Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: The Negotiating Outsider
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***
Me and Han Si-a had made a bet on our final exam scores.
Especially since this exam's problems were ridiculously tough, and even so, I'd gotten a perfect score...
I figured I'd win for sure...!!!
But when we actually checked the scores, we both had perfect marks.
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Normally, you'd call it a draw and scrap the bet altogether.
The whole thing had started at the beginning of the semester when Han Si-a looked down on me, saying I sucked at studying.
With our scores tied, there was no reason to drag it out beyond the exam results.
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However, the contract Han Si-a had drawn up included this clause:
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➤ Article 3 (Bet Conditions)
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-...
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-...
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-If the winner still can't be decided by the above criteria, the parties must agree on new rules they both accept and proceed with the bet. The result must be finalized by the day the exam scores are announced.
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I'd accepted the bet because I was confident in my scores, but having to do a whole new one?!
This clause wasn't fair at all.
But I'm an adult.
As an adult with a sense of responsibility, I presented an opinion that was utterly fair and perfect beyond any improvement.
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"Let's settle it fair and square with arm wrestling. What do you think? It's a pure test of skill with zero room for cheating, right?"
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"Save your bullshit for your dreams. I won't accept any event that requires physical ability. Just looking at those ripped muscles on your arms shows you've been training regularly."
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Rejected on the spot.
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Sigh, Si-a. If it bugs you that much, you should've worked out yourself.
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Still, since everyone involved has to agree on the event, I decided to hear Han Si-a's suggestion first.
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"Since this bet was ultimately about comparing test scores, how about we just extend the score range back to the midterm? Fair enough, isn't it?"
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That'd just mean you'd win!!!!
I immediately countered.
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"Come on, Si-a. Are you saying you don't even want to compete? Then why not expand it all the way to the high school entrance exam..."
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Han Si-a and I each pushed conditions that favored us for our shot at victory, refusing to budge an inch.
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And while we were arguing, Yoo So-mi quietly stared at the contract before clapping her hands to grab our attention.
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-Clap
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"Attention, everyone! This seems like exactly the kind of dispute that calls for the arbitrator—me—to step in, as outlined in Article 6 of the contract. What do you think?"
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Looking back at the contract after her words, this clause jumped out:
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➤ Article 6 (Dispute Resolution)
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-In the event of a dispute related to this contract, the parties shall defer judgment to Yoo So-mi, who was present at the contract's signing.
-If the parties fail to cooperate in determining the winner, seriously delaying the resolution, Yoo So-mi has the authority to decide the bet's outcome.
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Yoo So-mi looked at me and Han Si-a with a smile.
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"From now on, anyone who opposes me will be declared the loser under the arbitrator's authority~♩"
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.
.
.
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The new bet event, decided unilaterally by Yoo So-mi, was none other than rock-paper-scissors.
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I thought, this is bullshit.
A bet decided by test scores was, to a super-genius regressor like me, no different from arm wrestling a kid.
I'd accepted it because as long as I didn't screw up like on the midterm due to bullshit luck, I couldn't lose.
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But rock-paper-scissors? It throws out talent, effort, regression—everything—and boils down to pure dumb luck. A luck-based crapshoot.
Bet on a 50% chance of getting screwed?
And it's not even for money!?
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I'd rather play squid game than this crap???
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I felt incredibly wronged, but there was nothing I could do.
The contract I'd signed would slap me with an instant loss if I delayed things.
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...
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Wait, actually, there's still a chance.
I can't void the bet itself, but if I negotiate with Han Si-a to tone down the penalty...?
That could reduce the risk of this absurd gamble, right?
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I coolly assessed the situation and turned to Han Si-a.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ *** - Han Si-a's POV
This is blatant fraud.
A game with a 50% chance of me losing? No sane person would accept such an unfair condition.
The test score bet was a safe investment with 0% failure risk—not even if the sun rose in the west would I lose.
So, naturally, even if scores tied, we should resolve it with test scores, like including the midterm.
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You say the midterm score is already in my favor, so it's unfair?
Ha! Then you should've done better on the midterm.
That's not the bet conditions being unfair; it's your midterm prep that was the problem.
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Of course, I wrote Article 6 myself, so I do take some responsibility.
But I figured we'd just agree on a reasonable new event with Jeong Yi-an...
Instead, that guy shamelessly suggests arm wrestling!!!
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Jeong Yi-an wears baggy uniforms claiming he's still growing, so it doesn't show much usually.
But now that uniforms have switched to summer ones, his exposed forearms reveal bulging veins and rippling muscles.
Whenever he flexes, the muscles hidden under that soft skin bulge out assertively—you could say he's prepping for college sports and no one would bat an eye.
Proposing arm wrestling with that kind of physical prowess? Does he even have a conscience?
His nonstop nonsense kept our positions apart, eventually giving So-mi the perfect excuse to intervene as arbitrator.
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...
Anyway, proceeding with the bet like this is way too risky.
I doubt Jeong Yi-an would, but...
.....What if he uses the penalty for some perverted crap?
My looks are objectively stunning, and guys are desperate to get me in bed at the slightest chance.
Of course, Jeong Yi-an is clearly on a different level from those losers, but he's still a guy.
It's hard to believe he hasn't even a speck of desire to exploit this penalty.
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...
No, of course Jeong Yi-an has thought about doing something to me. He definitely has.
And why not? I'm this pretty. I've invested serious money and time into skincare and haircare, and I diligently manage my diet and exercise to keep this attractive figure.
Not that it's all to impress Jeong Yi-an specifically, mind you? Maintaining beauty just has huge social advantages, that's all.
Even if he's the weird guy who turns down my movie invite, he must harbor at least a tiny bit of that desire toward me.
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But losing the bet and handing over control of our relationship is absolutely unacceptable.
So proceeding as-is is the worst of the worst options.
Therefore, I need to negotiate with Jeong Yi-an right here to dial down this bet's risks.
I turned to him for that purpose—and somehow, our eyes met.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I locked eyes with Han Si-a, then immediately spoke to So-mi.
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"Your Honor Arbitrator. Since the bet event has changed, I believe the penalty needs some adjustment too!"
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Han Si-a chimed in energetically, like our minds were synced.
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"Exactly, Arbitrator! Yoo So-mi Arbitrator has a duty to mediate our disputes until next semester's midterms. So even if it's not in the contract, you can implicitly add new rules via your judgment!"
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"Uh... huh? Okay, fine, can you two drop the formal speech already?"
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So-mi seemed overwhelmed by our momentum but agreed to hear us out anyway.
We launched into a debate to rein in the bet's risks just enough.
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"Even with restrictions, blindly obeying any random command is too harsh. This needs revision."
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"I agree. Can't have it used to fulfill some perverted urges."
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"...What are you talking about? No normal person would think that. ...Why are you glaring?"
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And our negotiations made progress.
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"How about pre-listing commands before the winner's decided, and sticking to those?"
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"...No. It needs some autonomy to mean anything. Just ban perverted demands."
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"I don't do that stuff... Plus, that leaves me exposed to the same risks."
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"Oh? And where's the guarantee I won't make perverted demands?"
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"...Liar! That's just bluffing to gain the upper hand! Then how about the commander needs the loser's consent before issuing it?"
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"You coward! That turns commands into requests! Scared of my orders that much?"
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Of course, that "progress" wasn't between me and Han Si-a—it was Yoo So-mi, watching from the sidelines, who suggested a good idea.
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"Guys, how about this: The commander has to get my approval before issuing a command? I'll veto anything that seems too much."
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"Call.", "Sounds good."
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And so, the bet conditions were revised as follows:
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-The loser shall obey the winner's commands, provided they cause no harm to academics, property, or health. However, the command content must first be approved by Yoo So-mi.
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And finally, the rock-paper-scissors that would decide our fates until next semester's midterms began.