TRPM 161

chapter 161

Before I had gone back in time, I didn’t know.

And even until just a moment ago, I still didn’t know.

I didn’t understand why Jin Cheon-ha was trying to turn magic into sorcery, calling himself a Taoist, and aiming to become an Awakener who would conquer dungeons.

Even when I learned today that he came from a fairly well-off family, I couldn’t understand him any better.

But after watching his actions while facing goblins, I finally understood.

‘Jin Cheon-ha isn’t a person with some extraordinary ideology… he’s just an ordinary person who admires heroes.’

Until now, I thought there must be a special reason for Jin Cheon-ha’s obsession with sorcery and being a Taoist.

But after observing him today… I concluded that he’s simply indulged in self-importance since becoming an Awakener.

His obsession with sorcery and Taoist practices fits into the same pattern.

Probably, he used to dream while watching comics featuring Taoists, and after becoming an Awakener, he developed this strange belief that he himself had to be a Taoist.

‘It’s similar to Kang Garam’s situation, yet different.’

Kang Garam admired Awakeners who used swords, so she wanted to use a sword herself… Jin Cheon-ha, on the other hand, has become intoxicated by the omnipotence he feels as an Awakener who can do anything.

…It’s not just Jin Cheon-ha who has this problem. Children who awaken their abilities at our age often get easily captivated by the sudden power.

Considering that some even commit crimes under such influence, Jin Cheon-ha is relatively tame.

‘…No, normally by the time they reach high school, they come to their senses. But this guy, even after graduating high school and the Academy, still calls himself a Taoist…’

He’ll be difficult to treat.

Which is why he needs to be taught a sharp lesson.

Bam!

I punched a goblin apart as I spoke.

“Hey, you’re not seriously considering dungeon raids as a career, are you?”
“What…! Even if not now, in the future, I’ll be the strongest Awakener…!”
“Yeah. That’s all the answer I needed.”

The illusion that he could become the strongest.
The illusion that he’s the protagonist of this world.
The illusion that he can accomplish anything no matter how difficult.

“You’re not serious about dungeon raids.”
“What are you saying…! I…!”

Jin Cheon-ha shouted as if struck at the core of his being. But…

“If you were even slightly serious about dungeon raids, you’d at least remember the characteristics of goblins.”

Goblin traits.
There are countless types of goblins, each with their own traits, but the most well-known is that they are cunning.

“You underestimated goblins just because they’re among the weakest monsters.”

According to statistics, ironically, one of the main causes of Awakeners dying in dungeons is weak monsters like goblins or slimes.

Those who let their guard down against the weakest monsters met their end helplessly.

That’s why schools and the Academy repeatedly stress caution even with weak monsters…

“But someone like you, who has forgotten even that basic lesson, is unqualified.”

I said this, even considering taking away Jin Cheon-ha’s abilities through the Awakener system.

[…Of course, taking away powers would require trading with the system.]
[It would take me a week’s worth of points to turn an Awakener into a non-Awakener.]

But I decided against it.

This guy hasn’t committed crimes like the executives of the White Wolf Guild whose powers I took. He’s just wandering around with adolescent delusions.

Taking his powers away would be too harsh a punishment.

“Can I treat him now?”
“Yeah. Those goblins…”

At Lee Ha-eun’s question, I said it was okay to treat Jin Cheon-ha now, noticing the goblins sweating nervously as they looked at us.

“I’ll take care of them.”

In the next moment, the goblins’ heads vanished.

At least, that’s how it appeared to everyone else.

I swung my sword so quickly that they couldn’t even see it.

Gulp…!

Blood suddenly spurted from the goblins’ necks.

Seeing that, I spoke to Lee Ha-eun, who had finished treating Jin Cheon-ha in an instant.

“What should we buy on the way?”
“Hmm… how about the dessert shop in front of the school?”
“Again? Doesn’t matter… what time does it close?”

We had this conversation while leaving the dungeon, leaving Jin Cheon-ha and his followers frozen in place.

Back home, Jin Cheon-ha mulled over what Han Geon-woo had said.

“Indeed… I wasn’t serious about dungeon raids… and I’ve forgotten the basics…”

He had no choice but to admit Han Geon-woo was right.

“…Romance is fine, but I neither had the talent nor the effort to pursue it.”

He looked at the hanbok he had always worn.

Carefully folding it, he placed it into a box.

“The romance of childhood will remain only as a memory… now it’s time to face reality.”

The box with the hanbok was sealed deep under his bed.

The next day.

“……”

Unlike the past two days, Jin Cheon-ha came dressed properly in his uniform.

Instead of the fan he usually carried, he had a small staff.

“…Hello…”

He didn’t seem to have changed his speech habits.

Realizing that he still hadn’t corrected his speech, he hung his head, perhaps embarrassed at his past behavior.

“Hi, everyone… ah…?”

Even the teacher, who entered the classroom for morning assembly, seemed taken aback at first, but upon seeing Jin Cheon-ha acting normally, smiled and began calling attendance.

‘Well, at least…’

However, Jin Cheon-ha now communicated less with the other students than before.

At least, fellow boys Ryu Ah-min, Elliot, and Lee Doo-min would approach him first, and he would talk, but he flinched whenever he made eye contact with me.

It’s likely that yesterday’s events traumatized him.

Or perhaps, hearing what I said embarrassed him.

Either way, it would be difficult for him and me to become as close as we were before the time reset.

‘It’s a pity…’

Still, if he’s fragile enough to be traumatized by that, quickly changing his path is better for him.

With that in mind, I took out my smartphone to check some lists.

“What are you doing?”
“…Don’t you hang out with other girls?”
“It’s much more beneficial to build a connection with Geon-woo than to play with other girls.”

Elena said this as she peeked over my shoulder at my phone.

“…Clubs?”

I was looking at the school club list.

“Even if it’s a club, usually you just meet in the club room once a week for an hour or so.”
“…Only that little? How much do clubs in Korea usually charge as membership fees?”
“Huh?”

Hearing her, I realized something was off, remembering that she was British. I explained.

“I don’t know about British clubs, but Korean clubs don’t work like that.”

I scrolled down to find the club I had joined before the time reset.

‘Energy Arts Club.’

As the name suggests, this club studied martial arts found in martial arts novels.

Of course, they didn’t actually practice martial arts. It was more like a hobby club for reading such novels.

‘But before the reset, my presence changed things.’

The world’s only martial arts ability Awakener.

Because of me, the Energy Arts Club at our high school became a club that supported me.

Thanks to this, I could access various martial arts novels through seniors and peers in the club.

Seeing my gaze, Elena asked:

“Energy Arts… does that refer to the Eastern aura?”
“No, it’s similar, but not the same.”

I said that and pondered for a moment. Should I join the Energy Arts Club again this time?

‘Honestly, there’s nothing more to gain from it…’

Going to another club seemed pointless; there didn’t appear to be any club more beneficial than the Energy Arts Club.

“Hmmm…”
“If you’re unsure which club to join, why not come with us?”
“Huh?”

Turning to Elena, I saw not just her, but other girls too.

“So, are you all joining the same club?”
“Something like that. To be precise, we’re creating our own club.”

Ah, they want to start a new club?

That seemed possible.

Of course, it required recruiting a teacher as an advisor and reporting planned activities, which is cumbersome, but still doable.

“So, what kind of club are you planning?”
“If possible, we’d like a practical club related to dungeon raids…”
“That probably won’t work.”

As far as I know, a similar club already exists.

The school wouldn’t allow a duplicate club; they’d rather have students join an existing one.

‘Unless the club was proposed by British royalty, a grand mage, a globally influential manifestation user, or a rare alchemist, then it might be hard to refuse.’

I decided to keep listening to Elena.

“Do you have another idea?”
“Yes. We’re thinking of creating an Alchemy Club.”

Hearing that, I noticed the alchemist among the girls, Kim Eun-yeon.

Currently, no high school has an Alchemy Club.

Because there were no alchemists.

But now, with Kim Eun-yeon, there’s justification to create one.

In fact, they might actively create it to honor her.

“Sounds good.”
“Oh, but Eun-yeon placed a condition on joining the Alchemy Club.”

I turned to Elena. A condition? What condition?

“The condition is that Geon-woo joins the Alchemy Club.”

“…So that’s why you were trying to lure me in?”

I said, looking at Kim Eun-yeon.

“Potion pills… anything else?”

It seems she wants to pull me into the club because of the advice I gave her yesterday.

“I can’t think of anything else.”
“That’s fine… later, if you think of something, let me know.”

A strange desire flickered in Kim Eun-yeon’s eyes.

People with that look often persist until they achieve their goal.

Moreover, if I refuse to join now, not just Kim Eun-yeon, but the other four girls would likely hassle me too.

Deciding this, I nodded.

“Alright. I’ll join.”