Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 129
>Chapter Title: The Bait Tastes Best When Shaken (1)
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“Somehow, it seems the Young Master being too outstanding is the problem.”
At Seo Jae-pil’s words, delivered with an absurd chuckle, my expression crumpled involuntarily.
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
“With men, women, young, and old all seeking you out, it doesn’t make sense to suspect anyone who shows interest in you, Young Master.”
A particularly grating word burrowed into my ear.
“Where did you hear such tales that even ‘men, women, young, and old’ comes up?”
“Hahaha. From the instructors. Not just them, but the students too—regardless of gender—seem to have a lot of interest in you, Young Master.”
The female students’ interest didn’t faze me at all. It was the male students’ interest that bothered me more.
“…Don’t speak such horrifying nonsense.”
It was because certain lunatics naturally popped into my head.
I pictured those bodybuilding club weirdos flexing their muscles while gossiping about me.
Whoosh, whoosh.
A wave of nausea hit me unbidden, so I shook my head vigorously to dispel the useless imaginings.
When I finally regained my composure, I saw Seo Jae-pil’s eyes watching my solitary fit with keen interest.
“Phew. In any case, the conclusion is there’s no particularly suspicious instructor. Disappointing, all around.”
I took a jab at him, disliking the look in his eyes that saw me as an experimental subject, but it had no effect.
“Hahaha. Researching human psychology doesn’t yield results overnight, Young Master.”
Staring into the eyes of this perpetually bright-eyed madman, a thought struck me.
‘If I spewed a string of curses and insulted him here, this lunatic would just get more thrilled, calling it a research subject going berserk.’
I could already picture him gleefully dubbing it a new research topic.
‘For now, skip this madman. How can I catch a tail?’
I pondered alone, but it didn’t feel that way.
It wasn’t because of Seo Jae-pil, who sat grinning before me.
-Hehehe. Since you’re already bait, why not shake things up more aggressively?
It was because my other self—perfectionist and obsessive-compulsive extraordinaire—kept offering useful suggestions.
What can I say? It felt less like solo brooding and more like debating with another self.
Thanks to that damn side effect, I could organize my thoughts quickly.
“How about this instead? Shake them up.”
“In what way?”
“Didn’t you say all the instructors are interested in me? So, I’ll toss out bait. Me as the bait.”
“????”
I added to my words, facing Seo Jae-pil’s still-confused expression.
“I’m thinking of stirring up other clubs. While giving off vibes that I want to switch allegiances.”
Finally grasping my intent, Seo Jae-pil exclaimed in admiration.
“Brilliant idea, Young Master! It’ll likely provoke changes in the movements of the Demonic Path Elite instructors you suspect, and the others will have no choice but to react too.”
I nodded at his words.
“Plus, as you interview the instructors, conversations about my movements will naturally arise. It’ll make it easier to spot inconsistencies in words or mismatches between speech and action.”
“As expected of you, Young Master. I can see why everyone—regardless of age or gender—admires you. Hahaha.”
“…….”
It was clearly praise, yet it felt like mockery.
* * *
Since I’d decided to shake the bait that was me, I opted for a rather blatant approach.
“…You want to experience the drama club?”
Repeating my exact words, Instructor Eun-ryeo eyed me with deep suspicion.
Nearby instructors were also watching me and Instructor Eun-ryeo.
“Student Il-mok. Didn’t you already join the meditation club? You even started it yourself.”
At Instructor Eun-ryeo’s point, I replied with a straight face, as if oblivious to the surrounding instructors’ gazes.
“Creating a club without checking existing ones seems hasty in hindsight, Instructor.”
“So now you want to try other clubs?”
“That’s right, Instructor.”
For some reason, my crisp response crumpled Instructor Eun-ryeo’s face.
It was a rare sight.
The man who always maintained an impassive expression was sighing heavily.
‘This vibe… feels like that day I was ambushed by Chu Il-hwan?’
Come to think of it, I’d completely forgotten amid the follow-up ambush. The time he’d shown up out of nowhere with bizarre lecturing before leaving.
With the same pitiful look as then, Instructor Eun-ryeo sighed.
“Really, you have not a speck of responsibility.”
I felt like I’d heard something similar back then, but now wasn’t the time to explain.
I had to shake the bait.
“Even if I switch from the meditation club, three will remain, so no big issue, right?”
“How can you even say that…”
Instructor Eun-ryeo, about to press further, let out one more massive sigh before reverting to her usual icy demeanor.
“Fine. You were at headquarters when the club system launched, so you couldn’t properly check others. Given your special case, Student Il-mok, I’ll turn a blind eye this once.”
As I left the instructors’ office after her approval, I felt multiple gazes trailing my back.
* * *
That afternoon.
Il-mok headed to that familiar clearing after quite some time.
Once a spot only he and Jeong Hyeon frequented, now akin to the drama club’s clubhouse.
Baek Cheon, practically its owner now, greeted Il-mok with a beaming face.
“Hahaha. I knew you’d come, Young Master Il-mok!”
“What’re you talking about?”
At Il-mok’s sullen retort, Bang Mi-hwa stepped forward, laughing merrily for some reason.
“How coy, asking like that. Oho hoho ho. I believed you’d naturally return to the drama club, Young Master.”
“Hahaha! A talent like Young Master Il-mok deserves to share the spotlight with this Baek!”
“Indeed. Anyone else, maybe not—but you’re worthy to be my ‘partner’ on stage. Oho hoho ho.”
Il-mok’s head spun at the pair of lunatics cackling in unison.
‘Damn. Not even a minute since I got here?’
Il-mok had found the meditation club uncomfortable due to Ma Do-yeong’s maidservant, but upon arriving here, the meditation club seemed tame by comparison.
As Il-mok, dizzy, contemplated escape, his savior surprisingly turned out to be Instructor Eun-ryeo.
“Phew. Enough chatter—start practicing. This is club time, not playtime.”
Even Eun-ryeo felt the same vertigo every visit.
“Also, students are equals—call him Student Il-mok. How long must I point this out?”
With Eun-ryeo sorting the situation, Baek Cheon and Bang Mi-hwa’s expressions shifted.
The two were at least sincere about drama.
“Then, as always, we’ll begin with vocal exercises. Instructor.”
Since Baek Cheon and Bang Mi-hwa led club time, Eun-ryeo merely nodded and stepped back.
Fully immersed in practice—or rather, in themselves—Baek Cheon and Bang Mi-hwa guided the students.
Eun-ryeo watched the scene, occasionally glancing at Il-mok.
‘He surely has impure motives, but no helping it.’
In her mind, Il-mok was already branded a playboy.
The simple reason she’d accepted him anyway: her gaze had shifted from Il-mok to Jeong Hyeon.
‘How’d she end up falling for a playboy like that. Tsk.’
It was pity, not scorn, in her tongue-click.
Since it was her first club time with him, Jeong Hyeon kept stealing glances at Il-mok.
Noticing, Il-mok—half-heartedly doing vocal exercises—approached her.
Naturally, stopping one zhang and one pace away, as always.
Startled as Il-mok neared, Jeong Hyeon stammered.
“I-It’s been a while, Young Master.”
“Aren’t we together every training session?”
“B-But in the clearing, it’s b-been a while…?”
“True enough. Hahaha. Enjoying club?”
He wanted to ask if she enjoyed it with Baek Cheon, but with him right there, he phrased it vaguely.
Jeong Hyeon desperately wanted to say no.
But.
‘Everyone’s watching—how can I say it’s not fun…?’
Her innate timidity made her glance around, forcing a lie.
“I-It was f-fun.”
Seeing her peek at Baek Cheon while answering, Il-mok nodded knowingly.
‘Her feelings for Baek Cheon haven’t changed.’
What a tough road, I thought.
“Hang in there, Student Jeong Hyeon.”
“Th-Thank you.”
As Jeong Hyeon blushed at Il-mok’s encouragement, watching Instructor Eun-ryeo let out a deep sigh.
At that sigh, Bang Mi-hwa approached Il-mok.
Having belatedly noticed amid her immersion that he and Jeong Hyeon were chatting.
“Student Il-mok! Focus on practice.”
Saying so, Bang Mi-hwa tugged him, and Ha-young and Joo Seo-yeon joined, perhaps to look after the newbie.
Il-mok, surrounded by three women under intense care; Jeong Hyeon, one zhang and one pace away, watching the four.
Eun-ryeo sighed again at the pitiful sight.
Day by day, maintaining her expression grew harder.
But soon, she reverted to her signature icy face.
Someone was approaching.
“What brings you here, Instructor Ma Do-yeong?”
Instructor Ma Do-yeong, in charge of the meditation club, had suddenly appeared in the clearing.
“Pardon the intrusion, Senior Instructor. If it’s alright, may I borrow Student Il-mok for a brief talk?”
Eun-ryeo, irked by Il-mok grinning amid the women, gladly accepted.
“Student Il-mok!”
At Eun-ryeo’s call, Il-mok extricated himself and spotted Ma Do-yeong.
“What is it, Instructor?”
At his innocent question, a vein bulged on Ma Do-yeong’s forehead, but she forced a smile.
“Let’s move elsewhere to talk.”
With that, Ma Do-yeong turned and strode out; Il-mok followed.
But after a few steps, Il-mok halted. Heading to a deserted spot was risky. High chance she was a lackey.
Feeling the footsteps behind stop, Ma Do-yeong paused and looked back.
“Student Il-mok. What’s your game?”
“What do you mean?”
“Phew. You begged me to take charge of the meditation club, yet now you want to switch? Do you think this makes any sense?”
At Ma Do-yeong’s question, Il-mok replied with feigned incomprehension.
“I thought you’d want it too, Instructor—so I tried switching clubs.”
“…What nonsense is ‘I’d want it’?”
“During training, during club—didn’t you seem uncomfortable with me? I couldn’t demand you step down, so as a mere student, I moved instead.”
“…….”
Ma Do-yeong was momentarily speechless.
Not because Il-mok’s logic held water.
‘It’s just ’cause you’re lazy as hell!!!’
Blood rushed to her head, making retorts hard. And worse.
‘Damn it!! Holding him by force here risks suspicion, per the deputy’s warning. But letting go means he switches clubs.’
That would ruin her plan to monitor Il-mok up close and await opportunity.
Her chance at merit would vanish.
Unable to stop or release him—a true dilemma.
‘Kill him? Just kill him off? Wouldn’t that still count as merit?’
With all paths blocked, Ma Do-yeong’s mind fixated on the last resort.
* * *
Meanwhile.
In the meditation club room.
At this moment, with Il-mok—who dragged them in—and Instructor Ma Do-yeong absent.
“Phew.”
“What the hell are we even doing…”
Sighs heavy with the trio’s tangled emotions echoed in succession.