I Became an Illegal Cheat User

71 – Bewilderment – Interlude

[※ The content of the previous episode ‘Bewilderment (4)’ has been revised. Since the content has changed significantly, I would appreciate it if you could read it first.]

The rift that had engulfed the deserted island vanished.

In the process, the island’s terrain changed a bit (?), but given that it was a rift of extreme danger, a change in terrain was unavoidable.

After all, rifts of extreme danger consume not just living beings but the very terrain itself, unlike ordinary rifts. Thus, transcendent beings often obliterate the terrain itself when closing such rifts.

But to close the rift by destroying part of the island?

Beyond being unavoidable, it’s incredibly fortunate.

It hasn’t been completely erased from the world map.

Of course, from the academy’s perspective, it’s an unfortunate event.

They can no longer use it as a training ground.

And while rifts of extreme danger are difficult to handle without a transcendent being,

Kali, the commander of the 9th Extermination Unit, is a top-tier superhuman, standing on the brink of transcendence.

That means she’s almost a half-transcendent being.

Moreover, the missiles she used are not ordinary missiles but special weapons made from silver and divine power.

Even so, no matter how high the danger level of this core of the fracture may be, as long as it harbors magical energy, it is destined to be destroyed by a missile that is filled with divine power, large and beautiful.

Of course, it’s only possible for Kali, a half-transcendent being with the ‘Telekinesis’ skill, to cause such destruction; a typical top-tier superhuman could fire missiles all day long and still fail to destroy the core.

“Lee Yu-jin, are you okay?”

『Kuh, ah, ack…!』

Kali, having descended from the air, stomped on the head of the illusion while inquiring about my condition.

Seeing the concern in her voice, it seemed she, like Gray, had a close relationship with her parents in this world as well.

I couldn’t help but let out a bitter smile.

“Haha… I’m fine. I just collapsed from simple magical exhaustion.”

“That’s a relief.”

Kali smiled softly and caressed the ring on her left thumb.

At that moment, a small case, about the size of a palm, appeared in the air with a faint light.

Click.

The lid of the floating case opened.

Simultaneously, a blue pill in the shape of a tablet floated out of the case.

“This is a potion effective for magical recovery.”

As she spoke, the pill slipped into my mouth.

Only after the pill had passed down my throat did my mouth close under my control.

“Oh.”

Indeed, a magical recovery potion.

The speed of magical recovery was remarkably fast.

Of course, the Spirit Elixir also boosts magical recovery speed, but fundamentally, the Spirit Elixir is merely a potion that permanently enhances attributes for a single use, such as increasing mental power or expanding the vessel of the soul.

Effects like full-body cleanliness or increased magical recovery speed are merely secondary benefits.

In contrast, the magical recovery potion’s primary effect is pure magical recovery speed, causing my magic to surge as if I had consumed an MP potion in a game.

And when I had recovered about 30%, the effect of the potion faded.

‘If I ask for one, will she give it to me?’

A magical recovery potion that I had never been able to create until now.

Setting aside the fact that the materials are expensive, they are so rare that I had no opportunity to make them at all.

So, I must seize this chance.

That way, I can prevent not only myself but also the others from collapsing due to magical exhaustion.

Suddenly.

As the depletion of magic power faded away, strength returned to my body, and I sat up abruptly.

And just as I was about to ask Kali if I could get a magic recovery potion.

A closed case containing the potion flew towards me.

I looked at Kali with a bewildered expression.

“Take it.”

Kali coolly told me to take it.

“…Is it really okay for me to take it?”

“Yes, take it. It’s a gift.”

“…….”

Overwhelmed with emotion, I found myself speechless.

But at the same time, it felt burdensome.

‘Ah, is this what it feels like to receive a precious gift?’

Only now do I understand the feelings of those who receive.

From the giver’s perspective, I had no idea, but now that I was receiving something valuable without any cost, I couldn’t help but wonder if it was truly okay to accept such a precious thing.

Still, since it was being offered, I decided not to refuse.

After all, I was going to ask for a magic recovery potion anyway.

“…Then I will gratefully accept it.”

I bowed slightly and placed the mini case into my inventory.

[88][Mini Case (7 Magic Recovery Potions)][9999+]

‘…I’m starting to run low on slots.’

The total number of item slots in the inventory is 100.

But upon checking now, only 12 slots remained.

‘I should organize my inventory when I get back to the dorm.’

Just as I was thinking this, a scream of enchantment echoed loudly.

『Kyaaah─!!』

As I straightened up from my bent position to check, I saw Kali tearing the tentacles off the head of the enchanted creature with her telekinesis.

『S-Stop─! Th-That, Maaan──!!』

But Kali did not stop.

With an expressionless face, she looked down at the enchanted creature and pulled the tentacles upward.

Let me know if you need anything else!

And not long after.

Thud thud thud…!

With a sound like a handful of hair being ripped out, three tentacles were torn from the head of the Enchantress.

“Ahhh—! aaahhh—!!”

“How noisy.”

Kali frowned slightly as she caressed the ring that had drawn her gun.

Then, a one-meter iron plate, flowing with divine energy, appeared.

At the same time, the Enchantress’s head floated up and lightly touched the iron plate.

Creeeak…!

The plate began to crumple with a chilling sound.

“Ahhh—! aaah—! aaah….”

The Enchantress’s screams faded away.

No, she was probably still screaming.

Inside the tightly crumpled iron plate.

“Finally quiet.”

Kali let out a satisfied hum.

Her body then floated up gently.

“Lee Yu-jin, the rift has disappeared, so we should be able to return to the Academy now.”

As she said, the rift that had been disrupting the smart watch’s signals was gone, meaning the HP bracelet’s effects would function normally again.

As evidence, lights were flashing continuously at the outpost.

With the rift gone, everyone was returning to the Academy.

“Head Chief—!”

Asuka waved her hand from atop the barrier.

When I waved back, Asuka approached the leading characters who were slumped beside her.

Then, with her tiny fist, she struck the bracelets they were wearing and her own.

“See you at the Academy…!”

Before Asuka’s words could finish, she vanished in a burst of light from her bracelet.

The same happened to the leading characters.

“What a cute kid.”

Asuka is indeed cute.

“Lee Yu-jin, is she your girlfriend?”

“Not yet… I’m not really sure.”

“Not really sure, huh….”

A small smile appeared on Kali’s expressionless face.

“You really are quite adorable.”

As she said this, the metal plate that enveloped her body and allure began to rise higher and higher.

And when it had ascended to a certain height, Kali spoke.

“Then, Lee Yu-jin, let’s meet again soon.”

With those words, Kali left the deserted island.

I then tapped the bracelet on my left wrist.

Beep, beep.

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HP: □□□□□□□□□□

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The color of the HP bar on the bracelet changed from black to white.

At the same time, light began to emanate from the bracelet, wrapping around my body.

And a moment later.

“Here it comes!”

“All students have returned!”

“Class 1-A has completed their return!”

I was back at the academy.

&

&

&

Ah, I really wanted to rest well in the dorm.

“Your body seems fine, but you still need to stay in for the day. Understood?”

“…Yes, I understand.”

“Then I’ll be stepping out, so if you feel even a little pain, just call right away.”

Click, clack.

Right now, I was hospitalized.

No, not just me, but all of Class 1-A were hospitalized in a facility managed by the Academy.

A crack of extreme danger that had engulfed a deserted island.

We were exposed to the magic of that crack, which was why there was a possibility of something being wrong with our bodies.

Of course, thanks to Noah’s divine barrier, we were not actually exposed to the magic.

Still, just in case, we complied and were admitted.

And now, a few hours into our stay.

“Ah… I want to be discharged.”

I already wanted to return to the dormitory.

Of course, the hospital I was in, managed by the Academy, had excellent facilities.

And since each of us had a private room, there was no discomfort.

But why was I complaining?

“How is it that the hospital food tastes the same here and there—equally terrible?”

The food was just too bland.

“Do I have to pull out the pork over rice again?”

But that thought was fleeting.

“No, no….”

I might get scolded by the nurse again.

I let out a deep sigh and closed the inventory I had opened.

Then, I collapsed onto the bed.

“…The dormitory bed is the best.”

While this bed was soft, it lacked the comfort that would let me fall asleep instantly like the dormitory bed did.

“Haah… I’ll just have to endure until tomorrow when I can be discharged.”

Surely, they wouldn’t make me stay another day.

If that were the case, I’d call Kang Cheol-soo right away…

“…Forget it.”

Kang Cheol-soo must be anxious too; I shouldn’t bother him with this.

I propped myself up and leaned against the headboard of the bed.

Then, I activated the hologram feature on my smartwatch and reopened the articles I had been reading before the doctor arrived.

[‘Arena Academy’ Attacked by the Corrupted]

– The academy’s main gate was destroyed in an assault by the named corrupted ‘Pride’ and numerous other corrupted beings, resulting in the deaths of 25 instructors.

– Thus, the government extends its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased instructors and holds the founder of the Academy, the fallen deity Baek Yu-hwa, accountable for allowing the attack by the corrupt…

[‘Is Arena Academy Really Okay Like This?’]

– On the uninhabited island under the jurisdiction of Arena Academy, the named corrupt ‘Illusion’ launched an attack, resulting in the deaths of 20 first-year students who were undergoing a mid-term evaluation.

– All of them were top students belonging to Class B and Class C, known for their fervent dedication to their studies…

[‘The Superhuman Association’ was also attacked.]

[Why are the corrupt suddenly doing this?]

Behind the scenes that were never seen in the game.

The Academy being attacked is akin to a game.

However, the news of instructors dying and students who were practicing alongside them perishing was something that the game had never addressed.

As such, the reports of death written in the articles troubled my heart immensely.

It wasn’t someone I knew well who had died.

Neither the instructors nor the students from Class B and Class C.

They were merely faces I had glimpsed as I passed by.

Yet, the reason for my melancholy lay with the students from Class B and Class C.

“…I should have eliminated them sooner.”

It wasn’t out of kindness that I had let them be.

“Haah.”

Letting out a deep sigh, I stared blankly at the ceiling.

As I continued to gaze at the ceiling in a daze, I reached out my hand.

And I pulled up the quest window that was flickering in the corner of my vision.

“Right… I should channel this gloomy heart into a reward.”

I opened the minimized quest window.

────────────────────

Great Achievement Quest

【Survive.】

Survive by any means necessary. (Completed)

※ Reinforcements will arrive in 20 minutes!

※ You must not die under any circumstances.

– Reward: 200,000 points (additional rewards based on performance), ???

– Failure: All dead.

────────────────────

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Great Achievement Quest: Quest Clear

────────────────────

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“You have been awarded ‘200,000 points’ as a reward.”

────────────────────

[You have achieved an unbelievable feat!]

[Calculating achievement details.]

────────────────────

“Survived in a high-risk rift.”

“Rewards are increased.”

“Overcame the ‘survive’ challenge presented by the achievement.”

“Rewards are increased.”

────────────────────

[Achievement details calculation complete.]

….

…….

[Beginning reward distribution.]

────────────────────

“You have received ‘2 A-rank talent and skill selection tickets’ as a reward.”

“You have received ‘3 rank-up tickets (for B-rank and below)’ as a reward.”

“You have received ‘2 random cheat usage tickets’ as a reward.”

“You have received ‘1 selected cheat usage ticket’ as a reward.”

────────────────────

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“Class 1-A, all members ‘perfectly’ commanded.”

“As an additional reward, ‘200,000 points’ have been awarded.”

“Class 1-A, all members ‘perfectly’ survived.”

“As an additional reward, ‘2 A-rank item selection tickets’ have been awarded.”

────────────────────

“Survival in a High-Risk Rift (Increased Rewards +)”

“An additional reward of ‘Grade Up Ticket (1 for A grade or lower)’ will be granted.”

“Survive against an enemy vastly stronger than yourself.”

“An additional reward of ‘Random Cheat Usage Ticket (3)’ will be granted.”

“Bring the Named Corruptor ‘Bewilderment’ to the brink of death (Increased Rewards +)”

“An additional reward of ‘S-Grade Item Selection Ticket (1), Selection Cheat Usage Ticket (2)’ will be granted.”

────────────────────

“Wow.”

Look at those rewards.

My gloomy mood just lifted.