I Became the Terminally Ill Character in My Friend’s Academy Novel – Chapter 102

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: JayM
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Lunchtime. Normally, we would wait for each other and enjoy our meal together, but today, we decided to eat separately.

I was relatively okay, but Ha-ni and Lilac were having a hard time.

Usually, the girls they hung out with kept others away, but perhaps due to the special circumstances, or perhaps because of Lilac’s “I haven’t decided who I’m going with yet” comment, girls I hadn’t even talked to much were openly hitting on them.

Lilac, who was kind to everyone, and Ha-ni, who responded kindly as long as you maintained a respectful distance, received the most partner requests. Cheon Yoo-hak seemed to receive fewer requests, perhaps because he rarely responded to them, or perhaps because he was the host.

Me?

Actually, I received quite a few requests too.

It wasn’t because I was popular, but probably because they thought they could naturally hang out with everyone else if they went with me. Of course, I ignored all the requests from people I didn’t know.

-You saved me during the Jin Gyeong-tae incident, remember…? Ah, if it’s not too much trouble, would you be my partner?

-I thought it was cool how you endured the bullying at the beginning of the semester. I want to get to know you better.

-If Han-hee, Lilac, or Yoo-hak are going with someone else, would you go with me…?

There were quite a few sincere requests, but honestly, I didn’t have the time to worry about others right now.

Everyone thought Ha-ni was a boy, so that was one thing. But Ga-eul and the professor had both given me signals, so how could I consider anyone else?

Ah, the girls’ group was also busy, but not as much as us.

Joo-ri was acting as Cheon Yoo-hak’s shield which prevented guys from approaching her, and Yoo-na was busy fending off the girls hitting on Lilac while simultaneously biting anyone who came near her.

-…Partner? Senior, do you even know me? We’ve never talked before. Haven’t you considered that suddenly closing the distance might make me uncomfortable? Even if you don’t think so… Ah, yes, you’re right. You probably think I’d be happy if you suddenly asked me to be friends with you. But I’m not, so what should we do?

-No, I just wanted to talk for a moment…

-Hmm, I don’t like people talking rudely in front of Lilac. You know that’s disrespectful, right?

It was a bit scary how the pink chihuahua broke the seemingly unbreakable senior’s heart.

But senior, if it were Yoo-na from the original story, you wouldn’t have gotten off with just a broken heart, so you should consider yourself lucky.

Anyway, I had to eat lunch alone today, but there were quite a few volunteers, the “Prevent-Eating-Alone Committee,” who wanted to join me.

“Hey, we’re not here to do anything weird. We just want to chat over lunch.”

The “Health Food Lovers Club” advised by Professor Cathy.

“Ahem, maintain a safe distance. You’re making our brother-in-law uncomfortable.”

The “Kang Na-hyun Admiration From Afar Society.”

That’s right, these dark-haired male bastards were disturbing my peace of mind.

“Ah, I’m just going to have a quick chat with my junior.”

“Do you think we’ll let you touch our brother-in-law with your filthy hands?”

Who’s your brother-in-law, you bastards?

They were saying they were watching from afar, but they were seriously invading my personal space.

If I hated being bothered, I could just say “Ah, I’m not going with Professor Cathy” and run away, but I couldn’t do that.

Why?

Because I actually found the idea of being Professor Cathy’s partner quite appealing.

Well, there were various reasons.

I had to take care of her since it hadn’t been long since her house arrest ended, and I needed to check if there were any lingering effects on her from the brainwashing.

But even excluding those reasons, I genuinely wanted to go with her.

The question was whether this was truly ‘my’ feelings.

The memories from beyond the noise still weren’t clear to me.

After seeing them, the memories disappeared, but the emotions remained.

That was why I was feeling quite conflicted.

Honestly…

…My heart beats faster when I look at the professor and Ha-ni.

…Huh? Saying it like this made me sound like a jerk.

“Huu, it’s not like we’re going to do anything to our cute junior~ We just want a definite answer. Honestly, even you think it’s not appropriate for a professor and a cadet to attend that kind of party as partners, right?”

Not appropriate?

Hmm, well, it wasn’t a crime, but it would attract unwanted attention.

If I agreed and subtly backed out, what could they do? That was my usual method. No one would listen to what they said here.

It would be wiser to just say “Oh, really? Is that so?” later.

But…

“What’s not appropriate?”

I didn’t want to do that.

If I didn’t want to do it, then I shouldn’t.

“Why are you trying to pressure me with numbers? Ah, you have nothing else to rely on besides numbers. Or are you scared I’ll memorize your faces and report you if you come alone?”

Seriously, who were they to tell me what to do? What did it matter to them who I went to the party with?

They faltered for a moment at my sudden outburst, but their expressions turned grim.

It seemed my sister’s followers were on my side, but honestly, how much would they do for me?

“We didn’t say anything harsh, but your attitude…”

“Oh, I see! Pressuring someone with numbers and preventing them from eating, this wasn’t harsh behavior at all. Wow, I didn’t know that since I’m only a freshman! Thinking that people like you will become heroes before me makes me feel very optimistic about the future of heroes.”

The guy at the front frowned.

Yeah, this wasn’t what you envisioned, was it? You thought I’d be scared or obediently agree.

But what if I didn’t?

I was used to being pressured.

“Huu, I apologize.”

Huh?

But surprisingly, he apologized.

I was ready to let him attack me so I could use it as evidence, but it seemed he wasn’t that stupid.

“You’re right. It wasn’t appropriate behavior for a hero candidate.”

…This was a bit anticlimactic.

If I provoked him further, he might find fault with me and say I was also responsible.

“Well, I was also out of line. I apologize.”

I preferred to just bury the issue, but there didn’t seem to be an opportunity, so should I settle for this?

Just as I thought that—

Splash.

Something that looked like leftover juice was poured over my head.

Aha.

Thank you. As expected, it wasn’t competent allies but incompetent enemies who were helpful.

Judging by the ringleader’s expression, he wasn’t completely clueless. He was probably just trying to intimidate me, but that didn’t change the fact that they were together.

There’s always at least one piece of trash in a large group.

Use today’s experience wisely and next time, when you bully someone, form a party with more meticulous and trustworthy friends.

The guy looked back with a shocked expression, but it was too late.

I had my justification, so now I just had to bury him.

“Ah.”

“Hey, what was that for…!?”

“Ah, your language is disrespectful. Hey, do we look like pushovers to you?”

He shoved me.

Was he actually trying to help me?

Oh, but was this a 10-year-old red ginseng extract? I’ve tried this before.

It was incredibly bitter.

Thanks to their arguing, the commotion grew, but I wasn’t going to physically assault them.

I would get punished too if I did that.

Then what should I do?

I had attracted enough attention with the noise.

I just needed one more push.

“Ah, say that again.”

The moment he pushed me again, I naturally lost my balance and fell.

After landing on my butt, I looked down, took a deep breath, gathered all my strength from my dantian, and shouted while bowing my head.

“Seniors, I apologize…!”

They seemed flustered by my sudden change in attitude.

Well, only the ringleader seemed to realize what I was doing, but what could he do now?

Who told him to act like a thug?

Now, a suitable professor or senior would punish them for committing such an inhumane act that was unbefitting of a hero sprout.

Even my sister’s followers who had been subtly neutral before seemed to catch on and started swaying public opinion, saying that they went too far.

Haha, you bastards didn’t see this coming, did you?

“What…?”

Hmm…?

“What’s going on here?”

Huh? Whose voice was that…?

“What are you all doing? Why are you acting like this?”

I looked up to see Professor Cathy and my sister, clearly furious.

I didn’t expect such big fish to show up… Why were they here?

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Just moments ago, Cathy was quite nervous.

She was planning to meet Na-hyun during lunch and ask her if she could be So-hyun’s partner for the party.

It was a bit ridiculous to ask after already making the offer, but the advice she received that morning about acting boldly dominated her thoughts, preventing her from thinking that far ahead.

Professor Park Ah-ram… Ah-ram unnie clearly said…

-Well, I don’t have much experience, but~ dating is all about confidence.

Dating is about confidence.

-In the end, you win if you make their heart race, right? You have to approach them first thing in the morning and say ‘Hey, you bastard! From now on, you’re my boyfriend! Got it!?’ You need that level of boldness to win a man over.

Well, it wasn’t that serious. She just wanted to go to the party with him.

-Honestly, who would reject Cathy’s confession? You have a pretty face, a great body, and breasts almost as big as my head. Even a woman would fall for you if you hugged them with those.

She decided to keep that last comment as a last resort, but it seemed to make sense.

Ah-ram unnie would know better than someone like her who had never dated before.

That was why she made the offer… Well, the classroom erupted in chaos right after, so she didn’t get an answer.

Anyway, it was time to put Director Reilan’s advice into action.

-Your feelings are important, but strategically, it’s also important to impress their family and relatives.

As befitting a high elf called the Sage of the Forest, she had her own logic.

-Dating seems like something between two people, but it’s actually heavily influenced by the surrounding atmosphere. If people around you keep saying good things and encourage you, even if you don’t have any particular feelings, you can’t help but think ‘Is that so?’

Strategic.

And it seemed plausible.

-But it’s risky to approach family members you’re not close with, so it’s best to target someone you have a connection with.

That was also reasonable.

So, she suppressed her desire to call So-hyun during lunch and made plans to eat with Na-hyun instead.

But…

What was this?

On her way to the cafeteria, she had been worrying about how to start the conversation with Na-hyun, but all those worries disappeared when she saw the shocking scene.

So-hyun was on the ground while surrounded by upperclassmen, and one of the groups was from the Health Extract Lovers Club she advised.

“What’s going on here?”

A cold voice, so unlike her usual tone, escaped her throat.

“What are you all doing?”

And then, Na-hyun’s openly furious voice.

The cadets trembled and backed away, giving her a clearer view of So-hyun.

He seemed to have been attacked without resisting. He was lying on the ground with his hair covered in… red ginseng extract? It smelled of red ginseng, at least.

…So-hyun’s floral scent was so much better.

“What is the meaning of this!?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

He got up with a wry smile and brushed the ginseng off his hair while saying that it was nothing.

“It’s not ‘nothing.’ Tell me properly. Which bastard did this?”

“It’s really nothing.”

“It’s not ‘nothing,’ you… Cadet Kang So-hyun, I saw those guys picking on you!”

“…You guys?”

They flinched at Na-hyun’s words.

For a moment, they seemed to look at me with pleading eyes, but I quickly averted my gaze.

My expression probably wasn’t very good either.

I was disappointed that kids related to me caused this problem.

…How could I ask Na-hyun to be So-hyun’s partner now?

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T/N – Oof… RIP to these guys. The MC is really good at entrapment. You’d think people would learn the first time around when Ga-eul and her cronies first bullied him. Also, I laughed at their advice. Those totally won’t backfire at all.

If you find any mistakes, feel free to point them out in the comments.