The Support Ate it All-Chapter 569: Curious Show

▷Reward: Rank Up (B), Fixed Pin, Blank Trait Scroll

Three rewards at once, when you usually got one a week.

All the frantic running around during finals had been worth it.

Two of them already had a purpose lined up, so I used them the moment I got them.

[Using ‘Rank Up (B)’.]

[The grade of ‘Imbuement’ increases. (B→A)]

▷Duration: 20 minutes → 30 minutes

▷Cooldown: 25 minutes → 20 minutes

[Using ‘Fixed Pin’.]

[Fixing ‘Vendetta (S)’.]

▷Copy - Skills [4/4]

[Skill - Universal]

▷Vendetta (S)

‘Guess I need to make room on the skill side.’

That way I could get [Destructive Gale] back from Seo Ye-in again, and copy other skills if things went sideways.

Now all that was left was the long-awaited Blank Trait Scroll.

Put simply, it was the trait version of a blank skillbook—something that let me craft a trait to my liking.

‘Two broad directions.’

One: a trait focused on wind, freezing, utility, and the like—boosting my own specs.

Two: craft a highly versatile trait and share it through [Bond].

But the answer had been obvious from the start.

‘This time, I’m going with the first.’

It hadn’t been long since I got the [Sage’s Ring] and shared it.

And it mattered that there was still quite a bit of time until the next slot got added.

Even so, the list of candidates for a trait I’d use alone wasn’t short.

One that was so-so in power but insanely infuriating,

one that was decently strong and decently infuriating,

one that was less infuriating but strong in its own way....

I’d have to think about what to choose, little by little.

Finals ended.

And with break—or graduation—right around the corner, the students’ conversation topics practically got locked in.

—What are you doing over winter break?

Go Hyeon-woo and Han So-mi’s plan was, like I’d mentioned a few times already, to go to the front-line fortress.

More recently, I’d learned that Jo Byeok’s plan was the same—because not only the Sword Empress, but also the Fist King, was stationed there.

They held back the incoming monster waves and dealt with dragons that popped up from time to time.

I’d already been thinking about something because of that, so I called Go Hyeon-woo over. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Then I handed him a small wooden box.

“Take it.”

“This is...!”

Maybe he’d recognized what was inside, because his pupils dilated.

A final gift left behind by Kim Gapdu—the era’s ultimate man’s man, a true martial warrior, a righteous hero.

[Jaso Pill (B+)]

Go Hyeon-woo looked me in the eye, suddenly serious.

“It’s true that I’m always thirsty for martial prowess, but this feels too much. I must respectfully refuse.”

“No. You’re the one who should use it.”

I shook my head and kept explaining.

“Me, Seo Ye-in, and Hong Yeon-hwa—we’ve all hit Core Rank A already. You’re next, but the problem is we can’t put a Bond on you right now.”

“Mm....”

If we shared the [Great Sage’s Ring] through Bond, he could stack mana at an insane rate—but Go Hyeon-woo was bound by his family’s lifelong wish.

Receiving a Bond would have to wait until after he inherited the Storm Sword.

The problem was that the minimum qualification to even challenge the inheritance was Core Rank A.

The situation was tangled from every angle.

“Right now, I think using an elixir is the best option. You looked like you weren’t far off—add the Jaso Pill on top of that and you’ll get there fast, won’t you?”

“My guess is similar.”

“You need to hit Rank A before you start second year. Our levels have to be close to go into dungeons together. If you drag your feet, that’s what ends up grabbing my ankle.”

“.......”

Go Hyeon-woo stayed silent for a while longer, then let out a sigh and reluctantly accepted the Jaso Pill.

“...If you say so, Brother Kim, then I will. I haven’t repaid much, but what I receive keeps piling up. It only makes me feel more apologetic.”

“Then do me one favor.”

“Anything. If I can be of help.”

He agreed instantly without even hearing what it was.

I handed him a strategy guide.

“There’s a dungeon near there.”

“So I just need to bring back the reward?”

“Basically, but it won’t be easy. It’s Rank A.”

“...!”

“You’ll need the Sword Empress or the Fist King’s help. It’d be even better if both of them helped.”

Of course, whether S-rank heroes would roll up their sleeves just because a student asked was another question.

And from the Sword Empress’s point of view, Go Hyeon-woo was her third least favorite person.

Because he was the guy who’d gotten her precious disciple all wrapped up with a bad bastard—me.

Even so, Go Hyeon-woo spoke with a face full of resolve.

“Leave it to me. No matter what it takes, I’ll try to secure both of their aid.”

“Yeah. Just in case, try saying it like this too.”

Even though I was competing with the principal for first and second place on the “least favorite” list, I’d kept one trump card in reserve for moments like this.

When I leaned in and whispered a few words in his ear, Go Hyeon-woo’s eyes sharpened.

“...Understood. I’ll try it.”

*****

After assigning him the mission,

I headed to my next destination—when a message came in.

[Dang Gyu-young: (YIP! Fox emoji)]

[Dang Gyu-young: Where are you]

[Kim Ho: Going to the Swordsmanship Club]

[Dang Gyu-young: (Confused fox emoji)]

[Dang Gyu-young: Why there]

[Kim Ho: (IDK fox emoji)]

[Kim Ho: Showshow-noona called me]

[Dang Gyu-young: ??]

Replying here and there, I found myself at the Swordsmanship Club room before I knew it.

I traded light greetings with people I recognized as I kept walking, then stopped in front of the vice president’s office.

I knocked lightly, and Jegal Soso’s voice came from inside.

“Come in.”

The office looked a little emptier than before.

With graduation not far off, they’d cleared out a good chunk of the furniture and odds and ends.

Still, it wasn’t lacking for receiving a guest. Jegal Soso sat me down and offered snacks and tea.

The first topic was finals.

“I heard Jun got completely wrecked?”

“That’s what happened.”

Even though it’d happened to a junior she cared about, Jegal Soso looked more pleased than anything.

“I told him over and over. If you cling to defense, one day you’re gonna get burned hard.”

“He said that too.”

“Yeah, he seems like he gets it and he’s trying, but up until now he stayed the same. Still, I think this gave him a ton of motivation.”

“He’ll do well.”

If I understood Moyong Jun correctly, he’d definitely grow from this failure.

As a leader, and as a martial warrior.

Maybe Jegal Soso thought the same, because she tilted her teacup with a satisfied look.

Then she brought up the next topic.

“How’s Gyu these days?”

“Same as always. Why—something up?”

“It’s just... the vibe feels off.”

Jegal Soso lightly furrowed her brow.

“If you’re graduating and you’ll be separated from Kim Ho, shouldn’t you be sad? But you’re acting like it’s nothing.”

“I don’t know if she told you, but she decided to come in as a guard here.”

“I heard. But it’s still going to be really different from when you were a student, right?”

If anything, she’d get busier—not freer.

But it didn’t seem like she knew about re-enrollment yet, and it wasn’t like I could tell her, so I decided to dodge it.

“At first she was sad. Now she’s kind of... accepted it.”

“You’re not hiding anything, are you?”

Like her sharp instincts had kicked in again, Jegal Soso’s eyes took on a pressing light.

“Technically it’s not my business, but I’m genuinely curious. I can’t stand stuff like this.”

I could understand the feeling—but I still couldn’t tell the truth.

So I was about to refuse politely when—

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

“Show! Open up!”

Dang Gyu-young’s voice came from outside along with rapid knocking.

Jegal Soso looked at me.

“How’d she know to come here?”

“I told her on the way.”

“Ah.”

Even though it was an awkward situation, she didn’t look bothered ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) at all.

She’d probably expected it, at least halfway.

Jegal Soso casually flicked her hand toward the door, and the latch released—Dang Gyu-young threw it open and barged in.

“Show!! What are you doing with my kid!”

“Perfect timing, Gyugyu. Come here and sit.”

“Huh?”

At how natural she was being, Dang Gyu-young frowned—yet still came over and sat down next to me.

Then Jegal Soso poured her a cup of tea and said,

“You tell me. You’ve been hiding something lately, haven’t you?”

“Hiding? What?”

“Playing dumb won’t work. How long have we known each other?”

“This is ridiculous. You’re accusing people with zero evidence.”

“Evidence? I’ve got it.”

Jegal Soso fired off like she’d been waiting for this.

“All year, every time you opened your mouth, it was Kim Ho. Kim Ho this, Kim Ho that—his eyes are cute, what he does is cute, you want to do this with Kim Ho, you want to do that with Kim Ho.”

“...Okay, it wasn’t that bad.”

“If anything, that’s toned down! But lately you’ve suddenly gone quiet. Either you’re trying to hide something, or you cooled off. It’s one or the other.”

“Cooled off?”

That, she couldn’t tolerate—Dang Gyu-young’s eyes snapped up.

She draped an arm around my shoulder, affectionate and possessive.

“We’re just getting started.”

“Then you were hiding something.”

“...Was that a trap question?”

“Yeah! Got you, you idiot Gyugyu! Now hurry up and confess!”

Jegal Soso slammed the table—BANG!—and barked at her.

Dang Gyu-young switched tactics and got shameless.

“But why do I have to tell you?”

“Ah, tell me, come on.”

“If I tell you, you’ll ask for a bite, one hundred percent.”

“You should give me a bite. We’re close.”

At a shamelessness twice her own, Dang Gyu-young let out a hollow puff of air.

“What are we, exactly?”

“You’re drawing lines now? I’m hurt, Gyu.”

“Whatever. Give me those snacks.”

Jegal Soso obediently handed them over and refilled her tea.

Then she kept pestering her.

“Tell me!”

“No!”

“Come on!”

After they bickered like that for a long while,

the first one to raise the white flag was Dang Gyu-young.

“Ugh. Fine.”

“That’s my Gyugyu. What is it?”

“If you tell anyone else—”

“Have I ever done that? You know I can keep my mouth shut.”

It’s not that she could resist curiosity.

Dang Gyu-young seemed to agree. She hesitated a moment, then spoke.

“Honestly, the guard thing is just putting my name on it. I’m coming back in as a first-year. Re-enrollment.”

“...What?”

Jegal Soso’s mouth fell open in shock.

She mumbled with a face like she’d just been smacked in the back of the head with a hammer.

“...So that’s why you were acting like nothing. No—this is even better. Next year, you can call Kim Ho ‘oppa’.”

“I mean... I wasn’t planning to—well, maybe I was a little....”

Dang Gyu-young glanced away.

Jegal Soso grabbed her hand—SNATCH.

“Hey. Let me in too.”

“See! I told you you’d ask for a bite!”

“Why do you get to do fun stuff alone! Let me in too!”

“Your path’s already decided. Just graduate like a normal person.”

Dang Gyu-young yanked her hand back, cold.

Jegal Soso made a face full of betrayal, then started spouting lines like a third-rate villain.

“This won’t be the end. Just you wait—I will return!”

“What are you even talking about now?”

“And during break, I’m absolutely going to your house!”

“Ah, don’t come!”