050. Live Gate Training (1)
050. Live Gate Training (1)
Not everyone has the same tastes.
After all, a hundred people are bound to have a hundred different tastes, aren't they?
The Velvetsra dev team—who had to create and sell a trash game with no pity system—understood this perfectly.
And so, the strategy they adopted.
'Among all these, there's bound to be at least one that fits your taste.'
That production ethos held from launch all the way until the main story wrapped up.
Kang Do-hee, with the appeal of a chihuahua who looks tough on the outside but is soft-hearted within.
Shin Se-hee, nicknamed Infused Liquor, who had a scheming personality yet occasionally showed a goofy, pathetic side.
Lee Yu-ri, with a comforting gukbap-like charm that's always reliable and trustworthy.
Still, their personalities—though differing by degree—did divide Players' opinions.
That was understandable, since everyone's tastes differ.
But even among all those attractive traits, there was one personality that had practically no haters.
And that was kindness.
A personality overflowing with understanding, a smile with shut eyes brimming with receptivity.
A warm, cozy aura, as if she could accept and embrace everything at any moment.
Im Ga-eul was a character who had all of that crammed into her.
'Originally, she wasn't supposed to become playable until next semester, but since there isn't a gacha, meeting her this quickly is possible.'
This was another benefit of not having character draws.
"......W-why does it cost a lot of money?"
Lee Yu-ri, who'd been dragged along beside me, asked with wavering eyes.
"Is she incredibly picky, or maybe the type who won't touch anything except h-high-end food...? Or—no way! Does she run an internet mukbang stream? So all the food goes to that—!"
As she said this, Lee Yu-ri stole a glance at Im Ga-eul's chest.
Well, it was a compelling hypothesis.
"It's nothing like that, so don't worry."
I snorted a laugh and shook my head.
"If it's nothing like that, I'm even more worried... No way... Co-signing a loan? Gambling? Borrowing money left and right until she's billions in debt!?"
At the mention of something costing a lot, Lee Yu-ri inflated her own delusions and started assuming the worst-case scenario.
'Why else. Because she's a high-ceiling pick. Every time she uses her ability, it costs money.'
I wanted to calmly explain her ability to Lee Yu-ri, but we had already arrived right in front of her.
"Hello, sunbae."
I greeted Im Ga-eul.
Then she, with her green hair neatly braided—in a so-called 'short-lived' style—turned her head, unable to hide a flustered expression.
"......Oh? Are you two lining up in front of me?"
It was a clear voice, easy on the ears.
"Yes, our roles are Tank and Damage Dealer. Are those two spots open?"
"Uh, um... they are open, but—more importantly, may I ask why you specifically came looking for me?"
Even though new cadets had come to her, she placed a hand on her cheek instead and asked back with a troubled face.
'As expected, a Support party leader isn't popular.'
Normally, Tanks or Damage Dealers who take the lead were preferred as party leaders, so it seemed people didn't flock to her as a Support.
But in the case of Lee Yu-ri and me, having a great Support let us perform even better.
How delighted I'd been when I first spotted her at this training today.
"Because you seemed reliable?"
"...Th-thank you so much for saying that, but—no. Hmm. It's a bit embarrassing to say with my own mouth, but I'm not that popular a sunbae, you know?"
"Then I guess those people have bad eyesight."
At that, Im Ga-eul's closed eyes widened into circles, revealing clear green irises.
Then a soft, deflating laugh escaped her lips.
"Goodness, flattering me like that won't get you anything♪"
She waved her hands dismissively as if embarrassed.
"Anyway, aren't you, sunbae, supposed to form a group with new students too?"
At those words, Im Ga-eul looked around.
The new cadets had already mostly formed groups with other seniors.
She let out a low sigh, as if she had no choice.
"Hmm, well... you'll find out once we try today. Starting next week, I won't say a word if you go to someone else. You don't have to feel too sorry about it."
Im Ga-eul spoke in a slightly unconfident voice.
"Yes, then. Pleased to—"
It was just as we were forming the group.
"Ga-eul!"
A woman's voice cut in from behind.
"Oh? A-ram?"
Im Ga-eul looked toward the back, speaking with a surprised face.
At the strangely familiar name, I instinctively turned my head to check who the speaker was.
And my eyes grew wide.
The owner of the voice rushed at Im Ga-eul and threw herself into her arms, snuggling into them.
"Ga-eul! I knew you'd be here too!"
'......Choi A-ram? What's the tutorial boss doing here!?'
* * *
Choi A-ram buried her face in her chest and rubbed against it, and Im Ga-eul gently stroked Choi A-ram's head.
"Ah, so you... ended up repeating a year after all...?"
Im Ga-eul looked at her with sympathetic eyes.
Then Choi A-ram let out a low sigh.
"Well, it can't be helped. My skills just aren't up to it... So I was thinking of quitting, but then I figured you'd be here..."
"It must have been tough."
"It's okay. It's okay. Well, having to mix in with the first-years and take classes from now on will be a bit rough, but I still have you at the academy, right?"
Choi A-ram spoke, forcing a smile.
Looking at that sight, I couldn't help but feel slightly conflicted.
'......Tutorial Boss. Choi A-ram. A second-year who couldn't adapt to the academy due to a lack of ability and got held back. That face is definitely the right one.'
A small frame.
Pink hair and pink eyes.
Sharply upturned eyes.
I knew her.
Commonly known as the Pink-Haired Problem Child.
On the weekend of the first week of school, she became a Demonized Human and caused a huge uproar.
So, the woman who would cause the Demonized Human incident a few days later was standing right in front of me.
The reason for her corruption was simple.
An inferiority complex toward and jealousy of the other students.
─If I become strong... no one, no one will be able to look down on me─!
Unable to accept her held-back status, she sought power, and thus colluded with a Demonized Human to cause trouble.
─Heh-heh! Ahahahahaha! Everyone, you've all been deceived by a fake world! Power can be obtained this easily, and it's this sweet!
The line she boasted after transforming into a Demonized Human was exactly the kind of thing a middle-schooler with a dark flame dragon sealed in their left arm would spout, earning her the nickname 'Pink-Haired Problem Child.'
'So I had decided to take down Choi A-ram as the first party activity this weekend...'
Because following the main story's plotline was the right call regardless.
But the boss had appeared right in front of me before the weekend even arrived.
'......Should I just keep an eye on her for now?'
If she'd already become a Demonized Human, I could've just swiftly eliminated her and handed her over to the Hunter Management Bureau, but it didn't seem like she'd become one yet.
And if possible, wouldn't it be better to prevent her from becoming a Demonized Human beforehand?
After fussing and clinging to Im Ga-eul for a long while, Choi A-ram suddenly lifted her head.
"Anyway, Ga-eul! There's a free Damage Dealer spot here, right? Never mind. Your group only ever gets the very last people who come anyway. Who cares about team composition."
At that, Im Ga-eul's brow furrowed.
"I've already found a Damage Dealer?"
"Huh? Really?"
Im Ga-eul jerked her chin toward us.
Then Choi A-ram, belatedly noticing our presence, turned her head. Her pink pupils grew as big as lanterns.
"Hello, sunbae. I'm a new cadet who enrolled this year. Jin Yu-ha."
"I'm Lee Yu-ri."
Lee Yu-ri and I briefly bowed our heads in greeting.
"......New cadets?"
"Yes, we intend to join Im Ga-eul sunbae's group as Damage Dealer and Tank."
Then Choi A-ram made a flustered face before opening her mouth.
"......You, do you not know what kind of person she is? Ah, you might not know since you're still new?"
"......."
"What kind of person she is—she's dead last among the second-year Supports. Dead. Last. Even though I got held back, at the end of my first year, she and I were practically tied."
I frowned as I listened to her words.
Gaslighting Im Ga-eul as naturally as breathing—that was Choi A-ram.
Hmm. This Pink-Haired Problem Child was rotten from the start, just as I thought. It seemed right to just deal with her as a Demonized Human after all.
However, there was one thing I couldn't quite understand in all this.
I narrowed my eyes and looked at the green-haired woman standing behind.
Her trademark eye-smile was still there, but small wrinkles formed at her temples, and her lips were trembling slightly.
She was clearly angry.
'Huh? Even though Im Ga-eul is kind, she isn't the type to just sit and take this kind of talk...?'
No matter how receptive and charitable her personality was, that didn't make her a pushover.
If she were, her kind personality would actually be a negative trait that only inspired frustration.
Knowing how to logically point out when something was wrong—that was Im Ga-eul.
'......Then that means what this Problem Child bitch is saying isn't wrong. Im Ga-eul was dead last among Supports?'
Even if her performance floor was low, she wasn't someone who deserved to be treated this way.
No matter what anyone said, she was a rare and precious 5-star Support character.
Though she was somewhat matchup-dependent, she was one of those characters you bowed and gratefully accepted if she showed up.
'......Now that I think about it, that short-haired brat with a temper I ran into earlier called Im Ga-eul a retard or something, didn't she?'
Back then, I just thought she said that because of Im Ga-eul's kind personality and her being a Support party leader...
'Don't tell me she doesn't know how to utilize her own ability yet...?'
It seemed that before she became a playable character, she still hadn't figured out how to utilize her ability.