How to Survive as an Extra

Chapter 10

Friday, a school-sanctioned holiday.

The reason Hero Prep designated a perfectly normal weekday as a holiday was to accommodate club activities.

After all, social skills were a very important quality for students who would have to survive in the Awakener world in the future.

As a case in point, in order to pickpocket on the outskirts of Seoul, one had to belong to the local gang, and even a shut-in alchemist had to feign a smile to sell potions to customers.

How much more so for the students of Hero Prep, who would become hunters, leaders of groups, and investigators, social skills were indescribably important.

……Important, but.

My first school-sanctioned holiday, which I had greeted by oversleeping, had passed in an instant.

“Is the speed at which holidays melt away for real……”

The current time was 4 p.m.

In the end, I decided not to go outside and to explore this world with the laptop provided in the dormitory.

“……The settings aren’t twisted enough to affect the plot.”

The first thing I checked on the internet was the society section of the news, which compiled various incidents.

I looked through it, concerned about a remake by ‘someone’ outside the narrative, which was often mentioned in novel possession stories, but there seemed to be no immediate problems.

Rather, because I encountered detailed information that I had not filled in, I became so engrossed that I forgot the passage of time.

It felt like I was looking at a wiki site that had been meticulously organized by enthusiasts.

“Come to think of it, the fact that I created this world is a bit creepy……”

I also accessed the video platform ‘iTube.’

I checked various pieces of information with my own eyes, and by the time darkness fell outside the window, the algorithm had led me to combat videos of hunters.

Various kinds of magic that satisfied the needs of traditional fantasy.

Melee weapons that mercilessly slaughtered monsters, making the viewer’s blood boil.

And magic engineering equipment that had been combined with modern science, including firearms…….

The hunters in the videos fought battles that were so spectacular it was hard to take your eyes off them, but what I was really paying attention to was the weapons they used.

Because I had to choose a main weapon to use starting next week.

“……Hmm, there are certainly a lot of firearms.”

According to the settings, this world mainly used firearms.

Regardless of occupation, most Awakeners who could handle the unusual recoil of bullets infused with mana carried a firearm.

Destructive power, intuitiveness, durability, and effective range, etc.

Firearms, which had more efficient killing capabilities than any other weapon, could be said to be an indispensable necessity in the current Awakener world.

Especially in the world of Seoul, which boasted the worst mortality rate due to crimes caused by superpowers.

Of course, top-class hunters still often wielded close-range conventional weapons.

Although the majority carried firearms as a secondary weapon, they were significantly superior to hunters who used firearms as their main weapon.

“As expected, the number of views for melee weapons is overwhelmingly high.”

Should I call it a primal coolness?

Even among melee weapons, the videos using swords had the highest number of views.

However, learning a weapon for coolness was a very foolish thing to do.

Unfortunately, there were no abilities related to weapons or equipment.

Therefore, it was impossible to solve it with coins, and one had to get used to the weapon only through long effort.

“The difficulty of firearms is relatively easier, but……”

It was just that they were easier and more efficient compared to melee weapons; in reality, the peak of proficiency was low.

After all, they were completely useless against monsters that bullets could not penetrate.

In order to break through the peak of proficiency, one had to be able to use magic bullets like Cha Yeri, but according to the settings, magic bullets were in the realm of talent that only about 3% of Awakeners could use.

“In the first place, magic bullets are a technique that applies related attribute abilities.”

It was a weapon that was difficult to consider in a situation where I was pretending to be powerless like now.

In the same vein, it was also impossible to take magic lectures.

After all, the Dark attribute that I had increased with coins was known as the exclusive property of Demonic Beings, the arch-enemies of humans.

Of course, not all Dark attribute Awakeners were Demonic Beings.

However, all Demonic Beings used the Dark attribute.

Over the past 80 years, only about 100 Dark attribute Awakeners had been reported to the bureau.

Considering that attributes were influenced by genetics, it meant that they had been subjected to that much large-scale oppression.

Then, one might wonder why on earth I chose the Dark attribute…….

Surprisingly, the answer was very simple.

“Because it was a ridiculously overpowered attribute that I, the original author, had certified.”

The Dark attribute was an attribute specialized in status effects and debuffs, and it was the attribute with the second-highest survival rate in battles against Demonic Beings, after the Light attribute.

You know how in other games there’s ‘same attribute damage reduction’?

Therefore, it would be an excellent survival mechanism in the battles against Demonic Beings that would be fought frequently in the future.

“……And it’s good for running far away from the episode if necessary.”

Well, anyway, in the end, I had to choose a melee weapon.

I would fall behind the students who had developed their combat sense by awakening from as early as the first year of middle school, but if I used coins, I would be able to somehow narrow the gap in experience.

Doggedly earning money to buy expensive equipment was also a method.

“Hmm……”

I looked for more videos focusing on melee weapons, but I closed the laptop without making any decision.

Since I was already behind, it would not be too late to find something that fit my hand while training.

First, it was a priority to fix my inferior physical abilities.

I used a coin.

At the same time, time stopped, and the surroundings were colored in monochrome.

[Endurance 4.0] [Strength 3.4] [Stamina 3.5]

[Agility 6.1] [Intellect 10.0] [Magic Power 4.1]

[Fire 0%] [Water 0%] [Wind 0%]

[Earth 30%] [Lightning 0%] [Light 0%]

[Dark 90%] [Null 15%]

[Stow]

[Night Eye]

[Stealth]

[Bind]

Perhaps because I had fallen into mana depletion, my magic power had risen by 0.1.

The process was arduous, but it was a reward in its own way.

I focused on Agility.

According to the settings, Agility referred to dexterity, reaction, senses, etc., and on a larger scale, it affected all the senses that a human could feel.

Naturally, it was the most difficult stat to increase.

Agility accelerated and optimized the organic movements within an Awakener’s body, allowing them to use strength and stamina with better efficiency.

However, if strength and stamina did not support it, it would be like putting a top-quality saddle on a mule.

“But that doesn’t mean I can use coins on strength and stamina, which are relatively easy to increase.”

[Increase Agility by 8.3?]

[Required Remake Coins: 5,820]

The coins used to raise Intellect by 6 were about 2,800.

Due to the accumulation of coin consumption, the required coins had increased noticeably.

5,820 was all of my coins.

It could be a reckless decision, but Agility was that important.

It was even more important to raise Agility when the consumption was low.

Furthermore…….

Humans adapted through experience, and eventually learned to apply it.

[Agility increases by 8.3.]

[Agility 14.4]

[Congratulations! You have used all your possessed coins at once!]

[The consumed Remake Coins will be refunded.]

“Heh.”

No matter how omnipotent the devoted reader was, in the end, they were just a ‘devoted reader’ of my novel.

They probably expected me to go all-in when I had about 100 coins left.

“Insolent bastard……”

The remaining coins were again 5,820.

I planned to use this not on Agility, but on Endurance.

After all, since I had coins, it was a foolish thing to leave a stat that only increased when you got hit alone.

[Endurance increases by 6.0.]

[Endurance 10.0]

[Consumed Remake Coins: 5,610]

I checked the updated abilities.

[Stow]

[Night Eye]

[Stealth]

[Bind]

[Demonic Veins]

Possesses immunity to status effects classified as poison.

The newly manifested ability, Demonic Veins.

The poison immunity effect was a more practical passive ability than other grandiose abilities, and if used well, it was an ability that could smoothly lead the episode.

“There are just too many secret struggles in this business.”

Now, the remaining coins were 210.

A number that made it difficult to expect anything from coins in the future.

“I need to find more fortuitous encounters.”

Things like the Phantom Thief’s hideout that only existed in the setting notes and did not have a major impact on the episode.

If necessary, it was also a method to touch the fortuitous encounters prepared for the Lee Eunho of the distant future.

The original work’s episode was unlikely to be maintained until then, and there was also the possibility that an unexpected character could snatch the fortuitous encounter in the twisted plot.

“Above all, it’s ridiculous to wait until Lee Eunho, who hasn’t regressed, finds the fortuitous encounter himself.”

If that was the case, it was a hundred times better for a more capable person to preempt it.

It was a sorry affair for the protagonist Lee Eunho, but I was the protagonist of my own life.

***

The time to check the effect of the stats came quickly.

Monday afternoon, after the weekend that had passed in a flash.

Outdoor Training Ground 3.

I had changed my course registration over the weekend and was participating in a Martial Arts lecture.

“The goal of this lecture is not the useless act of improving combat power by encountering various weapons and engraving the correct mindset of a hero, ……but to defeat the opponent by any means necessary without using mana.”

The elderly martial arts instructor, An Hwigom, looking down at the students from a huge, rectangular rock.

The rock he was sitting on had a diameter of at least 10m and a height of about 3m, and it was a megalith with completely unrecognizable patterns engraved around its circumference.

Simply put, it was a kind of martial arts platform made by cutting the top surface flat, and a part of the body of a huge monster, an Ancient Golem.

For reference, the smooth cross-section of that rock was the work of the Sword Saint.

“Every week, you fellows will conduct a ‘Bell Snatching.’ All of you have been given one bell each, and the one who snatches the most bells from their opponents will have a duel with me on this martial arts platform on the last week of every month. If that fellow wins, all the students taking the lecture will get 100 points. If they lose, ……I will arbitrarily deduct points from you fellows according to the level of the duelist that day.”

Point deduction.

The 50 or so students gathered here let out a collective groan.

An Hwigom, of course, paid no heed.

After all, he had been conducting the Martial Arts lecture for over 50 years.

“Tsk, quiet! Hurry up and start the bell duel!”

As if chased by the roar, the students began to look around for a duel opponent.

Martial Arts was a subject taken by both Combat and Investigation Division students.

As for the Investigation Division, it was just me and Do Minyeong, so I glanced at Do Minyeong who was next to me, but…….

“No.”

With those words, she went to find another student, and I, standing there blankly alone, found Gong Minwu nearby.

A character with a strong impression and a lot of masculinity at a glance.

His height was exactly 190cm.

He was holding a training long spear, but perhaps because he had been famous as a promising prospect even before enrolling, everyone was avoiding a duel with him.

In the original work, Lee Eunho and Gong Minwu had skills so equal that it was impossible to determine who was superior.

The magic-based Lee Eunho and the physical-based Gong Minwu.

But that was only in the case of the original work.

Considering that Lee Eunho had not regressed, it would not be strange to see Gong Minwu as superior.

In the plot, it would be a long time before Gong Minwu would consider Lee Eunho a rival.

Since Lee Eunho, who had surpassed him to take 1st place in the practical skills section, would be in the Hall of Truth, there would be no suitable opponent in sight here.

Unless it was Do Minyeong with her abilities unleashed…….

I boldly grabbed a one-handed sword and approached him.

“Nice to meet you.”

“……”

“My name is Ji Seokhyeon from the Investigation Division.”

“I know.”

Well, we had received an award together on the stage, so it was natural.

But I did not know he would have such a heavy atmosphere.

For a moment, I almost stuttered.

“Let’s have a duel, since it seems neither of us has an opponent.”

“……”

He nodded his head without answering.

Then he went up to a nearby empty martial arts platform first.

As I followed him up to the platform, I gulped hard.

Was it because I was facing the strongest person in the world of the work?

A sense of tension washed over me.

However, if not now, it would be difficult to make a connection with Gong Minwu.

In addition, the opportunity to duel with a skilled person of his level was rare.

The fellow who had climbed onto the platform put his spear down on the ground and clenched his fist.

“Hand-to-hand combat?”

“……”

Did he mean he did not need a weapon?

I followed suit and dropped my sword.

As if that was the signal, Gong Minwu kicked off the ground in an instant.

I, who had struck a pathetic pose, belatedly brought my arms together in a defensive stance.

A fleeting judgment that I could not avoid it.

Although I could read his movements with my eyes.

Although the context of the attack was clearly drawn…….

Because I had made no preparations, his fist struck my arm, and I was sent flying ungracefully.

A clear difference in experience and physical ability.

Gong Minwu looked down at me lying there clumsily and said.

“Bell.”

The name of this game was Bell Snatching.

A game where you won if you somehow got your hands on the opponent’s bell on the martial arts platform.

Therefore, he could just take the bell himself, but Gong Minwu ordered me to hand it over.

Judging from his personality, the meaning of that action was simple.

A demand to admit defeat myself.

At those words, I curled the corners of my mouth like a madman.

“I can’t give it to you.”

“……What?”

It was just one move, but I could see all of his movements clearly.

The physical ability called kinetic vision, manifested by Agility.

It was weaker than the effect of the Demonic Eye, but I could at least predict at what point the opponent would straighten their arm.

Moreover, judging by my body’s condition, I could endure a few more times.

I got up, as if to show off.

“It’s not over yet.”

“……I won’t go easy on you a second time.”

There was no way to describe it, but somehow, I felt like I would know if I was sent flying a few more times.

“I don’t care.”

The way to avoid Gong Minwu’s attack.