Chapter 22
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Clubs Are Dangerous
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Time passed a little, and it was Monday afternoon.
Today, too, I had successfully managed to get through lunch while barely dodging the women's persistent stares.
After lunch, since I hadn't planned anything to do, I was wandering aimlessly around the campus.
Going back to the dorm or the training grounds was out of the question—I was terrified of paying the price for all those smartphone notifications blaring nonstop.
"Haa... Isn't there anything fun going on?"
In my desire to do something meaningful, even if it was tiring, I looked around while walking. That's when I spotted a large bulletin board on one side of the main building's hallway.
"...Club recruitment board?"
Up close, the board was plastered with flyers and notices for all sorts of clubs.
Sub-Knight miscellaneous club, Magic Research Club, this one's an Alchemy Club, Weird Food Exploration Club... all kinds of bizarre names.
'Oh yeah, this game had club activities too, right? This was one of the easiest favorability events... I completely forgot about it.'
This ero-game was set in a modern university, so of course clubs existed.
Plus, players could take on heroine-related quests by joining clubs.
And clearing those quests rewarded heroine-exclusive gifts that boosted favorability.
So, to maximize chances for all heroines except Wol Ha-yeon, you absolutely had to join at least one club.
Of course, each club only gave a gift for one specific heroine.
Even excluding Wol Ha-yeon, that meant joining at least four clubs and grinding away—literal hell.
'Normally, I'd be too busy prepping for the main story to care... Should I at least check them out?'
Thinking it'd kill some boredom, I scanned the flyers one by one.
That was when it happened.
"Oh? Aren't you...?"
A familiar, lively voice I'd heard somewhere before rang out, and I felt a hand tap my shoulder from behind.
I turned around to see a girl with sparkling lime-green eyes smiling at me.
"...Huh? Amelia?"
The girl talking to me was Amelia, the Saintess (Physical) heroine.
"Hehe, you're the leader of Group 4 from last week's dungeon evaluation, right? Are you thinking about joining a club?"
"Ah, no? Not really, I was just... bored and looking around..."
"Perfect timing then! No need to agonize over it!"
Amelia grabbed my arm without even letting me finish.
"Wait, what are you—?"
"Let's head to our clubroom! The best promotion is tasting it firsthand—chew it, savor it, enjoy it! I learned that from my Korean friend!!"
"That's not what that phrase is for...!!"
Before I could stop her, I was swept away by Amelia's signature bright energy and dragged straight to the clubroom.
I could feel the surrounding students shooting me looks that said, "Kang Hyun-sol, that bastard—now it's the Saintess?"
'...Goddamn it, seriously!! You fucking Oath of Indulgence!! What the hell did I ever do to you!!!'
A short while later.
Led by Amelia's hand, we arrived at a clubroom made by remodeling one of the classrooms on the third floor of the academy's main building.
As the door opened, flashy decorations and a sign reading [Guardians of Light Club] caught my eye first.
"Come on in! This is the Guardians of Light Club where I'm currently active. Everyone here's kind and good-hearted—you'll love it here for sure."
Amelia pushed my back, half-forcing me inside the clubroom.
Several students were already inside, kneeling as if in prayer.
They all turned to look at me at once, probably disturbed by the commotion.
'...Damn it, I'm gonna lose my mind.'
I took a step back to escape, but it was too late.
"Ooh... Is this a new believer brought by the Saintess?"
One of the kneeling female students cautiously asked Amelia, and soon gasps of admiration erupted around the room.
"Wow... A new believer!"
"Finally, a male student joining our club...!"
"Ah, no, wait!! I haven't...!!"
Afraid I'd be force-recruited into this weird "Guardians of Light" club, I tried desperately to protest, but my words were drowned out by Amelia's cheerful voice.
"Yes, exactly! This is the person we'll be together with from today! So everyone, give them a warm welcome!"
"Huh?"
'From today? From today?'
I bit my lip to hold back my denial.
No point saying anything—they clearly wouldn't listen in this atmosphere.
One girl grabbed my hand, another tried to guide me to a seat... and one was already pulling out sheet music for hymns, preparing to sing.
"......"
'Ah, seriously, this can't be happening.'
Realizing I'd be forcibly converted if I stayed, I twisted out of their grasp.
"Sorry!! I just remembered something urgent...!"
Amelia tilted her head, saying, "Huh? Leaving already? We haven't even started yet...", but I'd already broken free. Without hesitation, I bolted for the door.
Thankfully, the students inside yielded to my desperate momentum and stepped aside, letting me fling open the door and escape outside.
"...Phew, I'm alive."
Out in the hallway, I wiped my sweat and let out a sigh of relief.
But at that moment.
Kiiiek—!
The door to the clubroom next door swung open, and someone stepped out.
Turquoise hair sparkling like emeralds, and a thick grimoire that looked at least 500 pages clutched in her hand.
"...Sophia?"
Sophia Litwell, having made eye contact with me, tilted her head slightly before flashing a meaningful smile.
"Hyun-sol? What brings you here? Actually, perfect timing—I see you've been ignoring my messages since yesterday evening..."
"...Ah, that was..."
"Whatever. Follow me first."
Before I could respond, she grabbed my wrist.
'......Damn it, what's with today?'
So, after barely escaping Amelia's club, I was immediately dragged by Sophia into the room next door and thrown in against my will.
30 minutes later.
"Ugh... My head's spinning. Runes are swimming all over in front of my eyes..."
"Don't exaggerate. I barely had time to teach you properly."
"Exaggerate... Urk."
After barely finishing my "fun"? magic lesson with Sophia, I finally escaped the clubroom.
Of course, it wasn't because I completed the lesson perfectly—it was just that afternoon classes were about to start.
I was grateful I didn't have to endure more of that headache-inducing magic class.
"...No, wait— isn't that too much? I told you I wasn't deliberately avoiding you; I just had a sad story where I couldn't check."
"That's why I'm asking—what's this sad story? Why dodge when you could just explain briefly?"
"No, why are you so curious about my personal life?"
'Ah...'
This is bad. I think I messed up.
I shouldn't have said that... Lately, I've been too on edge, and it came out harsher than intended.
I tried to correct myself belatedly, but Sophia's expression had already hardened completely.
Then, standing silently without a word, she pursed her lips and cast her eyes downward slightly.
"...Sorry. I guess I shouldn't pry into your business? I overstepped."
"...Huh?"
"I thought we were friends... but apparently friends can't even ask about that. Sorry, I was being nosy."
Sophia muttered with a sigh, looking away.
Her small back somehow looked forlorn.
"Ah, no, wait—that's not what I meant...!"
I waved my hands frantically, babbling excuses.
"I-I didn't mean it like that. It's fine if you're curious. Friends do that, right? I'll explain."
"......"
After hearing all my excuses, Sophia lifted her head again and asked with a bright smile, like she'd been waiting for those exact words.
"So, what's the reason?"
"Um... well..."
'...Did she get me again?'
I felt like she'd tricked me again, just like last time.
But no need to pick at it and sour the mood again, so I racked my brain and started explaining.
"Um... The reason I did that is... I was tired today and wanted to end classes early and rest all day. Y'know, it's been less than a week since the dungeon evaluation, right?"
"As you know, some awakeners get headaches from the dungeon's influence... like, no energy to talk to anyone. It wasn't intentional ignoring—just needed some alone time to recover."
"......"
Sophia stared blankly at my lame excuse, then burst out snickering.
"...That's the excuse you came up with?"
"Argh! It's not an excuse—it's true! You know about it too. Dungeon motion sickness! Yeah, that."
I flailed my hands, protesting my innocence.
But Sophia, clearly seeing through everything, just hugged her thick grimoire tight and nodded slightly.
"Got it. Fine, if you insist that hard, I'll believe you. But next time, don't ghost me—reply even if it's short. Friends can do that much, right?"
"...Yeah. Sorry. I'll reply from now on."
Sophia finally smiled, satisfied.
"Good. That's settled."
"Yeah."
'Phew... Dodged that one.'
Before we knew it, chatting like that had brought us to the lecture hall for today's afternoon class.
The sign by the door listed the subject.
[Magical Physiology – The Correlation Between Mana and Body Structure]
"...I barely held back post-meal sleepiness last week... Can I survive this week too?"
Maybe because I remembered forcing myself through it on Monday last week after a warning? Just seeing the title made my face scrunch up.
Sophia, clutching her grimoire like it was treasure, sighed at my expression and said,
"Like I told you last week, learning how mana interacts with the body is a huge help in battle. Especially for you, aspiring magic swordsman—you need to learn it properly."
"...Got it."
"Alright~ Let's go in."
Grumbling inwardly, 'Fun my ass...', I stepped into the lecture hall.