Chapter 174: This Woman Isn't Normal Either
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 174: This Woman Isn't Normal Either
The joint training proceeded without much incident.
There was a brief stir because of the fact that we had cleared an S-Class Gate in the middle of it, but aside from that, nothing particularly noteworthy happened.
"...Hmm."
If I had to point out exactly what had changed, there were about two things.
"Gwahahaha! I am the Indomitable Hero, Kim Min-su!"
The first was Kim Min-su’s attitude, which had changed drastically after clearing the gate.
Perhaps the gate rewards were substantial, as he was flapping about like a fish in water, constantly flaunting his power. It wasn't that he had become overwhelmingly strong, but he had turned into a very troublesome type to deal with.
It’s a bit much, but...
Usually, when we duel, it’s just sparring, so it's common to hold back. Taking it a bit easier than usual is the basic premise, but Min-su didn't do that. To be precise, he did hold back his strength, but he had become incredibly aggressive.
He definitely obtained regeneration as a reward.
The problem was that the level of that regeneration seemed quite significant. The Kim Min-su who couldn't even breathe when Baelson punched him in the solar plexus was gone. Now, he charged in like a wild boar, pressing his opponent with a wooden sword.
Should I be happy about this or not?
Since the NTL Quest would end if Kim Min-su died, the fact that he had become harder to kill was a good thing. However, him becoming stronger than necessary was something to be wary of.
"He must have eaten a lot of rewards that are good for the body, right?"
"...Pardon? Ah, yes, it seems so."
"I told you, you can speak comfortably with me, Tae-yang!"
"I'll... I'll ease into it slowly."
The second change was the Saintess's attitude.
Before, she was like a wary cat circling the perimeter, but lately, she was like a peacock openly flaunting her presence nearby.
What is with her?
Since she was a target for conquest, this attitude was technically a good thing, but it was flustering because it was so sudden. Especially since I had realized she was a woman whose true intentions were impossible to read.
Stop glaring at me. I'm having a hard time too.
I could feel Yu-min and Su-jin’s gazes from afar. They were at least two kilometers away, yet they were pinning their eyes right on me. This was the problem with Awakeners.
Their physical abilities are unnecessarily good.
But seriously, why is she acting like this all of a sudden? I didn't even have a guess, so the Saintess's proactive attitude was extremely taxing. And if she was going to do it, she could at least try to be natural.
"Yoo... yoo-hoo."
"...What are you doing?"
"Oh, that... well, I heard on the internet that this is how you usually appeal to your charms."
"Please... please stop looking at the internet."
What kind of appeal was she trying to make by striking a Marilyn Monroe pose while wearing a habit? Besides, her face was completely covered by a veil, so I couldn't even see what expression she was making. And that constant mention of the internet at the end of every sentence.
Is she a weeb?
Following the 29-rated witch, the obsessive disciplinary member, the semen-drinking instructor, the tsundere young lady, and the masochistic Chun-hyang, the next heroine attribute was a 'weeb Saintess.' Excluding the Black Gyaru and the tsundere young lady I met recently, none of them were normal.
Wait, is Su-jin normal...?
How is it that every single heroine, once you peel back the layers, is a woman with a high probability of being a total mess? It was a talent in itself to gather only the women that Kim Min-su could never possibly control.
"Saintess, why are you suddenly acting like this?"
"Um... would it be strange if I said it's just because I want to get closer?"
"The method is a bit..."
Did she not think it would look strange for a woman in a habit and a white veil to strike such bizarre poses? Perhaps it was because her position in the Holy Kingdom meant everyone accepted whatever she did, but she was a stranger woman than I thought.
With those words, I walked forward to begin the duel.
"Ahem, that was a very desirable attitude."
"...?"
I heard Melanie’s voice just as I was about to step onto the dueling ground. She was looking at me with her arms crossed, looking very proud.
What was wrong with her now?
"Keep maintaining that attitude from now on. Understood?"
"If you start acting like this too, I'm really going to have a hard time."
"Answer me!"
"...Alright."
I take back everything I just said. Every single heroine in this damn novel was not normal.
++++++++++++++++++++++
"You've all worked hard. Of course, there will be much more hard work ahead, but resting is also a part of self-management."
"Therefore, Victory Academy will be holding a festival. I hope many of you participate."
""Waaaaaaaah!!!!""
Everyone cheered at Jang Du-cheol's words after all the schedules were finished.
A festival...
The scent of a light novel began to waft through the air. And a very cheap light novel at that.
This is troublesome.
The intention was likely to soothe hearts weary from the gates with a festival. The intention itself was excellent, but for me, it was not a welcome situation.
There are too many women.
Once the festival started, you could hang out with anyone regardless of your team members. Then, naturally, starting with Yu-min, then Melanie, Hye-mi, and even the Saintess as of now—it was a given that they would all flock to my side. I couldn't afford to waste time on such trivial events.
I should tell Jang Du-cheol I'm not participating.
Resting was fine, but now that I knew I could lose my protagonist share to Kim Min-su, I didn't have time to stand still.
"Tae-yang, you're going to participate in the festival too, right? A grand joint festival between the Holy Kingdom and the Academy doesn't happen just anytime."
"The Saintess is right. You're participating, right, Tae-yang?"
"Hehe, Saintess, and Melanie, why... aren't you asking me? Maybe you just naturally assumed I'd participate..."
"Min-su, could you step over here for a moment..."
Perhaps they read my expression, as the Saintess and Melanie immediately spoke to me. They must have noticed because the vibe I was giving off screamed that I had no intention of participating.
"Ah, I..."
What must be, must be. It was more efficient to find and clear gates or dungeons with Kang Tae-min during this time. Just as I was about to refuse, the Saintess approached me and spoke.
"I have something I want to say to you alone regarding this festival. Is that okay?"
She whispered the words. At her bold attitude, Min-su’s eyes widened as if they were about to pop out, and Melanie looked at the Saintess in disbelief. I also looked at the Saintess with eyes similar to Melanie's.
Seriously, what is it?
Beyond just testing the waters, it was honestly becoming burdensome now.
"Right now?"
"Yes, right now."
I couldn't see her expression because of the veil, but her words and actions were incredibly firm. I nodded, and the Saintess clapped her hands before immediately grabbing my wrist and leading me somewhere. Before I could even grasp the situation, the surrounding scenery blurred past.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
When I came to my senses, we were in a VIP room, and the Saintess was familiarly nestled into a sofa, looking up at me.
"Please, sit."
"No, what is this..."
"I know, I'm being a bit sudden. But this is a conversation we can only have in private."
"It would be awkward to say in front of everyone, and I felt like if I didn't catch you now, I wouldn't see you until the day after tomorrow."
At the Saintess's following words, I nodded and sat across from her. The VIP room next to the Director's office. It was my first time inside, and it was the ultimate display of subtle luxury. Even the carpet, which looked like it was made haphazardly, must have cost at least tens of millions of won. The sofa alone was worth hundreds of millions.
They really have a lot of money.
It was a VIP room where you only saw as much as you knew. To an uninformed person, it was a place where one might say, "Oh? It just looks like a normal house." It was a scale I wouldn't have recognized if Chairman Choi Young-nam hadn't provided a house for me.
"I've been thinking about something lately."
"Yes?"
While I was lost in thought, she spoke first.
"Is the Hero... no, is Kim Min-su really... um... the man from the revelation? Things like that."
"...?"
Seeing my puzzled look, she continued, deciding that more explanation was needed.
"His actions aren't typical, are they? Um... I even had a serious discussion with Perkus... I mean, the Pope."
So they were on a first-name basis in private. But usually, when people correct a title, don't they always add 'Lord' or 'Sir'?
I've definitely learned the hierarchy of the Holy Kingdom through this.
There was no cliché like the Pope bossing the Saintess around or using her for personal gain. Seeing as the Saintess called the Pope as familiarly as a neighbor, Rubenia was a system ruled solely by the Saintess.
"Isn't it too strange... to receive a title starting from the character education phase without having done anything? Just... honestly, there were plenty of prospective cadets who stood out during those times. Even Instructor Jang Du-cheol cleared a C-Class Gate solo with his bare hands back then."
Her words provided me with a new perspective.
I guess it could be seen that way.
These were facts I hadn't known because I viewed the world of the novel through a reader's eyes. I hadn't felt any strangeness because I thought, He's the protagonist, so of course he should be treated that way.
"But just because he was impressive during character education... to receive the title of Hero... Of course, his Main Skill played a big part... but still. Just because the name of a Main Skill is special doesn't mean everyone is called that, right? It felt too contrived... My suspicion started from there."
From the fact that he received so much attention as a rising star since character education, to the way he suddenly skyrocketed to the top of the grade despite mediocre skills. She was pointing out the clichés that felt natural within the novel.
"And... I can't reveal the source... but I've also learned that he is a huge skirt-chaser... I mean, a man obsessed with women."
"Yes, yes... that... well, that's true."
This was a fact anyone could realize after watching Kim Min-su for just an hour. It would be hard to find a horny buffalo like him.
"So... I thought about using that point to dig into his background."
"Pardon?"
"Like a jealousy-induction operation. He was too suspicious during this gate as well. So, I originally planned to do it with Baelson... but Baelson... since he has a girlfriend..."
"Ah..."
No way. Is it what I think it is?
"So... since we're on the same team anyway, how about you and I act a bit lovey-dovey... to provoke Min-su's jealousy and... do something like that?"
She called it 'lovey-dovey' and 'jealousy induction.' In the end, she was saying she wanted to do exactly what I had been doing all along.
This woman really isn't normal either.
The reason I thought this was simple. It was because I could see the corners of the Saintess's mouth twitching ever so slightly as she said those words.