Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Understand the Rules Well
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After school. Free time to head back to the dorms or stick around for training or club activities.
That's right. And during that free time, we've got just one thing to do.
"Cooking Club. Gourmet Exploration Club. Otherwise, no dice."
"Who put you in charge?"
Club tryouts. Honestly, everyone in our class is a walking time bomb. They're gonna blow up eventually if you get tangled with them, but as classmates, you can't exactly avoid it, right?
So why not dive in deep and suck the marrow out of it? That's the plan—scout some clubs.
"Seong-hoon, you know your face gives away your evil schemes? People shouldn't be like that."
I ignored the damn blonde and kept walking. What the hell is up with this school? So many buildings it's harder to navigate than that department store I went to last time. Bet even universities aren't this sprawling.
Absolutely not because I can't find my way outside my department's turf.
Definitely not because I have no friends.
Yeah. That's it.
"What's this place? The clubroom's on the rooftop?"
Lost in thought, we'd arrived at our first stop. Rooftop. Club activities. What does that conjure up? You got it—Nap Club.
Eh? Why does that exist? Fair question, but in a fantasy world, anything goes.
I shoved open the rooftop door, and holy crap, it was a sight. About five people clustered together, fast asleep.
"Whoa. This is kinda lame. No way we can even try it out like this. If they fall asleep, isn't that the end? What about Cooking Club? Gourmet Exploration?!"
I ignored Raphael's rambling and scanned the room.
Ignored her too. A quick look around, and I spotted him right away. Brown-haired guy. Cat-eye mask on, snoring away.
Oh Seung-jin.
The guy I used as my deus ex machina. Meaning, whenever the plot got messy, I'd just throw him in to fix it.
Setting was stronger than Kim Tae-hyun, but his personality and sense of justice kept him from stepping up—total hidden master vibe.
Reality? He's a lunatic who jumps in whenever something bugs him.
Came to check on him, but the club president was out cold too, and I had zero intention of joining anyway. So I turned to leave.
"Uh... who're you?"
Caught.
—Joining? Oh, no? Ah, just observing! Wanna nap for a bit before you go?
—That kid? First day of school, somehow knew about us and just crashed here. Call him the Nap Club ace.
—Kid kept sleeping there even after we left. Thinking of him as next president.
After that rundown, we took a light nap—about ten minutes—then headed out. The grumpy blonde had conked out deep; tough to wake her.
"This time for sure, Cooking Club?"
Maybe give it up already. Dragging the half-asleep girl along, we arrived at our next spot.
Four colorful balls racked between sticks. Green table, vibrant cue balls. Crisp impact sounds echoing.
A billiards hall. Never been to one in my life—or any world's. But this was Billiards Club. Shocked how identical it looked to the real thing. They just renovate clubrooms willy-nilly like this?
"Welcome! Here to join?"
"Nah. Just observing."
A guy who screamed delinquent approached and I answered.
He nodded, muttered to who I guessed was the president, and they got started.
I left them to it and looked around. Spotted my target instantly.
Blonde hair sticking out everywhere—messy enough to worry if he even brushes it, but it didn't look dirty. Ears loaded with random piercings, sunglasses on, rings crammed on his fingers. Gripping the cue with those hands, lining up a shot.
Park Ho-soo. Later becomes Kim Tae-hyun's right-hand man. Ranking third, I think. Yeah.
Not that Kim Tae-hyun not meeting him slows growth or anything. Figured getting acquainted might help down the line.
But I'd play it careful.
This guy's extreme—he despises the weak. Loves the strong. A reckless setting I shoved in to boost Tae-hyun's forces.
What does that mean? I'm weak? He hates weaklings?
Said it all. That's getting dumped before confession.
Anyway, that's why I came. Half-listening to the president's chatter, I followed him to a table.
Ooh. Kinda tense. As a kid, I thought these places were for delinquents only. Never set foot in one.
Calming my pounding heart, I heard a voice nearby.
"Ooh, you. First time at billiards? Want me to teach ya? Basics are key. To get hooked—"
Didn't even turn, but obvious. Some club member saw Raphael's face and came flirting.
I fiddled with the cue, pretending not to notice. Hoping no sparks flew my way. Then felt someone approach—turned to see the damn blonde.
Grinning wickedly, eyes screaming, 'How dare you ignore me?'
Sweating bullets, I tried ignoring her.
"No thanks! I'm good!! Learning from this guy!! Appreciate the offer! He's really good~"
She threw me under the bus. I yanked her aside and hissed just loud enough for us.
"Hey! What the hell?! I've never played!! This is forbidden fun for delinquents only?!"
"What? Whose fault is that? Karma. I'm not taking it lying down anymore."
Too damn logical; speechless. Fine, mess with me and I got ways. I got Lachesis.
My back itched. All eyes on me. 'He’s that good?' 'Let’s see the skills.' Expectations.
'Dragging a beauty like that? How good is he?' 'Rich kid?' Whispers and guesses.
Whatever. Confirmed Park Ho-soo's gaze. No reason not to. With Lachesis, the balls go in themselves.
Watch closely. My moment.
I hefted the cue. Struck a pose I'd seen somewhere, rammed it forward. Crisp crack—ball rolls.
Hit the rack, then like magic, balls pocketed one by one. Last one even curved back to me and stopped.
In the stunned silence, I exhaled and looked up.
Even I knew it was god-tier.
Raphael's panicked face. Shaking pupils around.
Ah, classic pattern. Crowd freaks: 'What?!' 'No way!!' President rushes, kneels: 'Please join us!!'
Come at me.
I'm ready. Praise, pets—bring it anytime.
Waited forever, no reaction. Looked around—hesitant president approached.
Face full of sorry, like should I even say it?
"Uh, you gotta hit the white ball..."
"Kkh... hah... heehee... hik... whoo... kkhah... Seong-hoon! S-Seong-hoon... sob... you trying to kill me laughing?! Ah, can't... breathe!! Someone!! Call a doctor!!"
Ignored the blonde clutching her gut, gasping. Well, said that, but my face burned like fire. Never this embarrassed.
Who made that rule? Can't you just hit any ball?
"..."
I walked faster. Ditched Raphael still giggling, gut-held. Next up: [Magic Research Club]. Why here? Isia. Already acquainted. More than that—maid and mistress. What more ya need?
Ask why? Ties to Magic Association. Silent war brewing around it.
At the vortex's heart: Isia. Story's packed with specialized mages trained to kidnap or kill her. One's this club's president.
Knock knock.
I rapped naturally. Raphael from behind: "W-Wait!! Coming too!!" panted up.
Door opened—glasses guy.
"What?"
Red name tag. Second-year. My guy's frowning right in front of me.
"Here to observe."
"Ah. Observing."
Unlike other clubs, rude from jump. Not hiding his annoyance.
But whatcha gonna do? Can't say no.
"...Come in."
Grudging okay—I stepped right in. What hit me: warehouse, not clubroom.
Dusty desks, chairs. All unsittable except one.
"Whoa. This a club too?"
"Yeah. Solo operation, so everything's like that but one desk."
He scowled at Raphael's words. Mages self-centered as ever.
I picked the least bad chair, sat. Raphael followed beside.
She swung her legs, humming. Probably high from my flop earlier. Consistent, at least.
"Nothing to see. Look around quick and go. Join somewhere else. Nothing to do."
Said that, but he didn't stop. Pacing randomly, no pattern.
Raphael frowned at his fidgeting, but I watched. He's drawing a magic circle.
His name: Park Shin-woo.
Magic Association foe's anti-social group's spell assassin.
Specialist in magic circles—draws 'em casually in daily motions.
And culprit in early major event: Isia's kidnapping.
After the [Wraith Incident], I think. Here to check his deployment speed.
See, I set up Isia and Kim Tae-hyun's meet at the store, but blocked me getting close. Gotta return the favor.
After-service.
Circle he's drawing: probably [Sleep Magic].
Deploys across academy to knock out students and staff, kidnaps Isia—thwarted by training Tae-hyun. Just starting, so it'll take time.
If progressed, would've wrecked it with Mana Eye.
"Good enough. Safe."
"Huh?"
"Next: Cooking Club."
"Yesss!!"
I blocked Raphael's excited flailing, gave perfunctory goodbye, and left.
Park Shin-woo nodded at the voice from thin air. Echoing from flickering flames.
Flame Message, one of mages' comms methods.
"All prepped."
[No mistakes. Kidnap the lady—no, Isia—and victory's ours. That chairman does anything for his daughter.]
"Yes. Return circle done too. Execute as soon as target nears."
[Good. Good luck.]
Pop.
Park Shin-woo smiled into the dark at the extinguished flame.