Chapter 2

The test was over.

“…….”

A Grand Art that even an ordinary exorcist couldn’t comprehend in a lifetime, and Advanced Arts that were difficult to find anyone properly using unless they were ‘Named’ level. On top of that, various rare arts, barrier techniques, shikigami arts, and so on.

I could recall any art I had ever used in the game just by wishing for it.

“That’s an absurd advantage.”

It was the moment the ‘Intracranial Spell Repository’, merely a B-grade trait, transformed into an unparalleled cheat trait.

‘Of course, knowing them doesn’t mean I can use all arts.’

To put it extremely, with Han Kangyoon’s current stats, his body probably couldn’t even withstand intermediate-rank arts.

High-level arts or Grand Arts were out of the question, and there were many arts that required special conditions to use beyond simply knowing them.

‘But.’

There was a world of difference between never being able to use something and being able to use it someday.

And I was confident that given time, I could somehow reach that level.

‘An unexpected stroke of luck. With this, I can act a bit faster.’

Two months remained until the new semester began.

For me, who had planned to spend all that time learning basic arts, this was an incredible boon.

‘No time to hesitate.’

I decided to immediately launch the next plan.

As mentioned earlier, the top priority was finding a sponsor to escape Bihyeong’s marking.

So, where exactly does one find such a sponsor?

Actually, I had several candidates in mind.

But if asked whether the current me could reliably capture their interest, it was a bit iffy.

‘No, there is one person. Someone who would definitely react.’

‘Seo Jian’, one of the second-year students at Cheonghwa Academy, where I am enrolled.

With the cards I currently hold, I could definitely hook her.

‘She’s a character with not much information, so it’s a bit unsettling.’

In the original work, she was known as an eccentric in the second year, a character who only occasionally appeared in the main story.

She was essentially excluded from heroine positions, so less was known about her compared to other characters.

Despite that, her illustrations were so gorgeous that there were even rumors that someone on the development team had a personal bias.

‘But I need to find a sponsor sooner or later.’

If her family, which had amassed enormous wealth despite not being from one of the Three Great Noble Families, a major faction in the original, could sufficiently provide what I needed.

Thud. Thud.

So, right now, I was outside the dormitory for the first time since falling into this world, looking around.

“……Nothing particularly different.”

It was true.

Except for the school buildings scattered here and there within the grounds and the city area visible in the distance, there was nothing.

But since it was unmistakably a game world, there were several landmarks outside the academy that didn’t exist in reality. Visiting them someday would be a good experience.

‘Though, following the story, I’d probably end up going to a few of them whether I liked it or not.’

Whoosh.

A cold wind blew on the night. The place where my footsteps stopped was the entrance to the dense mountain stretching out from behind the school.

‘It helped that I meticulously read the side-story material.’

One of the settings revealed in the original work’s side-story novel.

Seo Jian trained in arts every night on the school’s back mountain during vacation.

Although I was half-doubting it since it was a setting from the novel, not the original game, it was worth checking since it was an official setting.

Thud. Thud.

Rustle.

After wandering around for dozens of minutes, gauging the path, I finally found the place I had been searching for and smiled.

‘Correct.’

Jade-colored hair reflecting moonlight. Eyes that seemed to hold the sea. It was Seo Jian, just like in the original illustrations.

‘It’s understandable why people said there was bias.’

As I stared blankly at the visuals that exceeded expectations, an intense gust of wind blew from above Seo Jian’s shoulder in an instant.

“Who’s there?”

To notice from this distance… truly the sensitive senses befitting a critically endangered natural-type sorcery user.

Since there was no need to be cautious, I pushed through the bushes, stepped forward, and showed my face.

“Hello.”

“…….”

Seeing my face, Seo Jian frowned as if a completely unexpected person had popped out and tilted her head.

Then, after a moment, she clapped her hands and spoke.

Clap!

“Ah, that record-setting dropout.”

“That’s a harsh thing to say all of a sudden.”

As an outsider, I didn’t mind, but if it were Han Kangyoon, he would have been quite deflated.

Since she was in Class 1-B, she must have clearly witnessed me achieving the school’s first-ever three consecutive demotions, so it was inevitable she remembered me that way.

“So, what’s the matter? Coming all the way here in the middle of the night like this, I can only think of nefarious purposes.”

“I could just be out for a walk to clear my head.”

“Say something that makes sense.”

At my playful words, Seo Jian’s expression turned cold, and she intensified the wind sphere.

It wasn’t strange for her to react that way.

This place, which she used as her training ground, was quite thoroughly concealed by her arts.

If I hadn’t had various information, with my current abilities, I likely wouldn’t have found it even if I died and came back to life.

I raised both hands, indicating surrender, and continued.

“Alright, actually, I came because I have something to say.”

“…Something to say?”

“To be more specific, a proposal.”

At my words, Seo Jian tilted her head as if to say, ‘Go on, try me.’ Luckily, she didn’t seem to have any intention of attacking.

“Since rumors are so widespread, you probably know my situation? I need a new sponsor.”

“Maintenance funds for the orphanage or whatever?”

“That too, and for personal use as well.”

Seo Jian didn’t seem to doubt my words themselves. That was natural, as rumors about me being short on money must have spread throughout the school.

But.

“Why come to me for that?”

Seo Jian had no reason to accept it. So, I had to create that reason from now on.

“Natural-type sorcery is tricky. It’s hard to learn, and since so few people use it, it’s difficult to follow precedents.”

“…….”

That’s why Seo Jian, who insisted on natural-type sorcery, was considered an eccentric within the school.

Generally, there was no reason to delve into natural-type sorcery, which was inefficient and difficult to grow.

But conversely, that’s why there was room for negotiation.

If she insisted on such an inefficient method to that extent, it was consistent with having some desperate reason of her own.

Fizzle.

Whoosh.

Behind me, after I finished speaking, a wind sphere identical to the one Seo Jian created rose up.

Seeing it, Seo Jian’s face openly showed a flustered expression.

“How did you…?”

It wouldn’t make sense within her common sense.

Because I, the so-called record-setting dropout, was skillfully using that notoriously tricky art.

Of course, with the help of the Intracranial Spell Repository, it was easy for me. Among all the arts I had used in the game, Seo Jian’s researched natural-type arts were also included.

“Just so you know, I can do others besides wind.”

Whoosh.

Splash.

A fireball and a water ball appeared one by each. Now, Seo Jian couldn’t hide her surprised expression.

“Impossible. Unless you’re a specter, a human can’t have that many affinities…”

“I can do earth too.”

Rumble.

As soon as I finished speaking, the pile of dirt in front of my feet rose up to ankle height. Seo Jian was left speechless.

“As you’ve confirmed, I can use all four commonly known types of natural-type sorcery.”

Of course, the power itself was insignificant. My specs were lacking from the start.

But, being able to use them was what mattered.

“…….”

“With this, don’t you feel like investing a little?”

I don’t know why Seo Jian was obsessed with natural-type sorcery, the epitome of inefficiency, but as long as that reason existed, she couldn’t possibly not be tempted by someone who could handle all four attributes.

Just having a companion to research cultivation methods that weren’t even properly established yet was a huge merit.

“That’s certainly true.”

“Then, shall we have a more detailed conversa…”

“But.”

As Seo Jian finished speaking, another wind sphere began to rise above her head. This time, with a much more ferocious momentum.

“Isn’t this too suspicious? The reason your funding became insufficient was because your grades dropped all the way to Class D, right? But if you could do this much, why did you quietly descend to Class D?”

“Uh…”

Hearing it put that way, it was true.

For me, since I had just fallen to this point now, I was thinking of improving my situation from here on out, but with this level of ability, there was no reason to have fallen to my current state in the first place.

‘Oh dear.’

The imposing aura of Seo Jian entering combat posture far exceeded initial expectations.

To have this scale while only having established the basics of natural-type arts… it was truly insane talent.

I hurriedly checked Seo Jian’s information using the Appraisal function.

【Seo Jian】

▶Level 31

▶Stats

【Stamina : C+】

【Spiritual Power : A+】

【Arts : B】

【Mental Strength : B-】

▶Traits (5/10)

【Water God (S)】

【Growth Acceleration (B)】

【Daughter of the Wind (B-)】

【Financier (B-)】

【Hawk’s Eye (C+)】

‘No way, with this, she had that little presence in the story?’

Traits and stats that felt luxurious compared to Han Kangyoon’s.

I felt like immediately confronting the developers. Strictly speaking, I was also part of the sequel development team, though.

“Hey, calm down and let me explain from the beginning, step by step.”

“If you feel threatened, wouldn’t an honest answer come out naturally?”

It wasn’t a wrong statement. But I couldn’t stand by if I were the target.

I sighed and recalled one of the arts I had used in the previous game. The effect of the Intracranial Spell Repository trait activated accordingly.

Fizzle.

Seo Jian is a character with many variables due to having little information. The reason I acted without much deliberation against such an opponent was simple.

“Talking is troublesome.”

Because I was confident I could handle any variable Seo Jian might cause.

Snap.

Whoosh.*

“Huh?”

The art deployment completed simultaneously with the snap of my fingers. With just that, the wind sphere Seo Jian had created vanished as if extinguished.

To Seo Jian, who was displaying a question mark without understanding the current situation, I delivered the finishing blow.

“If I help you, you can do this too. Things like this.”

Strictly speaking, natural-type sorcery had no formal stages like basic or advanced.

But precisely because of that, it was also a system with a clear hierarchy.

Whether increasing art efficiency, increasing affinity, or drawing more power from nature, neutralizing the opponent’s art was simple.

In short, I had just shown that I was clearly at a higher realm than Seo Jian in wind-type arts.

And Seo Jian must have understood that.

‘If she’s a nature lover, she can’t resist this.’

On Seo Jian’s face, which looked as if enchanted, the option of refusal had completely disappeared at some point.