Chapter 155
Chapter 155
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 155
Chapter Title: Grade Announcement (2)
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Morning class was Modern Hunter Studies.
"Hello, everyone~. I'm Professor Kang Hyo-rin. It's been a while."
Professor Kang Hyo-rin, who handled Modern Hunter Studies, entered the lecture hall in neat attire.
It really felt like forever since I'd last attended a class.
That was how long the survival training and festival had dragged on.
A full two weeks, no less.
"Oh, before we start, I have an announcement. Grades will be posted after morning classes end. Since I'm in charge of first-years, come to my lab if you have any questions about them. Alright, let's begin!"
There were a few things I didn't know since I hadn't been studying lately, but most of it was familiar.
'Guess I need to make time to at least read some books.'
That would be more efficient than sitting through lectures.
So instead of listening, I mulled over my future plans.
Scribble scribble.
I jotted down the word "terrorism" in my notebook.
No need to worry about terror attacks for the time being. After one hit, Pandemic stays quiet for at least a month.
Even if it looks like random attacks, they meticulously scout for openings over set periods.
That's how they survive in the shadows despite making the whole world their enemy.
Next up: heroines.
I tapped my pen, making clicking sounds as I stared at the word "heroines."
'Progress with the heroines... not bad.'
There were minor issues, like Moon Soo-rin's mentality, Ellis's voyeurism, and Lucy's ambiguous route, but nothing I couldn't resolve.
The real hurdle was the growing number of women getting close, potentially leading to them checking each other.
That made careful conquest even more crucial.
Just becoming lovers didn't mean conquest was complete.
Making them all my women was different from simply dating everyone.
'What was that lunch invitation about?'
And the mystery letter.
No matter how I thought about it, none of the heroines would pull something like that.
If not a heroine, the only one left was Kim Young-han, but he didn't seem the type either.
"Hmm..."
"What's up? Having trouble?"
"It's nothing."
I shook my head at Lucy, who was looking at me during class.
No point dwelling on something without answers. I'd find out when I got there.
No way an enemy would target me inside the academy.
*
"P-Please go out with me!"
"..."
Why was I even tense?
Though I told myself it was nothing, I came to the rooftop ready to deploy Cotton Guard at a moment's notice.
But a female cadet I'd never seen before held out a heart-stamped letter.
Come on, even in a sex game, do confessions have to be this clichéd?
I seriously hated it.
Would you date a guy whose name and voice you don't even know?
How clueless about reality do you have to be to try this?
I swallowed a sigh and forced an ambiguous expression as I refused.
"...Sorry. I don't think now's the time for me to date anyone."
"W-Why..."
Why? I don't even know your name.
As the shocked girl lifted her head, I vaguely recognized her.
She used to hang out with Lucy.
But they'd stopped at some point. Why confess to me out of nowhere?
"You get along so well with that bitch Lucy, so why not me?!"
"...?"
Why bring up Lucy all of a sudden?
Lucy mattered more than some extra like her, obviously.
Even setting aside her heroine status, Lucy had a prettier face and bigger breasts.
"Um, sorry. Lucy's just a friend... and I'm not really ready to date anyone yet..."
"You're awful! Sob!"
The girl flung the letter at me and ran off the rooftop in tears.
"Hah, what a crazy bitch."
Watched too many animes? You think I'd accept that?
Tsk tsk.
I sighed and headed down from the rooftop.
Wasting time here made me regret not eating lunch with the twins.
If it'd take less than five minutes, I should've just said to eat together.
The Lucy-Lumi twins said they'd grab something quick at the student cafeteria and head to the lecture hall, so they were probably eating already.
Not hungry anyway, I grabbed a triangle kimbap from the convenience store for lunch.
Heading to the central hallway, wondering if grades were out yet, but they weren't.
Shambling back to the lecture hall, I saw Lucy facing off against the girl who'd confessed earlier.
Their voices were rising; some kind of argument.
"You... you just said everything you wanted!"
Lucy clenched her fists, glaring at the girl.
"Why? Wrong? You spewed every insult in the book back then, and now you're all buddy-buddy? Isn't clinging like that disgusting?"
"What do you know? What did I ever do to you?!"
"You're filthy and ugly. Ho-yeon's just nice enough to let it slide, but watching you strut around like that makes me sick."
"I know too, you know? From the start, between us..."
From what I gathered listening in, it was about the Felix days.
'Lucy badmouthed Lee Ho-yeon to her close friends while praising Felix. But once Felix was exposed as a demon, she suddenly cozied up to Lee Ho-yeon, wagging her tail.'
The fight boiled down to Lucy being gross for that flip-flop, but of course I knew.
And it was unavoidable.
I'd been deliberately rude, and Lucy had been under Felix's spell. On top of that, I'd layered a debuff dropping her favorability toward me.
The result was inevitable.
But right now, it wasn't about how she'd felt.
"Whoa, for real? Thought Lucy was nice, but nope."
"She's only overshadowed by Lumi. She's trash deep down too."
Seems they harbored grudges against Lucy; badmouthing snowballed, mostly from the girls.
'Should I stop it?'
If the person involved said she was fine, it might calm down.
Or should I use this situation?
I watched them slowly, pondering.
"What did I do wrong to deserve this...!"
Then our eyes met—Lucy and mine.
The chattering cadets noticed me and shut up.
Guess I had to step in.
"Hey, everyone. Calm down first."
Needed to de-escalate.
Couldn't let them keep fighting here.
"Ho-yeon, didn't you hear? She badmouthed you everywhere, and now she's grinning like nothing happened, sticking to your side!"
The girl fighting Lucy yelled at me.
The same one I'd rejected earlier. She'd been blushing then; why so furious now?
And you used polite speech before. Why half-informal in front of everyone?
"Hah... who are you to butt in? Lucy and I already made up. Don't spout nonsense when you know nothing, and tell the others to stop spreading weird rumors."
Needed to shift eyes off Lucy.
Truth was, Lucy and I never directly talked it out or made up.
It just fizzled.
But couldn't say that in front of cadets, so I lied to defuse.
I took Lucy to our usual seats. Brought trembling Lumi from behind too.
Cadets returned to their spots one by one after I spoke.
Situation calmed. Time to talk.
"You okay?"
I asked the twins—Lucy's energy rock-bottom, Lumi still sniffling.
"..."
"..."
Both hung their heads silently.
Fine for Lucy, but why Lumi?
"Don't mind that crap, you two. I sure don't."
"...Yeah."
"Okay."
Tsk. Awkward now.
One crazy bitch ruined the vibe.
Was she one of those trendy "obsessed girl" types?
I checked their status windows to gauge the twins.
★ Heroine Status ★ [Lucy] Favorability: 90 Lust: 34 Appetite: 36 Fatigue: 85 Current Status: It was my fault. I should've apologized more firmly... Does he hate me now? ★ Heroine Status ★ [Lumi] Favorability: 95 (+0.4) Lust: 65 Appetite: 35 Fatigue: 40 Current Status: Lucy... what if she's hurt? 'Hmm...'
Lumi seemed fine; just needed to soothe Lucy a bit.
Her fatigue at 85 meant she'd been stressed hard.
"...Ho-yeon."
But before I could speak, Lucy did.
"Yeah."
"About Felix back then... I'm really sorry. It was all my fault... I..."
⚙ QUEST COMPLETED! ⚙ [Sub Quest Cleared] I watched Lucy stammer when a random system window popped up.
'Quest? Which one...'
Something flashed in my mind.
I had one uncleared quest.
⚙ SUB QUEST TRANSMITTED ⚙ [Man Who Took 1st in Practical Exam!] 1st in theory is already in the bag! Top that with 1st in practical for true scholar-warrior status! Reward: +1 Favorability to all Heroines
The only uncleared quest sent to me was that one.
No wonder none had popped lately; judgment on this hadn't finished.
But success... wait.
Rattle-!
"Hey! Grades are out! Posted in the central hallway!"
"Ack! Grades!"
"Ji-soo, let's check grades quick."
Whoosh—
Most cadets rushed out, anxiety flooding my chest.
"I-I'm really sorry. And... sniff."
But I couldn't leave Lucy crying and apologizing.
She was an important heroine too.
Ended up listening for minutes until she calmed a bit, then went to check.
"Whoa, Lee Ho-yeon 1st in three? For real?"
"Insane. First in academy history?"
"Student Council President's the first for all-subjects 1st, but Ho-yeon's the first first-year with three 1sts on debut exam, right?"
No, where did it go wrong?
Why?
Denial didn't change reality's cruelty.
📜 GRADE POSTING 📜 [Theory Exam]
1. Lee Ho-yeon 2. Ellis ... [Practical Exam]
1. Lee Ho-yeon 2. Nam Da-eun ... [Special Exam]
1. Lee Ho-yeon 2. Ellis ... No clue where it derailed.
Grades were already posted.
Wait, where's Nam Da-eun?
No sign of her from lecture hall to central hallway.
Thump. Thump.
Chest pounded with unease and tension.
"See? You changed history."
A familiar male voice came from beside me.
"...Hey. You see Nam Da-eun?"
I'd been focused on Lucy, but Kim Young-han might know.
"Nam Da-eun? Saw her grab her bag after checking grades and head somewhere."
"..."
"Anyway, three 1sts? Your guild value's gonna skyrocket..."
Kim Young-han kept yapping, but it didn't register.
Nam Da-eun's pure face from yesterday, joyful over the wallet.
She'd said she'd brag to her little sister.
Earlier, pondering where to go with sis on their outing reward for 1st.
That innocent expression overlapped with the bad-end Nam Da-eun slaughtering guildmates to protect her purity before suicide.
"Ah, fuck."
We're screwed.
I spun and bolted back to the lecture hall.
She shouldn't be in the academy right now.