Chapter 26
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: BSS Golden Sun Position? (2)
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In fact, it was safe to say that most first-year students at Hero Academy had virtually no malice toward Kim Geon-ho.
Of course, there were rumors that painted him in a bad light, and his rough appearance made some people wary, but outright hatred was extremely rare.
Why? Because it was only natural—no one had suffered direct or indirect harm from him.
Kim Geon-ho, rumored only as a Mountain Lords wastrel son and thug, hadn't actually caused harm to anyone.
He hadn't done anything particularly noteworthy, and in fact, he'd earned cheers during official spars by putting on a flashy show.
As a result, most cadets who didn't know him well just shrugged it off with a 'Yeah, every class has one or two like that.'
But that was only the image he projected outwardly. Dig deeper, and things looked very different.
To some, Kim Geon-ho was a bastard they wanted to tear limb from limb.
"Th-that guy! Again! Again! Walking to school with Marren!"
Even without harming anyone, they'd developed grudges against him. The reason? Obviously, because he'd monopolized Marren.
Marren was pretty.
Not just pretty in a simple way—she was already whispered to be the most beautiful among the first-years.
Her pink hair and eyes evoked the freshness of spring and cherry blossoms compressed into one.
The faint blush on her cheeks gave off a shy maiden vibe, and her unusually fluttering skirt added a lively charm.
Combined with her introverted personality and pure demeanor, she exuded an almost sacred aura that made her seem untouchable.
She had that adorable small-animal vibe that made you want to protect her, paired with a figure and looks that could turn anyone's head.
All these elements merged to make Marren an unspoken 'idol you can only admire from afar.'
But.
"Hey, you crazy bitch, did you take my stuff again?"
"Huh? Uh... N-no? Wait... Why would I take Geon-ho's stuff?"
That Marren—that noble Marren!
That bastard Kim Geon-ho dared to berate her with the forbidden insult 'crazy bitch'!
"Fuck, that's why you were gripping my clothes so tight yesterday... Why the hell is my handkerchief from my back pocket with you?"
"I picked it up off the ground... I was gonna give it back..."
"It was between your thighs—how's that a place to store something you're 'gonna give back'? You wanna die for real?"
Even though he should be grateful just to walk to school with her, he was scolding Marren with curses!
The conversation wasn't clear from afar, but the Korean swears were pronounced so sharply they stabbed right into their ears.
"And just because they ended up as deskmates by some coincidence!"
It wasn't coincidence that Marren and Kim Geon-ho became deskmates.
It was thoroughly orchestrated by Marren herself—she'd used her family influence for the first time to make it happen.
Of course, the clueless cadets just hated Kim Geon-ho for it.
"Yesterday during that bet, that look he gave like he was looking down on us!"
"How lightly does he see betting on a spot next to Marren to make that face?"
"Does he think he can talk casually just 'cause they're close?! I'll definitely save Marren from that verbal abuse!"
The cadets who'd come early to peek at Marren's walk to school from the hallway vowed to win.
'Ah, feels good.'
Marren, who'd noticed all this, grinned and clung to Kim Geon-ho.
'I hope this makes Geon-ho treasure me more.'
Having a group of followers? That group hating Geon-ho? She'd known that for ages.
The heir to the Mayribel family, who controlled the black market, couldn't possibly miss academy dynamics.
There was only one reason Marren let this slide.
'If Geon-ho feels any possessiveness toward me, I'd seriously die happy.'
Normal guys would feel jealousy or competitiveness in this situation and treat their original opposite-sex friend even better.
'Something like tsundere... was that the term?'
With zero real experience, Marren's knowledge came mostly from rom-com manga, dramas, and novels.
At first, she'd considered quietly dealing with the annoying kids, but now she was thrilled with the results.
Everything was great, but if she had to pick her favorite part.
"Kim Geon-ho, I thought the wastrel son rumors were exaggerated... but aren't you too harsh on Marren?"
"Marren's face doesn't look... unhappy though?"
"She's forcing it! Like 'Hey, smile! Act close!' You don't get it?"
"Kim Geon-ho's probably sticking to her on purpose... trash bastard."
It was that 'Kim Geon-ho's girl = Marren' had become practically official publicly.
Ignore the 'trash bastard' part, and she loved this flow.
'Ah, I wish people would just assume I'm Geon-ho's partner like this.'
Marren openly slipped Geon-ho's arm between her breasts, hugged his waist tight, and walked half-draped on him.
Anyone seeing this would think girlfriend or more—no one would approach Geon-ho.
Same-sex friends were hard to block, but opposite-sex ones? Perfect elimination like this.
Then, an unexpected problem hit Marren's happy dreams.
"Now, this time we'll explain group project guidelines and how groups will be formed."
Groups were formed differently from deskmates—no interference possible, decided on the spot by the professor.
'Today, huh.'
The day after the extras had thrust him into the BSS Golden Sun Position.
Unwillingly, group formation time arrived for the project over Marren's deskmate spot.
"Group 2: Kim Geon-ho, Marren, Airi, Tataqum—four people. Got it?"
"Yes."
With Airi's crisp response—she reeked of group leader material—we gathered by group right away.
'This lineup's stacked.'
Even hiding my strength, Marren and Airi alone were top of the class.
Tataqum, from a small tribe, had low written scores due to language issues, but practicals put her high up.
If splitting hairs, like 7th-9th in the top tier? Maybe my presence skewed the grouping this extremely.
Dungeon raids amplify weak links hugely.
To clear with subpar members in a raid needing perfect synergy, you need double the firepower.
That logic explained the grouping.
'Why do they all look pissed though.'
I got the grouping, but not why all my groupmates' faces were screwed up.
'Airi... needs to rebuild her family, maybe I'm cramping her? Tataqum's naturally righteous, could just hate me...'
Even process of elimination didn't explain Marren's sour face.
"..."
After grouping, we should've discussed the dungeon project, but they all clamped mouths shut, avoiding eye contact like it was scripted.
"Hey, aren't we gonna have a meeting?"
"Playboy."
"Geon-ho, you're awful."
"Tataqum, this hard. I write what good at, follow best you can."
Airi, Marren, Tataqum responded in turn—and Tataqum's was the most normal.
Not fluent yet, she plopped detailed notes of her specialties on the table.
'Yeah, that's normal.'
Not like college group projects with schedules, research, PPTs, presentations.
This was entering a deadly dungeon—you had to share strengths immediately.
But Marren and Airi ignored that, fixated elsewhere.
"Kim Geon-ho, what do you think of playboys? Especially ones flirting elsewhere, not just blatantly hitting on someone."
"Is Airi close with Geon-ho?"
Airi talked to me; Marren, displeased, sniped back at Airi. Rinse, repeat.
Even oblivious me knew I was the cause, but no urge to mediate.
'Hot girls fighting over me? Fucking hilarious.'
Me as the prize in a beauty showdown? Thrilling.
While I watched leisurely, a bomb finally went off with a bang!
"Kim Geon-ho said he wants to do it with me."
"Geon-ho did it with me."
"Waaaaah!!!"
Of course, not a real bomb.
I heard the sound of my social death.
'Wait, what the fuck is this...'
Not rom-com protag—some king-of-kings bullying tactic? New harassment? Fresh easy-mode?
Too busy spectating, I missed the creeping explosion. I yelled to raise my voice.
Too late—the classroom echoed; all eyes locked on me.
Not many options left.
"What're you looking at, you bastards? Mad I pitched to be in your group?"
Stick to the thug act.
And.
"Guys, let's get along."
Quietly pray the group bonds.
'Can I clear this project alive with these kids?'
Already worried.