I Became an Academy Overpowered Growth Genius

I Became an Academy Overpowered Growth Genius – 7

EP.7 Parasitic Growth (1)

The day after the entrance exam.

Kang Seo-jun’s one-room studio apartment.

[Congratulations on your admission to the Korean Hunter Academy.]

[※ Class assignments will be announced later.]

He casually checked the acceptance notice that came via text and placed his smartphone on the shelf.

Then, looking at himself in the bathroom mirror, he took a deep breath.

He intended to retrieve one of the ingredients needed to create the skill ‘Parasitic Growth’ from his own stomach.

Carnivorous parasite.

It was one of the debuff characteristics he added when creating the character, and also one of the ingredients needed to create the skill ‘Parasitic Growth’.

– Crackle, crackle! –

Kang Seo-jun turned the showerhead, pulled it out, and turned on the tap.

– Shoo-oo-oo! –

The water sprayed out with a strong force.

“Hmm!”

– Gurgle, gurgle! –

Kang Seo-jun held his breath and began to gulp down the tap water.

And soon,

“Ugh, ugh…!”

As his stomach couldn’t withstand the influx, Kang Seo-jun vomited.

– Wriggle, wriggle.

–

Several tiny larvae, no bigger than a baby’s fingernail, wriggled on top of Kang Seo-jun’s vomit.

He picked them up with tweezers and examined them closely.

The black heads had no eyes or nose, only a mouth with sharp teeth.

“To think that these are now filling my stomach….”

Kang Seo-jun grimaced with disgust, transferred three Carnivorous parasites into a cup, and left the bathroom.

“Phew….”

He relieved his bitter feelings with a single sigh.

With this, all the ingredients needed to create the skill ‘Parasitic Growth’ have been obtained.

The blood of Park Shin-Hoo obtained from yesterday’s fight.

The Carnivorous parasites just vomited.

A bag of greasy soil picked up on the way home.

And the one-time combination box, mana crystals, soul tree seeds, cursed dolls, cursed needles, sheepskin parchment, and more purchased from the dimensional store…

Finally, even the needle to extract Kang Seo-jun’s blood.

“Shall we begin?”

Kang Seo-jun first cut the clothes stained with Park Shin-Hoo’s blood and placed them inside the cursed doll.

Then, he pricked his finger with the needle, dripped blood onto the cursed needle, and carefully tilted his own blood to prevent mixing.

Because a slight error in the curse could immediately change the outcome of the process, Kang Seo-jun focused his attention.

After the blood work, he spread greasy soil under the box, sprinkled finely crushed mana crystals on top.

Next, he laid the cursed doll on the soil and planted the soul tree seed inside the cursed doll.

Finally, being careful not to break the soul tree seed, he inserted the cursed needle into the doll, covered it with sheepskin parchment, and closed the combination box.

– Thup! –

Kang Seo-jun completed all the processes following the combination method he had memorized sweetly. Now, he just had to wait for a while.

– Push! Push! Ping! –

– Bang! –

The combination box emitted smoke, rumbled for a moment, and then disappeared like a balloon popping.

[Combination successful! You have acquired the skill ‘Parasitic Growth’!]

“Done!”

Although combining in a game and combining in reality felt quite different, Kang Seo-jun was fortunate that no issues arose.

He immediately opened the skill window to confirm the newly acquired skill.

《Skill》

▶Name:

Parasitic Growth

◆Grade:

[Epic]

◆Description:

1. Absorbs 20% of the experience gained by the host as nutrients for the growth of the parasite.

2. Current Host: Park Shin-Hoo

※Special Effect 1: When the ability increases by 1 point through ‘Parasitic Growth’, you can exchange one desired trait with the host.

A skill that not only quickly helps overcome early weaknesses but also allows steady restraint of a troublesome villain in the later stages.

“Good. Excellent.”

Especially pleasing was the special effect.

With Parasitic Growth, every time the ability increased by 1 point, Kang Seo-jun could either steal one of Park Shin-Hoo’s good traits or quickly pass on one of his own trashy traits.

Right now, rather than bringing Park Shin-Hoo’s traits, he would probably use it to quickly pass on one of Kang Seo-jun’s trashy traits.

“The first thing to pass on is, of course….”

[Terminal Cancer Lv. Lowest]

“This should do.”

Despite moving with superhuman willpower, Kang Seo-jun didn’t outwardly reveal much, but he himself felt it.

Considering the daily deterioration of his health, the time he could endure with just willpower was now only a few days.

Fortunately, Park Shin-Hoo was likely to be diligently training by now.

Park Shin-Hoo had a personality that would do anything to crush any opponent stronger than him if they appeared.

[Stealing host’s experience points, increasing strength experience!]

[Stealing host’s experience points, increasing stamina experience!]

It was terrifying how the experience points were delivered like a tiger coming when spoken to.

《Status Window》

▶Name:

Kang Seo-jun

◆Stats:

[Strength: 1], [Agility: 1]

[Endurance: 1], [Anti-magic: 1]

[Health: 2], [Mana: 1]

[Sense: 1], [Intelligence: 8]

[Willpower: 30], [Luck: 50]

◆Trait:

[Eye of Providence Lv. Transcendent], [Dimensional Shop Lv. Transcendent], [Favored One Lv. Transcendent], [Severe Obesity Lv. Lowest], [Necrotic Dermatitis Lv. Lowest], [Psoriasis Lv. Lowest], [Reverse Joints Lv. Lowest], [Twisted Arms Lv. Lowest], [Frail Constitution Lv. Lowest], [Mana Insensitivity Lv. Lowest], [Carnivorous Parasite Lv. Lowest]… (and more)

◆Skills:

[Counter Time Lv. Epic], [Parasitic Growth Lv. Epic]

At this speed, it seemed he would soon be able to pass on cancer by one stage.

◆Trait

[Carnivorous Parasite Lv. Lowest]

“I should pass this one as quickly as possible too.”

Although still in a juvenile state and not causing much trouble, once these creatures grow, they not only gnaw on the host’s body but also burst out of the stomach.

Moreover, while these creatures are inside the stomach, the consumption of elixirs is restricted, limiting the simplest means of growth.

While these creatures are inside, even if they manage to steal an elixir, the absorption rate is low, and the growth and reproduction speed of the parasite rises explosively.

To speed up the growth of abilities with elixirs, it’s best to handle it as quickly as possible.

“Now… the important part is done….”

Up to this point, everything was fine….

Grrrr….

No appetite, but a strange feeling of hunger.

However, there was nothing to eat in this house, and Kang Seo-jun had no money.

He needed to fill his stomach, but how?

“For now, let’s lie down.”

Even when thinking, it was crucial to conserve energy as much as possible. With this body, even one calorie was a significant resource.

Kang Seo-jun returned to the bed and lay down on his side, unable to lie on his back due to his bent waist.

“Cough…! Cough…”

– Ssaaek! Ssaaek! –

“Huuhh….”

His condition had worsened considerably in the past few days.

Breathing became even more difficult, and his head felt dizzy as if filled with noise.

Though he could endure with willpower for now, he feared that suddenly gasping for breath might happen.

“Now, what to do….”

Once he enrolled, meals wouldn’t be a problem. The school provided three meals a day for all dormitory students.

However, the problem was that there were still two weeks left until enrollment.

“Two weeks in this condition….”

No matter how strong the willpower, there was a limit to what a person could endure.

Someone suffering from a terminal illness, unable to eat properly and confined to a room for two weeks, would undoubtedly meet their end.

In the game, these two weeks were simply skipped.

But now that the game had become reality, skipping time like that didn’t happen.

Ultimately, with no money and only a dying body to his name, he found himself in a situation where he had to endure two weeks somehow.

“This is messed up….”

To earn money, doing hard labor or part-time jobs like loading and unloading would worsen his health, which was already in a terrible state.

Yet, just sitting still was also the worst option.

In this situation, he regretted not accepting the money from Park Seo-yoon as compensation.

Should he contact her now?

That thought was rejected in less than two seconds.

Apart from the embarrassment, getting involved with them now could lead to unknown risks.

Enduring such risks just to fill an empty stomach wasn’t suitable for his circumstances.

There were other means available, even if limited.

“As expected, is this the only option?”

◆Trait:

[Dimensional Shop Lv. Transcendent]

Even at the dimensional store, they sell food.

Such as [Downtown Nutrient Packs] or [Ancient Fairy Bread].

These items not only have abundant nutrients but also excellent taste and easy digestion, making them suitable for consumption even for patients like Kang Seo-jun. Moreover, with long-term use, they can enhance abilities like elixirs or temporarily provide stat buffs.

However, they are expensive, especially during times when every dimensional coin is precious, like the current situation. Even though Kang Seo-jun had almost spent all the dimensional coins he received as sponsorship for creating the skill ‘Parasitic Growth’, buying enough food from the dimensional store to last for two weeks was unrealistic.

For now, dealing with cancer was more urgent than food, so he spent generously on that. But now that he had overcome the crisis of dying from cancer, he faced the crisis of starving to death.

“How amusing.”

[Willpower: 30]

Despite the situation, his mental state not only remained stable but also strangely filled him with energy.

Even with such strong willpower, he wondered what his Luck 50 was doing when it was needed.

“Isn’t something going to fall from the sky?”

With a Luck of 50.

Something should come out, especially in times like this.

– Ding dong.

–

“Huh?”

While thinking about this, the doorbell rang.

“Ugh….”

Kang Seo-jun laboriously got up and walked towards the door, staggering.

Just lying down for a short while made it feel like the compressed parts were going to burst.

“Who is it?”

Kang Seo-jun asked in a tired voice.

“Hello! Excuse me! Is this Mr. Kang Seo-jun’s residence?”

The voice from beyond the door somehow sounded like a spirited woman’s voice.

Kang Seo-jun raised an eyebrow with a tired expression.

What kind of event is this now?

“Who is it?”

Kang Seo-jun was ready to activate the Counter Time skill at any moment.

Considering what happened yesterday, it wouldn’t be strange for an unwelcome guest to come.

“Ah! Um! I am a new student at the Korean Hunter Academy! My name is Jin Se-rin!”

“Excuse me?”

Who was it?

The moment he heard that name, his guarded tone turned into confusion and suspicion.

Why would Jin Se-rin come here?