Chapter 65
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Clubs Are Won with Your Life on the Line (Afterparty)
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Contrary to the plan, Erina looked like she was brimming with the intent to beat the crap out of me.
As soon as the match began, she rushed right at me and shoved me back with her massive shield.
I barely managed to block it with my dagger, but my hand was throbbing.
'Block it one more time, and my wrist is done for.'
As she shoved me back with her shield and closed in tight, I tried talking to her.
"Hey, you musclehead, what the hell are you doing!?"
"You stuff me in that shitty club and have a grand old time all lovey-dovey with those two chicks who call you 'Chimchimwoo'?"
Erina's eyes had a wild glint to them as she said it.
I instinctively took a step back.
"That's bullshit. Like I'd have fun with them."
Erina shook her head at my words.
"Ain't forgivin' ya. We're goin' at it."
"No, I'm gonna lose my mind here!"
"If you're so wronged, then win."
Win? Against Erina?
Did that even make sense? How the hell was I supposed to beat a top-tier tank with her crazy buffs?
With that in mind, I whispered to her.
"We can't even use skills here. Isn't this too unfair? Teacher...?"
Erina smirked, lifting one corner of her mouth.
"Gotta break that Chimchimwoo habit right here, or ya won't learn not to fuck around. And while we're at it, blow off some steam from all the shit ya piled up."
"But if you win, you might have to live in 'Praise' forever?"
Erina glanced at Hwa-yeon, then grinned back.
"That super-strong lighter chick ain't losin' anyway."
"...Yeah, you know it."
She'd planned this.
Wouldn't miss a chance to thrash me.
With negotiations failed, I had no choice but to put some distance between us.
I'd planted her on the enemy team to make things clear-cut, but like she said, even if I lost, Hwa-yeon wouldn't go down to a punk like Yoon Sirius.
So the match result didn't matter either way.
'But Erina's dead set on pounding me.'
What the hell had I done to piss her off so much? Those eyes were straight-up feral.
I knew her personality better than anyone.
If I screwed up today, I was actually dead.
I had to do this.
I sheathed Psyche's Dagger and gripped my old dagger tight in my right hand.
Erina spotted it and yelled.
"Chimchimwoo. Swear you'll be my good boy from today on, and I'll concede defeat. Swear it now."
Look at that smug grin.
She was loving that I couldn't use skills.
I wouldn't fall for that crap.
But someone else lost it at her words.
"What the hell?! You have to win!!! No matter what!!! Please!! For the love of god, win!!!"
To everyone else, it was comedy gold, but to him, it was pure despair—a near-scream from Yoon Sirius.
Shutter clicks meant some kids were snapping pics of his meltdown.
The noble 'Praise' heir who usually looked down on everyone wasn't the type to wail like that.
'That's not Yoon Sirius. That's Yoon Serious.'
I wanted a pic for myself.
While I was distracted by Yoon Sirius, Erina charged again.
"Eyes on me!!"
No way I'd block twice and wreck my wrist, so I dodged back big.
Erina wasn't weak, but I could evade if I tried. Because...
Then she grinned at me.
"Surrender now."
Seeing that cocky smirk made me hate the idea of losing.
"Nah. You'd hit me anyway."
"How'd ya know? Ya get me too well."
She laughed at my retort, then charged faster than before.
'Heavenly Blessing activated?'
That's cheating.
"It's all over for ya nowwww!!"
Her eyes vacant, she barreled in like a dungeon boss.
'Hoo...'
Normally, beating Erina without other skills would be impossible.
At least, by normal logic.
From reading the novel to now, she'd always been by my side.
I'd bossed her around in training, used her constantly.
So her habits, mistakes in battle—they jumped out at me.
I charged straight at her.
"Ya wanna clash head-on!?"
I ignored her and threw an obvious, doomed attack.
"Too predictable!"
She parried with force to send me flying, her shield swinging my way.
[Fate Intervention]
Her shield missed me by a hair.
"Dodged that...?"
Her failed parry flung her shield away from her body.
'That's your problem, Erina.'
I'd told her a million times, but she never fixed it: overrelying on her attacks, no thought to failure.
Left her wide open like this.
I muttered it.
"I watch you all the time, so of course I know."
She flinched, stunned.
'Chance.'
I slashed without hesitation.
The dagger stopped short of her, and Erina toppled over in shock.
"Did Si-woo just win?"
"He predicted that fast parry and dodged?!"
"What?! Why didn't he finish?!"
"My money! Finish it! Please, just end it!!!"
Shouts rained from the stands.
I reached out to the fallen Erina.
"What was that girly squeal? Not your style."
"What business is it of yours!"
Her face looked a bit flushed.
"I win, right?"
"Ya know me so well, couldn't be helped."
"Yeah, fair enough."
"Ya did what Si-woo said, so now go make some army stew."
Erina whispered with a smile.
I took her hand and pulled her up.
"Sure. Don't worry about pissing yourself today. Got spares ready for ya."
Her face darkened at my words.
Had I messed up?
"Seein' that Chimchimwoo mug pisses me off."
Before she finished, her shield closed in on defenseless me.
[Fate Intervention]...
Oh, right, cooldown.
Wait, hitting after it's over is cheating, right?
I glanced at the ref, but rules said fine—they just raised Erina's flag indifferently.
'This ain't right.'
A clear ring echoed through the arena—that was my last memory.
...
"Hilarious! Hwa-yeon, you see that guy's face?! Felt so good!!"
"I never even got to step in. Wished Si-woo had put me up front."
"Why ain't Chimchimwoo up yet?"
"Did Erina kill him for real?"
"She did?! Don't die on me, Si-woo!!"
Erina shook me, tears in her eyes.
You hit me.
I opened my eyes to my Sweet Home dorm.
Baek A-rin, Erina, and Hwa-yeon were drinking army stew and booze.
"So how'd this happen?"
I sat up, and Erina yelled.
"Kyaaah!! The corpse spoke! Zombie?! Should I bash ya back down!?"
"Let's not kill me twice."
Erina laughed, set her shield down.
"Club party. Join us, Si-woo?"
"Why in my Sweet Home?"
She shook her head like I was dumb.
"Ain't this your house? Our house, 'ours'."
"...So what happened?"
...
After I went down, Hwa-yeon predictably crushed Yoon Sirius, and we won.
Scored the club room and 500 million won.
A-rin said Yoon Sirius's face when he lost the cash was priceless.
Couldn't wait to visit and offer condolences—made me grin.
And staring at the system window in front of me made me smile more.
[Tutorial Complete]
[Tutorial: Club Creation Cleared.]
[Reward: Acquired One Blank Skillbook Page.]
Thinking about filling it already had my heart racing.
Anyway, after the win, they dragged my ass back here for a victory party.
"But why my dorm?"
"Where else, Si-woo? This is our official hideout."
My Sweet Home had somehow become the officially acknowledged club base—even by Hwa-yeon.
Money in pocket, tutorial cleared—mood was good, so whatever.
This meant subjugation ops were freer now.
'Most importantly, chance to meet that guy.'
The upcoming camp with all clubs.
The dude I wanted was there.
Problem: he was Lee Seong-hyeon's target too.
'Wanna avoid bumping into Seong-hyeon if possible. Meet now, he might not let me walk away clean.'
...Gotta plan that first.
With Erina, A-rin, and Hwa-yeon along, nothing bad should happen.
Probably.
Whenever I thought nothing would go wrong, shit always hit the fan these days.
As I pondered, Erina pressed a cold beer can to my cheek.
"Whatcha thinkin' so hard about?"
I bullshitted an answer.
"Club's set, so wonderin' what to name it."
"Club name? I already picked it."
"You did?"
"Ebony. Ebony."