Si-woo was a bit disappointed about the whole affinity thing. The interface had just reminded him of all the points it had assigned to him since they met.
Basically, a long list of insults.
The only upside was the voice control. Now he didn't have to type to create quests, to navigate the system, or to talk to the interface anymore.
— I'm going to look like a crazy person talking to myself, he grumbled on his way to school.
Si-woo stuck his tongue out at the screen that popped up. That was another new feature of the affinity: the interface talked more and more, way more casually than before, and more openly.
— I hope you'll pull no more dirty tricks. No more secrets!
The interface flashed a tongue-out wink emoji.
Such a character !
Si-woo sighed. He'd spent the whole weekend bickering with it. After the dungeon incident, Il-seong had sent him a text apologizing for not stopping by and thanking him for the exercises. He'd said he'd manage on his own from now on.
Good luck with that!
That same evening, Si-woo's mother came home furious.
— The principal called. You skipped school all day! And yesterday afternoon. And the day before. Admit it, you went to the cyber café again!
— Mom! I…
He had no defense. Even less when she found the receipts for the meals and drinks from his morning at the café.
— Si-woo! she wailed. I thought we agreed. You have to get a scholarship to go to university. I can't spend all my time breathing down your neck to keep you in line.
If only you were here, Si-woo thought bitterly.
He never dared say it out loud. She worked hard to support them and help her patients. He had no right to be selfish with someone so selfless. He just wished he could come first, once. Just once since his father died.
But the next morning, she left for work again, leaving his punishment on a sticky note:
No going out all weekend.
I left leftovers in the fridge.
Order food if you don't want it.
I love you.
PS: Please go to class Monday.
Si-woo crumpled the note and threw it on the floor. It reminded him too much of bad memories. Right after his father died, when his mother was lost in her work, he barely left his room. If Il-seong hadn't brought him his lessons and homework every day… if he hadn't dragged him to exams… Si-woo would have failed for sure. At the start of the school year, his mother begged him not to skip anymore. He was allowed to be depressed on weekends and holidays, but not school days. His only chance at higher education was to get a scholarship, after all.
She kept repeating it.
So despite the knot in his stomach, Si-woo went to class that Monday morning. After two whole days alone with a moody interface as his only company.
<"Stalker" point, Master Rain>, it assigned him as Si-woo checked Il-seong's status.
He had gotten so many points this weekend that Si-woo stopped counting. He just wanted to check his friend's progress. Time was running out!
3 days, 50 minutes, 00 secondes
Yet… Il-seong had spent his time hanging out in town. He'd been to the barber and some shops. He hadn't even answered his messages. Si-woo knew he was practicing stealth. The player understood that the more he used a skill, the more it improved. But he was neglecting badge hunting. Or maybe Il-seong figured the improvements from his dungeon quest were enough.
Si-woo bit his thumbnail.
— Should I add new quests or just trust him?
<"Neurotic" point, Master Rain>
Si-woo stuck his tongue out again as he entered the classroom.
— Is that face for me? a way too familiar voice sneered.
The translucent blue window disappeared and Si-woo found himself face-to-face with Jeunk.
— Always here when I need you, huh, interface?" Si-woo muttered.
It replied with a smiling sweat emoji.
— Hey Ho!" Jeunk waved. "You listening?
Nope.
Si-woo ignored him completely. He walked past without looking and sat down.
For once, he was early. Jeunk's gang usually waited for the teacher to arrive before sneaking off to smoke. Si-woo scrolled through his skill catalog. Even with 500 mana points, he struggled to spend them.
You never know when an emergency might pop up…
But he really wanted to buy something. He just needed something useful that wouldn't trigger murderous urges against Jeunk. Despite the temptation of a fireball, Si-woo wasn't keen on ending his days behind bars.
Probably fed up with his hesitation, the interface suggested a skill: Scan.
[Scan skill: allows analysis of objects and living beings]
Cost: 10 mana points
Upgrade: 50 mana points
Now that's useful for a master! Si-woo took the advice and bought it.
[Activation cost: 5 mana points]
— Hey! I didn't have to pay for other skills, he whispered.
— So I have to pay 5 points again. I knew I should save.
He really should've done some magical shopping instead of moping for two days.
Si-woo glanced sideways and tested it on Jeunk.
[Jeunk: Rank D – Potential C]
Si-woo smiled. The brute was way more impressive than a goblin king. Il-seong could beat him easily. He was worrying for nothing.
Meanwhile, Jeunk was fuming.
His booming voice didn't break the class's calm, used to his outbursts, but Si-woo's silence electrified everyone. The lapdog refused to obey his master. The rumor that spread after last week's events got louder in the room. Jeunk was losing control. The rage he radiated suffocated those around him. Except Si-woo, lost in thought. And Mi-cha, who leaned casually on Si-woo's desk.
— Hey Si-woo! Everyone's been talking about you and your friend lately.
Si-woo stared, dumbfounded. They'd never really spoken before. When Jeunk sent him to make announcements or bullied him in front of her, Mi-cha just sighed or rolled her eyes. Sometimes she helped before things got worse. So Si-woo blurted out his question.
— You… you know my name?
— Of course! We've been in the same class for a while now.
Si-woo glanced around. Not sure anyone knew him by anything other than Jeunk's awful nicknames.
— I received messages about Il-seong beating up Jeunk. I'm almost disappointed I missed it.
— Yeah, you were at your training sessions.
Mi-cha's eyes sparkled.
— You remember that?!
How could he forget!
Mi-cha was a trainee, an apprentice idol. Sometimes she missed days of class because of it.
She sat down with a sigh.
— My agent wanted to add a girl to our group to make it pop. He found a real star. Lucky me! But next to her, I feel like a nobody.
— Don't say that! You've got star quality!
— You're just being nice, she smiled.
She was right. But now Si-woo had something to prove it.
[Scan activated]
[Mi-cha: Rank C – Potential A]
— Believe me, Mi-cha. One day, you'll be the best!
Si-woo's firm tone made the girl blush.
An arm wrapped around her.
— What are you two talking about?
— None of your business!
Mi-cha pushed Jeunk off and stepped back, dusting off where he touched.
Jeunk made a fake hurt face.
— I don't like secrets, you know that, Mimi.
— Don't call me that!
— Come on! Jeunk turned to Si-woo and kicked his calf. You tell me then, buddy.
Si-woo rubbed his leg, grimacing.
— Shut up, Jeunk, he ordered.
Jeunk's teeth clenched.
— HUMPH HUMPH! he growled, unable to open his mouth.
The young master smiled when his phone rang.
An Angel Lolita song, a national celebrity, played.
— Hello? Si-woo answered cautiously.
It was probably his mother checking he was in class. So he jumped when a man's voice came through.
— Hey! It's Il-seong. Is Jeunk around?
— Right in front of me.
— Put him on speaker, please.
Si-woo obeyed and his friend's voice shattered the classroom silence.
— Jeunk, I'm challenging you! One-vs-one. The loser obeys the winner without protest. You in?
With a glance, Si-woo gave Jeunk back his voice and the boy's lips curled into a sardonic smile.
— Where and when, chicken?
Si-woo swallowed hard. Doubt and fear gnawed at him again. He trusted Il-seong, but Jeunk's expression… reminded him of a monster's.