novelraw Chapter 18 : Chapter 18
Chapter 18 : Chapter 18
Chapter 18: Which Club Is Yours? (2)
[Ryu Jinwoo, come to the instructor's office for a moment before class.]
A message from Hojin had arrived.
‘I’d forgotten.’
After the spar the other day, the medical staff had told me to stop by the instructor's office once my body was okay, but I had completely forgotten about it with one thing and another.
And so, I arrived at the instructor's office and was just stepping through the slightly open door.
A black trajectory cutting through the air grazed past my eyes.
A swift and fierce surprise attack.
Something sliced violently through the air, flying toward the space between my eyebrows.
“……”
But there was no need to dodge.
Because my ‘body’ didn't react at all.
Something stopped right before my eyes, settling in the center of my vision.
It was a dagger.
A silver dagger with a gleaming, sharp blade.
The person holding that dagger was Hojin.
“You asked me to come, so I’m here.”
I spoke as calmly as possible, but my heart was pounding fiercely.
‘What kind of crazy stunt is this…….’
Is there really a crazy person who brandishes a knife out of the blue at school?
“You’re calm. Did you know I wouldn’t stab you?”
How would I have known? There’s no way I could have known.
What kind of cadet opens the instructor’s office door thinking they might get stabbed in the first place?
“I just couldn’t react in time.”
As I barely managed to rein in my racing heart and answered without showing any emotion, the tip of the dagger before my eyes slowly lowered.
“Well, for someone who couldn’t react, your eyes followed it precisely.”
Hojin returned the knife to his breast pocket and walked toward the table.
I stared at the back of his head, dumbfounded.
If this were the real Republic of Korea, I would’ve already been grabbing my smartphone and dialing the Ministry of Education's report hotline.
Hojin should be thankful that the Ministry of Education, that sturdy backer of scoundrels who undermine teachers' authority, doesn't exist in this world.
Grumbling inwardly with harsh words Hojin couldn't even imagine, I stepped inside.
Just like the neat impression Instructor Hojin gave, his desk was also tidily organized.
On one side was a neatly aligned stack of documents, and on the opposite side, a chair was placed for me.
“Sit.”
Hojin poured tea into a cup and passed it to me.
I eyed the chair suspiciously, wondering if it was rigged with something, as I gently placed my bottom on it.
The faint scent of Earl Grey tea tickled my nose.
Hojin slowly began to speak.
“I heard you took down a Cotras in the Rank Test. With a single thrust, no less.”
“I did.”
Honestly, I was surprised too.
I didn’t know the skill ‘Crimson Wolf: Blood Fang’ would be that powerful.
And the origin of that skill was right in front of me now.
Suddenly, Hojin's gaze sharpened.
“That skill, who taught it to you?”
It was finally here.
It was a question I was bound to be asked someday.
I had already been through this with Baekseok.
It was only natural for him to be suspicious when someone else used his technique.
The best answer in a situation like this was already set.
“You were the one who taught me, Instructor Hojin.”
Just go straight for it.
At that, Hojin’s brow shot up.
“Me?”
“You taught me directly. During our last spar.”
I couldn’t get flustered.
I had to be shameless, even.
If I used this situation well, I could even gain Instructor Hojin’s favor.
“So you’re saying, you saw the technique I demonstrated right before you fainted and sublimated it into your own style?”
“Precisely.”
The die was cast.
Recalling my fate that was thrown into the air, I imagined the conversation that would follow.
‘That’s impossible.’
Hojin, firmly denying it and shaking his head.
Because the martial arts Hojin displayed could never be learned without first mastering the preceding techniques.
‘Was it a martial art called Amgi?’
He would probably say it's impossible to learn because I haven't mastered Amgi.
Then I would answer like this.
‘I don’t know much about something called Amgi. But when you lunged at me with your sword, I read its flow. The sword's operation, the way the martial arts unfolded.’
And then, I would quietly draw my sword.
And quietly, just as I had displayed it then.
[Crimson Wolf: Blood Fang]
I would use the skill, and that would be the end of it.
Then my body would move on its own, the tip of my sword coming to a point in the air.
The scene from that time would be recreated exactly.
Wouldn’t that be the end of it?
Because it was a fact that I had been able to use his technique since the spar.
I prepared to demonstrate the technique, quietly bringing my hand to my waist.
And after a long silence, Hojin finally broke it and opened his mouth.
“I see.”
Hojin took a sip of his tea and calmly nodded.
I couldn’t read any emotion from his expression, but the gaze directed at me was intense.
‘……Is that all?’
Was it always this easy?
Aren’t you going to say something about me stealing your technique?
Aren’t you going to grab me by the collar and say it’s a dangerous technique?
Baekseok did.
It was I who was flustered by Hojin's unexpectedly cool response.
In any case, is it a relief that he let it go?
I did my best to hide my awkward fingertips, running a hand over my waist once before bringing it to my teacup.
For a while after that, only the quiet sound of sipping tea echoed inside the instructor’s office.
A moment later, Hojin set his teacup aside, shuffled through some documents, and then spoke again.
“Ryu Jinwoo, have you decided on a club to join?”
“A club?”
“If you haven't decided yet, how about joining the club I’m in charge of?”
Hojin made an unexpected offer.
And if it was the club Hojin was in charge of…….
‘Crown.’
One of Zero's four major clubs, and a place where the children of society's influential figures gathered.
Some even said that getting into ‘Crown’ was harder than becoming a hero.
Hojin was inviting me to a place like that?
For some reason, Hojin's intense gaze felt a little burdensome.
But I needed to be clear about things.
“Unfortunately, I’m considering another place.”
At my words, Hojin showed a surprised reaction.
It was natural. The prestige of the four major clubs was enduring.
Its influence continued not only during one’s cadet days but even after graduation.
In Hojin’s eyes right now, I was refusing the gold being placed in my hand.
However, looking at it coolly, it was worth refusing.
First, because I knew the true face of ‘Crown’, and second, because even if I got in through an instructor's recommendation like a paratrooper, I would only end up being ostracized, whether I knew it or not.
‘There’s no point in an ugly duckling entering a place full of swans.’
Even if Hojin was the club's advisor, the actual management was done by the cadets.
If I could be satisfied with the scraps, staying on while being ignored wouldn't be so bad, but that at least wasn’t the path I wanted.
“If you mean another place, where are you talking about?”
Hojin lifted his pen and continued.
“I’ll write you a letter of recommendation.”
Hojin? A letter of recommendation?
Did the sun rise in the east today?
……No, did it rise in the west?
I glanced out the window, but the sun was fine.
All sorts of things happen.
After a moment of thought, I mentioned a certain club.
Hojin’s eyebrows shot up.
“That place doesn’t accept instructor recommendations at all. Is there nowhere else?”
“For now, that’s it.”
“Is that so? Well, that’s a shame. If you need help later on, feel free to talk to me anytime. It doesn’t have to be help as an instructor.”
“Thank you for your concern.”
It was a pity, but it was fine. I had other plans from the beginning.
For now, I should be satisfied with having given Hojin a good impression.
Furthermore, the words ‘It doesn’t have to be help as an instructor’ were particularly meaningful.
It meant he would accept personal requests as well.
‘If it’s Hojin, there will definitely be something I’ll need help with later.’
Therefore, it was a satisfactory meeting for me.
***
A few days after the meeting with Hojin, I woke up at dawn and went to the training grounds.
[Cadet Ryu Jinwoo, verification complete. Entry to the training grounds is permitted.]
As I stood in front of the entrance, a dry female voice echoed.
The door opened, and a rather familiar scene came into view.
‘I’m not late.’
There were two main reasons I came to the training grounds this early in the morning.
The first was the Tactical Manual’s customized training.
[Tactical Manual]
- Daily Customized Task: Conducts training tailored to the learner.
- Penalty for Failure: Hearing Loss
Just like before, it was consistently coming up with a penalty called ‘loss’.
Last time it was testicles, this time it’s hearing.
Whatever it was, they were things that would be troublesome to lose.
So for now, I had no choice but to complete it.
[Heeheeheek! Pant-pant-pant- pant- so hoooot! Haaak pant-pant- haaaak!]
Unsuited for the quiet dawn, the Mimic was as noisy as ever.
This time, it was panting with its tongue out like a dog.
“Just shut up already……”
Tossing physical training at me while making a fuss on its own, it was as absurd as always.
At my words, far from quieting down, the thing started thrashing around even more, twisting its body this way and that.
“Sigh.”
I tore my gaze away from the Mimic and decided to just do what I had to do.
Well, whatever. The reason I came to the training grounds today wasn’t just because of that thing.
Another reason I came to the training grounds at this hour, long before the sun would rise.
It was because there was someone I absolutely had to meet today.
This dawn training was the most optimal way to run into that person naturally.
I started to check off the training list one by one, occasionally glancing toward the training ground entrance.
How much time had passed like that?
Swish-!
The metal scarecrow was split in a cross shape.
[Tactical Manual]
- Cross Slash (Grade 7): Quickly slashes the enemy in front twice.
Before I knew it, I had pushed the training to the back of my mind and was checking the performance of the skills I had recently learned.
Its power was lower than Hojin’s or Baekseok’s techniques, but the effect of ‘Settlement’ was overwhelmingly small.
‘This is quite useful.’
It was a simple technique, but it was perfect for consistent use.
Just as I was checking the power of the skills one by one.
Clap, clap, clap—
I turned my head at the sudden sound of applause.
“That was cool.”
A blue-haired girl was standing there.
Jin Cheongha.
A powerhouse who ruled the Felix second years, and a member of the ‘Cheongryu Family’, one of the four great swordsmanship houses that had produced numerous heroes.
Ocean-blue eyes and blue, bobbed hair that looked like it had been lightly combed over.
With a boyish impression, she wore a refreshing smile despite the early hour.
“I’m Cheongha. Jin Cheongha. You’re a freshman, right?”
“Yes, I’m Ryu Jinwoo.”
I faced her calmly.
For me, this wasn't exactly a sudden meeting.
I knew from the start that Jin Cheongha would be here at this time.
Dding-!
[Mandatory Task: Which Club Is Yours?]
A message popped up as if it had read my thoughts.
The second reason I went out of my way to come to the training grounds at the crack of dawn was Jin Cheongha.
“Ryu Jinwoo? I feel like I’ve heard that name somewhere. Hmmm-.”
Jin Cheongha looked up and scratched her head as if trying to recall something.
“Well, whatever! It doesn’t matter if you’re famous or not.”
She smiled lightly and continued.
“Hey, you wanna join the Student Council?”
The offer to join the Student Council came in a casual tone, like ‘Can you pick up my eraser?’
The Student Council wasn’t classified as a club, but in terms of power within the academy, it held a strength that wasn't inferior to the four major clubs.
So this casual offer was truly a surprising thing.
In response, I pretended to be surprised and let out a ‘Huh?’.
“The president is always nagging me, you know~. She’s going crazy telling me to find some useful kids, totally crazy.”
Jin Cheongha shook her head as if she was fed up, then her eyes sparkled as she looked at me.
“So I came up with an idea. That I should recommend joining the Student Council to the first person who comes to the training grounds today. But I didn’t think there’d be someone who came even earlier than me. I was surprised, you know?”
And that person ended up being me.
Dding-!
[Task: Which Club Is Yours?]
- Joining the Student Council will be recognized as joining a club.
- Become a member of the student self-governing body! Various events related to the Student Council's duties will become available.
-Acceptance Reward: 5,000 SP
A message followed Jin Cheongha’s words.
An event to easily join the Student Council, something I had experienced several times when playing the original game.
I could get into the ‘Student Council’, which normally required all sorts of shenanigans to barely get into, just for coming to the training grounds early.
What a sweet deal.
Looking at Jin Cheongha, I opened my mouth.
“I don’t think that will be possible.”
My answer was ‘rejection’.
The place I wanted wasn’t the Student Council.
The Student Council might seem like no big deal, but once you start, there are more than a few annoying things to deal with.
It’s the same as a real-life student council. Annoying and tiring.
Being summoned first in a crisis is a given, and there are many things to worry about, like academy events.
Of course, the special privileges of the Student Council are tempting, but I refuse to take on the duties that come with those privileges.
In fact, I had to refuse Jin Cheongha’s offer to be able to knock on the door of the club I wanted.
The title ‘Refused Jin Cheongha’s offer to join the Student Council’ was quite useful.
“Huh? You’re refusing? But it’s the Student Council.”
When Jin Cheongha asked back as if surprised, I nodded.
“Can I ask why?”
“There’s no particular reason. I’m just not interested.”
When I spoke indifferently, her eyes sparkled with even more interest.
“Then I guess it can’t be helped. I was forcing it on you in the first place. It was sudden, wasn’t it? Sorry!”
Jin Cheongha readily backed down.
Of course, that wasn’t the end of it.
Because no matter what, if Jin Cheongha started a conversation, an event was bound to follow.
“Then, you know—.”
Jin Cheongha’s eyes sparkled again as she approached.
“Wanna spar with me just once? This is totally separate from the Student Council! I’m just curious.”
Her blue eyes filled with interest.
This was the main part of the encounter event with Jin Cheongha.
I heard that for whatever reason, she couldn't be satisfied until she had a fight with someone she took a liking to.
But it couldn’t be helped.
Since I had allowed Jin Cheongha to approach me, refusal wasn't an option.
It was something I had prepared myself for, anyway.
“If it’s a simple one, then I accept.”
“Oh! This is the first time someone’s accepted right away. You’re interesting, you know?”
Grin—
Jin Cheongha’s lips curved into a crescent moon.