The First Major Update
I raised my hand and asked the teacher.
“I don’t have anything I want to do, but can I make a new club?”
“Good question. Students who want to form a new club should submit an application. After that, an interview will be held and the club will be granted permission to open.”
The teacher’s brief explanation ended, and a group of seniors entered the classroom to promote the clubs.
“Our Sky Math Club’s advantage is that we’re made up of the top students. To maintain that, we expel anyone who falls outside the top 20% in grades every semester.”
Even though it was club activities, the standards were strict.
I could feel how seriously they approached the club.
“The Sky Math Club advisor is the teacher in charge of third-year math. You can ask him any questions about math and he’ll always help you.”
Starting with Sky Math, various study-related clubs were introduced one after another: Korean literature, science, and more.
After that, clubs related to sports and the arts were promoted.
“Doun. Which club are you joining? Let’s join one like ours.”
Naeun asked.
“I’m thinking of making a new one.”
“Really!? What kind of club?”
“A game club.”
Naeun’s expression changed in surprise.
She had every reason to be surprised.
A game club at high school.
From someone else’s perspective, it would simply look like she was joking.
“What about you, Naeun? Which club are you joining?”
“I’m… going to think about it for a little longer.”
Naeun hesitated briefly, then turned her head to Eunhye.
“Eunhye, what club are you thinking of?”
“I’m thinking the same as Doun.”
“Huh!? You’re joining the game club?”
“Games are fine too… and if it’s the same club as Doun, that’s enough for me.”
Naeun’s expression changed in a strange way.
Then she fell silent and fell into deep thought.
The club explanations continued from the first period to the fourth.
By the time the last club explanation ended, the teacher sitting in his seat stood up.
“You all listened well, right? From tomorrow you can submit your club applications. Think seriously about it.
And if you decide on one, remember that you have to stay active in that club for an entire semester.
Everyone, go eat lunch. Today’s classes are over.”
“Waaaa!!!”
The students gathered in groups and moved toward the cafeteria.
I ate lunch with Eunhye and Naeun.
While we were eating, Naeun, who had been quiet for a long time, finally opened her mouth with difficulty.
“Doun, you’re not just going to play games if you make a game club, right? You’ll also study, won’t you?”
I had originally planned to only play games.
But,
I needed to study from time to time.
Because my free time would change depending on my grades.
If I stayed in the top 20%, I could play games except for morning time.
I had to get into the top 20% somehow.
“Yeah. I’ll study too.”
“Then I’ll join the game club too.”
“Eh?”
I was startled.
Naeun joining the game club.
It didn’t suit her at all.
She had been a model student since middle school,
She would enter one of Korea’s top universities,
And after graduation…
She would live a successful life.
But suddenly a game club?
“Naeun, think about it more. You don’t like games.”
“No. I’ve played games.”
“When?”
“Th-that… I played once. Hero game.”
It was surprising that Naeun had played Hero Game.
Even so,
Naeun didn’t seem like the type.
Anyone else would have strongly recommended Hero Game.
Hero Game would grow even more, and money would pour in here.
The era when success in Hero Game becomes success in reality had arrived.
But.
It wasn’t Naeun.
“Naeun, there are many study-related clubs too.”
“Why do you say that, Doun? You and Eunhye are joining the same club, right?”
“That’s true, but…”
Even if Naeun didn’t play Hero Game, she would live a successful life in reality.
I knew that.
I couldn’t recommend Hero Game to her.
“My mother doesn’t want that either…”
“You don’t need to mention my mother. The repeating school and academy life… studying even on weekends… I’m tired of it.
That’s why I came here.”
I understood Naeun’s heart, but…
Even so, she would overcome her difficulties and enter a top university.
Because I knew the future, I couldn’t let her join the game club.
Just in case it messed up her future because of me.
While spending time with Naeun, I had shaken off the bad memories from the past with her.
Now I simply hoped she would do well.
“Naeun…”
“Doun. You can change clubs after one semester, right? Just try it, and if it doesn’t fit, I’ll change it in the second semester.”
For some reason, Naeun had come out strongly.
I wanted to persuade her gently, but the more I did, the more she became firm.
After lunch, I brought my laptop to the dormitory.
“Naeun, just try it once.”
“Okay!”
Naeun clenched her fists and answered firmly.
Even though it was a simple game, she approached it seriously, like a test.
“What’s your character?”
“It disappeared.”
“Did you die in the game?”
“Yes…”
Naeun had created a new character and appeared in a small village in Lion’s territory.
“Open your status window.”
“Okay.”
Character ID: Elena
Level: 1
Job: None
DNA: Goodness
Strength 10 Agility 10 Stamina 10 Intelligence 10
Her DNA was Goodness.
It was hard to understand, but the DNA in Hero Game was influenced by the player’s personality.
Just like my DNA “Gambler” was affected by my real self,
And Eunhye’s DNA “Snow Flower” was also influenced by her real self.
I glanced sideways at Naeun playing the game.
Goodness.
Naeun was definitely a kind girl.
Of course, in the future… she had turned her back on my help…
But that future would never come back.
I had already recorded the details of Kim Juho’s school bullying.
She wouldn’t need my help anymore.
As soon as Naeun connected to the game, she seemed familiar with the NPC, just as she had said, and received quests.
I silently watched Naeun playing the game.
She would glance at me from time to time with a look asking for help, but I ignored it.
That might have been why.
Eunhye, who was next to me, stepped in.
“Naeun. The rabbit leather quest is hard from the beginning.”
“Then?”
Naeun’s expression brightened a little as she asked Eunhye.
“You have to grow your character while cleaning.”
“Cleaning first??”
“Yeah, hunting from the start is hard. At least you need to have items ready.”
“Thank you! I’ll work hard!”
Naeun, after listening to Eunhye’s explanation of the early game, headed back to her dormitory.
“Eunhye, let’s play the game too.”
“Are you not going to help Naeun, Doun?”
“Naeun is… suited for studying.”
** ** I knew Doun had an awkward side, but he had always been kind to me.
After spending a lot of time preparing for middle school exams together, we became close.
His sociability was lacking, but he had a mature side and was thoughtful.
Yet,
Today it felt distant.
When Doun and Eunhye said they were doing the same club, I felt jealous.
We had come to high school together with three of us… but now they were just two.
I wanted to get closer to Doun.
To Eunhye.
That’s why I said I was joining the game club…
I didn’t know Doun would treat me so coldly.
Why?
Why was Doun acting like that?
“As expected. I’m weak. When I level up and become strong, Doun will acknowledge me.”
Back at the dormitory, I started the game as Eunhye had explained.
At first, I did the cleaning.
After cleaning one house, I cleaned the next.
[Oh my… You’re working hard.]
[Thank you.]
The house owner’s aunt praised me.
Even though I hadn’t played the game for long, just watching the NPC conversations showed me how advanced the AI was.
Was it because I had been diligent about cleaning houses?
After about 10 hours of starting the game, I received the baby-sitting mission.
I took care of the cute kids in the village.
We walked around the village together and ate delicious food.
Hero Game… It’s fun.
It felt like the physical education simulation I used to do as a child.
So I played until late at night,
And the next day arrived.
“Doun, bye~”
“Ah, Naeun. Welcome.”
I tried to start talking about Hero Game by bringing it up a few times.
But,
Doun kept changing the conversation topic.
This clearly meant he didn’t want to talk about me and the game.
I thought maybe Doun hated me…
But that wasn’t it.
He listened to other stories well.
Instead, he looked apologetic and took even better care of me.
Except for the game topic.
After the first period ended, during break time.
Leaving Doun behind, I went to the bathroom with Eunhye.
“Eunhye, Doun seems weird.”
“Why??”
“He seems like he doesn’t want to play games with me?”
“That’s…”
Eunhye also seemed to sense something and trailed off.
“Eunhye, if you know the reason, tell me!”
“I’m sorry, I don’t know the reason either…”
I asked Eunhye several more times, but she kept repeating that she didn’t know.
It was disappointing.
I thought she was a close friend…
But in the game they spent so much time in together, she hadn’t played with me.
I couldn’t stay like this.
I had to settle it.
“Doun!”
“Eh… Why?”
“Come pick me up for the game start village.”
“Eh?”
Doun gave me an expression like he couldn’t understand.
It seemed too abrupt, so I repeated it.
“Come pick me up at the game start village.”
“Um… Sorry. I’m busy, I can’t go.”
“Then at least tell me a growth method. I won’t go hunting together, but…”
“Sorry…”
Not even wanting to hunt together.
Why was he doing this much?
After class ended, I immediately headed to the dormitory.
And I turned on Hero Game.
If Doun wouldn’t help, I would grow with my own power.
As soon as I connected to the game, I received the village cleaning mission from the NPC.
Knock knock.
“Eh? Who is it?”
“Naeun, it’s me, Eunhye.”
“Ah… Eunhye. Come in.”
Eunhye came to my room and explained Hero Game in detail.
And.
She bought game currency with 300,000 won cash.
“Eunhye. This is…”
“It’s fine. I bought it again with the money I just spent on game currency. I thought it might take a long time to deliver it to the mercenary guild.”
“Yeah… But I feel really sorry…”
The feeling of receiving game currency support and receiving 300,000 won cash was different.
But,
Eunhye didn’t seem to care, as if 300,000 won was a small amount.
“I earn a lot of money in Hero Game. So you don’t have to be that grateful.”
“Yeah… Eunhye, thank you! I’ll definitely pay you back later!”
Eunhye used the game currency bought with 300,000 won cash to purchase equipment.
From then on, it became quite easy.
The rabbit leather mission was easily completed,
And the deer leather mission was also easy.
Even though I had only equipped items, I suddenly felt much stronger.
“Naeun, I don’t know why Doun is acting like that… but there must be a reason.”
“Yeah… Thank you…”
With Eunhye’s help, the second day went by quickly leveling up.
The next day I hunted foxes diligently.
That’s how I could reach level 10 quickly.
Character ID: Elena
Level: 10
Job: Novice Cleric
DNA: Goodness
Strength 10 Agility 10 Stamina 20 Intelligence 20
Divinity 10
“Wow! The job has finally appeared.”
Eunhye had told me that Doun had surpassed level 60.
Even though there was still a lot left to go…
But since I had quickly reached 10 levels,
I wondered if I could catch up soon…
That thought disappeared in an instant.
“Leveling up is hard…”
Unlike the quick progress to 10 levels, even after playing until late at night, I couldn’t reach level 11.
I searched the internet before sleeping.
About the job “Cleric.”
“Healer… Must-have for parties… Noble treatment?? Do party members like it!?”
If that was the case, maybe Doun would acknowledge me.
Today, I could sleep peacefully.
Looking forward to tomorrow.