Chapter 30

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 30

Chapter Title: Middle School Girls' Nerve War (1)

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"...Annoying."

Lee A-ram in the seat right in front of me muttered under his breath, so quiet only he could hear it.

If it weren't for my stats-enhanced ears, no one would have caught it.

Does she hate idols?

She doesn't hate Yu Eun-ha, that's for sure. They seem to get along okay.

Or maybe...

"Buhehe... Asuka-chan..."

It could just be that his desk partner, the total otaku Deokwoo, was sneaking peeks at anime on his PMP under the desk and making creepy noises.

"Everyone, quiet down. I can hear that local TV station blaring from back there. Shouldn't we all focus on our friends' presentations?"

The teacher hushed the whispering kids.

I ignored it and laid my head down properly again.

And sure enough, Deokwoo diagonally in front flinched at the teacher's words and hid his PMP.

"Great job, Eun-ha. Such a bright, wonderful dream. And seeing how hard you're working toward it right now is truly admirable. Next up after Eun-ha?"

But as soon as eyes shifted to the next presenter...

Swoosh.

Our Deokwoo slyly pulled the hidden PMP back out from under the drawer and dove right back into his anime.

Unlike the other kids who cringed in disgust at the sight, and unlike Lee A-ram...

I actually felt a strange fondness.

"Dude, you're living the dream thanks to me."

Whether first life or second, Deokwoo was always the same.

Without Lee Ho-kwon around, he just watched anime all class long, lost in his own world.

As I'd mentioned before, we already had some history.

We weren't exactly buddies who hung out or anything.

But we had this mutual aid thing going—some unspoken bond between total losers(?).

Whenever one of us looked like we were really struggling...

He'd suddenly show up next to the bullying scene and draw all the aggro instead.

Probably not on purpose.

His mere existence was like an ultimate tank, after all.

Still, thanks to that, I'd take ten hits so he could dodge twenty.

Yeah, class isn't clicking anyway, might as well rest.

And just like with Lee A-ram earlier...

"Deokwoo."

It wouldn't hurt to build a little rapport.

"Uh, y-yeah...?"

"Tilt the PMP a bit more to the right."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"?!"

Deokwoo panicked and shoved the PMP back into his drawer, terrified I'd snatch it.

But I shook my head calmly, giving him a reassuring look.

"Let's watch together. Looks fun."

At my suggestion, Deokwoo hesitated, then ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠cautiously pulled out the PMP again.

He placed it slightly to the side of where he'd had it before.

"Is... is this angle okay...?"

"Yeah. Perfect right there."

The scene on the PMP visible from his drawer, diagonally ahead of me.

A girl with orange hair in some weird, skimpy suit was chewing out a wimpy-looking boy.

What is this? Did she cross some line on his desk like I did in elementary school and get scolded?

Anyway.

No sound, but subtitles made it fine.

Even in my second life, I couldn't just plan experiments and study all morning.

Breaks like this now and then would be good.

"A-hem..."

Glance, glance.

But Deokwoo seemed more distracted now because of me behind him.

"Sh-should I switch to something else...?"

He swapped from the orange-haired girl anime to something that looked more serious.

"Nah, it's fine."

I stopped him.

I was just peeking anyway.

Better to watch what he likes.

"Don't mind me. Watch whatever you want. Harem stuff or whatever."

"I-I don't watch that junk!"

Deokwoo bristled all over, but kept his voice low enough not to alert the teacher.

"What I like is... Evangelion isn't some shallow harem dopamine hit! It's a legendary legend with deep, dark story and profound philosophy..."

Suddenly, he couldn't contain himself and launched into a torrent of lore I couldn't follow.

I tuned out about 98% and just nodded like I got the gist.

"Oh, so you like that orange-haired girl, huh?"

Just hit me now.

Come to think of it, back in the first life, he used to rave about her like she was his bride or something.

"What was her name again? Asku or whatever...?"

"Asuka Langley Soryu! How dare you get her name wrong...!!"

He lost it even more.

"Hahaha. Sorry, sorry."

Takes me back.

Truth is, even in the first life, this guy had way more grit than me.

We'd both get beaten and bullied by Lee Ho-kwon...

But the second Ho-kwon dissed Deokwoo's favorite character, he'd explode right back.

Of course, then he'd get hit even harder, like a summer storm—kinda tragicomic.

"Tone it down. Teacher just glanced this way."

"...!"

One word from me, and Deokwoo clammed up.

He hurriedly stashed the PMP back in the drawer.

Aw, it was getting good.

"Kidding. She didn't actually look. Just messing with you."

"R-right."

Actually, she did look.

Our eyes met for a split second.

Probably a warning.

What if she confiscates the PMP?

From memory, that home ec teacher returns stuff at the end of the day.

Maybe?

I'd just been chilling with Deokwoo, watching anime during class...

I figured hanging with fellow assas would boost my Assa Force.

Guess the Status Window isn't that rigid.

Thinking about it, the window trying to turn me into an inssa felt almost motherly.

Like, "Go out and play with friends already."

But what good is higher Inssa Force?

Assa Force is just a death penalty at 100.

Whoa, for real?

The first one's fine, but the second... not really itching to recharge that...

Honestly, hate both.

Oho, a quest thing, huh.

Maybe even get my hands on that I mentioned before...?

Ding!

The Status Window dodged again.

No straight yes.

But no no, either.

Clever little...

It wants me to build real relationships, not just chase rewards.

To approach people with genuine intent.

Fine.

I'm not treating life like a game anyway.

So for now...

Just have fun with Deokwoo, the guy everyone dismisses as a loser otaku.

No prejudices.

In this new second life, I want to bond more with these assas who were like first-life me.

Not the insサs everyone wants to befriend.

Feels like better revenge on that first-life world that chewed me up and spat me out.

Blindly becoming an inssa feels like surrender.

And for that assa reason...

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

-Shinji! Get in the Eva!

-Uwaaaah! I can't! I don't wanna!

-If you can't pilot Eva, you're useless here. Vanish from this place.

(※Subtitles.)

I kept watching anime with Deokwoo.

Of course, class was still going—home ec continued.

"No more volunteers? Or should I give you more time to think?"

After some time, they just chatted—no one stepped up.

The home ec teacher drew her sword.

"By the way, non-presenters still have to submit written versions. But presenters get presentation points too."

The mention of points had a girl shoot her hand up instantly.

"Teacher! I'll go!"

"Great. Rahel, stand and give us yours?"

"Yes~"

My ears perked up like a cat's.

Trivial fact, but with higher Physique stat, I could twitch my ears sometimes now.

Not bragging or anything.

"My dad's a plastic surgeon. He has a clinic near Hwajung Station, and I've seen him work there. He says celebrities have come by a few times."

The name Rahel, and this presenting girl.

Her name was already etched in my brain.

Very recently—from last week, chatting with Lee A-ram.

"Dad makes good money and keeps our family comfortable. I'm so grateful."

Oho, a doctor.

Top of the minor specialties in the 2000s: plastic surgery.

Yeah, better times back then.

Than a future where low birthrates and aging make ortho and rehab the hottest—plastic surgery monster factories topping the charts feels preferable.

"Dad says he's changed many people's lives. Some came back prettier, even brought gifts. In ten years, I want to be a doctor like him—not just saving lives, but making them prettier and richer."

Rahel finished, sat down, and shot a glance—not at anyone else, but Yu Eun-ha.

"Eun-ha, if you wanna be an idol later, come to me. I'll hook you up cheap—friends discount."

Pffft.

A small but audible snicker.

Rahel plastered on a kind smile.

Her friends chimed in— "So nice!", "True bestie!"—mocking Eun-ha hard.

"......"

But it was sly enough that Eun-ha herself, the teacher, and others couldn't call it out.

"Aww, thanks~"

Eun-ha didn't take it lying down.

"But we'll see when the time comes, right? For now, I'll just take the thought~"

She brushed it off smoothly, like water under the bridge.

And that was it.

Class was in session, so Rahel let it slide without reply.

But my sharp ears caught everything.

"What was that? Implying Rahel won't make doctor?"

"Thinks she's such a genius."

"Nah, Eun-ha didn't mean it like that. We're so close."

"Right...? Rahel?"

"In ten years, she'll be a total ajumma. How's she gonna be an idol? Eun-ha knows that."

"Oh, yeah. You're so thoughtful, Rahel~ Guess I'll apply as a nurse at your hospital~"

Whoa, girls are scary.

That backstabbing you see online in nursing colleges or med school? Starts in middle school.

Anyway, I get it now.

Exactly the kind of girl Lee A-ram meant about Park Rahel.

And why she hates her.

With that personality, early semester she targeted pretty but timid Han So-mi for bullying.

Then made Yu Eun-ha—who stepped up first as her friend—next on the list.

Of course.

"Deokwoo."

Not my business.

"That Shinji guy's so frustrating I wanna kill him. Reminds me of my old self."

"A-hem... R-right... Figured you'd say that..."

"Right?"

I ignored it all and kept hanging with Deokwoo.

Kids grow up like that.

Especially Korean kids—they have to.

Can't survive there? End up extinct like first-life me.

This hell peninsula weeds out the weak.

You didn't choose it—just born here. So grit your teeth and endure, Eun-ha.

As I tempered myself with such stern, Marine-worthy thoughts...

Grind.

A faint grinding noise.

Crunch, gnash.

Not loud enough for everyone.

But clear to Deokwoo beside me and me behind.

"......"

Lee A-ram again.

"The sacred Evangelion time... shall pause for now..."

Deokwoo turned off the PMP and sat straight up like he had PTSD.

Mouth clamped shut.

Reminds me of my first-life self, trapped with my ex-wife.

Seeing that makes me wanna yell at Lee A-ram, "Hey, your boyfriend just walked by."

Ah.

So that's the inssa vibe?

Buncha jerks anyway.

"Guess I'll nap."

No plans to poke the middle school girl's hysteria. Went to lay my head down.

Couldn't.

Tap tap tap.

Something trembling.

And a creepy mutter, super low.

"...She'd be great at doctoring. Ha, what clinic? Probably protests out front for butchering faces like her dad. Trash bitch."

Brutal face diss.

Loud enough for me in the back row...

...Is this a silent protest for me to step in?

No?

Ding!

...Nope, guess it is.