Chapter 85: Festival: Encounter (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 85: Festival: Encounter (3)
The sheer density of the crowd packing the grounds was enough to make me shake my head in disbelief.
The Academy grounds were larger than most small cities. Yet today, there wasn't a single inch of empty space to be found. The parade procession and a literal sea of people stretched out as far as the eye could see, leaving no blind spots.
There are way too many people...
Countless events were packed into a brief three-day window. It was a festival of immense scale, backed by astronomical capital. And the grand finale of it all was, of course, the parade.
But as parades usually go, even Joaquin Academy's wasn't particularly unique. It felt much like what you'd see at any common amusement park.
Granted, the scale and quality here were several times grander, but to my eyes, they all looked more or less the same. I had never cared much for crowded events like this anyway, and I had lost my childhood innocence far too long ago to cheer at mascot suits.
Not that I ever liked them as a kid, either.
I watched the procession from a slight distance, away from the crushing crowd.
The club members, led by Speed Weapon, had begged me to squeeze into the thick of it with them, but it was already hot enough without voluntarily going out of my way to sweat. Besides, I—Kang Geomma—was tall and had excellent eyesight, so watching from afar posed no issue.
Since I stood my ground like a stone statue, the club members eventually plunged into the crowd without me. The sight of Speed Weapon bounding forward like a monkey was particularly memorable.
It is flashy, though.
Women draped in dangling gold ornaments danced the samba. The incredibly extravagant floats carrying them even exuded a sense of majesty. They were said to be plated with a mix of gold leaf and pure gold; I couldn't help but think that selling just one of those floats would easily fund someone's retirement.
Just as I was idly watching the dancers' sultry moves,
Step, step.
I turned my gaze toward the approaching footsteps. Ryozo was walking up with a look of sheer nausea on her face. Pale-complexioned, she grumbled,
"Sigh... I absolutely loathe crowds."
Ryozo slipped in right next to me and began nibbling on a piece of Yanggaeng. I shifted my eyes slightly to look at her.
Why did she text the club members using my number?
For someone who had wearily said she was going back to the dorms to rest, she sure was going out of her way to make things harder for herself. Especially since she loved her sleep. I had figured she would be the most mentally drained of us all during this festival...
I really have no idea what goes on in her head.
I had already spent two months with the club members, excluding Senior Hana. There was Chloe, the yandere with the look of a baby bird, and Speed Weapon, the comic relief who looked like a punk. Neither had any presence in the original game, but now they were the ones most deeply connected to me.
Yet, despite being one of the main heroines—even if she had an "extra" vibe—I felt like I knew Ryozo the least. It was as if she was intentionally hiding her true feelings.
Even her frequent bickering with Speed Weapon felt like she was just playing along to be polite...
Stripping away her title as the daughter of the Archery Saint, I knew very little about Ryozo. Her personality seemed to shift like a kaleidoscope depending on the situation.
And I still don't understand her intentions this time, either.
What was her motive for impersonating my number to gather the club members? It was suspicious, but...
She must have her reasons.
Regardless of her questionable methods, I trusted Ryozo's intellect. She always played her part perfectly as a character who prevented frustrating misunderstandings. I decided not to overthink it.
I stared intently at Ryozo's profile. She had already finished her Yanggaeng and was now rinsing her mouth with bottled water.
Come to think of it, this is the first time we've ever been completely alone together.
Sensing my gaze, Ryozo made a peculiar expression. She stole glances up at me, her fingers fidgeting nervously. Then, she parted her lips with a coy pout.
"...What are you staring at?"
Ryozo pouted and deliberately avoided my eyes. Her face flushed red as she jutted her lower lip out. It seemed even she felt a bit guilty about what she had done.
I've never seen her act like this before.
It was the most age-appropriate behavior she had shown so far. I let out a soft chuckle and shook my head. Ryozo stared at me with eyes swirling with complex emotions before suddenly snapping her head away.
"You really are incredibly dense."
Ryozo muttered softly under her breath amidst the noisy background din. Normally, it would have been drowned out, but my heightened senses didn't miss a beat.
Dense?
Reflecting on her past actions, Ryozo never spoke without purpose. There had to be some hidden meaning behind those words. The same went for her using my number to summon the club members. I deliberately hardened my expression and asked back,
"Why? What's wrong?"
At my question, Ryozo flinched. She clearly hadn't expected me to hear her.
"...You heard that?"
She looked up at me, dumbfounded. I grabbed her by the shoulders and pressed her again, wrinkling the fabric of her shirt under my grip.
"What is it? Did you notice something suspicious?"
"U-Uh, what?"
Ryozo stammered in panic. Her pupils spun like whirlpools. Her behavior was incredibly unnatural.
I squeezed her shoulders a bit tighter. At that, Ryozo squeaked in a barely audible voice,
"It hurts."
"Huh? What? I didn't catch that this time."
Ryozo shoved me away with both hands. She was surprisingly strong, enough to nearly throw me off balance. After huffing and puffing for a moment, she glared at me.
"Of course it hurts when you grab my shoulders that hard! And how can someone so dense have such ridiculously sharp ears?!"
I stared at Ryozo, utterly baffled by her sudden outburst. Despite my genuine concern, her gaze was fierce. I frowned and spoke up.
"I worry about you, and this is the thanks I get?"
"..."
Ryozo blinked. The next second, her face flushed bright red, and she suddenly hung her head low.
What is she even doing?
I clicked my tongue. At my reaction, Ryozo's lips trembled slightly.
"...Are you mad?"
Her voice was cautious. Having only ever heard her speak in a sharp, confident tone, this felt incredibly foreign.
Did I look too serious?
I scratched my cheek and shook my head. Only then did Ryozo's anxious expression begin to soften.
Looking at her, a sudden question popped into my mind. Since we rarely had time alone like this, it was the perfect opportunity to satisfy my curiosity.
"By the way, Ryozo."
"Yeah?"
"This might be a bit sudden, but..."
At my serious tone, Ryozo's eyes wavered slightly.
She swallowed hard, waiting for my next words. I cleared my throat and continued.
"Are you and Speed Weapon dating?"
"...What?"
Instantly, Ryozo's leg whipped out, aiming straight for my shin.
I simply twisted my torso slightly to dodge it. It was a completely predictable move.
Whoosh.
Ryozo's foot sliced through empty air. Losing her balance from the momentum of the kick, she fell flat on her butt with a loud thud. She clutched her lower back, having taken a hard fall.
I knew it.
They say a strong denial is as good as an admission. Young men and women might bicker and fight on the surface, but it was usually just their way of showing affection.
Of course, I had never dated anyone in either my past or present life... but I still knew how these things worked.
Damn it, now I feel a bit bitter.
Even while down, Ryozo glared at me and spat out,
"Y-You...! Do you even hear yourself?! Why on earth would I date a monkey like him?!"
Her voice trembled, thick with a cocktail of emotions. I shrugged and turned my back on her.
"Hey, Kang Geomma! Where are you going?!"
Her shrill cry pierced my back, but I ignored it. As the club president, it was only right to turn a blind eye to in-club romance.
"Hey—!"
* * *
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Joaquin Academy.
A man and a woman walked down a quiet street, away from the bustling noise. It was All Mute, wearing casual clothes with a baseball cap pulled low, and her manager, Kane. Only the sound of their footsteps echoed on the dirt path.
"Ellie, how much longer are we going to stay here...?"
Sweat dripped from Kane's forehead down the bridge of his nose. It was hot, but his impatience was the real culprit. He tapped his wristwatch, showing it to All Mute.
"Sorry, Kane. But there's something I really need to check before we leave."
"Sigh."
Kane shook his head, thinking of the person who had captured her interest so intensely.
That first-year cadet.
A boy with rare black hair, a sharp jawline, and an aura that was clearly out of the ordinary even at a glance.
Of course, compared to the performance he had displayed to the public just the other day, his appearance was trivial.
Kane smiled bitterly. Mao Rang, who was at least comparable to All Mute whom he managed, had been defeated by a mere cadet. And in a single clash, no less.
Since they had been rivals competing for the Seven Stars, this was undoubtedly good news for the American side. Paradoxically, however, an abrupt and far more threatening figure had emerged.
Kang Geomma.
Over the past two days, he had become the hottest topic among every hero guild and agency.
In the modern era, guilds and agencies coveted those with outstanding star quality over heroes who possessed only overwhelming martial power.
The reason was simple: the logic of capital.
Nowadays, heroes also functioned as entertainers, and the United States was the country that capitalized on this aspect the best.
Coining the distinct term "Hero" was part of that strategy. The same went for costumes and nicknames designed to highlight their character traits.
The Sashimi Sword Saint.
It was a playful nickname that had started from a single article, but its identity was flawless. His armament was a kitchen knife the size of a chopstick, he had incredibly rare black hair, and on top of that, he possessed natural talent.
A talented individual who possessed both uniqueness and skill. At that moment, a sudden thought crossed Kane's mind.
...No way.
"Ellie, are you trying to lay the groundwork with that cadet, Kang Geomma?"
"I-It's not like that. I really just have something to check."
All Mute replied, lowering her head slightly. Kane let out a low hum and kept his mouth shut.
Well, even if it's not strictly official, we can't let a talent like him slip away.
Kane nodded silently. Although US citizenship would be required, a single word from their agency would easily smooth over the procedures.
Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.
The corners of Kane's mouth curled up slightly.
Still, we don't have much time left before our flight.
Coordinating and managing the schedule was his job as her manager. No matter how tempting a prospect Geomma was, All Mute's immediate schedule took priority.
Soon, the two arrived in front of the booth where Kang Geomma had been selling Kimchi Stew. All Mute pulled the brim of her hat down even further.
"Huh? What? There's no one here."
At Kane's words, All Mute looked up and peered inside the booth. Only the lingering scent of Kimchi Stew tickled their noses; there was no sign of life.
"They probably went to watch the parade."
"..."
Confirming that no one was there, All Mute took off her hat with an annoyed expression. Her orange hair cascaded down her shoulders.
"Ah, right. The time."
Kane checked his watch again. He spoke up with a sense of urgency.
"Ellie, let's look for this Kang Geomma guy next time and head out for today. We're really cutting it close."
In contrast to his frantic state, All Mute replied nonchalantly.
"But doesn't the Academy have a Subspace Portal anyway? Can't we just use that to go to our next destination?"
"Hey! Do you have any idea how much it costs to fly a plane? If we take a Subspace Portal, are we just going to leave our private jet stranded in Korea?! That's the taxpayers' hard-earned money!"
As Kane gasped in mock outrage, All Mute pressed her fingers to her temples, digesting his words.
"...If it's the taxpayers' money, I guess we have no choice."
"Exactly. Good decision. Let's come back when we have more time."
Pulling her baseball cap back down, All Mute took the first step.
"Let's go, Kane."
Kane let out a sigh of relief and muttered to himself,
It's our agency's private jet, you dummy. How could it possibly be funded by taxes?
It was a lie that only worked because she was completely devoted to her work and utterly detached from the real world.
But since it had successfully persuaded her, Kane brushed aside his minor pang of guilt.