I Became an Illegal Cheat User

Chapter 21

21 – The Hidden World (1)

Classes at the Arena Academy start at 10 o’clock, unlike regular schools.

Until then, except for the scheduled time for the academy’s outings, you are free to do as you please.

For example, have breakfast, take a walk, sleep more, etc. There are no restrictions on your actions.

But with no constraints comes the responsibility to match.

You can be lazy, but not completely idle.

The founder of the Arena Academy and the current director, Mu Shin Baek Yu Hwa, values “skill” and “heroic spirit”.

According to Baek Yu Hwa’s intentions, the academy prioritizes “competition”.

In other words, the academy is returning to a strict focus on skill.

But instead of improving their skills, are they deteriorating or staying the same?

That means I can no longer follow the academy’s curriculum.

It implies being unable to attend the academy anymore.

So, most students either wake up early, have breakfast, and train at the training ground before classes, or vice versa—train first and have breakfast later; that’s the usual routine.

However, not everyone adheres to this routine.

Just like me.

“Indeed, Arena Academy, even the welfare is impressive from the morning.”

Currently, I am marveling at the quality and variety of dishes in a dining hall that rivals a 5-star hotel buffet, enjoying my breakfast.

“Wow, it’s incredibly delicious.”

In line with the academy’s aspiration to create outstanding heroes, the cuisine is also exceptionally exquisite.

The texture of the meat is tender and juicy, as if freshly slaughtered.

The seafood is fresh, as if just caught.

Vegetables and fruits have a healthy taste, possibly using organic ingredients.

So, what am I eating?

“Among all the pork stir-fry I’ve ever had, this is the best.”

It was pork stir-fry.

Although the restaurant is filled with delicious dishes like beef steak or butter lobster, I’ve chosen rice, kimchi, and pork stir-fry for my plate.

If someone were to see it, they might think I died in my past life without having pork stir-fry, given how piled up it is on my plate.

Today, for some reason, I just wanted pork stir-fry, but that doesn’t mean I have no interest in other dishes.

Anyway, among the people in the restaurant right now, there are few I know.

I recognize their faces, but they are supporting characters I’ve never had a conversation with.

There’s no sign of the lead characters like Arse or Lee Seoyeon, Asuka, Noah, and the others.

I checked the time on my smartwatch.

[AM 07:22]

The academy’s dining hall opens at 6 AM.

However, judging by the absence of lead characters in the restaurant right now, it seems like everyone is at the training ground.

No, not seems, they must be there.

Lead characters don’t neglect their training, so they must be up early, practicing.

“…Well then, after quickly finishing my meal, I’ll head to the training ground too.”

There’s no real need for training.

But since there will be people at the training ground, it’s an opportunity to build some goodwill.

“As I thought….”

They said that Lee Seo-yeon’s genius with a sword was paving a new path.

“What could have changed?”

I hurried through my meal, fueled by rising anticipation.

And my anticipation shattered into pieces as if in a cruel mockery.

Bang! Bang!

“…No, why?”

As I entered the training ground, I looked up with a hook hanging over my head at the sound of gunfire echoing.

“…No, really, why?”

I felt a gut-wrenching shock as I looked at the familiar silhouette in Lee Seo-yeon’s hands.

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“No, why are you holding a gun!”

In one corner of the training ground, there was a long-distance physical test machine.

I screamed as I watched Lee Seo-yeon shoot towards the target in front of the long-distance physical test machine.

I never thought she would venture into the realm of firearms.

I wanted to lose consciousness in the dizzying feeling.

Fortunately, however, I could find some solace in the crimson-colored sword hanging from Lee Seo-yeon’s waist – the appearance of ‘Dain Slayer,’ the familiar sword.

Holding a sword meant that Lee Seo-yeon, the ‘genius of the sword,’ who was exploring new territories, had not completely embraced the frenzy of firearms.

Still…, it was not a gun.

Unless it was a talent like ‘Super Accuracy,’ firearms were weapons filled with flaws in this world.

As I thought about it, Asuka came running towards me from afar, her twin-tailed hair fluttering.

“Chief Soo! Chief Soo! It’s a big problem, a big problem!”

“…What happened?”

“Well, it’s about Seo-yeon! Seo-yeon!”

Asuka struggled to connect her words properly, her face showing a considerable surprise.

At that sight, I realized that Asuka was shocked not by Seo-yeon wielding a sword but by the fact that she was shooting a gun.

Sure enough.

Asuka pointed the one-handed sword she held in both hands towards Seo-yeon, delivering the words I had anticipated.

“Seo-yeon is shooting a gun!”

“…Indeed, why would she shoot a gun.”

“Did he pick up a gun because he was too upset about losing to Mr. Suseok?”

“Wouldn’t it be unlikely?”

If it was resentment over losing to me in our duel, instead of firing a gun in front of the physical test device, Yiseo-yeon would have challenged me with a sword.

For Yiseo-yeon, losing meant a chance to learn.

‘…Wait, learn?’

Come to think of it, for Yiseo-yeon, learning was…

‘…repaying the opponent who defeated you with the same martial art skills, um… well.’

Ah.

It’s because of me.

She’s using a gun because of me.

“I lost.”

“Huh?”

Momentarily unsure of what she heard, Asuka, unable to comprehend, tilted her head, a hook hanging above her.

In response to Asuka’s reaction, I casually reassured her and stroked her round head.

“…Hng!”

At that moment, startled like a squirrel, blushing Asuka pulled away from me.

“Uh, why have you been constantly patting my head since yesterday?”

“…Because there’s a head there?”

Yesterday, I just patted her head with comforting intentions.

Maybe it’s because her hair is tied in two strands.

Today, Asuka’s small, round head looked particularly nice to pat.

Without realizing it, I found myself gently stroking Asuka’s head again.

‘Is it subtly comforting?’

It feels like petting an adorable animal.

With that thought in mind, I reached out towards Asuka’s head again.

“I, I’m going to practice!”

Asuka ran away.

“Well, that’s a shame.”

“…What’s there to be disappointed about?”

“…!”

I turned my head in surprise at the voice that suddenly came from beside me.

And there was Lee Seo-yeon, holding a gun, standing there.

No, even if I was distracted by Asuka, I shouldn’t have been unable to sense Lee Seo-yeon approaching.

“I gained agility, but did she receive the adjustment?”

I couldn’t feel Lee Seo-yeon’s presence to that extent.

“No, it’s nothing.”

“…Really?”

Lee Seo-yeon cocked her head with an expressionless face.

Then, as if there was something she suddenly remembered, she lifted the gun she was holding and spoke.

“…Teach me how to use this.”

“…Why?”

“…I want to learn gun skills.”

“…Why?”

Can’t you just not learn it?

Lee Seo-yeon, you’re supposed to swing a sword, not shoot a gun.

And anyway, once the seal of ‘Diamond Life’ is released, you won’t be able to use any other weapon.

…I kept getting that thought stuck in my throat, but I couldn’t say it out loud.

I was the one who made Lee Seo-yeon, the ‘Sword Genius,’ interested in guns.

How can I explain that the ego of the sword, which had been dormant, awakens when the seal of the demon sword Diamond Life is released, causing such jealousy that it prevents her from using any other weapon?

And even if I say it, they’ll doubt me or ask how I know.

So I carefully selected and chose the words I wanted to say and answered with what seemed to be an appropriate response.

“Unfortunately, it’s just my talent that allows me to handle guns, I never had the skill to teach others. So, I can’t teach you. I’m sorry.”

“Just don’t learn.”

“…Huh?”

“Oh.”

I misspoke.

Fortunately, Lee Seo-yeon didn’t take my insincere slip-up too seriously.

Although there was a moment of silence, he asked me again to teach him how to shoot.

So, when the class time approached, I escaped to the classroom, promising to teach him later.

But the same thing happened as yesterday….

Seoyeon and Asuka sat on either side of my seat.

And furthermore, Arthur sat in front of me, and Noah sat behind me.

Literally, I was surrounded by lead actors.

With their attention, the first class began.

“Did everyone rest well?”

As the class time approached, Kang Cheolsu looked around the classroom and spoke.

“Yes! We rested well!”

“Great.”

Satisfied with the energetic response from the students, Kang Cheolsu nodded and delicately placed the file he had in his hand on the new teacher’s desk.

Seems like he got scolded by the equipment manager for breaking the desk yesterday.

Thump.

When the file safely reached the teacher’s desk, a mischievous smile spread across Kang Cheolsu’s face.

But maybe he was relieved that the desk didn’t break.

Unconsciously, Kang Cheolsu put his hand on the desk with his chin resting on it.

Crack.

Eventually, the desk was broken again.

And then.

Thud.

It split in half and toppled on both sides.

“….”

Kang Cheolsu’s smiling face froze.

But soon after, Kang Cheolsu regained his composure, grimaced, and picked up the file that had fallen on the floor.

“Oh, damn…. I’ll hear another complaint.”

Muttering under his breath was a given.

Perhaps flustered at the thought of hearing another complaint from the equipment manager, Kang Cheolsu scratched his forehead, where there was a scar.

Then, as if resigned, he sighed deeply, kicked away the broken desk, and stood in the place where the desk had been.

And then, as he opened the file, he spoke.

“Today’s first class will be conducted outdoors.”

Outdoors…?

The word ‘outdoors’ that came out of Kang Cheol-soo’s mouth made me suddenly recall something I had forgotten.

“…I forgot about this.”

It’s different for each class.

Class 1-B is doing a skill assessment like our class did yesterday.

Class 1-C is doing physical training.

And our Class 1-A is having a fake ‘otherworldly’ experience outdoors.

But that ‘fake’ becomes ‘real.’

How? Because of the corrupt cultists embedded in the academy.