Chapter 89: Playing Thief (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 89: Playing Thief (2)
The day before final exams.
During after-school hours, Ryozo summoned the club members, including me, to the Wolf Class room. Once everyone had gathered, Ryozo dumped a stack of papers out of her backpack.
"...You did all this already?"
I looked back and forth between Ryozo and the documents with bewildered eyes.
"Yeah. But I only printed them out and haven't reviewed them yet, so I don't know what's inside either. We'll have to check now."
She shrugged. I let out a low groan and turned my gaze back to the pile of papers.
She didn't just pull up a list.
The documents were neatly organized, containing detailed personal information of the executives and staff, cross-referenced rosters, and even the movements of suspicious individuals. It was an unbelievable amount of work to have completed in less than two days.
I knew she could deliver when she put her mind to it, but still.
Standing before her promised reward, Ryozo seemed like a completely different person. Just what kind of favor was she going to ask of me to make her work this hard? A brief chill ran down my spine, but she did say it wasn't anything material.
"...But President, is this really okay?"
Weapon, who was looking through the stack of papers, spoke up hesitantly.
"Even if the goal is to root out villains, this is straight-up illegal... And Ryozo, isn't this a bit much? You even wrote down how many times they went to the bathroom in a day. What about these people's human rights?"
"It was already a crime the moment I hacked them, so what's the point of bringing that up now?"
"...Hey! There's a line! This is way too malicious!"
"Sure, sure. Look at Mr. Saintly Weapon over here."
Weapon grimaced fiercely at Ryozo's sarcasm. I placed a hand on his shoulder and shook my head.
"The more information we have, the better, even if it's trivial."
"Ugh, well, if you say so, President..."
I understood Weapon's reaction. Morally speaking, this was clearly wrong. But we didn't have enough time to be picky about our methods.
Still, it's thanks to members like Weapon that we can maintain at least a minimum line.
Honestly, except for Weapon and me, the moral boundaries of the other club members were incredibly blurry.
Chloe, being a former assassin, was one thing, but Ryozo also had a cold side that justified any means for the end.
As for Senior Hana, she usually just quietly enjoyed reading or having tea, so I couldn't read her mind. Even when she witnessed something immoral, she didn't stop it, nor did she encourage it. She would simply push up her glasses and watch with a mysterious smile.
Objectively speaking, all the female members, excluding Weapon and me, had personalities that defied common sense. I patted Weapon on the back and spoke soothingly.
"I'll shred everything once this is over. So don't worry too much. Right, Ryozo?"
I gestured with my chin to ask for her agreement. She nodded readily. Only then did Weapon let out a sigh of relief. I smiled with satisfaction.
"Anyway, as you've probably heard from Ryozo, our Travel Club will be working to root out villains during the final exams. Any questions?"
"Me."
Senior Hana suddenly raised her hand. Her glasses flashed once as she asked quietly,
"Could we know where this information came from?"
"……."
As soon as she finished speaking, everyone's questioning gazes fell upon me.
She pinpointed exactly what I was trying to gloss over.
But I couldn't reveal Choi Seol-ah's existence. If I disclosed that I was colluding with her—a villain, even if she had lost her magic power—there would be too much to explain.
It would be a hassle, and above all, Chloe, who had been quiet lately, might go into full yandere mode. If Chloe found out that I was using a beauty like Choi Seol-ah—rotten to the core as she was—as my errand girl... I might end up a corpse courtesy of her pink utility knife. I glanced at Chloe out of the corner of my eye before speaking.
"I can't tell you right now, Senior. But I can tell you this much: they are a reliable source."
"Heh~"
There was a bit of a contradiction in calling her "reliable," but since she had lost her Mark of the Thrall, there was no way she would lie to me. Choi Seol-ah herself knew best what would happen if she harbored any treacherous thoughts.
"I'll reveal who the source is when I get the chance later. But not right now."
"Sure, okay."
I looked at Senior Hana, who nodded casually. With her glasses obscuring her eyes, she was a hard person to read. She seemed like a quiet, model student at first glance, but she would occasionally act mischievous.
She's the member I know the least about.
Ryozo didn't show it, but she was also keeping a close eye on Senior Hana.
When I stared at her, Senior Hana just smirked. Resting her chin on her hand, she wore a gentle smile. Suddenly, a wave of déjà vu washed over me.
Ah, damn it. She looks like someone, but I can't put my finger on who.
I forced my stray thoughts aside. The atmosphere suggested everyone was waiting for me to speak, their eyes filled with trust. I swept my gaze over them once before opening my mouth.
"Then, let's begin the first official meeting of the Travel Club."
* * *
"Phew..."
I let out a long sigh and wiped the beads of sweat forming on my forehead.
I was a bit nervous since it was my first time leading this kind of meeting. Fortunately, my intentions seemed to have gotten across, as the members were already discussing the agenda among themselves.
"Hey, Ryozo. What about this guy? He wasn't on the staff list last month, and his movements are a bit suspicious."
"Mark down anyone with suspicious circumstances for now."
"Got it."
Weapon, who had seemed hesitant at first, was now actively offering his opinions. He busily moved his pencil. Unlike a few days ago when he was preparing for the written exams, his eyes burned with passion.
As expected, nothing is more fun than slacking off during exam period.
I watched the members discuss from a distance. Since they would handle the mental labor, my job was done after explaining the agenda. That was probably the privilege of being the president.
Just then, Chloe approached me hesitantly. She gently handed me a bottle of water.
"G-Geomma, good work. Here."
"Oh, thanks. My throat was actually pretty dry."
"...N-No, it's nothing."
I took a sip of water and glanced at Chloe. She looked a bit downcast, as if her spirits were dampened. I looked back and forth between Chloe and the other members.
Ah, I see.
I spoke to Chloe casually.
"Don't worry too much about it, Chloe."
"Huh?"
After swallowing the last drop of water, I continued.
"Ryozo and Weapon usually enjoy this kind of stuff anyway. They're the types who like racking their brains."
"But still..."
"Chloe, you can do things they can't. Back in the Buffalo Dungeon and during this festival, the club wouldn't have functioned without you."
She was also a precious asset to us. In the Buffalo Dungeon, if it weren't for Chloe's skills as an assassin, we might have left behind some loose ends.
Thanks to Chloe taking care of the Tongmunso employee, we were able to wrap things up cleanly.
Her outstanding presence-detection ability and swift hand would definitely be of help in the future.
"R-Really?"
"Of course."
Chloe's face brightened instantly. Soon, she beamed at me with sparkling eyes.
"If you say so, Geomma... I'll work even harder from now on!"
Clenching her fists to her chest, Chloe made her vow. I nodded in response. Then, with a blush on her face, she suddenly muttered something in a tiny voice.
"...I wish... I was in the same group as Geomma for this exam too..."
Right at that moment,
Rollin'~♬
A notification ringtone chimed, and I pulled out my phone. It seemed I wasn't the only one who received a text, as the other members checked theirs simultaneously.
* * *
[The group members for Cadet 'Kang Geomma' for the first semester final exams of 2034 are as follows.]
◉ Please note that 3rd-year cadets are excluded from this school-wide exam due to college entrance preparations.
⎯⎯⌜Group Members⌟⎯⎯
San Hana - Tiger Class, 2nd Year.
Kang Geomma - Wolf Class, 1st Year.
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
⎯⎯⌜Group Leader⌟⎯⎯
……
……
* * *
As I scrolled down slightly, my eyebrows twitched.
"Ah, I'm fucked."
I spat out a curse with a hollow face.
* * *
⎯⎯⌜Group Leader⌟⎯⎯
Rachel de Myura - Star Class, 1st Year.
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
[※ Once assigned, groups cannot be changed.]
* * *
I had ended up in the same group as the person I wanted to avoid the most.
* * *
Before the club meeting could even finish, Kang Geomma left early, saying he was tired. Chloe stared at the spot where he had been standing for a long time before speaking.
"Geomma looked really pale... He must be very worried about this exam."
Weapon, who was next to her, nodded.
"It's understandable. The leader is Rachel. The president is probably going to have a rough time again."
"...With that bi— I mean, that blonde fox..."
Venom flared in Chloe's eyes.
She gritted her teeth fiercely as she pictured Rachel's face. That cheeky girl who drooled whenever she looked at Geomma. And she possessed a voluptuous, wild-horse-like body.
Suddenly, Chloe gently stroked her own chest. She frowned, then shook her head.
Geomma said he likes small breasts.
A brief silence fell. A complex, subtle tension swept through the classroom.
Weapon broke the silence with an awkward laugh.
"Well, they were in the same group during the midterms too, so they'll do fine. Senior Hana is in the same group as well. What could go wrong? Besides, worrying about the president is the most pointless thing ever."
"...That's true."
Chloe turned her gaze toward San Hana. It was a look filled with many emotions.
San Hana offered a gentle smile.
"Don't worry, Chloe. I'll keep a close eye on him so he doesn't get distracted."
Only then did Chloe let out a small sigh of relief. Meanwhile, Ryozo, who had been diligently flipping through the documents on one side, slightly furrowed her brow and suddenly spoke in a low voice.
"Since the president is gone, let's end today's meeting here. Exams start tomorrow. I need to go back to the dorm and prepare too, so let's dismiss."
"What? Ryozo, you actually prepare for exams?"
Weapon's eyes widened. Ryozo didn't even bother to reply, looking utterly dumbfounded.
At her reaction, Weapon scratched the back of his neck awkwardly and packed his things. Starting with him, Chloe and San Hana also cleaned up their respective spots.
"Good luck on the written exam tomorrow, everyone!"
"F-Fight on!"
Weapon waved his hand as he left. Chloe followed, bowing at a perfect ninety-degree angle to the remaining members before walking out. Thus, only Ryozo and San Hana were left in the Wolf Class room.
"……."
Ryozo stared straight at San Hana's glasses. She crossed her arms, her gaze sharp. In response, San Hana's lenses glinted, reflecting the setting sun. Just as an uncomfortable silence stretched between the two women...
"I should get going too."
San Hana, who had been enduring the chilly gaze, attempted to leave.
"Senior Hana."
"Yes?"
But Ryozo's voice stopped her. San Hana replied with an innocent smile,
"Is there something else?"
"……."
Ryozo clicked her tongue softly, then narrowed her eyes.
"...Who exactly are you?"
San Hana tilted her head, a question mark practically floating over her. Ryozo tapped her index finger on the documents on the desk and asked,
"Why is your name on the faculty and staff list, Senior?"