Chapter 76: Conspiracy (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 76: Conspiracy (2)
Final exams were just around the corner, but the cadets’ expressions were bright.
It wasn't because they enjoyed taking exams, of course; they were buzzing with excitement for the upcoming event.
Thud!
Weapon slammed his palm onto the desk. The impact caused Ryozo’s hand, which had been propping up her chin, to slip.
“Gah! You scared me. Hey, what’s with the sudden desk-slamming?!”
Ryozo glared at him fiercely. The other club members’ eyes also turned toward Weapon.
With a face full of solemnity, dignity, and gravity, Weapon lowered his voice to a heavy tone.
“…What should our Travel Club do for the festival?”
“Ugh, seriously? Don’t act all serious over something so trivial!”
“Hey, Saki. This isn’t just any day; it’s the Joaquin Academy Festival. If I can’t act serious today, then when can I?”
“You really need to fix that habit of yours—going from zero to sixty over the most useless things.”
Indeed.
The reason the cadets were so energized was the Joaquin Academy Festival.
One might think of it as just a simple fair, but it was a nationally recognized holiday.
This was because that day marked the anniversary of Balor Joaquin sealing Lycan. Since it celebrated the salvation and liberation of humanity from the Demon invasion, it held a significance similar to Liberation Day in this world.
The scale and meaning of the festival were immense. Figures rarely seen in public would attend to bless the cadets and honor their future. It was a tradition that had lasted seven hundred years since the academy's founding.
Al'tair Auditore, the head of Chloe’s family and the strongest assassin known as the ‘Old Man of the Mountain.’ Mao Rang, the ‘Iron Leg’ and future head of the Iron King Family from the neighboring country. Even ‘All Mute,’ the pride of the United States and a strong candidate for the next Seven Stars.
I could already see the reporters with sparkling eyes, tapping away at their keyboards. The front pages of various newspapers would be feasting on content for a while.
Unfortunately, the Archery Saint and the Spear Saint would not be attending. Those two were such giants and so busy that they rarely showed their faces.
Still, tradition was tradition, so they would at least send congratulatory messages through representatives.
It was a holiday that even the Prime Minister of a nation and the bigwigs who controlled the Hero Association could not ignore.
The day light was cast upon humanity. A festival celebrating the brilliant future of the Hero candidates!
Though it was a day worthy of any grand adjective, its meaning had faded significantly in recent times.
‘The higher-ups are always the problem, no matter where you go.’
It had become a day for nobles to gather in small groups to network and build new connections. For the foolish, it was a golden opportunity to rub elbows with the high and mighty.
If the Hero of the Origin and his seven disciples saw this, they would have broken out of their coffins in a rage, calling it a national disgrace.
But what did it matter? Even if corruption and secret dealings were rampant, such things were far from the minds of teenagers.
To the youth, it was simply a massive event.
“Don’t you know that every single one of these things counts toward our club’s performance record? Besides, if we make a big showing now, it’ll save face for the Principal, who was kind enough to become our advisor.”
“Are you really using the Principal as an excuse? Weapon, you just want to enjoy the festival!”
A playful bickering ensued between Ryozo and Weapon. When dealing with Weapon, Ryozo’s way of speaking was far from elegant.
“As they say, a cadet who knows how to play knows how to work. I’ll handle all the annoying stuff. For example… making the posters?”
“That damn poster again, for f—sake.”
Ryozo let out an exclamation mixed with a curse. Weapon continued to wag his tongue, unbothered. Beside them, Senior Hana was sipping her tea. I watched them quietly.
‘It’s a mess.’
Then, Chloe, who had been quiet, spoke to me.
“Sword Demon Kun, do you have any plans for the festival…?”
“Well, not really.”
Chloe fidgeted with her fingers. A small blush spread across her cheeks.
“U-Um, then, by any chance, on that day, with me….”
Thud!
The desk rattled again. The aftershock sent pens and piles of documents flying into the air.
“I’ve decided! Let’s set up a food tasting booth. Our President handles a knife like a god, doesn't he? This is our chance to promote the club. If we tell people the President cooks meals like this when we go on trips, then—”
“…….”
Chloe glared coldly at Weapon. She puffed out her cheeks and snapped her head away. Her huff was sharp and peevish.
Weapon scratched his chin awkwardly. He looked like he had no idea what he had done wrong.
Perhaps he understood the female heart even less than I did, and I’ve never even been in a relationship.
Weapon glanced at Chloe’s reaction.
With her pouting lips and the awkward situation he didn't know how to fix, Weapon let out a small sigh.
It felt like cold water had been poured over his burning enthusiasm.
‘Still, Weapon is the one who always thinks of the club first.’
Thanks to Weapon taking it upon himself to be the mood maker, the club stayed lively. Perhaps because of that, his way of speaking had become a bit light lately, but….
If it weren't for Weapon, I wouldn't have the confidence to lead this group of distinct personalities. I uncrossed my arms. As a fellow man, it was time to lend him some support.
“I don’t think Weapon’s idea of setting up a booth is bad.”
A look of slight surprise appeared on Ryozo’s face. Starting with her, the club members’ eyes gathered on me. Weapon looked like he was about to be moved to tears. The way he rubbed the bridge of his nose was a bit much.
“What? Geomma, were you interested in these kinds of authoritative events too? Why, are you trying to promote yourself to the high-ranking officials this time?”
Ryozo’s brow furrowed in disapproval.
An authoritative event? It was quite ironic coming from the person most closely related to authority among us.
“It’s not that I have a specific goal, but we’ll probably be running around everywhere for dungeon subjugations once summer break starts. We haven't done any club activities until now.”
Distrust still lingered in Ryozo’s pupils. She narrowed her eyes as if trying to gauge my true intentions. I continued after a couple of fake coughs.
“And besides, there aren't many days left where we can enjoy a festival like this—”
I caught myself and shoved the words back down my throat. Ryozo raised an eyebrow, full of curiosity.
“Not many days left? What does that mean?”
“…….”
A slip of my subconscious had reached three years into the future, to the 2nd Human-Demon War.
I usually didn't make mistakes like this, but it seemed I had grown quite comfortable with the club members.
“…….”
“Why? Why aren't there many days left to enjoy the festival? Geomma, is there something you know that we don't?”
As the silence stretched, Ryozo’s eyebrows climbed higher. She was the type who wouldn't let even the smallest suspicion slide. That trait was the foundation of her sharp insight, but as a comrade, it was quite exhausting.
“I-I meant because final exams are coming up soon. That’s what I meant.”
“Hmm—.”
Ryozo stared at me intently with narrowed eyes. Then, as if she had lost interest, she took out a piece of yanggaeng and began to nibble on it.
“So, do you have a booth in mind?”
“Nothing specific.”
“Or are you going to sell food like Weapon said? You’re the only one here who knows how to cook, Geomma.”
Now that I thought about it, she was right. Since I could only handle a sashimi knife for about fifty seconds, I couldn't take charge of it all by myself.
As far as I knew, Weapon couldn't even get the water ratio right for instant ramen. Ryozo replaced most of her meals with yanggaeng…. I suddenly asked Chloe and Senior Hana.
“Chloe, Senior Hana, can you two cook?”
“Uh, I can do things like fried rice or fried eggs….”
“I don't really eat much. Maybe putting balsamic dressing on a salad? Would that count as cooking?”
“…….”
Ryozo gave me a look that said, See?Munch, munch. She chewed her yanggaeng in a rather annoying way.
I groaned as I pondered. Since I had stepped up as the President, it would hurt my pride to just let it slide.
Honestly, a festival was something I had never truly enjoyed in my entire life. Since I had jumped into the workforce at seventeen, I never had the chance to enjoy such romance.
The fact that I enjoyed the mass-produced mobile game ‘Miracle Blessing M’ was for the same reason. Though I never showed it, I must have been longing for this kind of life.
‘And.’
I looked around at the faces of the club members. Except for maybe Saki, they all had smiles of anticipation and excitement on their lips. However, knowing the future, it was hard for me to smile as freely as they did.
‘This is the last festival we can spend at the Academy.’
By the time we entered our second year, the Demons would feel a sense of crisis because of Leon, the next Hero.
They would stop acting overtly on the front lines and instead release magical beasts to cause harm.
The atmosphere of the story would gradually turn serious from that point on. Naturally, events like festivals or vacations would be abolished.
This festival was the last event I and the club members would share. Thinking that made a lump form in my chest.
“What are you thinking about with such a sad expression?”
Senior Hana asked as she set down her teacup. I could see her long eyelashes slightly behind her glasses. Even at a glance, her eyes were elegant.
“You look like someone who thinks this festival is the last one.”
This woman. Did she read my mind? She slightly adjusted her glasses and the corners of her mouth.
“Do you remember what I said when I joined the Travel Club?”
“Uh, what did you say?”
She smiled faintly and picked up her teacup again.
“If you don't remember, then never mind.”
* * *
“So, in the end, we’re doing food?”
Ryozo frowned and let out a deep sigh.
Even after a long meeting, we had ended up back at square one.
In truth, it was difficult for a small club like ours to do anything on a grand scale. Many ideas were tossed around, but the most manageable and common choice was only one.
“No, I’ve never even gotten my hands wet in a kitchen! Even Weapon here can’t get the water right for cup ramen. And you want to cook? Besides, if we’re doing this as a club, we should work together. This is just you doing all the work alone, Geomma!”
I had been in the food industry for nearly twenty years.
Therefore, it wasn't impossible for me to handle all the orders by myself. And it was only short kitchen knives I couldn't use; there were other blades I could handle.
The ‘machete’ I had bought in preparation for the uninhabited island survival training.
Of course, it lacked a bit of style, but I had my own professional pride.
‘A master doesn't blame his tools.’
However, as Ryozo said, if it became a one-man show, the meaning of doing it together would be lost.
“Hey, hey, don't you trust the President? He must have a plan if he’s saying that.”
Weapon said with a grin. Senior Hana and Chloe also nodded in agreement.
Since the atmosphere was leaning that way, Ryozo also backed down from her firm stance.
“Ha— fine, fine, I get it. So, what are we making?”
At Ryozo’s question, I shrugged.
“Kimchi Jjigae.”
In Earth terms, this festival was like Liberation Day.
I planned to use this opportunity to spread Korean food and perform a small act of patriotism.
* * *
Time continued to flow.
There were only two days left until the festival. The club members were busy with preparations.
Chloe would support me by doing things like frying eggs, Speed Weapon would handle the procedural matters, and the meticulous Senior Hana would oversee the logistics and ingredients.
Even Ryozo, who had been complaining, helped out silently. Her role was poster production and promotion.
After subduing Weapon—who had insisted on doing it himself—with physical force (?), she took charge of it.
Since I had to give it my all on the day of the festival, I didn't have any specific tasks until then.
“…Everyone is doing much better than I thought.”
They were all so quick-witted that I wondered if all teenagers in this world were like this.
Or perhaps the teamwork we had built at ‘Korean Sushi’ before was helping.
Thanks to that, I found myself with some unexpected free time.
Step, step.
I walked down the hallway of the faculty building. Now that the attention of the Academy and the cadets was focused on the festival.
I had managed to find some time to visit a certain person. Soon, I stopped in front of a door with a nameplate and knocked lightly.
Knock, knock.
“It’s Kang Geomma.”
The door opened.
“Ah! Come in, Cadet Kang Geomma.”
Professor Damian, dressed in a white coat, welcomed me. I bowed and stepped into the professor’s office.
The professor pulled out a chair and gestured for me to sit. In his other hand, he held a coffee pot.
“I was just brewing some tea; your timing is perfect.”
Clink.
“It’s black tea brought directly from Russia. The aroma is truly exquisite.”
The professor offered the Russian black tea with a bright smile.