Today’s combat training ended, but I still had to attend the academic club in exhaustion. After that, I also had my daily workout. The agony of this routine made me depressed. I would’ve invested more points into perseverance if I knew this would happen.

I headed to the academic club and spotted Yoo Yeonha ahead of me. Perhaps this was her usual route or we just had similar preferences.

Yoo Yeonha didn’t see me and continued walking. She took out a hand mirror and lightly checked her appearance in front of the clubroom. Then we suddenly made eye contact.

“What a coincidence, right?”

“…”

Ignoring me, Yoo Yeonha walked in as I followed. She chose a sunny seat while I took a corner seat under the shade. Yun Hyuk, the club president, stood at the podium with his glasses while organizing the day’s lecture notes. 

Not long afterward, 43 first years arrived along with 20 upperclassmen. At 7 on the dot, Yun Hyuk began the first lecture.

“Good evening, everyone. The weather’s starting to get…”

Any useless talk went through one ear and left the other.

“Today, we will discuss the vital points of monsters. As I’m sure you all know, finding vital points is essential to defeating monsters. Senior Seo Youngji is an excellent example of this skill. She reached the top 2000 in hero rankings by reaching the pinnacle of this ability.”

A hologram of Seo Youngji’s stats projected on the screen. A hero’s stats could be summarized into strength, dexterity, endurance, constitution, and magic power. Seo Youngji’s stats were all under intermediate rank except for dexterity, which was at master rank. For the record, only 300 heroes in the world had attained master rank in dexterity.

“Senior Seo Youngji even hunted a high rank monster by herself.”

As he said, Seo Youngji was a well-known character in this world. Although she had an introverted personality, I was sure we would meet since she played an important role.

“But don’t think a monster’s vital points are the same as a human’s. Our eyes, heart, and head serve as vital points, but that isn’t always the case for monsters.”

The higher a monster’s rank, the more obscure its vital points.

“Now, let’s take a look at an example.”

A hologram of a monster appeared on the screen. It looked similar to a mountain tiger, but its giant body, bloodshot eyes, and ferocious teeth indicated it wasn’t a normal tiger.

“This monster is called the mountain tyrant. It can be classified anywhere from intermediate to high rank. It has been known for 50 years as one of the first monsters to appear during Outcall, but its vital point still hasn’t been discovered.”

With that, Yun Hyuk paused and smiled.

“At least, that’s how it is publicly. In reality, an individual or guild wouldn’t reveal it even if they knew. They likely wouldn’t be allowed to either.”

He was right. Information was an industry in this world. Some large corporations solely focused on researching monsters. Private detectives and agencies also gathered and sold this information on a smaller scale. All of them would heavily penalize leaking such information.

Of course, publicly releasing this information would greatly benefit humanity, but the power of capitalism prevailed.

“Now, where do you think is the mountain tyrant’s vital point?”

Yun Hyuk gave Yoo Yeonha a meaningful look. She likely had no clue. I created the setting, but never used it since the main character never had a chance to hunt tigers.

“…”

As I thought, she didn’t know. She fiddled with her hair and looked around, ashamed of not knowing.

“Would anyone like to guess?”

Of course, I knew the answer. It was a good opportunity to stand out, but I refrained. Yun Hyuk acted like he knew with a pretentious face, which irritated me. I wanted to see what he was scheming.

“I…”

A girl suddenly raised her hand. I was surprised. Who the heck was that?

“Is it his nose?”

She guessed with a flushed face. She was just an extra who fell for Yun Hyuk.

***

The academic club continued for 2 hours. Unexpectedly, there was a lot to learn like the vital points of certain monsters, compatibility between attributes, and the difference between magic and spells. I learned the details of things I had lazily explained in my novel, all the while watching cute female cadets.

“We have an after-party at a nearby restaurant! It’ll be great if you can come!”

Yun Hyuk announced as the club ended. Yoo Yeonha seemed interested for some reason. I felt a bit worried and followed her. I knew she wasn’t the type to participate in things like this.

“Hey, you going?”

I casually approached her and asked. She didn’t respond. Maybe because of how I said it, so I asked again.

“Are you going?”

She continued to ignore me. I asked even more politely this time.

“Are you also going to the after-party, Yeonha?”

Only then did she respond with a faint nod.

“Why? Aren’t you busy?”

“Tsk.” This fool. That was what her eyes were saying.

“Why are you going?” 

I wanted to know.

“Aren’t you curious about the mountain tyrant’s vital point?”

“Huh?”

Oh, I get it now.

Public information on the mountain tyrant was scarce, to say the least. Not only did its strength vary greatly from individual to individual, but it also lived in an extremely remote location. Although the mountain tyrant’s leather sold for a hefty price, it was hard to plan a hunt without knowing for sure how many people to bring.

Yoo Yeonha was the successor of a major guild, so Yun Hyuk acted like he knew to approach her. I never wrote how Yun Hyuk managed to coax Yoo Yeonha because my novel wasn’t from her point of view. It seemed her guild was the key to luring her. Yoo Yeonha’s clan had risen to power during Outcall 50 years ago thanks to the massive success of her family’s first head. Her family was still a successful hero clan, but Yoo Yeonha had a bit of an inferiority complex. She felt her family was lacking compared to a true noble clan. This was why she favored Shin Jonghak and also overly obsessed about decorum.

“The mountain tyrant’s vital point?”

Was this a good chance to invest? I could gain a lot from a cordial relationship with Yoo Yeonha. She would become the future ruler of Seoul with her outstanding proficiency in business.

“I’m not curious. I already know.”

“What?”

Yoo Yeonha asked again as she furrowed her brows. She looked thoroughly annoyed on top of disbelief. I made my decision. Using this information, which would eventually become public, I would draw Yoo Yeonha’s interest and instill a sense of mystery into her. It was an acceptable trade considering the SP and additional benefits I would gain. I whispered the information to her in a serious tone.

“The mountain tyrant’s vital point is on the heel of its hind leg.”

“What nonsense are you…”

“There’s a blue mark on the heel of its hind leg, but its DNA determines whether it’s the right or left hind leg. That’s probably why its vital point hasn’t been discovered yet.”

Inspired by the story of Achilles’ Heel, I was the one who created the mountain tyrant’s setting. It was unlikely this setting had changed as tiny details seemed untouched.

“The mountain tyrant’s body is tough, but the blue mark on its heel is the only place that’s soft. That’s the mountain tyrant’s vital point. It should be easy to rob its 2 hind legs if you strategize around this.”

The value of this information had to be tens of millions, but it likely wouldn’t be over 100 considering my current credibility.

“Nuthead.”

As expected, Yoo Yeonha looked at me disdainfully like an insect. She walked away as I followed.

“It’s true. Believe me.”

“Would you believe me if our positions were switched?”

“…”

Of course, I wouldn’t believe her either.

“It’s your choice whether to believe me or not.”

I hoped she would.

“Hey!” 

Yun Hyuk suddenly cut in between us. He slightly shoved me back.

“Don’t you think you’re being too pushy?”

I had to look up to this cheesy son of a bitch’s height, so I turned to Yoo Yeonha. 

“Am I bothering you?”

“Yes.”

She coldly replied.

“Heh.” 

Yun Hyuk’s mocking laughter angered me.

“By the way, are you also coming to the after-party?” 

He spoke condescendingly. I shook my head.

“I’m not.”

“Then don’t bother other people too much. Um, Yeonha?”

However, Yoo Yeonha had already walked away.

“Heh.”

I returned what I received. Yun Hyuk chased after her with a distorted face. I simply watched them leave.

I gave Yoo Yeonha valuable information, but I didn’t know whether she would use it or not. If she did, I would gain a profitable ally. If not… nothing would happen.

I had nothing to lose.

***

On a dark winter night, Yoo Yeonha deeply contemplated as she tapped her pen on the desk.

Tomorrow, Essence of the Strait’s elite team would hunt a mountain tyrant. They had secretly purchased information about a lone mountain tyrant in Kumgang Mountain and already confirmed its size with a scout.

It was estimated to be a high-intermediate rank, grade 1. The strength of its pelt reached promentium, a tough ore found after Outcall. As such, the guild would gain an astronomical income if they succeeded.

Yoo Yeonha was worried about one thing. It wasn’t the safety of the elite hunting team, but the current vice-leader of Essence of the Strait who held too much power. She felt that threatened her seat as the guild’s successor. She had to start contributing to inherit the guild without any issues.

Yoo Yeonha turned on her smartwatch and made a phone call. Soon, the receiver picked up and a hologram appeared.

“Um, Uncle?”

— Yes, Young Lady.

Kim Sangho appeared on the screen. He was a veteran in his forties, her father’s trusted right hand. Yoo Yeonha treated him like her real uncle ever since she was a child.

 — What’s wrong?

She made the call, but was too embarrassed to say anything.

A blue mark on its heel? You can disable both of its hind legs by attacking it? Just what was I doing, fooled by that nuthead’s nonsense?

“Um, I’m saying this just in case…”

The possibility wasn’t zero and it wouldn’t hurt to try. It came from that nutjob, but he had to have a reason for being so confident. Yoo Yeonha justified it to herself and caught her breath.

— Yes, Young Lady?

“Um, I know it sounds crazy, but…”

She closed her eyes and clenched her fists.

“If things are looking rough, try looking at the heels of its hind legs.”

— Hind legs’ heels?

Kim Sangho furrowed his brows. Yoo Yeonha knew what that meant, but if she could be of use and this information was real…

“Yes, its hind legs’… heels. Either on its left or right heel, there should be… Well, I’m not sure if it’s true, but…”

Yoo Yeonha continued while risking embarrassment.

“If there is a blue mark there, try aiming for that place.”