### Episode 8: The Stormy Transfer Student, Baek Taeyang (3)
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He said it with such a serious face that I put it on, but the design was unsettling.
I was worried about the size, but it adjusted to fit my wrist on its own.
"Huh?"
Strangely, I felt a surge of vitality. It was a more intense feeling than consuming caffeine, and a sense of exhilaration began to envelop my body.
It wasn't just a feeling; it was real. I jumped in place for a moment and almost hit my head on the ceiling.
"Instructor Jang? My body suddenly feels very light."
Ducheol pondered for a moment after hearing that and then spoke.
"This bracelet reduces the power of always-active skills by up to 95%."
"But seeing that your physical abilities have improved, it seems your main skill was also affecting you."
So, I had been using coercion on myself all this time?
This was the terrifying aspect of always-active skills.
Since there were no signs of the ability, you wouldn't know when it activated, leading to the worst outcomes if you weren't skilled.
Was it because it wasn't limited to the 'desired target'?
The skill description clearly stated 'desired target.'
It meant that while you could arbitrarily set the target, the ability was always active.
"You can adjust the skill's output by looking at the bracelet, but since you're still inexperienced with the skill, don't touch it."
Additionally, if you removed it recklessly, it had functions like tracking your location and alerting hunters.
'It looks like a condom but has many functions.'
I increasingly realized how different this place was from where I lived.
Status windows, quests, skills, and now even items.
I really was inside a novel.
Could I go back?
"Now that I've given you everything, let's head to your class."
Ducheol's words snapped me out of my thoughts.
'I will definitely go back.'
There was no doubt.
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**[Name]** Jang Ducheol
**[Body]** Height: 195cm / Weight: 132kg
**[Description]** The strongest instructor at Victory Academy, a giant, an iron man—there are many words to describe him.
His iron will and firm beliefs, along with his righteous behavior, embody the ideal hunter.
He has a crush on Instructor Ryu Hyemi. (Duration: 2 years)
Other information is unavailable.
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'Why does it show even this?'
The range of basic information was strange.
I activated the newly acquired skill to check it while following Ducheol, and I felt like I was peeking into a bachelor's romance.
As we retraced our steps, Ducheol told me various things.
Including me, there were six people with always-active abilities at Victory Academy.
Although they were in different grades, they gathered once a month to check their skill proficiency.
Other than that, they received the same curriculum as the other cadets.
It was simple and good.
"By the way, our class is the top among the first years."
Even in the overall ranking competition, we don't fall behind, Ducheol said with a proud face.
'But why the sudden bragging...'
I understood the nuance of 'I hope you become a cadet who fits such a class,' but still.
I had never studied hard in school, and I wasn't going to start just because I came here.
Moreover, my purpose for coming here wasn't to study hard...
"Still, it's fortunate that the transfer timing is good."
I agreed with this.
Considering it was April and Victory Academy's semester started in March, there wouldn't be much disruption to the classes.
"Here we are."
I saw a nameplate that read [Class 1-A].
I heard noisy sounds when I glanced through the window.
As soon as Ducheol opened the door, the class fell silent instantly. It seemed the quiet mode when the homeroom teacher appeared was the same everywhere.
"As I mentioned yesterday, we have a transfer student. Baek Taeyang, come in."
As soon as I stepped into the classroom, all eyes were on me. I stood in front of the podium, meeting each gaze that felt burdensome.
"Then, please introduce yourself briefly."
White hair, tanned skin, and a perfect body that stood out even in a school uniform.
I decided to make an impression that could steal even non-existent girls!
I decided to live up to my looks.
"I'm Baek Taeyang, nice to meet you."
Even a simple sentence can create a vastly different atmosphere depending on who says it.
If a guy in a neat school uniform with tidy hair had said it, it might have given a decent impression.
But what if someone who had just had sex in the disciplinary office and reeked of masculinity said it?
'I'll make a strong first impression.'
I decided to stick with the delinquent image.
When told to take a seat, I naturally went to the back seat by the window.
'I don't want to maintain too many friendships.'
The back seat by the window, the seat of the strong!
In reality, there weren't many students. I recalled what Ducheol had told me earlier.
Classes were divided based on the potential of abilities and the cadets' abilities.
But saying it was the top class of the grade meant the cut-off was high.
Usually, if there weren't enough students, they would pull from below, but Victory Academy was strictly merit-based.
After a brief homeroom session, Ducheol left, and another instructor came in.
It seemed they were in charge of theory classes, as they started writing on the board.
**[The grade of the main skill is marked as ???. This is thought to mean that human potential is not limited.]**
**[In academia, it is said that no matter how trivial an ability may seem, as long as it is a main skill, its potential is unknown.]**
"Therefore, all cadets should strive to improve their abilities..."
My vision started to blur. I shouldn't be like this on the first day of the first class, but my eyelids were too heavy.
The chalk tapping on the board was sweet ASMR, and the boring theory explanation was a lullaby.
'I should at least pretend to listen...'
I collapsed right there.
It happened within three minutes of the first class on my first day as a transfer student.
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"...Taeyang."
I heard a voice. It was a cute voice. It felt like a round voice with added sugar.
"Taeyang!"
The first thing I saw when I lifted my head was red hair. It sparkled like a ruby and was as bright as a peony.
The cat-like face was full of mischief, looking like a tomboy. She seemed easygoing...
"Who..."
Still half-asleep, I couldn't grasp the situation.
When I woke up, a pretty girl was sitting in front of me, making eye contact.
Next to her stood a boy with a clearly uncomfortable expression.
"I'm the class president, So Yoomin. Nice to meet you!"
"Vice president, Kim Minsu. Nice to meet you."
I snapped to attention. So Yoomin? Kim Minsu?
I had heard those names somewhere.
'The protagonists of this novel!'
These were the main characters of the academy romance novel?
At that moment, a quest window popped up.
### Main Quest
So Yoomin and Kim Minsu have just started dating as a fresh couple.
And 'Baek Taeyang' is a character set to threaten that fresh relationship.
What you need to do is already decided!
**Clear Condition:** You know what to do, right? (0/1)
**Deadline:** D-30
**Reward:** ??? / **Penalty:** Death
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This quest was the reason and purpose for Baek Taeyang's creation, the alpha and omega, the entirety of it.
'I got the biggest piece of information.'
The most curious part since entering the novel was which chapter it was.
There was no way to know this, but now I had the information.
'If they just started dating, it must be the latest chapter, so there shouldn't be much difference.'
In the original, the latest chapter ended with Minsu confessing to Yoomin while holding hands.
"You said you awakened the day before yesterday, right? If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I'll help you."
"Thanks, then..."
With a friendly smile, I activated the skill.
**[Licking Eyes activated! As a penalty, your gaze becomes sticky. Be careful not to cause any misunderstandings!]**
Minsu seemed to feel my gaze and frowned slightly, while Yoomin just smiled innocently.
A clueless girl, a guy always anxious about her, and a virgin bomber who has to intervene.
Isn't the outcome already decided?
"…Could you perhaps show me around the academy after school today?"
"Sure! Then don't go anywhere after school and wait quietly, okay?"
"I, I'll do it. Wouldn't it be more comfortable for us guys to go around together?"
Before Yoomin could finish, Minsu interrupted.
He had an anxious expression, showing how much he loved her.
I understood his reluctance to leave her alone with another guy. That's how first love is.
Considering they started dating around chapter 172, they must have had a long build-up of over 100 chapters, making it quite poignant.
'But so what?'
It wasn't my concern.
"I think the class president would explain better... Sorry."
Yoomin didn't notice the look Minsu was giving her.
"Then how about the three of us go together?"
"Isn't three people too many for a school tour? I'll show him around well."
Hearing Yoomin's words, Minsu bit his lower lip slightly.
His gaze towards me was full of resentment, which felt unfair.
I hadn't done anything yet, so why was I being treated like this?
'Your girlfriend said not to come along...'
I couldn't understand why he was taking it out on me.
'I haven't done anything yet...'
Of course, I planned to do everything, including things I shouldn't.
'I need to finish the quest by today.'
How to easily take a virgin's girl like a piece of cake.
It was time to start.
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