How to Survive as an Extra Chapter 54 : Chapter 54

Chapter 54

Hero Preparatory School grounds.

It was a Friday, a day off from school, which would normally have been bustling with club activities.

Since the morning, the cadets had been having their ability information asured by the information update team that had visited from the Bureau of Superpowers.

It was the process of updating information by analyzing physical abilities, the application of one's ability, and the level of proficiency with one's primary weapon.

On a day when an academy of Hero Prep's caliber conducted a group information update, various guilds would pay close attention.

This was because the cadets, who could be considered the top talents of their generation, would sotis acquire abilities that could change their evaluation overnight.

It ant that even a problem child like Gwon Chihun could potentially gain an ability on par with Lee Eunho or Gong Minwu.

Of course, as the original creator, I had not considered this possibility at all.

"Ah, you're that social care beneficiary. The one with the worst talent in Hero Prep history."

After finishing my physical asurents, I approached with the relevant docunts, and the assessor hit with the facts without any hesitation.

I simply forced the corners of my mouth to rise.

Truth be told, the fact that I had entered Hero Prep with my physical abilities was a question mark in itself.

"Still, your reaction asurents are quite decent. No, I should say this is a considerable level."

"A considerable level?"

"Yes, but the records are so imbalanced that it wouldn't be strange to make them a research topic."

"Hmm..."

"I'd say you might not be able to win a fight, but you could run away like a champ."

"...Well, you can't have everything, can you?"

At my words, the assessor scratched his head.

"That's not true. There are two cadets in this Hero Prep class who have it all."

He was clearly referring to Lee Eunho and Gong Minwu.

I considered acknowledging that I knew them, but for so reason, I felt it would make look pathetic, so I pretended not to know and changed the subject.

"Is the ability asurent next?"

"Yes, you can go to the underground training ground. ...Ah! And good luck. This might be overstepping, but there's no need to be discouraged just because you lack talent. If you stick it out and graduate from Hero Prep, you get the best credential in this field. Besides..."

"...?"

"You never know, right? You might ride the wave of youth and beco the son-in-law of a prestigious family."

Was there ever such a nosy person?

Well, in so respects, it could be seen as appropriate advice.

A social care beneficiary from the outskirts of Seoul, a re awakened being with no blood ties or connections, would have to do much more to survive.

Besides, in my position, where my neck was on the line the mont my origins were revealed, I was not in a position to be picky about my thods.

"...Haha, yes."

I smiled bitterly and headed to the underground training ground.

There, cadets were already waiting in line. It was taking quite so ti because, unlike a simple physical asurent, the environnt had to be set up to match each cadet's characteristics.

I registered for my asurent amidst the cadets, who all wore bored expressions, and slumped down in a corner of the waiting room. As I looked around aimlessly, my eyes t with an unexpected person.

"..."

Investigation Division instructor, Yun Jeongseop.

He, who had not a single reason to be in this place, was brazenly standing in front of the training ground entrance.

It seed he was there to help with the asurents, but it did not take long to figure out his true intentions.

He was most likely trying to confirm whether or not I would reveal my Demonic Eye.

The effect of the stern scare I had given him in the elevator last ti was showing clearly.

Having lost Park Cheolyeong's trust due to the Countdown incident, he would be in a position of being a sitting duck the mont I revealed my Demonic Eye.

I gave Yun Jeongseop a subtle look and went up to the surface outside the training ground.

Just as I expected, Yun Jeongseop followed out a little later.

I then headed behind a nearby building, and only after confirming there were no cadets around did I turn to face him.

"You should be on holiday since there are no club activities today. Are you volunteering of your own accord?"

"Well, I'm in a position where I'm getting a lot of side-eyes at school, so I have to do sothing."

"So you're saying you're on pins and needles."

"Unintentionally so."

"But why did you follow out? You should be focusing on your volunteer work."

"..."

Yun Jeongseop stared at intently.

But that was only for a mont. He soon answered my question in a lazy voice.

"It's for two reasons. I have so business with you."

"Business...?"

"Yes, the Demonic Eye. I haven't heard an answer as to whether you're going to disclose it during this asurent or not."

"...You could have just asked via ssage."

"I think it's proper procedure to inform first before I have to ask. Even more so if you weren't trying to ss with ."

My intention was not simply to ss with him.

It was a choice to use Yun Jeongseop more effectively.

It is always the thirsty one who digs the well.

Just as Yun Jeongseop had shown up at the ability asurent site on his day off.

In any case, I also had a favor to ask of Yun Jeongseop, so it was not a bad situation for either of us.

"That wasn't my intention. To be honest, I haven't made a decision yet."

"You haven't made a decision?"

"No."

I feigned a calm expression, but Yun Jeongseop saw through my intentions right away.

"There's sothing you want."

"See, this is why it's so easy to talk to you, Instructor."

"Are you saying we're communicating well while you're blatantly threatening ?"

"A threat? That's only when you have sothing to lose from the other person."

"Enough, just get to the point."

Yun Jeongseop finished his words in a level tone, but his characteristically lazy eyelids blinked several tis as if agitated.

He looked like a student waiting for his exam results.

He was anxious.

I opened my mouth lightly, as if it were no big deal.

"I want to be excluded from the Spring Scholastic War."

"...What?"

"In a sports festival teeming with talented people, what else would I be but a burden? In that case, it's better to be completely removed from the roster."

"Don't tell you're planning on dedicating yourself to Catch the Thief?"

"What do you think, Instructor? Do you think I'll be able to find the thief?"

"Well... I'm not so sure, but..."

Yun Jeongseop cut himself off.

It was because so cadets were talking loudly as they passed by a short distance away. He followed the cadets with his eyes and quietly continued.

"If you were the thief, Hero Prep would win again this year."

It was a statent that sounded like a complint at first glance.

However, the end of his sentence was clearly mixed with sarcasm.

A sneer implying that my presence was so faint that even the Hero Prep cadets wouldn't be able to find .

I shrugged my shoulders and urged him on.

"So, can you take off the roster or not?"

"The selection roster has already been submitted, so it will be impossible to remove you completely. However, if you beco a mber of the executive committee for this event, you will be excluded from the roster later."

"Wait a mont. The executive committee?"

"Yes, the kids who do odd jobs under the direction of the General Student Council throughout the Scholastic War."

The General Student Council.

The highest student organization, composed of the student council presidents of the 4th Scholastic District.

At Hero Prep, it was where Yu Hyeonjeong belonged, and for , it was a rather ideal condition.

Although I might have to wander around for security purposes throughout the Scholastic War or take care of a lost child who could not stop crying, if I hid myself tactfully, there would be no freer position.

Especially for watching the uninvited guests who set foot in the 4th Scholastic District.

I did not think for long before nodding my head.

"That's great. I'm good at picking up trash, you see."

***

Seoul's District 3, adjacent to the 4th Scholastic District.

A shabby inn located in a dark alley, a rare sight in the inner city of Seoul.

The Demonic Beings Lee Gangju and Gen were killing ti in their room at the inn.

"That Park Oseok fellow had better move according to plan. ...Damn it, if I had known that fact from the beginning, I wouldn't have had to go through all this trouble."

Gen, who was perched on the windowsill of the inn, tossed a coin he was holding in his hand up once and said.

"We were played for fools, weren't we? I only found out about it recently myself."

"To think Kim Yuseong was hiding the Witch in such a way. If the Dead Bee operation had succeeded, it would have been an unexpected windfall, wouldn't it?"

"I suppose so. But... the Witch? You've even started using such words after living among humans."

"If you're going to nitpick about such trivial things, then you should review this plan again."

Lee Gangju shot his words sharply, but Gen, with a relaxed expression, cast his gaze out the window.

He seed to be lost in thought for a mont, then spoke in a boyish, clear voice.

"Humans really like to define things. Mine, yours, ours..."

"Hmph, that's what they call politics. During the Great Rift, they deliberately created the word 'Witch' to unite the humans."

"Does that an you're admitting to being played by their politics yourself?"

"You have a nasty way of putting things. I'm just using words that are easy to understand. There's no need to call it the Vessel of Jealousy, one of the seven demonic tools, in the first place."

"...But speaking of demonic tools."

"Hm?"

"It seems there hasn't been much news from Allie, who was supposed to go sweet-talk the Psychic Mafia."

The Demonic Being Allie.

She had certainly infiltrated the Psychic Mafia, Callia, and was expanding her influence.

"It's not that there hasn't been much news, it's just that the situation isn't going smoothly. She got hit hard by that fellow called the Phantom Thief not long ago."

"The Phantom Thief...? A lot must have happened while I was in Muspel."

"It's probably a copycat. Nothing to worry about. Whether the plan succeeds or fails, there's no way that Allie will lose her influence in Callia, right? She's the one who commanded the most Ghouls among us."

"I suppose..."

Gen put the coin in his pocket and picked up a child-sized coat that was hanging on a crude hanger.

"Where are you going at this hour?"

Lee Gangju asked.

However, Gen only answered after putting on his coat and adjusting it.

"I'm getting thirsty. It seems there's so pretty good prey in this neighborhood."

"It seems your gluttony has flared up again."

Lee Gangju frowned.

He could have tried to stop him from going out, but it was clear that he would not listen even if he did.

"Don't look at like that. I just have a slightly more peculiar hobby than others."

"If I were human, I would want to kill you first."

"That's high praise."

"...You crazy bastard."

***

Midnight.

An Outroad sowhere on the outskirts of Seoul.

Bruno, the hunter and second-in-command of the Psychic Mafia, Catalina, was standing for a mont under a flickering streetlight.

"So what happened?"

─Those Dispel bastards have ford a dedicated task force for Callia. Thanks to the Callia guys getting involved with the Demonic Beings, we've managed to catch a break.

"Don't be too optimistic. Waiting quietly for the right ti is also an important survival skill. More importantly, what about the Boss?"

─There were no special instructions. Ah! She did casually ask why you took a vacation. It's not like you've ever taken a break before, hyung-nim.

"Tell her I'll report to her later. And no contact until I return."

─Yes? Uhm... I understand.

The call ended.

Bruno pushed his smartphone into the inner pocket of his outerwear.

'Is it almost ti...?'

One day left until the Spring Scholastic War.

Bruno had requested a vacation from the organization to enter the 4th Scholastic District.

His purpose was to find the lost MA13.

And to find a clue about the Phantom Thief.

With the relationship between Dispel and the mafia already on bad terms, it was quite a dangerous thing for a mafia mber who was the second-in-command of his organization to show his face in the 4th Scholastic District.

Therefore, he had no choice but to keep it a secret even from his organization.

In other words, he was not in a position to cause trouble in the 4th Scholastic District.

However, that too would not be a problem as long as he was not discovered.

'Not leaving any evidence is the most basic of basics...'

Ever since the Phantom Thief had recently shown himself in Seoul's District 27, Bruno's desire to hunt him had been fiercely kindled.

The exclusive possession of his prey.

The desire to make him drink despair at the tip of his nose, more so than just unveiling the Phantom Thief's identity.

And the scent of the Phantom Thief, as deadly as a Demonic Being's.

If he were to trade the Phantom Thief's corpse with Off-al, which was said to be in charge of the Demonic Beings' provisions, it was certain that it would be priced at an unprecedented amount.

Of course, it would be lower than fetching the corpse of the Sword Saint's granddaughter, Do Minyeong, but still.

"Hehe..."

Bruno adjusted his fedora and let out a sinister laugh.

Just then, the streetlight also lost its power and went out.

The wind, which had grown warr with the season.

The flyers and trash tumbling in that wind.

And the bullet casings that the orphans of the outskirts played with, and the crushed claws of so naless monster.

"..."

Bruno took a deep breath.

It was a very refreshing sll.