Ch.279October Dungeon and Community Work (2)

Perhaps it was because of the big event called the school trip, but September passed by quickly.

And… the final exam results were posted on the bulletin board.

‘Japan is truly a cruel country…’

When I attended school in Korea, report cards were quietly distributed individually, but it was different here. They just coolly posted the rankings on the bulletin board for everyone to see.

“Hmph… an overwhelming 4th place.”

I smiled and pretended to push up my glasses.

First place was Cyber Psycho Kana, and 2nd and 3rd places were… extras, but anyway, they were good students. They had been established as members of the science club. They appeared briefly in the school festival episode.

“Hahaha! What’s with this ‘overwhelming 4th place’?!”

Kana snickered.

“Hmph. So Shota is only 4th place after all. How cute. There, there.”

Kana stroked my chin.

This girl… is getting a bit cocky? I’ll make her cry her eyes out tonight.

“Hmph. An overwhelming 6th place, huh? Well… this is good, not standing out too much.”

Sasith leaned against the wall as he spoke. The detail of his subtle implication that he could have been first but deliberately settled for a decent upper rank to avoid standing out was quite something. As expected of Sasith, a professional chuunibyou.

“What? Didn’t Sasith like standing out?”

Umi asked while sucking on a candy.

“Umi… you still don’t understand the world of middle school syndrome.”

I said while fondling Umi’s chest.

“Who are you calling a middle schooler?!”

Sasith got angry.

“Actually, openly pursuing uniqueness or individuality is what amateurs with chuunibyou do. Those who pursue chuunibyou to the extreme end up doing a 180-degree turn and seek normalcy.”

I couldn’t help explaining about chuunibyou.

Yes, the true chuunibyou is pursuing reverse ordinariness—trying to obtain normalcy despite experiencing all these extraordinary things. You could tell just by how they constantly talk about peaceful everyday life.

“That’s profound.”

Umi had a tendency to give up whenever conversations got a bit complicated. But who cares? Umi is pretty and cute.

“‘Overwhelming 6th place’… our boyfriend has been badly influenced by Shota.”

Frille said with a complicated expression.

What are you talking about? Sasith was always like that. That’s unfair criticism.

Anyway, my grades were in the upper ranks.

Then I checked my girlfriends’ grades.

Umi… was just one rank above the failing mark. Okay. Pass.

Eri was in a similar position. They didn’t need to show off their friendship in this area. Anyway, pass.

Taiga was… in the middle ranks.

“Taiga!! You have talent for studying!!”

I immediately hugged Taiga.

“Yeah… because I have a goal now…”

Taiga spoke shyly, slightly pursing her lips like a baby bird asking for food. I responded by repeatedly kissing Taiga.

She studied hard and made it to the middle ranks. Some might wonder why I’m making such a big deal about middle ranks, but Taiga was originally a delinquent who was planning to drop out of high school. This was an amazing transformation.

Tina also narrowly avoided failing. Honestly… I wondered if these grades were okay, but at least none of them failed. That alone was truly remarkable. Maximum level of preciousness.

———

September passed quickly, and now it was October.

After the school trip, there was the school festival, followed by a series of youthful events. And then we’d wrap up the year with winter break.

“October’s dungeon…”

There was one event I needed to handle. I’d been doing well so far, and I needed to keep it up.

And… I needed to start working on my community project. I had to somehow create the final psycho-robot “Hades” that Sasith, that bastard, had abandoned.

My personal goal was… to reach the max level of 99 by diligently running daily dungeons. If I could power up my specs, my goal was to achieve the ultimate specs.

Another minor goal was to clear all weapon dungeons and collect all the materials for the holy sword. I was slightly excited about what would happen if I fed all the fragments to Pinocchio. Even if Pinocchio was trash-tier, wouldn’t he awaken? That was what I was looking forward to.

Actually, Pinocchio does awaken like Onion Knight if his psycho-robot level reaches 99. But that ship had sailed at this stage, and I had no choice but to rely on the power of the holy sword.

“I’m from the generation that watched Power Digimon.”

I was from a generation that could never forget the thrill of seeing cute little weaklings evolve into ultimate forms. Pinocchio could also suddenly awaken into an incredibly cool psycho-robot.

“This is a parent’s heart…!!!”

I burst into tears. No matter how messed up your child is, you never give up the hope of “someday.”

“Um… Shota is clearly talking to himself and writing something, but nobody’s saying anything about it?”

Mika, who was working beside me, asked the girlfriends who were each doing their own things.

“That’s just how he is~”

Umi said while munching on snacks.

“Yeah. I think it’s just Shota thinking hard about something for our sake.”

Eri was just in saint mode. Honestly… Eri has been too biased in my favor lately. It’s burdensome… but I like it!!! Eri Maman!!!!

“How’s the contest going?”

Taiga asked.

“I’ve climbed up to an overwhelming 3rd place. With this… I’m guaranteed to be selected.”

I said with a smile. I never expected my autobiographical story to work out so well.

“Ah! The teacher was writing too, right? How about him?”

Umi asked.

“He… despite having good results, he just quit midway. Without any notice.”

I said. It was impactful enough to be talked about on the platform.

Well… it was originally a work he wrote for vicarious satisfaction because his life was too unhappy. But now, our homeroom teacher was living his best life, better than ever before. He didn’t need to write novels anymore.

Anyway, I also benefited from the elimination of a competitor. Win-win.

“First place gets prize money and free illustrations… selected works just get prize money.”

Umi said at that moment.

“Illustrations… Shota, don’t you need to find a cover soon?”

Mika said.

“Ah… right.”

I had been using a temporary cover until now. Honestly, finding an illustrator was quite difficult. It was natural that it would cost money, but finding someone good was hard.

“Illustrations… maybe I should try learning?”

Suddenly, Umi’s eyes lit up.

“Umi, are you good at drawing?”

I asked Umi.

“No. I’ve never tried it before. But I always got A’s in art class!”

Umi said confidently.

“Alright. I’ll accept it regardless of quality if it’s drawn by my girlfriend.”

I said with a smile.

“Then I’ll start studying drawing right away!”

Umi suddenly seemed to regain her motivation. Yeah, it’s good to do anything.

———-

About three days later.

“Shota!! It’s my masterpiece!! I posted it on social media too!!”

After being holed up in her room playing with a tablet for a while, it seemed she had produced some results.

“Alright. Let’s see our pretty Umi’s work.”

I put Umi on my lap, patted her butt, and looked at the result.

It was a dual portrait of the title heroines Eru (modeled after Eri) and Umiko (modeled after Umi).

But… it was incredibly well-drawn!!

“No!! It’s strange to become this skilled in just three days!!”

I was so surprised I had to object.

“No… Umi, did you have this talent?”

“They say everyone has at least one talent…”

Eri and Taiga, who were nearby, also gaped in amazement.

“Hehehe. I’m good at things like nail art. I’ve always been good with my hands.”

Umi said proudly, puffing out her chest. Yes, with those large breasts, she had reason to be proud.

But… this went beyond just being good with her hands…

“This… I feel bad taking it for free. I’ll pay you. The standard freelance rate.”

I pushed the tablet away as I spoke.

“I don’t want it for free either… but I don’t want money.”

At that moment, Umi made a strangely seductive expression.

“I… want to monopolize Shota’s dick.”

Umi immediately staked her claim on exclusive rights to Shota.

“Hmm… one drawing… one day?”

I negotiated the deal.

“So if I draw seven pictures, I can have you exclusively for a week?!”

Umi said with a smile.

“That’s true, but… don’t overdo it.”

I said to Umi. Lately, she’s been drawing all the time except when she’s having sex with me. She’ll get sick at this rate.

That was the birth of the legendary illustrator “Umi.” Anyway.

——-

After finishing training at the kendo dojo and my writing, I immediately made community plans.

Since I didn’t have time during the day, I decided to quickly proceed with community activities that could be done at night.

“Shota, what’s that?”

Kana looked at me as I opened a delivery box.

“Oh, a fishing rod. I want to do some night fishing.”

I held up the fishing rod.

I used to fish quite a bit. It was one of my hobbies in my original world. Whenever I went to Jeju Island, I always went squid fishing. Fishing for cuttlefish species gives you a really good feel on the line.

“That’s random. What kind of fishing? Have you developed some old man hobby?”

Kana tilted her head.

“The more hobbies, the better, right? Anyone want to go fishing with me?”

I asked, just in case.

Honestly… fishing is boring, so I needed someone to talk to.

“……….”

Surprisingly, no one raised their hand. Well, fishing is boring. It’s not just boring for observers. It’s boring for the person doing it too. So why do it? Because there’s a strange addictiveness to that boredom. It’s hard to explain in words… maybe like the thrill of playing HOTS? Anyway.

“I’ll go.”

The one who raised her hand was Madoka.

“Madoka!!! You precious child!!!”

I immediately patted Madoka.

“I’m… an elementary school student, so I don’t get many chances to be with you, oppa. So.”

Madoka mumbled.

“Then me too. Honestly, I’m at a different school, so I’m Shota-deficient.”

At that moment, Mika volunteered and raised her hand.

I see. Does hunger bring out perseverance!!

“Then let’s go!!”

I said with a bright expression. It seemed like fishing would be less boring now.

And so, I decided to push forward with one of the night communities, the communication with “The Old Man Who Fishes.”