016. The Worst Team (2)
016. The Worst Team (2)
"Hey, what'd your Healing Specialization rank come out as today?"
"Same as what's on my status window. C."
"No way, that's basically top-tier among guys! So you'll even get to pick who you do joint training with!"
"Why would I be the one deciding that? If someone over there makes an offer, I can think it over. And there aren't many, but there are female Healers above me too."
"Come on, they'll probably want to team up with a guy! A male C-rank, people would be lining up to snatch you... Man, I'm so jealous."
"Ahem! W-Well, that's true! Hmm, I'm thinking I'll only accept if the party leader is at least B-rank."
"So modest. If it were me, I'd say A-rank or nothing."
As I approached the assigned dormitory, the chatter of students filtered into my Detection.
'Nine people...? Three empty spots. Ah, must be the three slots from the Male Quota System.'
It seemed about twelve cadets were living together per dorm.
They were already exchanging all sorts of trivial small talk, having apparently gotten pretty cozy with one another.
Creeeak—
I grabbed the doorknob and opened the door.
In an instant, silence draped over the inside of the dorm.
Eighteen pairs of eyes zeroed in on me.
Then came the murmured voices.
"......That guy, he's a quota student, right?"
"Yeah, he went up on the platform with Cheonhwa earlier."
"So he waltzed in freeloading and got to hang out with Cheonhwa?"
"Guy's single-handedly giving all men a bad name."
"But where are the other two?"
Right as those words were spoken, the two remaining quota students filed in behind me.
"Excuse us......."
"Ah, h-hello."
At that, the atmosphere sank even colder.
It seemed quota students were not only an eyesore to the women, but even among the men. No, if anything, it was more blatant here.
Because they were men too, yet they'd taken the exam to get in, while we hadn't.
The two behind me must've picked up on the mood, because they hunched up and clumped together off in their own spot.
'Ah, so this is how it is.'
Going by the atmosphere, quota students were like thorns in everyone's side, unwelcome anywhere.
That was why quota students were supposed to stick together.
But I had just cussed those bastards out a little while ago.
So the other quota students avoided me, while the regular students didn't bother hiding their hostility.
'Well, it doesn't matter to me.'
The reason I'd been reluctant to be known as a male quota student wasn't that I was afraid of stares from chaff like these.
It was purely the Named Characters.
What bothered me was the thought that even the people I'd absolutely need down the line might look at me through those same prejudiced glasses.
I took a spot right next to the entrance, in the most remote corner.
'In that case, shall I catch some sleep before dinner?'
Today was my last chance to rest this comfortably.
From tomorrow onward, a hellish three-week schedule was waiting.
What I needed right now was some desperate rest.
The murmuring of the others started up again, but I lay down and tried to sleep.
Some time passed, though I wasn't sure how much.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
I woke to the sound of someone knocking on the door.
"Excuse me."
Probably because I was right by the entrance, the voice came through crystal clear.
It was a woman's voice.
A stir went through the room.
"......The hell, a girl?"
"Don't tell me someone's already getting party recruitment on the first day? They shouldn't even have the authority yet......?"
"Who is it?"
The person at the door didn't open it, instead stating her business right away.
"Is there a prospective cadet named Jin Yu-ha inside?"
"......Jin Yu-ha? Who's that?"
"Dunno, there's no one by that name here."
Ah, at first I couldn't place it because her voice sounded put-on, but now I knew.
This was Gukbap.
Before any of the others could step in, I got up first and opened the door.
The door opened.
Lee Yu-ri stood there, her face flushed bright red.
The moment I saw her, I broke into a wide grin.
"What are you doing standing around out there? Just open the door and come in."
"......You idiot. How am I supposed to just barge into the men's dorm?"
"Ah, so that's how it works in this world, huh?"
"Huh?"
"Never mind. Anyway, you came because you had something to say, right? It's starting to feel like dinnertime... Want to go grab something to eat?"
"E-Eat? S-Sure."
We stepped out of the dorm.
Velvet Hunter Academy was an institution like the military that taught you how to fight monsters,
but the overall vibe and system actually felt more like a university.
'Meaning, when it's time to eat, you don't get meals dished out to you—you go to the cafeteria and pay for your own food.'
I watched Lee Yu-ri walking with a slightly awkward expression for a moment, then spoke up.
"Gukbap. Don't you feel like cup ramen today?"
"......Cup ramen?"
"Yeah, maybe it's 'cause we're at a training facility. It's got that army vibe. How about cup ramen and triangle gimbap from the convenience store? If you wanted something else, just say so."
"...Cup ramen and triangle gimbap. Sounds good."
Lee Yu-ri's face flickered with a moment of surprise before smoothing out.
We stepped into the convenience store on the Velvet Academy campus.
My picks were a small cup of yukgaejang ramen and tuna-mayo gimbap. Lee Yu-ri went for the jumbo lid ramen and a bulgogi triangle gimbap.
We each paid for our own food, got some hot water, and sat down at a simple table set up outside the store.
"I really like the cup ramen and triangle gimbap combo. Gets you just full enough, and it's tasty."
"Right. Me too."
That was while we were waiting for the noodles to cook.
─ Hey, isn't that the guy?
─ Wow, he got in through the quota and he's already hitting on a girl? Guy's got the easiest school life ever.
'Give me a damn break.'
Every time they saw me, it was quota this, quota that.
If I were alone, I wouldn't have cared at all, but having Lee Yu-ri catch the same shit right alongside me made it really sting.
Like I'd said before, what worried me most was being shunned by the Named Characters—people like Lee Yu-ri.
"You're catching flak because of me."
I clicked my tongue and apologized.
"Seems like the same thing happened earlier today. Why would that be your fault?"
"Earlier it was because I'm handsome, and now it's because I'm a freeloading cadet?"
I said it lightly, mixing in a bit of a joke, but Lee Yu-ri just let out a dry laugh.
"Don't be ridiculous. In my opinion, you probably didn't even have the luxury of taking the exam, and the choice to apply through the Male Quota System wasn't something you actually wanted. It was probably unavoidable. Am I wrong?"
She spoke while staring intently at her ramen.
'What the... how does she know that......?'
In reality, when I'd been transported into this body, Jin Yu-ha had already submitted his application through the Male Quota System and even received his acceptance.
So I'd been dragged here with no other choice.
"How did you......."
At that, Lee Yu-ri lifted her gaze from her ramen and raised her head.
"Well, because of me....... Ah, no! Just watching your skills, it's obvious! A guy who didn't even take the exam slices goblins to pieces. What kind of idiot wouldn't figure that out?"
"Still, I'm sorry."
"Hey, Jin Yu-ha."
"Yeah?"
"I don't give a damn about that stuff. Whatever anyone else says. I only believe what I see with my own eyes and hear with my own ears."
Lee Yu-ri said that with eyes full of complete sincerity.
Those words swept away my worries in one go.
Yeah, that's Gukbap for you.
I was seriously glad I'd built up a rapport with her before I got here.
Could a person really be this reassuring?
"So don't go apologizing over some pointless bullshit and just act like you normally do."
"Got it. Gukbap."
"It's done now. Let's eat."
Slurp—
Slurp—
"......Well, and honestly, I'm also kind of looking forward to it."
Lee Yu-ri said it in passing as she ate her noodles.
"To what?"
"I mean, aren't you curious? What kind of faces everyone will make when they find out that the person they all ignored and looked down on was actually someone incredible."
Grin—
A mischievous smile spread across her face.
Slurp!
A single strand of noodle whisked up past her lips.
Having even downed the broth in one gulp, Lee Yu-ri looked satisfied, the corners of her mouth lifting.
Ahem. Ahem.
She let out a couple of awkward coughs, apparently embarrassed about having gotten so into her meal right in front of me.
Then she whispered in a slightly smaller voice.
"So, what I'm saying is....... Jin Yu-ha. You haven't gotten any party requests yet, right?"
"Party? Anyone can just request that?"
"No, party leader authority is only given to students who score in the upper ranks in each role's training. Then they go in order of rank, each picking one party member at a time."
Ah, I could roughly see how the board was set up.
Cadets who achieved the top scores in each role would serve as party leaders. And the selection of party members would be sequential.
That way, they could prevent all the highly skilled people from being crammed into one party.
A method that put some real thought into fairness.
I smiled a teasing smile.
"So, you're already confident you'll ace your scores on the first day, and you want to take me on as a party member—is that what you're saying?"
"Ahem! S-So what!!! Is that a problem!? You're currently stuck with the stigma of being a quota student, so I could be buying at a low point here! A-And w-we work pretty well together, don't we! You told me to have your back!"
Lee Yu-ri was clearly embarrassed, but she still got her point across loud and clear.
'Look at her, remembering what I said and even saying it out loud herself. She was so grossed out by it back then.'
A laugh slipped out before I could stop it.
Ah.
A party with Lee Yu-ri.
I seriously wanted to.
But this time, I had a feeling it wouldn't be possible.......
"About that... sorry."
I said, scratching my forehead.
"Huh......!? D-Don't tell me someone's already approached you!?"
"No, that's not it. For this term, the male quota cadets and special admission cadets are being forced to form a party together."
"......What!?"
Not having known about this info, Lee Yu-ri shouted in surprise.
"Nothing I can do about it. I wanted to party up with you too......."
"What kind of bullshit is that! It's rigged!!! The two special admission cadets are already insane, and now you too!"
"So there'll probably be a major penalty. Otherwise it wouldn't make any sense."
"But you'll get to dodge that penalty, I bet. Since you're a quota student."
"Well, probably."
"That's so cheap."
Lee Yu-ri narrowed her eyes and glared at me.
I snorted a laugh.
"In that case, want me to name a few people you could keep an eye on?"
"Huh? Do you know some people?"
"Mmm, they're not exactly amazing, but they're usable enough......?"
At that, Lee Yu-ri's eyes sparkled.
"Yes! Since we're picking in order, people like that are even more important than the ones who stand out and are super good!"
"Well, in that case......."
I told her the names of a few characters who weren't exactly main figures in Velvetsra but showed decent performance in the early game.
Lee Yu-ri murmured the names to herself a few times as if memorizing them, then nodded.
"Okay, I've got them all memorized. Thanks."
After exchanging that useful bit of intel, we headed back to the dorms.
* * *
The next morning.
Training was originally scheduled for 8 o'clock, but I stepped outside about 30 minutes early.
'I should warm up in advance. Kang Do-hee's training volume is no joke.'
Thinking that, I came outside, but Kang Do-hee was already there.
Beads of sweat were already forming on her forehead, as if she'd been at it for quite a while.
I walked over toward her.
"You're out early."
"Hmph."
Kang Do-hee glanced at me sidelong, then snapped her head away.
Hah!
Then she immediately launched into a run.
Kang Do-hee reached the far end in the blink of an eye.
I watched her red ponytail flutter in the wind for a moment.
Then I too began thoroughly stretching, from my fingertips all the way down to my toes.
After about 30 minutes of that,
our supervising instructor and the other students all arrived.
"Alright then, we'll begin morning Basic Training right away. As I mentioned yesterday, this will be training calibrated to the standards of the special admission cadets. Quota students are free to give up at any time, so don't hesitate to speak up."
Without so much as a greeting, she dove straight into the main topic.
"Then, let's start with running. A light warm-up: 50 laps around the training ground. Go!"