I Became an Illegal Cheat User

120 – Second Semester (2)

Written on the hologram screen.

And the words that came from Kang Cheol-soo’s mouth.

Second semester.

For my peers, it’s a new beginning and a renewal of daily life.

For me, it’s the tail end of the story’s early phase, a threshold into the middle.

Of course, the story is a complete mess, long twisted beyond recognition.

And it’s no wonder.

At this time, Gray, the commander of the 9th Punitive Unit, who should have been stationed at the northern outpost, met her at the alchemy workshop.

From the moment I realized that a named corruptor, who shouldn’t have known of my existence yet, was taking an interest in me.

The gears of the story began to creak.

Mid-evaluation.

As the corruptor invaded the deserted island and the pride attacked the academy, the story began to twist in earnest, like a train derailing from its tracks.

Twisting soon leads to change.

And change means variables.

Summer vacation, internships.

Things that shouldn’t have happened, that had never occurred in the game.

A large-scale corruptor assault on the outpost of the punitive unit.

The named corruptor, Greed, who would appear much later, launched an attack.

This led to an accelerated identification of corruptors, ahead of schedule.

And not long ago.

The highlight of the first semester, the main quest.

The duel season.

Originally, it was supposed to be a scheduled affair where corruptors, led by named ones, would launch an assault.

But in reality, it wasn’t just one or two named corruptors that attacked the academy; it was four named corruptors along with the Apostle and a large-scale horde of corruptors and monsters.

What was supposed to be an assault of a unit had transformed into an invasion of a legion.

Given this, I can’t help but worry.

What incidents and accidents will occur in the second semester?

What preparations should I make to ensure that the main characters and those around them stay safe?

‘Still, it’s a blessing in disguise.’

The story had become a mess, but the core remained the same.

I prepared for the upcoming episodes and events, anticipating the variables that would arise, and focused on the voice of Gang Cheol-su, who was explaining the 2nd semester curriculum.

As I did so, I gazed at the hologram screen in front of me. And then, the schedule for when and where each class would take place was revealed.

“Hmm… it’s clear that there will be more training than theory in the 2nd semester.”

Especially the training sessions our class frequently had.

There were more villain response training, corruptor response training, and adaptation training for the hidden world (simulations).

In other words, the proportion of indoor classes decreased, and outdoor classes increased significantly.

That’s why…

“Wow… outdoor classes have increased a lot.”

“It’s better to have more training than tedious theory classes… but isn’t it too much?”

“This is really the 2nd semester, isn’t it…”

I heard murmurs of discontent from all around.

I couldn’t help but smile at their grumbling.

“It’s because we’re in an academy, after all.”

Everyone may be twenty years old, but their behavior was no different from that of high school students.

But that thought only lasted for a moment.

The smile on my face disappeared.

I thought about the dark future that awaited me, a future that only I knew about.

My mouth felt dry as I recalled that ominous future.

“…How long can I maintain this bright atmosphere?”

Can I overcome it?

Can I eliminate the apostles and foreign gods?

Can I protect the people in this classroom?

“…It’s heavy.”

My shoulders felt unbearably heavy.

I knew the future.

I had experienced destruction.

The weight of that knowledge was crushing my shoulders.

But I wanted to get used to it.

The responsibility of knowing the future.

The mission to prevent destruction.

So I want to endure it.

The burden that presses down on me and binds me.

“But when I think about it.”

Do I really need to carry this burden alone?

‘Is it really necessary for me to know the future?’

For example, the transcenders.

The principal, the head teacher, and the great saints.

If I tell them about the future, they might believe me.

Of course, I don’t know if they’ll believe everything I say.

The future I know is incredibly harsh and dark.

‘…No, they might believe me.’

The invasion that occurred during this season’s duel.

As much as I’ve prepared for that invasion.

The head teacher, the great saints, and the inspectors will probably believe me.

And the principal….

‘Even if I lie, they’ll probably believe me.’

I don’t know why, but the principal has always been very kind to me.

If I were to give an example of the favor system.

It would be contempt, indifference, normal, interest, friendship, trust, and affection.

The principal’s attitude towards me seems to be one of trust.

So much so that.

I should tell the transcenders.

About the future that’s to come.

But first.

The dimensional rift in the Academy’s sky needs to be restored.

“Is it around 20% done?”

When I last saw it before class, there was still a long way to go.

And yet, even after several days, the restoration is only around 20% complete, which makes me think…

‘It should take about one to two weeks, at the very least.’

So, in the meantime, I should focus on my classes.

Once the scar restoration is complete and I hear from the Great Saint, then I can inform the transcendent beings.

Just as I was planning that.

“Lee Yu-jin.”

Kang Cheol-soo called my name.

When I responded with, “Yes?”

He asked, “So what do you think?”

“…Think?”

“Yeah, your thoughts.”

Um… I’m not sure.

I couldn’t provide a proper answer to his question.

But I couldn’t just say I wasn’t listening because I was lost in my own thoughts.

So I racked my brain as much as I could.

What exactly did Kang Cheol-soo ask?

What prompted him to question me?

I tried to understand his intentions.

But as much as I couldn’t grasp what he was saying,

No matter how much I thought, the answer eluded me.

In the end, I was about to come clean.

No, I intended to.

Tap, tap.

If the pink-haired angel sitting next to me hadn’t whispered the answer.

“…He was asking whether we would have theory class today or an outdoor class.”

“…Thank you, Asuka.”

I whispered my gratitude to Asuka, who had clarified Kang Cheol-soo’s question for me.

Then I hurriedly replied to Kang Cheol-soo’s inquiry.

“Of course, it’s an outdoor class.”

“Isn’t it?”

Kang Cheol-soo grinned at my answer.

And so, a loud cheer erupted from all sides.

“Wow, top student! We believed in you!”

“How can you teach a class on the very first day of the second semester!”

“Hey, Miss! Just take it easy on us today!”

No, we will have an outdoor class.

I will never hold an indoor class, not even if you all wish for it, yearning for ease and comfort within the classroom.

My smile shattered their cheers even more.

‘Go on, keep cheering.’

It will only make the training more challenging.

“Instructor, how about we have an outdoor class and make it a training session to respond to villains?”

“Hmm, that could work.”

Steel man hesitantly agreed.

And in contrast, the students cried out.

“Ah, top student!”

“Don’t you dare, you b*stard!”

“Are you trying to make us suffer in this heat?”

They wailed, lamenting the future brought to them.

As I smirked at their reactions, I felt a sudden sharp pain in my side.

I turned to look and saw.

“Eep…”

Asuka glared at me, her eyes wide.

“Top student, you’re too much.”

Judging from Asuka’s reaction, it seems she also wanted an indoor class.

‘Well, you should have said something.’

I would have at least considered it.

Of course, not having an outdoor class or training is not an option.

Yet,

“I’m a bit sorry.”

I smiled wryly and gently patted Asuka’s head, smoothing her hair.

&

The outdoor class that started on the first day of the second semester.

Of course, there were students who complained to Kong-sul because they wanted to have theoretical lessons and rest comfortably indoors.

“I know you all want to rest today, considering it’s the first day of the second semester. But think about what happened a few days ago. If it weren’t for the academy’s prior preparation, everyone would have been in a very dangerous situation. That’s why I hope you all undergo training.”

The invasion that occurred during the fight season.

Recalling the incident that Kong-sul mentioned, the students fell silent, and willingly got up from their seats, heading towards the practice field.

They all know why.

Why Kong-sul insists on outdoor class and training.

Thanks to the academy’s prior preparation, everyone was safe from the recent threat. But next time, there might not be such luck.

That’s why they must protect themselves.

To do so, they need training, strengthening both their bodies and minds.

But still, starting with training on the first day?

During the first semester, didn’t they have more outdoor classes than theoretical lessons?

Weren’t they the most strict among the classes, even more so than the second-year students?

So shouldn’t they be allowed to have at least one easy day of classes today?

The curriculum doesn’t have many theoretical lessons written down, and today, they should learn even more theories.

“It seems like you’re thinking that.”

He would probably think so.

The students’ expressions were devoid of motivation.

The ruined cityscape.

Upon arriving at the villain response training simulation field, my sigh grew even deeper.

“Alas.”

Facing those students, I gently lowered my head.

“There’s nothing to be done.”

If you don’t have the will, I’ll make you have it.

I opened my inventory.

And from it, I took out a box and a golden apple, excluding the elixirs I’ve obtained so far.

Then, the gazes of my teammates, who were slacking off without any motivation, fixed on me.

“I’ll give you a quest.”

I put the elixirs in the box.

And clang, clang, I made the sound of the elixirs colliding as I continued speaking.

“Whoever catches me during today’s training will receive this box of elixirs.”

“…….”

“…….”

My teammates’ movements came to a halt.

No, to be exact, their bodies froze, except for their eyes.

Huff, huff.

I could hear their rough breathing.

As I shook the box, their eyes shook too.

At the sight of my teammates, I let out a sly smile and put the box back in my inventory. And then, I jumped.

I leaped onto the building in the training grounds, my feet pounding the ground.

And I reached into my still-open inventory.

Rustle.

I took out a set of clothes and changed into them via transmission.

It was the first time I’d worn them since the initial Villain Crow response training.

I’d refined the outfit to make it even more intimidating.

Hsss…, huff.

Hsss…, huff.

In my Villain Crow attire.

『I need to get serious now.』

I didn’t have any intention of going easy on them.