I Became an Academy Overpowered Growth Genius

I Became an Academy Overpowered Growth Genius – 21

EP.21 Excitement (2)

《Quest》

▶Exciting! Heart-pounding Path to School!

◆Description:

Make the heroine’s heart flutter with excitement before arriving at the academy!

◆ Reward:

Random stat +3

◆ Penalty:

-30 Affinity with romance-related Constellations

Trial.

It was indeed a trial.

Kang Seo-Jun faced the test.

◆ Traits:

[Necrotic Dermatitis Lv. Lowest], [Scoliosis Lv. Lowest], [Reverse Joints Lv. Lowest], [Twisted Arm Lv. Lowest], [Squint eyes Lv. Lowest] …………….

How to make someone flutter with these characteristics…!

“Ah, ah…!”

Kang Seo-Jun wiped his face with a dismal expression.

Jin Se-Rin looked at Kang Seo-Jun with a worried expression and asked.

“Did you forget something at home? Should I turn the car around?”

“Ah, no… no….”

Turning the car around was not an option.

Straying from the quest path could lead to an absurd quest failure.

“Haah….”

Even though he tried to act nonchalant, this unexpected quest was too harsh even for Kang Seo-Jun, an experienced player.

As Kang Seo-Jun closed his eyes in despair, Jin Se-Rin became flustered alongside him.

“Oh, yo, you’re feeling unwell!”

Jin Se-Rin hadn’t forgotten the time when Kang Seo-Jun suffered from severe motion sickness during their last dungeon trip.

Jin Se-Rin quickly parked the car.

“Mr. driver! Please wait a moment!”

“Ah….”

As the car came to a stop, a system message appeared in front of Kang Seo-Jun.

[Warning! You are deviating from the quest path. Please return to the quest path within 30 seconds.]

“Th-this…!”

Kang Seo-Jun’s face turned pale.

“No, it can’t be! We have to go! Go!”

“B-but…!?”

“Oh…!”

Kang Seo-Jun’s face grew even paler.

Like someone was choking him, his face was drained of color.

His appearance made Jin Se-Rin’s face pale in turn.

“Mister, hospital! Please, to the hospital!”

“Stop!”

The quest location is on the journey to school.

If you don’t continue moving towards the school, it’ll be considered deviating from the path.

Don’t stop on the road. Keep moving.

Kang Seo-Jun tried to act nonchalant to start the car but hesitated.

‘No! That’s not it!’

If he got out of the car now, he could gain an extra 10 to 20 minutes.

Walking would take longer than driving.

“The hospital isn’t necessary! I’ll feel better if I walk a bit.”

“Really? Are you sure?”

Kang Seo-Jun quickly got out of the car and started walking, with Jin Se-Rin hurriedly following behind.

[You have returned to the quest path. The quest will continue.]

Seeing the message, Kang Seo-Jun let out a relieved sigh.

Jin Se-Rin interpreted his reaction differently.

“Feeling better? That’s a relief….”

“Uh, yeah…. the weather’s nice….”

Damn.

One hurdle was overcome, time was gained, but the situation didn’t feel any better.

The quest objective was to make Jin Se-Rin’s heart flutter.

But for Kang Seo-Jun, understanding women was always a difficult issue and a weakness.

Overcoming such a puzzle with an even more pathetic skill set in this life than in the past!

Yet, Kang Seo-Jun quietly clenched his fist.

‘Still, there’s quite a distance to the academy. If I strategize calmly, there’s surely an opportunity…!’

Even the slightest knowledge must be utilized.

Right now, the most important thing is to create a comfortable atmosphere.

“I’m sorry for not contacting you until now.”

Kang Seo-Jun apologized first to avoid any misunderstandings from the other day.

“Huh?”

“I had something I needed to focus on. So, I turned off my phone completely.”

“Oh, I see! I thought I was being a bother… hehe…”

After Jin Se-Rin’s awkward laughter, the conversation lapsed again.

Kang Seo-Jun racked his brain for something else to say to keep the conversation going. Was continuing conversations with people always this difficult? Countless topics and words flashed through his mind, and he felt his brain’s cooler rapidly heating up.

Kang Seo-Jun’s plan was the natural method leading to excitement. First, create a comfortable atmosphere, then when her tension eased, strike a heartstring when she least expected it.

Whether in battle, negotiation, or romance, easing the other person’s tension was always crucial. But with the conversation constantly breaking like this, it’s impossible to even start.

Kang Seo-Jun’s lips trembled, deciding to blurt out anything just to keep things moving.

“You, you’ve been alright for the past two weeks!?”

His words ended with an awkward quiver.

Jin Se-Rin seemed surprised that Kang Seo-Jun would inquire about her well-being first, her eyes widening unexpectedly.

“Uh, um?”

Then, with a calm smile, she spoke.

“I… have been thinking about… what the definition of best friends is for two weeks.”

“Uh…?”

“Well… back then, seo-Jun, we… we said we’d take care of each other, but…”

As Jin Se-Rin continued, her face grew darker.

“In reality, I don’t know how to repay what I’ve received so far… It’s not that I dislike it now… I’m just a bit unsure… I feel like I’m being a burden… I’m just one-sided… Oh, is it wrong to say this…?”

Why is the conversation taking such a dark turn!? This isn’t creating a comfortable atmosphere, it’s turning into a confessional mood. I need to steer this conversation quickly!

“Don’t rush it!?”

But even Kang Seo-Jun’s voice sounded rushed.

At Kang Seo-Jun’s sudden outburst, Jin Se-Rin flinched.

“Uh, uh!?”

“If I wanted to become the kind of tiring relationship that nitpicks at every little thing, I wouldn’t have brought up being friends in the first place!”

Internally, Kang Seo-Jun shed tears. He believed that if you give, you should receive something in equal measure, it was his long-standing belief.

[The Constellation, ‘Tree Guardian of the Flame Realm’ is paying attention to your words.]

[The Constellation, ‘Golden Fox of the Sun and Moon Palace’, is paying attention to your words.]

[The Constellation, ‘Queen of the Deepest Place’, is paying attention to your words.]

.

.

.

“…..”

Why are you like this? It’s burdensome.

The attention of the Constellations only added more thoughts needlessly. How to conclude this conversation to reassure Jin Se-Rin and satisfy the Constellations?

– Amphh! –

While pondering, a strong gust of wind pushed past the two. The wind tousled their hair entirely.

“Oops….”

Jin Se-Rin hastily tried to fix her disheveled hair.

However, the wind had messed it up entirely, making it challenging to straighten out the tangled locks easily.

“Hmm…!”

Seeing this, a spark of inspiration flashed through Kang Seo-Jun’s mind.

This is undoubtedly the work of luck. Help her now to appeal to her sense of goodwill.

Reaching out towards Jin Se-Rin’s hair, Kang Seo-Jun said, “Let me help.”

“H-hey!”

“..uh…?”

Unexpectedly, Kang Seo-Jun froze at her response. She reacted as if he had touched something filthy, jerking back abruptly.

“Oh.”

Kang Seo-Jun looked down at his own hand. His skin felt as if he had just pulled it from boiling oil. He tightly shut his eyes at his own mistake.

Right now, his appearance is akin to wriggling filth.

Yes, indeed.

Though Jin Se-Rin hadn’t shown any signs of it so far, there must have been an inherent physiological aversion buried deep within her.

A girl in her prime would likely find even the touch of these fingertips repulsive. Perhaps she couldn’t accept her fate because she hated repulsive and frightening things so much.

This is a personal whim, unrelated to the current relationship. Just instinct. It’s the order deeply ingrained in human genes.

‘Oh, dear!’

Kang Seo-Jun felt the weight of his mistake.

“Sorry.”

“Ah… no, it’s not that…”

As Kang Seo-Jun withdrew his hand, Jin Se-Rin became flustered.

At this rate, the atmosphere would further plummet into a labyrinth. It’s a continuous tension and unease far from excitement!

If things continued like this, quest failure was as certain as daylight.

‘Now’s not the time to hold back.’

[The Constellation, ‘Queen of the Deepest Place,’ pities you for being rejected.]

Almost simultaneously as Kang Seo-Jun had this thought, the Constellation sponsored an item.

[The Constellation, ‘Queen of the Deepest Place,’ grants you ‘Tears of Enchantment’.]

“This is it!”

《Item》

▶ Tears of Enchantment

◆ Grade:

[Rare]

◆ Description:

Tears of a legendary beauty who was adored in her time. When applied to the eyes like eye drops, grants the 《Charm》 skill for 30 minutes.

Kang Seo-Jun reached into his coat pocket, finding a small glass bottle that wasn’t there before.

The Tears of Enchantment.

‘If this is it!’

The greatest weapon of mankind is the ability to use tools. If you can’t rely on your own strength, rely on the power of tools.

“Just a moment.”

Kang Seo-Jun stopped in his tracks and quickly applied the Tears of Enchantment to his dry eyes. The essence of the Tears of Enchantment evenly spread over his dry eyes.

[You have used ‘Tears of Enchantment.’ You gain the 《Charm》 skill for 30 minutes!]

‘Alright.’

He felt a mystical power infused into his eyes. Instinctively, he knew how to use the Enchantment skill.

“Jin Se-Rin.”

Kang Seo-Jun immediately called the target’s name to activate the Enchantment skill.

“….. Ye-yes?”

In response to his deep and serious voice, Jin Se-Rin involuntarily spoke formally.

– Ping! –

As their eyes met, Kang Seo-Jun activated the Enchantment skill.

[Activating the skill 《Charm》!]

Pink flames flickered in his eyes.