Chapter 97
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Joining (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Points? There's a way to earn points?”
Hong Ju-a widened her eyes in surprise at Park So-yul's words.
Park So-yul nodded to her, emphasizing the secret first and foremost.
“But you absolutely can't tell anyone else. As long as you keep that promise, I'll tell you.”
“Got it. I hate blabbing unnecessarily anyway.”
Park So-yul nodded once more, satisfied with the response.
She had even thought up ways to retaliate if Hong Ju-a ever spread rumors.
“It's not great to talk about it here anyway, so let's move somewhere else first.”
After that, Park So-yul finished packing up her items and completed the checkout.
“That'll be 65 points total.”
“65 points?”
“Sleeping bag, 15 points. Ten combat rations, 30 points. Plus the water purifier, flint, insect repellent, and so on. All adds up to 65 points.”
“Yes. Please ring it up.”
Once checkout was done, Park So-yul and Hong Ju-a headed to a secluded spot behind one of the buildings where no one was around.
Park So-yul scanned the surroundings to confirm they were alone, then turned to Hong Ju-a with a question about points.
“Hong Ju-a. Do you know where points get used the most?”
“Where they're used the most? You mean the cafeteria?”
“Right. But what if you could eat for free?”
Hong Ju-a frowned at Park So-yul's words up to that point.
She understood what Park So-yul meant, but separately from that, she had no guesses.
“What do you mean? Eat for free?”
“Lee Seongmin has a Creation-type Innate Ability. He can summon unlimited dishes with it.”
“Creation-type? And dishes...”
For a moment, Hong Ju-a recalled the table full of food at the restaurant in the rock fortress during the Sudden Gate incident.
“No way... All that food we ate in the gate back then was summoned by Lee Seongmin?”
“Yeah. Now you get why it's a secret we can't tell anyone else, right?”
Hong Ju-a nodded silently.
What if Lee Seongmin's Innate Ability got out?
It would be enough to send every cadet into a frenzy.
“Yeah, I get it. The cadets would complain nonstop about how unfair it is.”
It had nothing to do with whether it was Lee Seongmin's Innate Ability or not.
They'd scream that it wasn't fair since they had to spend points on meals.
“Right. They'd lose all sense of reason out of envy and jealousy.”
With that answer, Park So-yul got to the main point.
“Anyway, using Lee Seongmin's ability, me, Cheon Seo-yun, and Joo Ha-yeon have been getting free meals at every mealtime.”
“...So you're basically saving the points you'd spend at the cafeteria. What happens if an instructor catches on later?”
“We already got caught during the Sudden Gate. Instructor Kang Ju-young let it slide, so don't worry.”
Hong Ju-a nodded in understanding at the mention of Instructor Kang Ju-young turning a blind eye, then looked at Park So-yul.
The fact that Park So-yul had brought it up meant she intended to share the benefits she, Lee Seongmin, and the others enjoyed with her too.
“I get that keeping the secret means no problems. But doesn't Lee Seongmin have the biggest say in this?”
“He'll agree to it. There are a few conditions, though—you can decide after hearing them.”
Hong Ju-a tilted her head at the mention of conditions but listened quietly.
“One is you have to give Lee Seongmin 2 points per meal. Instructor Kang Ju-young forced a 500-point club room on us. We need to pool 500 points every month, so we're each chipping in 2 points.”
In response to Park So-yul's explanation, Hong Ju-a asked about the club part.
“Club?”
“Instructor Kang Ju-young must want us to spend points on a club. Clubs have member limits too.”
“Member limits... Yeah, that makes sense.”
At that point, Hong Ju-a figured the limit was 5 people.
If the goal was to make them spend points like other cadets did at the cafeteria, 5 was the max.
Forcing a 500-point club room on more than that wouldn't make sense—that was her thinking.
Hong Ju-a reached that conclusion and asked about the other condition.
“What's the second condition?”
“You get a massage from Lee Seongmin.”
“...A massage?”
Hong Ju-a reacted with confusion at the sudden mention of a massage.
“He gives massages like he's trying to satisfy some pervy interest in girls' bodies.”
“So the massage is just an excuse to grope girls?”
“No, the massages are real. They feel amazing.”
But Hong Ju-a made a face like she wasn't thrilled about getting a massage from a guy her age.
Spotting that expression, Park So-yul guessed her thoughts and said it was fine to refuse.
“If you don't want to, you can say no. But like I said earlier, there's a member limit, so you might not get in later.”
“I'll join.”
Hong Ju-a quickly changed her mind and gave an immediate yes.
The massage requirement was a hang-up, but she couldn't pass up the chance to earn points.
“You're in?”
“Like you said, I might not get in later.”
Having guessed the limit was 5, Hong Ju-a assumed she was the last spot.
Besides, points at the Hero Officer Academy were practically a universal currency.
'With points, I'll have a huge advantage.'
They even acknowledged purchases like Park So-yul's survival gear for the uninhabited island test.
It was skill to earn hard-to-get points and spend them, so the academy approved.
“Good call. Then tomorrow morning... no, let's meet at the club room for lunch.”
“Why not morning?”
“Lee Seongmin does physical training. He gets all wobbly and can't run properly.”
It meant his training took longer than expected.
Understanding that, Hong Ju-a nodded and they agreed on lunch tomorrow.
“Got it. Where do I go for lunch tomorrow?”
“Should be fine meeting in front of the dorms.”
Park So-yul answered calmly, but inwardly she smirked in satisfaction.
She hadn't planned to recruit Hong Ju-a at first, but after a few words, she'd gotten annoyed and suggested it on impulse.
'Not a bad outcome, though.'
As she'd said, they could earn points, and the massages were legit—no loss there.
Plus, if she let Lee Seongmin hold her, her physical abilities and magic power would improve—a net gain.
'Not sure if Hong Ju-a wants that, though.'
Personally, she wanted to see the haughty, prickly Hong Ju-a squirming under Lee Seongmin.
It stemmed from wondering what might've happened with Hong Ju-a at the store if Lee Seongmin hadn't been there.
The skill gap was already huge; by graduation, she might not even be worth Hong Ju-a's glance.
So she wanted to use Lee Seongmin to at least put her on equal footing.
“See you in front of the dorms for lunch tomorrow.”
With those thoughts, Park So-yul bid Hong Ju-a goodbye for tomorrow and headed back to the dorms.
The next day.
“...?”
As lunchtime rolled around, I stared at the new face entering the club room with Park So-yul.
-That's Hong Ju-a, right? Park So-yul must've brought her.
Just as Lee Seojun said, the person Park So-yul brought was Hong Ju-a.
She'd chatted with me a few times before, but we weren't close, so her showing up in the club room felt odd.
“This is the club room? It's decorated really nicely.”
Hong Ju-a looked around the room, sounding impressed.
Ignoring that, I turned to Park So-yul, who'd come in with her, and asked what was going on.
“What's this about?”
“Hong Ju-a said she wanted to join.”
“You told her about the club too?”
When I asked, Park So-yul answered with a helpless shrug.
“We got talking while I was buying stuff at the store. Luckily, she promised to keep the secret.”
“Keeping the secret is a given, but...”
Her attitude seemed like she was hiding something.
And I wasn't the only one who thought so—Lee Seojun chimed in skeptically.
-Park So-yul and Hong Ju-a don't usually cross paths. She wouldn't just bring her without reason.
While I was listening to him, Park So-yul spoke up again.
“Or does Hong Ju-a not want her?”
“It's not that I don't want to.”
I assured her it was fine, then turned to Hong Ju-a.
“Hong Ju-a. Do you know what this place is for?”
“I heard it's where you eat using your Innate Ability. In exchange, you get points and massages.”
From her answer, it sounded like Park So-yul had told her pretty much everything.
'What if the secret leaks?'
Anyway, since she'd spilled it all, no need for me to explain separately.
“But the massage part?”
“Yeah. To satisfy your pervy interests?”
Hong Ju-a eyed me like a creep as she replied.
Still, calling it a "massage" instead of groping might lower her guard a bit more.
“You know the deal. You still want to join?”
Hong Ju-a nodded as if it were obvious.
“Of course. Points help with everything.”
“Got it. One more thing: once you're in, no quitting.”
“Don't worry. I won't quit at least until graduation.”
Hong Ju-a declared she had no plans to quit, then asked why.
“But why no quitting?”
“We're a shared fate. If the secret gets out, it's not just me—the whole club gets hit.”
In short, like water ghosts dragging everyone down together if exposed.
The real reason was different, but Hong Ju-a nodded like she got it.
“Fair enough. I'll be careful with points from now on.”
“That's all from me. Welcome aboard.”
I welcomed Hong Ju-a—who seemed roped in by Park So-yul—and activated Collection Cuisine Summon.