Episode 24. Dungeon Practice

Time flowed quickly, and it became Friday.

After classes had all finished, after school.

I am having a conversation with Lucy and Lumi in the classroom.

“Hoyeon-ah… We can make a club, right?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”

“Since Hoyeon-ssi told you not to worry, it’ll be okay, Lucy.”

“Yeah, I’ll trust only you…!”

The brightly shining gazes of the twins are a bit burdensome.

If today passes, the opening of new clubs this semester will be impossible.

Naturally, from the club department, there was no word at all.

It’s almost certain now. Even if I think about it, there is only one place where trouble could arise.

The Magic Research Club. They made the first move to assert their influence.

Since they declared war first, I have no choice but to fight back.

Since the preparations were already finished, I went to the club department confidently.

Lucy and Lumi followed closely behind me.

To the two of them, I said not to step forward for now and to wait outside.

“Why? I’ll go in too and ask together. Wouldn’t it be better if there were more people?”

“That’s true, but as a student council executive, I’m going to visit.”

“Ah, I don’t know what it is, but okay!”

When I mentioned being a student executive, they said they’d be quiet. As expected, power is great.

I looked at the new club opening department. Today, instead of the male student I saw before, a female student I’d never seen before was manning the desk.

Instead of facial features, it was a face that wouldn’t look awkward even if you attached the word ‘diligent’.

“Hello. I’m here about opening a new club.”

“Yes. Have you prepared all the documents?”

“I submitted documents last time, but they said it was delayed due to a system error. Has it been processed, by any chance?”

“Ah, let me check for a moment.”

“The club president is listed as Lucy. There are 3 members. The club name is [Let’s Play Club].”

The female student typed furiously on the computer, then said with a puzzled expression.

“I’m sorry, but a club like that isn’t registered at all….”

“Ah, Junior. You’re back again?”

Just then, an annoying face blocked my view.

The club president cut off the female student, popped out.

“Senior…”

“It seems the student working today for the first time made a mistake. Hoyeon-ssi’s club has many suspicious parts on paper. The club room is also being used by another club, and the supervising professor has also expressed refusal.”

In the first place, since they dragged it out for days, they must have already done all the dirty work. And yet, the way he speaks with a smirk is irritating.

“Ah, so it didn’t pass?”

“Yes. Unfortunately. How about trying to find a new club room and supervising professor even now? Since the deadline is this afternoon, if you hustle, you might be able to find them?”

Now he’s openly mocking me. He knows that no matter what I do, it won’t work out.

In reality, when I went around myself, all the club rooms were full. The supervising professors all refused as well.

But the club president wouldn’t have known.

That I had the connections to handle all that.

“Ah. So that’s how it is. I just need to find a club room and a supervising professor, right?”

“Yes. The deadline is 6 PM today, so there are about 2 hours left….”

“It’s fine. I’ve already found them all.”

“Hm?”

Before the club president could voice his question, I presented new documents.

Before coming, I had finished all preparations perfectly, so there was nothing to hinder me.

“Pfft, this isn’t even funny. The supervising professor is Professor Im Sol, and the club room is the Student Council PR Department’s room? Even if you’re a junior in the student council, there’s a limit to how much I can overlook things. Junior Hoyeon.”

“Stop talking nonsense and just process the application.”

“… What did you say?”

“I got permission for everything, so just process it digitally. Senior.”

“… Seriously. You must think you got close to the President just because you were scouted into the PR department. The President is a kind person to everyone. You’re completely mistaken.”

Then, using his smartwatch, he made a call.

“Yes, Mr. President. This is Park Min-gyu, the Head Club President. A junior who recently joined the PR department wants to use the PR department’s room as a personal club room, making an absurd request.”

Park Min-gyu. It’s a name I absolutely don’t want to remember. I’ll just call him the club president.

The club president with a faint smirk is glaring at me. I wonder how long that expression will last.

“Yes, and regarding the supervising professor, he wants Professor Im Sol, but here, as his senior, I would personally mentor him… Yes? What did you say?”

While looking at his smartwatch, the guy making the call, his eyes widened.

“Yes, yes. I apologize. I’ll be sure to check thoroughly next time. Yes. Have a good day.”

Towards the empty air, repeatedly bowing, the club president who was apologizing hung up.

Ttuk.

“Please process it digitally quickly. I don’t have much time and have to go.”

“No way… was the rumor about being close with Professor Im Sol true…? Even if that’s true, how did you get the Student Council President involved…?”

Like that, when an extra reacts like that, I lose energy too. Arguing with extras feels like a waste of time, so I get tired.

“Forget it. I want you to do it in front of me. Whether there’s an error or not, I want to confirm it for sure.”

“… This matter, based on the club president’s own judgment, I will refuse. There are many suspicious points in the documents. I don’t want to create unnecessary trouble.”

“Ah, you’re really annoying.”

“W-what did you say?”

“Forget it, you bastard. I can’t be bothered to play along anymore.”

Dealing with a piece of shit like this, I didn’t want to curry favor any longer. If it were a heroine or a woman, I could tolerate it and play along, but where does a guy get the right to demand such treatment?

Lucy and Lumi were waiting outside, and the club president had sent out the female student working in the department, so there was no one else to hear our conversation.

I also took out my smartwatch and made a call.

“Yes, Surin noona. I’m on the 16th floor. Could you come to the new club opening department just once? There’s been some trouble.”

“S-Surin noona? What are you talking about right now….”

I tried my best to resolve it alone, but when they’re acting so brazenly, what can I do?

I have no choice but to act pettily too.

Kkung!

In less than a minute, Moon Surin opened the door and came in.

This amount of time should have been enough to run straight from the 17th floor, yet not a single fold of her collar was out of place.

As expected, my cool noona! Go scold that guy!

“President. Regarding the new club opening, there have been continuous troubles. The club president is refusing without reason, so it seems like there was some power play involved.”

“W-what are you talking about! President. That’s absolutely not true!”

“Hmm, well. It’s something that can be confirmed.”

“President! Do you believe this guy who hasn’t even been in the student council for a week? I’ve been the club president since the early days of the student council and have done my best!”

“I know. I know. I’m just trying to confirm, so why are you acting like this? Is there something you’re guilty about?”

“No, it’s not that, but….”

In real-time, shrinking, the club president’s face was quite a sight to behold.

Easy, so easy. If I had just called Surin noona, this problem that would have been solved immediately, I held onto it pointlessly for too long.

After that, I watched the club president get thoroughly reprimanded, thanked Surin noona, and left.

Naturally, the club opening was a success.

No matter how much pressure the Magic Research Club applied, if the student council president stepped in directly, they couldn’t do anything.

Waiting outside, I approached Lucy and Lumi.

“Hoyeon-ah! How did it go?!”

“Earlier, I saw the student council president rushing off… H-has something happened inside?”

“It’s okay. I resolved everything. Here, this is the club opening document.”

“Oh! But the club room is the Student Council PR Department… Isn’t something wrong with this?”

“I only applied for it that way, and I’ll change it back to Room 205. Don’t worry.”

“And the professor is Professor Im Sol?”

“Uh, I put that in through my connections. They just lent their name, so don’t worry.”

“Either way, I’m relieved. Thank you so much today! It was my dream to make a club with Lumi! Let’s see each other in the club room next time!”

“Thank you. Hoyeon-ssi.”

Even though they’re twins, their vibes are quite different.

Still, I’m proud that I resolved this matter today.

From now on, if trouble like this arises, calling Surin noona right away seems like the fastest way to resolve it.

*

『Quest Complete!』

★ Heroine Status Window

[Lucy]

• [ Affection: 33 ]

• [ Lust: 15 ]

• [ Appetite: 30 ]

• [ Fatigue: 30 ]

After completing the quest, Lucy’s affection level increased.

Me: “Thank you today, Surin noona. I’ll treat you to a meal later.”

Surin noona: “It’s okay. It wasn’t a big deal. It seems the General Club Affairs department has connections with the Magic Research Club. I’ll definitely handle this matter and let you know the results. I’m truly sorry as the student council representative.”

Me: “What fault is it of yours? The ones who don’t listen, the subordinates, are at fault.”

Surin noona: “Heh heh. Thank you! Still, I’m going to get a free meal. I’ll be looking forward to it? (Rabbit setting off fireworks emoji)”

Since there are so many heroines, managing them all at once is too difficult.

If this continues, will I really end up getting stabbed on a boat and die?

On the weekend, I have to visit Baek Ahyoung’s volunteer facility, and I can’t neglect my own training or studies either.

Even if it’s annoying, I have to do what needs to be done. Saturday is go to Sunshine Orphanage then training. Sunday is training followed by studying.

“Sigh, if you want to wear the crown, you must bear its weight.”

To become the king of a harem, one must bear the weight.

*

After the weekend ended, Monday dawned.

Rather than weekdays, the weekend seems harder.

There was too much to do.

Moreover, at the orphanage I visited on Saturday, due to a time conflict, I couldn’t meet Baek Ahyoung.

Still, having a record of consistent visits means I won’t be suspected, so it wasn’t a completely useless task.

On Sunday, in the Meditation Room, I meditated and raised my magic stat by 1.

After investing several days in the Meditation Room to raise my stat by 1, I felt a slight sense of emptiness.

If I just clear a few quests, stats are copied!

Today is finally the day of the Dungeon Practice.

In front of the lecture hall, homeroom professor Kim Jin-hyuk is diligently conveying precautions to the cadets.

“First is safety. Second is safety. Dungeon practice is also the test where accidents occur most frequently.”

The cadets, without showing boredom, with sparkling eyes, are listening.

Dungeon practice, after all, is a very realistic training, so everyone is looking forward to it.

“You will enter the dungeon in squads. The squads are the same members organized at the beginning of the semester. Now that this much time has passed, you must have become close enough to watch each other’s backs.”

Surprisingly, since the day the squads were first formed, with the squad members, excluding Lumi, I haven’t spoken.

Nam Daeun always disappears somewhere without giving me a chance to speak, and the one guy I have no interest in.

“Finally, after a personal check, you will be deployed into the dungeon. In 30 minutes, the dungeon practice will begin.”

I didn’t have anything specific to prepare, so I looked for my squad members.

Lumi, making eye contact with me, was approaching me with quick steps, and I soon found the guy and Nam Daeun, so we could join up.

“….”

“….”

“….”

“Haaah….”

These bastards, as comrades who should be watching each other’s backs, have zero intimacy.

At first, even Lee Byung-hoon, the guy who kept approaching Nam Daeun, perhaps having surrendered to Nam Daeun’s impenetrable defense, isn’t saying a word and is just sitting quietly.

I am just worried about the practice.

*

“I don’t like it.”

“Huh? Jin-hyuk-ah, what’s wrong?”

“That guy, Lee Hoyeon. Every time I see his face, anger surges up.”

Do Jin-hyuk, from the back seat, was talking with his cronies.

As Lee Hoyeon and Lumi walked past them, Do Jin-hyuk’s face hardened.

“Oh? Ah, right! I get annoyed every time I see him too!”

“R-right. Last time, he acted cocky saying he’d switch to a mage during the inspection, got unnecessarily involved with the Student Council President, and now there are rumors of trouble with Professor Im Sol too, isn’t he just an attention seeker?”

“Hearing that, he really is an attention seeker. Is that why Jin-hyuk finds him bothersome?”

“….”

Do Jin-hyuk, this feeling he was experiencing now felt strange.

Those reasons, were surely part of this emotion, but those reasons were merely bothersome.

Do Jin-hyuk, rising from the depths of his chest, felt an instinctive revulsion.

It was like an emotion engraved in his heart since birth.

“Yeah. It seems so.”

However, he simply accepted that emotion.

He could have doubted and suppressed this emotion, but he chose to accept and express it.

That choice too was his fate, set as the villain.

*

The dungeon practice training began.

By drawing lots, the order of entry into the dungeon was decided. Our squad was the 13th squad.

Ten squads at a time are deployed into the first dungeon. Since our squad was the 13th, we were the second deployment group.

The waiting squads could watch the previous squad’s dungeon breakthrough on a large holographic screen floating in the air.

Anyway, the dungeon we’d be entering second was a different one, so there was no issue with fairness.

“….”

“….”

Unlike the other squads, who were chatting noisily, building camaraderie, and relieving tension, our squad, like a hearty bowl of gukbap, silently held our ground. Feeling restless for no reason, I got up to go to the restroom, or something.

As I was walking, looking for the restroom, a group of guys with movements that were obviously intentional bumped my shoulder hard.

“Oops, sorry. Must have been an accident.”

“Heh heh heh, hey. Why apologize to an attention-seeking bastard? He’ll probably love the attention?”

When I turned my head, there were Do Jin-hyuk and his lackeys.

No, why are these guys picking a fight with me for something I didn’t do?

I haven’t done anything wrong to you. We barely even interacted in the first place, so I don’t understand why they’re acting like this.

Is it my fault for being the protagonist?

Normally, bullying among young students starts for trivial reasons, but this isn’t it.

“Be careful in the dungeon. They might mistake you for a monster and stab you with a sword. Heh.“

Among them, the skinny lackey playing the role of the ‘weakling’ sneered at me.

“If I see you guys, I’ll unleash magic right away, so dodge on your own.”

“What? This bastard….”

Since he spoke like a dog, I responded like a dog.

Let me say it again: for men, there is no consideration or concession.

The lackey, perhaps offended, started to draw his sword, so I also raised my magic power.

Of course, I had no intention of fighting. It was for minimal defense.

“Stop it. There are many eyes watching.”

Just then, Do Jin-hyuk, who had been watching from behind, intervened.

The lackey, hearing Do Jin-hyuk’s words from behind, with a disappointed expression, stepped back.

“Tsk. Consider yourself lucky.”

Even his lines sound like a third-rate villain, what’s he doing acting tough?

Do Jin-hyuk glanced at me, then turned and walked away.

Some cadets’ eyes were drawn to this spot. Since I didn’t want to attract more attention, I moved away.

‘If I meet him in the dungeon, I’ll pretend it’s an accident and unleash magic.’

I also returned to my seat.

When I returned to my seat, for the dungeon practice, the hunters dispatched from the Association were being introduced.

“Hello. My name is Baek Ahyoung.”

Of course, Baek Ahyoung, dispatched by the Association, was standing in the middle.

“Wow, It’s the Saintess. The Saintess!”

“I really want to protect her… I definitely have to join the Association, no matter what.”

“Last time, you were swearing you’d join the student council because of the President, and now it’s the Association?”

The reason she’s called the ‘Saintess’ is surely partly due to her appearance.

Her black hair, reaching her waist, her snow-white skin, and blue eyes. Her face, looking pure as if unadorned, was an appearance that stimulated a protective instinct to cherish her.

In reality, everyone who spoke with her had a look of deep emotion, so well, just how popular she is is evident even to a first-time observer.

However, she herself feels embarrassed and shy about being called the ‘Saintess’.

She looked around, then seeing me, gave a small wave.

‘Seeing a beautiful woman reduces my hatred.’

This must be why people seek out beautiful women.

After fighting with all sorts of strange bastards, seeing Baek Ahyoung’s face completely calmed my anger.

Roughly, after the time for introducing the dispatched hunters ended, Baek Ahyoung saw me, gave a slight smile, and approached me.

“Ta-da. Surprised? It’s a surprise~.”

Saying that, Baek Ahyoung’s brightly smiling face was quite cute.