Chapter 61
Chapter 61
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Archery Club Negotiations
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Can't talk here? I don't want to have to go all the way to the club room."
What Kang Jae-hyeok had demanded from the Archery Club boiled down to three things.
First, the right to claim requests for himself.
Second, the activity funds allocated to the club president.
Third, to respect and properly instruct his team members.
Beyond that, he had no intention of meddling in the Archery Club's affairs at all.
He didn't see the need to go out of his way to visit the club room.
"Or you could pass it along through Do-jin."
Even Jae-hyeok had a conscience.
He knew full well that the Archery Club members hated him.
From their perspective, he was a bolt from the blue, a straight-up extortionist.
Showing up to squeeze them would only breed resentment. For long-term shakedowns, it was better to stay out of sight.
Yeon-ju shot back at Jae-hyeok's firm tone.
"Do-jin? You think that kid knows how to relay a message?"
"Pardon?"
"He doesn't listen."
"Ah...."
Recalling Do-jin's personality, Jae-hyeok pressed some braised short ribs into his rice bowl and said.
"Got it. Just make sure the club members keep their distance, then."
"Ahaha, what? Worried the kids might blow up seeing you and cause a scene? Don't worry. After the way you've carried yourself with them, they won't act that petty."
"Isn't the problem the way I've carried myself?"
The two conversed in hushed whispers.
To any onlookers, they looked like unrelated people focused on filling their trays with food.
There was no upside to anyone knowing Jae-hyeok had some kind of tie to the Archery Club.
Fame was still poison to him right now, and the club didn't want it getting out that a freshman had sunk his hooks into them.
But there was a problem.
"Wow, she's seriously so pretty."
"That's Senior Jang Yeon-ju. Granddaughter of Archery Saint Jang Ho-beom."
For one, Yeon-ju's beauty and background were just too much.
From the moment she entered the cafeteria, most of the students couldn't tear their eyes away.
"Ahh, Unnie Yeon-ju...."
Even Cheon Hye-ji was half-dazed.
Her stomach had been screaming for food after rolling around in the snow all day, but she forgot about serving herself and just gazed at Yeon-ju in admiration.
Meanwhile, Yi Jin-seong and Du Bae-su glared coldly at Yeon-ju.
Not just them—plenty of Class B students eyed her warily.
They'd heard the rumors about what Baek Do-jin, Jae-hyeok's teammate, had gone through at the Archery Club.
Jae-hyeok wore an awkward expression while Yeon-ju kept whispering to him nonstop.
Finally, Yi Jin-seong, who happened to be scooping food nearby, couldn't hold back and stepped in.
"Hello. I'm Yi Jin-seong from first-year Class B."
Yeon-ju didn't even get a chance to respond.
"I've heard that the Archery Saint's fame is top-tier not just in Korea but across Asia. Does that mean his granddaughter gets a pass to bully juniors?"
With a bold greeting, Yi Jin-seong unleashed a barrage of words.
"I've heard the rumors about that unfortunate incident at the archery range recently. But Kang Jae-hyeok wasn't directly involved, right? Isn't it childish to harass someone just because they're on the same team as the guy who caused trouble there?"
It was also a criticism aimed at Yi Jin-seong himself.
The first time he laid eyes on Jae-hyeok.
Yi Jin-seong had treated him like a criminal, solely because he was House Kang blood—lumping him in with the likes of Kang Dae-seong and Kang Hyeon-ah.
He'd smugly declared it was all the Yaksha's fault for raising them that way.
He held no personal grudge against Jae-hyeok or House Kang.
He just figured it was fine.
After all, every bit of media he'd consumed growing up had mocked and condemned House Kang as a matter of course.
But after spending over a month actually living with Jae-hyeok, the guy turned out to be ordinary. No—normal, just like them.
Kang Jae-hyeok was Kang Jae-hyeok, and House Kang was House Kang.
More than anything, what had Yi Jin-seong really pissed off right now was something else.
"Damn it, Kang Jae-hyeok... Spit something snarky like usual. You chickening out just 'cause she's the Archery Saint's granddaughter?"
Yi Jin-seong endured Jae-hyeok's relentless daily torment.
That torment kept forcing his skills to improve, so eventually he'd grown numb to it.
He'd admitted Jae-hyeok was a cut above and clung to that to preserve his pride.
If Jae-hyeok turned out to be a nobody?
Then his own pride would come crashing down too.
"Why are you just standing there like an idiot!"
"......"
"Hmm...."
Jae-hyeok stared at the raising his voice in bafflement, while Yeon-ju smirked mischievously. She poked his side with her elbow.
"You've got a lot of close friends, huh?"
She'd noticed it from the moment he extended a hand to No Jun-yeop on the edge of ruin.
Jae-hyeok's real strength wasn't his archery—it was how he treated people.
A good number of first-year Class B students clearly cherished him.
"They're not friends...!"
As Yeon-ju eyed the blazing glares from the Class B kids and jumped to a huge misunderstanding, Yi Jin-seong started to protest.
"I know what you're worried about. But our kids are actually low-key looking forward to your visit. Especially since Baek Do-jin started as president. So come by the club room without stressing."
Whispering into Jae-hyeok's ear, Yeon-ju waved and walked off.
Seeing the candy and cake on her tray instead of rice nearly killed Jae-hyeok's appetite. He hurriedly grabbed some kimchi and said.
"Thanks."
"Huh?"
Yi Jin-seong, who'd been fuming over the weird misunderstanding, doubted his ears.
But he hadn't misheard.
Every Class B student behind him had heard Jae-hyeok's words crystal clear.
"Thanks for worrying about me."
"...D-don't make me laugh! I wasn't worrying about you—I was protecting my own honor...!"
"Heh heh, that's what friends are for."
"So what's the deal with Unnie Yeon-ju? Introduce me too!"
While a flushed Yi Jin-seong denied it furiously, Du Bae-su and Cheon Hye-ji crowded around Jae-hyeok.
At some point.
Even without Do-jin, Da-hee, or Yu-jin, Jae-hyeok no longer ate alone.
Slowly but steadily.
Small in number but tightly knit.
The people gathering around the boy were increasing, one by one.
***
After dinner.
Jae-hyeok visited the Archery Club room.
Just as Yeon-ju said, the club members didn't treat him hostilely.
Some even greeted him with smiles.
Judging by their later requests to check their form, they seemed intrigued by his archery skills.
'My archery isn't really something I can teach.'
Jae-hyeok's archery was simply about seeing well, aiming well, maintaining focus, and releasing.
No scientific principles or special techniques to boost accuracy.
If there were, he'd have taught Do-jin himself.
"Huh? Jae-hyeok? What brings you here? Come on in! Make yourself at home!"
Upon reaching the president's office, Baek Do-jin welcomed him.
Sprawled in a big, plush-looking chair, he clearly was enjoying club president life.
Jae-hyeok glanced at the nameplate where No Jun-yeop's name was scratched out and replaced with Baek Do-jin's below. Out of nosy concern, he asked.
"You've been practicing archery diligently, right?"
"Of course! I run over during every break to shoot some arrows!"
...Breaks aren't that long, are they?
As Jae-hyeok puzzled over the club's massive grounds.
"You're here. Here's the list of requests that came into the Archery Club this past week."
Yeon-ju followed him in. Do-jin flinched at the sight of her.
She warned him as he slunk away like a startled mouse.
"You're sleeping in the dorm tonight, got it?"
"Y-yeah...."
It was the first time Jae-hyeok had seen Do-jin so meek toward anyone.
Watching him bolt, Jae-hyeok tilted his head.
"What's the situation?"
"Baek Do-jin was eating and sleeping here. Not everyone was thrilled about it."
"......"
Too much enthusiasm can be a problem too.
Chucking lightly, Jae-hyeok checked the documents.
Eight requests listed. Mostly from companies, asking to gather specific resources from certain Gates.
"This is all the requests for a whole week?"
Impressive.
Completing all eight would net rewards easily topping nine figures.
At this scale, it was more business than club.
Yeon-ju popped a lollipop in her mouth and said nonchalantly.
"This is after filtering for your level. We get about twenty requests a week on average. Thanks to our seniors' exploits, we're rubbing shoulders with the majors."
"Then how much money do you rake in weekly?"
"Not as much as you'd think. We don't have the capacity to handle them all."
Even Lion's Castle students paled next to active pros.
With twenty requests a week, the club could only pick and complete a handful.
"Plus, since we're all ranged DPS, we often team up with other clubs for Gates. Means splitting the pay."
A party of nothing but gunners and archers lacks the chops for Gate clears. Projectile-resistant mechanics or head-on monster clashes leave them helpless.
A party without a tank barely holds together to begin with.
"Hmm...."
After reviewing all eight requests, Jae-hyeok looked reluctant.
"Any requests doable inside Lion's Castle?"
"Sure, but they're low-rank. Not matching your level?"
"That's fine for me."
Jae-hyeok couldn't afford to leave Lion's Castle recklessly.
The moment he stepped out, he'd paint a target on his back for countless assassins.
"...Alright?"
He'd secured request priority, yet he wanted the low-grade ones?
This kid really had zero intention of harming the Archery Club.
It was then, as Yeon-ju smiled.
"Gasp, Student Council! The Student Council's here!"
Club members burst into the office in a panic.
Their pale faces suggested big trouble.
"Student Council?"
"They said they have business with you."
Yeon-ju sighed, standing from her seat to explain.
"The Student Council picked up on the shake-up in the Archery Club. It's not something we can brush off easily, so we need your help."
"Vice President arrives!!"
Before he could hear more details, a racket erupted from beyond the door.
Thud, thud, thud.
Earth-shaking footsteps.
Students in red uniforms came sprinting, bearing a palanquin on their shoulders.
"...A palanquin?"
"Baek Do-jin, criminal who seized this club without Student Council approval—kneel before me."
A boy in a gat perched arrogantly atop the palanquin and blustered.