Reading Circle OT: The Assassin's Game Begins
“Hello, everyone in the circle. I'm Han Ga-rin, president of the Reading Circle~.”
All eyes turned to her as she appeared. Blue hair really did have a way of drawing attention.
“Alright, let's do a quick headcount. Hmm, looks like everyone's here who said they'd come. Then let's head out for our 1-night, 2-day OT experience~.”
The cadets began stepping into the portal one by one, following her cheerful voice. It was a pre-set portal with a fixed destination.
“You newbies over there, come on over quick.”
Not that it would happen, but just in case, I stuck close behind Ha Yeon-si as we moved. Whether it was some cosmic intervention or just natural since we were close, Choi Ji-seong was hovering near Ha Yeon-si too.
“Oh, Imir.”
Choi Ji-seong spotted me late and greeted me with his usual flawless smile. A face that radiated pure kindness at first glance.
“You're in the Reading Circle too, huh.”
It was the kind of expression only someone who'd never been hated could wear. Untainted by rejection, his every gesture was free of pretense.
And he'd only just realized we were in the same circle?
“Yeah. You're in it too, huh.”
“This is great.”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
“Huh? Thanks for what?”
For not cockblocking me.
“Nothing.”
“Ah... tch.”
Ha Yeon-si finally noticed me and scowled, just as another gaze poured down from behind. A sidelong glance revealed Mo Ye-ji, dressed brightly, staring at me with utter disbelief.
Now, what the hell to do about her. As expected of someone with a special ability talent, Mo Ye-ji's precognition aside, her actual combat skills were on the low side. She'd get insta-killed if dragged into an assassination plot.
Should've told her not to come. Nah, she wouldn't have listened anyway.
“Haa.”
My head was getting complicated.
That's when Choi Ji-seong spotted Mo Ye-ji and called out.
“Ye-ji. Come over here. Let's stick together since we're in the same class.”
“......Uh, okay.”
Mo Ye-ji shuffled over, hyper-aware of Ha Yeon-si's presence. Her gait was off because of those high heels. Haa. What a truly useless girl.
If Oh Chun-hwa got her hands on her, that idiot would die gutted like a fucking fish.
150 years ago, after the lands south of Gangwon-do were reclaimed, subjugation operations focused mainly on mountainous areas. The Hero Association gouged the nation for taxes under the guise of those ops, purging monster remnants across the peninsula.
Even now, 150 years later, mountain monsters hadn't been fully cleared.
In that sense, Guhak Mountain— the Reading Circle's OT spot in Gangwon-do—was a rare designated safe zone.
“We'll follow the schedule posted in the group chat.”
Right after arriving at the lodge, Oh Chun-hwa—disguised as Han Ga-rin—smoothly kicked off the OT. Nothing special. Just like a college orientation: games, chats, talent shows, and since it was a reading circle, a bit of recitation.
As the kids laughed and partied without a care, I focused on observing Oh Chun-hwa.
Per the original story, she'd have a barrier set up somewhere on this mountain. Once Ha Yeon-si entered it, she'd start the hit using a dummy. That's when I'd step in and stop it.
Goddamn assassin bitch.
Someone might wonder why not just kill Ha Yeon-si now. Sure, it'd make the mission easier.
But the fallout would land squarely on Oh Chun-hwa and her organization.
Ha Yeon-si's father, Ha Pung-hwan, led Golden Horizon—the world's top intel guild and he was one of the five greatest archmages. Assassinate his daughter leaving traces? Mission success, but her group vanishes into history.
So Oh Chun-hwa had reason to kill clean.
“It's about lunchtime. Who should we pick for meal duty~?”
Then Oh Chun-hwa, as Han Ga-rin, grinned cutely.
Hard to believe that cutesy tone came from a woman in her early thirties. Must hit hard when the illusion breaks, but she seemed fine. Assassins probably mastered that level of acting.
“Perfect. You there, the bland-looking guy and the pretty sister.”
Suddenly, she pointed at me and Mo Ye-ji.
“You two look like great cooks. Make lunch together. Everyone, clap~.”
The president pushed, and the others followed with applause and cheers. Shit. Victim of mob incitement, I headed to the kitchen with Mo Ye-ji.
“Argh. What the hell to make.”
Just toss in kimchi and water, call it kimchi stew? As I pondered, Mo Ye-ji poked my shoulder.
“Hey, hey. Imir.”
Turning, I saw her with a subtle expression.
“What?”
“Thanks for last time.”
“Huh?”
“The... food was good.”
Oh right, she was suddenly using casual speech again.
“Your vibe keeps flipping.”
“Vibe? What do you mean?”
“You used to be all formal.”
“Oh, that... But... classmates use casual with each other, right?”
I almost teased her like last time but stopped at her serious face. Some change of heart?
“Yeah. This suits you better anyway.”
“...Really?”
“Yeah. Anyway, let's whip up lunch quick.”
We hustled on lunch together. Rice was easy with portable hot packs. But tasting the finished kimchi stew? Bland as hell.
“Wow. You suck at cooking.”
Mo Ye-ji grimaced at my stew and blamed me.
“Hey, you too.”
I tried shifting blame, then pulled my secret weapon: ramen seasoning powder. Even shitty broth turns magic with this.
Added it, tasted—now it was like Han River ramen gone wrong from bad water ratio.
“Why the face?”
“Too damn good.”
Tempted, she tried it and twisted her face in horror.
“Insane. How does it taste this bad? Gonna puke.”
“Just... more ramen powder.”
We served the kimchi-ramen-stew-whatever with rice. Kids ate it right up. Guess atmosphere's the best seasoning. Looked like dog food, but sold out. Nice.
As I watched warmly, glowing text appeared.
'Comrades' Chef'
“......”
An achievement like this existed? Hmm.
Dinnertime neared. Worried I'd get meal duty again, Han Ga-rin spoke up.
“Alright, time to pull out the OT's secret weapon~.”
She hauled over a big box and set it down. Inside: stacks of green pear-shaped bottles.
“It's definitely non-alcoholic, but it mimics booze effects. Similar to alcohol, but absolutely not booze.”
I knew what it was. A unique drink to this world—booze-like but not booze. Infused with special mana; drink enough, you get drunk. Called mana brew or magiu, I think.
“Ooh, what's that.”
“Whoa, awesome.”
“Waa.”
Curiosity lit the cadets' eyes—including Ha Yeon-si and Mo Ye-ji.
Drinking games ensued, escalating to mana brew challenges.
“Idiot game~. Urgh.”
“Dumbass. You're caught.”
“This one's face is total idiot material. Wow. How does a person even look like... ”
Han Ga-rin led with penalty shots, her scheme obvious to me. Get 'em drunk, easier to manipulate.
I drank minimally, resisting the vibe. Like I'd fall for that obvious ploy.
Then Ha Yeon-si got hit with a penalty.
“Yay, Ha Yeon-si got it.”
“Drink, drink.”
“Chug, chug.”
My face twisted. Dumbass girl. Sucks at drinking games too.
Other cadets just had to tough it out till mana wore off, but I had a way out. No choice—played black knight, snatched her penalty shot, and downed it. Kuugh, goddamn smooth.
Jeers and cheers erupted; Ha Yeon-si's face flushed deep. Drunk on mana, probably.
Cheek stung—turned to see Mo Ye-ji pouting unhappily. Gets feisty when buzzed, huh.
Tipsy haze hit; I gripped my forehead. Then Han Ga-rin said,
“Alright, party's hyped. Time for prize games. Everyone ready?”
My senses sharpened. Finally, the assassin bitch was about to execute her plan.