Chapter 78
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: College Tour (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Even looking at it again..."
After Gerkken and Sion had left, Edman—in a plain tank top—was rewinding the video.
"They're so different from each other."
Gerkken had traversed the muddy path without sinking an inch, masterfully wielding Mana Body. Sion Askal, on the other hand, had powered through with sheer athleticism.
"This kid's physical prowess is on another level. He'd be a star if he came to college, right? Is this kind of Reinforced Body talent even possible?"
Edman was in awe.
Of course, one could argue that Sion Askal had simply "spotted the weakness in the mud trap."
It was a training course, after all, with planks laid underneath. In a real fight, he'd have been done for.
But even so, the judgment to plant his foot and leap from there—and actually pulling it off—was utterly insane.
"He didn't just activate Mana Body in there, did he?"
A club member asked, munching on popcorn.
"That would make it even more impressive."
It was mana-devouring mud. If he could activate Mana Body to that degree inside it, he wasn't high school level. Not even college level. At minimum, he'd rank in the top five nationwide.
"Elasticity, explosiveness, muscle strength, flexibility, agility, quickness, balance, power... everything. This is a one-of-a-kind talent."
He kept rewinding and watching, helpless chuckles escaping him. The more he saw, the more he replayed it, the more "real" it felt. Especially for Edman, who was obsessed with physiques and Reinforced Body.
"No wonder his body felt insanely solid."
"You groped him again in the meantime?"
The club member asked, incredulous.
"Yeah. Just a light pat during the greeting. His frame isn't that bulky, but it felt like there was a rock lodged in there."
Edman clenched and unclenched his fist, recalling the feel of Sion Askal's shoulder—deltoids, traps, and a bit of lats. He muttered to himself.
"683 cm."
The vertical jump record that had suddenly popped up on Endex, dominating the community forums for a while.
The controversy—either Gerkken or the handler messing around—had already died down.
"Could've been this guy."
An excited grin spread across Edman's face.
We toured quite a few clubs. Starting with Body Incline, then the classical music club Song of Spring, the reading club Moon Beside Twilight, the Latynel club Golden Garden, and the candy club Sweet Candy Hills.
I got acceptance stamps from two: Body Incline and Latynel.
Gerkken, meanwhile, got them all.
"Oh, crap."
I still needed one more, but we only had 30 minutes left.
Not even enough time for a proper interview.
No helping it.
"...Hey."
I called out to Gerkken, who was walking ahead. He glanced back at me.
"Let's go. Shiver. The travel club."
"I refuse."
Gerkken shot back instantly.
"Why? You ignoring a guy weaker than you?"
"I hate travel. And I'm already traveling."
"...I know your hometown isn't around here, but I need that stamp, okay?"
I pulled out my smartphone and messaged Sierin.
[If I bring Gerkken, I pass, right?]
Gerkken's brow furrowed slightly. I shoved the phone in his face and asked again.
"Whoa, peeking at someone else's phone?"
"You're showing it to me."
Ding?
A reply came.
[Sierin: Just bring him lol ;)]
[No firm yes, and we're not coming. We already got all our stamps anyway.]
[Sierin: Got it lol]
[Promise me a pass too, or no Gerkken.]
"I never said I'd go."
Gerkken protested, but I ignored him.
[Sierin: Fine. Bring him and you're in. What if you can't? >:)]
[I'll just off myself]
[Sierin: Deal. Pinky swear. I hate promise-breakers most in the world.]
I thrust the messages in Gerkken's face.
"See? I staked my life on it. If I suicide, your name's going in the note."
"..."
Gerkken stared at me blankly and shook his head slowly.
Shiver's interview room was lavish. As a club with a long history, classical music played softly like in high society, and waiters served champagne.
"...This 13th class is pretty underwhelming."
The interviewers looked distinctly displeased. Sierin nodded listlessly.
"Last year's College Board was the easiest, right? Talent pool sucked so they lowered the difficulty. Knew it~"
"Exactly. Even the Endex seniors looked better."
The Endex seniors had come for interviews too—Elise, Rae, Kain, Esher, and others. Sierin knew them all; they'd been freshmen when she was a junior.
"Guess Gerkken's not coming."
A member beside her said. Sierin picked up her phone and muttered.
"Then we'd have some entertainment. He says one's suiciding if he doesn't."
"...Suicide?"
Right then, the door opened. Sierin straightened up instinctively.
Sure enough, there was Gerkken, practically glowing with charisma. And beside him, the blond.
"Oh my. He's really handsome."
"Who's the one next to him?"
"Sion Askal. Gerkken's friend."
Sierin beamed and waved.
"You came~ Gerkken."
Gerkken just nodded slightly. A commoner doing that would've earned a death wish, but from him, it was just cool and stoic.
Sion Askal stepped forward.
"Keep your promise."
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. You can go."
He held out his card.
"Stamp it."
"Fine."
Sierin stamped his card carelessly.
"Gerkken. Yours too?"
Gerkken hesitated before handing his over. It was covered in acceptance stamps.
"Got a lot~ Wipe the rest."
She barely found a blank spot and stamped it.
"Phew. Finally filled it."
Sion muttered as he pocketed the card. Sierin smiled brightly.
"Oh, right. You know we're not a college club, so high schoolers can join too."
Both guys flinched.
"We're an alliance club. I'll take you both~"
"I'm good. Just take him."
I shoved Gerkken forward. He resisted. Sierin tilted her head with a smile, her curved lips sharp as a blade.
"You should join."
"..."
"..."
The two men stared silently. Complaints bubbled unspoken in their mouths.
Sierin waved them off.
"What're you staring at? Go eat. Buffet's great."
She pointed to the food filling the room. The guys worked their jaws silently and trudged over.
Gerkken said,
"...Thanks. Now I've got no time left."
Sion replied,
"You know sarcasm too."
The hall overflowed with a ballroom-like grandeur.
"What are you doing here?"
I locked eyes with Elise while plating food at the buffet.
She was with college students, mostly Selena Academy kids.
How'd I know? They wore blue flower badges on their chests. Forming their little cartel.
"I passed. Me too."
"...You? How?"
Elise looked genuinely curious.
"Sacrificed a bit of human life."
"Human what? Some cat?"
"...What?"
"You what? Anyway, you're lucky. This place has connections you couldn't dream of at your level. Be grateful."
I was dumbfounded. I didn't even want to join—lucky my ass?
...But objectively, yeah, maybe.
Shiver was pretty famous.
Its simple goal: "travel." But only to places normals could never go, or maybe once/twice in a lifetime with big bucks. Top-tier club.
Collaborations with knight orders, magic towers, workshops for labyrinths/dungeons. Or top casinos like Vegas. Or luxury cruises.
You pay, sure, but maybe they'd cut a poor commoner like me some slack?
I plated up and sat anywhere. One bite, and my eyes went wide.
"Whoa."
The taste was unreal. I checked my watch quick.
Only 20 minutes left—gotta scarf it down.
Nom nom—
Stuffing my face, I absentmindedly glanced up at the balcony.
Interviews must've wrapped; Sierin, club officers, and suited alumni leaned on the railing. They chattered, but Sierin just nodded disinterestedly.
I buried my nose in my plate.
No need to worry about Sierin.
That was all gone now.
That past, that future—it wouldn't repeat.
—...Now, everyone.
An MC appeared, mic in hand, speaking elegantly.
—Allow me to introduce to all freshmen and returning students our new Shiver vice president, 12th class Sierin.
Spotlight hit Sierin on the balcony. Her white hair glowed. She waved like a movie star.
Suddenly, old memories surfaced.
Sierin Siana Aventher Luci.
Pre-regression, she'd tried to claim Gerkken.
Marry him into the family as a groom, sideline her twin brother Sieric, seize the house—that was the plan.
But Gerkken wasn't a man to be owned. Sierin ended up exiled from Aventher, becoming a chaebol wife.
Even there, affair rumors swirled.
The "story" was fake, but true too.
She'd always lived unhappily—she'd mutter drunkenly. Her beggar-like personality, waifish looks contrasting her misdeeds and elitism: 80% self-inflicted. But the marriage failure? Not her fault.
Her husband wasn't straight.
Sham marriage.
Maybe that's why Sierin cheated.
Said "I love you" to someone not her husband.
Was it love or impulse? Still don't know.
But the man she loved? Didn't love her back.
Just met her by chance for work, saved her by chance, protected her, used her. That's it.
In other words.
Barring that pile-up of coincidences, Sierin never would've fallen for him.
No crime of loving-like feelings leading her from chaebol wife to cheating villainess, tumbling into the abyss.
—It has to stay that way.
"...Let's live this life right."
I muttered, looking up at Sierin.
For a split second, her eyes flicked my way. We locked gazes. I naturally looked down, wiped sauce from my mouth. Stood slowly.
"Mm. Delicious."
Cleared my plate roughly and left the hall. Looked up at the college-town sky, shrugged.
Oh, how do I know all this so well?
From someone I know.
...Yeah.
Me.
Pre-regression, Sierin had affair rumors with a mere chauffeur.
That chauffeur's name was Sion Askal.