Chapter 28: Cube of Life (2)


    Make sure to review todays lesson. It will be helpful for next weeks strategy battle session.


    Madam Cho Ok-soon finished her ss exactly before the break time.


    Usually, she stayed during the break to answer questions from some students, but today she left the ssroom unusually quickly, as if in a hurry.


    Because teachers are not supposed to get involved in what happens from now on.


    As soon as Madam Cho Ok-soons figure disappeared from sight, the students of ss 3 who had been slumped over like wilted cabbages sprang to their feet.


    Freedom!


    The fatigue that had been stered on their faces vanished in an instant and their bodies overflowed with vitality.


    One particrly lively boy burst open the ssroom door and lunged into the corridor, but


    <em>Thump!</em>


    Ouch!


    He was suddenly repelled backward as if he had hit something invisible.


    Feeling around the open ssroom door revealed an invisible barrier blocking the way.


    <em>Thump!</em>


    Ugh!


    A female student who opened the window to get some fresh air tried to stick her face out the window and ended up identally hitting her face against this invisible barrier.


    She rubbed her bumped face and muttered.


    A barrier?


    What was currently surrounding the ssroom was a wide-area barrier that was cast on arge scale over the entire Dragon yer Academy.


    It was far more robust than anything a single mage could conjure and it was nearly impossible for a mere student to breach.


    Of course, the neers were unaware of this fact.


    They were wondering whether to try breaking the invisible barrier before them or to wait a little longer.


    When a secondrge-scale spell was activated.


    <em>Zzzzzzt</em>


    A thin film made of maic fields appeared at one end of the ssroom.


    It swept across to the opposite end of the room, passing over the students before they could even react.


    Ah!


    Eek!


    The maic field moved so swiftly that the students who were caught off guard reflexively covered their faces, crouched, or stepped back.


    However, they soon realized that they were unharmed and looked bewildered.


    This film was not meant to harm anyone.


    Its purpose was to search for people.


    Or more precisely, to select them.


    What is this!


    What exactly is happening?


    Parts of some students bodies were emitting a red glow.


    Notably around their school uniform pockets or on their foreheads.


    One of the female students reached into her inner pocket and took out something.


    It was a cursed doll that was radiating a red glow.


    In a panic, she threw the doll away, only to realize the next moment that it was connected to her by a red line.


    Other students didnt have glowing pockets; instead, arge red I was marked on their foreheads.


    This meant that the problematic item was in their inventory.


    This was an item check. A Ban Wave.


    Items deemed unsuitable for possession and use by the students of Dragon yer Academy were listed in the <Student Prohibited Items List> or in the yers terms, the <Ban List>.


    And just like now, a Ban Wave would be activated to weed them out and impose sanctions.


    The first Ban Wave of the new school year typically urred with high probability on the first Friday of the first week.


    It was the day when most neers started flocking to the arena for duel battles.


    They would have spent days watching reys of other students to gauge the level of skill in their own score range.


    In the process, some might have felt their own abilities were insufficient.


    Usually, they would ept this reality, still challenge themselves, sh, break, and grow.


    And this was exactly what Dragon yer Academy expected of its students.


    However, some resorted to shortcuts, namely prohibited items.


    All to avoid losing points.


    Even though using such items would only maintain their scores temporarily and offered no real benefit, they became blinded by the immediate points and their judgment was clouded.


    The Dragon yer Academy responded to these people with merciless iron fists.


    <em>Boom!</em>


    A heavy crash sounded from afar.


    That must be the barrier wall.


    Judging by the distance, it seems they are starting from ss 1.


    They will gradually approach us and pass through ss 3 as well.


    Hmm, that sounds interesting.


    Go Hyeon-woo watched the unfolding events with eyes sparkling as if witnessing a rare spectacle, while Seo Ye-in seemed to show little interest, still resting her head on the desk.


    Since she didnt possess any prohibited items, no red glow was visible around her body.


    On the other hand, Shin Byeong-cheol


    Both his pocket and forehead were red.


    The I on his forehead was so vivid and intense that it seemed like it could shoot out aser beam at any moment.


    How many prohibited items did this guy bring with him?


    Unfortunately, soon the disciplinarymittee woulde to confiscate all of them.


    A hefty number of demerit points and severe disciplinary actions were inevitable.


    There was no escape, nor could he discard the items.


    He was in aplete dilemma, trapped on all sides.


    I shot Shin Byeong-cheol a disdainful look.


    Ah, your fortune seems exceptionally bright today, doesnt it?


    Hey dont make fun of me. Im in a serious situation right now.


    The usual rxed smile was gone from Shin Byeong-cheols face.


    His pupils were shaking uncontrobly and his buzz-cut hair was slick with cold sweat.


    Always the same; you never listen properly. What did you say? Im not that kind of person?


    Oh,e on~! Did I know it would be like this? A certain someone should have exined it to me in detail.


    Your club president must have told you. This Friday, or maybe next Monday, there might be a personal belongings inspection.


    Well, yeah, they did mention that, but not about this kind of stuff


    Or did you just not listen to the whole thing?


    Shin Byeong-cheol fell silent as if what I just said had hit the nail on the head.


    The second and third-year students would have data umted over several terms, so they would roughly know when the inspections were likely to ur.


    Surely, he had been warned to be cautious, but he chose to ignore that advice too, and this was the consequence.


    He brought it all on himself.


    Shin Byeong-cheol paced in small circles as he muttered to himself.


    Damn, what should I do? Im really screwed. What if I get caught? Ill be dead meat with the boss. What to do, what to do, oh man, this is really bad.


    Want me to save you?


    Im serious here! Stop making it worse Wait, what?


    Shin Byeong-cheol who had been angrily snapping at me suddenly widened his eyes.


    He quickly forced a servile smile and asked.


    Hyung-nim, what did you just say?


    I was thinking of saving you out of pity. But if you dont want it, forget it.


    Shin Byeong-cheol grabbed my hand eagerly.


    Please save me, hyung-nim. Ill do anything you ask, hyung-nim.


    Youll owe me.


    Of course, hyung-nim.


    Come this way.


    Although it was impossible to avoid attracting the attention of other students since he was already marked, it was better to be a bit more discreet than doing it openly.


    We moved to a less visible corner and opened the [Cube of Life].


    Put in everything thats prohibited. Focus on small and valuable items.


    What happens if I put them in?


    Just do it. If you dont trust me, then forget it.


    No, hyung-nim. I will do it. I trust you, hyung-nim.


    Shin Byeong-cheol began transferring the prohibited items into the cube.


    <em>Rumble, Boom!!</em>


    The sound of thunder erupted from the ssroom next door.


    Soon, the disciplinarymittee would move to ss 3.


    Shin Byeong-cheols hands moved even faster.


    [Blood Ginseng Candy]


    [Gloomy Cloud Cookie]


    [Skill Book  Blind Hatred]


    [Dream Candy (Turn into a Retard)]


    Theres so much stuff. Are you emigrating or something?


    Aish, just Im sorry for everything


    Shin Byeong-cheol apologized for my sarcastic remark but continued to cram the prohibited items into the cube until it was full.


    <em>Nothing of value here.</em>


    I would have asked for one or two items if I had seen anything worthwhile.


    However, I wasnt particrly disappointed.


    There would be plenty of opportunities in the future, and right now, these didnt even qualify as appetizers.


    I stored the [Cube of Life] in my inventory.


    Not all the prohibited items had been moved, so the I mark still lingered on Shin Byeong-cheols forehead, but it was significantly lighter than before.


    He should handle the rest on his own.


    Stop right there.


    <em>Crack!</em>


    A bolt of lightning struck next to me and Shin Byeong-cheol, and then Song Cheon-hye appeared out of nowhere as if she traversed space in an instant.


    Her gloved hand crackled menacingly with electricity as she asked her question.


    What are you doing there?


    The Wave had just been activated, and a mark had been imprinted on Shin Byeong-cheols forehead.


    With both Shin Byeong-cheol and I turning our backs in a corner of the ssroom, it must have looked incredibly suspicious to anyone.


    I tried my best to look innocent.


    I dont know what youre talking about.


    Shin Byeong-cheol defended me as well.


    Thats right. This friend of mine has done nothing wrong.


    I see.


    Of course, Song Cheon-hye was not likely to take those words at face value.


    She then thrust a device with a shining crystal orb embedded in it towards me.


    It was an item simr to the Ban Wave as it would turn red if the target possessed any prohibited items.


    <em>Wooong</em>


    There was no reaction.


    Song Cheon-hye activated the crystal orb again but the result was the same.


    .


    Can I go now?


    Return to your seat.


    Members of the disciplinarymittee kepting in from ss 2.


    They moved around the ssroom and confiscated all prohibited items before registering the owners student IDs on their devices.


    Additional demerit points and disciplinary action will be imposed depending on the level or number of prohibited items.


    <em>Bang, Bang!</em>


    Any student who resisted was subdued without mercy.


    A male student who drew a knife was struck by Jo Byeoks fist and pinned against the wall, which caused another boy who had been resisting to quietly put away his weapon and present his own items.


    .


    Meanwhile, Song Cheon-hye continued to cast suspicious nces at me.


    She seemed eager to check my inventory, but without concrete evidence, she couldnt forcefully proceed with such actions.


    In fact, my inventory was now full of prohibited items.


    <em>Thats why I tried to finish it before Friday.</em>


    The waves emitted by the Cube of Life were so powerful that they could lure Park Naris cat from afar.


    These waves of energy wrap the cube in a thick armor-likeyer and disrupt the Ban Wave so that whatever you put inside will appear as a Life type item from the outside.


    I once found this hidden piece purely by chance.


    By using the Cube of Life in this way, Shin Byeong-cheol and the club he belonged to owed arge debt to me, and at the same time this would promote its value.


    An item that conceals prohibited items from the Ban Wave.


    Even those inpletely unrted sses would be desperate to have it.


    ***


    After ss ended.


    I met up with Shin Byeong-cheol in a secluded area.


    As soon as he saw me, he tried to hug me in gratitude, but I pushed him away.


    Shin Byeong-cheol was standing awkwardly as he offered me his thanks.


    Wow, really, thank you. If it werent for you, I would have beenpletely stripped and ended up either a corpse or a ve.


    Keep it as a debt. Ill collect it in fullter.


    Of course, I wouldnt dream of skipping out on this.


    The debt for saving Shin Byeong-cheol from trouble could be collectedter, but now I nned to separately demand payment for extracting the confiscated items.


    And from his clubs president.


    Lets deal with the prohibited items in your club room.


    Sure, lets do that. Actually, the club president wants to meet you too. Shall we go now?


    Lets go.


    Following Shin Byeong-cheols lead, I headed toward the club room.


    The troublemakers at Dragon yer Academy were responsible for all kinds of idents and mishaps in here, including trading prohibited items through [Dragon yer Academy errand service!].


    Off to the thieves club room then.