I Became the Academy’s Heroine Stalker – Chapter 73

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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“I’m so sorry, Master!”

Having recovered much faster than expected, I was now prostrating myself before Park Na-yeon.

I had heard everything that happened that day.

Su-ah, who had come to visit me in the hospital, told me everything.

That’s why I was bowing.

If Park Na-yeon hadn’t stopped me, a real disaster could have occurred.

Though it was strange that Kim Hye-seo and Su-ah were at the scene, but…

Anyway, thanking Master was my priority.

“…What are you doing?”

“I’m alive thanks to you, Master! Please accept my bow!”

“Get up.”

“Yes, Master!”

I quickly got up.

Renia, standing beside me, chuckled.

It was a rare sight to see her smile.

She had been blaming herself for getting completely drunk and being unable to help me.

At least my recovery seemed to have somewhat eased her guilt.

She had been so apologetic and depressed that it was starting to affect me, but now that she was finally smiling, I couldn’t help but smile too.

As I thought,

Gloominess didn’t suit our Renia. Isn’t it so much better when she smiles?

I grinned at her.

That aside, I had actually clashed with an S-rank Hunter while using [Overheat Max].

‘Was I crazy?’

It meant I could become an S-rank Hunter for one minute if I could control my instincts. I pinned my hopes on the [Melissa’s Rune] I had just acquired.

I wouldn’t know how much it would protect my unquantifiable mental strength until I tried it.

“Anyway, tell me exactly what happened. Why was a Holder from the Monster Management Bureau looking for you? How did the villain end up dead? And what happened with Choi Do-han? Tell me everything.”

“Huh?”

‘Kim Hye-seo was looking for me?’

‘Kim Hye-seo? The head of the Monster Management Bureau’s villain investigation team?’

I had met her a few times because of previous villain-related incidents, but there was no reason for her to seek me out.

At least, not as far as I knew.

‘She had business with me? In that urgent situation?’

Why would she look for a mere cadet like me during the Illusion terror incident?

I racked my brain, but couldn’t find a single plausible reason.

I shook my head.

“I don’t know why the Holder was looking for me.”

“Really…? Then what about the rest?”

I would find out why Kim Hye-seo was looking for me soon enough. She would definitely come looking for me, as I was involved in the death of the villain De Roque.

And also to investigate the death of Choi Do-han, the Dark Mana user.

I was certain that Kim Hye-seo herself, not another Holder, would come.

I could ask her then.

For now, I told Park Na-yeon what had happened.

Of course,

I embellished the truth a little(?), saying that I happened to see Choi Do-han and the villain, helped Choi Do-han defeat the villain, but then Choi Do-han, corrupted by Dark Mana, attacked me, and I somehow entered a berserk state.

I couldn’t reveal the whole truth.

Especially not with Su-ah present.

It was too early.

Park Na-yeon stroked her chin, humming thoughtfully.

“Really…? So, you’re saying you don’t know why you went berserk?”

“Yes, Master.”

When in doubt, feigning ignorance was the best course of action. The following questions were also about my berserk state, but I continued to play dumb.

“I see…. It can’t be helped if you don’t remember anything. Anyway, be careful from now on. It was really dangerous.”

“Yes, Master. I’m glad no one was hurt.”

However, Park Na-yeon frowned, seemingly displeased with my answer, and stared at me intently.

“What…?”

“You, listen to me.”

“Yes?”

“You were the one in danger. You could have died.”

“Ah, yes, Master.”

“This won’t do.”

“Huh?”

“As soon as you’re discharged, we’re starting special training. You need some serious mental training.”

‘Hmm, mental training.’

It sounded like punishment(?) disguised as training, but as her student, I couldn’t disobey her.

Even though I had acquired [Melissa’s Rune], a Rune that strengthened mental fortitude, a strong base mental strength was essential for the Rune to be effective.

Also, high-rank dungeons were filled with traps and monsters that inflicted status effects, so strong mental fortitude was a must.

The academy also provided mental training, but it was mostly focused on lower ranks, so its effectiveness was limited.

But how could I refuse an offer from an S-rank Hunter to personally train my mental strength?

Therefore,

“Sounds good to me.”

I readily agreed.

“Be prepared.”

Her warning made me reconsider for a moment.

“…Of course, Master.”

‘Just how intense is this training going to be?’

I could already picture myself being worked to the bone at Master’s mansion.

Especially since the entire student body was on a month-long break due to the aftermath of the Illusion terror incident.

-Gulp.

I swallowed nervously.

During that brief moment, Master muttered something under her breath.

“…don’t want to lose you.”

I didn’t hear what she said before that.

Every word from Master was precious and shouldn’t be missed.

“Huh?”

I asked, but…

“…It’s nothing.”

For some reason, Master avoided my gaze, as if embarrassed.

She then turned over in bed and pulled the covers over herself, clearly signaling the end of the conversation.

‘That makes me even more curious.’

“Master?”

“Don’t call me Master.”

“Professor?”

“Just be quiet. I’m going to sleep.”

“Ah, yes, Master… Professor.”

I never did hear what she said before that.

Thanks to Master’s curt dismissal.

However, I learned what she had said from Renia. She leaned in close and whispered in my ear, covering her mouth with her hand.

“She said, ‘I don’t want to lose my first student.’”

‘Ah… So that’s why she was so curt.’

To think our Master could say something so embarrassing…

The more I saw of her, the more charming she became.

I sent a short telepathic message to Master, who was lying in bed with her back to me.

‘Me neither.’

Of course, it was unlikely to reach her.

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Night had fallen.

I will be discharged tomorrow morning and start training immediately.

Before that,

I decided to finally check the [Level Up as a Harem!] directory and register any eligible heroines.

It wasn’t like I had intentionally put it off.

It was such a hard-earned Hidden Piece, that I wanted to savor it in a quiet, comfortable place, in my own time.

It was like acquiring a rare delicacy and carefully setting the stage for the perfect moment to enjoy it.

The right drinks, the right atmosphere, the right view.

Everything had to be perfect to fully appreciate the taste of a rare dish.

This Hidden Piece was my rare delicacy.

I couldn’t savor it earlier because of the peculiar environment in the hospital, and only now, when everyone was asleep, could I finally bring it out.

Su-ah, Han-na, and Mi-jin, who had come to visit, had all gone home.

Su-ah, the last to leave, seemed to have something to tell me, but perhaps conscious of the others, she said, “I’ll tell you after you’re discharged, Brother,” and left.

I wondered what it could be.

Did she have something important to tell me, like the fact that why she was at the gymnasium with Hye-seo and Na-yeon?

I didn’t know.

I would find out tomorrow after I was discharged.

Since she postponed it, it probably wasn’t anything too urgent.

First, I double-checked if Renia and Master were asleep.

Their steady breathing suggested they were in a deep sleep.

It might seem unnecessary to be so cautious about just checking my status window, but judging by the grin on my face, there was good reason.

My face, beaming with anticipation as I stared into space, was practically begging for a “What are you doing?” from someone.

As the savior of another world, I didn’t want to be seen making such a goofy expression.

Anyway, enough rambling.

‘Level Up as a Harem.’

I opened the directory.

A brief explanation followed.

In the original story, the directory included Han-na, Mi-jin, Su-ah, and Professor Perna Ella.

According to the original setting, either only the main heroines could be registered, or those four were the only women who felt any affection for the sociopathic Choi Do-han.

There was no clear explanation, so I couldn’t be certain.

Well…

When I read the novel, I thought only the main heroines could be registered, but after transmigrating into the novel and experiencing Choi Do-han firsthand, I suspected the latter was more likely.

I didn’t know if women actually liked that kind of sociopathic, cold-blooded man.

But at least among the men I had met, he ranked high among the craziest.

Anyway, since no female characters other than the main heroines were listed in the original story, it was best not to get my hopes up.

With a max Affection Level of 100%, it was frankly too far-fetched that every other female cadet, except those four, wouldn’t feel even 1% affection for him, even if he was a crazy, he had the nickname “cold-hearted handsome guy.”

Especially considering he was the strongest in the academy.

So, without much expectation, I checked the directory, and…

“Huh?”

I was stunned, like being hit by a sudden thunderbolt in the middle of the night, when I saw the name of the heroine ranked at the very top of the list.

“R-Renia?”

Despite Park Na-yeon sleeping in the next bed, I blurted out her name.

The heroine proudly occupying the number one spot was none other than our Succubus Queen, ‘Bersha Galinis Eprontia.’

Moreover, her Affection Level was at 99%, an overwhelming figure that dwarfed the other heroines ranked below.

‘What?’

‘Why are you here…?’

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