
That seemed a bit too much.
Moreover, considering the resentment that would build up from such an action.
The risk he'd have to take just to help that Scumbag Taek get good grades was absurdly high.
[Cheon Ruri: Bring me the scrollllll]
[Cheon Ruri: And sweets]
[Cheon Ruri: I want ice cream too]
[Cheon Ruri: Can't find anywhere selling them these days?]
"...Am I her wallet?"
He frowned, looking at the chat messages with their drawn-out word endings, wondering if some Ice Princess from somewhere else had possessed her.
For the Little Cult Master to be so poor she couldn't even freely buy a single sweet or ice cream—what an impoverished Demonic Cult.
If they were in such financial straits.
If he mobilized the financial power of the Ten Thousand Gold Pavilion, couldn't he just buy the entire Demonic Cult?
If he bought them whole, that arrogant nose...
Buy them, whole.
"!"
I've lost my original intention.
Problems are originally meant to be solved with money.
While neglecting the noble duty of a chaebol's youngest son.
Hadn't he, at some point, started trying to solve problems with dirty tricks, like martial arts?
This is a point for reflection, deep reflection.
I confidently walked to the Simnyeongak reception desk.
And.
"This video playback device. Isn't it a bit old now? Do you have any intention of replacing it with a new model? Oh, it's free of charge."
Rank 1 is Geum Sihyeon, with 100 trillion in assets.
It was limited to the Imaginary Sword Debate Competition, but still, I was the first official tournament winner.
Two shijin (four hours) later.
Lured by the bait of ten times the dispatch fee, the staff from the Ten Thousand Gold Pavilion's Xi'an headquarters flew over as if performing sword flight, bustlingly completing the replacement work.
"Thank you, Great Hero Geum Sihyeon!"
"Geum Sihyeon! Geum Sihyeon!"
"The Ten Thousand Gold Pavilion is divine...!"
"The picture quality...! I can see the pores!"
"Gasp, even underwear was rendered...!"
"King Sihyeon! Emperor Sihyeon! Living Legend, Living Legend, Legend Incarnate!"
"Tsk... For someone quite useful..."
Thanks to the picture quality improvement from CRT to LCD level, the interior of Simnyeongak truly transformed into a pandemonium.
I, Geum Sihyeon!
He reveled in the feeling of being praised.
When he returned to the dormitory, carrying the old Imaginary Sword Debate device he had simply detached, Mo Yongtaek, who was already back, wore an astonished expression.
"...You didn't just rip it off haphazardly, did you?"
"I bought it."
"Bought it?"
When he explained the full story to the disbeliever.
"...I'll definitely repay this favor some day—"
"It amounted to tens of thousands in gold, though?"
"—There's no need to. We're friends, after all."
"Typical Petty Taek."
Yongtaek couldn't bring himself to retort and averted his gaze.
Instead.
"I usually wouldn't say something like this, but..."
"What is it?"
"Sister, no, avoid meeting Mo Yongseol alone..."
"!"
He glimpsed cosmic horror in Mo Yongtaek's trembling pupils.
What on earth had he been through?
"If you put it that way..."
I decided to humbly accept my friend's advice.
Anyway.
He had already found his own answer.
* * *
The next morning.
The first person to submit their practical exam answer appeared at Seo Clan Manor.
It was Geum Sihyeon.
"...Already? No way?"
Seo Dohui's pupils trembled subtly.