Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Freshmen Oath... Whatever... We Swear!
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I was about to go out to see who it was.
But Seol Harin jumped up first.
As if she already knew who had come.
After a brief scuffle outside, she came right back.
And I just sat there earning NTR coins.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [NTR situation staged!] ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Obtained 5 coins!] Now I get the mechanism.
I can earn coins by staging NTR situations or straight-up NTRing someone.
Then use them to upgrade skills like 'Drug Chance' or buy stuff from the NTR Shop.
Either way, Gold Taeyang's fate is sealed.
"Hey. Who was it?"
"Nothing to worry about. Just someone who came to the wrong place."
"Hah? You think you can fool me, you sow?"
"...It was Ju-hyuk."
As expected.
Kang Ju-hyuk came looking for me, and Seol Harin just sent him packing.
It was natural for Kang Ju-hyuk to show up.
Thinking of him as the protagonist with a pure maiden complex, there's no way he'd sit still in a situation like this.
He probably planned to ambush me with his Plancel stigma.
But I've already prepared for everything.
Anyway.
I get that part, but I don't understand why Seol Harin just sent him away.
Did she set a trap or something?
Did Kang Ju-hyuk sneak into the house without me knowing?
I don't sense any presence, though.
"Why'd you just send him away?"
"That's..."
"Hey! Don't piss me off—spit it out already!! Don't forget you're my property!!!"
"...It was embarrassing."
"What?"
"Because... I'm ashamed that you're doing this to me..."
Hmm. So that's it?
Yeah, that makes sense for Seol Harin.
She's a prideful character, so she doesn't want her childhood friend seeing her fall apart.
But damn, this is playing out like textbook NTR...
I don't even want to touch her...
Not just her—all the heroines are the same.
Messing around with the heroines or pumping them full of baby batter will just lead to regrets later.
Once their heat switch flips, they're done as heroes.
They turn into pregnant onaholes begging for dick every day instead of training.
But her drifting away from Kang Ju-hyuk is a good sign.
The protagonist's a musclehead.
He's the type who only gets stronger when isolated.
Of course, I gotta do it in moderation or I'll end up on the receiving end of revenge.
"From now on, no talking to other guys in front of me."
"No guys even talk to me anymore. Thanks to you."
"That shitty little childhood friend counts too!"
"I got it already!!"
Seol Harin bristled.
At that moment, Pomi, who was next to her, started barking.
"Woof woof woof! Grrrrr...!!!"
She looked like she was scolding Seol Harin for raising her voice.
"Kekeke. Looks like Pomi knows you're my slave too. If you wanna get in her good graces, you better become a more obedient bitch? Kekekeke."
"Tch..."
"That's enough for today. Tomorrow, I'll tell you your schedule."
Seol Harin looked up and glared at me.
It was openly hostile.
But what're you gonna do about it?
What can you even do?
Aside from staring daggers or cursing me in your head~?
"Wake up at 6 AM. Be at the staff gym by 6:30."
"'That thing' again first thing in the morning?"
"Hey! Don't call my sacred iron-pumping time 'that thing'!! Apologize right now!!!"
Seol Harin glanced at Pomi instead of me and whispered softly.
"I-I'm... sorry... maybe..."
This is her idea of an apology?
And here I am, generously overlooking it.
No matter how I think about it, I'm too nice.
"Until enrollment, you'll stick by my side the rest of the time too. But once classes start, you're free from 9 AM until they end. Just report to me if you leave during breaks."
"Report every time I step out?! Even as a slave, that's too much!!"
Hey hey!
You're better off than ROK soldiers who gotta report every bathroom break!!
"Shut it, sow! No backtalk!!"
"Urk..."
"Come back to my side after classes end! We'll do workouts and training like today, and you'll help with mine too, so don't be late!"
"Do you just love seeing me suffer? You're the epitome of scum..."
Damn right I do.
It's proof you're getting stronger.
We're approaching it from different angles, but as long as we end up in Seoul, it's fine. Let's move on.
"Now get out."
"......"
I meant to say "you're free to go," but Kim Taeyang's mouth just runs wild.
Sorry about that, Seol Harin!
Drained, Seol Harin slinked out of my room like seaweed.
Now it was just me and Pomi left in the room.
Pew-!
The moment Seol Harin left, Pomi activated her female anthropomorphization.
"Master! Let's go for a walk!! Walk!!"
"Kekeke. A constellation begging for walks like she can't hold it in. So adorably pathetic!"
"Woof!"
Pomi barreled into me like a puppy.
Normal Pomi is a cute, good girl of a dog, but anthropomorphized Pomi is...
Honestly, a bit of a problem.
'She's too hot to handle!'
She pounces on me every chance she gets, rubbing her whole body against mine.
Her killer figure in that skimpy bikini doesn't help.
But I can't do anything naughty with Pomi...
'I couldn't face Pomi after she turns back into a dog!!!!'
That'd be bestiality!!
So we agreed not to put ourselves in awkward spots.
Besides, Pomi cuddling up isn't even sexual.
She's just a dog loving her owner—her body's female, that's all.
"Hey, Pomi. Got something to check before the walk. A good dog can wait, right?"
"Woof! I can wait! I'll wait with my collar on!"
"Hey. No need for the collar in anthro form."
"Really?? For real??"
Pomi’s eyes sparkled, filled with emotion.
Yeah. No collar needed.
But put some clothes on...
I made her wait a bit and opened my status window.
Time to tally NTR coins and browse the shop.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ [Held NTR Coins: 80]
I have 80 coins right now.
Got 100 from NTRing Pomi, spent -25 unlocking a Drug Chance effect.
Just gained +5 from the NTR situation we staged.
The NTR Shop only shows items I can afford with 80 coins.
🛒 NTR SHOP 🛒 [Unlock New Drug Effect: 25 coins] -The effects of the next drug are undisclosed.
[Flip-flops: 30 coins] -Flip-flops fit for a beach god.
-Slightly faster running.
-Charm +1
[Hawaiian Shirt: 40 coins] -A shirt fit for the beach.
-Gives slight intimidation to opponents.
-Charm +2
[Beach Set: 80 coins] -Flip-flops, Hawaiian shirt, and orange sunglasses set.
-The pinnacle of beach fashion! Hunting prep complete!
-Orange sunglasses detect faint mana flows.
-Orange sunglasses sold only in set.
-Total Charm +4
-Set completion grants hidden bonus effect.
[Mini Camera: 80 coins] -Tiny camera perfect for secret filming.
-Strengthens 'Intelligence Degeneration Threat' skill.
That's all I can buy now.
Plenty of drug unlocks already, so later's fine.
Better to get the set than flip-flops and shirt separately...
The mini camera looks useful too.
A skill-boosting camera beats a regular one.
But I went with the 'Beach Set'.
The key is those mana-detecting sunglasses!
Kim Taeyang has great physical stats, but lacks mana.
They'll help big time in classes and events ahead.
Plus set completion bonus? Total steal.
One issue, though.
I gotta wear that to class, dungeons, everything...
"What am I even worrying about?! This body can rock anything!!!"
Kim Taeyang's motormouth!
Full beach getup for the entrance ceremony!
This is fucked...
*
Entrance exam period flew by.
After the sparring test, I trained with Seol Harin daily.
She always watched me warily and with contempt, but followed training diligently.
Written and practical exams were no big deal.
Practical was basic fitness—full marks, obviously.
For written, I got cram sheets from Seol Harin and bullshitted through.
Honestly, written and practical are only 10% each anyway—not that important.
Just for show, really?
In the end.
I placed second overall, right after top-ranked Seol Harin.
"Sigh. Having to do a pledge? What a hassle."
Didn't expect to be pledging.
Guess our sparring scores were in another league.
Makes sense. At this point, the freshmen standouts are just Seol Harin and Kang Ju-hyuk.
Bang bang bang!
Someone pounded on the door fiercely.
Urgent voices from seniors outside.
"Kim Taeyang! Guidance Committee here!!"
"We know you're in there!! Come out!!"
"The pledge is starting!!"
Yeah.
The entrance ceremony's already underway.
And I'm still in my room.
Why? Common sense.
A message floating in front of me.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Overslept on entrance ceremony day...] [Body feels surprisingly refreshed.] ⚔ STATUS UPDATE ⚔ [Stamina +1] has these little events.
Oversleep for the ceremony or skip certain classes, get small rewards.
Tested if it really works, and it does.
Sweet.
"Kim Taeyang!! Even the Academy Head's there!! If you don't come out, we'll break the doo—"
Click-
I opened the door, and a familiar face appeared.
The glasses-wearing Guidance Committee senior who'd picked a fight before.
I grabbed his collar and yelled.
"Hey! You scratched my door!! How're you gonna compensate?! Huh?!!!"
"Gahk...! W-where's the scratch...?"
I wasn't planning to start shit.
Kim Taeyang just did Kim Taeyang things.
I was about to apologize.
"Kekeke. Just kidding. Like pounding a door scratches it? Hilarious how you stutter when scared."
And out came that line.
Guess I gotta live with Kim Taeyang's speech patterns...
"You little... W-wait! Kim Taeyang! What's with that outfit again?!"
"Hah? What's wrong with my outfit?!!"
"Th-that's... beachwear!!"
Once I bought the beach set, I couldn't not wear it.
It clings perfectly to my body.
Not exactly force majeure—I just decided to rock it.
The reason...
Anyway, I'm late—time to run!
.
.
.
"Why isn't the musclehead here yet?"
"...Guidance Committee is escorting him now. Seems he overslept."
"Oversleeping for the entrance ceremony? He's doomed~ Let's just proceed since we can't wait!"
The Academy Head went ahead with the final part.
The top two freshmen pledges.
Top student Seol Harin took the stage.
"P-pledge. We freshmen..."
I walked in just as the pledge started.
Click-
The door opened, all eyes on me.
I strutted to the auditorium stage, flaunting my beach fashion.
"I-it's Kim Taeyang!"
"What's that outfit...?!"
"Not just late—he's not even in uniform!!"
Hawaiian shirt.
Shorts.
Flip-flops.
Orange sunglasses to top it off.
Whispers about my fit.
I flexed my muscles and death-glared the students.
Rooooar...!!!!
"......"
"......"
The hall finally quieted.
Intimidating face comes in handy sometimes.
"Musclehead!"
"Ahh- greetings."
First meeting with the Academy Head.
Tardy in weird clothes.
Worst first impression.
"But what's this about...? I was gonna expel you for being late to the ceremony?"
"Hah?"
"Almost~ Stand next to Harin, musclehead!"
"......"
Academy Head Yokozawa Tomoe.
A character with a concept rivaling Kim Taeyang's.
Why call me 'musclehead', though?
Whatever, moving on.
I took the pledge script and started with Seol Harin.
"P-pledge. We freshmen shall abide by Ark Academy's rules and live diligently..."
Of course, Seol Harin recited dutifully.
Too bad I hate boring stuff.
Strictly speaking, Kim Taeyang hates it.
His trait says 'Hates seriousness'.
"Freshmen all blah blah whatever... we solemnly swear-!"
Brilliant, Kim Taeyang...!
Couldn't read a few lines so you summed it up as 'blah blah'...?!!
You're a genius!!!
Some students giggled at my pledge; most profs scowled.
But the Academy Head was different.
"Ahahahahaha! Musclehead's got charm for sure. Tomo-tan hates boring too, so we'll let it slide! Harin and musclehead, say a few words to students and faculty!"
She handed me the mic.
I snatched it and threw an arm around Seol Harin's shoulders.
Rough enough to make her wobble.
"This school makes you do annoying crap from day one!!!"
"......"
"Hah-? Hey!! It's a joke—laugh!!!! Embarrassing as hell here?!!!!!!"
"H-ha!"
"F-funny!!"
"Pfft...! Hee hee!!"
Forced laughs from the kids.
Profs' faces rotting.
Why I wore the full beach set here?
To declare war.
"Let's all get along!! Anyone who pisses me off gets smashed, so watch yourselves!!!"
"......"
I'm gonna be infamous anyway, aggro-pulling machine.
Why? Gonna steal all the heroines and protagonist's constellations—can't hide~
So might as well...
"Got it? Answer me, you damn classmates!!!!!"
Act batshit crazy to lower expectations!
"Uh...?"
"Y-yeah?"
"Hah?! Louder than me? I'll beat anyone quieter?!!!!!!"
Shatter the image from the jump!!!
"Y-yes sir!!"
"Louder!!!!!"
"YES SIIIIIR!!!!!"
Then they'll overlook my mildly crazy antics later!!!!!!
"And! Anyone who touches her dies! She's my property!! Got it?!! Huh?!!!"
"YEEESSS!!!"
"Finally, profs! Don't make classes too intense!!"
"......"
"Take it easy, got it?!!!!"
"......"
"Answer!!!!!!!!"
"Ahahahahaha! Musclehead's hilarious!!"
Only the Academy Head's laughter echoed in the auditorium.
I finished with a tongue poke through a V-sign.
'So fucking embarrassing!!!!!!'
And so the shocking entrance ceremony ended.