Real Man?
Persona Erosion
Remaining Duration: 29 minutes 22 seconds
“Saya-nim? Your complexion does not look good. Is something the matter…?”
Panir’s voice drifted farther and farther away. My head spun for a moment, and then a strange sensation that did not feel like my own began to seize every inch of my body. It was as if my blood were boiling hot and my muscles swelling—a rough, swaggering confidence flooding through me.
Completely against my will, the corner of my mouth curled up into a cocky grin. As though control of my body had been handed over to someone else, words and actions that had nothing to do with my thoughts came spilling out.
“Khhhaaaah!!”
I downed the remaining hot tea in one gulp and slammed the cup onto the table with a bang.
“Problem? Not a chance. I’m in the best shape of my life! This tea is the real deal!”
My gravelly tone froze the cozy air of the clubroom in an instant. Salad’s eyes went round as a rabbit’s and she locked up completely, while Panir fixed me with a sharp, analytical stare, dissecting the sudden change.
No matter how hard I screamed inside, it was useless. I leaned deep into the chair, sprawled my legs wide without a shred of shame, and began to marvel.
“Feels like years of built-up fatigue just got wiped clean. Perfect! Hahaha!”
“S-Saya… why are you suddenly like this? Are you sure you’re okay?”
Salad asked in a worried voice and started to approach. I raised a hand and stopped her.
“I’m fine. You think a real man would whine over something this small?”
“A r-real man…? What are you talking about?”
Beside the flustered Salad, Panir’s eyes suddenly lit up as she continued to observe me.
“Ah…!”
She clapped her hands as if she had just figured it out.
“I recall reading in a book that the Moon Shadow Moss I put in the tea clears the mind and has pain-relieving effects, but on very rare occasions it can produce a side effect.”
Panir smiled and tried to reassure Salad.
“Please do not worry overmuch. It is a temporary manifestation of another personality latent within the drinker’s mind, and the book said it returns to normal naturally with time.”
“Th-then what should we do?”
At Salad’s question, Panir continued with a serious expression.
“If the side effect appears, the most stable way to handle it is to affirm whatever strange things the drinker says and respect their worldview.”
As if steeling her resolve, Panir stepped in front of me and straightened her back.
“I am glad the tea was to your liking. If you need anything else, please tell me at any time.”
My body nodded in satisfaction at her deferential manner.
“Hey, you look useful. From today on, you’re my right hand.”
The situation was sliding further and further into chaos. Having grasped what was happening from Panir’s behavior, Salad carefully approached next. She politely held out the plate of cookies she was carrying.
“U-um… Boss…? Don’t just have tea—please try these too…”
My body plucked a cookie from the plate Salad offered, crunched it, and swallowed.
“Hoh… not bad. Good. You’re family from now on too. I’ll make sure you never go hungry.”
I wore a satisfied look with the cookie still in my mouth. Panir carefully drew closer and spoke.
“Hyung-nim, what is the plan for today?”
I slowly surveyed the clubroom. Cozy sunlight, fragrant tea, neatly arranged bookshelves. Looking at this peaceful place, I declared:
“From now on, you two just trust me and follow.”
Panir matched the act perfectly and answered with solemn gravity.
“Understood, Hyung-nim. This Panir shall serve as your brain.”
Salad also cried out with sparkling eyes, clearly excited.
“Waaah! Then I’ll be the Boss’s—Hyung-nim’s—anyway, the meal person who makes delicious food!”
My body seemed pleased with the loyalty of its two underlings; it leaned deep into the chair and crossed its legs.
“Good. Then to celebrate gaining little brothers, we drink. Bring the booze and meat right now!”
“B-booze and meat…? We don’t have anything like that in the clubroom…”
“Then bring more tea and those cookies from earlier.”
“Yes, Hyung-nim!”
“Understood, Hyung-nim!”
Without the slightest hesitation the two of them moved in perfect sync. Salad went for cookies, Panir took out fresh tea leaves, and at the center of it all I sat more arrogantly than anyone. Right in the middle of this absurd little play, I swallowed a sigh as I foresaw the trials that would soon crash down on me.
The biggest problem was that there was still time left before this status ailment wore off.
Persona Erosion
Remaining Duration: 22 minutes 13 seconds
Regardless of my will, after eating what the two of them brought me I leaned back against the chair with a satisfied smile. Even if I spoke in that rough voice or did strange things, as long as we stayed inside this small clubroom, the destruction of my reputation and the embarrassment could be contained between just these two.
But my body suddenly stood up. At that imposing movement, Panir and Salad both froze and turned their heads toward me.
“Belly’s full enough. To celebrate getting little brothers, how about we all soak in some hot water together?”
Before I even heard an answer, my feet were already heading for the clubroom door.
“As expected of Hyung-nim! Shall we head straight to the dormitory grand bath?”
“Waaah! My first bath with Hyung-nim…!”
The two of them showed not the slightest intention of stopping me; instead they followed behind with faces full of delight. And so we stepped out into the corridor.
Sudden footsteps echoed through the quiet annex hallway. At the center strode I with shoulders squared and a swaggering gait, while Panir and Salad flanked me on either side like bodyguards escorting a boss. Students who passed by spotted us and stopped dead. Their gazes mixed pure confusion, shock, and even a touch of fear.
“Th-that’s… Saya, right?”
“And next to her are Panir and Salad… what are they even doing?”
Whispers spread like a wave. My body seemed to enjoy every stare; it strode even more boldly down the center of the corridor and was just rounding the corner when—
Hair like burning red. Eyes that shone even more fiercely. I came face-to-face once again with Esme, whom I had met during the midterm practical exam. She looked our group up and down, then curled her lips into a mocking smile.
“What’s this noisy procession? You used to crawl around like a parasite living off others, and now you suddenly act like a king.”
At Esme’s blatant provocation, the personality dominating my body snorted.
“Out of the way. Brat, this body doesn’t have time to play with little kids.”
The small-framed Esme’s expression hardened in an instant; her face twisted as she blocked my path.
“Haaah? You really want to go again? Still acting tough because you trust those two behind you?”
Shiiing—!
The tip of the spear on her back scraped the floor and threw sparks. Esme was serious about fighting me. In that hair-trigger moment, Panir and Salad both stepped in front of me at once.
“I cannot forgive anyone who is rude to our Hyung-nim.”
“Hyung-nim, we’ll take care of that arrogant one!”
Even Salad, not just Panir, seemed completely immersed in the role-play.
“Hahahaha! Enough. I’ll handle that one myself. Looks like the brat needs a lesson in manners.”
Persona Erosion
Remaining Duration: 18 minutes 48 seconds
Just before Esme and my body truly clashed, Panir smiled and stepped between us.
“Even so, is there any need for Hyung-nim to step in over something this trivial? I shall handle it.”
Then Panir leaned in and whispered something low into Esme’s ear. While she listened, Esme’s face—once blazing with rage—changed moment by moment. She looked me up and down, clicked her tongue as if this were ridiculous, and shook her head.
“Haaah… yeah, what’s the point of fighting some guy who’s not even in his right mind.”
As if she had completed her mission, Panir returned to me and reported briskly.
“Hyung-nim, after I informed that one of your greatness, she said she also wishes to serve you.”
My body looked thoroughly pleased with the report; it gazed at Esme with a satisfied smile.
“Hoh. You’re scrawny and don’t impress me much, but at least you’ve got guts. Good! Join our organization as the youngest!”
“What? What are you—!”
When Esme tried to protest in disbelief, Panir casually draped an arm over her shoulder and whispered in her ear.
“Youngest, from now on you need to read the room.”
Panir wore a smile that said she found this entire situation extremely entertaining.
“Great. Then our youngest comes along too—let’s go soak in the bath.”