014. Kang Do-hee
014. Kang Do-hee
'Oh, shit...'
I'm practically sighing my lungs out here.
Come up front, they said.
It's like getting called onto the stage during a school trip back in the day.
Not that I ever had that experience myself.
But I still haven't forgotten the look of despair on that kid they called the quietest one in the group.
'And now I'm that kid...?'
Special Admission cadets and Male Quota cadets—neither took the entrance exam, so that part's the same.
But the way people look at you? Night and day.
One side gets admiration and envy.
The other gets contempt and scorn.
Special admissions students are people who've racked up incredible achievements out in the world, the kind the academy would pay to bring in.
The Male Quota, on the other hand, is just a bunch of unqualified guys they let in because they applied, all to balance the gender ratio.
'What the hell was going through Jin Yu-ha's head when he applied for the Male Quota? Does he not have a brain?'
Before I can even start working on characters' Affection levels, I have to start from rock-bottom unfavorability.
No matter how I racked my brain, there was no way out.
They told me to come out. What can I do? I have to go.
'...No, it's too early to give up.'
Even just looking around this auditorium, there aren't many male cadets compared to the women.
At a rough glance, maybe a third of the total.
That's a sign of how hard Velvet Academy is for men to get into.
Sure, you could also take it as, "This place isn't all that appealing to men,"
but the world treats Velvet Academy graduates pretty damn well, so that probably isn't it.
'There are bound to be other guys who got in through the Male Quota besides me. If I can blend in with them and coast along, maybe I can get through this.'
"Jin Yu-ha?"
Next to me, Lee Yu-ri spoke up, like she was wondering what I was thinking.
Hah. Right.
If I don't tell her now and she finds out later, she'll feel seriously betrayed.
Even if I explain later, it's better to at least say something now.
Still, I showed her what I could do back at the gukbap place, so I doubt hearing this will make her go,
'Umm, partying with a Male Quota cadet is a little...'
I didn't raise Lee Yu-ri that way! I believe in my gukbap!
"Gukbap. I'm actually a Male Quota cadet."
"...What?"
After making that whispered confession to Lee Yu-ri,
I left her dazed expression behind
and stepped forward.
"Excuse me, coming through."
I pushed through the crowd
and waited for a moment near the stairs leading up to the platform.
My plan was to follow up behind the others once they got here.
But,
'What the hell, why isn't anyone coming...?'
Nobody came.
Thump.
Just then, a red-haired woman shoved past my shoulder and strode up onto the platform.
"...Huh? Fighting Dog?"
She whipped her head around and glared daggers at me.
Yeah, that's Kang Do-hee all right.
Oh—she's a special admissions student too?
I was staring blankly at the back of her head when two guys shuffled up behind me, hesitating.
And then, a brief silent exchange of glances.
—Yo, you too?
—Yo, me too.
Looked like they'd had the same idea as me.
The first guy to stick his neck out takes the heat, and the rest just coast behind him.
But, no way... Are these three the only Male Quota cadets?
There are that many guys here?
"Oh my, are you the gentlemen admitted through the Male Quota this year?"
A soft, gentle voice cut in just as we were locked in a real man's battle of nerves over who'd step up first.
I turned my head that way.
There was a woman with long, straight black hair, a pale face filled with angelic kindness.
"It's lovely to meet you! Hello. My name is Shin Se-hee."
"Whoa, Cheonhwa, in person—!"
"I-I'm a fan!"
A gentle demeanor and a warm voice.
This woman—I know her too.
Shin Se-hee.
Her known alias is Cheonhwa.
A young lady from a prestigious hunter family,
a 4-Star named character who boasts considerable skill with magic.
Always the first to step up and clear high-rank gates, kind to absolutely everyone—
she was a woman so popular she put celebrities to shame.
Looking delighted, she took the hands of the Male Quota cadets.
"There's been a lot of talk about accepting men this time... It's been hard on you, hasn't it?"
"Ugh, yes..."
"We just don't have the ability..."
The two male cadets hung their heads and answered as if ashamed.
But Shin Se-hee stroked their hair gently, her expression full of benevolence.
"Please don't speak so poorly of yourselves. And don't feel uncomfortable. I'm someone who believes the Male Quota is absolutely necessary."
"Huh?"
"Wh-why?"
"Hmm— just because women are born with greater physical strength doesn't mean we should take it for granted or look down on men. Men have roles that only men can fill. Even I, when I enter gates, often find myself thinking, Ah, this is a situation where men would do so much better... I think it quite often."
"Ah..."
"Th-thank you..."
At Shin Se-hee's words, the two men looked moved, their eyes even growing misty.
Meanwhile, watching this scene, I was just...
'...Ugh. She's even creepier in real life.'
Knowing Shin Se-hee's true nature, all I felt was unease.
This woman.
Despite that beaming smile and angelic face, underneath, she's a very, very, very dark type.
She has another alias besides Cheonhwa, which means "A Thousand Flowers," you know.
Black Snake. The black serpent.
In other words, the kind of bitch who smiles gently like a flower on the outside while sinking her venomous fangs into your back.
Of course, given the nature of Velvetsra as a game, Players can't just pull important characters and then neglect them,
so even characters like her get their own redemption-arc laundering,
but I could never warm up to her.
I stared at her with cold eyes for a moment, then immediately turned my head away.
'No good ever comes from catching the eye of a bitch like that. My target was Kang Do-hee from the start anyway.'
The rough-looking redhead who'd knocked my shoulder passing by a moment ago.
She was the one I'd been aiming to win over during this training period.
She was already up on the platform, arms crossed, glaring down at us with irritated eyes.
"Hey! You planning to get up here or not!? You're holding up the announcements!"
"Ah, uh! Y-yes!"
"S-sorry!"
"Goodness, why does Do-hee always have to talk like that. Everyone, please don't mind her. She's a good kid, she's just a bit prickly. Come on, let's go up together."
Not wanting to get lumped in with these guys, I strode forward and climbed the platform first.
As I did, I felt the eyes of the auditorium swivel toward us.
Murmuring voices whispering about something.
I pretended not to notice and stood next to Kang Do-hee.
She looked at me, clicked her tongue, and snapped her head away.
'Figures. I must look exactly like the type she hates.'
Kang Do-hee doesn't despise a lack of ability; she despises a lack of effort.
A woman who always insisted on going it alone even in gates.
A 5-Star Damage Dealer who proved everything through nothing but her own skill.
Once we were all assembled on the platform,
an expressionless supervisor spoke up.
"Everyone's here. I'll confirm briefly. Special admissions students—Kang Do-hee, Shin Se-hee, correct?"
"Yeah."
"Yes—."
"And on this side, Male Quota prospective cadets: Jin Yu-ha, Kim Cheol-hyeon, Kim So-hun."
"Yes."
"Yes!"
"Yes!!"
The female supervisor nodded mechanically.
"Confirmed. Ordinarily, the first week consists of role-specific training followed by joint training, but it is slightly different for special admissions students and Male Quota cadets."
"...Oh? How is it different?"
Shin Se-hee tilted her head and asked.
"You will be grouped as a single team of five from the start and begin joint training immediately."
"Wait, don't we all have different roles?"
Kang Do-hee asked, not bothering to hide the irritation flaring up in her voice.
The supervisor flipped briskly through the papers she'd brought and answered.
"Yes. Two Damage Dealers, one Special, and a Healer and Support. That's the composition."
"Then wouldn't it be nonsensical for us to receive basic role training?"
Shin Se-hee added. Apparently this was unexpected for her too.
"There is no change to the decision. This team will conduct role training concurrently within joint training."
"...Hah. And why exactly is that? And we're just getting thrown into a team for joint training regardless of what we want?"
"I don't know the detailed reasons, as it's a decision from higher up, but it seems they hope the special admissions students will guide the Male Quota cadets."
'Ah, I know this one. That thing where they stick the top-ranked student with the dead-last kid, imagining the top student will carry the loser and turn them into something useful.'
And what actually happens when you pair them up?
It goes to shit.
The top student's fuming: Why do I have to waste my precious time because of this bastard?
The dead-last kid's fuming right back: Why's that jerk acting all high and mighty just because he's smart?
It's an express route to total disaster.
I let out a hollow laugh.
The fantastical thinking of the higher-ups seemed to be one thing this world and my old world had in common.
'But, actually, this works out great.'
Kang Do-hee is seriously hard to find at the academy.
She's either always out somewhere or holed up in her room—one of the two.
"Then we will assemble in thirty minutes at the training ground in Building C next door."
With that, the supervisor delivered the briefing in a stiff tone, then turned and left as if her business was done.
Clap—!
At that moment, Shin Se-hee, whose expression had been hardening, switched to a beaming smile in an instant and clapped her hands.
"It looks like we'll have to train together for the next three weeks or so now. Shall we at least introduce ourselves to one another?"
"Kang Do-hee. Damage Dealer. I use Fist and Foot Techniques. That do?"
Step, step—
Kang Do-hee tossed out a few quick words and vacated the spot.
The two men looked flustered.
"Um—. Do-hee, well, I know her well enough! Don't worry about it. So, shall we introduce ourselves for now?"
"Yes...! I-I'd like that!"
"Me too!"
The two of them nodded as if mesmerized by Shin Se-hee,
and her gaze turned toward me.
"And you?"
"I'll be going too. I'll head to the training ground so I'm not late."
"Still, wouldn't it be better to introduce ourselves together?"
Her tone dipped slightly. The corner of her eye twitched faintly.
'What's this one doing wasting her attention on useless quota guys like us?'
Either way, her interest was bad news.
I needed a decent excuse to get away.
"Ah, I really need to use the restroom right now."
"...The restroom?"
"Yeah. Number two."
"..."
Shin Se-hee clamped her mouth shut, apparently at a loss for words.
"Tell me your name before you go."
Oh, for fuck's sake. Why does she keep fixating on me?
There are literally two guys right here who are dying to kiss her ass.
"You heard the supervisor call my name earlier. It's Jin Yu-ha."
After saying that, I headed out fast.
Straight in the direction Kang Do-hee had gone.
'Where'd she go?'
I whipped my head around looking for Kang Do-hee, but she was nowhere to be seen.
Then,
I spotted white smoke wafting up from a secluded corner over there.
'There she is.'
I moved my feet in that direction.
And then,
the sight of Kang Do-hee leaning against a shabby wall, smoking a cigarette, came into view.
Her vivid red hair pulled up tight.
Sharp eyes, a solid, well-toned body.
Black leggings that showed off her long, straight legs and a white tank top that emphasized her athletic, healthy figure to the fullest.
"Fuuu—."
And those thick lips.
White smoke drifted from the cigarette pinched between them.
I watched her for a moment, then opened my mouth.
"This isn't a smoking area."
Kang Do-hee looked back and forth between the remaining cigarettes in her pack and the one in her hand with a dismayed expression, then clicked her tongue.
Tk.
She dropped the cigarette.
"Ah, shit. I didn't know."
She ground out the butt with her foot and raised her head.
And then,
our eyes met.
"What, you. Quota student?"