Chapter 53

Joo Yian-ssi tried to reassure me, but it had little effect.

Tone-deafness doesn’t discriminate against songs!

As I trudged out with a dejected face, Shin Jae-heon chimed in on chat after a brief pause.

He was so frantic he even had typos. He knew my singing skills all too well, so it was understandable.

“Ready, student?”

The music teacher’s sharp gaze turned to me.

I stumbled up to the podium in a daze and cleared my throat.

“Y-yes.”

No, I’m not! But saying that would tank the satisfaction, so I played the yes-man.

“Then, begin.”

The baton started moving.

I thought an SS-rank dungeon would be tough to clear at first. But since it was an RP dungeon, as long as we followed the standard RP rules, it shouldn’t be too bad.

But then? A sudden music exam?

Messing up an RP dungeon spawns a boss stronger than usual.

But if that boss is SS-rank?

It’d be a walking catastrophe.

“Ahem.”

I pretended to clear my throat.

It’s fine! The national anthem I’ve sung—or at least known—for 27 years!

I can do this!

Pumping myself up, I opened my mouth.

“East↗ sea↗ wa~ters~”

And the moment I started, the music teacher flinched.

“Shin Yuri?”

I quickly stopped singing. Anyone could see her expression was twisted in horror.

“Ah, my throat’s a bit hoarse. Ahem ahem!”

While pretending to loosen up, I frantically chatted.

Didn’t I sing it well?

This was the most sincere effort I’d put into any song in 27 years?

But the hunter chat was merciless.

Did they have to be that firm about it…?

I racked my brain to recall as best I could.

And opened my mouth again.

“East sea’s waters―♪”

Fortunately, the first syllable was right, and the music teacher closed her eyes, focusing on conducting.

Good!

“Dry and worn away♬”

But as it went on, the music teacher’s face started to dry up and wear away itself.

“Mu-gung-hwa three thousand li…”

Almost done! Just a few lines left!

I knew it, but the anthem felt too long. Was it always this long?

Why’s it dropping so fast!

“Geat Korean people, true Korean↗”

This is gonna go negative! My heart raced, and my singing sped up.

And soon.

“…preserve our path↘♬”

I survived! I thought it was the real boss for a sec!

And Shin Jae-heon in the system window was already geared up for battle.

Just draw his sword, and he’s good to go. Standby complete.

I wanna smack him once!

“This is…”

Anyway, once the horror of singing ended, the music teacher spoke up.

Her face was one of pure shock.

“How.”

Her mouth, as if witnessing new horizons in music, poured out praise.

“Not a single note or beat on key! Terrible! This is an insult to my ears!”

“Get out! Stay out of my sight!”

Ugh! Just looking at my face pisses her off!

I quickly covered my face and scurried back to my seat.

Shin Jae-heon, who had deactivated his buffs, was in awe.

Now’s the time to admire?

As Joo Yian-ssi healed me, So Yeri let out a sigh.

Seeing how serious she was, she’d been pretty worried too.

“Next.”

But the music teacher, unconcerned with our plight, called the next name immediately.

“Student Shin Jae-heon.”

Shin Jae-heon? We’re saved!

He was flawless in music, art, or any performing arts.

The satisfaction could skyrocket!

“Then I’ll begin.”

Shin Jae-heon politely bowed to the teacher and cleared his throat.

And the moment he started singing.

The satisfaction started climbing.

Relief, but kinda annoying?

Plus, unlike during my song, her face was in pure bliss.

No, can she switch attitudes that fast just from seeing a student’s face?

“…protect us and let our nation forever stand♬”

The satisfaction rose in real-time.

It soared without limit until his song ended at 89.

“Hoo.”

The music teacher, who had been reveling in his song, opened her eyes.

She clutched her heart dramatically.

“Perfect! Not a single note or beat off! I could record this for the textbook! Perfect!”

She even gave a thumbs up.

Shin Jae-heon casually returned to his seat. Come to think of it, back in high school, it was similar—except for the part where the enraged teacher becomes the boss.

“Next, Joo Yian!”

Then the music teacher thunderously called Joo Yian-ssi.

He gave us a gentle smile. We all waved back with relieved faces.

Joo Yian-ssi’s ASMR YouTube channel even had him humming songs in ASMR.

The star of a song video with tens of millions of views and real-time holy site pilgrimage comments—no need to worry about Joo Yian-ssi.

And sure enough.

Whoa, the teacher’s got some fire?

Even if one teacher rages, we could take ’em—

I blanked out the moment I saw that glaring blue system window.

“Good work preparing for the exam. See you next time.”

The music teacher left, not forgetting to glare at me.

Seen a more petty person!

How many periods does high school have? Our faces turned serious in unison.

As So Yeri tried to dredge up ancient memories.

Nothing scarier than the word “penalty.”

“Same class, so just follow the students?”

So Yeri sidled up slyly.

She brushed off her skirt hem, awkward in the uniform, and linked arms.

“Feels like I’ve turned young again?”

A passing student gave her a weird look.

So Yeri pouted but said no more.

Then Joo Yian-ssi approached her.

His monocle had turned into regular glasses due to RP dungeon corrections.

He adjusted them awkwardly and said,

“Let’s hurry.”

His gentle smile remained even in the uniform.

“Not far from memory.”

And Shin Jae-heon fell in beside me. He looked just like our high school days.

The only change was the S-rank appearance buff making him taller and more handsome.

That’s when.

“Handsom-er than in high school, huh?”

His overinflated confidence stabbed my ears. I replied without thinking.

“Awakening to S-rank doesn’t reconstruct your face, buddy.”

His souring face resembled high school too.

Class B was where Shin Jae-heon and I remembered. In other words, not far.

Joo Yian-ssi shook his head.

Fortunately, our seats were clustered together, perfect for group chatting.

“Phew.”

Couldn’t help but sigh in relief.

Stingy not showing 2nd period, but it’d reveal soon.

As we exchanged words.

The system popped up. Hunter chat paused briefly.

Then exploded.

Our faces turned grave in unison.

We’re… all humanities track?