Chapter 158

There was a hidden item in the second stage.

It was an item that could be obtained only if every player except oneself died from falling.

After knocking Banana off the edge with the Marshmallow Glove, I threw another Jelly Ball toward the ceiling vent.

After hitting the vent six times in a row, a clattering sound echoed, and an item dropped.

[Legendary Lollipop: A legendary lollipop said to have been crafted by the primordial sugar artisan using lightning strikes from a giant cotton candy cloud. Only a true Sugar Champion can wield it.]

The large lollipop, featuring a round pink candy on a white stick, was an invincible item.

The hit detection was tricky, but if it connected, it sent other players flying out of bounds.

I usually avoided using it because it made the game boring, but today, it was necessary.

With the lollipop slung across my back, I called out to the sheep-headed slime.

"Mr. Dominic. I plan to move a bit violently from here on."

Given how fussy he could be, I thought he might dislike it.

However, the sheep-headed slime didn’t seem to mind.

"You needn’t worry about me."

Because he was wearing an orca plush headband on his head, the sheep-headed slime was staying perched on my shoulder.

He clung to me squishily and asked,

"By the way, Roasted Chestnut. How long do you intend to mingle with these things?"

He asked lightly, but Dominic seemed genuinely curious about when my eccentric behavior would end.

To him, even subordinates were little more than disposable tools.

Recently, knowing that I cherished my subordinates, he had been putting up with it.

But seeing me scrap with humans, who weren’t even subordinates...Dominic likely found my behavior utterly incomprehensible.

Even now, it felt like he was speaking in a very softened tone.

I offered an excuse in my usual alien style.

"I’m not mingling; it’s more like an ecological survey. Observing tiny creatures, so to speak."

"I see. At your age, Roasted Chestnut, it is natural to be curious. However, it would be best not to spend too much time on it."

Dominic gave his advice politely.

I replied that I would be careful, yet I felt a flicker of anxiety.

It was a fear that one day, he might finally give up on trying to understand me and force his own will upon me.

Even though Dominic always listened to my opinions.

The mere thought of a restored Dominic crushing the Earth with a single gesture made my stomach churn.

I had to soothe my wounded heart.

"Mr. Dominic."

’Yes, Roasted Chestnut."

"I need urgent help."

As I held out both hands, I heard a soft "Hmm." After waiting steadfastly, the sheep-headed slime hopped down into my palms. I enjoyed a brief moment of squishy healing.

"Thank you, Mr. Dominic. That was a huge help."

After thanking Dominic profusely, I moved on to the next stage.

I breezed through to the final stage like water flowing.

The numerous obstacles and traps meant nothing to me.

It was even easier since I didn’t have to teach Angel Wings the strategy or worry about how others perceived me.

Arriving at the final stage in an instant, I stood before the finish line.

I swung the lollipop in the air a couple of times while waiting for the trainees.

In Hop Drop Pop, there were plenty of players who liked to troll.

I had dealt with people who intentionally sabotaged the game until I was sick of it.

Thanks to that, I knew exactly what to do to make people the most infuriated.

After spending some tedious time waiting, the trainees finally began to appear.

Filled with the joy of becoming first place, they were making a final spurt when they saw me standing at the finish line, and their eyes widened.

"What? What is he doing there?"

"Get that bastard out of the way!"

The guy running at the front lunged at me.

I gave the lollipop its first maiden voyage.

Pow!

With a cheerful sound, the trainee was sent flying.

From then on, it was just a repetition.

Some trainees tried to team up and rush me, but it was useless.

I sent every single one of them back to the starting point without exception

It was around the time when more and more trainees had exhausted their hearts and turned into spectators.

Banana and the few remaining friends lunged at me once more.

Seeing them attack from all directions, it seemed they had devised some kind of strategy, but I sent them flying again.

I took special care when hitting Banana; he flew very far and very high.

While feeling proud, I felt an intense gaze.

Thinking that some new baseballs had arrived, I turned my head and flinched.

"Lieutenant Won?"

Won Tae-bum had arrived at the final stage.

I had been told that the principle was for instructors not to intervene once they entered Hop Drop Pop.

They only entered the stage when it was judged that clearing was impossible because all trainees had become spectators.

That was why I had been swinging my lollipop with peace of mind, but Won Tae-bum had appeared.

I hid the lollipop behind my back.

Thinking about it, this was trainee education, and I might have trolled a bit too much.

With a belated sense of reflection, I looked up at Won Tae-bum.

"Um... the other trainees were interfering so much that for a moment, I just.."

I mumbled excuses while reading his expression.

Just as I thought I might get scolded, an unexpected question came back.

"Are you injured anywhere?"

Hop Drop Pop was a trial so safe that the concept of injury barely existed.

I answered, slightly bewildered,

"No, I’m not."

"Confirmed."

The blunt answer brought a sense of relief. Fortunately, it didn’t seem like something I’d be scolded for.

He probably came because the trainees were continuously becoming spectators and he wondered if an accident had occurred.

I looked up at Won Tae-bum quietly.

He was a man who clashed terribly with this cute world made of sweets.

In the sweet Hop Drop Pop, Won Tae-bum alone was like 99% cacao chocolate.

Right now, it was just me and Won Tae-bum here.

It would take quite some time for the trainees I had knocked off to respawn and reach this point.

I thought now was the best time for a quiet conversation.

If we were seen together outside, people might misunderstand and think Won Tae-bum was giving me special treatment.

And Won Tae-bum also looked like he had something to say to me.

He hadn’t taken his eyes off me for a while.

I cautiously spoke.

"Um, Lieutenant Won."

I tried to preempt him by immediately bowing my head, but...

"In The Cell X, I really...Gasp!"

I failed.

Won Tae-bum had grabbed my shoulders to prevent me from bowing.

Startled by the grip on my shoulders, I awkwardly continued my sentence.

"I’m sorry."

"..."

Won Tae-bum said nothing.

Since he seemed to be waiting for me to speak, I continued my apology.

"The ability I used should be lifted by now... If there is anything unusual, please tell me."

Blind Faith was an ability that manipulated the mind.

Even if it was lifted now, there might be some side effects.

At a glance, he looked fine, but...

He clearly wants to serve me as his master.

Anyway, he pops up whenever there’s a chance and says strange things.

If he had a physical form, I would have definitely smacked him.

Ignoring the thoughts of the social misfit, I said,

"I will make sure such a thing never happens again."

At that moment, Won Tae-bum’s face completely stiffened.

Meeting my eyes, he murmured softly.

"Since then, I keep thinking about God."

...I’m screwed.

The aftereffects of Blind Faith remained.

Even though I had braced myself, it was dizzying when it actually happened.

I had done something terrible to a man who had once even been a priest.

I barely managed to open my lips.

"It’s an aftereffect caused by my ability."

Won Tae-bum frowned slightly. He asked slowly,

"This...is an aftereffect?"

"Yes, it is!"

I practically begged him.

"I will definitely solve it. There must be a way to treat it."

It was maddening that I had turned a decent person into something strange.

I apologized several times, promising that I would definitely return him to normal and find a way to treat it no matter what.

However, the more I apologized, the darker Won Tae-bum’s gaze became.

Was it because the promise was uncertain? I felt as if despair was flickering in his eyes.

He seems upset that he couldn’t become my subordinate.

I brushed off the crazy thoughts. It was then, while I was at a loss with guilt.

Won Tae-bum suddenly staggered violently.

"Lieutenant Won!"

I hurriedly supported his body.

His complexion had turned noticeably pale, and he was even breaking out in a cold sweat.

His pectoral muscles repeatedly heaved and subsided.

His hands, clenched so tightly that the veins stood out blue, were trembling slightly.

It was a sight I never expected to see from a man who was always like a steadfast rock.

He is suffering from the harassment of a snake and is desperately searching for me.

Snake?

It was a bit different from the usual nonsense, so it caught my attention.

Distracted for a brief moment, I looked around to find a place where Won Tae-bum could sit.

He slowly straightened his body and held onto me.

"It is nothing."

A low, sunken voice leaked out.

I looked at Won Tae-bum.

He didn’t look okay at all.

But he soon regained his usual composure.

Hiding the sinking gaze and the trembling of agony, he told me:

"What just happened has nothing to do with Trainee Han, so you don’t need to worry about it."

"Lieutenant Won..."

"Since you say there is a way to treat it, I will wait."

He cut the conversation short firmly, as if he didn’t want any further talk.

Another strange thought occurred.

I should give him a chance.

He will prove his faith to me.

...I wanted to press a button to turn off these thoughts.

This crazy social misfit was far too confident.

I had no idea where this unwavering confidence that everyone liked him sprang from.

Now, he was even acting as if Won Tae-bum were his disciple.

While I was chasing away the thoughts of the crazy social misfit, Won Tae-bum sent me toward the finish line.

"Trainee Han. Finish the race and wait."

"But..."

"This is an instructor’s order."

I looked back at Won Tae-bum several times.

But because he maintained a resolute gaze, I had no choice but to cross the finish line.

Rainbow sprinkle fireworks exploded, and a first-place congratulatory notification appeared.

[The owner of the Sweet Throne has arrived!!]

[The victorious Sugar Champion ’Lamb’ has crossed the finish line in 1st place!]

***

I sat on the three-tier sugar cake chair, the exclusive throne for the winner, and waited for the remaining trainees to finish.

While killing time playing with the sheep-headed slime, the trainees arrived one by one.

Since I had sent several into spectator mode, there weren’t many trainees left.

The trainees, arriving out of breath, shuddered and kept their distance upon seeing the lollipop on my back.

Regardless, I waited for Angel Wings.

He hadn’t shown his face the entire time I was acting as the gatekeeper of the final

stage.

Though it didn’t seem like he lacked the skill to pass the remaining stages.

Even when all the surviving trainees had arrived, Angel Wings did not appear.

After some time had passed, Won Tae-bum crossed the finish line.

Stepping down from the cake chair, I discovered Angel Wings following behind him.

Angel Wings immediately found me and gave a bright smile.

"Since all surviving trainees have completed the race, the practical training is now over."

With Won Tae-bum’s declaration, the system window announcing the clear appeared.

◆ <Hop Drop Pop> Clear!

- Sugar Champion Ending.

[’Han Go-yo’ makes their name known to Akasha!]

[■■■ cheers! They pay attention to you while feeling a refreshing sense of satisfaction.]

[Current Recognition: 10.003%]

The previous one in PTB was a 0.001% increase, but this time it gave me 0.002%.

Considering it was an easy trial and not a True Ending, it seemed like a generous increase.

’But does that black block have nothing to do?’

I’d been thinking about this since Day News, but I felt like it was watching me 24 hours a day.

Could it be an unemployed alien?

Even if I were unemployed, watching someone 24 hours a day would be hard; at this point, I found it impressive.

[The trial < Hop Drop Pop> has ended.]

[The trial will close in 80 seconds.]

[You are the greatest contributor of <Hop Drop Pop>.]

[You may take ’1’ item.]

Even though it was a normal ending, I had secretly hoped for more, but it was 1 again.

In my heart, I wanted to take all the decorative items related to the trial.

Looking at the system window with regret, I selected the item.

[Item selection complete!]

It was the orca plush headband.

The lollipop would be more useful, but I chose the orca anyway.

After finishing the selection, I looked around and saw the other trainees, which felt strange.

Since the factory, I have always been left alone whenever a trial ended.

PTB had been with others, but that was an abnormal ending...

I wondered if it was because this wasn’t a True Ending.

Just as I was waiting for the trial to close.

Angel Wings approached me.

"Trainee Han Goyo! Congratulations on 1st place."

I looked up at him.

Staring at the person who looked as happy as if he had won first place himself, I asked,

"Tell me your name."

"Eh? My name?"

Angel Wings was startled. His reaction was as if he couldn’t believe I would dare ask for his name.

As I just kept staring, Angel Wings said shyly:

"Then... I will tell you outside."

"..."

Since there were only a few seconds left until the trial closed. I nodded.

Angel Wings suddenly leaned toward me.

"Trainee Han Goyo."

His voice dropped slightly, which felt unfamiliar.

He spoke while meeting my eyes.

"Next time we meet, I’ll introduce you to my friends. They’re all good kids and really want to see you. Ah, the first impression might be bad, but..."

His eyes, which had been half-hidden by his bangs until now, curved thinly.

"You’ll come to like them too."

They were eyes that were neither timid nor shy.

At that moment, the world dissolved.

I emerged from the trial.

As soon as I regained consciousness, I slowly stood up.

Angel Wings’ subtle final words weighed on my mind.

To ask him directly what he meant, I scanned the trainees scattered here and there.

He wasn’t there.

Just then, Won Tae-bum regained consciousness, so I immediately approached him and reported.

"Lieutenant Won. One trainee is missing. 13 entered, but there are currently only 12 in the classroom."

Despite having just woken up, Won Tae-bum, with a clear gaze, raised an eyebrow.

"Trainee Han."

And then he told me something unbelievable.

"The number of trainees who entered Hop Drop Pop was 12."