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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: JayM
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The designated location wasn’t anything strange, just an ordinary café.
I had texted them what time I would arrive, so we shouldn’t have missed each other. But since I didn’t know who the culprit was, I didn’t know which table to sit at.
“Ah, So-hyun, over here.”
But thankfully, my worry was unfounded.
The culprit wasn’t hiding her face, and she was someone I couldn’t exactly call a stranger.
The girl waving at me as if we had made plans to meet was the one I briefly met at the entrance ceremony.
She was pretty, but not particularly striking in this world full of attractive people. A girl with a gentle impression with her long hair styled in two pigtails.
Her name was Chae Yoo-jin, I think.
“It’s been a while. How have you been?”
“Well, if it weren’t for you, today would have been a more productive and enjoyable day.”
Since I knew who the culprit was, I decided to be a bit harsh.
It was a common rule that these gentle-looking characters were tough on those they underestimated.
“Huh? Are you mad?”
“Of course. Would you be happy if you were blackmailed?”
“Are you really mad?”
She showed me her smartphone screen.
The Holy Sword class group chat was open, and the picture was ready to be sent with a single tap.
Yes.
I had forgotten for a moment, but this girl was worse than she looked.
“One last time, are you really mad at me?”
“No, not at all. How could I dare?”
It was cowardly, but I didn’t want to involve Professor Cathy in this mess.
“That’s good. I was worried you might be mad because I called you out so forcefully.”
What? Was she a psychopath?
Perhaps I had unleashed a seed of evil that should have been extinguished that day.
“I don’t like your expression.”
I decided to smile, as requested.
“Hmm, that’s better. Don’t frown. You look decent, but your fierce expression makes you look ugly.”
“You really… you have quite the personality.”
“That’s a first. Anyway, since you came to the meeting place, I assume you’re willing to do as I ask?”
“Do you know the meaning of ‘social skills’?”
“My hands have been a bit slippery lately.”
“Your communication skills are amazing. Do I even have a choice?”
“Of course. As long as you can take responsibility for what happens if you refuse.”
I didn’t like her way of speaking, mercilessly attacking someone after gaining the upper hand, but I was the one with the weakness here.
“Ah, it’s no use trying to grab my phone. I’ve backed up the picture.”
“Alright, let’s hear it. What do you want from me? If it’s money, I’ll give you some after I become successful, so how about letting this go?”
“Do you think I’m a thug? I’m not interested in extorting money from you yet.”
“‘Yet’…?”
“No one knows what might happen in the future, right?”
She was a real piece of work.
Seriously, how could this be the behavior of an extra character who didn’t even appear in the original story?
“First, you have to answer my question. Like I said before, I can’t stand it when I have questions.”
“Well, the ‘first’ part is a bit concerning, but I’ll try my best to answer.”
“Are you dating Professor Cathy?”
“Haha, that’s a misunderstanding that could get you stabbed by the male students. It’s absolutely not true, so don’t say that anywhere.”
“I have proof.”
“She only linked arms with me for like three seconds as a joke, and I took her to the movies as thanks for helping me at the points shop.”
Actually, I only bought the popcorn, but whatever, how would she know?
“People call that a date. Are you going to keep denying it?”
“How can there be something like a ‘male and female relationship’ between a teacher and a student!”
She treated me like a younger brother, but that could happen between a teacher and a student, right?
“Ah, then it’s okay if I spread this picture, right? Since you’re innocent.”
“But sometimes, the truth loses its power in the face of propaganda.”
“You’re calling me shameless, but you’re just as thick-faced, you know?”
She looked at me dumbfounded, but it was true that we weren’t dating.
“Seriously, we’re not dating. I became close to Professor Cathy because of a certain incident. Is she the type to date a student?”
“…You’re right, she’s not.”
It was a bit strange that she agreed so readily.
Professor Cathy was popular among the students, but weren’t characters like her supposed to dislike popular people and gossip behind their backs?
“You know it well.”
Of course, I wasn’t going to say that out loud.
“You’re thinking of something strange right now.”
“No, I’m not. Do you have proof?”
“…Well, anyway, that’s fine. Now for the main topic, let’s create a club together.”
“…What?”
“Didn’t you hear me? Ghost members are fine too. You just have to register. It’s not a difficult task, is it?”
Yes, it wasn’t a difficult task.
It was so easy that there was no need to resort to blackmail.
So I was a bit puzzled.
“What kind of club are you creating? Aren’t there already reading and writing clubs?”
“I see what kind of image you have of me, but it’s not that.”
“Then what is it?”
“Does it matter? You can’t refuse anyway. Just say you’ll join, and you can actually join later.”
“Oh, then why are you pretending to give me a choice when I don’t have one?”
She hesitated, seemingly at a loss for words, but after a while, she finally spoke.
“An observation club.”
“…An observation club? Observing what?”
“Just… various things. Observing monsters, gathering information about heroes, that kind of thing. And… sometimes observing the lives of the students.”
“Ah, so you want to stalk people and need an official reason.”
“No! I said ‘sometimes’!”
In the novels I’ve read, when someone like you says “sometimes,” the last part is usually their real intention.
She was probably also planning to earn points by using club activities to build her achievements.
“So you’ll join, right?”
She seemed to think I would definitely join, but seeing her act so presumptuously annoyed me.
“However, I refuse.”
“Okay, then I’ll… what?”
“Clearly rejecting the orders of someone who thinks they have the absolute upper hand is also one of Kang So-hyun’s favorite things to do!”
Chae Yoo-jin’s face fell when I threw a famous line from a manga at her, though slightly modified.
“It’s a good manga, but do you not understand the situation you’re in?”
Seriously, you knew what that line meant…? Wait, was that manga even available here?
“It’s not happening. I don’t negotiate with terrorists. Isn’t that basic?”
“Don’t treat me like a terrorist. It’s just a simple request.”
“Yes, a simple request. But your attitude is all wrong.”
“What’s wrong with it?”
“If it was a simple request, you should have just asked, not blackmailed me with a secretly taken picture. Why should I accept your demands just because you have something on me?”
“Because, obviously…”
“Obviously what? Because you have something on me? Go ahead and spread it. But you’ll have to deal with the consequences. Not only the students who like Professor Cathy, but I will also come after you, and we’ll all come after you for slandering her.”
“Ah…”
“You really have no social skills, do you? Showing your face to me while blackmailing me… haven’t you thought about the consequences?”
“But you wouldn’t have listened to me if I asked nicely.”
“How do you know?”
“You told me to get lost when I just asked you a single question before.”
Aha, thinking about it, from her perspective, she wasn’t wrong.
It seemed Chae Yoo-jin had her own reasons.
But I didn’t regret it.
Judging by her current behavior, she was just as troublesome as I thought she would be.
And more importantly…
“Why are you even asking me? Don’t you have any friends?”
If she really didn’t, it would be a low blow, but thankfully, she glared at me and denied it.
“I have friends!”
Wow, she had friends with that personality? How much did she pay them?
“Then ask them.”
“They’re joining too. But I need your help.”
“So, why?”
“You’re friends with the freshman representatives.”
“…Huh? Lilac? Or Cheon Yoo-hak?”
“Both.”
Well… I could be considered somewhat of a friend to Lilac, but it was a bit much to call Cheon Yoo-hak my friend, wasn’t it?
“To observe them, I need to at least be their acquaintance.”
“…So you’re asking me to introduce you to them?”
“Yes.”
So after all that, she turned out to be just a pitiful supporting character caught in the protagonists’ net.
“…You’re thinking of something strange.”
“Not really, I just understand.”
“Understand what?”
“Lilac and Cheon Yoo-hak are both handsome. I understand why you want to stalk them.”
“What are you…? How do you even see me…?”
“A stalker who blackmails people with pictures.”
“And you’re a scoundrel who insults strangers.”
“Anyway, I’m not going to be swayed by your blackmail. Ask properly, or find someone else.”
“Ugh.”
“What ‘ugh’? You don’t even seem to dislike Professor Cathy, so your bluff is just a bluff.”
“Then will you introduce me to them if I ask nicely?”
“I’ll see how you ask.”
“…Please. I have my reasons for wanting to observe them up close.”
As if her previous attitude was a lie, she politely bowed her head and asked.
Touched by her polite demeanor, I smiled and answered,
“I don’t negotiate with terrorists.”
“What…!?”
It was a rejection. I was already struggling with the people around me.
I didn’t need another new face.
…And this girl strangely resembled my friend, so I wanted to tease her.
In the end, we agreed that I would put my name on her club’s roster, but I wouldn’t introduce her to them.
Well, it wasn’t my problem whether she used my name to get close to them.
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“So which clubs are you joining?”
After school, the morning homeroom members, plus the pink chihuahua Yoo-na, were touring various clubs.
“Swordsmanship and Travel. And I’ll also put my name in the hunting club that Cheon Yoo-hak is creating.”
All three clubs were connected to important events.
“Oh, you’re going to join the swordsmanship club? That’s good.”
“Huh…? Loser, what about the cooking club…?”
The butt looked at me with a “Why… only me…?” expression, but it wasn’t a big deal.
Honestly, I forgot that she asked me to join the cooking club since I was originally planning to join the other three.
Could she even cook? There was nothing about that in the original story.
“I’ll make you lots of delicious food, let’s join together~”
“Yeah, So-hyun, please join us. It would be even better if you joined the volunteer club too, instead of the travel club.”
“Do you want to see me on weekends too…?”
“Of course, you’re my first friend at the academy.”
“Crazy bastard. Stay at least 1m away from me.”
“Hey, that hurts my feelings.”
Leaving Lilac who was making creepy noises, I looked at Kim Ga-eul who was still pouting.
Seriously, was she a bully or a loser…?
Actually, I could join the cooking club with her.
The problem was that there was a comedic villain in the cooking club, so I didn’t want to join.
“Why don’t you join?”
An unexpected person intervened as I was lost in thought.
“…Huh?”
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Well, because you rarely talked to anyone other than Lilac.
To be precise, it was surprising to see the pink chihuahua helping the butt.
But her shocking statement didn’t end there.
“I’m joining too.”
“What?”
“The cooking club.”
Lilac nodded with a smile.
…You didn’t join the cooking club in the original story.
I had a feeling the protagonist was up to something again.
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T/N – Don’t resist, MC. This is for your own good… 😀
Also, you’d think the MC would learn by now not befriend people with a personality like his author friend.
If you find any mistakes, feel free to point them out in the comments.
