I Became an Academy Overpowered Growth Genius

I Became an Academy Overpowered Growth Genius – 17

EP.17 Friends (2)

As soon as Kang Seo-jun returned home, he collapsed without even thinking about taking a shower and fell asleep.

Despite dragging his miserable body with superhuman willpower, there was a limit to it. The next day dawned quickly.

“Ugh….”

Kang Seo-jun raised his waist from the bed, covered in dirt and filth, without even thinking about washing up.

Due to various debuff characteristics, his head was ringing, and it felt like he could vomit at any moment.

On top of that, the fatigue from yesterday’s events added to the real-time screams of his bones and muscles throughout his body.

Enduring all of this with superhuman willpower, Kang Seo-jun managed to lead his body to the bathroom.

– Kurururur! –

The toilet water flushed forcefully. There was a lot to do today. He had to purify the Hell Fungus into Mana Fungus, and he also needed to organize the system messages that occasionally rang during the night.

First, Kang Seo-jun threw all the dirty clothes into the washing machine and took a shower.

– Shwaaaaa! –

The dusty and sticky filth was washed away refreshing in warm water.

After finishing the shower, he applied the ‘Downtown Healing Lotion’ purchased from the dimensional shop all over his body.

– Chideuk! Chideuk! –

It was a versatile moisturizer that soothed skin rashes and itching, providing a moisturizing effect. As his skin was deteriorating in real-time, meticulous care like this was necessary even if he had to pay dimensional currency.

After skin care, Kang Seo-jun opened the window and sprayed ‘Downtown Cleaning Spray’ on the bed.

– Chiik! Chik! Chik! –

– Boggle-boggle-boggle! –

The liquid sprayed on the bed bubbled and evaporated, cleaning the dirt stains and filth, leaving it clean. Clean hygiene was essential to protect his miserable and weak body from various diseases. This, too, was a necessary expense.

Kang Seo-jun threw himself onto the cleaned bed.

– Pulseuk! –

“Much better.”

The sticky and unpleasant sheets quickly became soft and warm. Kang Seo-jun then opened the system message window that he didn’t check yesterday due to sleeping.

[Stealing host’s experience points, increasing Strength experience points!]

[Stealing host’s experience points, increasing health experience points!]

[Stealing host’s experience points, increasing Sense experience points!]

.

.

.

[Stealing host’s efforts, resulting in the growth of Strength! Strength attribute +1!]

[Stealing host’s efforts, resulting in the growth of Agility! Agility attribute +1!]

It seemed that Park Shin-hoo had devoted himself to training during the night. Thanks to that, even though Kang Seo-jun had only slept during the night, both his stamina and agility had increased by +1 each.

Kang Seo-jun opened the status window to check his current specs.

《Status Window》

▶ Name:

Kang Seo-jun

◆ Stats

[Strength: 2], [Agility: 3]

[Endurance: 1], [Resistance: 1]

[Health: 4], [Mana: 1]

[Sense: 2], [Intelligence: 9]

[Willpower: 30], [Luck: 50]

◆ Trait

◆Trait

[Eye of Providence Lv. Transcendent], [Dimensional Shop Lv. Transcendent], [Favored One Lv. Transcendent], [Severe Obesity Lv. Lowest], [Necrotic Dermatitis Lv. Lowest], [Scoliosis Lv. Lowest], [Reverse Joints Lv. Lowest], [Twisted Arm Lv. Lowest], [Frail Constitution Lv. Lowest], [Mana Insensitivity Lv. Lowest], [Carnivorous Parasite Lv. Lowest]

[Cancer Stage 4 Lv. Lowest]…

◆ Skills

[Counter Time Lv. Epic], [Parasitic Growth Lv. Epic]

Thanks to the stat rewards from quests, stat sponsorship from the constellations, and the adjustment from Parasitic Growth, his stats had increased quite a bit in just one day. Of course, overall, his specs were still quite poor, but with this growth rate, it seemed he could easily surpass the level of an ordinary person in no time.

[Special effect of skill 《Parasitic Growth》 activated! Choose the attribute to steal or transfer to the host.]

[Special effect of skill 《Parasitic Growth》 activated! Choose the attribute to steal or transfer to the host.]

Thanks to Park Shin-hoo’s efforts during the night, Kang Seo-jun even gained two trait exchange tickets.

Kang Seo-jun carefully examined each of his debuff traits while contemplating what to steal this time.

There was no hesitation for the first choice.

[You have chosen the trait 《Cancer Stage 4 Lv. Lowest》to be transferred to the host.]

With still a week left until enrollment, Kang Seo-jun couldn’t imagine enduring that time with the burden of stage 4 cancer.

– Woo-oo-oo-ong! –

[The trait 《Cancer Stage 4 Lv. Lowest》 lowered into the trait 《Cancer Stage 3 Lv. Lowest》.]

[The host, Park Shin-hoo, gains the trait 《Cancer Stage 2 Lv. Lowest》.]

The refreshing sensation spread throughout his body as the blood vessels blocked by tumors opened up, and the muscles suppressed were released.

Breathing became easier, and with the diminishing pain, his mind became clearer.

With this improvement, Kang Seo-jun’s lifespan must have extended by at least a few months. Now, only one trait exchange ticket remained. How should he use this one?

It wasn’t good to pass on cancer anymore. Park Shin-hoo, although a debuff trait dumpster for Kang Seo-jun, was also a shuttle for experience points.

To use him for a more extended period without deteriorating too much, Kang Seo-jun needed to be cautious about passing on debuff traits.

If Park Shin-hoo became more ill, he would stop training and focus on cancer treatment for a while. In that case, Kang Seo-jun wouldn’t be able to absorb experience points from him. So, cancer was out.

Passing on the Carnivorous Parasite was also ambiguous at the moment. Park Shin-hoo consumed potions like water every day, so hastily passing on the Carnivorous Parasite might lead to… The newly turned adult Carnivorous Parasite might burst out of Park Shin-hoo’s belly.

If that happened, not only would Park Shin-hoo die, but Kang Seo-jun would lose a valuable source of experience points and the debuff trait dumpster. Therefore, the Carnivorous Parasite was also out.

“Hmm….”

What trait could be useful enough without causing harm to Park Shin-hoo?

“Oh.”

A suitable one caught his eye.

◆ Trait

[Insomnia Lv. Lowest]

This guy was the reason he woke up several times during the night.

[You have chosen the trait 《Insomnia Lv. Lowest》to be transferred to the host.]

If Park Shin-hoo struggled with insomnia, he would extend his training hours on sleepless nights. This would, in turn, increase the experience points Kang Seo-jun could absorb.

While Park Shin-hoo might experience reduced training efficiency due to accumulating fatigue, the overall experience points gained would increase with extended training.

Park Shin-hoo’s life might become more difficult, but Kang Seo-jun had no regrets. In every round, he was undoubtedly the villain. Turning such a person into the fertilizer for his growth was the most worthwhile treatment.

– Woo-oo-oo-ong! –

[Trait 《Insomnia Lv. Lowest》 disappears.]

[The host, Park Shin-hoo, gains the trait 《Insomnia Lv. Lowest》.]

The noisy disturbances that twisted around his mind like complex doodles quieted down noticeably.

“I might get a good night’s sleep tonight after several days.”

Kang Seo-jun carefully stretched and got up to avoid straining his back. Now that he had sorted out the system, it was time to organize the loot he obtained yesterday.

Kang Seo-jun took out a glass bottle of nutrient solution that he had placed in the refrigerator. The Hell Fungus was still swimming vigorously in the greenish nutrient solution.

Sitting back on the bed, he laid out the tools needed for the operation, one by one, on the floor. Nutrient solution with Hell Fungus, a disposable combination box, the Blessed Holy Water of the Cherished Saint, mana crystal…

It wasn’t a complicated process with numerous ingredients or complex procedures. He just needed to purify the Hell Fungus.

Kang Seo-jun opened the cap of the nutrient solution and poured the mana crystal into it. Then, he placed the opened cap into the combination box alongside the nutrient solution.

– Push! Push! –

There were four points to note in this process. The Hell Fungus would be alive. The mana crystal and Hell Fungus needed to be in contact. Care should be taken to prevent the Blessed Holy Water of the Cherished Saint from directly touching the Hell Fungus. The glass bottle cap should be left open to avoid sealing the materials.

In reality, even with perfect execution, the success rate of this operation was not very high, around 3% statistically. Typically, the Hell Fungus couldn’t withstand the purification process and would die.

– Ping! –

[Combination Successful! 《Hell Fungus》 is purified into 《Mana Fungus!》]

However, for Kang Seo-jun, that 3% probability was meaningless statistics. His luck was 50, almost in the realm of half-divinity.

– Push-shi…

–

When Kang Seo-jun opened the combination box, a white mist slowly seeped out, much like an icebox. He reached into the mist, extracting the glass bottle from the nutrient solution.

What was once red flesh-like fungus had now transformed into blue jelly. Kang Seo-jun carefully brought the nutrient solution to his lips.

Closing his eyes tightly to prevent any noise, he cautiously swallowed the potion and the mana fungus.

To transplant the mana fungus throughout his entire body, the most effective way was to ingest it into his stomach.

– Gurgle-gurgle-gurgle! –

Kang Seo-jun’s throat intermittently made gurgling sounds.

“Umm….”

The texture was reminiscent of runny nose, but the flavor was refreshing, creating an imbalance.

[Mana Fungus attempts to root itself in the host’s body!]

At that moment, the carnivorous parasite, tormented by 24 hours of hunger, discovered a new prey and lunged at it.

[Trait Carnivorous Parasite Lv. Lowest] is nibbling on Mana Fungus!]

“These bugs…”

Kang Seo-jun quickly purchased a ‘Metropolitan Anti-Parasitic Agent’ from the dimensional shop. It was a parasite medicine made in a dimension with advanced civilization. It selectively killed only harmful organisms without harming beneficial ones.

Kang Seo-jun swiftly swallowed it with water.

[You have consumed 《Metropolitan Anti-Parasitic Agent》! Carnivorous parasites writhe in pain, entering a state of unconsciousness for a certain period.]

Even with its potency, the Metropolitan Anti-Parasitic Agent only briefly stunned the Carnivorous parasites, given how formidable they were. But for now, it was enough. As long as Kang Seo-jun gave the Mana Fungus time to root itself in his body, it would grow vigorously, untouched by the fangs of the carnivorous parasite.

[Mana Fungus has successfully rooted itself in the host’s body! You have obtained the trait 《Mana Fungus Lv. Rare》!]

《Trait》

▶ Name:

[Mana Fungus]

◆ Grade:

[Rare]

◆ Description:

A symbiotic organism that, instead of absorbing nutrients, supplies mana by rooting itself in the host’s body.

This organism is currently in the [Infancy] stage.

“That’s it.”

Kang Seo-jun took a sip of purified water.

With this, mana would automatically grow just by breathing. Although the Mana Fungus was currently at the Rare grade due to its infancy, with careful management, its grade would likely rise to Legendary or higher.

When that time came, how much would his mana ability be? Perhaps a Tier-1 trait like “Blessing of Mana” might manifest.

With such power, even if he only operated as a mage, he could enjoy the wealth of the top 1% worldwide.

Smiling with anticipation, Kang Seo-jun looked out the window.

– Chirp, chirp.

The sound of birds chirping could be heard.

The panorama of the cityscape and the blue East Sea, all visible from the window of the Stellar port. In the midst of it all, the Korean Hunter Academy, the backdrop of the Grand Hunter Academy, could also be seen.

Kang Seo-jun looked down at the academy and hoped that the enrollment date would come soon. Once the story truly began, his growth toward a happy life in this new world would undoubtedly accelerate.