The Academy Geniuses I Raised and Dressed

The next morning.

Instead of heading to Class 1-B’s room, I walked down the opposite hallway.

That was where the classrooms for Class 2-A and 2-B were.

Peering through the window of 2-A’s classroom, I spotted my target.

‘There she is.’

By the window on the training field side, sitting quietly in her seat.

Noting that homeroom wouldn’t start for a while, I carefully stepped inside.

“Oh? Isn’t that Nam Yein?”

“What, did you change your mind?”

“You came to invite someone to your squad, didn’t you?”

The moment I entered, a few students recognized me and started calling out.

“What? Nam Yein’s here?”

“No way!”

“Why’d he come?”

In seconds the room erupted, and soon I was surrounded by curious second-years, eyes full of questions and anticipation.

“Excuse me. Just passing through.”

I squeezed through the crowd toward the window seats.

Though nearly everyone had gathered to see me, my target hadn’t moved at all.

Her long pink hair fell to her waist, tied back only with a plain headband.

I stopped by her side and spoke.

“You must be Senior Seo Yui.”

The classroom stirred.

“He came to see Seo Yui?”

“Why her of all people?”

“Does he even know what she’s like?”

“If he didn’t, would he have come?”

“Then why, if he does know?”

Ignoring the whispers behind me, I waited until our eyes met.

Half-lidded, downturned eyes. A hollow, listless expression, like her soul had drifted away.

Exactly as Seo Yui appeared in the game.

“…Who are you.”

Her voice matched her face—weak and drained of energy.

“I’m Nam Yein from Class 1-B. I came to ask a favor of you, Senior.”

“What favor?”

“You were chosen as a HAUT member, weren’t you? Two of my friends, both first-years, were also selected this time.”

“Ah. Those kids. I remember now.”

She must have been recalling the award ceremony after we returned alive from the seventh floor of the dungeon.

“I was hoping you might join our squad. It would be good to prepare together before HAUT.”

“No.”

She shook her head.

The rejection came instantly.

“If you know about me, then you should also know—I don’t join any squad.”

She was right.

Since enrollment, even now in her second year, Seo Yui had never formed a squad with anyone.

By common sense, she should’ve been held back.

After all, relying only on dungeon drills and training sessions wasn’t nearly enough to gain the levels required to advance.

Yet not only had she progressed to the second year, she had also taken the top rank in her grade.

Rumors said she received special support to enter outside dungeons, or that the school gave her privileges—at least, that’s how her character description in Latesai explained it.

“Even so, I wanted to at least extend the invitation.”

“Sorry, but I have no intention of joining a squad. And I won’t be going to HAUT either. I turned down the selection.”

The classroom filled with sighs from the second-years.

“What the hell?”

“Then give me your spot!”

“Idiot. Do you think the principal would send you just because Seo Yui declined?”

While everyone else lamented, she herself looked perfectly indifferent.

“If you understand, then leave.”

Still with that drained voice, she turned her gaze back out the window.

“I understand. Then I’ll come again another time.”

She glanced back at me.

“I just told you not to.”

I answered with a smile, gave a slight bow, and headed for the door.

“Hey, Nam Yein, how about me instead? I’d join your squad right away.”

“We’re all level 23. We can boost you to 23 in no time!”

Several second-years tried to stop me with offers.

“Sorry. I only have Senior Seo Yui in mind.”

Silence dropped over the classroom.

I was sure, inwardly, they were cursing me as some arrogant bastard.

But my rule was simple: if I didn’t know the character from Latesai, they weren’t an option.

‘Better they lose interest and leave me alone. That’d save me trouble.’

Without looking back, I left the classroom.

As expected, I caught the muttered curses behind me.

When I stepped into my own classroom, Lumina spotted me and waved.

“You’re late today.”

“Yeah. I stopped by the second-years’ classroom.”

“Huh?” Her eyes widened.

“To invite someone into the squad.”

“So the person you wanted to add was a second-year?”

I nodded.

“What kind of person?”

“Her name’s Seo Yui. She’s ranked first in the second year.”

“Wha—?! First in her grade? So… what happened?”

“She refused. Said she doesn’t join squads.”

“Seriously? Even as a second-year? Then how does she go on independent practice?”

“Who knows?”

The truth was, she didn’t need to. Seo Yui had another way to level up.

Though it wasn’t a path she’d chosen herself.

“So if she rejected you, will you look for someone else?”

“No. I expected her to refuse. Today was just to introduce myself and leave an impression.”

“You went even though you knew you’d be rejected…?”

Her face showed nothing but confusion.

‘Unlike you, Seo Yui has a prerequisite quest.’

Just like with Meiling.

Until her problem was solved, she couldn’t become a companion.

‘Though judging by how it went with Meiling, I might not need to follow the game to the letter.’

After school, I spoke to both Meiling and Lumina.

“For now, you two handle the dungeons yourselves. Since we’ve already formed a squad, it’s fine if just the two of you go.”

“Huh?”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

They both stared at me in shock.

“Because I need to spend some time recruiting. There’s a member I want to bring in.”

“Recruiting? Isn’t it enough to just ask them to join?” Meiling asked.

“I already did. And got rejected.”

“What?! Who is it?”

“A senior named Seo Yui. She’s first in the second year. Says she never joins squads. And it’s true—she’s still not in one.”

“What a weirdo.”

‘You’re the last person who should say that,’ I almost retorted, but held it in.

“So why her? Why does it have to be her?”

“Because her ability is solid.”

And because she was a defined Latesai character. That mattered too.

“In any case, leave the tank recruitment to me. You two just keep building experience in dungeons. Stick to the second floor of the Bag Toter Mine for now.”

Then I stepped closer to Lumina and lowered my voice—loud enough for Meiling to still hear.

“Make sure Meiling doesn’t sneak back into the third floor. After last time, I bet she’s itching to try again out of spite.”

“Huh, um…” Lumina looked flustered.

On purpose, I’d said it clearly enough for Meiling’s ears.

“Hey! You think I’m stupid?!”

As expected, Meiling snapped.

“I don’t throw my life away so recklessly!”

“Good. I’ll trust you on that.”

With a wave, I left them and headed back to the dorm.

After changing into the luxury suit Meiling had once bought me, I left the academy.

My first stop, by taxi, was the bank.

When I came out again and flagged down another cab, the driver looked puzzled as I gave him the destination.

“Sir, what business could you have out there in the middle of nowhere?”

“There’s someone I want to meet,” I answered calmly.

“Hm.”

He didn’t ask further and pulled away from the curb.

About thirty minutes later, we reached a place even beyond Seoul’s outskirts.

Like the ruins where I’d once gone to look for Meiling, here too the marks of monster destruction scarred the landscape.

The difference was that, while that place had mostly low, abandoned houses, this one was filled with the husks of once-crowded office buildings—jagged steel frames and shattered glass windows glaring at the sky.

I slipped on the raccoon mask, a costume item I’d prepared beforehand.

‘Let’s see… there should be a marker.’

Recalling what I’d seen in the game, I scanned the surroundings. Soon I found it.

Sword, spear, and shield.

A neat line of symbols, as if pointing toward a hunter supply shop.

But this marker didn’t lead to anything so legitimate.

Following the trail for ten minutes—

“Found it.”

Nestled between the skeletal towers was a small prefab shack.

Circling around to the back, I found a stairwell leading underground.

I used my phone’s flashlight as I descended, until the wall lamps flickered to life.

“Stop.”

The word came from a burly man standing before a steel door.

Another equally large man stood beside him, both with guns holstered at their waists. Clearly not hunters or awakened.

Their eyes ran over my suit, uncertain what to make of me.

“How’d you hear about this place?”

“A friend told me. Said I could see something interesting here.”

I kept my tone even.

“You got a letter of introduction?”

I shook my head. Their faces hardened instantly.

“No introduction, no entry. Leave.”

“An introduction, huh.”

I muttered, slipping a hand into my pocket. At once, their hands twitched toward their guns.

“I figured I could buy one here.”

Their eyes widened as I pulled out a fat stack of cash—the money I’d withdrawn earlier.

“Well? Will you sell?”

In Latesai, non-hunters were always starving for money. Hunters only had to dive into a dungeon to make a living; ordinary people weren’t so lucky.

A moment later, I was waved through the steel door.

The corridor stretched long and bare, until suddenly it opened into a lavishly decorated hall.

Ornate lighting, carpets, and gilded fixtures gave it the feel of an upscale bar.

“Welcome, sir. Here alone?”

A man in a suit approached. His red hair and eyepatch stood out.

He smiled warmly, like a friendly neighbor, but in truth he was a level 50 hunter.

“Yes. Where are the spectator seats?”

“This way, please.”

I followed him to an inner door.

“Enjoy your evening,” he said, opening it.

Inside, masked figures filled the chamber.

Their clothing glittered with wealth: expensive suits, jeweled accessories, luxury watches instead of smartwatches.

It was like staring at a collection of walking billboards boasting, I’m rich.

Through the massive glass wall at the front, the arena lay below.

A dirt floor, high walls impossible to scale, barred gates on either side—

The picture of a gladiator’s pit.

Screens hung from the ceiling, displaying live feeds from cameras aimed at the field.

“I hear tonight’s full of fresh recruits.”

“Curious how many will make it out alive.”

Men in suits murmured to one another.

“I’ve bet a hundred chips on the Champion.”

“I put two hundred on the Challenger. Had a good dream last night. I think the arena’s about to see a new era.”

Nearby, women in evening gowns chatted brightly.

Before long, a flamboyantly dressed announcer strode to the center of the pit.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for waiting. Tonight, we begin the matches for the fourth week of April!”

Polite applause rippled through the seats.

“Our first bout: a five-on-five clash of bright-eyed newcomers! After that, Iron Armor Olivia will face Flame Fist Peng in a battle for survival! And finally, tonight’s main event—the April Championship Match! Our reigning champion, Lena Jeonhee, versus the Masked Fighter, Yumi!”

At the word “championship,” the spectators’ excitement spiked.

“Let us now welcome the newcomers!”

On the monitors, the barred gates creaked open.

The crowd erupted in cheers as the fighters stepped out.

“…”

Good thing I was wearing a mask.

Otherwise everyone would have seen the sour look twisting my face.

Because the so-called “fighters” emerging from those gates were nothing but children—barely in their early teens.

(End of Chapter)