I finally returned to my room at 11 P.M. It took 12 hours after the Mock Dungeon Trial. Cube told the cadets that an internal investigation would occur rather than deploying the police or heroes from the association. That was only because no cadets had been killed or injured.

The djinns in the upper brass of Cube had successfully masked the incident. An extensive external investigation wouldn’t occur until after the second incident.

“I got super lucky.”

The fitness center was closed because of the incident today, so I loafed around in my room and looked at my laptop.

[An incredible luck has been applied, you have avoided a silent ambush!] 

[Narrow Escape from Death (1/9) – You have partly unlocked the special stat, accumulation of luck.]

I had dodged that poison arrow by pure luck, which unlocked a special stat called accumulation of luck. A special stat was… Well, to explain this, I had to first explain how stats worked.

In this world, stats were divided into 3 major categories: variable stats, invariable stats, and special stats. Variable and invariable stats existed from birth. Even a baby had strength, magic power, vitality, intelligence, and other basic stats.

However, most people didn’t have special stats. For example, every human was born with magic power, but not magic power control or mental power, which one needed to use magic power. These 2 abilities came from innate talent and continuous effort. Most cadets generally had 2 special stats like magic power control and mental power. Kim Suho had one called resistance and Chae Nayun had one called intuition.

“Hmm.”

[Accumulation of luck – 11%]

It was only 11% unlocked, so I couldn’t do anything with it. The stat had no explanation, so I didn’t even know its purpose.

Well, I’m sure I’ll find out eventually.

More importantly, I needed to know what Sven was planning. He was undoubtedly scheming something regarding Chae Nayun and would likely lose control once they were alone. After all, one of the negative side effects of a djinn contract was intensified emotions like obsessions.

Should I contact Chae Nayun? No.

I opened my laptop. It felt like a crime… no, it was definitely a crime, but I had no choice. I hacked Chae Nayun’s smartwatch with my laptop’s internet functionality. I only needed to spend a small amount of SP.

[Chae Nayun → Kim Suho] [Hey, what’s up?]

[Shin Jonghak → Chae Nayun] [Hey, do you want to grab a late night snack?]

Several messages flew by. I tried my best not to look. I only needed Sven’s. As expected, Chae Nayun received messages from male and female cadets. I only found Sven’s name after scrolling for a while.

Sven: [Thank you for yesterday.] 

[Yeah, you did well too. By the way, why do you keep talking politely? It’s uncomfortable.]

Sven: [Is it? I’ll talk casually then.] 

…

Sven: [I hear the hunting club is going to Gangwondo this week. Wanna hunt together?]

[Yeah, sure.]

It looked like a basic conversation between acquaintances, but Sven’s last message caught my eye. In the original story, Sven went berserk during the hunting club’s trip.

At that moment…

[Hajin.]

I received a message on my smartwatch. I saw the sender’s name and couldn’t help but feel curious. It was Kim Suho.

[Are you free on Thursday?]

“What’s up with him?”

Why was Kim Suho suddenly contacting me? Oh, it’s that.

For the internal investigation of the previous incident, Cube decided to select the most trustworthy cadets from each grade to search for the culprit. The freshman representatives were unsurprisingly Shin Jonghak, Kim Suho, and Chae Nayun.

“… But isn’t it too early?”

I wasn’t sure of the exact date, but I remembered it being around early April. Currently, it was the end of March. The investigation team formed quicker than I thought. I still couldn’t understand why he contacted me.

[Why?]

[I can’t tell you yet. I’ll tell you about it in person. For now, just know that Nayun recommended you.]

“Chae Nayun?”

Why would Chae Nayun recommend me? Because I have good eyes?

I hesitated because the timing wasn’t good. Classes were canceled on Wednesday and Thursday, so I planned on going to the Gari Mountain Dungeon on Wednesday and the hunting club on Thursday. I replied.

[I’m busy on Thursday, but I’m free on Friday.]

[That’s fine, we can meet then.]

Kim Suho instantly replied.

“Well, it’s better the closer I am to the storyline.”

After agreeing, I went back to looking at my laptop. Next on the list was Sven’s social media accounts.

***

Gangwondo was Korea’s biggest mountain range. The region included Baekdu Mountain, which was known for its rich life energy, and other mountains like Mount Kumgang, which were rich in spiritual energy. Martial artists referred to this area as the mecca of training. It attracted all sorts of people like hunters, poachers, heroes, and mercenaries. Among these was also a special occupation known as a ginseng digger.

A ginseng digger searched the mountains for ginseng. They weren’t strong enough to combat monsters, but had heightened senses of sight and smell. Ginseng could be found in many countries, but the most expensive came from Korea. Naturally, ginseng diggers commonly inhabited Gangwondo.

Kim Yunjoon was such a ginseng digger.

Gangwondo’s ginseng sold for sky-high prices even if they were young because it increased the body’s mana capacity. Kim Yunjoon didn’t fully understand the effects, but he spent 10 years in Gangwondo’s dangerous mountains to dig up money.

The last ginseng he discovered was a 4 year old one a year ago. He hadn’t earned any income since, but his family didn’t complain since he received 300 million won from it.

Today marked the twentieth time Kim Yunjoon climbed Gari Mountain.

“Hmm?”

As always, he walked while looking down. When he raised his head to wipe his sweat, he spotted a young man who was neither ugly nor handsome, simply average. Still, his body seemed well-built, although that was also common for ginseng diggers. The young man repeatedly walked, paused, and looked at a map.

“A ginseng digger, but ginsengs can’t be found on maps. He must be a newbie.”

Kim Yunjoon grinned and walked towards him. The young man turned around, noticing his presence. Kim Yunjoon cheekily asked, “Are you also a ginseng digger?”

The young man stared at him before shaking his head.

“No, I’m just looking for a place.”

He hid his map behind him. Kim Yunjoon found his actions quite cute.

“Haha, I understand where you’re coming from, but ginseng isn’t something you can find with maps.”

“… Yes?”

“That map, I don’t know where you got it, but don’t believe it too much. Only heaven knows where ginseng is.”

“What?”

The young man tilted his head. Kim Yunjoon had a lot he wanted to teach this novice. He felt it was his responsibility as an elite ginseng digger.

Kim Yunjoon began to talk about his experience and showed off his cutting-edge equipment. He explained how to dig while avoiding damage to the ginseng, and showed some pictures of his wife and 13 year old son before laughing and smacking the young man’s shoulder.

“When I see young’uns climbing the mountain, I can’t help but think they’re simply dreaming of striking a fortune. Jumping into the mountains with such a flimsy mindset is no different from throwing away your life. Forgive me, but I hope what I taught you will come in handy.”

“Ah… yes.”

The young man nodded with a blank face. Kim Yunjoon felt deep admiration and respect from his eyes. His effort felt worthwhile.

“Then take care. I wish you good luck. I hope you can grow up to threaten me as a competitor. Don’t forget the advice I gave you today.”

Kim Yunjoon walked past the young man. He waved just in case the young man was watching him leave.

***

“…”

I stared at a man’s back. Then I looked down at my smartwatch. Unknowingly, 30 minutes had passed.

“Who was he?”

I ended up wasting time because of some talkative guy. I wanted to cut him off in the middle, but hesitated because he might have been a named herbalist. I didn’t notice anything special about his appearance or pictures. He was just a normal ginseng digger.

“I think it’s this way…”

I looked at my map once again. It pointed to the Gari Mountain Dungeon. I obtained it from the Book of Truth. Just like a genie lamp, all I had to do was ask, Where is the Gari Mountain Dungeon?, and it gave me this map.

The map showed my live location like a GPS. I continued towards the dungeon’s location. After about 10 minutes of walking…

“Uk!”

Thud. I tripped on something.

“Agh, what is it now?”

I got up after falling pathetically. A stem of some sort tangled around my leg. At first, I was afraid it was some sort of plant monster, but it was just an ordinary stem.

“Whew, that surprised me.”

I pulled on the stem. It didn’t seem very deep and I didn’t use much strength. When I pulled the stem out, something resembling a bellflower root popped out.

“What’s this?”

I threw the root on the ground. After dusting myself off, I suddenly remembered what the man just told me. Ginseng. I looked at the root again. It did resemble a mandrake. I took out my laptop and read the description.

[7 year old Ginseng] — A plant that achieved magic power on its own through condensed life energy and spiritual energy. Has strong efficacy no matter how it’s used. — A treasured item full of nutrients.

“…”

I became speechless. I wanted to say something, but I was too dumbfounded. I could only murmur inwardly.

Jackpot.