Chapter 67
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: True Ancestor Ameris
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"Hey, did you hear? They say a new club popped up."
"A new club? Weren't the clubs at our academy all set in stone?"
The girl let out a sigh at his clueless question.
"At least read the school rules. It says you can start one."
"What? If that's the case, I could've made one too. I went through hell squeezing into clubs just to pad my resume. This time, I could've..."
The girl shook her head in disbelief at his words.
"Dream on. You'd have to outperform an existing club in skills first."
"Outperform them how? Did some upperclassmen band together to start a new one? Or is a clan backing a new club...?"
"It's freshmen."
"No way!"
The guy blurted out in shock, but it made sense.
"Oh! That Lee Seong-hyeon from first year! I've heard he's insane..."
"Nah, apparently not. The name's... Kim Si-woo or something."
"Kim Si-woo? Who's that?"
"Dunno the details. But he's got some buzz among the first-years."
The girl scratched her head.
"Even so, naming it Ebony? What a weird taste."
"What? Why go with a name like that...?"
The first new club in years seemed to have caught the students' attention.
And of all names, Ebony—a mysterious secret society straight out of urban legends. Perfect fodder for gossip.
It was basically like naming a club after a terrorist group.
Thanks to that, talk of the Ebony Club was popping up everywhere.
"A new club after all these years? The academy's no joke..."
"Talk about pulling aggro."
Even in the academy hallways, the Ebony Club was hot topic.
The club's president had to be either crazy or a total attention whore.
"What's the point of a flashy name if no one joins?"
"Dude, it's got Baek A-rin and Kang Hwa-yeon."
"So? The head guy's a total problem child."
"Problem child?"
"You haven't heard? That infamous first-year..."
As I passed the chattering students, they trailed off like I'd caught them badmouthing the star of the show and switched topics.
'...'
Yeah, spot on.
That nutjob head of the ridiculous club?
That's me, bro.
Ebony.
That was definitely our club's name.
Who was to blame for this? No need to think.
"I feel no heavy responsibility or deep remorse for the social backlash caused by this misguided club name."
"What're you mumbling, Kim Si-woo?"
Erina stared at me like I was some weirdo.
Yeah, this bitch.
It wasn't Erina's fault for picking Ebony. But submitting it on her own? Totally her fault.
"You apologize."
"For what?"
"To me. And to society."
"What bullshit is this, Chewwoo? You hurt somewhere...?"
She eyed me with a bit of red ice cream smeared on her lips.
"Nothing."
"If it hurts, go to the hospital."
"..."
Should I just grab this girl and school her? She's such a spoiled brat.
I sighed and walked on, catching more student chatter.
"Anyway, whatever the rumors, we'll know after the club retreat. You're going too, right?"
"Yeah. Just curious if it's all hype or there's something real."
"You buy that crap?"
"Nah, but it's weird enough to question. Baek A-rin and Kang Hwa-yeon tagging along and all..."
"Club retreat? What's that, Kim Si-woo?"
Erina's blue eyes widened, like she'd overheard.
[Club Dungeon Retreat]
One of the big perks for clubs at the National Seoul Hunter Academy—the top academy in Korea's gift to its students: priority dungeon clears for academic purposes.
But since it's student clubs doing it for study, low-grade dungeons that aren't worth much cash are the norm.
But...
Then a lion's roar hit my right ear dead-on.
"Answer me, Chewwoo!!!"
"Gahhh!"
It burst!
My eardrum's busted, you deaf bitch!!!
I whipped around to glare at Erina, who grinned sweetly.
"Finally looking this way."
"After nearly giving me permanent hearing damage, you smile like some heroine?"
"Your fault for not answering, Chewwoo."
Erina just kept smiling.
I asked if she'd take responsibility if I ended up needing hearing aids.
"So what're you so curious about? You know what a club retreat is."
It wasn't unique to Korea.
Especially in the US, with its vast land, most big academies did it.
So Erina had to know.
"K-academy ways need prepping."
"You get screwed over here or what?"
Erina glared, fuming at my words.
...She'd been through a lot hanging with me.
Honestly, miracle she hadn't sued.
'Mostly my fault, though.'
A twinge of guilt made me clear my dry throat before answering.
"Nothing special."
"Really? Can't trust K-academy."
"As a proud K-citizen, it stings that your distrust has basis, but this time it's true."
Really.
Like other countries, every club teams up yearly to raid an academy-picked dungeon.
That's it.
"Wait, maybe one difference. Our academy usually does high-grade ones."
"K-chewademy! Dead serious about killing students! I'm out!"
"Nah, you can't bail. Our club's drowning in aggro because of you. Think you can dip now?"
"No! Don't wanna die without meeting my white knight prince!"
Erina looked genuinely terrified.
Time to reassure her here.
"What now? Everyone dies eventually."
"Nooo!!!"
Erina recoiled in horror.
Fun. And weirdly satisfying deep down.
Still, making a scene would tank her already shitty rep more.
Poor thing. Maybe calm her.
"Kidding. Even high-grade, profs and instructors go along, so it's basically safe. You know how strong K-academy profs are."
"Can't trust anymore."
True. Rare chance to safely experience C-grade+ dungeons under prof guidance.
I made the club for tutorial clears, but this too.
'Though what I'm after isn't the dungeon.'
Canon-wise, a massive event awaits at the retreat.
Top reason I started the club: the site, [Ghoul Field]—Jeju's demon-realm counterpart.
Of course, profs pick safe spots. But novel events always derail from plans.
This retreat would get extremely, insanely, super dangerous.
'But the rewards? Can't miss 'em.'
Lost in thought and grinning, Erina asked anxiously.
"Really okay? I won't die if I go?"
"Believe me."
"Really nothing happens...?"
"Pro...bably?"
"Safe too?"
"If I don't die, you won't."
"..."
"..."
Five seconds of silence.
Then Erina's tears.
"...Let me sit this out!"
"No. Not changing the lineup."
"Whyyyy!"
Erina wailed, shaking my clothes.
'Gotta calm her first.'
I snatched the slightly red ice cream from her hand.
Her eyes snapped to it.
"What?! Give it back!"
"Calm down first."
"Chewwoo, you threatening me?"
"For your own good. Mostly your rep."
"What're you talking about?"
Words aside, she quieted fast, yielding to the ice cream.
"Give it back now."
"Nah."
Dunno why, but I didn't wanna.
"Gimmeee..."
As she reached out, I blocked with one hand and eyed the stolen ice cream.
Pale pink ice cream.
Erina's licks had revealed bright red bits embedded throughout.
'Strawberry... no, cherry?'
Was gonna tease and return, but changed my mind.
How good could it be to act like that?
"N-no way you're gonna eat that?"
"Yeah."
"Ewww! Why eat something so gross!"
"Nah, not gross."
Ignoring her protests, I took a small bite.
Cool texture melted softly on my tongue.
Cool, sweet, smooth.
And crunchy... salty... sour... spicy...?
What the hell?
Not cherry or strawberry.
"This is old kimchi."
Why? Why's there fermented radish in ice cream?
I stared at Erina in confusion.
Her pale face had flushed red.
"Why'd you eat that!! Chewwoo!!!"
"Why'd you eat it like that?"
Did I ruin her taste buds this bad?