Si-woo was barely holding back from scratching his neck. The school uniform code wasn't exactly the strictest rule around here. Usually, he could loosen his tie without anyone commenting. But with the education official present, the teachers were on edge. Any slip-up meant trouble. A poor sophomore had gotten two hours of detention for having hair two centimeters too long. It was already that long last week.
After everything that had happened recently, Si-woo couldn't afford to draw any attention. Il-seong had quickly trimmed his hair before they passed through the gate. Little rebellious strands had gotten stuck in his collar, clearly plotting revenge for this forced haircut.
On top of that, it was scorching hot inside the gym. Everyone who'd gotten used to skipping the exam results ceremony had been threatened with expulsion if they missed it. So the place was packed with students, squeezed in like sardines, barely moving.
The representative, Hun-sung — or Yun-hung, Si-woo wasn't sure — had been droning on for almost two hours.
— You think this guy's gonna keep going much longer? he muttered.
Si-woo smiled. The interface was taking more and more liberties every day. He suspected it was more of a magical creature than just a super-smart machine. And every day gave him more reasons to believe it. He used the endless speech as an opportunity to check on his two Players' stats.
Il-seong was stuck. Since his fight with Jeunk — or rather since realizing Jeunk had become a Player too — he flat-out refused to take on any new quests, unless they were urgent or timed. He had earned his Condiment King badge but ignored the one requiring him to run around town to boost endurance, and the one collecting medicinal plants. Did he think hitting 100% in a skill was enough? Either way, Il-seong was on strike, and Si-woo lacked ideas for new quests. Another dungeon was needed: the first had worked pretty well... if you ignored the goblins.
Jeunk, on the other hand... He tried hard to do everything his master ordered. But he wasn't progressing at all, preferring to hoard his money and skills rather than improve his stats.
Si-woo glanced at the fallen tyrant. Jeunk looked thinner. He was wasting away before their eyes, a creepy smile frozen on his lips.
— Did I screw up?
Si-woo didn't know if it was the short answer, the unexpected punctuation, or the lack of flair he was used to from the interface, but… he shivered from head to toe. He wanted with all his heart for Jeunk's quest to end badly and for him to finally disappear from his life. Still, a bad feeling kept squeezing his chest.
— Thanks again to my colleague, the representative concluded, pointing at the principal. He's done a good job in this school. I'm sure it will improve under his supervision. And now, his son, a brilliant student I'm told, would like to say a few words.
The crowd snickered as Jeunk made his way up the aisle. Whether in anticipation — expecting another spectacle? — or because of the "brilliant student," the principal furrowed her brows at them. Jeunk leaned on the podium, baring his teeth.
— I have only one thing to say: you'll all regret this!
With that, he tore off his clothes and placed a plastic pig snout on his nose. He got down on all fours and grunted like an angry pig.
— Oink OOOIIINNNK!
Si-woo mentally activated a stopwatch window.
1 minute
60 seconds
59
58
A stunned silence filled the room. The first to crack was Do-Yun.
— Losing messed you up, man! he shouted, bursting into laughter.
He doubled over to contain his laughter. Others soon joined in. Cheers erupted from all sides.
— Go Jeunk!
— Come on Jeunk!
The principal and the official were so shocked they reacted late. The official turned to Jeunk's father.
— Is this... a joke? A hidden camera?
Out of words, the principal slowly shook her head, unable to look away from his son's madness.
Jeunk crawled across the stage, rolled on the floor, imitating a happy pig in the mud. He breathed through his snout and let out a twisted, almost desperate, cry. Si-woo couldn't bring himself to watch the pathetic show he'd orchestrated. Eyes fixed on the timer, he prayed for it to end quickly.
31
30
29
He's halfway through.
His classmates broke formation and rushed to the foot of the stage. They jumped like at a concert, urging Jeunk to humiliate himself further. Amid the chaos now reigning in the gym, someone shoved Si-woo, almost making him fall. Strong arms caught him before he hit the floor.
— Thanks, Il-seong, he sighed.
— Oh, you're sooo welcome!
Si-woo froze. The voice was too mature, too mocking to be his friend's. Slowly, he raised his eyes to the doctor Kim. The evil smile on his face disturbed Si-woo. The hairs on his skin touched by the doctor's hands stood on end. His heart pounded so hard against his temples that the noise around him faded away. There was only him, Doctor Kim, and Jeunk's screams.
— Enjoying your little game, kiddo ? the doctor whispered.
Si-woo shook his head violently. It had to be a dream. No, a nightmare.
— This… this isn't… real, he gasped, suddenly out of breath. You don't know… not yet!
Doctor Kim snorted.
— Know what? That a cute little minion got revenge on his bully?
Doctor Kim grabbed Si-woo's jaw and forced him to look up. He closed his eyes to avoid seeing Jeunk rolling on the floor under the light of classmates' and a few teachers' phones.
— Don't look away, my little Si-woo, the doctor whispered in his ear. All this is your doing.
The longer the doctor held him, the weaker Si-woo felt. He stood still in Doctor Kim's arms. Magic, definitively.
— You…
He didn't have the strength to finish his sentence. Satisfied by his mute, the adult cuddled him against his chest like a proud father.
— I underestimated you. After this, we need to talk. You have a lot to learn, little master.
Si-woo's eyes widened.
He knows ! No doubt to have !
He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. A roar erupted throughout the hall. Doctor Kim forced Si-woo to be the helpless witness of a new turn of events.
Il-seong had climbed on stage.
He faced Jeunk, still in his pig act.
— That's enough! he thundered. You're going too far. Don't you see your actions will have serious consequences? For you and your father?
Jeunk didn't care. He firmly believed in the cards he held — his Forget skill and "master's word." And the minute wasn't over yet. He ignored his friend and kept grunting happily in front of the cameras.
Il-seong wasn't about to look away this time.
— If you refuse to listen, I'll have to stop you… for your own good.
He pulled a stick from behind his back. His stick from the dungeon, summoned in front of the entire school.
— This is going to be interesting, Doctor Kim smiled.
Si-woo didn't even have the strength to clench his fist. He distinctly heard Mi-Cha's exasperated sigh from the back of the gym.
— This is the most ridiculous fight I've ever seen !
And all this was Si-woo's fault.