Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: How to Steal the Protagonist's Woman
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I visited the terrace today, just like always.
It had been a week since I'd started stopping by to check if Luna was there before leaving.
But today, Luna—who should have been there—was nowhere to be seen.
'Ah... did she already give up?'
I hadn't expected her to throw in the towel this quickly.
I figured she'd hold out for at least a month, no matter what...
'No stamina at all... No stamina. These kids nowadays...'
Back in my day, you know? I once stayed up for two weeks straight waiting for a game to go on sale!
Tap tap tap.
'Well, nothing I can do about it. Might as well enjoy the view while I'm here. Ah...'
From a distance, Luna was approaching with dainty steps.
She'd already spotted me, so there was no point in running away.
She came right up to me and greeted me.
"Hello."
"...Hello."
With that, she naturally walked past me, headed to the terrace, and stood in her usual spot, gazing at the sunset.
'Good. Looks like she'll keep coming for a while longer.'
'Hmm... let's watch a bit longer.'
I left Luna on the terrace and headed back to the dorm.
The moment I got back to the dorm, I opened my status window.
I pondered the five attributes.
It was time to learn an attribute.
A week since arriving here, and I'd received 20,000 Enel.
It was just enough to unlock a main and sub-attribute.
"Hmm... which one should I start with?"
"Yeah, it uses less mana, right?"
"Alright. Armonia, unlock Wind Attribute for me up to level 5 while you're at it."
My Wind Attribute level reached 5.
For experimentation, I visualized a Wind Attribute magic circle.
In an instant, a shimmering blue circle appeared before me.
"Whoa, this is on a whole different level from other Wind Attribute ones."
Wind Attribute was infamous for how hard it was to generate magic circles, but my Magic Circle Proficiency skill covered that.
Learning Wind Attribute first was a wise choice.
The downside was that while generating it was easy thanks to the skill, maintaining it was tough due to the low attribute level.
Once I stopped focusing, the magic circle shook violently, dispersed, and vanished.
"For now, just Wind Attribute, and I'll think more about the next one."
"Next up..."
The moment of truth: my sex skills.
That Hand Skill bugs me every time I see it...
If I had OCD, I might've lost my mind by now...
I tore my eyes away from Hand Skill somehow and focused on the top two.
"...I went wild with Viola, and that's all the progress I got?"
Starting back in Crell Village, and even here on Kivotos, we'd done it tons of times, yet it was barely level 2 and 3.
"I see. Well, I need to raise something anyway."
Luna wasn't an easy mark like Viola.
Even if I exploited a weakness to make her submit, I'd need some useful cards up my sleeve.
Hand Skill was definitely amazing.
But relying only on it to knock her out with pleasure might backfire later, fueling disgust once she snapped out of it.
That'd be like going all-in at a casino.
I didn't just want Luna's body.
I wanted her body and her heart.
"Empathy and Pheromone don't seem like they level up through effort, huh?"
"Let's bump both to 5 for now."
As expected, nothing happened.
Unlike the Wind Attribute I'd just learned, there was no way to feel the difference.
At level 5, the effects probably weren't that noticeable anyway...
I flopped onto the bed and pulled the covers over me.
"Well, they're passives anyway, so the effects are probably weak. Time to sleep."
That night, I dreamed of Viola appearing and repeating, "Suho, let's do it!" over and over.
The next day, after basic attribute studies class ended, I was about to leave the lecture hall when Sonya approached me.
"Student Suho, do you have a moment?"
"Ah, yes. What's up?"
"Could we talk for a bit?"
Sonya led me to a corner of the lecture hall.
Luna, who had been sitting next to me, glanced my way before leaving the room.
Confirming the lecture hall was empty, Sonya spoke up.
"I'm really sorry about yesterday."
"Ah... it's fine, really..."
Having a one-on-one talk like this was nice, but it was also a hassle.
'No way she's still hung up on what happened yesterday...'
'If she's that sorry, she could let me grope her chest.'
I'm not joking—I really want to touch her breasts.
It's been over a week since I got here, and the buildup is real.
Viola showing up in my dream last night was probably related.
If I had a chance with Sonya, all thoughts of it being a hassle would vanish.
'...Armonia.'
'I wanna do it...'
'Yes!'
I couldn't do it right now, but motivation started stirring inside me.
Suddenly flashing a bright smile, Sonya tilted her head and smiled back.
"Hm? Did you think of something fun all of a sudden?"
"No, not really..."
"?"
"Just happy to be talking one-on-one with you, Professor."
"Oh my."
Sonya laughed and lightly poked my elbow.
"You can't tease an old lady like that."
"Huh? You're married?"
"Of course. Do you know how old I am...? You didn't think I looked too ugly to get married, did you?"
"No, I thought you were too young to be married."
"Oh, thank you..."
A woman who looked at most late twenties, married? Sure, in this world's setting, people probably married younger.
Then, out of nowhere, Sonya leaned in close and cutely sniffed me.
"?"
"Student Suho, do you wear perfume by any chance?"
"No, I don't use that stuff."
"Ah... that's weird. You smell so good..."
Pheromone's effect was kicking in.
'Jackpot! It's working!'
'Oh ho, so staying close together is key.'
But I hadn't noticed anything special with the other female students in class today.
It must only work at very close range.
They didn't even want to come near me anyway.
I wonder if it worked on Luna?
Whatever, not important right now.
Sonya spoke up as if suddenly remembering.
"Ah, right! What am I doing? Sorry. It's just..."
Sonya invited me to join a club.
It was called the Lightning Magic Research Club.
She explained it was small and currently had almost no members.
She shamelessly asked me to join...
I grumbled inwardly.
'Ugh, I barely escaped the last one...'
The last one was the Magic Circle Research Club invitation.
That one fell apart because of me.
Louis kept inviting me in front of everyone, but I refused every time.
When Louis finally said he wouldn't join either, the others gave up easily.
I don't get why they kept trying to drag me in.
'Okay...'
Following Armonia's advice, I listened to why she was inviting me.
"I saw yesterday that you admire Maximilian Winter. This is the club he founded during his time as principal. Won't you join?"
"Well... I'd like to, but I'm shy around people."
"It's fine! I'm in charge of it. I'll help you make friends."
What a hassle... such a huge hassle... but...
'If I'm gonna do it, might as well join. Whatever.'
'Sweet!'
Imagining being alone with her in a small room fired me up.
I answered Sonya.
"Got it. I'll join."
Sonya led me to what looked like a 10-pyeong storage room turned clubroom.
And there...
"Hello."
"... ."
"Hello..."
Were Luna greeting me and Louis glaring at me displeased.
'...Why are these two here?'
Louis and Luna sat in chairs, staring at me.
"These are our new members. Ah! You're classmates, so you know each other."
"Haha... yeah."
Thinking back, that explained why Luna was late yesterday.
'So that's why she was late yesterday.'
'Well, maybe that top wants to be alone with her.'
Sonya formally introduced the club.
"This is the Lightning Magic Research Club, and our goal is..."
In short, it was a club to study and improve existing Lightning Attribute spells.
Lightning magic had low recognition, so students banded together to research it.
The 2nd and 3rd years from last year couldn't attend due to busy schedules.
"Participation is always voluntary. Come whenever you want, no pressure."
Club time was just an hour after school on weekdays, no weekends.
The room had a rectangular table for six people.
Luna and Louis sat side by side, me and Sonya side by side.
"... ."
"... ."
I sat facing Luna.
She didn't speak, just kept staring at me.
"Now that we're gathered, shall we draw the Lightning Attribute magic circle from yesterday?"
Sonya pulled out a stick and drew a small magic circle on the table.
It was palm-sized.
The yellow magic circle menacingly sparked with electricity.
"This is a basic one using just attribute and output. Try drawing it."
"Yes."
"Yes."
"Yes."
The moment Sonya finished, I completed a magic circle with my finger in a flash.
"Wow! How do you draw it so beautifully? Amazing! But..."
Sonya praised the form of my magic circle but looked disappointed.
The circle I'd drawn was pure white.
Unlike the yellow ones from Luna, Louis, and Sonya, my white one didn't look dangerous at all.
"You drew it properly, but it's pure white... that means..."
"Haha, looks like Seong Suho has no talent for Lightning Attribute."
Louis smirked and launched into an explanation I didn't want.
He said that even with a proper magic circle—not a diagram—drawing a white one meant zero talent for that attribute.
'Thanks for the commentary, you bastard...'
I spotted a chance to troll him and he got all excited, needling me nonstop.
The guy's mouth showed no sign of stopping.
"Too bad, Suho. No talent is just how it is~"
I'd bet all my Enel that this jerk has the [Sass] trait.
I bowed my head and messaged.
'Whew... Armonia.'
'Unlock Lightning Attribute to 5.'
The two women were focused on Louis's sass.
"Well, if you work hard on other attributes, you might stay out of last place."
"Louis... enough."
"Luna, sometimes you need to face reality quick..."
Zap!
Mid-sentence, an electric spark shot straight to Louis's forehead.
"Kya?!"
A small burn on Louis's forehead smoked faintly.
"Guh, what—what the?!"
"What was..."
"Oh my!"
The three looked shocked toward the spark's source.
Before me floated a small but menacing golden magic circle sparking threateningly.
I grinned at Louis.
"Thanks for the concern, Louis. Looks like I have talent now, thanks to you."