Chapter 87
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Club (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Phew."
I'd decided to decorate the club room, but lunchtime alone wasn't enough, so I finished up after afternoon elemental magic class.
Considering my abilities, it had taken quite a while, but since I'd replaced everything from the wallpaper to the flooring one by one, it was bound to take time.
-Whoa... It feels like it changed in an instant.
Lee Seojun, who'd been watching the whole process, was genuinely impressed, seeing it as an instantaneous transformation.
-But why'd you keep that huge bed over there?
Impressed, Lee Seojun suddenly pointed at the massive bed placed in one corner.
It was a super king-size bed that didn't match the club room at all, so he was curious.
"In case I get tired, I can sleep there."
-...Yeah, you'd sleep really well on that.
Lee Seojun just said it'd be great for sleeping, but in reality, it was incomparable to the old bed.
"It's got future tech plus my own authorities infused into it."
-Future tech?
"Out of the 14 worlds I've been through, one was a future world."
When I mentioned the future world, Lee Seojun got interested and asked about the bed.
-Isn't it just a big bed?
"No matter what position you lie in, it adjusts the firmness automatically, and the temperature changes in real-time to optimize your sleep."
And on top of that, I'd infused it with my authorities.
"Plus, with the authorities added, it has all sorts of effects like repair, cleanliness, fatigue relief, and more."
-Hearing that, it's not a bed—it's an artifact.
"You're right; it could be called an artifact."
Just considering the authorities I'd granted it, artifact was a fitting name.
Anyway, after that brief explanation, I messaged Cheon Seo-yun, Park So-yul, and Joo Ha-yeon on my tablet.
[Lee Seongmin: Got the club room. Behind the building with the personal training rooms.]
I sent it to our group chat with all four of us, and Park So-yul replied first.
[Park So-yul: How's the club room? (｡・ω・｡)?]
[Lee Seongmin: Pretty good, all things considered.]
[Park So-yul: Behind the personal training building? Heading there now. ٩(^ᗜ^ )و ´-]
[Joo Ha-yeon: Me too. ٩(๑>ꇴ< ๑)و]
Joo Ha-yeon replied next, but Cheon Seo-yun, the last one, stayed silent.
'Training, maybe?'
Figuring she was probably training, I headed to the building entrance to wait for the two who were on their way.
Luckily, just a few minutes later, I spotted Park So-yul and Joo Ha-yeon walking over arm in arm.
"Ah. Lee Seongmin."
Joo Ha-yeon spotted me and waved with a big smile.
Park So-yul looked equally happy to see me, but the first thing out of her mouth was about the club.
"So? Where's the club room?"
"..."
To be fair, since we saw each other every day, the club room was bound to be more exciting than me.
"This way."
"But no reply from Cheon Seo-yun."
"Probably training?"
I answered as I led them to the club room.
Clunk―
"Uh...?"
"Whoa."
Opening the door to our 500-point, 20-pyeong club room, Park So-yul and Joo Ha-yeon reacted with surprise.
Most of the items in the room incorporated future world tech, so they might feel a bit unfamiliar.
'Of course, not purely future items.'
Pulling out actual future tech here would cause all sorts of issues, so I'd made them look like modern stuff on the outside.
"Are all 500-point club rooms like this?"
"Who knows. Maybe Instructor Kang Ju-young pulled some strings?"
I played dumb and blamed Instructor Kang Ju-young.
Besides the bed I'd mentioned to Lee Seojun earlier, the club room had all sorts of furnishings.
Wallpaper with shock absorption and soundproofing, solid hardwood floors, OLED TV, fridge, sofa, table, and more.
"This is nice enough to live here."
Park So-yul looked around and said we could even live here.
Meanwhile, Joo Ha-yeon pointed at something scurrying around the room.
"Lee Seongmin. What's that?"
It was a cylindrical device about knee height.
"Robot vacuum."
"That's a robot vacuum? It's kinda big."
As soon as I answered, the fairly large robot vacuum approached Joo Ha-yeon.
When she patted its head, the screen on the front changed.
( ^o^ )
"Whoa. Did it react to my hand?"
Bonk―
No sooner had she said it than she smacked its head.
( T︿T )
The robot vacuum, caught off guard by the hit, showed that emoticon before turning and heading elsewhere.
"Eh, eh? I think I made it mad."
"Just go pet it and say sorry."
"Pet it? Okay, I'll try."
Joo Ha-yeon chased after the robot vacuum, petting its head like before and apologizing.
Park So-yul watched her, then gave me an incredulous look.
"It's a robot. What does it care about petting?"
"You never know."
It had AI loaded in, after all.
Future world AI, so it could even feel emotions to some degree.
'Though they don't affect performance.'
Even if smacked like Joo Ha-yeon just did, it wouldn't interfere with its cleaning duties.
"Anyway, 500-point club rooms are pretty great. So we'll meet here from morning till evening?"
"Morning?"
Her mention of morning reminded me Joo Ha-yeon had never joined physical training.
To eat breakfast with Joo Ha-yeon, I'd have to come here after training... but...
"Eating breakfast here might be tight on time. Gotta shower and prep for first class."
"I don't mind, but don't we have to pay 500 points every month?"
Park So-yul seemed to be asking if it was worth blowing 60 points a month on meals at 2 points each.
"With three of us, it'll add up quick."
Just covering lunch and dinner for three is 12 points a day.
360 a month. Add my 260 or so, and we more than cover 500.
"What're you guys talking about?"
Then Joo Ha-yeon came over hugging the robot vacuum in both arms.
( ˘•_•˘ )
The robot vacuum looked displeased at being held and unable to work.
"Perfect timing. Joo Ha-yeon. Do you know what this club is for?"
"Gourmet Research Club, right? For eating all kinds of food?"
"Gourmet Research Club?"
Park So-yul shot me a look like she'd never heard it before.
"Couldn't think of a good name, so I went with Gourmet Research Club."
"Gourmet Research Club... Well, the name doesn't matter."
Park So-yul didn't care much about the name and explained what the club was about.
"Lee Seongmin has an innate ability. A creation-type one that makes food."
"Huh? Oh, you mean all those foods from the gate?"
"Yep. All made by Lee Seongmin."
"Whoa~ I heard creation-type innate abilities are super rare worldwide. Impressive."
Park So-yul nodded in agreement on that point.
"And we made the club to save points bit by bit with the food he makes."
"Saving points on meals. Got it."
Joo Ha-yeon seemed pleased so far.
Everything at Hero Officer Academy—meals, supplies, training—runs on points, so she liked it.
"Obviously, all this is a secret. The club, the food, the points—everything."
"Don't worry. I'm tight-lipped, you know."
"...I'll trust you."
Park So-yul eyed Joo Ha-yeon's cheerful grin a bit dubiously.
Claiming to be tight-lipped herself made it hard to buy, but she said she'd trust her anyway.
'Can't be helped after spilling about the club and food summons.'
Short of erasing memories, no going back, so she let it slide.
"Lastly, this only benefits us. So Lee Seongmin added one condition."
"A condition?"
Park So-yul hesitated, lips twitching like she was debating whether to say it.
I started to speak up for her, but she raised a hand to stop me.
"Seems Lee Seongmin's really into girls. Wants to massage our bodies for 10 minutes."
"Huh?"
Even always-smiling Joo Ha-yeon blinked in surprise this time.
"You and Park So-yul's bodies?"
"Cheon Seo-yun too."
"Why that condition?"
Joo Ha-yeon stared at me like she truly couldn't comprehend.
I had no choice but to be honest with her genuinely puzzled look.
"'Cause I want to."
"..."
"..."
Park So-yul and Joo Ha-yeon were both speechless at my answer.
Then Joo Ha-yeon seemed to realize something and exclaimed about the gate incident.
"Oh, right! So the 'special rule' from the gate was this?"
"Includes the club and food summon secrets now, but yeah, basically."
"Plus no quitting, so we're stuck joining."
Joo Ha-yeon still looked baffled, then turned to Park So-yul.
"You accepted, Park So-yul?"
"I hesitated, but saw Cheon Seo-yun accept and went with it."
"Cheon Seo-yun did? Surprising."
"We earn points too. More points, the better, right?"
Joo Ha-yeon nodded twice in agreement, then suddenly kneaded her own chest with both hands.
"Something like this good?"
"..."
"..."
Now Park So-yul and I stared at her, speechless.
Joo Ha-yeon fondled her chest a few times, then nodded like she got it.
"Okay, got it. If Cheon Seo-yun and Park So-yul are doing it, I'll do it too."
"You sure?"
Park So-yul asked since she'd agreed so readily.
Joo Ha-yeon turned it back on her like what's the worry?
"You're doing it too, right, Park So-yul? Then it's fine."
"Y-yeah. Nothing special'll happen."
Park So-yul barely nodded, still adjusting to Joo Ha-yeon's innocent vibe.