Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: Failing Grades and a Hungry Gangster
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"Anis, wanna hit the snack bar?"
"…Yeah."
Han U-sol awkwardly struck up a conversation, and I responded just as awkwardly. Our relationship was still running parallel lines.
We were both trying to act natural, like nothing had happened, but there was this subtle awkward vibe hanging between us.
"…How's training?"
"Hmm… It's manageable."
I opened my mouth to break the awkward tension as we headed to the snack bar.
"But who's this Yeriel person? Couldn't find anything online."
"……Sorry. That's a secret."
This guy…?
"…Okay."
Come on, it wouldn't kill you to tell me. Even though things got awkward between us lately, I still thought we were pretty good friends.
I probed a few more times, but Han U-sol just kept giving off vibes that it was something he couldn't talk about.
'This jerk maybe…'
His reaction felt exactly like he was keeping quiet about some forbidden secret…!
'Harem, stop!!'
No way. The vibe so far didn't scream harem story, but this guy is handsome. The author's an idiot anyway—wouldn't be weird if it suddenly drifted into harem territory.
I pictured Han U-sol surrounded by beautiful girls, getting hit on left and right. Pissed me off.
'I want a harem too!'
I wanna be surrounded by beautiful girls. Why only you?
Come to think of it, this guy was still getting daily confessions lately. Infuriating.
"U-sol, heading to the snack bar? Come with us too…"
Look at that. Girls swarming him already. …Jealous.
If I'd known, I would've customized my game character as a handsome guy.
The girls who'd approached Han U-sol shot me dirty looks. Their eyes were screaming get lost.
I caught a faint tsk from one of them.
'…Bitch.'
I'll let it slide this once. No seconds. I averted my gaze.
Not like I was scared or anything. Master taught me that even the greatest heroes overlook a thing or two.
Pretending not to hear and staring off at the distant hills, the bustiest one swept her eyes over my body and snickered.
'……?'
What the…? What just happened?
Snickered? At my body? The one I customized stitch by stitch?
'Dull milky boy.'
This bitch. This is a perfect golden-ratio physique. Not too bulky, not too scrawny—behold the balance.
Master said endure once, but never twice. I scowled and shifted into combat stance.
"Sorry. Got stuff to discuss with Anis alone."
But the powder keg diffused with one line from Han U-sol. The girls pouted disappointingly, tossed out lines like "Next time with us!" and backed off.
'Hmph. Big deal.'
Count yourselves lucky. Without Han U-sol, you wouldn't have walked away in one piece.
I muttered that inwardly while peeking over Han U-sol's shoulder at the girls' retreating backs.
"Anis."
"Yeah?"
After grabbing snacks and plopping down on a bench to eat, Han U-sol spoke up.
"You still wanna become a hero and save people…?"
"……?"
I tilted my head at the out-of-nowhere question.
"Yeah."
I fired back instantly, like duh.
"Actually, you wouldn't know, but I saved some folks just recently."
With my flawless deduction, I'd thwarted a magic beast ambush. My mouth itched to brag to Han U-sol, but it'd just earn me a crazy label, so I zipped it.
"…I see. As expected of Anis."
Han U-sol gave a wry smile. What was with him? Had he lost his confidence after the chimera mess too?
My turn.
"What about you?"
"Huh?"
"You said you wanted to save people, same as me. Still feel that way?"
He stared at my face for a moment, then grinned.
"Yeah."
"Same as you."
What? Thought he was moping, but nope.
…Jerk. Don't confuse me.
After that chat, Han U-sol dropped the awkward act.
His natural vibe rubbed off, and soon I was treating him naturally too.
"Report cards are out~"
End of homeroom. Silbi teacher drawled cheerfully.
"As expected of Class A, everyone's above average~ I'll post 'em up front~"
Silbi hauled over a big sheet and slapped it on the board.
"That's all for announcements today. Check your scores up front before you go~"
She finished up and started for the door, then paused.
"Oh. Failers start remedial after class tomorrow."
And stared right at me.
…What? Why me?
My instincts screamed bloody murder. They'd been hollering a lot lately—I was half-worried about vocal nodules.
The great hero next door kept filing noise complaints, but I couldn't just tell my gut to pipe down. Whenever it wailed like the apocalypse, bad shit went down.
The second she was gone, I bolted to the board and checked the scores.
First up: practicals.
Magic beast combat: 100. Versus human: 100. Rescue ops: 92.
And the rest of the practical exams listed below? All 90+.
"Ooh!"
Flawless. I was a superstar.
Next: theory scores.
First thing I saw: Magic beast theory, 80. Not bad.
Civil and martial prowess. A title fit for a superstar. I nodded and moved on.
'…Huh?'
History: 42. Fail.
Physics: 40. Fail.
Philosophy. Logic. Fail. Fail.
Every theory class except magic beast theory—six total. All fails.
"Anis. How'd you do on the exams?"
"You were flying in practicals."
Han U-sol and Yoon Na-rin came over.
"………"
"Huh? What's wrong?"
They peeked at the scoresheet and clammed up.
I glanced at the others' scores. Only me failed in the whole class.
…Ah.
Fuck.
School.
Academy.
Academies are prisons.
Students are criminals or whatever…
Locked in classroom cells…
Wearing uniform prisoner garb…
Attendance sheets like inmate rosters or some shit…
A passage I'd seen online in my past life flashed through my head.
Yeah. This place is a prison.
Out the window, students headed home after academy.
But I couldn't leave. Why? 'Cause I'm a prisoner, and this is jail.
I pressed a hand to the window, face like the sky was falling, staring outside.
"Pfft. Hang in there, Anis. We're outta here~"
Yoon Na-rin stifled a laugh and dragged Han U-sol and Reisi out.
I slumped into my seat, depressed.
…Something's wrong here.
I'm a superstar. No time for remedial crap.
History? Namuwiki's got it all these days.
Physics? That's for magic kids. Useless for me.
Philosophy? Logic? Fuck that. What does a hero need with it?
Every last one—useless garbage.
'…Wanna go home.'
Empty classroom. Just me.
Even more depressed.
"……"
When's the teacher coming?
Come to think of it, I heard this remedial was mixed with other classes. Where is everyone?
After five minutes or so, students started trickling in. Other classes.
They glanced at me, eyes wide with surprise. Yeah, bet you're shocked a superstar like me's in remedial.
I wasn't fazed. Pretty routine since becoming a superstar. Blank-faced, I scanned the crowd.
……Hmm. Total strangers.
Failing six subjects earned me six crowns, turning remedial into hell.
Knowledge that'd be worthless in a year anyway, jammed into my skull—it was pure agony, straight-up torture.
Life's about real combat anyway. Especially in this world. Theory's just trash.
I wrapped up the six remedial sessions and finally left Acamedy Academy. The sun had dipped west, draping everything in darkness.
The street stayed dimly lit, a chill in the air.
Not super late, but the alley-heavy neighborhood felt extra shadowy and spooky.
Prime mugging hour. My trauma poked its head out.
Fewer people around than usual today. My pace naturally quickened.
Striding fast toward the dorms, a girl's voice drifted from a dark alley.
"Hey."
"…?"
"Hi?"
A white-haired girl about my age. Her arms, legs, face—even fingers—were crammed with unknown tattoos.
She kinda resembled Reisi at a glance, but the vibe was totally different. How to put it? Reisi felt like a basic thug, while this girl was…
Yeah. Full-on psycho gangster.
"……"
I froze solid.
Instinct screamed: Whip out your wallet, hand over all cash, at least save the card.
But Master countered hard: Show this shameless extortionist what-for.
'…What now?'
As I spectated the catfight between instinct and Master, the girl's lips parted slowly.
"Nice to meet you."
"…Yeah."
"My name's Betty…"
Her voice was slow, low, and drained of energy.
"You."
Her words dragged on, and I gulped. What? What'd she want? Why the suspense?
"Be my comrade!"
"……?"
…What? Pirate?
Tension easing a tad, I asked her.
"…What?"
"I mean, be my com…rade…"
――Grrroooowl…
"……Hungry."
Betty clutched her stomach mid-sentence.
'……'
Utterly dumbfounded, I muttered inwardly.
…What the hell is this girl?
Totally nuts.