Episode 6. Lumi

Having Nam Daeun, the #1 ranked in the practical exam, in the same group is quite a benefit, though it seems to be mostly because of the dead weight that is me and Lee Byung-hoon.

For now, since we were told to gather by group, I also moved to where Group 7 was.

“Hey, really? I’m from there too.”

“Let’s get along well from now on. I’m a close-combat type…”

The surroundings were bustling with people busy building friendships with their group members. Since we have to go together for at least one semester, the more comfortable we become, the more we can trust and rely on each other.

“Wow, Nam Daeun-nim, I’ve only heard rumors about you, but to be in the same group is truly an honor.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. As for me, I am the eldest son from the prestigious Warrior Guild…”

But why is our group like this?

Ever since the group was formed, this guy named Lee Byung-hoon has been rambling nonstop. And what’s more, without even glancing at me or Lumi, he’s only looking at Nam Daeun while talking.

“Alright, that’s all for today’s class, and as I mentioned earlier, your first assignment is to have a meal with your group members and take a picture. Being able to quickly sync up even with people you’ve just met is what makes a pro hunter.”

Whether that has much to do with eating and taking pictures, I don’t know, but since we received the assignment, we have to do it. What should I do about this?

Other groups had already gathered in small groups, deciding what to eat, or had already left to eat.

Lee Byung-hoon kept talking to Nam Daeun, while Nam Daeun ignored him until the very end and packed her bag.

Lumi, not knowing what to say, kept looking back and forth between Lee Byung-hoon and Nam Daeun, fidgeting nervously.

And watching the situation unfold in real-time was Lee Hoyeon.

‘I think I need to say something?’

After some thought, I decided to speak up.

“Um, guys? What should we eat?”

Suddenly.

I chose my words carefully, trying to keep it casual, but before I could even finish, Nam Daeun stood up, slung her bag over her shoulder, and headed for the classroom door.

“Nam Daeun. Do you know a place?”

“… I’m not interested in playing along with childish games.”

“Huh?”

Seriously, she just left after saying that. What kind of person is she? No, we’re supposed to do an assignment, and she calls it childish games?

After Nam Daeun left, Lee Byung-hoon glanced at the two of us, then said, “Ahem, actually, I have plans too,” and disappeared.

“…”

Already, the other students had left to eat with their group members, leaving just me and Lumi completely alone in the classroom.

———————-

『Sub Quest Transmitted.』

[Cheer Up the Dejected Lumi!]

Lumi’s grand debut at the academy has been shattered!

But it’s not too late. Comfort Lumi and lift her spirits!

– Reward: Random Stat +1

———————-

Just then, a quest appeared before my eyes.

“Cheer up the dejected Lumi?”

“Making my first friend, it’s ruined… You idiot, why couldn’t you just say you like tteokbokki? Hmph.”

Looking beside me, Lumi, with a crestfallen expression, was muttering strange things.

Well, if I think about it, it might not be so bad. After all, Nam Daeun won’t be approachable until the mid-game, and that guy whose name I can barely remember can be discarded.

“Um, Lumi? Since they left, let’s go eat by ourselves.”

“Y-Yes? You want to eat with me?”

“Yeah, eating with our group members and taking a picture was the assignment, right?”

“But,,, Nam Daeun-yang, she left.”

Right now, why is Nam Daeun being brought up? And she also doesn’t seem to care about that guy named Lee Byung-hoon, either.

“Someone who left is someone who left. Do you like tteokbokki? I know a great tteokbokki place, want to go together?”

“Y-Yes! Yes! I’ll go!”

*

In front of me, Lumi sat there with wide eyes, stuffing her cheeks full with tteokbokki. Like a squirrel hoarding acorns, her cheeks were puffed out roundly.

“You can eat slowly, I won’t steal it.”

“Ah, yes. Sorry…”

“No, no, there’s no need to apologize. It’s nice seeing you enjoy your food.”

“Hehe… But this is really delicious! You’re a freshman just like me, how do you know such a great place?”

Because in the game, when dating Lumi, this tteokbokki place was a mandatory course. I watched to see how long she’d eat, and she ate tteokbokki until the end of the game. It’s a place she loves that much, so of course it’s delicious.

★ Heroine Status Window

[Lumi]

– [ Affection: 35 ]

– [ Lust: 30 ]

– [ Appetite: 15 ]

– [ Fatigue: 40 ]

Affection increased by 20. If only she could finish the conquest after eating tteokbokki four more times, that would be great, but alas.

Her appetite, too, dropped from 40 to 15, so she must have eaten enough by now.

“It looks like you’re almost done, shall we take a picture? My phone’s camera quality isn’t great, can we use yours?”

“Ah, yes. Go ahead!”

Taking Lumi’s phone, I stood up and moved seats.

Then, I pressed myself right up against Lumi’s side.

“Wh-What? Th-That’s too close?”

“We both need to be in the shot for it to count as proof.”

Click!

“Even though two out of four people are missing, the picture turned out well.”

The subjects were so good-looking that it came out like a photoshoot even with a careless shot.

“Ah, yes. It came out well…”

Why is she looking down so much when I said the picture turned out well?

Anyway, now that I don’t have any more excuses to linger, it’s time to make my move.

As I handed Lumi’s phone back, I pretended to notice something.

“Oh? Lumi. Isn’t that phone case from Idol Party?”

“Y-Yes? Huh… How did you know?”

“No, I like that too. Do you like it too?”

“Yes! I really, really like it! Last limited edition, I hit the ‘ceiling’ and got it, I’ve watched all the anime, and… I’ve seen all the movies!”

The girl who was stuttering so much suddenly started talking incredibly fast when the topic shifted to anime.

What ‘hitting the ceiling’ for a limited edition means, I don’t really understand, but anyway, I have a different objective.

“Then, shall we go see the movie that’s opening soon? It just so happens I don’t have anyone to go with, so I was wondering.”

“Ah, a… movie?”

“Yeah, if you feel pressured, I can just go alone, so don’t worry about it.”

“No, no, please! I really want to go together!”

“Then, let’s go this weekend. Shall we go together? Can I have your number?”

“Y-Yes! Yes!”

When I offered my phone to Lumi, she took it with trembling hands.

Lumi, as if determined not to make a single mistake, slowly entered each digit, while muttering, “Exchanging numbers… Exchanging numbers with a friend….” She’s kinda cute.

“H-Here you go.”

“Thanks. I’ll contact you later. We’ve finished eating, shall we get up?”

“Yes!”

*

Tuesday evening.

After parting ways with Lumi, I headed to the training center for some practice.

Starting tomorrow, proper classes will begin, so I need to assess my current level.

I tapped my smartwatch and entered a private training room.

[1st Year, Class A, Lee Hoyeon. Entry confirmed.]

In the original game, depending on the training given to the protagonist, their stats would specialize. Mages focused on mana. Swordsmen on stamina and strength. Assassins on agility, etc. You could raise them by focusing on specific stats and develop them.

The most standard and easiest route was the swordsman.

The reason is related to the protagonist’s unique divine power.

A unique divine power is a special ability possessed only by an individual.

Most people cannot manifest their unique divine power, but Lee Hoyeon, being the protagonist, possesses a pretty decent unique divine power.

───――「 Combat Sense 」───――

▶ Unique Divine Power

▶ Receives bonuses on all actions deemed ‘combat’.

The higher the danger level of the ‘combat’, the greater the effect.

───――───――───――───

‘Combat Sense’

As a unique divine power related to combat, it allows the user to exhibit innate combat sense and intuition in all combat-related actions.

Since it provides bonuses in all aspects of combat, it was advantageous for close-quarters combat, where combat sense is most crucial.

Moreover, as the story progresses, you have to fight humans or humanoid monsters, and since there are many such encounters, a swordsman, who excels in one-on-one combat, was the best choice.

Despite that, the reason I chose to be a mage is twofold: First, I received ‘Mana Affinity’ as a special bonus, giving me a significant advantage in mana manipulation, and second, because I know how truly vile the villains in this world are.

Fighting those bastards up close, sword to sword? That’s just suicidal. Unlike in the game, where you can retry, it’s best to just attack from afar with spells, bang bang.

“Magic Proficiency Test.”

[Magic Proficiency Test. Commencing.]

I need to figure out where my level stands in game terms, so I can decide my future course of action.

The proficiency test provided by the training center uses Victoria Academy’s database to assess my strengths, weaknesses, and current level, providing a comprehensive evaluation.

[Phase 1 test. Please disperse mana thinly and widely.]

Simultaneously with the system’s voice, thin walls made of mana appeared all around.

That seems to be measuring my mana.

‘Disperse mana thinly and widely?’

I haven’t done this before, but it didn’t seem difficult. Raising my hands, I imagined mana spreading out like gentle waves.

Vwoom- Vwoom-

Mana radiated from my hands, glowing blue. Because I imagined waves, the mana dispersed thinly, and the training ground floor was clearly visible beneath the faint mana ripples.

[Phase 1 test complete.]

I must have fired mana for about a minute? Then, the completion voice was heard.

[Phase 2 test commencing.]

Targets appeared on the firing range ahead.

[Targets will activate shortly. Eliminate them quickly and accurately.]

[5]

“Hey, shouldn’t you give me some time to prepare?”

Despite my grumbling, the system continued the countdown emotionlessly.

[4]

[3]

[2]

[1]

‘What spell comes to mind right now that can eliminate targets the fastest?’

[Targets activated. Number of targets: 10.]

There was no time to think further. I recalled the ‘Wind Arrow’ spell I saw in a book yesterday.

Above my head, the rising mana transformed into wind, condensing into arrow shapes with a fierce whistling sound.

Fwoosh-fwoosh-fwoosh-!

The arrows stirred the air as if eager to shoot out immediately.

The wind arrows swirling above my shoulders shot towards the targets.

Kwajijik!

One, two, three, four, five…… ten.

The ten arrows, flying fiercely, shattered the targets with a loud noise, and then dispersed into mana.

“Wow.”

Not a single target remained on the range.

“This is fun?”

*

“Hmmmm…”

After parting ways with Lee Hoyeon, Lumi returned to the dormitory, looked at her phone on the desk, and was contemplating a life-altering decision.

‘Should I text him to see if he got home okay?’

“After all, if we ate together and exchanged numbers, we’re friends, right…? But still, we just met today… Is this too soon?”

Since childhood, the introverted Lumi preferred staying indoors over outdoor activities, making her a homebody. Her mature physique, despite her age, made her self-conscious of others’ gazes, which, combined with her timid personality, solidified her homebody nature.

Her twin sister, Lucy, always stayed by her side, overprotecting Lumi. Thanks to that, approaches from strange people decreased significantly, but ironically, she couldn’t make any proper friends before enrolling in the academy.

Overcoming those gloomy days! Lumi had intended for a splendid academy debut, but… her first group turned out to be a mess, causing her to start feeling depressed again. That’s when Lee Hoyeon appeared!

“He definitely asked me to see a movie this weekend. We’re friends, right? Ugh, I don’t know. Should I at least search for it?”

Lumi turned on her phone and searched ‘A guy asked me to see a movie’ on the green search engine.

[A guy I’m not very close with asked me to see a movie]

“Oh! This is it!”

Coincidentally, someone had the same concern.

Q. [A guy asked me to see a movie, does that mean he likes me? Or does he just want to be friends?]

A. [Seeing as he asked you to the movies, it seems he doesn’t dislike you. You can get to know him better by watching the movie and talking. And, seeing as you’re wondering if he’s interested in you, it means you also have some feelings for him, doesn’t it? Watching a movie is a good opportunity, so through this chance, it would be great if it becomes a catalyst for growing mutual interest ^^]

“In… interest?”

Lumi, who had never even made a proper friend, couldn’t possibly have dated. To her, this question and answer felt like the truth of life.

“Right, now that I think about it, no one would go see a movie with someone they dislike. Ugh, Does Hoyeon have feelings for me?”

Lee Hoyeon. Actually, eating alone with someone of the opposite sex was a first for her, so she was flustered and couldn’t properly converse. Even when prompted to relax and talk, she felt too self-conscious to do so.

“But, why would someone so handsome be with someone like me… Ah, whatever, let’s just send a text.”

[ Me: Thanks for the meal ^^ (emoji: dog bowing deeply) ]

[ Lee Hoyeon: Yep, you got home okay? ]

Thump-thump.

It was just a simple reply, but Lumi’s heart fluttered even from texting a ‘friend’.

“Ugh, what should I reply? Should I search again…”