Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: How to Steal the Protagonist's Woman
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"Is this how you use it?"
Luna tapped her face lightly with her fingers while peering into the mirror.
She was applying makeup—something she had never once done herself in her entire life.
She had always just let her maids handle it; trying it on her own was a first.
Normally, she would have been in the clubroom by now, but she had told Louis she wanted to rest for the day.
As she headed to the dorm, Louis had grabbed her arm.
(Luna, how about… I stay with you?)
(Huh? What are you talking about?)
(You seemed upset from what happened earlier.)
(Ah, no, it's not that. I just want to rest today. You go on ahead.)
(Lu…)
Luna didn't wait for Louis's response. She hurried back to her room, pulled out the cosmetics she had brought with her belongings, and began applying her makeup.
She checked her finished look in the mirror.
"…No."
Luna dashed into the bathroom, washed her face to wipe off the makeup, and started over in front of the mirror.
She had already gone in and out of the bathroom four times, repeating the cycle of applying and removing.
Trying to do her makeup herself, she just couldn't get a look she liked.
"Sigh… If I'd known it'd be like this, I should've listened back then…"
Her maid had always nagged her endlessly to at least learn the basics of makeup.
Luna adored her maid, but she couldn't wrap her head around that one thing.
Up until now, Luna had never seen a reason to bother with makeup.
There was no one she needed to impress.
She always preferred being alone—wasting time on something so fussy felt like a total loss.
She checked her newly finished face in the mirror again.
"Sigh… No."
She bolted straight back to the bathroom, washed it off, and emerged.
She repeated the process several more times.
Time slipped by until she noticed the foundation container was nearly empty.
The sight of the bottom staring back at her finally jolted her to her senses.
"…Huh? Wait, hold on!"
Lost in her makeup woes, Luna finally glanced outside.
The window revealed nothing but pitch-black darkness.
"Oh no!"
In a panic, she slapped on the remaining foundation in a rush and bolted out of her room.
Luna raced toward the terrace.
The corridors were dimly lit by lanterns, illuminating only the bare minimum paths.
Clack-clack-clack-clack.
Her loud heels echoed through the hallway.
It was the kind of behavior that could earn her a demerit for poor manners if a professor caught her.
But right now, none of that mattered to her.
Luna arrived at the terrace, gasping for breath.
"Haa, haa, haa… haa…"
While catching her ragged breaths, she scanned the terrace.
Her eyes landed on a doll-like figure sitting in a chair.
"Haa… Thank goodness…"
She let out a deep sigh of relief.
"Is he mad… Still… I should at least thank him…"
She desperately wanted to express her gratitude for what happened that day.
The apology she kept missing amid her hesitation weighed on her mind.
And when she met him on the terrace to apologize, she wanted to look her best—that's why she'd gone to the trouble of makeup.
Luna stepped cautiously onto the terrace.
'…How should I apologize… How should I say thanks…'
Now that she was actually there, she drew a blank.
She had received his help, yet showed up late.
'First… I should apologize.'
As she neared Seong Suho, she began to overhear his muttering.
"…Is she not coming today or something?"
"…"
Luna froze for a split second.
'…Of course he's mad.'
While she hesitated, Seong Suho kept mumbling to himself.
"Did that bastard Professor Pari hurt her feelings or what?"
"…"
Luna could feel her heart pounding wildly.
'…Is he worried about me? No… He doesn't like me that much…'
Luna was convinced her thoughts were just wishful thinking.
From her perspective, Seong Suho still disliked her.
But then she heard his next mutter, and something inside her burst open.
"Maybe I should just grab that Professor Pari and kill him…"
The sleazy assistant professor who had clung to Luna all day.
Seong Suho's fury toward him was plain as day.
'Ah… Aah…'
It was a joy she hadn't felt in ages.
His words confirmed it for her.
Luna spoke up carefully.
"…Please don't."
"Huh?"
Unaware of her own expression, Luna gazed at Seong Suho as she continued.
"Don't do anything like that just because of me…"
As she turned to face him watching her, Luna felt certain.
'Yes… I… this man…'
I hadn't noticed Luna standing right behind me.
'Did she overhear my comms?'
I shot to my feet and said,
"You're late."
"…Sorry."
"Eh, it's fine. Let's get right to it."
"Okay."
I led her to the corner again and said,
"Oh, right. You didn't show up to the clubroom today—what's up?"
"…I had other business."
Luna answered with some hesitation.
'…Her vibe's off today?'
'Yeah?'
'…Whoa.'
After hearing Armonia, I stared hard at Luna's face.
It was too dark to see clearly.
Feeling my gaze, Luna averted her eyes and said,
"…Is there something on my face?"
"Ah, did you put on makeup?"
"Huh!? Ah, no! I didn't!"
Luna frantically waved her hands in denial.
It was so unlike her usual self.
'…Armonia.'
'Time to raise a trait.'
'Let's bump Pheromone up to 8.'
I checked my traits—Pheromone was already at level 8.
No dramatic reaction.
"Alright, let's begin."
"Yes."
I watched from the side as Luna conjured her magic circle.
About an hour passed before she wrapped up.
As expected, there was zero progress in her magic circle practice.
But Luna's face showed no trace of disappointment.
Instead, she asked me something peculiar.
"By any chance, what perfume do you use?"
"Perfume?"
"Yes. I've never tried any, but your scent is so nice. Makes me want to give it a try."
The pheromone effect seemed to be kicking in.
'Damn, can't underestimate it even at this level? We talked about scents back in the clubroom when I was hiding.'
There were plenty of other girls in our classes, but none had shown me any special affection.
Really glad I raised it.
I tilted my head at Luna and replied,
"Nah, I don't use perfume or anything."
"…What do you mean? I can smell it even from here."
Luna eyed me suspiciously.
She probably thought I was holding out on her.
I clarified once more.
"No, seriously, I don't. I don't even have flowers in my room, so what…"
"…For real?"
"Yeah."
Luna bowed her head, lost in thought.
But I didn't give her time for that.
"Anyway, let's head back. Dorm supervisor will chew us out if we're any later."
"…Got it. Ah… there's something I want to say…"
"Yeah?"
Luna looked up at me from the cramped space and said,
"…Thank you so much for today."
"Ah, no big deal. I was just pissed at that annoying prick."
"…Still, thank you."
Luna gave me a faint smile.
Her usual stoic expression breaking into a smile made her look even prettier.
…She's really gorgeous.
I found myself admiring her without thinking.
I snapped out of it and changed the subject.
"You'll do the homework even if I don't remind you, right?"
Luna smiled as she replied,
"Of course."
The next day, I walked into the lecture hall, and it was buzzing.
"What's going on?"
Louis was surrounded by a crowd of girls, all chattering away.
"Louis, who was it!? Tell us. Who would do something like…"
"N-no, it's not like that. I just bumped into something…"
"What are you talking about? It's obviously a handprint!"
The girls were fuming as they inspected Louis's face.
I asked a nearby guy.
"What happened?"
"Ah… Looks like Louis got slapped by someone."
"No way…"
A slap probably meant a girl.
'What the hell have you been up to, you punk?'
'…What? Shit!'
I nearly charged at the punk right then.
Armonia reined me in.
'…Sigh. If it's what I'm thinking, I'll kill that bastard.'
What I was thinking: Louis harassing Sonya.
'Sigh… Should've just ignored him and stayed in the clubroom yesterday.'
'…Yeah, fair.'
As Armonia said, ignoring and holing up in the clubroom hadn't been an option.
I didn't think Sonya would fall for Louis anyway.
Louis was undeniably handsome—the undisputed top guy in school looks-wise.
But with her urges satisfied now, Sonya wouldn't see him as anything special.
If there'd been any signs, I'd have picked up on them from the start.
As I sat there mulling it over, Luna's voice came from up front.
Luna was standing at my desk, staring down at me silently.
"Something wrong?"
"Ah, you made it. Nah, nothing."
"…"
She kept staring, as if waiting for me to spill, but stayed quiet.
Luna gave up and tried a different topic.
"By the way, your main attribute is wind, right?"
"Yeah, main one's wind."
"That's great."
"Huh? Why?"
"…Nothing."
Luna said that and plopped down at her seat with her usual blank expression.
'…What was that about?'
'Oh ho! Nice—as long as I don't screw up, she'll come around easy.'
Silver-tinged long hair.
A curvaceous figure that even the uniform couldn't hide.
The girl who kept everyone at arm's length with her icy demeanor.
The thought of making her mine with just a little effort got me excited.
'Gotta test the bridge before crossing, though—stay cautious.'
As anticipation swelled that I could have Luna, the TA climbed onto the podium to announce,
"As you all know, we're starting official attribute classes today. I'll write the classroom locations for each attribute on the board."
The TA scribbled the locations with his feeble arm.
"Go to the room matching your main attribute. Don't mix it up with your sub-attribute."
With that, the TA stepped down.
The students, excited for their first rotating class, began shuffling around noisily.
Luna, who had been sitting beside me, stayed put, staring at me intently.
The vibe screamed that I needed to say something.
"Luna."
"Yeah?"
But it wasn't me who spoke up.
"Moving classes—let's go together."
"…Yeah, sure. But Louis, what happened to your face?"
"Ah, uh… I bumped into something… haha…"
It was a blatant handprint—anyone could see it.
Luna glanced at it briefly before speaking.
"I see. Be careful."
"…Huh?"
It was so obvious, ignoring it would be a stretch.
Yet Luna brushed it off just like that.
The punk's face soured badly.
People hate being brushed off when they want attention, but crave it when ignored—it's all annoying either way.
'Like when shopping: clerk chats and it bugs you, ignores you and it bugs you more.'
Luna let out a sigh.
"Sigh… Let's go."
"…Right."
Luna sighed again, stood, and left the lecture hall. Louis trailed after her.
The room was now empty.
"Guess I'll head out too."
I stood, straightened my desk, and made for the wind attribute classroom.
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