I became a student at the academy (1)
I became a student at the academy (1)
"Goddamn bastard..."
Anyone who heard that would say I'd get struck by lightning, but I'm already getting divine punishment.
"Siwoo-ya, you okay?"
Ayoung, having overheard me muttering curses at someone who calls himself the father of everyone in heaven, looked at me with a worried face, concerned about me.
"Yeah, yeah. Of course I'm fine. Let's hurry up and head into the Glass World."
Among the few clothes I had, the beige knit and blue jeans I'd agonized over choosing had vanished without a trace, replaced by comfy training wear.
-Clothes look weird?
-...? Why? They look strange?
-No, they suit you well, but wouldn't they be uncomfortable for going into the Glass World?
That's right.
What Ayoung meant by needing to learn about each other had nothing to do with romance—it was combat ability.
In the end, the date I'd imagined went down the drain, and she and I decided to challenge an F-grade Glass World.
Using the teleportation devices installed throughout the Academy, Ayoung and I warped to Gangwon Province and were now standing in front of an F-grade Glass World owned by the Academy.
I'd heard it was high-tech magitech combining magic and science, but honestly, I had no clue.
'Meeting her for the first time yesterday and already getting excited about a date? Is this why virgins can't have nice things?'
Still, now that we're here, I gotta give it my all.
An F-grade Glass World where even an average adult male could handle the monsters solo.
Perfect for measuring combat strength.
"The first monsters we'll face are goblins. They have the body and strength of an elementary school kid, but they carry bladed weapons, so we gotta be careful."
Ayoung, who'd agreed to drop the formalities and speak casually, began a simple explanation.
"As long as they don't come at us in groups, the two of us can handle them no problem, so let's hold off on using Vitality for now. Sorry for making it sound like my giant one..."
When we'd stopped by a cafe for a quick meeting, she and I had discussed how to use Vitality.
I'd gotten sharp glares from her after she discovered 18,000 Vitality evaporated, plus Energy Absorption and Sexual Technique levels, and had to explain it was for efficient Vitality acquisition.
Of course, when she asked if I even had a partner for that, I got hit with a full combo and took massive damage eating the exchange.
Seeing my pathetic reaction, Ayoung had cracked a slight smile, which softened the blow to my heart a bit.
Anyway, our conclusion from the meeting was to hold off for now.
Even I, who had a grasp on the talents of the heroines with recognition, didn't know the final boss Ayoung's talents.
No way to know if she was good with swords or bows.
I had no idea how she could best utilize Vitality efficiently.
And she thought the same, so she opposed investing Vitality in stats.
She said it was more efficient to boost stats once natural average stats hit 10.
But the situation wasn't right for investing in me either.
In the end, holding off was our only option.
"No, it's fine. I'm your contractor, right? I'll make sure to pay back the value of that kiss. So, shall we head in right away?"
Some might think it's just a kiss, but it was my first kiss from my favorite character in the game.
Not through a monitor, but in reality.
Well, even without that reason, I'd roll up my sleeves to help Ayoung.
"Eek... Got it. Let's do that."
Ayoung let out a small noise, probably remembering last night's events, nodded, then quickly moved her feet to enter the Glass World. Confirming her, I followed her in.
Passing through the Glass World entrance that looked like shattered glass, a slight dizziness hit, then vanished quickly.
What appeared before my eyes after was a forest.
A lush forest of green grass and trees, filled with the sounds of bug cries and bird chirps.
Dazed for a moment by the familiar sight and beautiful nature, a notification window popped up in one corner of my vision.
[Grade: F-]
[Goblins: 30/30]
Glass World info screen.
The familiar sight I'd always seen in the game.
'No way... if we don't clear them all, we can't leave?'
With spare Vitality, I could wipe out 30 goblins like eating cake, but it felt like a huge waste to use it on mere goblins.
Glancing back briefly, the Glass World entrance was still there unchanged.
At this point, I had to admit all the mechanics matched the game exactly.
Though the story would diverge from the moment I became Ayoung's contractor.
"For now, let's focus on hunting lone ones. Got it? Stick to the plan—you just provide support. Who knew you'd even forget combat experience..."
"Got it."
I readjusted my grip on the broadsword placed in my dormitory room.
Ayoung and I sharpened our senses, marked trees with our swords, and began walking through the forest.
It'd guide our party back to the exit.
-Keruk...
How long had we walked?
The goblin cry I'd heard often in the game reached my ears.
Turning to check Ayoung, she'd heard it too and nodded toward me.
"Keruk... Keruk..."
Killing our presence and moving carefully, we spotted one goblin there wandering with a rusty sword.
A lone individual, not in a group, just as we'd planned.
"Ayoung-ah, mind if I handle this one solo first?"
I whispered to her.
"You sure? Even if it's a level normal people can handle, it could still be dangerous alone."
"Of course. If it gets risky, you can back me up, right?"
Truth be told, risk-wise, it was zero danger.
Ayoung was right behind as backup, and above all, I had sturdy 9,000 Vitality.
Even if I got hurt, I could just make a recovery skill and heal.
"Hmm... Okay. But be careful. If you die, you'll be in agony for two days straight."
"Yeah."
Glass Worlds were like dungeons in the game.
Dying inside respawned you at the real-world entrance.
Of course, with a 2-day inability debuff. Now that it's reality, the pain would hit full force too.
"Then, here I go...!"
I kicked off and charged at the goblin.
It panicked at the sudden presence, but too late.
I swung my sword with all my might, and the goblin... dodged back slightly, evading my ambush.
"Huh...?"
A hollow sound leaked from my mouth.
Regripping my stance and glaring at the goblin, it looked flustered that it'd dodged the attack.
Probably just lucky.
Strike while it's rattled.
I swung again, and again.
Having zero sword experience, it was just wild flailing with no technique.
My first swing barely grazed its chest; the second was blocked by its iron sword.
Thus began my desperate deathmatch with the goblin.
We swung, dodged, blocked repeatedly, and since the goblin had kid-level strength and build, momentum slowly shifted to me.
And the final blow.
"Keruk..."
My sword pierced the goblin's heart, and with that last attack, it let out a small cry and collapsed, powerless. The fallen goblin turned to dust, leaving a small Magic Stone behind.
Victory was mine.
'Good fight. Swordsman, you were the greatest foe of my life.'
Well, it was my first opponent.
"Heh heh..."
Anyway, satisfaction welled up from winning.
That ticklish feeling from chest to throat felt pretty damn good.
'Maybe I've got unexpected talent? Could just class into swordsman?'
My happy delusions in overdrive, I started pondering: two-handers, sword-and-board, dual-wield?
Heavy two-handers for powerful single strikes as a two-handed swordsman.
Sword and shield for balanced attack/defense warrior.
Dual swords in both hands, fuck defense, berserker extreme DPS dual-wielder.
All tempting, but as a guy, dual swords it is.
I turned to look at Ayoung in the bush.
Seeing the fight end, she started walking toward me.
"Good job..."
She said with a subtle smile.
Spotting that expression, unease crept over me.
Her face looked like she was debating whether to say it or not.
"How was it?"
I asked tensely for her evaluation of my goblin fight.
"Siwoo-ya, I hope you don't get hurt by this..."
Ayoung glanced up at my eyes like gauging my reaction.
Her response made me steel myself.
"Yeah... It's fine, just tell me everything honestly."
"I'm not skilled enough to judge others, but honestly... sword doesn't seem right for you. Your stance, swing trajectory—feels worse than a total beginner... No talent, maybe? B-but, your hardworking fight was super cool!"
Ruthless critique poured from Ayoung's mouth.
Way harsher than I'd imagined, so even braced, the heart damage was no joke.
"I-I see..."
"Don't get too down... I meant it when I said it was cool. And you don't have to stick to swords...?"
"Yeah."
Honestly, embarrassing as hell for deluding myself into thinking I had talent and getting cocky, but she was right—no need to limit to swords.
From the start, how's a guy from super peaceful modern life, who barely exercised, supposed to swing a sword?
I could pull my weight without direct weapons.
Magic, healing arts, blessings.
I'd gone healer to near-ending.
Plus, as a frontrunner, I'd devoured Academy Hero guides from galleries and sites.
Totally doable.
I decided to become the ultimate mage-healer-buffer.
∴
"Whew... Good work. Siwoo-ya, think we should call it here for today."
Ayoung, having sliced down another goblin, wiped sweat from her forehead and said.
"Good work? You're the one who did all the hard stuff."
Literally—out of 11 goblins so far, she'd handled most.
I'd just assisted a bit from behind or finished some off.
"No, having you there made hunting way easier."
"...Thanks."
Her warm encouragement as she shook her head stirred a sudden urge to propose, but I held back and just gave a simple thanks.
That gentle personality never changes.
Must've been tough giving that cold eval earlier.
"Let's settle up after exiting the Glass World."
I nodded in agreement.
Following the X marks on trees, we easily reached the exit, felt a light dizziness again, and stepped out.
Reality was still bright, like barely any time passed.
"So, we got 12 F-grade Magic Stones total—split 6 each."
Per my memory, each F-Magic Stone was 1 GP.
Splitting half?
"Why...? You did almost all. Not fair to split even."
Truth: except the first one, she'd soloed nearly everything.
Splitting even didn't add up.
"No, partying with you let us get this many. Solo, I'd grab maybe 6 and bounce. Worse days too. Thanks for partying with me."
Ayoung shook her head.
"Still, minus the first, you did it all. Can't take that much. And don't misunderstand—I didn't 'do you a favor' partying; we partied. Not like I charitably teamed up out of pity, so no need to thank me."
Sweet beauty, but F-grade combat power.
By now, most students hit D-grade once she summoned her demon.
No one teams with F-grade Ayoung; she'd hunted solo mostly.
I got her joy at partying with me, but I didn't team like charity work, so no thanks deserved.
"W-what's that..."
Ayoung ducked her head at my words, body trembling in shock.
"Eek..."
She let out a groan, looked up silently at me, then started sobbing and crying.
"Hic... Uu... Sniff... Hic..."
"Y-you okay!?"
Seeing her cover one eye with her right hand and cry, I panicked.
'Did I say it too harsh? Should I apologize?'
First time seeing a girl cry in front of me, I flailed cluelessly until an internet post flashed in my mind.
-When a girl cries, don't ask—just hug her.
Back then, I'd laughed it off as insider/otherworld crap that'd never happen to me.
Now facing it, nothing else came to mind.
I wrapped my arms around Ayoung's back as she stood crying in place.
Startled by my action, she flinched, then leaned into me, burying her face in my chest and pouring out tears.
"Hic... I'm so... sniff... lonely and exhausted... Hic..."
"Uh... Yeah, yeah, it's okay."
I patted her back, stroking her head with my other hand.
"Uu... I thought... kkh... I'd always be alone... Sniff... Waaah...!"
Like pent-up emotions exploding, Ayoung wailed louder into my chest.
"It's okay, you're not alone anymore. I've got you. Won't let you feel lonely."
I said, patting her back.
I held her, patting and listening, comforting until her sobs stopped.
Soon, no more crying sounds, and after clinging a bit longer, Ayoung pulled away from my embrace.
"S-sorry. Showed you something embarrassing..."
Her tears stopped, calmed in my arms; she looked up at me with damp eyes.
Faint blush on her face was super cute, stirring protective instincts.
"It's fine—worry is if it bothered you."
"No...! Bothered? It was warm instead..."
Ayoung shook her head vigorously to show otherwise.
Her intense reaction was so lovable, a smile crept on automatically.
"Good then. Anytime you're down, feel free to cling."
"...Got it."
Ayoung shyly bowed her head in reply.
∴
-Shwaaa...
Under the warm shower water from the bathroom showerhead, Ayoung thought of Siwoo.
After exiting the Glass World, she'd cried in his arms, chatted briefly, then parted.
Said direct combat didn't suit him, so healer or buffer route.
Ayoung thought it fit him perfectly.
His dejected look after mistaking her Glass World invite for a date, realizing his error.
First meeting, she'd pegged him as a weird perv, but today's him was endlessly kind and warm.
Like the hot water pouring from the showerhead.
-Chalpak chalpak
Ayoung shook her head hard, wet hair slapping her body with sounds.
Ever since parting with him, she'd been like this.
His words and the warmth of his embrace lingered in her mind and body.
-I'm not 'doing you a favor' partying; we partied. Not like I teamed up out of pity, so no need to thank me.
-I've got you. Won't let you feel lonely.
He himself was squirming at spouting cringy lines swept by the mood, but Ayoung blushed recalling his kind, warm words.
Not from the hot water.
'And so firm.'
His chest, felt while crying in his arms, was solid proof he didn't neglect self-improvement.
"Hngh..."
Thinking of him, Ayoung gripped her right breast with her left hand, slipping her right between her crotch.
Sticky fluid.
Recalling his words, warm embrace, firm chest, she felt guilt for leaking love juices but couldn't stop.
She kneaded her nipple, rubbing circles near her pussy.
Her big tits and pussy that'd drawn his unblinking gaze at their first meeting—obstacles, but.
Recalling his eyes then, her body grew more sensitive, twitching.
"Hii... Siwoo... Haa... Ung...♡ Hit...!"
Masturbating to the guy she met last dawn made her wonder if she was actually a massive perv, but she shelved that.
It felt that good thinking of him.
"Haat... Aang... Eung...♡ Ang... Kkh... Aat... Siwoo-ya..."
Fingers rubbing around her pussy now circled her clit clockwise, pinched once, then coated her middle finger in juices and slid it into her depths.
The texture of her hymen at the entrance, one she'd vowed to give her beloved.
Ayoung felt like soon, she'd have someone to give her virginity to.