Chapter 25: Chapter 25

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Chapter 25: Self-Development (4)

Pop!

All my attention was drawn to the gift box that appeared before me.

A semi-transparent box, about the size of a forearm, similar to the random boxes or gifts I'd received with messages before.

This time, however, it had a faint red aura.

Was it because it was "loot" obtained from defeating an enemy?

“This is the first time I’ve gotten something for defeating a monster.”

Swish.

I cautiously opened the box lid.

Inside was something heavy and coarse, filling the box entirely.

This is...

▣ Drosera's Seed

-When planted in soil, it seems it will sprout.

Grows only in hot, humid conditions with very high oxygen levels. Handle with care.

As it grows, it mimics the appearance of nearby life forms.

-If boiled together with a specific life form’s part and consumed, it allows you to transform into that life form.

Note: Only the appearance is replicated, and the transformation lasts for a maximum of 1 hour.

‘Transform into a life form?’

Raise it or use it for transformation.

One of the two.

A hollow laugh escaped me.

Not because of the fantastical nature of “mimicking the appearance of life forms,” but because I was already considering how to use it.

‘It’ll be useful in emergencies. Like when I’m being chased…’

Not that such a thing would ever happen.

Deciding to think about it later, I stored it in my inventory for now.

‘Check lesson objectives.’

〔Lesson Objectives〕

Defeat rooted enemies (1/100)

Defeat moving enemies (0/50)

Defeat winged enemies (0/10)

I unfolded the lesson objectives that still seemed a long way off.

‘Rooted enemies must be those carnivorous plants.’

The ones given the rather fancy name of Drosera.

And moving enemies…

‘Those.’

Crunch! Ssssssshhhhh—!

Those massive bugs being eaten by the Drosera.

Simultaneously, they were also natural enemies that chewed on the Drosera's roots and stems.

Those disgusting, oversized creatures must be the "moving enemies."

They were the only moving beings around here.

‘The problem is the winged enemies…’

My chest tightened as I looked at the (0/10) next to the winged enemies.

Not because I didn’t know what they were.

There was only one winged creature of substantial size in the vicinity.

— Buzz-buzz-buzz!

The deafening hum that had been echoing since I entered the cave.

It wasn’t from a generator... but from the wings of those creatures.

‘How am I supposed to deal with a swarm like that?’

Even touching one would turn my entire body into a beehive.

Quite literally.

— Buzz-buzz-buzz!

Not far away was a colossal hive hosting hundreds, if not thousands, of giant bees.

The hive was built into a rock crevice—more like a fortress of hexagonal walls than a regular beehive.

Guarding their honey, the bees patrolled, their wings so thin they were almost translucent but generating gusts strong enough to cause turbulence.

Buzz-buzz-buzz!

Insects endlessly appeared, attracted by the fragrant smell wafting from the honey, only to meet their doom.

Splat!

“Why are they using their antennae like horns?”

I thought bees stung and then died after stinging.

As a kid watching documentaries, I’d felt pity for these suicide attackers…

But the bees here were something else. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

They stabbed, impaled, and tore apart their prey with antennae as sharp as steel spears.

Even individually, they were incredibly formidable, but in swarms, they were on a whole other level.

Just watching from a distance was horrifying.

Still…

‘Why do they keep charging in when death is certain?’

Even for insects, risking their lives for a piece of honey?

Piles of insect corpses were already stacked like mountains in front of the hive.

‘Is it because of that honey?’

Hmm.

Its rainbow-colored glimmer, even without light, was undeniably alluring.

So, what now?

[Upon completing 'Basic Swordsmanship,' you will unlock a unique swordsmanship skill and receive the title 'Swordsman.']

[However, in this trial class, you may return without completing the objectives, though no rewards will be granted.]

The system presented me with two options:

First, leave now without extra rewards.

Second, risk my life to achieve the lesson objectives and claim the system’s rewards.

My choice?

‘Third option: grab what I can and bolt.’

After all, who says I have to take only what the system offers?

Shhh—

I picked up the corpse of a worker bee covered in yellow and black fur.

I’d found it while searching for insect shells to fool the carnivorous plants.

The body wasn’t in perfect shape, having been gnawed at, but it didn’t matter.

It was enough to disguise myself.

— Buzz-buzz-buzz!

My gaze followed the noisy buzzing and sweet aroma, landing on the hive.

A land flowing with milk and honey... No, a hive dripping with every kind of fluid and golden nectar.

* * *

An empty classroom, devoid of students.

The assistant instructor stood motionless in the pitch-dark space, staring at a screen visible only to him.

〔Subject: Lee Eunho (Evaluation: Not Yet Entered)〕

- Strength: ( )

- Intelligence: ( )

- Charisma: ( )

He was stuck—uncharacteristically so—right from the first field.

Sure, if it was just about swordsmanship, his strength would be nothing special.

A middling, mediocre score would be fitting.

But.

[This is tricky.]

During his countless years spent here, he had evaluated many subjects.

Among them, 70% were warriors who had devoted their lives to the sword.

Another 20% were instinctive predators-in-the-making, deriving joy from stepping on others to rise higher.

The rest were hapless individuals who had wandered in, clueless about what awaited them.

And then there was Lee Eunho.

“Why? Why don’t you just copy this, too?”

A rare individual with an unmatched knack for utilizing the system.

“Your swordsmanship skill proficiency just went up.”

Someone who never missed even a grain of information, armed with sharp judgment and relentless determination to improve.

“You use your legs well. I learned a thing or two thanks to that.”

And yet, he wasn’t rigid—his mindset remained flexible.

[An exceptional person. With just ten years of training, he could even make it to the beginner class.]

So, it was merely for the fun of watching that the instructor had sent him out.

With his current physical state, just surviving amidst the massive creatures should have kept him busy.

But he wanted him to see it.

That his future opponents wouldn’t just be frail humans.

[He should be back around now.]

The delay in his return was mildly concerning, but nothing to worry about too much.

The Drosera must have kept him from leaving the vicinity of the cave.

Given his sharp instincts and stubborn resolve, he’d likely dodged and evaded well enough to avoid dying.

Tack-tack!

As the assistant instructor input the evaluation results,

—Click-click-click!

Lee Eunho pushed open the stone door and stumbled inside.

“Huff… Huff…”

[You’re late.]

His body was riddled with countless scratches.

Covered in dirt and dust, his face was a mess—barely distinguishable.

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He looked like someone who had been rolling in the battlefield trenches for years.

And his entire body glistened, as if coated with insect saliva.

[You’ve been through a lot. Just observing must have been hard enough with your current physique.]

“What?”

At the consoling words, Lee Eunho furrowed his brow.

“Who said I was just observing?”

The confident retort made the instructor realize something was amiss.

[Don’t tell me…!]

Tack-tack!

Hurriedly opening the status screen…

〔Class Objectives (Lee Eunho)〕

Defeat rooted enemies: 1/100

Defeat moving enemies: 0/50

Defeat winged enemies: 0/10

[……Unbelievable.]

A short phrase, but one that contained a world of shock.

The greatest astonishment a man could express.

[You actually took down a Drosera.]

“Just one, though.”

Just one, he said.

A Drosera was a monster that required at least three or four full-time employees to subdue.

And this rookie, who had barely taken the basic swordsmanship class, had killed it?

“I didn’t even catch any of the bees.”

Hah.

The instructor couldn’t believe his ears.

[The giant bees are monsters the company hunts in team units. You were planning to go after those?]

“Well, I wasn’t exactly planning to catch them, but… I had something in mind.”

Did this kid even understand the weight of the words coming out of his mouth?

[Even the teams dedicated to subduing them spend weeks, full-time, on the task. What could you possibly do?]

“Oh, so… the company takes them down as a team?”

[Of course. Tackling them solo is outright suicide.]

Unless you had a death wish, such as being skewered by thousands of stingers.

[If individual hunts were feasible, the honey from those giant bees wouldn’t be so rare.]

“Wait. So… that honey is that valuable?”

[It is. Just one chunk of it is enough to tip the scales of corporate restructuring.]

At that, Lee Eunho smirked mischievously and gave a small nod before declaring,

“Looks like I’ll have to go back soon.”

Like he was just heading out to his front yard.

Without a care.

[And who gave you permission?]

“Just tell me how to get there again.”

The assistant instructor furrowed his brow, but Lee Eunho carried on unfazed.

“If there’s a course satisfaction survey or something, I’ll give you full marks.”

[Hah.]

A dry laugh escaped.

Arrogant.

So arrogant.

This was the first time meeting someone so brazen and persistent.

However… some things are simply not allowed.

The trial lesson itself had been against the rules from the start.

And if it became known that he captured a Drosera and received a reward for it, it would certainly lead to disciplinary action.

So, clearly, the only proper response was to refuse outright.

[...I’ll grant you a training voucher.]

“A training voucher?”

Not the last voucher he had kept aside on a whim, but—

[Issuing a ‘Basic Swordsmanship’ training voucher to subject Lee Eunho.]

Curiosity.

Yes, curiosity.

A faint expectation that he might show me something unexpected.

At that, Lee Eunho curled his lips in satisfaction and opened his mouth.

He thought he might offer a word of thanks for granting his wish.

“What’s your name?”

[My name?]

He suddenly asked an outlandish question.

It wasn’t much, yet… it was a question he could never answer.

[...]

Did he understand the meaning of my silence?

After waiting a moment for his response, Lee Eunho spoke again first.

“About that carnivorous plant earlier.”

[The Drosera, you mean?]

“They say if you plant it in soil, it grows to resemble the living things around it, right?”

[That’s true.]

With clear, unwavering eyes, Lee Eunho asked:

The kind of eyes only someone with their own principles, who avoided harming others, could have.

“That’s not something it chooses to resemble, is it?”

[Well…]

“Just like you.”

He flinched.

His words pierced the facade of the instructor and drilled straight to the core of his being.

It sent a shiver through him.

Him—someone who had lived countless ages—shaken by an upstart candidate who couldn’t have lived more than a few decades.

“You should at least have a name.”

The feeling of his throat tightening as if words would never come out.

He instinctively opened my mouth to say something, anything, but—

— WOOOOOOOM!

An all-too-familiar roar slammed into my ears from afar.

That must be it.

The reason my body began trembling without me realizing it.

[The door… must not have closed properly.]

With an excuse, I hurried toward the door.

“!!”

Finally noticing the noise, the subject flinched in alarm.

Startled, he spun around and sprinted off without looking back.

“Then I’m off! Accelerate!”

Swoosh!

[Hm?]

The subject was already gone when I snapped out of it.

He must have dashed out of the classroom, down the hallway, and through the door in an instant, even using a skill to aid him.

The way he bolted was strange, almost comical.

— Clack!

Perhaps encountering an overwhelming foe had left him traumatized.

That would make sense.

Even if he’d been lucky enough to catch the Drosera, standing before the majesty of the giant wasps must have made him realize just how insignificant he truly was.

At any rate—

[District 13, huh… What an interesting fellow I’ve stumbled upon.]

As a faint sense of amusement flickered within the rare sensation of anticipation—

BOOM!

Crashhhhhh!

The stone door he had personally closed crumbled away.

Like a sand levee before a massive wave.

Then came the deafening roar, like being thrown into an industrial thresher.

WOOOOOOOM!

[What on earth…!]

A swarm of giant wasps poured out from the collapsing stone wall.

And these were not just any wasps.

These were the ones who, under no circumstances, should ever have been here.

[Why are the hive guards, who should be defending their nest, out here?!]

Wait.

Giant wasps.

The hive.

Honey…?

“Wait a minute. So… is that why the honey is so valuable?”

[Exactly. Just a single piece could disrupt the entire structural balance of power.]

Lee Eunho’s shabby appearance flashed through his mind.

The way he looked earlier—like something sticky had clung to him, gleaming faintly.

WOOOOOOOM!

Rumble! RUMBLE RUMBLE!

The enraged wasps began to charge.

Not toward Lee Eunho, the thief who had stolen the precious hive—

But toward him, the one who now bore his likeness.

This bastard…

[You’ve got to be kidding me!]

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