Chapter 102: Ah, How Can I Resist Cheon Yu-hak’s Birthday Party! (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 102: Ah, How Can I Resist Cheon Yu-hak’s Birthday Party! (3)
Normally, we would have waited a bit during lunch to gather and enjoy a meal together, but today, we decided to eat separately without waiting for one another.
I was doing relatively okay, but Ha-ni and Lilac were in a sorry state.
Usually, the girls hanging around them kept others at a distance, but perhaps because of the special circumstances—or maybe because of Lilac’s “I haven’t decided who I’m going with yet” comment—girls who had barely spoken to them before were now openly hitting on them.
For the record, the most partner requests went to Lilac, who was kind to everyone, and Ha-ni, who responded quite politely as long as people maintained a certain distance. Cheon Yu-hak seemed to receive fewer requests than those two, likely because he rarely bothered to respond or because he was on the hosting side.
Me?
Actually, I received quite a few myself.
It wasn’t so much that I was popular, but rather that most of them probably thought going with me would naturally allow them to hang out with the rest of the group. Of course, I ignored all requests from people I didn’t know.
— I’m the one you saved during the Jin Gyeong-tae incident, do you remember…? Ah, if it’s not too much trouble, could you be my partner?
— I thought it was really cool how you held your ground even when you were being bullied at the start of the semester. I’d like to get to know you better through this opportunity.
— If you’re going with someone other than Han-hee, Lilac, or Yu-hak… could you go with me?
There were quite a few who seemed sincere, but honestly, I didn’t have the mental bandwidth to worry about others right now.
I mean, think about it. Setting aside Ha-ni, whom everyone believed to be a guy, both Ga-eul and the Professor had already sent me signals. How could I possibly pay attention to anyone else?
Ah, the girls’ group was also quite busy, though not as much as we were.
In the first place, Ju Ri-ra was acting as Cheon Yu-hak’s shield, so men couldn’t even get close. Lee Yu-na was busy keeping an eye on the women flirting with Lilac while simultaneously biting the heads off any men who approached her.
“…A partner? Senior, do you even know me? We’ve never even had a conversation. Didn’t it occur to you that suddenly closing the distance like this might be uncomfortable? Even from your perspective. Ah, yeah. I guess so. From your perspective, you might like it if I suddenly asked to be friends. But I don’t, so what now?”
“No, I just wanted to talk for a moment…”
“Hmm, I don’t really like using harsh words in front of Lilac. You know you’re being rude, right?”
Watching the Pink Chihuahua snap the heart of a senior who looked like he wouldn’t break was a bit terrifying.
But Senior… if that had been the Lee Yu-na from the original story, it wouldn’t have ended with just your heart being broken. Maybe you should consider yourself lucky?
Anyway, that was why I had to eat lunch alone today, but right now, I had quite a few “volunteers” from the Anti-Solo Dining Committee who wanted to join me.
“Look, we didn’t come here to do anything weird. We just want to have a meal and talk.”
There was the ‘Health Food Enthusiasts Club,’ for which Professor Cathy served as the advisor.
“Ahem, aren’t you maintaining a safe distance? Our brother-in-law is feeling pressured.”
And the ‘Group Watching Inspector Kang Na-hyun from Afar.’ These two.
That’s right. A bunch of dark, brooding males were disturbing my peace of mind.
“Hey, I said I just want to have a quick chat with my junior!”
“You think we’d let you touch our brother-in-law with those filthy hands?”
Who’s your brother-in-law, you bastards?
You say you’re watching from afar, but you’re violating my personal space like crazy, aren’t you?
If I wanted to avoid the hassle, I could just say, “Ah, I’m not going with Professor Cathy,” and run away, but I couldn’t bring myself to do that.
Why?
Because I actually found the idea of being Professor Cathy’s partner quite appealing.
Well, there were several reasons. There was the need to look after her since her suspension had only recently been lifted, and I also had to check if there were any lingering effects from the brainwashing.
However, even excluding all those conditions, there was a clear part of me that simply thought it would be nice to go with her.
The problem was whether this was truly my heart.
The memories beyond the noise that still wouldn’t come clearly.
After seeing them, the memories eventually vanished, but the emotions remained with me.
Because of that, I was currently feeling a very troublesome set of emotions.
To be honest.
My heart flutters whenever I see the Professor or Ha-ni.
…Wait? Saying it like that makes me sound like total trash, doesn’t it?
“Phew, it’s not like we’re going to mess with our cute junior or anything~ We just want a firm answer. Honestly, even you have to think it’s a bit much for a professor and a cadet to attend a party like that as partners, right?”
A bit much?
Well, yeah. It’s not a crime, but the social optics aren’t great.
If I just agreed and slipped away, what could these guys even say? That was my usual way of doing things. No matter what I said here, who would hear it?
It would be a smarter move to just say, “Huh? Did I say that?” later on.
But.
“What exactly is so ‘much’ about it?”
I really don’t feel like doing that right now.
If I don’t want to, I won’t.
“Who do you think you are, trying to intimidate me with numbers? Ah, I guess you have nothing to rely on but numbers. Or were you afraid that if you came alone, I’d memorize your face and snitch on you?”
I mean, really. Who is he to tell me what to do? What does it matter to you who I go to the party with?
They faltered for a moment at my sudden outburst, but their expressions soon turned sour.
At least my sister’s followers seemed to be on my side, but honestly, how much would these people actually step up for me?
“We weren’t even being harsh, but your attitude is a bit much, don’t you think?”
“Oh, I see! So suppressing one person with numbers and preventing them from eating isn’t ‘harsh’ behavior. Wow, I didn’t know that since I’m only a first-year! Thinking that people like you will become heroes before me makes the future of heroes look real bright, doesn’t it?”
The guy at the front grimaced.
Yeah, this isn’t the picture you painted, is it? You thought I’d be scared or just submissively agree, right?
But I’m not, so what are you going to do?
I’m damn well used to people giving me crap.
“Sigh, I’m sorry.”
Oh.
Surprisingly, this guy actually apologized.
I was hoping he’d get heated and charge at me so I could just take the hit and use it as evidence, but it seems he’s not that stupid.
“You’re right. That wasn’t behavior befitting a cadet who’s a hero candidate.”
…This makes things a bit awkward.
Well, if I provoke him further for no reason, I’ll be the one caught in a trap, and they’ll say I’m responsible too.
“Well, I was a bit harsh with my words too. I’m sorry.”
I’d prefer to bury them completely, but since the opportunity seems gone, maybe I should settle for this.
Just as I thought that.
Splat.
Some leftover juice was poured over my head.
Aha.
Thaaaank you. Yes, indeed, a useless enemy is more helpful than a capable ally.
Judging by how the leader wasn’t completely clueless, he probably just brought these guys along to intimidate me, but that doesn’t change the fact that you’re all one group, you bastard.
Whenever a lot of people gather, there’s bound to be at least one piece of trash.
Take today’s experience to heart, and next time you want to bully someone, make sure to form a party with more meticulous and trustworthy friends.
The leader turned back with a horrified face, but it was already too late.
I had my justification, so now I just had to bury them.
“Ah.”
“Hey, what the hell are you doing all of a sudden…!?”
“Ah, his way of talking was just so disrespectful. While a senior is talking… Hey, do we look like a joke to you?”
He even gave my shoulder a shove.
At this point, it almost feels like he’s trying to help me.
Oh, but this is Mana-infused 10-year-old Red Ginseng Extract? I’ve had this before.
It was bitter as hell.
The commotion grew louder thanks to these guys bickering, but regardless, I wasn’t actually going to physically crack their skulls.
Then I’d get punished too.
So what was I going to do?
The noise had drawn enough aggro. Now I just needed one more push.
“Hey, try saying that again like you did before.”
The moment he shoved me again, I naturally lost my balance and fell.
After hitting the floor, I lowered my gaze, took the deepest breath possible, gathered every ounce of strength from my dantian, and shouted as I bowed my head.
“I’m sorry, Seniors…!”
Everyone seemed taken aback by the sudden shift in attitude.
Well, it looked like only one person—the leader—realized what I was up to, but even if he realized it now, what could he do?
Who told you to act like thugs in the first place?
Now, some appropriate professor or senior would come along and punish these guys for committing an anti-humanitarian act that a budding hero should never even dream of.
Even my sister’s followers, who had been subtly staying neutral, were quick-witted enough to start swaying public opinion, saying it was too much.
Haha, you guys didn’t see this coming, did you?
“What in the…”
“Hmm…?”
“What on earth is going on here?”
Wait. This voice…?
“What are you all doing? Why are you acting like this?”
When I peeked upward, I saw a visibly enraged Professor Cathy and my sister standing right there.
I didn’t expect to catch such big fish…? Sisters, why are you coming out from there…?
* * *
Until just a moment ago, Cathy had been quite nervous.
She had been planning to meet Na-hyun during lunch and ask if it would be okay for her to attend the party as So-hyun’s partner.
Actually, reporting it after already having made the move was a bit ridiculous, but this morning, the thought that she had to act boldly as advised had dominated her mind, so she hadn’t thought that far ahead.
Professor Park A-ram… A-ram Unnie had said it clearly.
— Well, I don’t have that much experience myself, but~ romance is all about confidence.
Romance is confidence.
— In the end, if you make their heart race, you win, right? Just BAM! The moment you see him in the morning, you approach him and go, ‘Hey! You! From now on, you’re my boyfriend! Got it!?’ You need that kind of boldness to win a man.
Well, not quite that much; she just wanted to go to the party together for now.
— Honestly, if Cathy is the one confessing, who would refuse? You’re pretty, you have a slender figure, and your breasts are almost the size of my head. If you hug him with those, not just men, but even women would love it.
Even if she kept the last part as a final resort, it seemed to make sense.
At the very least, A-ram probably knew better than someone like her who had never been in a relationship.
With that thought, she had made her move.
…Well, the classroom had turned into a mess immediately after, so she hadn’t been able to hear an answer.
Anyway, next was the turn to put the Chairperson’s—Leilan’s—advice into practice.
— Your own feelings are important, but strategically speaking, it’s also important to get into the good graces of family or relatives.
As expected of a High Elf known as the Sage of the Forest, she had her own logic.
— Romance might seem like something purely between two people, but it’s actually heavily influenced by the surrounding atmosphere. If people around you keep saying good things and encouraging the idea that the chemistry is good, even if you didn’t think much of it, you can’t help but naturally think, ‘Is that so?’
It was strategic.
And it seemed quite plausible in its own way.
— That said, it can be dangerous to push yourself onto family members you have no connection with, so it’s better to target the side you’re already acquainted with first.
It was also rational.
Thus, suppressing her desire to call So-hyun during lunch, she had made a lunch appointment with Na-hyun.
However,
What on earth was this?
On the way to the cafeteria, she had been worrying about how to start the conversation, but what she saw was so shocking that those worries no longer mattered.
Upperclassmen were surrounding a fallen So-hyun, and one of those two groups consisted of cadets she frequently met in the Health Food Enthusiasts Club, where she served as the advisor.
“What exactly is going on?”
A cold voice that she could hardly believe had come from her own throat.
“What are you all doing?”
And even Na-hyun’s voice, which was openly expressing rage.
As the cadets trembled and backed away, So-hyun came into clearer view.
He looked as if he had been victimized without even resisting, sitting there on the ground, and his head smelled of red ginseng, as if he had been doused in it.
…So-hyun’s natural floral scent was so wonderful, though.
“What on earth happened here!”
“Ah, it’s nothing much.”
Rising with a bitter smile, he brushed the red ginseng off his head, insisting once again that it was nothing.
“What do you mean it’s nothing? Tell me straight. Which bastard did this?”
“It really is nothing.”
“Nothing my fo— Cadet Kang So-hyun. I saw those guys picking a fight with you one-sidedly!”
“…Was it you guys?”
At Na-hyun’s words, they flinched.
For a moment, they seemed to cast a pleading look toward Cathy, but they soon averted their eyes.
It was likely because her expression wasn’t very good either.
She was disappointed by the fact that people associated with her had caused such a problem.
…With what face could she now bring up the topic of wanting to be So-hyun’s partner to Na-hyun?