Chapter 39 : The Banquet That Ended as Soon as It Began

Despite Instructor Han Seongryeong’s scolding, Han Hyeryeong kept firing off questions nonstop—whether her looks would be popular at the academy, or if dating was even allowed there.

Honestly, it was only natural for girls her age to be obsessed with appearances and relationships.

If anything, Iris, who didn’t even wear lipstick and focused solely on training, training, and more training, could be considered the odd one out.

After chatting a few times, even Han Hyeryeong realized Iris was a rare natural-born ascetic, and shifted her target to Priestess Marianne.

“Come to think of it, Priestess Marianne, you’re pretty gorgeous too. Do you have a boyfriend, by any chance?”

“Hehehe. Well, I do really want to date someone, but our Order of Pure Dawn values chastity, so…”

“Oh, so it’s like Catholicism.

Wait—am I the only one here who’s ever been in a relationship?

People might think dating is banned at Pantheon Academy.

By the way, Minwoo oppa and Sunghoon oppa, you two are from Earth, right?

Can I see your Stigmas?”

“Apologies. Mine is… in a rather awkward spot, so I’d rather not show it.”

“Ah, mine’s on my back, so it’s a bit difficult to show here…”

“Oh come on, it’s just your back, not your butt. What, did you come from the Joseon Dynasty or something? You’re obviously just trying not to show it—just a quick peek! People born without a Stigma are gonna die of envy over here.”

“W-Wait, hold on a second—!”

Unlike her older sister, Han Hyeryeong was incredibly sociable—so much so that she casually stripped the shirt off a guy she had just met that day.

I was completely stunned, and in an attempt to cover up my now stretched-out undershirt, I instinctively lay flat—which, unfortunately, just made my back even easier to observe.

Then, despite claiming she just wanted to look, Han Hyeryeong placed both hands directly on the Stigma and said:

“Wow, this is a Stigma?

It’s on a whole different level compared to tattoos like irezumi.

It really feels like it’s made from some substance not of this world.

But if the Stigma’s this big, maybe you could transplant a bit of skin and— AAAAAAAAH!”

“Han Hyeryeong, I told you to cut it out.”

SMACK!

Apparently deciding that Han Hyeryeong had crossed the line, Instructor Han Seongryeong delivered a ruthless back-of-the-head smack.

Thanks to that, I was able to retrieve my shirt and hurriedly put it back on.

Priestess Marianne pretended to cover her eyes with both hands but watched the entire scene unfold, while Iris had turned her head 90 degrees away, her face slightly flushed.

Ugh, I should’ve just bought a new undershirt.

What was I thinking, wearing this ratty old one with a “just wear it once and toss it on Earth” mindset?

So embarrassing.

Anyway, maybe it was thanks to Hyeryeong talking non-stop without pause, but we didn’t even have time to get bored before we arrived at the hotel.

And despite bringing sleeping bags and rations like Wallgokdan, we were each given our own individual suite with a great view.

I had no idea what was going on.

“The Korea I knew had collapsed, and people were living in subway bunkers… is this another butterfly effect?”

They say a butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil can cause a tornado in Texas—but Pantheon Academy and Earth were on completely different planes of existence.

All of this was simply because I had visited Earth too early.

In fact, visiting the Orange Belt Zone during the first semester summer break field study event was supposed to be systemically impossible.

Just take a look at how Headmaster Dragos reacted when we visited his office before—he made it clear that it was too soon for rookies to gain real combat experience.

But then Iris used her wish ticket to break through that restriction, so now I was experiencing an entirely unknown timeline—something not even available in the game.

‘If the city is this prosperous, then Korea’s urban defense system must be fairly solid.

But then… how did everything end up in ruins by winter break?

If the Devil Doll invasion event happened in the fall, that’d be a relief.

But if it happened in the summer, things might get dangerous.’

As I looked down at the breathtaking view of Seoul, a deep sense of unease crept over me.

But as if mocking that unease, Han Hyeryeong cheerfully knocked on my door and said,

“Sunghoon oppa, what are you spacing out for by the window?

You haven’t even unpacked.

The hotel’s hosting a small welcome party for Pantheon Academy students soon.

Did you happen to bring any formal clothes other than your uniform?”

“No, I didn’t bring anything like that.”

“Let’s see.

Then what is in this big bag?

Since you came from another dimension, maybe you packed some mysterious magical tools or something.

Ehh—what is this?

Flint and purification capsules?

Wait, were you planning to go train on some mountain or something?

What’s this peanut-looking thing?

Blegh, it tastes awful.

Anyway, it’s a bit weird to show up to a banquet in uniform, so I’ll lend you a suit.

Just wait a second.”

Digging through someone else’s bag without permission was definitely rude.

But when Han Hyeryeong beamed at me with a completely innocent smile on her pure face, the scolding words that had reached my throat melted away without a trace.

Regardless of me being from Earth, a beautiful girl’s smile truly was the most disarming weapon against men.

So, like I was under a spell, I changed into the luxury suit she brought.

Even though it was borrowed, I couldn’t help but feel a bit smug.

“Wow, they say clothes make the man, and you’re really pulling off that sharp look, Sunghoon oppa. I’ll escort you.”

“That’s… really not necessary…”

But when she naturally linked her arm with mine, I gave in and matched her steps.

Even before entering the world of the game Pantheon of the Constellations, and even after I did, life had been so harsh that I thought any romantic feelings I had were long dead.

But the moment my body came into contact with a girl my age, my heart rate suddenly spiked.

However, that fluttering feeling—like a spring breeze—vanished in an instant the moment I arrived at the banquet hall.

Iris was slowly pushing a handsome man, who looked like a movie star, into a very unnatural position with his arm twisted back.

Crack!

“Aaaaargh! You crazy b***h, what the hell are you doing!! Security! Security! What are you just standing there for—get this woman off me!!!”

“Quite the grabby hands, aren’t you?”

“What do you mean, grabby?

What are you, a Confucian girl straight out of the Joseon Dynasty in a time machine or something?

It’s not like you’ll break if someone touches you!

Who even reacts like this just because someone grabs your ass in this day and age?

For the record, this whole hotel belongs to SG Group.

Who do you think you freeloaders owe for staying here for free—AAAAARGH!!”

“If you’re so unhappy about us staying here, we’ll gladly leave right now. But I’ll give you one last warning—if you lay a single finger on me again, I’ll rip your hand off while you’re still alive.”

Iris, in a rare display of murderous intent, threatened the man and then threw him aside.

He was likely the heir to SG Group.

Security guards rushed in to help him, but none dared to confront Iris.

That’s how overwhelming Iris’s presence was—someone without a stigma couldn’t even hope to stand up to her.

As she stormed out of the banquet hall, the upper-class elites of Seoul who had gathered to form connections with her were left looking like dogs who had lost their prey.

Park Minwoo quickly followed behind her, and even Marianne, who had been mindlessly devouring food and wine, stumbled out of the hall after them.

“Haah, seriously, I knew that bastard was going to cause trouble eventually.

That guy’s Lee Taekyung, heir to SG Group.

Even back in school, he was infamous for being a total womanizer and a reckless mess.

But since SG Group invested an astronomical amount into building Neo Seoul City, everyone kept quiet about it… Honestly, I feel so refreshed right now.

Sunghoon oppa, are you going to follow Iris unnie too?”

“Yeah, I think I probably should.”

“Oh, what’s with the sudden formal speech? Don’t be so distant. Not all children of Seoul’s elites have nasty personalities like that guy.”

“Mmh. Then I’ll leave the tux in the hotel room.”

“Ah, wait a sec. Just between us, but… actually, that tuxedo’s bow tie has a GPS tracker installed in it.

Not for anything shady!

Seongryeong unnie insisted on assigning escorts to all the students, so that’s the only reason it’s there.

Would you mind wearing it while you follow her?

Everyone else refused to change clothes, so…”

“Ah, I get it. It’s a little embarrassing, but I’ll just pretend I forgot to take it off in the rush when leaving the hotel.

Alright, I’ll be off.

See you next time.”

Even if the city defense escort couldn’t possibly be stronger than Iris, I figured it was better than nothing.

So, still dressed in my tuxedo, I headed outside the hotel.

There, Iris and her group—already packed and prepared to leave—were waiting for me.