Chapter 67

### Chapter 66, Part 3: Transformation Isn't Just for Riders! (2)

* * *

The Academy is a training ground for individuals with special abilities.

It is also a place where they hone how, where, and when to use their abilities.

In other words, the Academy prides itself on being a "specialized institution for training heroes."

The Academy teaches students to use the abilities they have learned and acquired without becoming villains, while also teaching them how to fight against villains.

Depending on one's perspective, this can be quite controversial, but some people refer to the Sejong Academy as a "military academy."

A training ground for combatants to fight against villains and demons.

While this description can make the actual ability users and their families quite uncomfortable, the curriculum does indeed include a significant amount of practical training.

The first major episode in the original story, "Treasure Hunt," is no exception.

This treasure hunt, which marks the end of the first volume, involves pairs of students setting out to find their assigned targets.

The field is the entire Sejong Island.

...However, each team has a designated area, and the main goal is to find items within that area, so there's no need to search the entire island.

­Wouldn't it be boring if we just searched? So, let's reduce the number of treasures to fewer than the number of teams.

­Do we really have to make them fight each other?

­The kids need a chance to use their abilities.

­We're making them fight each other legally?

­Of course. If they bring the treasure to the finish line, that's fine, right? As for what happens in the process...as long as no one gets seriously injured, we can let it slide.

To avoid the era of endless competition, the professors and teachers at the Academy turned the treasure hunt into an outright competition.

­We'll limit the number of students and distribute them evenly across the areas.

­So, there will be a first place in each area?

­Yes. The first-place winners will become aware of each other, and they'll grow by competing. Kids grow by fighting, don't they? Haha.

­But it would be problematic if they became demons.

­If they become demons in such a competition, they were bound to become demons eventually. We need to cut the moldy sprouts early. We need to nip them in the bud before they enter society. That way, other sprouts can grow better. Don't you think?

The professors at the Academy hold such views.

­Raising ability users is like growing fruit. We select the best and the good from many fruits to make them the 'heroes' of this era, and we place the average and the poor in the market. We need to filter out those with no commercial value, especially those with mold or disease.

­Ability users aren't as common as fruit, though.

­Ah, compared to the Middle East or Africa, we are the fruit. If we are the fruit, then they are the elephants, right?

­It would be fortunate to have even elephants. Haha. I agree with the professor. We need to cut the sprouts that will become villains or demons early.

An era where only the capable survive.

After the Great Cataclysm, the era of omnipotent abilities arrived.

­But will the students just participate in a training exercise called a treasure hunt?

­We'll make it a competition for grades, cash prizes, and excused absences. There's nothing more beneficial for the students.

Finding the treasure will earn you internal assessment points.

Finding the treasure will earn you a cash prize called a "gift card."

Finding the treasure will earn you an "excused absence" from the Academy.

­What?! You can get test scores, money, and holidays by finding the treasure?!

­Ah, treasure, great, hehe.

­It's called a treasure, but the reward for finding it is the real treasure, right?

The students' reactions were enthusiastic.

Even those who aren't interested in competition would want at least one of the rewards.

­So, if you find the treasure, you don't have to take the midterm exam and will still pass?

­That's right, student. If you've already proven your ability in the treasure hunt, why is the exam important? Of course, you can take the exam if you want.

­Ah, then I'll definitely find the treasure instead of taking the midterm!

For those who dislike studying, it's a way to get test scores without taking the exam.

­How much is the prize? Can I get a 5,000 won gift card? Haha.

­1,000,000 won?

­...Isn't 1,000,000 won just pocket change for an ability user?

­At least 1,000,000 won.

­Wow, it's a check, not a gift card?

­Apparently, the first-place prize is 100,000,000 won.

­Wow, crazy. Does this Academy have too much money?

­It has plenty.

­Ah.

A substantial amount for students who lack pocket money.

­Miss, will you participate?

­No, I don't need money, and I can get 100% on all my tests. Why should I team up with a partner I don't like and search the island?

­It seems that the number of excused absences you get depends on how quickly you find the treasure. The first place gets...five days off.

­...Then I can study during those five days! I'll go out right away!

­It's an excused absence.

­For me, studying alone is taking a break! Ho ho ho!

For those who want to use their time more efficiently, it provides autonomy.

This treasure hunt, one of the main events, has not caused major accidents in the past, but this year, with the protagonist's enrollment, is different.

As the climax of the first volume of the light novel, a major accident occurs.

And I am part of that event—

"Director Do, what are you doing on your day off during the treasure hunt?"

"I'm going to read a fantasy novel at home."

"......I thought you might participate."

"What? Chief. I'm a librarian. Why would a librarian participate in such training?"

I won't participate.

"I'm not a student or a teacher at the Academy. I'm a librarian."

"...What about the goblin?"

"The goblin is different."

I won't participate as Do Jihwan.

"If I go wild as a goblin on my day off, people might misunderstand. If a goblin appears, my alibi will disappear."

"So, I need to create an alibi."

I pointed outside to Chief.

"Want to go for a walk with me tonight?"

"A walk?"

"Yeah. To create an alibi for Do Jihwan."

* * *

Late at night, close to dawn.

"Goodbye."

Choi Gi-woo, the owner of Sejong Island's Hagul 24 'Nara' branch, sighed as he watched the staggering customers leave the convenience store.

"I want to be an ability user."

Gi-woo is not an ability user.

However, he works as the owner of a convenience store on Sejong Island, specifically a Hagul 24 chain store, because his younger sister is an ability user.

There is a 10-year age gap between him and his younger sister.

There are about four other siblings between them.

This year, his 10-year-old sister is working at the Sejong Island Academy, and Gi-woo, who has just turned an adult, is working on Sejong Island as her legal guardian and for her mental well-being.

In reality, he is working as a salaried owner of a convenience store thanks to his sister.

With a monthly salary of 6,000,000 won, E~D-class ability user students working part-time during the week, and only working at night, it's not a bad environment for Gi-woo.

The only thing that bothers him is that various incidents happen while he is manning the convenience store at night.

Ding dong.

The door opened, and a tall man wearing a black baseball cap, gray hoodie, and jeans entered.

Wearing a mask, he initially worried if it was a robber, but in Sejong Island, a robbery is as unlikely as a goblin living there.

"Welcome...sir."

Gi-woo started to greet the man but swallowed his saliva when he saw a woman following him.

The woman was also wearing a cap and mask but was dressed in a tight tank top and dolphin shorts, following the man.

Surely not.

Surely not for 'patriotism'?

"Can I buy a bottle of melon milk, honey?"

"Sure."

"Should we buy some beef jerky too? We're out of snacks."

"Beef jerky? Sure. But you said you don't like things that get stuck in your teeth, right?"

"If it gets stuck, you can take it out for me."

Ugh.

Gi-woo suppressed his annoyance.

'You're patriots, I get it, but do it at home!'

Why come to a convenience store for that?

There are no worse customers than these.

On the mainland, there are plenty of drunk uncles causing trouble or old men demanding cigarettes, but on Sejong Island, the convenience store at night has a different kind of trouble.

"Ha."

Gi-woo sighed as he watched the flies stuck to the glass wall.

'Those flies can reproduce, but what about me?'

"Check, please."

While Gi-woo was sighing, the couple bought various items and brought them to the counter.

"Can you give us a bag too?"

"Sure."

Gi-