Chapter 88: Festival – Contract (6)

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[Announcement: Semester 1 Practical Exam – 2034]

Please be advised that, due to specific circumstances, the content of the final semester practical exam has been modified as follows:

Change: External Dungeon Strategy ▶ Team-Based Competition.

Execution Period: 06/02/2034 (Tuesday) ~ 06/06/2034 (Wednesday).

Exam Location: Special Building, Joaquin Academy.

Team Composition: One second-year student, two first-year students (randomly assigned).

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[※ Team assignments will be sent via message the day prior to the exam.]

[※ Detailed exam instructions will be provided verbally right before the test begins.]

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“What the hell? They’re changing the exam with only three days’ notice?”

Speedweapon murmured, massaging his swollen cheek. His voice was somewhat distorted, and a small tear had formed in the corner of his left eye, giving him a slightly pitiful look.

‘Why does he always end up getting hit lately?’

It seemed Chloe had put some real force into that slap. Yet, if there was supposedly a mosquito on his cheek, why was his face so spotless? Strange…

‘But that’s not the issue right now.’

I shook off those thoughts and refocused on the message. While my face didn’t show it, I was just as unsettled.

‘The content of the exam has changed from the original storyline.’

Until now, most variables had arisen from interpersonal relationships: Leon, the Swordmaster, Abel, Rachel, and other key characters in the plot. Back then, I felt uneasy intervening in major events.

To be honest, I now understood that my existence—Kang Geom-Ma—was a foreign element in this story.

Apart from Agor’s death, I hadn’t deviated too much from the game’s primary plotline.

But this situation was different.

Originally, the final exam took place in an external dungeon located in Gapyeong, known as the “Goblin Dungeon.” It wasn’t a place filled with beasts carrying precious stones, but it did contain valuable materials, so I had been looking forward to it.

‘The story is starting to change.’

Well, given everything I’ve done so far, this outcome was predictable. In fact, it would have been stranger if significant changes hadn’t occurred after all my interventions.

‘….’

My fingers trembled slightly as I held the phone.

Even though I had mentally prepared for this, facing it in reality was far more overwhelming than I’d anticipated.

A worrying thought crossed my mind: Had I squandered my greatest advantage—my knowledge of the game Miracle Blessing M?

This small crack in the story could grow into a massive fracture. From a single text message, a flood of uncertain futures raced through my mind.

Wearing a serious expression, I stared at my phone.

Ryozo, noticing my tension, looked at me curiously before speaking.

“What’s wrong? Why are you so on edge? That’s not like you.”

Her clear voice broke through the oppressive atmosphere, clearing my thoughts slightly. I turned to her in surprise.

Ryozo gave me a gentle smile before continuing.

“I’m surprised they changed the exam content too, but if you think about it, it’s not entirely unreasonable. Remember, during the midterm exam, a demon appeared. During the survival training on the deserted island, the Swordmaster got injured. Every time we leave the academy, disaster strikes. From the administration’s perspective, it makes sense to adjust the exam’s location. After all, there’s no safer place for students than the academy itself, don’t you think?”

“…”

Ryozo’s explanation, accompanied by her absentminded pencil twirling, helped me untangle my confused thoughts.

I realized my mind had been overwhelmed by shock and uncertainty. If I had been alone, I probably would have let myself spiral into panic.

But thanks to Ryozo’s sharp perspective, I began to see the situation more clearly.

That’s right.

The story isn’t static; it changes because of people. It wasn’t some arbitrary manipulation but a natural evolution.

A simple shift in perspective, and everything started to fall into place. Ryozo truly excelled as the “problem avoider” of our group.

‘Though… why someone like her would be interested in someone like Speedweapon is still a mystery.’

Speedweapon was undeniably a good guy, but lately, his behavior had been… a bit childish.

I suppose that, from a girl’s perspective, he might have a different kind of charm. They say women like funny and kind-hearted guys.

Unconsciously, my gaze drifted toward Speedweapon.

He was massaging his swollen cheek with a pitiful expression.

Chloe had rushed to the infirmary to fetch him an ice pack.

‘…….’

I nodded toward Ryozo after shaking off my scattered thoughts.

“You’re right. Listening to you makes sense.”

“See?”

Ryozo set the pencil down on the table.

When I stared at her, she leaned back slightly with an uneasy expression.

“W-why are you looking at me like that? It’s making me nervous.”

“Thanks to you, I’ve managed to organize my thoughts. Thank you.”

Ryozo’s lips trembled as she stammered. Her light blue eyes darted nervously. Seeing her so flustered, I couldn’t help but smile.

“D-don’t think I said it because I care about you or anything!”

Ryozo suddenly raised her voice, blurting out something that sounded straight out of a cliché.

Then she pointed at me with her long, slender index finger.

“Kang Geom-Ma! If you’re confused, I’ll be confused too!”

“You? Why?”

When I shot the question back at her, her face flushed even deeper. Despite the summer heat, it seemed like steam was rising from the top of her head.

“I mean, us! Including me and the other Exploration Club members! You’re the president! If the president acts recklessly, the rest of the group will fall apart!”

“Ah…”

So that’s what she meant.

Her words reminded me of my responsibility as the club president. Today, more than ever, Ryozo was someone I could rely on.

I let out a small sigh of admiration. Ryozo gave me a strange look before letting out a long sigh of her own.

‘Oh, right.’

Talking to Ryozo reminded me of something I needed to ask her.

“Ryozo, there’s something I need to request.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“First, do you remember the list of academy staff you hacked? Do you still have a copy saved?”

“Ah, well… I deleted the digital copy to avoid being traced, but I still have a printed version.”

Ryozo replied in a slightly confused voice. I spoke again.

“If you have that, the work will be much easier.”

“Huh…?”

Ryozo tilted her head, not fully understanding what I meant. When I gave her a faint smile, she let out a small sigh.

“What’s with that look…?”

Her slight shrug, mixed with a touch of embarrassment, was surprisingly amusing to watch.

“Ryozo.”

“Hmm?”

“Hack the academy’s network again.”

***

I explained to Ryozo, intermittently, what I had heard from Choi Seol-Ah.

The key point was that there were villains infiltrated in the academy, posing as staff.

However, I omitted the fact that their target was Leon.

I felt it wouldn’t be wise to provide too much information at once.

It wasn’t that I intended to hide anything, but the timing wasn’t right yet. With final exams approaching, revealing this could create unnecessary misunderstandings about Leon. It would be better to clarify the facts first and then share everything.

After listening to the whole story, Ryozo closed her eyes, reflecting as she nodded slightly. Finally, after a moment of thought, she asked me.

“Hmm, so what you want is to compare the previous list with the new one, right?”

“Yes, exactly.”

My original plan was to investigate directly with the club members. However, after thinking it through, I concluded that it would be physically impossible to handle everything ourselves.

‘The time before the holidays is extremely limited.’

Right after the final exams, the vacation period begins.

During that time, not only the students but also most of the staff, except for essential personnel, take their leave.

‘It’s impossible to review everything in such a short time.’

The number of employees is in the hundreds, and we have only about a week left.

If I didn’t resolve this before the vacation, the plan would have to be postponed until the second semester.

Moreover, there wouldn’t be a better time than now, just after recruiting Choi Seol-Ah. So I decided to adjust the plan to focus on a more efficient investigation.

“…Kang Geom-Ma, if what you’re saying is true, comparing the lists would be the most efficient method. The staff information is updated every month. If we remove the people who weren’t on the previous list, the number will decrease significantly.”

“Yes, even if we reduce hundreds to just a few dozen, the work will become much more manageable. Besides, during the exams, classes end before noon. And…”

“And all the staff gathers in the faculty room to grade the exams, saving us a lot of unnecessary work, right?”

As expected, Ryozo caught on to my intent exactly. I nodded.

The information on Joaquin Academy staff is updated automatically every month. According to Ryozo, it’s stored as a backup in a subspace portal linked to the cloud.

In simpler terms, the monthly data update functions like an autosave system.

Of course, this adjustment feels somewhat artificial compared to my original world. But after all, the game Miracle Blessing M is based on a mobile game.

The system regularly updates to avoid unnecessary data, a process players call “optimization.”

Naturally, I might be the only one interpreting these phenomena from this perspective.

‘Even if the story changes, my experience as a player remains useful.’

Instead of clinging to an unchanging narrative, I can exploit the system’s weaknesses. Another practical use of my memory as a player.

In fact, letting go of that obsession with the original story made me feel like my thinking was becoming more flexible. I smiled with satisfaction and added.

“Anyway, I think this is the best thing we can do right now.”

“Yes, I agree.”

“Then, back to the main topic. When can you do it?”

At my question, Ryozo narrowed her eyes. Her long eyelashes lowered slowly before she responded in an ambiguous tone.

“It’s not difficult to fulfill your request. But don’t you think you’re exploiting me too much?”

“……”

I was speechless because her words were entirely true.

I had become so used to relying on her skills that I had forgotten how much I was using her.

Ryozo had done a lot—hacks, helping during the festival, even tracking Speedweapon using security cameras.

Her role and abilities are invaluable. Pressuring her too much under the guise of being in the same club would be a waste.

Of course, I was always secretly grateful for her hard work. Something I didn’t necessarily say out loud.

‘Because it feels unfamiliar.’

But there are clear limits to goodwill. People are more efficient when they receive achievements or rewards. In a community, this principle applies even more; fair treatment is essential to maintain balance.

‘..ñBut the problem is.’

I have nothing to offer Ryozo. Think about it carefully.

Ryozo is the daughter of Japan’s Prime Minister.

How am I, a mere commoner, supposed to give something valuable to a princess who has grown up lacking nothing? I have no money, no status, no fame—absolutely nothing that could impress her.

What’s the point of knowing how to wield a sashimi knife when there’s nothing else to offer? Even a stray dog would laugh at me.

‘What am I supposed to do?’

I let out a sigh and slowly opened my mouth.

“Well, is there something you want in return?”

“…Something I want?”

Ryozo opened her eyes wide in surprise and took a moment to think. After reflecting for a bit, she slowly lifted her head and said.

“Then do me a favor later.”

“……”

I became a little nervous. Given that she’s someone whose true intentions are unknown, what could she ask for?

Could it be a box of yokan? But considering the exorbitant prices at the academy, that’s quite burdensome for me.

“Relax. It’s nothing material.”

“…Then what is it?”

A mysterious smile appeared on Ryozo’s lips.

“I’ll tell you when the time comes.”