novelraw Chapter 70 : Chapter 70
Chapter 70 : Chapter 70
Chapter 70: Club (2)
After classes ended for the day, I decided to put the headache of the club issue aside for now and handle another matter first.
A club was not something I would be doing alone, and it required consultation with the other members. Above all, since Kim Su-hyeok would be taking on the role of club president, his opinion was the most important.
Therefore, we promised to meet on Friday evening, when everyone would have some free time, to discuss it. In the meantime, I had come to take care of another important task.
Yes, it was a matter that might even be more important than the club right now.
I thought to myself as I quietly observed the situation before my eyes.
"Hahaha! No matter how I look at it, you really are so amusing!"
"..."
This crazy woman was cackling and laughing in front of me for some reason.
I thought she would eventually quiet down if I did not react, but I was gravely mistaken.
No matter how much I ignored her, she had been laughing like that for tens of minutes, clearly enjoying herself.
It was a situation where I felt like I was truly going to develop a mental illness.
If this continued, it seemed I would not be able to say a single thing about why I had visited today, so I eventually gave up and opened my mouth.
"Just what is so funny?"
"Well, every single thing about it is funny!"
"What..."
As soon as we met today, she said she was bored and asked me to tell her an interesting story, so I had no choice but to tell her about the recent villain hunting mission.
'Wait, was there even a funny part in that?'
I could say with certainty that it was not a story intended to be humorous.
Since I had nothing else to talk about, I simply blurted out whatever came to mind.
I had only listed the hair-raising moments without a single funny point, but I guess it was hilarious to this crazy woman.
It was a good situation since she found it interesting, but it was still absurd.
"I only told you about a life-and-death struggle. I have no idea where you find the amusement in that."
"Hmm... If I had to pick, the way you look more evil than a villain is what makes it interesting. Even a villain would probably cry in front of you."
"...I only did everything I could to win. Is that not natural?"
"That is exactly why it is so funny—the fact that you think that way!"
We were having a conversation, but it felt like our words were not getting through to each other at all.
Was she trying to say that anyone else would have acted differently than I did?
I certainly did not think so.
'After all, the process can only be discussed once the result exists.'
If one cannot reach the result, what use is the process?
However, no matter what I said, it was clear that we would just keep exchanging the same words like a broken record.
Knowing that fact, I decided not to argue with this crazy woman and appropriately shifted the topic of conversation.
"Rather than that, I want to talk about why I came here today."
"Huh? Ah, now that I think about it, you mentioned you had a favor to ask?"
"Yes. I want to get some more Blue Nightmare. Would that be alright?"
"Well, I can give you as much as you want! I have more than enough in stock."
Hearing that she had plenty in stock made my thoughts quite complicated.
While it was an item that was helpful to me in the current situation, Blue Nightmare was still a dangerous substance.
However, even if I told her to stop production, our relationship was not deep enough for her to comply and stop, was it?
Furthermore, as I just mentioned, it was a useful item for me for now, so I nodded and continued.
"Then, I will ask you for some."
"Sure. Is one bottle enough, like last time?"
"No, I want to get quite a lot this time."
"A lot? How much do you need?"
"Hmm... For now, maybe about one hundred bottles?"
To be honest, I did not think a situation where I would use them all at once would arise, but it was also important to have extras prepared for any unexpected circumstances.
However, to the Puppeteer, who did not know that Blue Nightmare acted like an elixir for me, the request for one hundred bottles seemed to sound quite shocking.
That was because this woman was currently looking at me as if I were a madman.
"What? Are you going somewhere to commit a massacre? Just one bottle is enough to easily take down three or four players..."
"I am not going to use them all right away. I am just trying to keep an extra supply for now."
"Even so, one hundred bottles... Well, fine, I understand! I will prepare them right away and give them to you tomorrow."
She said that, but judging by her smirking face, she did not look like she just simply "understood."
She probably felt delighted because she thought I was going to actually commit a massacre with the Blue Nightmare...
'There is no need to clear up the misunderstanding.'
We are not comrades who trust each other and have each other's backs; we are purely in a contractual relationship.
It meant it would not be strange if she became my enemy at any time. In such a situation, I felt there was no need to reveal all my cards.
Therefore, without explaining what I intended to use the Blue Nightmare for, I brought up another matter.
"Then, I suppose I have finished asking for the favor... Are there any other movements lately?"
"Huh? Other movements?"
"I mean the organization you belong to. Have there been any separate movements or anything like that recently?"
"Ah, that? There is nothing much right now. But it feels like they will be moving soon?"
I suppose so. In the original work, those rotten bastards from the organization caused trouble during the final exams.
Fortunately, it seems there is nothing significantly different from the original in this regard.
I let out a sigh of relief, having been nervous about an unexpected situation occurring, and nodded my head.
"I understand. Then, if they happen to move later, please let me know."
"Hahaha! Of course! Since we have a contract, and that seems like it would be more fun for me."
"...I am glad to hear that. Well then, I have finished my business, so I am leaving."
I had no idea what she found so fun, but since she said she would do it, there should not be any problems. They say that all is well that ends well, right?
However, now that I had handled all my business, I did not feel like staying here any longer.
Therefore, I quickly said goodbye and stood up to leave.
I ignored the crazy woman behind me, who was waving her hand and telling me to bring another interesting story next time.
***
"Time really flies."
It was already Friday, marking the end of the first week of classes since returning to my daily life.
I walked toward the cafe we had agreed upon for the club-related meeting.
When I arrived at the cafe, the familiar faces had already taken their seats and were talking about various things.
Judging by the faces of the members, it seemed I was the latest one.
Just as I thought that, Kim Su-hyeok spotted me and greeted me with a bright smile.
"Yu-seong, you are here!"
"Yes. Sorry I am late."
"Haha, it is not like you were late for the appointment time anyway. Then, since everyone seems to have gathered, shall we slowly start the talk?"
I nodded at Kim Su-hyeok's words and closely checked the gathered faces.
Starting with Ryu Jin-oh, who was sitting with his usual sharp eyes and an indifferent expression, there were Do Gang-ho and Oh Jin-eon, who had been called to Horizon together, as well as Ju Ha-yeon and Ha Eun-ha.
Seeing that sight, a sense of pride filled my heart.
'It really hits home that things have definitely changed from the original work.'
Originally, the members of this club were only four people: Kim Su-hyeok, Ryu Jin-oh, Ha Eun-ha, and Ju Ha-yeon.
Because of the minimum requirement of five members, Ju Ha-yeon had separately added a ghost member, but let us leave that aside.
In any case, unlike the content of the original work, Do Gang-ho and Oh Jin-eon were added because of my intervention.
I did not know what kind of results this would bring or in what direction it would flow, but what was certain was that it proved the flow of the original work could be sufficiently changed.
Just as I was finding a remaining seat to sit down with a pleasant mind, it happened.
Ha Eun-ha, who was sitting on my right, tapped my shoulder and sneakily spoke to me.
"It has been a really long time since I have talked to you like this, Yu-seong!"
It was exactly as she said.
It felt like it had been a very long time since I had a conversation with Ha Eun-ha.
I also replied with a welcoming heart to Ha Eun-ha, who greeted me as if she were happy to see me.
"You are right. Did you stay well during the break?"
"I stayed very well without any issues! I heard you went to a gate with Jin-oh! How was it? Did you become a bit closer?"
"Hmm... I am not quite sure, but it seems better than before."
"Really? Then that is a relief. Even if Jin-oh is a bit cold, he is not a bad person!"
At Ha Eun-ha's words, I let out a subtle chuckle.
That was because I recalled how Ha Eun-ha would grumble about Ryu Jin-oh being cold every time she was alone in the original work.
Even so, seeing the two of them who always bickered yet stayed close brought a smile to my face.
While I was laughing quietly like that, Ryu Jin-oh, who had been silent, spoke to us in a sharp voice, as if he had noticed we were talking about him.
"What do you mean by cold? I myself have never been like that."
"What do you mean you have never been like that? You are being cold right now!"
"Hmph. This is not being cold; it is being level-headed. You brat."
"Wh-What? A brat?! Ryu Jin-oh, do you want to die?!"
Calling Ha Eun-ha a brat when her short height is her complex—that is truly like Ryu Jin-oh.
Ha Eun-ha glared as if she were about to pounce on Ryu Jin-oh at any moment, but I was not worried about a fight breaking out.
That was because we had our protagonist, who always smoothly led this troublesome combination.
"It is good that you two are full of energy, but you must not fight, okay? We met for a good occasion today."
"Hmph. I have never fought with her. This brat just started an argument first."
"Again! I told you not to call me a brat!"
"Ahaha, everyone stop, and how about we slowly talk about the purpose of today's gathering?"
...It did not seem very smooth, but it appeared that the mediation had worked out somehow.
Kim Su-hyeok, who had succeeded in stopping the fight between the two, began to speak while looking at us.
"First, is everyone okay with us creating a club together? If anyone does not like it or anything, please tell me. You do not have to do it by force!"
At those words, I could only laugh internally.
That was because Kim Su-hyeok's words were wrong.
'If they did not want to do it, they would not have come in the first place.'
Every single person gathered here has a distinct personality.
Would such people come here against their will just to fit the mood? That was absolutely impossible.
It would be one thing if they had not come at all, but there was not a single person in this place whose heart was as fickle as a reed to the point of saying they did not want to do it now.
Perhaps knowing that fact, Kim Su-hyeok also smiled and moved on to the next point immediately.
"Good. Then I will proceed assuming that everyone is okay with it."
"Stop with the trivial talk and speak quickly if you have something to say. My time is very precious."
"Haha! I understand. Then, it would be better to talk about what kind of club I want to create first, right?"
The club Kim Su-hyeok wanted to create.
Kim Su-hyeok had not said a single word about it yet, but having read the original work, I knew exactly what it was.
I knew exactly what our protagonist wanted.
'Kim Su-hyeok's goal is simply to do what we want to do in a free atmosphere.'
Eventually, they would get caught up in various incidents due to the protagonist effect, but the intention itself was very good.
In fact, it was this club activity that acted as a sanctuary for the heroes who were always exhausted.
Kim Su-hyeok began to slowly explain that purpose in detail, and the children who heard it all nodded with satisfied faces.
Among them, the ones who responded directly were Ha Eun-ha, with her energetic personality, and Oh Jin-eon, who was solemn and serious but said what needed to be said.
"Hmm, it certainly seems good. Being able to do what one wants to do is important in many ways."
"Indeed. I did not have high expectations, but you prepared quite diligently!"
However, unlike the positive atmosphere, there was someone who pointed out a realistic problem.
"But you will not be allowed to establish a club like that, will you? Establishing a club requires a clearly defined sense of purpose, after all."
As expected of the number one in theory. Ju Ha-yeon accurately caught the clear flaw in Kim Su-hyeok's plan.
At those words, Kim Su-hyeok responded with a confident face, as if he had already planned everything.
"You do not have to worry about that because Yu-seong will handle it!"
The problem was that the "plan" was precisely me.
I felt like I now understood why Ju Ha-yeon, who was always in charge of cleaning up and providing support in the original work, sighed every single time.