Chapter 6
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: New Encounter
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Appearance is the strongest justification.
If I had been stammering and fumbling up there, it would have naturally led to boos and calls for burning at the stake.
Unhak had gotten jeers before even starting his martial arts talk.
Though when he actually got into martial arts, the jeers turned into curses.
A man has to watch his tongue.
Seriously and concisely, just the point—like me.
Too many people didn't grasp that simple truth.
But women are different.
Especially a woman's cuteness.
It wields such overwhelming power that it can override and forgive all other preconditions.
Honestly, if you just looked at the Little Leader's face alone.
Her eyes were quite sharp, and those glaring red pupils felt a bit intimidating.
In other words, she wasn't exactly the epitome of cuteness.
"Th-then...... the righteous sects of the murim...... will join forces...... with this nunnery......"
But.
Cuteness isn't just about looks—it's the total package of behavior, voice, gestures, everything combined.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's little supreme leader's adorable mumbling recital show!
"From today onward, I withdraw my support for Wudang......"
"Shut your trap, you brat! Snap out of it! Don't fall to heart demons!"
"Ha...... Our Little Leader just wanders around drunk all day, but this girl......"
It drew a massive wave of cheers.
If you think this is all just the Demonic Cult's propaganda.
Then you'd have to admit they nailed this one strategy.
And after that.
"Soy sauce, no, uh, in the plaza......"
A few more stumbles.
"Where was I...... Ah!"
A few replays.
And finally.
"In the future...... please...... provide much...... guidance and peace? Thank youuu......"
Bow!
The little leader's mumbling show finally wrapped up.
Thunderous applause poured in right after.
Generously clapping even for someone from the Demonic Cult!
A true display of the righteous sects' spirit.
"Nuuuong!"
"Woo-hyooo—!"
"Little Leader is too cuuuute—!"
......Though some rather impure voices mixed in.
Watching the Cute Heavenly Demon Lady waddle off stage.
A complex mix of emotions stirred inside me.
Not because I wanted to join the "Nuuuong" crowd, no.
She's one of the few characters who remembers all the way to the end.
Cheon Luri.
Alias: Cute Heavenly Demon. Cuteness Demon. Fatty. ......Heavyweight with a fatty appendix to boot.
Despite her illustration and real-life appearance stimulating protective instincts with that adorable look, her name gets her slandered a lot.
If I summarize her in-story actions very briefly.
In the righteous route, it's one of two paths.
Manage affection well, and you unlock the world peace route—aka the "Three■■Maru" route.
But neglect affection, and she goes dark midway, becoming a mid-boss in year two.
Similar in the Demonic Cult route.
Though both routes had bad ends regardless.
Human cauldron.
......Isn't that ending just way too gruesome?
Now that I've seen her in person.
I'm no pedo, absolutely not.
But I couldn't help feeling like I didn't want to let her meet such a horrific fate.
While lost in thought, the academy's convenience facilities tour and miscellaneous explanations continued a bit longer.
All official entrance ceremony events finally concluded.
In the spot where the faculty had quietly vanished.
A few second-year seniors who entered the Hundred Flowers Academy a year ahead filled the space.
"Alright, newbies! You endured that boring ceremony—good job."
Stepping forward was the second-year president, who looked quite boisterous.
His face rang a bell, but I didn't know his name.
Do I really need to memorize male side character names?
Anyway, the friendly-faced prez gave a short senior's pep talk.
"Sorry for another dull story! Finally, the Azure Heaven Society sincerely welcomes you passionate folks! If you want to make the Hundred Flowers Academy even cooler together, knock on our door anytime!"
Added some fine-print promo, then exited.
Next up.
"We'll guide you to the dorms!"
"Boys over here!"
"Girls, gather here!"
True to the homeland of Confucian stickler young masters.
Even living spaces promoted gender segregation—a terribly bad culture that made me shudder briefly.
But what can you do.
Even modern Korea treats mixed dorms as taboo.
......Putting aside that trivial thought.
While half-listening to the so-called prestigious sect kids bonding over their insider talk.
I followed the monkey-like senior—who seemed to have more muscle than body fat—strolling leisurely through the academy.
In the midpoint between chilly winter and spring, cooler than cool.
Despite the cold, vibrant flowers bloomed brilliantly, a sight to behold.
"Here's the boys' dorm, East Blue Residence! This is where you'll be living from now on!"
The building that would serve as my bed for the next half-year appeared.
Not much detail in the game.
But at least it looked better than the New Cult barracks—that was some comfort.
Of course, compared to my home.
The Geum Family stronghold made it seem a bit shabby.
East Blue Residence, Building 1, Room 304. Triple room.
This would be my nest for a while.
My long-awaited roommate, number one.
"Didn't expect to room together again. Let's properly introduce ourselves. Unhak of the Beggars' Sect."
Expressionless Unhak.
And number two.
"Oh! Isn't this the Geum Young Master who swept up my blood money? Thanks to you, I almost took a loss despite setting up the table."
The gambling addict fiddling nonstop with dice.
Moyong Taek.
I got the vibe right away.
One from the Nine Great Beggars.
One from the Ten Great Families.
And one regular admission scrub.
That kind of lineup.
After introductions, awkward silence flowed between us.
We had no common ground beyond throwing ourselves into the murim.
Hesitant.
Shy.
Unpacking luggage.
Shaking out blankets for no reason.
Then.
"Newbies, come down for your essentials!"
The monkey senior's voice boomed.
Peeking out the window.
A massive pile of bundles had appeared at the dorm entrance before I knew it.
As I naturally headed out.
A soft hand landed on my shoulder.
"Hm?"
Moyong Taek wore a weird smile.
"We've got three sturdy guys here—why bother fetching individually?"
After a pause.
"All-in on one guy. Scared?"
Cheat key, this bastard.
"Don't regret it after losing."
Men of the Geum name are strong in gambles.
Me too.
A moment later.
"No way...... This can't be......"
Moyong Taek seemed pretty talented at gambling.
But the one who speaks first loses—that's the law of the world.
"I'll go with you—"
"Hold it. That'd just insult Brother Moyong."
"Hm......"
I blocked Unhak's good intentions with perfectly valid reasoning.
No matter how much he embodies the martial arts-loving upright lifestyle guy, some things you protect.
After Moyong Taek solo-carried all three shares back, grunting.
"No, this can't stand. One more round."
The mad gambling demon started a real game.
Unhak looked reluctant.
Winning and running is coward's play.
A few dice rolls, a few shouts.
Freshly issued essentials traded hands in a fierce battle.
The result.
"Rub it properly. It's all flimsy."
"Grr...... Damn it......"
Pecking order established.
Nothing bonds guys like games.
"Maknae. Grab a snack."
"Hmph......"
"Gonna chip a tooth."
Pecking order number three.
Unhak turned his head like belated puberty hit.
Serves you right.
If it bugs you, you shoulda won.
After a dinner that was, generously speaking, just average chow—kinda disappointing.
I wandered the academy grounds, savoring the sunset leisurely.
The grounds were vast, like a small-to-medium city, so familiarizing myself now would prevent getting lost later.
Passing the cafeteria, heading slowly to the nearby training grounds.
Porrr—
A small animal I'd grown a bit used to caught my eye.
Squirrel Girl's squirrel.
How many squirrel escape dramas does that girl film a day?
"Chiu!"
The squirrel dashed to me quick, pat-pat-patting up my clothes, lightly hopping onto my shoulder.
Then right by my ear.
"Chiu! Chwiit! Chwi! Chwiitchiu?"
Attempting squirrel communication.
......How's a human supposed to understand animal talk.
Staring into those bright, sparkling eyes.
And sure enough.
"Ah! Found you!"
Squirrel Thunder Girl appeared.
Like me, she wore the Hundred Flowers Academy uniform neatly.
"Ooh......"
Couldn't hold back the admiration welling from deep inside.
Exposure patch creator.
Is he a god?
With that wide-open chest vent, my own chest felt refreshingly cool.
And dots, dots......
Whoa. Dots.
Insane.
"Hehe, we meet again at the academy, Young Master Geum. Congrats on topping the entrance exams!"
"Thank you."
The squirrel nimbly settled on Squirrel Girl's shoulder, puffing it up like reduced weight.
"Oh right, we never properly introduced ourselves? Let me do it formally. I'm Myo Narang from the Southern Barbaric Beast Palace. Feel free to call me Narang casually!"
I stared at her face blankly for a second.
Southern Barbaric Beast Palace—definitely the wild outer reaches.
Where Meng Huo roars and Lady Zhurong cracks whips.
Don't folks from there usually have dark, swarthy skin......?
The moment my eyes met Narang's—no, Myo Narang's.
I realized I'd just been rude.
"Ah...... Sorry. Geum Sihyeon of the Ten Thousand Gold Treasury Fortress."
Late apology included in the greeting.
"Hehe. I don't look Southern, right? I hear that a lot—don't sweat it."
Myo Narang just smiled brightly instead.
This woman.
Does she have interest in me by any chance?
Is spring finally coming for me too!
Who cares about origins! I'd gladly be her seven-lives debtor—
"Actually, I had Squirrel find you because I wanted to ask you a favor first. It might be sudden, so I'm a bit hesitant......"
Ah.
So ulterior motive.
Caimed my slightly excited heart.
"What favor? If I can help, I'll do my best."
Anyway, chance to raise affinity.
Unlike Cute Heavenly Demon Lady.
The squirrel girl before me isn't in my memories.
But this isn't a game.
Better to keep human relations as tight as possible.
"Um, I heard the top entrant gets to pick a martial art from the Heavenly Martial Archives. Ah! Not asking to transfer the right! Just wanna check if a specific one is there. It's pretty important......"
Watching Myo Narang trail off, embarrassed to even ask.
"Tell me. What's hard about just checking?"
I nodded readily.
Stars sparkled in Myo Narang's eyes.
"B-but it might not even be there. It's called the Heavenly Beast Heart-Returning Art."
"Got it. I'll check when I go."
"Thank you, really thank you......!"
Watching her upper body shake vigorously with nods, my chest swelled for no reason.
"So how should I let you know the results."
Purposeful question.
Luckily, Myo Narang got it spot-on.
"Ah! I'll give you my smartphone number!"
Across past and present lives.
First time a woman handed me her contact first. Historic.
If there was a status window, it'd probably ding with an achievement right now.
"Alright! I'll wait for your call! Thank youuu!"
Capturing the sight of Squirrel shaking butt and tail on her shoulder in greeting.
I parted ways with her.
Very cheerful woman, but.
When she named the martial art, her face clouded for a split second.
Some backstory, probably.
No need to pry.
Anyway, today or tomorrow.
I planned to head to the Heavenly Martial Archives and claim top entrant's rights.
Of course, only one manual takeout allowed.
But browsing others was fine.
That suffices.
If it exists inside the Heavenly Martial Archives.
I can memorize the whole thing.