“What are you doing tonight?”
“…”
This was the educational hospital of Han-yul Military Academy. Choi Soo-eun couldn’t seem to tear her eyes away from the screen of her smartphone.
At the same time, her finger was moving toward the [Send] button…
“Haa…”
But her hand stopped mid-way. She had once again failed to send the message.
She had failed again.
“Why can’t I stop hesitating over something as simple as sending a text…”
Today was the final day of the first semester’s academic schedule. It was also the day all exams ended.
In other words, the semester’s conclusion.
“Ugh…!”
To celebrate the end of the semester, Choi Soo-eun had planned a small after-party. The person she wanted to invite was Shin Yoon-seong.
She had tried to send a casual text suggesting they have dinner together, but…
It wasn’t as easy as she thought it would be. She didn’t know how long she had been wrestling with her phone.
“It was fine when I gave him the lunchbox…”
Exactly. When she had given him the lunchbox, it had been fine. She had known Shin Yoon-seong wouldn’t reject it since he liked her lunchboxes.
However, inviting him to dinner was different. It was almost akin to asking him out on a date.
If he rejected her, that would be the end.
“…”
That was why Choi Soo-eun hesitated to send the message, fearing he might turn her down.
Because her previous confession had been ambiguously brushed aside, she couldn’t help being extra cautious. If she were to be rejected again after proposing a date, the damage would be indescribable.
“But if I stop here… I’ll remain in this place forever…”
As the old saying goes, love begins with courage and self-confidence.
She should not fear things that haven’t happened yet.
She needed to be more proactive.
Only then could she seize love.
“Ugh…”
Once again, her hand moved closer to the [Send] button. If she just closed her eyes and pressed the button, everything would be over.
Once she sent the message, she would be free from her worries and uncertainties. She wouldn’t have to suffer like this anymore.
After that, it would only be Shin Yoon-seong’s decision.
“Senior!”
“Ahhh!”
While she was focused on her phone, someone tapped her shoulder from behind, startling her.
As a result, she accidentally hit the [Send] button, not by her own will but because of the other person.
“Huh? Senior, are you alright? Why are you suddenly all sweaty? Are you feeling unwell?”
“…”
What should she do?
What should she really do?
If she got rejected this time…
She couldn’t imagine showing her face around anymore…
A short while ago, she had retrieved the spoon she had entrusted to Yoo Ji-woo. It had taken exactly three days to complete.
“Heat Sink.”
To solve the overheating issue caused by overclocking, she had equipped the spoon with a heat sink.
There was no additional, cumbersome attachment. All she had done was coat the spoon with a special film.
Yoo Ji-woo explained that this was enough to control the temperature.
Since the words came from a genius engineer, there was no reason to doubt them.
“Now…”
The semester had just ended. Throughout it, she had completed various quests, gathering a good amount of skill points and acquiring new skills.
Just how much had she changed since the beginning?
She decided to check.
─── Andvari ───
Rank: Unique
▶Active Skills [Open]
▶Passive Skills [Open]
▶Functions [Open]
Available SP Points: 3
Item belonging to this character!
───
When she had initially obtained the spoon, all its active, passive, and functions were locked. Now, they were all unlocked.
She also had 3 available points remaining.
─── Andvari ───
▶Active Skills
[Telekinesis Lv.1]
[Overclock Lv.1] – New!
[???]
[Reflection Lv.2]
───
Looking at her Active Skills first, she could see that Overclock had now been permanently added to the open slot, not as a one-time ability.
This meant she could now use Overclock permanently.
───
▶Passive Skills
[Heat Sink] – New!
[Lightweight]
[???]
───
Next was the passive skills. There wasn’t much going on here; the only addition was the newly added Heat Sink.
───
▶Functions
[Gigantism]
[Blind Side]
[???]
[???]
[Symmetrical Output]
───
Lastly was the function slots. These were skills auxiliary to the Active Skills, functioning almost like options.
“I have 3 skill points.”
With the points available, she decided to enhance her skills right away.
Telekinesis was the first skill she wanted to upgrade, as it was one she used frequently both in combat and daily life.
[Telekinesis Lv.1 -> Lv.2 Achieved!]
[Telekinesis Lv.2 -> Lv.3 Achieved!]
She instantly upgraded Telekinesis from Level 1 to Level 3. This would allow for more precise movements and the ability to lift heavier objects.
“Let’s see…”
Since she had upgraded it, it was time to test its performance.
She enlarged the spoon and levitated it to waist-level using Telekinesis, before climbing atop it.
“Ugh.”
It was a bit precarious, but at this level, riding the spoon was doable.
She had progressed significantly compared to the beginning.
“I’ve done it! I’ve truly succeeded!”
That’s when it happened. Someone plopped their butt onto the handle of the spoon. In an instant, an enormous weight was added.
Bang!
Naturally, the spoon couldn’t bear the weight and collapsed.
“Keh…”
Simultaneously, she fell backward.
Whoever this was, they crushed the spoon effortlessly. Their weight must have been in the middleweight category or higher, probably.
She identified the figure.
“Hm? A Mega Boob Monster? Now it all makes sense.”
“Could you please take out the ‘Mega’? No, actually, could you first address the ‘Boob Monster’ issue….”
“Understood. Correcting that, a Degenerate Underwear Thief has arrived.”
“Eek…!”
Was a bad memory resurfacing? Arna’s brow furrowed sharply, and steam began to rise from her scalp.
She looked ready to pounce on me at any moment.
“Hmph….”
But she didn’t raise her hand. Arna was calming herself with deep breaths.
“So, what is it? Mega Underwear Thief.”
“Either Mega Boob Monster or Degenerate Underwear Thief, choose one. What do you mean by that?”
“Alright then. DegenerateUnderwearThiefMegaBoobMonster.”
“Are you seriously combining them all into one…?”
Hot! At that moment, Arna jerked in surprise, realizing the conversation had derailed.
“Hmph!”
Arna cleared her throat to shift the mood.
Then, with a brightened expression, she continued.
“Hehe, I’ve done it! I’ve truly succeeded!”
“What have you achieved? Did you maybe increase your weight category? From middleweight to heavyweight? So you’re a Heavy Boob Monster now?”
“Leave that out! It’s about the Individual Tactical Assessment! I just came back after clearing S-level difficulty moments ago!”
So what. Was she just here to brag about that? I thought there was something else considering all the fuss.
Still, since she worked hard for it, a bit of praise wouldn’t hurt.
“That’s great news.”
“What’s with that lackluster response?”
Does Arna know the reason she passed those evaluations was because of me?
Because I went through all sorts of quests and struggles, she could grow.
Certainly, she put in some effort herself, but my contributions played a significant role in her success.
Just look at this. Arna, who had been stuck indoors training for days, completed her evaluation in no time. Right after stealing my underwear.
What does that mean? That the stats she received then largely influenced her success in passing.
Anyway.
Arna has steadily grown stronger, and watching her from the sidelines gives me a subtle sense of pride.
Of course, I have no intention of showing that.
After all, I’m the villain who’s supposed to torment her.
“Ugh… I came here first to share this news…”
“Hm? I was just thinking and didn’t hear that.”
“Alright then! I said nothing!”
Ding!
At that moment, an alert sound rang out. It was coming from Arna’s smartphone.
Incidentally, it wasn’t my smartphone but hers.
Ding!
Ding!
The sound didn’t stop after the first one. It continued ringing insistently.
“Look! My Instagram is blowing up!”
Arna proudly showed me her smartphone.
As it turned out, her Instagram had erupted with congratulatory messages. She was famous for a reason.
“…”
In contrast, my smartphone remained as silent as ever, just like always.
Ding!
Then, another notification chime rang out. This time, it wasn’t from Arna’s phone but mine.
“Hm?”
The timing couldn’t be more perfect. So, you’re cheering me up too. This proved I wasn’t a friendless loner.
“Who’s it from?”
Was Arna curious because my phone finally received a message? She edged closer to see who had contacted me.
It was likely one of them.
Rashid or…
Yoo Ji-woo or…
Kang Tae-hoon.
If not them, maybe Kim Han-bit.
If not even her, then Moon Shin-chung?
With no great expectations, I pulled out my smartphone.
And checked the message.
“What are you doing tonight?”
