I needed to make money. Not out of greed, but necessity. I almost fainted when I looked at the bill that came to my room. I had 300 million won in debt. Chundong had taken out all the loans a Cube cadet could get. 

The loan only had 1% annual interest, but that still meant I was losing money since I wasn’t making any. Unfortunately, Chundong’s bank account only contained 3 million won. That was nowhere near the amount needed to live in this world where power and money meant everything.

Thankfully, I knew multiple ways to get rich.

First was the stock market. Towers and dungeons constantly formed in this world. I knew the guilds that would discover or conquer them. Guilds in this world functioned like companies, so I could buy their stocks.

Today was March 2, 2025. My settings book should be full of juicy information. I opened my laptop.

▷Settings List

[March 15, 2025. The newly found guild, Packhorse Master, goes public. July 4, 2025. They conquer the dungeon, Suwon Royal Devil’s Nest.]

Djinns had established the Packhorse Master guild. I noted them down because they played an important role in the story. Conquering Suwon Royal Devil’s Nest would skyrocket their stock prices by 1000%. It wouldn’t be until 3 years later that they were discovered and delisted.

[December 8, 2025. Guild, Creator’s Sacred Grace, announces its plan to conquer the Tower of Miracle.]

This incident would become the lowest point for the current first place guild, Creator’s Sacred Grace. It was also the decisive event that made Yun Seung-Ah their leader. This plan, which Yun Seung-Ah opposed, would lower their rank to 7.

I had 2 opportunities to make money with this incident. First was before they announced their plan and second was before the plan failed. I could make a fortune with just these 2 early incidents in the settings book.

“The problem is…”

I didn’t have any money to start with.

“Do I need to visit the field?”

Fields referred to danger zones with monsters. Unlike towers and dungeons, the danger level of fields vastly depended on their grade. Less dangerous ones didn’t require permits. I should be able to enter the field in Gangwondo.

“Wait.”

I remembered something. I had arranged a setting in Gangwondo. I wondered what it was again and specifically searched for the word with CTRL+F.

[Year 2026. Djinn Tomer discovers aether from Gangwondo’s Gari Mountain Dungeon.]

Found it. Aether was a mystic grade formless weapon. I wanted to take it for myself, but Tomer wouldn’t have a weapon without aether. Tomer was an important antagonist, so the story would become much easier. However, I might unknowingly impact the future if I took aether. I feared that uncertainty…

“Well, whatever.”

Tomer was strong even without aether. I should go obtain aether once all of my stats increased to around 3 or 4.

Wiing —

I felt a vibration on my wrist as I received a message.

[Traveling Club Announcement] — There will be a short trip on Saturday for freshman orientation.

“Oh right.”

That was a thing. My smartwatch vibrated again after I recalled that.

[Academic Club Announcement] — There will be a freshmen orientation on Friday.

“And there was this too. So annoying.”

I thought I could rest on the weekends, but there were clubs. Not to mention, the academic club was tomorrow.

***

Cube’s combat training took place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. I should’ve been able to relax on Mondays and Fridays, but I walked towards a certain clubroom on this precious Friday. Yoo Yeonha entered the room some distance ahead.

The academic club met in room 304. As expected, I saw many first years inside. About 30 in total and 23 were girls bewitched by the club president.

I sat behind Yoo Yeonha after looking around. I could smell a flowery scent from her hair. After unavoidably smelling this scent for 5 minutes… The club president finally arrived.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Yun Hyuk. Welcome to our academic club, Veritas.”

The club president was a third year named Yun Hyuk. I didn't enter this club just for Yoo Yeonha. Yun Hyuk was a djinn. Soon, several incidents would occur in Cube, including a monster invasion with Yun Hyuk as the mastermind. Of course, I couldn’t just shout, That guy is a djinn! Honestly, that would probably give me a decent amount of SP.

Yun Hyuk contracted with the devil of enchantment, Lilith. He obtained a beautiful appearance and an ability called enchantment in exchange for his soul. Currently, he should be targeting Yoo Yeonha. That was why Lilith gave him a high rank ability.

“We’ll only briefly discuss what our club is about since today’s just orientation.”

The eyes of the female cadets sparkled from his charming voice.

“In Veritas, we research and discuss the classifications, weaknesses, behaviors, and attributes of monsters. Topics include how they behave, where their vital points are, what their attribute is, and how to efficiently deal with them.”

Yun Hyuk mentioned an important topic in modern society. Monster analysis was one of the most competitive college majors with even non-combatant heroes. These heroes weren’t fit for combat, but were still revered because their gifts aided in trans-human knowledge.

“I’ll give a quick example. Let’s take a look at this monster. I’m sure you all know a totem scallop.”

A hologram popped up. As its name suggested, the totem scallop was a scallop that produced a totem. Totem scallops were high-intermediate rank, grade 3 monsters with high intelligence and magic. Thankfully, they acted gentle and didn’t attack as long as one stayed out of their territory. However, their pearls fetched an incredible price and every guild targeted them.

“As you know, it’s extremely hard to kill totem scallops, but careful analysis shows they’re classified no differently than an ordinary scallop. It’s quite difficult to locate their vital points because no other monster shares similarities with them.”

Yun Hyuk continued explaining. I couldn’t help but yawn since I already knew everything.

“Yaaawn…”

Immediately, Yun Hyuk frowned and every other female cadet glared at me. I wouldn’t be surprised if they attacked me for yawning one more time. Only Yoo Yeonha kept her eyes on the screen.

“Cough.”

Yun Hyuk let out a dry cough before continuing.

“The totem scallop’s vital point hasn’t been discovered because of its ambiguous attribute and behavior. As for other monsters like the thousand-mile horse…”

***

The orientation ended after 40 minutes. This time, I inwardly yawned to avoid being attacked. I almost left when I saw Yun Hyuk approaching Yoo Yeonha. Then I paused.

“Cadet Yeonha.”

“Yes?”

“You forgot this.”

Yun Hyuk handed her a paper she left behind. I didn’t write this in my novel, but I knew he was scheming. He probably pulled it out with his magic power instead of Yoo Yeonha forgetting it.

“Ah, yes. Thank you.”

Yoo Yeonha took the paper with a smile. That seemed to be the end of their encounter.

After leaving, I went to a nearby vending machine and bought a Coke and Sprite. I couldn’t help but laugh at the names on the cans. I named them Coin Cola and Spring Sprite to avoid any copyright issues and that was exactly how they appeared.

Meanwhile, Yoo Yeonha left the clubroom.

I blocked her path with the Coke and Sprite in my hands. Then I handed her the Coke.

“Here.”

“…?”

Her face was full of question marks.

“I’m in the same club. Same team, same club. Funny coincidence, right?”

This was a test. Working out like my life depended on it only gave me 4 SP. How much SP would I get for talking to a leading character?

“Do you think I’ll drink something like this?”

Yoo Yeonha frowned and her lips protruded as though she was angry. I casually played it off since I expected such a reaction.

“I just got it from the vending machine.”

Yoo Yeonha was likely attracted to bad boys. Of course, being handsome was also a requirement.

“Touch it. It’s cold.” 

“I’m fine. You can have it. Also…”

I could feel the hostility from her glare. That was the only trace of her true feelings behind her mask.

“Don’t talk to me so casually. This is your first warning.”

That was it. Yoo Yeonha walked past me without waiting for my reply. I popped the Sprite open as her perfect figure strode away.

Psssh — Gulp, gulp.

Yoo Yeonha’s shoulders twitched at the sound. According to my settings, Yoo Yeonha loved unhealthy food like carbonated drinks, hamburgers, fried chicken, and ramen. She couldn’t buy them out of embarrassment, so she made her trusty butler or attendant buy them for her. Even then, she could only enjoy it once a week.

The reason was simple. Not only did she hate showing such a side, but her mother also detested unhealthy commoner food.

I threw the Coke into her luxury bag to make up for the pitiful setting I gave her. It drew a clean arc and landed inside.

“Carry me next time too.”

Yoo Yeonha glanced back as I spoke. Then she walked away muttering to herself. However, I could hear just fine.

“Who is this crazy guy?”

***

Yoo Yeonha soon noticed the slight change in her bag. The condensation from the Coke made her textbook wet.

“That nutjob.”

She took out the Coke with a frown. Just when did he put it in? That little rat.

“Huuu.”

After a deep sigh, Yoo Yeonha released her magic power. It seeped into the paper and separated the moisture from her textbook. The collected moisture fell to the ground as she retracted her magic power.

“Huuu.”

Yoo Yeonha broke out in a cold sweat. She felt extremely proud at the same time. The magic power application she just showed was difficult for even heroes. It looked simple, but was actually quite mysterious and complicated.

“When I see him again…”

Yoo Yeonha twisted her lips as her sense of pride turned into anger. That talkative bum. I’ll need to ask the guys to educate him.

That thought only briefly lasted. She fiddled with the Coke in her bag and checked for anyone nearby.

Cough. She took out a handkerchief and wrapped it around the Coke before placing it back in her bag.

“Hmmm.”

Then she quickened her pace as if nothing happened.