Chapter 60
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Clubs Are Something You Seize with Your Life on the Line
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Lee Dok-sa took a drag from her cigarette.
'Why am I being so nice to him...'
The reason she was kind to Kim Si-woo. Nothing special. At first, she'd felt a sense of kinship seeing his outstanding talent dismissed because of a worthless skillbook, yet he kept pushing forward.
Plus, he was a disciple of Kang Geom-seon, her own mentor. It would've been weirder if she hadn't paid attention to him.
-Exhale.
"If that's all there is to it, I'd be lying."
A hazy image of a girl floated up amid the drifting cigarette smoke.
Her insides were pitch black and impossible to read, but she'd followed Lee Dok-sa around faithfully in the past.
'Every time I see Si-woo, she keeps popping into my head.'
And now, she'd defected and become a member of the Purity Faction—a criminal.
'Just some pointless memory surfacing.'
She stubbed out the cigarette with a scowl and muttered to herself.
"More importantly, Si-woo lives in a dump like this? He's not actually homeless, is he?"
The next day.
I was making the rounds of club rooms to execute my plan of freeloading in one, just as intended.
"Can't you make some room? I'll stay quiet in the corner."
"Sorry, but we don't have much spare space in our club either. Afraid I can't help you out."
"Got it. If you change your mind, please give me a call!!!!!!!!"
"Uh, sure..."
A male student rejecting me with a flustered, troubled look.
So it's always gonna end like this.
I'd already been turned away like this from dozens of clubs on my way back.
I knew it was normal for them to react this way to some unknown freshman trying to sponge off their space.
'They're actually kicking me out more gently than I expected.'
Unlike what I'd feared, they were being surprisingly polite even to a first-year.
Is this what it means to be a senior?
Even so, I'd thought showing some passion would snag me a spot in at least one, but no such luck.
'Guess the only way is that one.'
With that thought, I arrived at my final stop.
The skill research club [Praise].
Why would a club researching skills have a name that sounded like they were thrusting crosses at you and demanding faith?
'Because they really are like that.'
No, even worse.
They claimed to investigate skills, but in reality, it was a gathering of extreme skill supremacists soaked in a sense of chosen superiority, constantly praising skillbooks.
Accordingly, students without unique skills weren't even allowed to join.
Even then, aside from the president, the members only had unique skills—no high-grade ones.
That was only natural. Only geniuses like Baek A-rin or Kang Hwa-yeon would settle for a no-name club when they had both a unique skill and a high-grade one. Who in their right mind would join?
'Still, just having a unique skill gets them treated like prodigies.'
A club with ideology completely opposed to the Purity Faction. No idea why Purity hadn't raided this place yet and targeted innocents like Kang Hwa-yeon and Baek A-rin instead.
"If they'd just wrecked this one, it'd free up a club room. Totally useless."
Well, they did give me the Growth Stone, so maybe not useless.
Anyway, this world judges people by their skills, but these guys took it to another level. I'd probably get the boot—or worse—just for stepping foot in here.
Like a Black person strolling into KKK headquarters.
'But I hate racists the most. Not scared at all.'
With that, I knocked on the door of the Praise club.
-Knock knock.
A man soon emerged.
Tall, handsome face.
And purple hair. Hard to imagine in real life, but with Baek A-rin's white hair around, it fit the novel vibe.
'This guy's the president, huh.'
Despite our similar heights, he looked down at me condescendingly and said,
"What do you want? State your business with Yoon Sirius."
Is this guy nuts?
'Yoon Sirius'—what a vicious name.
How's Sirius even a person's name? Some foreign prince?
His instant sneer and arrogant tone rubbed me the wrong way, but business first.
I smiled and said,
"I've got a favor to ask, Senior. Mind if I come in and explain...?"
"Wha—?!"
"Pardon?"
Suddenly, he recoiled in horror and shoved me away.
"That badge—E3 rank? How many pages in your skillbook?!"
"One."
At my answer, he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and clamped it over his nose.
"You're that rumored filth! Not content with getting into the academy, you dare set foot here?!"
This bastard.
Calling me filth the second he sees my face?
"Get out!"
Hold it in. No point wasting stamina on a fight I don't need.
"Just calm down and hear me out..."
"You disgusting piece of—!"
Yoon Sirius shoved my shoulder hard.
Yeah, that's how it'd go with these guys.
I'd expected it, just not this bad.
No negotiation possible now.
No need to play nice anymore.
You started it.
"Duel! You little shit!"
"What?!"
Yoon Sirius gaped at me like I'd lost my mind.
"Didn't get that? I said duel!"
"Filth spews filth from its mouth!"
I'll show you what real filth is.
I slyly popped the Vita 600 I'd stashed in my pocket and slipped it into my waistband.
Then I slowly shook my hips, and the yellow, murky liquid from the bottle started drenching Yoon Sirius.
"Hee hee! Urine blast!!"
"Gaaahhh!!!! What the hell are you doing, you bastard!!"
This was all thanks to Erina—I'd never have thought of it without her. Thanks, holy nun Erina!
As I pulled this stunt, someone burst out of the club room.
"What happened, President?!"
"Th-this filth's thing!!"
"Thing? What the hell?!"
"Gaaahhh!!!"
He collapsed backward, unable to endure it, and passed out.
"President!!!"
"Your president's down, so now you're talking to me."
"Who the hell are you to—!"
They'd all be fine if they'd just listened. Why pick fights and make it hard on themselves?
No need to drag it out. One explanation for all.
"Listen up? I'm E3 rank with a one-page skillbook—the exact kind you hate most. I just hosed your president with piss. Ignore me, and you're next."
"What?! We don't even talk to scum like you—that's our creed!"
"Oh? Your loss then."
I approached him, rhythmically and lightly shaking my waist.
His zealot faith seemed to waver; he hesitated and yelled,
"S-stop!"
Then the fainted Yoon Sirius, still sprawled, trembled and spoke.
"Hear him out. That guy's filth is humanity's worst weapon! If we leave it like this, causality will—something's gonna go wrong somehow!"
...
"So you're saying we duel for the club room?"
"Yeah."
At my curt reply, the glasses guy assisting Yoon Sirius snapped at me.
"You little...!"
Do all the extras in this world have a pact to say "You little...!" when pissed? I hear it constantly.
Yoon Sirius gestured to block the glasses guy and said,
"Enough! Don't rile him up. He's filth that could explode anytime, anywhere."
Your words rile me up the most.
How do you not get that?
"We're wagering the club room in a turf war. Hasn't happened in years, but the system's there."
"Why should we agree?"
Fair point.
No reason for them to accept a club turf war. Sure, if I went through official channels, they'd have to fight, but it'd be a long, messy process.
Not impossible, but no time for that.
At minimum, before midterms.
I wanted to clear this tutorial—founding a club—and max out subjugation activities through one by the martial arts tournament.
That's why this plan.
I shrugged and said,
"You know it's mandatory if I file officially."
"That's..."
"Too much hassle, so let's keep it simple."
The glasses guy nearby cut in.
"Why would we do you any favors? You're rushing for a reason. Otherwise, just follow the damn procedures."
He flicked his glasses up smugly.
"Hear me out first. It's a win-win."
Yoon Sirius waved at glasses and said,
"You, filth like you..."
"Filth?"
Yoon Sirius stammered, eyeing my waist movement.
"N-no, you think you can offer us something worthwhile?"
"Yep. Hold on. I called her—she'll be here soon."
"Called? Who?"
"My recruit. And the wager for the duel."
"A person as wager? What...?"
Then a girl came running, shouting my name.
"Kim. Si. Woo!!!!!!!!!!"
"Right here, Baek A-rin."