Club Enrollment - 1
Um. What the hell is this crazy bastard saying?
He suddenly shoved his face right up to mine, scaring the shit out of me. Good thing everyone had gone off to lunch and there was no one around. Who might've seen this? I couldn't even guess what kind of shitty article the imperial press would spit out next.
But out of nowhere, he sticks his blank face in mine, and then suddenly he says let's do it? Do what?
A flood of random thoughts poured in amid the massive info overload, short-circuiting my brain until I just stopped thinking altogether.
"...Uh, that is. I want to spar again."
Whether it was a relief or not, at least it wasn't anything that kind of thing. Or was it? Sparring seemed even worse. My body that got beaten to hell still hadn't recovered. It hurt like a bitch right now. And not just steady pain—it throbbed, eased up, throbbed again, that bullshit cycle. If it just hurt straight-up, I could deal, but this ambiguous ache was way more annoying.
If I were some average joe, I'd hole up in the infirmary all day and no one would bat an eye. But damn Dragon Power gave my biceps insane regen, so the barely tolerable pain just pissed me off more. The vital points I'd carved with my ultimate techniques healed in seconds after the duel, making even a trip to the infirmary awkward.
Should I curse my sturdy body or this bastard in front of me who beat me senseless even pulling out his ultimate moves? Being tough wasn't all upsides.
"Right now, my body's..."
"Oh, sorry... Yeah, must be rough, huh?"
Angelica de Olivier ducked her head, shrinking like a turtle. What the...? Was this her character? Where'd that heaven-defying, unrivaled Angelica go? Why was there a black retriever standing here instead?
"It's rough now, but if it's tonight, I could spar with you."
Not that I planned to dodge spars with her just 'cause it hurt. I still needed way more EXP. Sure, my raw stats could hold out for a bit, but without sword aura, there was a limit. To survive the events ahead, stats alone wouldn't cut it—I needed sword aura. At least level 30.
The only way to grind EXP at Dawn Star Academia was sparring, unless the knightly stars sprinkled more Dreamland tickets. And I'd confirmed even a draw gave EXP. Plus, the biggest thing: dodging spars forever could strip my title. To keep Sword Ghost's Rival, some duels were mandatory.
Stacking affinity like this might even unlock another secret move. I'd suffer muscle pain for a while, but...
"...You sure?"
At my answer, color bloomed on her blank face—so subtle you'd miss it if you weren't looking close. Sparring with me made her that happy? I nodded and turned back to the clubs.
It wasn't like 'Gotta join one club to graduate,' but hidden pieces or club-exclusive events could net EXP, so joining wasn't a bad idea. Especially now, with EXP so scarce.
That said... avoid clubs centered on the protagonist with all the male leads. Not some cliché webnovel extra bullshit where the heroine falls for me. I knew my place. In this romance fantasy overflowing with pretty boys and delicate beauties, would my face even land? Nah, I'm just third-rate extra fodder to get curb-stomped by the protag.
Honestly, I should've isekai'd into a fighting manga. Anyway, the real reason: the male leads needed EXP too. Game was solo-clearable, but this was reality. Four protags now, but true ending needed every bit of power. If I stole their growth chances? That EXP surplus goes straight to the heroine, and I'd end up tanking for the male leads to survive. Knightly suffering was enough already.
"You joining a club, Angelica?"
"Nah."
She shook her head at my question. Makes sense—she was just a pure sparring fanatic. Clubs probably bored her. Donnesia didn't vibe with the male leads either. Isabella, not sure—fresh off her broken engagement. So, dodge any club with Iris. She'd hooked at least Charles the 1st Prince, Ars the Prince, Asdel—three or more easy.
So, which club? Swordsmanship? Angelica, my one-man top instructor, was right here. Pass on the sweaty sword club. Magic debate? No circle, can't copy magic. Pass. Flower arranging? Pastry baking? Auto-pass on Iris bait.
Something was missing. Not pink and fluffy—something shady, dudes-only vibe. Far from romance. Had to be ultra-niche minor.
After digging recruitment papers, I found it. Jackpot. Ancient Literature Club. No game memory, but the name screamed dusty old-timer. Explored forgotten magic, ancient ruins, artifacts. Far from social or romance. And "artifact interpretation" jumped out. Probably research events—maybe clues to unseal Karnwenan's seal...
One issue: members were just the president. One. Was this even functional? Still, decided. I filled the application quick.
Clubs needed 3 to found, 5 to maintain. Drop below 3? School gives grace period to hit 5, or disband. Me joining makes two. Need one more for grace...
Lure Donnesia?
"You applying for that?"
"Yeah, looks fun. And since I'm at the imperial academy, figured join one."
Angelica eyed it, then snatched a form too.
"Lady Angelica joining too?"
"Yeah, suddenly interested."
Suddenly interested in a club? Just a sparring bro? Wouldn't Charles's club be better?
"Wouldn't you be better off in Charles the 1st Prince's club?"
"Why?"
Why? "You came here for Charles the 1st Prince, right...?"
She propped her chin, thought a sec, then shrugged like it was nothing. "Eh, 1st Prince isn't a kid."
Boldly declaring duty neglect! Carl Kingdom cool with that?
After all afternoon classes, I stood before the Ancient Literature Club room. Sliding the door open with a rattle revealed a plain classroom. Eerily quiet—turns out "president only" wasn't a lie.
And not just that.
"New face? Freshman? Or join hopeful?"
There sat a beauty with radiant golden hair like sunlight and golden eyes. Kinda familiar...? That student looked... game-like familiar.
Who was she? Ah! If Kyle went full gender-bender TS, it'd be exactly her vibe.
I'd pieced it together now. Eirin de Astoria. Dawn Star Academia 2nd-year, empire's 1st princess. Her backstory: joined a club, all seniors graduated by her 2nd year, left alone, disbanded, forced out.
Never guessed this was the disbanded club. Nailed it. Sorry to the senior, but vanishing pre-game meant unpopular! Ultra-minor. No Iris risk.
But princess in it and still minor? Disbanding quietly harder.
I pulled the application. Her eyes lit up, staring holes.
"Here to join."
"Both of you?"
I nodded; she beamed. "Yes! Finally breathing room! Sit, newbies! Tea?"
"...No, fine."
Her sudden high-energy princess vibe was hard to keep up. Game memory: kinda melancholic. Club disbandment blues?
"So why Ancient Literature Club?"
"Interested in artifacts..."
BAM! Eirin slammed the desk. Whoa, wrecking it?
"Artifacts! Our newbie knows his stuff! The Ancient Literature Club is..."
She plopped us in chairs, unleashing a TMI tsunami. Want to shatter royal image? Look up Eirin de Astoria. Never pegged her artifact otaku. Maybe members bailed from her TMI overload—useless info wave crashed out.
Couldn't interrupt a princess, so one-ear-in one-ear-out till it ended.
Didn't pick the wrong club, right?