Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Club (1)
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"...Prospect. What are these guys? Friends?"
Hedi asked me with an uncomfortable look on her face.
"Yeah... friends."
A bit embarrassing friends.
From what I'd seen a few times, they weren't bad guys aside from being crazy about girls.
They say that whenever people gather, there's always one rotten apple. That must have been the Sian from before I possessed him.
I guess the friends weren't too bad...? Of course, they did have a lot of guys-only conversations...
"How did you meet Sian?"
Lloyd sat down next to me, placed his plate of food, and spoke.
As Lloyd sat, Bobby and Lui followed suit, lining up beside him.
"Sian...? So your name is Sian."
Oh, right.
I hadn't told Hedi my name.
"Huh? How are you sitting together if you didn't even know his name?"
Lloyd asked with a puzzled expression.
Hedi gave a mischievous smile and glanced at me as she replied.
"It just kinda happened."
I'd been called the delinquent leader the whole time in the underground labyrinth.
I hadn't bothered mentioning my name since she never asked until the end, and it didn't seem necessary at the time.
Then Hedi suddenly smacked my arm with her elbow, as if she'd just remembered something, and asked.
"Oh, Prospect... no, Sian. How did you know my name?"
"Ah."
Right.
"Well... I memorized the names of kids who were good with swords in class... and ended up remembering yours."
"Hmm..."
I brushed it off vaguely.
And so, we finished our meal while getting closer.
Bobby was true to his size, wolfing down his food without a care, while Lloyd, with his experience around girls, smoothly led the conversation.
Lui chimed in from the side, which let Hedi and me eat comfortably.
After the meal, I returned to the dormitory.
And picked up the thing I'd left on the bed.
'...Mana stone.'
Without mana infused, its blue glow had dimmed a bit.
The moment it touched my hand, it absorbed my mana again, and the light grew stronger.
Now, what to do with this.
In my memories, in the story, Hedi had it forged into a weapon and carried it around.
Usually, it was embedded in a sword's hilt to channel mana.
To forge it, I'd need a skilled blacksmith...
But I had no connections in blacksmithing right now.
What to do.
I stared quietly at the mana stone in my hand.
'......'
Well, no solution for now.
This wasn't the time for the Demon King to descend, or demons to go berserk, or Cain to awaken and come hunting for revenge.
Take it slow.
I put the mana stone in the drawer.
Time to wash up and sleep for today.
"Before executing a technique, always read your opponent's preparatory movements based on the situation..."
It was a classroom. A human male professor was in the center explaining swordsmanship theory.
I was diligently copying notes.
I knew the broad flow of the world, but I lacked practical knowledge like this, so I was the type to study hard.
Hedi, sitting further back, was propping her chin and staring blankly at me.
Does she not study at all?
How does she become a Sword Master in the future like that?
I pulled my gaze away from her and focused back on the professor's lecture.
This was essential info for surviving in this world. I had to work hard to not fall behind.
That's when it happened, while I was studying.
-Knock knock.
'Professor! Can we come in?!'
A voice came from outside the classroom door.
As soon as the human professor said to enter, the door slid open.
The people who came in were fellow students.
All the peers in the class turned their eyes toward them at once.
Three students.
One girl, two boys.
Wearing the same uniforms, they looked like slightly more mature seniors.
"We're borrowing the professor's class time for a quick announcement to you all!"
The blue-haired girl senior said.
"You know club sign-ups are coming up soon, right?! First-years can join starting second semester!"
Clubs...?
Vague memories surfaced.
Even when I played the game, there was a club system at the academy.
It was a kind of event system to connect with heroines.
I remembered pouring time into it sometimes to get rare materials unexpectedly.
But soon I realized hunting and growth were way more efficient, so I barely touched them.
"We're the Alchemy Club! We make all sorts of magic tools with alchemy, or practical potions that help in battle!"
The girl senior continued.
"You all might be thinking of swordsmanship clubs since you're learning swordsmanship, or you might have clubs in mind already. But alchemy is hard to learn anywhere else! So join us, and we'll fully support your alchemy basics! If you're interested, come to the Alchemy Club room on the third floor! That's it!"
The girl senior spoke crisply, bowed to the professor, and left with the two male seniors.
The professor saw them out and then said to us.
"Everyone knows club sign-ups are in three days, right? Apply quickly. It'll be trouble if you drag it out."
And the professor continued the lecture.
Only three days left?
I hadn't known. I'd been focused only on classes and studying, ignoring minor details like this...
What to do.
I needed to focus on the lecture, but the Alchemy Club members from earlier popped into my head.
'Alchemy... huh.'
If I'm joining a club, I don't have to do swordsmanship.
I'm already learning swordsmanship in classes; doing it in a club too wouldn't be efficient.
I wouldn't get lessons or info beyond the professors', and if I'm joining a club, learning magic or alchemy would broaden my knowledge more than honing my usual sword skills.
'Hmm...'
What clubs are there?
I needed to listen to the lecture, but I couldn't concentrate easily.
.
.
.
"Sian. Decided on a club?"
After the lecture, as we walked the hallway, Hedi asked.
"Not yet. I just learned first-years can sign up starting second semester."
"If you don't have anything in mind, wanna join the swordsmanship club with me?"
"I don't think I'll do swordsmanship club."
"Why? Why not?"
"I'm already stuffed full of swordsmanship from classes; doing more in a club..."
Isn't efficient.
So if I join, it'll be something else.
"...Really? Well, can't be helped then."
Hedi's expression looked a bit down.
It was always fresh seeing reactions like this.
A tough girl like her could make that face too.
"I'll drop by sometimes. I do like swordsmanship."
"No need. We see each other in class every day anyway."
"...True."
"If you wanna go, I'll visit you. So what kind of club are you leaning toward?"
"Hmm..."
I didn't know exactly what clubs there were yet.
Need to look into it more.
"Not sure yet."
"Boring. Well, tell me when you decide."
After parting with Hedi, I stopped by the administrative office, got a paper listing the clubs, and returned to the dormitory.
As expected from the Empire's top academy, there were diverse clubs listed.
Magic Club.
Swordsmanship Club.
Alchemy Club.
Art Club.
Crafts Club.
Pastry Club.
Archery Club.
History Club. And so on.
No blacksmith club, unfortunately.
Maybe because it's a job mostly for commoners in this world; no similar clubs either.
Closest is Alchemy Club...
'Same production job, at least.'
Different perception and treatment for production jobs.
Alchemy requires mana, so it's a high-class job.
Seems good to learn... but related to forging?
I pondered.
But nothing really caught my eye.
They said recruitment continues from lunch break, so maybe go check them out.
With that decided, I practiced swordsmanship in the second-floor training hall for the remaining time.
Then after lunch, headed to the third-floor hallway.
The third floor was mostly filled with club rooms instead of classrooms.
'Clubs from the list...'
A floor just for clubs?
Peeking through windows, I saw club members chatting amiably.
The Pastry Club was visibly eating snacks and sipping tea.
Swordsmanship Club must be at the practice field; no one there.
Archery Club had someone drawing a bowstring, lecturing on bows.
Definitely felt like clubs would give a sense of belonging.
While walking, I spotted the Alchemy Club.
'At the far end...'
Six female members and one male around a U-shaped table, seriously discussing something.
Didn't want to interrupt, so I waited a bit.
About ten minutes later.
The mood loosened; I heard laughter, so I knocked on the door.
'Huh? Who's that?'
'New recruit! A new member?!'
'Come in.'
I opened the door as soon as I heard the invitation.
-Slide...
All eyes turned to me at once.
I bowed politely to them.
"Hello. I stopped by because I'm interested in the club."
"......"
Silence fell the moment I finished speaking.
"...?"
What?
All six staring at me in silence.
They looked kinda dazed...
Something on my face?
As I stood awkwardly, my eyes met one girl who'd been looking around and then at me.
A pretty girl with half-up purple hair.
The instant our eyes met, she flinched, then shouted with an entranced expression.
"A g-god! A god has descended-!"
She jumped up and rushed over frantically, grabbing my pant leg, and shouted again.
"O God! Please descend upon us as a club member! Please! Pleeease!!"
"...?!"
Utterly confused by the situation, I could only look back and forth between her and the other members in bewilderment.