Episode 29: Relationships [End]

 

“If your stamina bar was completely depleted, your body would’ve been too burdened to move. You could’ve suffered even worse injuries charging in recklessly while maintaining your magic like that. What were you thinking? You’re not fighting cocks.”

“…………..Can’t argue with that.”

“Um… sorry?”

As I scolded the two from my bed, they scratched their heads sheepishly.

“……..Sigh.”

Having seen their character illustrations before, I couldn’t bring myself to say anything more.

‘Sigh… Pretty privilege is real. Even though I’m the victim here, I feel guilty scolding them.’

Kang A-yul always ranked high in character popularity polls, and Lee Seo-yun’s beauty rivaled hers. As someone who genuinely enjoyed playing Asoma, it was hard to be harsh with them.

“You won’t do it again, right?”

“……..Right.”

“Yes! From now on, I’ll only fight where Seah can’t see… I mean! I won’t fight anymore!”

‘They’re definitely going to fight again.’

At least my presence seemed to keep them in check somewhat.

“I’m trusting both of you.”

With those final words, I got up from the bed.

-Stagger!

“…You!”

“Seah!”

As I lost my balance, Kang A-yul and Lee Seo-yun rushed toward me.

“I’m fine. Just lost strength in my legs for a moment.”

I gestured for them to stay back while leaning against the wall, checking if I’d left anything in A-yul’s room.

“Ah, I’ll take my uniform.”

Using Psychokinesis, I lifted my soaked uniform and hurried back to my room.

-A-yul, why are you stopping me…

-Just leave her be for now. You’ll have to go through me first.

It seemed A-yul was stopping Seo-yun from following me. While I appreciated it, I didn’t have the energy to dwell on it.

‘Thank you.’

I gave A-yul a grateful smile before swiping my keycard to enter my room.

“Right, this is my room.”

The stark contrast between neatness and chaos on my desk. The special safe containing notebooks filled with every original scenario I might forget.

“Looks like Seo-yun really only rummaged through the closet.”

She probably hadn’t entered the area with my desk and safe. I could just feel it.

“…So damp, this uniform.”

-Splash…!!

After filling the tub with a little water, I tossed in the soaked uniform.

-Plop!

“I have spare uniforms… I’ll just soak this first and clean it quickly with my ability later.”

After throwing the uniform into a basin of soapy water, I used Psychokinesis to swirl it around before wringing it out – a five-minute washing process.

Though I had a washing machine, doing it myself felt more comforting somehow.

“…Well, I did sweat a lot. Should shower.”

They’d changed my clothes, but I doubted they’d washed me.

Even though TS had happened… and Yoon Seah’s memories mingled with my own experiences creating this ambiguous state with no resistance from either side…

‘No way. Absolutely not.’

The jasmine scent in my hair instead of the usual lavender shampoo must be my imagination.

-Tap

After a quick shower, the familiar lavender scent of Yoon Seah began filling the room.

“Yes, this scent. Familiar lavender.”

Must’ve mistaken the scent earlier due to confusion.

-Thump!

I collapsed onto the bed, staring at the blank ceiling.

“Hmm… Future events…”

The episode where some jealous female students secretly bully Sakura, an outsider, and I rescue her.

The temporary evaluation partnered with a revenge-driven madman who loses ability to distinguish friend from foe under a Demon King’s control.

The survival evaluation where an artificial dungeon suddenly spawns C~B rank Gates due to Demon King faction interference.

Stopping a second-year who goes berserk from jealousy of Seong Arin’s overwhelming magic talent.

Joining a club and dueling a battle maniac during the process.

The student council election where after defeating all challengers, I’m supposed to face Yoon Seah but lose overwhelmingly off-screen, disappointing players expecting an epic battle.

The summer vacation trip where Ecclesia gets kidnapped by external forces.

“That’s disgustingly many.”

All these episodes happen in the first semester of freshman year.

While exciting as game content, this was inhumanly excessive…

Most of these events inevitably produce casualties.

My mission: protect future key forces against Mephisto, guide the protagonist to growth opportunities, and ensure she can behead Mephisto.

To smoothly execute this plan…

(Next day)

“I want to resign as student council president.”

I needed to quit this position.

…

…

…

“I want to resign as student council president.”

-Crash!

“What? Resign suddenly?”

“Ah, don’t worry. I’ll continue until election day.”

My declaration caused chaos in the student council room the next day.

“Did something happen, President?”

“Could it be aftereffects from blocking the Vice President and transfer student’s attacks…”

“Not that. Honestly… I don’t think I can beat A-yul anymore. Juggling company work and presidential duties is becoming too much.”

“……….”

Kang A-yul’s gaze turned toward me again.

‘To properly support the protagonists from behind, I must shed this burden.’

The student council president election.

While nominally a peaceful election through campaigns and voting…

That wasn’t the reality.

‘It’s just an academy-wide strongest fighter tournament disguised as an election.’

Candidates don’t campaign – they submit applications for a tournament bracket.

300-400 challengers appear yearly. Not all want the presidency – some want to make their names known before midterms, fight strong opponents, or showcase skills to join the student council.

Like typical academy stories, important exams attract guild scouts. The election similarly draws high-ranking observers, meaning only the strongest compete.

‘The strongest across all grades becomes president. A precious tradition at Raon Academy.’

Why they still call it an election is beyond me. Should’ve just named it a selection tournament.

“Disappointing. Last year’s rematch is gone. Annoying to hear accusations of taking advantage.”

“You won yesterday’s practical combat. Those in the know already think you’re more suited to be president.”

Last year, Yoon Seah defeated both third-year top students simultaneously in the semifinals within 15 seconds.

‘In the finals against Kang A-yul, she deployed a gravity field and launched Void Strike while A-yul was immobilized, ending it in 10 seconds.’

An overwhelming battle.

So spectacularly dominant it inspired awe rather than jealousy – truly a conqueror’s march.

‘The recording helped me review it.’

I was shocked too – completely different from her bullet-hell boss patterns of mindlessly spamming energy attacks.

‘If she’d used gravity fields in boss fights… no amount of speed hacks would’ve helped.’

I knew gravity fields could slow opponents, but creating them by pressing Psychokinesis into the ground was new.

‘Void Strike requires long preparation… Gravity fields allow launching it against slowed targets.’

But I couldn’t create gravity fields.

Only possible with unlocked earring output… but Eve’s veiled threat about not destroying it forced alternative solutions.

Doping banned. Already overdosed on elixirs – more would be meaningless.

Hidden pieces? Barely enough for protagonists and allies.

An extra like me can’t steal the protagonist’s opportunities.

‘My only hope is Stellar Magic and a staff.’

I had plans to acquire Stellar Magic during the semester… The crucial item was a staff.

Maybe because she was too strong without one, or developers thought giving her a staff would make her unbeatable…

Yoon Seah doesn’t use a staff.

But I’m not game Yoon Seah.

A staff would undoubtedly help. Like how the world’s deadliest killer becomes deadlier mastering guns alongside swords.

‘Academy-store staves are decent but…’

Insufficient.

Before realizing, my footsteps led me to a classroom after leaving the council room.

[Class 1-D]

-Slam!

Not the protagonist’s Class A, but Class D for lower-ranked students.

-Thud!

“Ugh…!”

“Who do you think you are, bottom feeder? You don’t deserve…”

As expected, delinquents were bullying weaker students.

Desks were trashed. Students who underperformed entrance exams but didn’t belong in D-class were beating actual low-rankers to boost fragile egos.

“Just heal from the back! I’ll carry! What’s with the striker pride…!!”

“Excuse me.”

But I had no time for dropouts.

“Who the hell…?”

“Mob characters, step aside.”

-Crack…!

“Gyaaaaah…!!”

“Too loud.”

-Crash!

After dislocating the bully’s shoulder with Psychokinesis, I tossed him into a trash can and scanned the room.

“Is Baek Si-ah here?”

The genius blacksmith who couldn’t craft weapons without materials. After a chance meeting with the protagonist, she awakens her talent, becoming Korea’s top guild master who creates battle suits worshipped by military otakus.

The artisan who would craft my staff was here.