Chapter 123
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: Temptation Done Boldly!
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At Rubelt's request, Yume explained how she had ended up dating him. As a preface, she started with their first meeting and the moment that made her fall even harder for him.
The story Yume told unfolded like something straight out of a pure romance manga.
Their first encounter in high school.
Rubelt shielding her from a soccer ball, then calming her down after her magic awakening.
Her growing feelings, followed by the shocking revelation of his fiancée after enrolling in the academy and his bold harem declaration.
The conflict between her ingrained sense of morality and her emotions for Rubelt.
Running into Steel Mountain Kang and falling into danger, only for Rubelt to save her once more.
Finally, unable to contain her overflowing feelings any longer, she confessed and they got together. Everyone who heard the tale was moved, empathizing with Yume as if it had happened to them.
"That's so touching...! I had no idea it was like that!"
"To think Yume had been through all that..."
"Ahh, what an incredibly romantic story!"
"R-Really? Thanks..."
Having her story understood and praised by everyone, Yume grew even more embarrassed.
Meanwhile, amid the, Aika listened to Yume's tale and thought to herself.
There had to be a chance for her too.
'Yume's story is touching, but Aika's won't lose to it!'
Her relationship with Rubelt, her sponsor and ultimate fan.
And finally revealing her identity, drawing even closer to him.
They were still just idol and sponsor-fan for now... but Aika refused to give up on the possibility of getting closer.
'He already has a fiancée and other women... but no other guy thinks of Aika or supports her like this! Even if it means joining the harem, Aika doesn't care! If it's Rubelt, he'll surely love Aika tons~!'
Any random passerby guy? No way. But Rubelt? Aika had no worries there.
'But...'
At the same time, she realized she wasn't the only one thinking this.
'Maria, right?'
Back in the limousine.
And during the party, Aika had learned about Maria.
She was an orphan, and her orphanage received support thanks to Rubelt, so she felt immense gratitude toward him.
'Our stories are similar.'
Not exactly the same, but both had received his support.
And the way Maria looked at Rubelt? A woman's intuition told her everything.
Maria harbored more than just gratitude for him.
'Rubelt's such an amazing guy. Even a short meeting would make anyone fall for him. And once she learns he helped her...'
Not falling for him would be the weird part.
Aika figured no woman could resist a man like Rubelt—wealthy, handsome, kind—who had helped her out.
'Maria's definitely thinking the same as Aika...'
A woman's intuition also told her Maria was pondering the same possibility: Could I connect with Rubelt too?
With Rubelt openly declaring a harem, it would be foolish not to approach him aggressively and seize the chance.
'Her body's pretty confident-looking...'
Aika was confident in her own figure.
Her chest was above average, she proudly thought.
But Maria's? Way beyond that.
Her breasts were royally endowed.
She had the potential to rival or even surpass Rubelt's fiancée, Eli.
'Tempt any guy with that body, and most would fall. Especially a kind harem-builder like Rubelt...!'
Aika marked Maria as one woman to watch out for.
But the one Aika was most wary of wasn't Maria.
'No way Asya's staying quiet after that story!'
Aika's top rival was Anastasia.
Imagination ran wild in her head.
Anastasia, moved by Yume and Rubelt's story, realizing the opportunity.
Yume hadn't said it outright, but context suggested she'd confessed and hooked up with Rubelt that same day.
Then Anastasia schedules a date and confesses to Rubelt.
Stealing ahead with a secret confession!
Twin Star fan Rubelt wouldn't reject Anastasia, and they'd head to a hotel...
...teasing him into all sorts of fun. That fantasy played out in Aika's mind.
'I can't let that happen! I'll make my move before Asya!'
Grip! Aika clenched her fist and glared at Anastasia.
Perfectly timed—Anastasia was clenching her fist and glaring back.
Their eyes locked.
Having synced up before as performers, they read each other's intentions clearly: fierce rivalry and determination to charge at Rubelt.
While Aika imagined worst-case scenarios against Anastasia, Anastasia was doing the exact same to her.
'I absolutely won't lose!'
The cute concept and cool-sexy concept top idols' nerve war had begun.
Meanwhile.
'Rubelt wants a harem. That means he has that much love... and manly desires... What I can offer in return is...'
Maria was searching for her own way to repay Rubelt's kindness.
'Yeah... this is the only way! The ultimate way I can repay him...! Rubelt will definitely be thrilled!'
Reaching her conclusion, Maria smiled in relief.
Watching all three, Rubelt was deeply satisfied.
He could clearly see them gearing up to approach him.
Future conquests would be smoother. His lips curved into a grin.
The celebration party wrapped up at a perfect point.
After a full meal, enjoyable chats, and as the evening sunset approached, they parted ways.
At the end, Chisaki clung to me again, whining for more, but I firmly refused this time.
Rejecting her now means we can go even harder later.
If it were just harem members, I'd have groped some butts or kissed openly for a naughty vibe, but it'd be too intense for the inexperienced ones.
The next day.
Midterm rankings from yesterday were posted.
1st place: perfect score, me.
2nd: Kang Seolhwa.
"Congrats on 1st, Rubelt!"
"Congratulations, Young Master."
Eli and Rize were the first to congratulate me.
"Thanks, Eli, Rize. You both did great too, right?"
Eli was 8th, Rize 13th.
Checking further, harem members and Isihoon weren't bad either.
Especially Isihoon at 38th.
In Blaze Blood, the protagonist got 46th by acing quizzes in his first midterm, so this was better than canon.
And he credited it all to my training for better super control and study help. Felt good.
Is this the pride Master felt watching me grow?
Separately, I scanned the rankings with the other cadets for one person.
"Ugh...!"
Found her easily.
Right below me at 1st: Kang Seolhwa.
Blaze Blood's heroine, selected as freshman rep at entrance ceremony.
Black bob cut, sky-blue eyes.
Like Anastasia, an ice attribute character using ice skate kicks.
Seolhwa scowled at the rankings.
Makes sense.
Chosen as rep, expecting to dominate 1st, but I overtook her right at midterms.
For her strong pride and parental pressure to always be #1, this was humiliating.
Even in Blaze Blood, she hated the commoner protag toppling her Steel Mountain Kang spotlight.
Losing 1st entirely? Huge shock.
Negative as it was, I'd firmly planted myself in her mind.
Time to poke a bit more.
I approached Seolhwa with a bright smile.
"Kang Seolhwa."
"...Eldra."
Not outright hostile, but glaring with clear frustration.
"You lost freshman rep, and now I beat you in midterms."
"So? Here to brag about 1st?"
"Of course—worked hard to beat you specifically."
Implanting that it wasn't automatic; I efforted because it was her.
"I'll aim for 1st next time too. Guess that makes us rivals."
Not mocking—pure friendly competition. I offered my hand.
"Let's both push for 1st. Though I don't plan to lose."
"Fine..."
Grind. Teeth clenched, she grab! shook firmly.
"I won't lose next time. Ever."
"Same here. Next 1st is mine."
She released and turned away.
Not slapping it away? Solid progress.
Inside her: fury at losing, mixed with seeing me as an equal rival, not mocked.
If pissed max, she'd have smacked it laughingstock-style. But rival talk fueled her competitive fire and joy in the challenge.
So she gripped hard, declaring war like "watch me."
'Connection with Seolhwa secured.'
Smooth sailing with Blaze Blood's heroine. Couldn't help smiling.