The Great Game Begins
Class A is full of kids who study hard, but only two of them have ever crossed paths with me so far. I glance at Shin Sua's seat, and for some reason, she's already staring right at me before I even turn my head.
She's grinning wickedly, like she knows something dirty. ···What the hell.
What did you do to her? Besides that time she blew up last time.
"Nothing much?"
Come to think of it, there was that relationship rank change message saying Shin Sua was trying to draw out some specific reaction from me. No idea what that's about, but I ignore her gaze for now. Gotta ask the other one.
I turn my head, and the hardworking country girl in the next seat, Mun Hee-jeong, is staring at me. Her eyes are unfocused for some reason. Bloodshot whites tell me she probably didn't sleep last night.
"Hey, Hee-jeong··· morning?"
"······."
Her face looks ready to explode in rage any second. Everyone seems a screw loose today.
I'm thinking that when Mun Hee-jeong suddenly bows her head and pulls out her smartphone, hammering the screen with her fingers.
-Vrrr!
-Vrrr!
My phone vibrates like crazy. Before Jang Han-nam notices, I hurry to silence it and unlock the screen. The red badge on the chat app icon is climbing in real time.
Notifications pop up one after another at the top of the screen, then vanish. Since I haven't opened the chat app yet, it looks to her like I'm still ignoring her.
"······?"
Why's she suddenly going nuclear?
How the hell should I know? In the game, Mun Hee-jeong never acted like this once. Shy personality all the way to the end. She got a bit brighter after figuring out Spirit Lord Transformation, but that's it.
Did I miss something important without realizing? What the hell did I do wrong that she's silent all morning then bombs me with messages—
"Ah···."
I open the chat app and scroll up. There it is—the message from yesterday I forgot to reply to because I was busy.
See? I told you. Hee-jeong messaged yesterday—
Forgot about the map too, my ass.
"Going to the bathroom!"
I yell at Jang Han-nam, who's glaring at his textbook, then grab Mun Hee-jeong's wrist and bolt from the classroom. Whispers about why I'm dragging a girl to the bathroom and all sorts of rumors trail behind, but I ignore them. I stop U Hyo-chung from cluelessly following too.
"Wh-what are you doing···."
Mun Hee-jeong's face is flushed as she's dragged into the hallway.
"Kim Taeyang··· bathroom··· toilet··· 6··· right··· ahh··· no···."
She's mumbling in a mosquito voice; I can't make out a word.
"Speak up. I can't hear shit."
"You're mad at me, right?! Dragging me to the bathroom to do something bad!!"
Passing students all turn to stare.
"No clue what, but it's my bad, so lower your voice!"
I grip her rampaging hand tight to calm her and ask Gemma for help, but she's smirking like "handle it yourself."
"Uh··· uwaaa···."
Mun Hee-jeong's eyes are glued to the hand I'm holding, won't budge. I knew she was from the countryside, but who knew holding hands would panic her this bad.
"Sorry I didn't reply yesterday. Unavoidable circumstances."
"Circumstances···?!"
"Yeah. My bad all around. Hear me out. No, I'll listen. Finish what you were saying yesterday. Please, I'm begging."
"S-situation ejaculation?!"
"Yeah. Circumstances."
"We're not at that stage yet···."
"Got it. Letting go now."
She must've been startled by the sudden grab.
-Squeeze.
I try to pull away, but now she places her free left hand over mine.
"Wait. Like this."
No idea why she's panting and sweating, but since it's my fault, I stay still like she wants.
"So, yesterday's message?"
"One sec."
She finally lets go, grabs her uniform blouse with thumb and index, and flaps it to cool off. Face beet red. Probably overheated from running.
"Sweaty."
She fiddles to adjust her bra, then speaks.
"Well, actually···."
I listen quietly as she rambles disjointedly. Two points sum it up. No mention of Seol Romi, but she's anxious she won't get recognition from a friend she's admired forever. And a vague question: how to get stronger?
"Why ask me that?"
"···Knew you'd say that."
Back to her usual calm self, she looks depressed.
"Still, felt like you'd show me a way. Shin Sua's already··· even though your ancestor spirit's new."
"I lost, though?"
"No, but—"
I rack my brain quick. No clue why the outburst, but awakening her talent early and locking her as an ally sounds like a win. In the game, raising her affinity was a pain. Now she's leaning on me. As a vet who's seen dozens of endings, I can "raise" her right. Her abilities and potential haven't changed, even if she's showing unexpected sides.
"Alright. I'll help however I can. But do me one—no, two favors."
-Gulp. I hear her swallow hard.
"I'm not ready for that yet—"
"Join a club with me."
"···Huh?"
"And tutor me."
"······."
Her flushed face, unreadable if teary or smiling, slowly calms.
"Okay."
"Deal? Lunch then join right away."
I shake briefly with Mun Hee-jeong, head back to class, and message Kim Yun-ju.
How the hell do you read women?
"What'd I do?"
Forget it. Hope you get stabbed by Hee-jeong living like that.
"Why's everyone out for my blood today? You, Hee-jeong."
You really don't know?
I ignore Gemma's glaring nonsense and enter the classroom. At least club new joins are steady. Good.
Mun Hee-jeong's perception of you has changed to 'Vegan'.
Relationship Rank 1 → 2
* * *
After lunch, I drag U Hyo-chung and Mun Hee-jeong straight to the clubroom. Gemma skips her ancestor-only diner today, steals half my lunch, then tags along.
-Slide.
"Senior, brought some join hopefuls."
"Ooh! Taeyang's friends?"
The clubroom's cleaned up and lit, unlike usual. Seeing Kim Yun-ju in glasses playing dorky makes me imagine the texture-mapped hacker underneath—nearly burst out laughing, but hold it.
"Whoa, senior's no joke."
The afro dummy whispers in my ear. And
"This is the Map-making Club···."
Mun Hee-jeong walks like a newborn fawn, scared of the new place.
"You read the materials with Taeyang, right? Sit and fill the app first? We'll start details when the yesterday applicants arrive."
U Hyo-chung and Mun Hee-jeong obey Kim Yun-ju.
Club members joined: 4/4
Bronze Trophy acquired: 'Club Expansion (1)'
Reward: Club joiners only—Affinity needed for Relationship Rank up displayed (check Relationship menu)
Notifications hit right as they finish forms. U Hyo-chung's easy rank-ups aside, perfect for tricky Mun Hee-jeong.
"But Yun-ju senior. How many more hopefuls?"
"Ah, that—"
Before she answers my sudden question, the door opens again.
"Hello."
Gong In-myeong bows politely; Shin Sua pretends not to care. Didn't think he'd actually bring her.
"Taeyang's friends from yesterday's apps. Remember?"
"Of course! Come sit. Was waiting."
Kim Yun-ju points to lined chairs. They sit: U Hyo-chung, Mun Hee-jeong, me, Shin Sua, Gong In-myeong. Plus senior: six total Map-making Club members.
Minimum four met—no losing the room now.
"Hey, Kim Taeyang."
As Kim Yun-ju dims lights, pulls up data on big monitor, preps club activity explanation, Shin Sua next to me speaks without looking.
"Yeah?"
"···You got nothing to say to me?"
"Me?"
"Yeah. Considering we 'happened' to join the same club, one word—I won't snap no matter what bullshit."
"Oh yeah?"
She nods seriously.
"Don't think I'll always be this nice."
Mun Hee-jeong too, what's with the weird pills today.
"Truth is I hate tangling with trash like you, but since I was emotional last time, my bad—I'll let you vent your honest feelings once."
"You're annoying."
"···What?"
"Annoying as fuck. Kicking shins outta nowhere. Fix that attitude or regret big time soon. Remember."
"You delinquent fuck—"
"No snapping."
"Ha, ha, whoo. Ha, ha, whoo···."
She pants, forcing calm. But it looks just like—
"You giving birth?"
"What the fuck?!"
"Lamaze breathing."
"Hic."
Realizing, she hiccups; Gong In-myeong and U Hyo-chung at chair ends crack up.
"Ow."
Mun Hee-jeong pinches my thigh hard—"don't mess around."
"Hm? What's up? Issue with data?"
Kim Yun-ju hears stifled laughs, turns, tilts head, starts explaining.
You guys get along great.
Gemma floats over my head the whole explanation of fake club activities for cover. I avoid looking up at her miniskirt. Senior covers safe map app downloadable on student terminals, contact lens specs for demo data. All on plan.
-Flick.
Kim Yun-ju lights up.
"So, join gifts: lenses for everyone. No glasses here? Anyone use lenses normally?"
All but me nod; she hands out contact lenses linking to Daedongyeji maps.
"Wear 'em in school as much as possible. Mapping Park Myeong-gwan first for teacher report."
The four bought the excuse we prepped, peer into mirrors, shove lenses in. I swap looks with Kim Yun-ju.
Crisis prep done. I signal; she tweaks terminal for final step.
-WORRRCAJIMNAIREYBYOEOERBEIUWUEEEEEE!!!!
Death metal blasts the room next instant.
"Ah, thought I set to vibrate."
Gong In-myeong's phone blares Nordic death metal.
What a ringtone···.
Gemma mutters. Confucius'd hate it.
"Important?"
"Nah, homeroom teacher's text. 5th period self-study, meet Seol Romi downstairs."
"Ah. Senior-junior meet···."
"Yeah. Special training for duel prep."
-Slide!
Door opens fast as he finishes. Seol Romi.
"Got the message? Let's go."
"Five mins left···."
"Gotta go early for this. Come."
She greets only Kim Yun-ju quick, drags Gong In-myeong out.
"Lunch ending soon, wrap here. Next call via app numbers. Thanks all for coming. Hehe."
Kim Yun-ju's innocent smile; feels like Mun Hee-jeong glares. Imagination?
"Good work, senior."
"No biggie."
She's smiling but tense for what's next. Me too.
"···Boring punk."
Shin Sua stands first; I follow with U Hyo-chung and Mun Hee-jeong.
"Huh? Han-nam teacher?"
Shin Sua spots Jang Han-nam hurrying up stairs ahead.
"Didn't Seol Romi and Gong In-myeong say meet downstairs?"
She puzzles why the summoner heads elsewhere.
"Dunno."
I know, stifle laugh.
Back in class waiting five mins.
"5th self-study, right?"
"Yeah. But Jin-gwan's gone. Said fetching handouts—"
Chaotic room sans teacher and rep—
-Tssststststst!!!!
"Kyaa!!"
"What the hell!!!"
"Run to exit!!!"
Giant black vine plant shatters window pots, sprouts hundreds of ghost heads like leaves, heralding the unnatural.