Saturday at dawn, a time when no one was around.

Silence filled the dormitory bathhouse.

This kind of humble culture fascinated her.

Bubbling.

She carefully dipped her feet into the steaming bath.

Instantly, the heat spread from her toes.

‘Just right.’

A small sigh of relief escaped her lips.

“Ahh, that’s nice.”

Loran Esperance.

Emerald-green eyes, sculpted features.

A Westerner, at first glance.

Yet, her Korean was flawless.

Her submerged body was small and slender.

But she didn’t mind, because she kept thinking positively.

Being bigger would only make scrubbing harder.

Back or front… there wasn’t much difference.

No unreachable spots.

She gripped the exfoliating cloth tightly.

Scrub, scrub.

Even as her skin turned red, she paid no mind.

She scrubbed her entire body clean.

Quick and thorough due to the small surface area.

This was sacred scrubbing, a ritual to cleanse both body and mind.

There was only one reason she was putting so much effort into this.

Anything that could be done… should be done well.

After finishing her bath, she gathered her toiletries.

The floor was slippery so she stepped carefully.

She pushed open the steam-covered glass door leading out of the bath.

And that’s why… she didn’t see what was on the other side.

Thud!

She collided with someone.

A soft, heavy sensation pressed against her.

Whatever it was, it had an unbelievable level of elasticity.

Thud.

Because of that, Loran lost her balance and fell.

In that moment, the temperament of a fourth-generation chaebol surfaced from her.
(TLNote: Chaebol is basically a business conglomerate, so shes kind of like a spoiled rich girl)

“What the—?! Watch where you’re going!”

Her sharp glare carried an unmistakable authority, as if looking down from above.

“Oh, I’m so sorry…!”

The person she bumped into was so flustered they couldn’t even open their eyes properly.

Loran picked herself up and looked up.

And then, she realized something.

The other person wasn’t just closing their eyes.

They were blind.

‘Damn. Was I too harsh?’

A tinge of embarrassment washed over her.

But then, her gaze naturally drifted.

‘A commoner? Looking like that? She could be an idol.’

Balanced beauty was ordinary.

But harmony born from imbalance… that was unforgettable.

Like golden wheat fields reflecting the sunset, her blonde hair was soft yet vibrant.

Her frame was delicate.

A narrow waist, wrists so slender they seemed fragile.

Yet beneath those delicate shoulders…was an overwhelming testament of vitality.

How could so much fullness exist in such a petite form?

Flawless.

A sculpture carved by the divine.

In contrast, Loran looked down at herself.

Small… Lacking.

Her fingers curled involuntarily.

…Why? Why was she…? She was older, yet..!

Frustration welled up. She bit her lip and looked back at the girl.

The girl seemed unaware. She didn’t notice the staring. The envy twisted into Loran’s face.

Then, the girl’s lips parted quietly.

“I’m sorry. I was reading a system message and wasn’t paying attention.”

A deep bow. A polite, heartfelt apology.

So kind. Such a pure heart. Such a kind—

“I successfully enhanced a skill, but… I got three choices, and I wasn’t sure which one to pick.”

“…What?”

Loran’s eyes widened.

‘Skill enhancement? Three choices?’

An alarm rang in her mind. Normally, successful enhancement only gave two options.

But three? That meant…

“Transcendent Enhancement…!”

Impossible.

Transcendent Enhancement was a phenomenon of infinitesimal probability.

A special occurrence that elevated a skill beyond its limits, granting absurd effects.

Something only the wealthy elite knew about, something commoner Hunters might not even know existed.

And this girl… She had triggered it? While walking? In a bathhouse?

Loran’s lips parted. In disbelief… or jealousy.

“Huh? Do you know something about this?”

“…Congratulations. Just pick that one.”

“Which one?”

“It’s called Transcendent Enhancement. It’s an ultra-rare option that grants far superior enhancements.”

“I see. Thank you for telling me.”

The girl’s fingers moved through the air.

She must have made her choice. Casually. Effortlessly.

‘Effortlessly…?’

Loran’s insides churned.

Did she even know how hard I worked?

How much money had been wasted for that?

How many sleepless nights had been spent?

Even all this intense scrubbing… wasn’t it all for the sake of strengthening?

Her whole body burned. Not from the bath’s heat.

‘Her build is just like mine… But she has luck. She has kindness. She has everything.’

Jealousy.

No. resentment.

No… it was maddening.

Loran silently stared at the girl.

Then, she glanced down at the small slip of paper in her hand.

[Skill Enhancement Scroll (10%)]

A secondhand item she had acquired through a subordinate, bought via reselling channels.

Every night, she had placed it under her pillow, cherishing it like a treasure.

“But just now, I witnessed a Transcendent Enhancement firsthand.”

And not just witnessed. Their fates… Collided. Tangled together.

Their souls had practically intertwined.

‘I can still feel it.’

This was divine revelation. A moment to defy fate.

Loran inhaled deeply. For a chaebol, anything less than 10% was meaningless.

Hedging bets? That was for commoners.

The duty of the elite was to charge forward, relentlessly.

If this failed, her enhancement count would reset to zero.

But she did not hesitate.

“If not now, then when?”

Her scrubbing was thorough.

Loran gritted her teeth.

A single chance. ‘This… This will change my life!’

She applied the scroll to the skill.

Pressed the confirmation button—

Click.

Instantly, the screen turned red.

–-------------------------------------------------------------

[Enhancement Failed!]

[The 10% Skill Enhancement Scroll shines brightly and vanishes into nothingness.]

–-------------------------------------------------------------

“……”

The bathhouse grew even quieter.

Loran’s gaze wandered in empty space.

Her lips trembled slightly.

Her fingers twitched before curling into a fist.

‘Again. Again. Again…!I failed again…!!!’

Her vision darkened.

Enhancement success, but that was expected.

The system had already determined it would be successful.

The problem was… The given options.

‘Two choices… but I still can’t read them. How tricky.’

The backs of the cards remained stubbornly hidden.

If it were a skill pack, its grade might at least emit an aura.

But this was a C-rank skill, so everything just looked blue.

No hints.

Just in case, I opened my eyes and focused my [Clairvoyance.]

And to my surprise a third option appeared.

What had been a binary choice had turned into three.

‘…Now I have decision paralysis.’

My head spun. What should I choose? I wish someone else could pick for me.

And then, fortune arrived in the most unexpected place. the bathhouse.

“Transcendent Enhancement?”

So such a system existed.

“Ahh, this feels amazing.”

Bubbling.

I sank into the bath, checking the newly added option.

–-------------------------------------------------------------

[Transcendent Enhancement Success!]
[The 50% Skill Enhancement Scroll shines brightly and vanishes.]

[Name: Composure (Transcendent)]
[Grade: C(+1)]
[Type: Passive]
[Upgrade Attempts Remaining: 2]
[Description: Allows the user to suppress emotional agitation even in extreme situations, enhancing calm decision-making. It specializes in stabilizing emotions and maximizing combat efficiency.]

[The power of transcendence permeates the skill.]

[Mirror’s Reflection: When receiving fatal damage, HP remains at 1 for 5 seconds. During this time, all status ailments are resisted.]
[Cooldown: 7 days]

–-------------------------------------------------------------

“Wow. Insane.”

I had just acquired a skill beyond C-rank.

This was practically an extra life.

At the moment of death… Even if a blade pierced my body.

Even if the shock stopped my heart.

Even if poison spread through my veins.

I would still survive.

For five seconds.

‘And in those brief seconds, I can create a new variable.’

As expected, a sniper always stays sharp.

A smirk played on my lips.

The hidden piece of Creation Sunday.

Using the [Arcane Art of Creation] to craft the ‘Elixir of Seven Days’ had completely sealed the dungeon.

The fundamental laws sustaining the dungeon had collapsed.

As if the heavens themselves had completed their work, the place was no longer accessible to her.

“A shame. It was nice being able to choose any dungeon at will.”

[It being too easy to receive rewards isn’t good. It’s fine to seize opportunities the world provides, but if you rely solely on them, your progress won’t last long.]

As expected of a hero. Always saying the right things.

Still, his advice always held value. I never dismissed it as mere nagging.

I strolled through the campus leisurely.

Leaves rustled, students gathered in small groups on the grass. Some held coffee, others tapped away at tablets, writing reports.

Even Hayangi had grown familiar with the paths, his little tail swishing happily.

Then—

“Excuse me, do you have a moment?”

A crisp white shirt, neatly styled hair, a confident expression. Clearly an upperclassman from a student club.

Around him, other freshmen were already being recruited. Further away, various club booths were engaged in fierce promotional battles.

“Why?”

I already had an idea but asked anyway.

The senior launched into his speech as if reading from a script.

“We are the ‘Integrated Grappling Research Association,’ or IGRA for short. We don’t just brawl, we approach combat academically. We analyze the principles and philosophy of modern martial arts, studying various styles and integrating them with internal martial arts. Would you be interested in joining?”

I glanced at the pamphlet he handed me.

Grappling technique research and practice (365 sessions per year).
Live sparring matches (365 sessions per year).
Martial arts theory seminars (365 sessions per year).
International martial arts exchange programs.

…What the hell?

This wasn’t research. This was just daily beatdowns.

As expected, Hunters were a battle-hardened breed. To suggest such intense training to a girl without hesitation.

I smiled politely and shook her head.

“Oh, I’ll pass.”

“Why? Are you worried about stamina? Or just not interested in fighting?”

“Both.”

Oh? Trying to provoke me now?

I shut him down immediately, but he persisted.

“Think about it again. It’s a great chance to gain combat experience. Let’s be real, in the academy, developing real combat senses is essential. Our club offers structured training for that.”

Well, he wasn’t wrong.

But there was no need to needlessly wear myself down.

Training? Not necessary.

my [Heavenly Demon’s Moving Technique] handled that automatically.

More importantly… I’m a sniper.

And then, someone else approached.

“Oh? You’re ranked first, aren’t you?”

I turned around. This time, it was a composed-looking female senior wearing glasses.

“Are you interested in research activities? We’re the ‘Awakening Research Society.’”

Awakening Studies.

A discipline that examined the sudden emergence of the [System] on Earth.

Certainly less exhausting than grappling research.

But still… Not interested.

But this still wasn’t the end.

A massive figure approached from a distance.

“Are you interested in strength training?”

A deep, baritone voice.

Instinctively, I took a step back.

“……”

“Enhancing physical abilities is essential for Hunters. Our club researches the best training methods daily.”

And that wasn’t all.

It didn’t stop. One person. Two people. Three. A whole crowd.

Shadows spilled over the grass.

Their expressions brimmed with enthusiasm.

Burning eyes. Confident stances. Relentless determination.

“Ah, there’s a freshman passing by!”

“Where?”

“Wait, that kid—?”

“That’s Erniaan Ludwig! The one who defeated Arkeus!”

“Wait, just 10 minutes of your time…”

“No, 5 minutes! Just 5 minutes is enough!”

That’s right. Ever since I used [Cancellation], I had become a celebrity.

‘The moment the weekend ended, this happened.’

Club recruitment season.

And I was the most sought-after freshman.

Before I knew it, I was surrounded.

Magic department.

Martial arts department.

Strength training groups.

Even cultural and artistic societies.

They all spoke in unison.

“Just give us one chance!”

“Just try it once…”

“We have substantial research funding! We even support thesis publications!”

“Even if you have a small build, you can still build strength!”

“There’s an opportunity to test your tactics at the Miles Tournament!”

“Only three hours a day!”

“We don’t just study theory! We focus on practical application! For example, your recent use of [Cancellation]... analyzing that alone…”

“Our society has a long-standing tradition! A history of 44 years…”

I couldn’t help but sigh.

“I’m not taking the bait.”