Chapter 47
“You got teamed up with Sana? That's a problem.”
“I don't wanna badmouth someone behind their back, but honestly, it's a real issue. She's pretty high-handed, you know?”
If calling her high-handed was all it took, I'd count myself lucky. Truth is, she's basically a yakuza princess. Along with Kiru, she's one of the few glasses-wearing characters with real weight in this game world. Don't let that intellectual face fool you. Her true nature is that of a female lion, her inherited violence honed to a razor edge by her father. She talks a big game about rationality and logic, but it's all a front to hide her innate savagery. Her temperament is that of a wild beast through and through. That's why her nickname is Intellectual Yakuza—or Inkuzza for short.
How did a vicious girl like that get into the academy, which is basically a special military school? Simple: the academy runs on pure merit. With humanity's future constantly under threat, they can't afford to fuss over criminal records. Take me, Joo Hyowon, for example. Sana might be the boss's daughter, but officially, she's never joined any crime syndicate. Me? I was a full-fledged member of the gutter rats—even if it was a small outfit—and illegally infiltrated gates. Hold Sana to a strict standard, and the backlash hits me too.
Setting aside her background, her teaming up with Yujin is bad news. To that intellectual yakuza, teammates are just launchpads to boost her own scores. She'll assign them roles as parts and hog all the glory. Sure, the evaluators might give those parts decent marks for playing their timely roles—that's a valued warrior trait. But Yujin needs more than “decent.”
“…I'll grit my teeth and make it work. I'll make sure anyone who sees knows I shone. I'm getting that top grade, no matter what.”
Hwa Yujin showed unyielding resolve. His eyes burned with a manliness even fiercer than when he'd faced the sandworm.
This guy…
“That desperate for a kiss from me?”
“No, it's not that… Isn't it natural for a cadet to aim high?”
What a dodge. We're already sleeping together—why push for a kiss? Creepy bastard. When did I ever say I'd kiss him on the lips? Cheek kiss, obviously, you idiot.
“Want me to help? In your state, top grade seems tough.”
“Huh? How?”
“Simple. The issue is her using you as her score booster. I'll tweak that so she can't.”
In the original story, Sana's relationships were brutally hierarchical. Crush them with violence, drain the underlings to fatten the bosses. She knew that alone wouldn't hold an organization together, so after smashing them down, she'd layer on sweet talk and gaslighting to warp their thinking. That made the structure devilishly resilient. And she applied this ruthless dynamic to herself without exception. Lose to someone? They're the strong one; submit. Accept reality until you topple them and claim the throne. With that gangster mindset baked in, beat her once with specs as your weapon, and she's a cakewalk after. Fans loved her calling you “Oppa” and eating up any play—personality aside. Bonus: her supreme oblivious masochist vibes.
“If I crush her head-on and tell her to submit to you, she'll probably do it.”
Perfect timing, really. I want Yujin maximizing his Unique Ability. Me getting all the power isn't ideal—it'd dump this world's fate on my shoulders. Too heavy; I hate responsibility. The smart play: as many women as possible sleep with Yujin, get strong, and defend the world together. Once I sort the pecking order with Sana, she'll offer herself up willingly. Convenient.
But Yujin's unexpected response threw me.
“Nah, I'm good. I'll handle this myself—stay out of it.”
“Got a solid plan?”
“Not really, but…”
He trailed off, avoiding my eyes. Wrestling with how to spin his thoughts positively, he finally spilled his honest feelings.
“I can't keep relying on you forever. Time to step up here—persuade her or fight it out.”
In other words: guy's pride. Doesn't wanna hide under my skirt forever. The Palwang threat looms, and he's spouting comfy lines. …But honestly? Not a bad mindset.
“No top grade, no kiss—you cool with that?”
Thrown to make him squirm. His manly retort?
“Just get the top grade, and we're golden.”
…Manly, huh? Out of respect for that, no touching Sana. Instead…
“…Heard this somewhere, but the first-years' exam content this time is……”
I leaked the exam details. Could differ from the original, so take with salt. Even knowing won't guarantee top grade—uncharted territory. Cheating? Nah.
※ I won't regret it… would be bravado. Truth: regret hit the second we parted. Should've ditched the manly act and just asked for help? No—can't one-sidedly lean on her goodwill. Makes me a kept man. Gotta show her a man she can rely on.
“Might not get that kiss.”
Long-term, it's positive. A guy who carves his own path is more trustworthy than one fighting her unrelated battles.
…Right?
“Heyyy~ Yujin~~!”
Sudden call, and heavy weight clung to Yujin's back. Not exactly busty, but distinctly feminine softness. Faint wildflower scent.
Coincidentally, not unfamiliar to him.
“Kiru? Thought you quit this—why now?”
“Ehehehe! Missed this body's feel? Sorry I've been scarce—Hyowon's glaring makes it tough~”
“Ah, get off first!”
Pre-Hyowon awareness? Maybe. Now? Can't let another girl cling—not that we're official.
“Ehh, too cold now? You secretly liked it before.”
“Never—get off before someone sees!”
Gossip from others? Fine. Hyowon misunderstanding? Hard pass.
…Sad premonition she'll see right through, but anyway.
Pried with raw strength, but Kiru's power was absurdly high. Women around Yujin: baseline superhuman strength.
“So, how's comprehensive training prep~~? Hmm?”
“Sigh, I'm meh. You? No worries.”
Not counting off-scale Hyowon, Kiru topped first-years. Her insane Gather Qi even rivaled mine, some said.
“Hmm~ Who knows? Grades don't matter to this body. Hitting training at normal strength, no prep.”
“Classic top-performer line. You'll ace it anyway.”
School had these types: “Didn't study,” “Bombed the test”—then aced it behind closed doors. Why?
“Jealous of my top grade?”
“Seriously?”
“Want me to yield?”
“…? How?”
Even if Kiru tanked, it'd barely bump his rank. A tiny boost—not “yielding.”
“I'll lend you my power.”
Her palm gripped his face. Shockingly cold—like a corpse.
“Share my strength, top grade's easy. Even match Sana one-on-one.”
“Wh-what? Why this?”
“Not free, though. Do what you did to Hyowon—to me.”
Her palm pulled his head. Red eyes met his. Lips neared… but foreheads clashed first.
Crack!!! Nice ring.
“Aaaagh!! Ow, ow—it hurts! What the hell?!”
“You idiot—what're you doing?!”
Yujin clutched his pounding heart, glaring at Kiru. Nearly lost his first kiss with Hyowon to this.
“In this setup, don't you just go with the flow!? Manga does it!”
“This is reality. You thought now was kiss time?”
“Grr, weird. Heard guys eat it up if you push.”
Where'd she get that twisted info?
Anyway…
“…You knew about me and Hyowon?”
“I'm her roommate.”
That an answer? Hyowon isn't the sharing type…
…Then again, told Ayumi, so maybe.
“Fine. Then clear: no messing with other girls besides Hyowon. Unique Ability or not.”
“You're not even dating her?”
Iron spike to the chest. True, but…
“Anyway! You're after my Unique Ability too—give up. Don't even know how effective it is.”
“Hmmm.”
“You said sharing power—how? Just bluff?”
“……”
No answer. Figured.
Yujin wryly smiled. “Knew it. Positive spin: encouragement. Training's soon—work hard. Don't need your yield; I can top you fair.”
Challenge declaration? Idle thought as he brushed past Kiru.
“…Sigh, so denseee. Already shared my power~ long ago.”