Chapter 107: Final Exam (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 107: Final Exam (3)
Inside a quaint and pretty cafe at Gaon.
Most of the students who came here were either couples or groups of girls looking to chat.
While there were open tables, the cafe also had small, private rooms that could fit four or five people.
In one of those rooms sat three female students, all of whom could be described as objectively beautiful.
Slurp.
With a soft sound, she took a sip of her coffee.
Kang A-rin, with a practiced motion, brushed her hair back and set down her cup.
Across from her sat Ha Sion and Yu Hana.
This was their monthly meeting, a tradition that had continued almost unconsciously.
‘Report any variables in the group chat. Variables, not you guys showing off.’
It had been months since Kang A-rin had said that.
But the group chat’s actual purpose had devolved into exactly that—showing off—and in the end, they had no choice but to hold these regular meetings.
She wasn't sure why they kept meeting up, as if their faces were anything special to look at, but somehow, it had become a habit.
The topics of discussion were usually simple.
Their plans for the future, and various other important pieces of information.
They all knew that being openly wary of one another was exhausting.
So, the four of them had reached a tacit agreement.
They wouldn’t engage in any emotionally draining fights until after they had obtained the Fragments.
The business part of the meeting concluded without much to note.
Now, it was time for a bit of idle chatter.
“Finals are here,” Yu Hana said, breaking the silence.
“Looks like it,” Kang A-rin replied, stirring her coffee with a blank expression.
“…Everyone here is on the Blue Team.”
Ha Sion gave a short nod.
“That Cheon girl… and he are on the White Team,” Yu Hana added quietly.
Her voice was low, but her words held a strange resonance.
“It’s so annoying. They said we can’t even interact with the other team starting today,” Ha Sion grumbled.
Her reaction was understandable.
The exam details had been announced yesterday, and as of today, the Blue and White Teams were to be kept completely separate.
Originally, Cheon Yeo-wool was supposed to have joined them today.
But since she was on the White Team, there was no problem with her being with Jung Hae-in.
There was no way Cheon Yeo-wool would miss such a golden opportunity, so she had naturally skipped the meeting.
Gaon’s philosophy for exams was always ‘real combat.’
Treating the exam like a real battle meant that even the preparation had to be like a real battle.
In a real fight, the Mine faction and the hero side didn't exactly mingle and chat, so this was only natural.
Ah, there were exceptions, of course, but this was the general rule.
“It’s a shame, is all,” Kang A-rin commented, as nonchalant as ever.
She’d had her turn monopolizing Jung Hae-in most recently, so she was in a relatively peaceful state of mind.
It was likely Yu Hana and Ha Sion who were feeling the burn.
But upon hearing that, Yu Hana tilted her head slightly and asked, “…Is it really a shame?”
A momentary silence fell at her short question.
“What are you talking about?” Ha Sion asked.
Instead of answering, Yu Hana tapped her Watch.
A moment later, an alert chimed on the other two’s Watches simultaneously.
—Ting.
—Ting.
A map of Gaon’s battlefield unfolded on each of their screens.
Several areas on it were marked in blue.
They were the spots Yu Hana had colored in herself.
“These are the Resurrection Points,” Yu Hana explained curtly.
“……”
“You know, right? The person who resurrects someone gets a portion of their points, and it creates a state of Mental Resonance…”
She slowly set down her cup and continued.
“It’s a kind of contract. In exchange for being brought back to life, you become that person’s subordinate for the duration of the exam.”
“Ah.”
Ha Sion’s eyes widened in realization.
A person who suffered Elimination was given a new opportunity the moment they were chosen.
Meaning, even if Ha Sion, a member of the opposing team, was eliminated, a sympathetic Jung Hae-in could choose to save her.
And if he did, she would get to be with him.
As his faithful servant.
“That might not be… so bad?” Ha Sion muttered.
Yu Hana rose from her seat.
“Figure it out for yourselves.”
She walked away quietly.
The gentle cafe music once again filled the space.
As if nothing had happened.
*
The atmosphere at Gaon had changed distinctly.
It started today.
All classes were suspended under the guise of self-study.
The curriculum leading up to the exam had been completed a few days ago.
In the end, the final exam was what truly mattered.
And with this self-study period came the complete separation of the Blue and White Teams.
Instead of lecture halls, students began to gather in their respective teams all over campus.
Despite this, the Gaon grounds felt noticeably deserted.
Second, third, and fourth-years often had their final exams take place in external locations and spaces.
As such, they had already departed as soon as the exam was announced.
‘Let’s meet again alive!’
There was a reason the seniors from the Board Game Club had said that.
In the end, the only ones left at Gaon were the first-years.
The days were free, yet strangely on edge.
And today.
I was spending time with Cheon Yeo-wool.
The practical exam was important, but the written one couldn't be ignored either.
Unlike the midterm, which only covered basic Holy Methods, the final exam was gradually moving into intermediate applications.
The material was more complex, the difficulty much higher.
Cheon Yeo-wool had asked for help, and I had readily agreed.
“Does it make sense now?”
“Umm…”
Cheon Yeo-wool shook her head from side to side.
The material was difficult enough that her reaction was understandable.
Still, her concentration wasn't bad, so she would get it if she just took her time.
“Why is this so fun?”
But Yoon Chae-ha was there with us, too.
Since she was also on the White Team, we had decided to just study together.
She was engrossed in the basic Holy Method textbook before her.
And no one had even asked her to.
Her words made me pause for a moment.
That’s just how studying is.
For some, it’s a game that lets them breathe; for others, it’s the opposite.
I’m definitely not referring to Yoon Chae-ha and Cheon Yeo-wool, of course.
“Should we… call it a day here?” I said, closing my book.
“We should probably start talking about the practical exam soon. Your brain won't work if you just sit here for too long…”
The moment the words left my mouth, Cheon Yeo-wool slammed her Holy Method book shut as if she’d been waiting for it.
With a slight smile, she leaned her head all the way back to look up at me, her eyes sparkling and one eyebrow raised playfully.
The sheer relief on her face screamed that she was done, a grin already spreading across her lips.
Yoon Chae-ha closed her book with a disappointed expression.
She tucked a strand of hair beside her cheek and watched me in silence.
Both of their gazes were fixed on me.
On the next word to leave my lips, on the slightest twitch of my mouth.
It felt as if all their focus was centered right there.
I let out a wry smile.
It was quite entertaining to see their different reactions.
But there was something I’d been feeling lately.
I wasn’t certain, but you just get these hunches.
Cheon Yeo-wool and Yoon Chae-ha. And several other key figures.
A look in their eyes, a tone of voice, a single action.
I felt like their behaviors were piling up, one by one, all implying something more than friendship.
To say otherwise would be a lie.
And it was certainly a welcome development for me.
Ahead of us lie trials that we cannot endure with ordinary friendship alone.
The great void left by someone’s death must be filled by another.
I would play the largest role, but in the end, we all had to overcome it together.
Forging deeper, stronger bonds in the process was undoubtedly the right path.
That’s why I’m all for being ‘more than friends.’
However.
‘Could it be that they like me?’
Lately, I’ve started to think they might be seeking a romantic relationship, something beyond friendship.
Of course, some might laugh and call me conceited, but I had to be prepared for every possibility.
Even if that were the case, for now, the right thing to do was to pretend I didn't notice.
It wasn’t that I disliked it.
These were characters I shaped, characters I created.
Every one of them is charming, and I hold affection for them all.
Besides.
‘I’m a man, too.’
It’s only natural to be drawn to attractive women.
But I’m not in a position to be swayed by my emotions right now.
I have a duty to support these key figures to the best of my ability and help them grow.
Any further disruption might be more than our current relationships can handle.
At least, not until they’ve obtained their Fragments.
Until then, I have no intention of seeing them as anything more than what they are.
A player might have just thought, ‘Why not?’ and gone along with it.
But I’m not a player anymore.
This is completely real, and I feel that everyone is alive.
It weighs on my conscience, on my sense of responsibility.
I stood up and spoke.
“I’m going to get us something to drink.”
At my words, Yoon Chae-ha and Cheon Yeo-wool opened their mouths to speak at the same time, but I beat them to it.
“An iced chocolate and a strawberry latte, right?” I said with a small smile.
As if asking how I knew, both their faces brightened at the same time.
An unspoken, yet strangely familiar and comfortable atmosphere.
For now, at least for now.
This was just right.
