episode_0176
by AfuhfuihgsOnly after an awkward silence had passed did I finally hear the whole story from Kwon Yuri.
“So… you want me to attend the social gathering that your senior is planning to host?”
“That’s right.”
Kwon Yuri nodded, but glared at me with a mischievous look.
“Huh.”
The lines she delivered in a theatrical tone are said to be a scene from a famous movie from the old civilization.
Judging from the reaction, he probably wanted me to take that line in stride.
But I didn’t know that the work I was asked to do would be to attend a social gathering.
“I think Senior Choi I-re said something about an official social gathering earlier… ”
“No, my group is a little different from that.”
Kwon Yuri shook her head.
“Ire probably doesn’t even know there’s such a thing.”
Then a playful smile appeared on his lips.
“… ”
My head is starting to spin. A gathering that the leader of the group doesn’t know about? Then that just means it’s unauthorized.
“… I clearly said earlier that if an illegal gathering is discovered, everyone will be expelled… ”
“Oh my, it’s okay, it’s okay!”
“… ”
“I was just saying. Why are you so scared? Is it because you’re a chick?”
But Kwon Yuri waves her hand as if it’s nothing.
“Do you know how many kids said they would come to our meeting? If we expelled them all, the cradle would be ruined that day. How are we going to handle the protests from so many families?”
… Anyway, the conclusion is that we will boldly commit illegal acts.
“You don’t have to worry about being expelled at all. Of course, if you get caught, you’ll get punished. Okay? Then I’ll assume you’re coming… ”
“… Is there any reason why I must attend that meeting?”
He tried to sneak past me again, so I quickly stopped him. Then, Kwon Yuri made a face full of regret.
Suddenly something I had forgotten comes to mind.
“Did you give me that top-grade stimulant as a gift when you visited me in the hospital last time? ”
“Why a gift for visiting someone in the hospital?”
However, Kwon Yuri opened her eyes wide as if she didn’t understand English and asked back. I thought you had already prepared the groundwork for this request… or didn’t you?
“What on earth do you think I am… ”
Kwon Yuri, who heard the question, glared at me with an expression that seemed to be filled with genuine resentment. There were even small tears forming in the corners of her eyes. Is this a tactic to make me feel guilty?
“I’m sorry. Anyway, I’d like to hear the reason.”
“… The first is because our junior is one of the best freshmen… no, he is a talented person.”
“What did you say? I couldn’t hear you properly.”
“You heard right. I said he was a good chick who was good at studying and playing sports. The rest is a secret. I can’t tell you before you come.”
That was clearly not what she was trying to say. However, Kwon Yuri shook her head as if she had no intention of answering.
“… Then what about the second one?”
“The second one is… ”
Kwon Yuri once again smiled sinisterly, which did not match her innocent appearance.
“Because I’m planning to help Min-ha during this social gathering.”
***
During the three days of the social event, all academic schedules are suspended except for those who are taking some supplementary classes. The large building and the vast grounds of the cradle are also transformed into a space for socializing and entertainment.
Official events such as the opening and closing ceremonies are held at Hwayang Hall, but dozens of small and large gatherings are also said to take place throughout the three days.
As Choi I-re said earlier, it is a legal space approved by both the Cradle Student Council and the Board of Education, functioning as a ‘place for healthy and rational social interaction.’
The club president is selected through a rigorous screening process from among students who are “popular among their peers, have a promising future, and are generally well-behaved and presentable.”
It is said that the meeting place is practically taken over by the second-year students. The freshmen are busy adjusting to the academy, and the third-year students, who are almost like active students, spend more time outside than in the cradle.
“You know? Min-ha was also chosen as the head of the gathering at this year’s social gathering.”
I didn’t know. I haven’t seen him in the mornings lately. Maybe that’s why. He must be very busy preparing for student council work and small meetings. Maybe he was too busy to say anything.
“But Min-ha… This time, it’ll probably be a bit difficult.”
“Will it be hard?”
“Yeah.”
Kwon Yuri answered with her finger on her lips.
“When you say it’s a small gathering, it doesn’t sound like it’s anything special, right? It’s like we’re just playing around.”
“Honestly, that’s true, but… ”
“Mhmm, I knew it.”
Kwon Yuri nodded as if she knew that would happen.
“Just by looking at you, you look like you don’t know much about that kind of thing. Not interested in socializing… Just an innocent chick… Huh?”
“… ”
Kwon Yuri stuck out her lips as she dodged the finger that was about to hit her nose.
“… Huh. Anyway, if you take socializing lightly, you’ll really get in big trouble later. ”
Even if they are far superior to ordinary people, the physical body of a magician also has clear limitations. The idea of a magician who can single-handedly overwhelm the power of a large group is mostly a fictional concept.
“Well, there are people like the principal, and there are also Seoyeon and Minha, but that’s pretty much it.”
That is why wizards have chosen the path of alliance and cooperation in order to survive. Today, there is no such thing as a family of wizards standing alone and only pursuing the truth of magic.
They weigh their opponents on a scale and adjust the scale accordingly. They live in intense hatred and animosity, but before they know it, they become tightly intertwined like tree roots. It’s as if they were one from the beginning.
The first place where that judgment occurs is usually the Academy, where only the most beautiful and energetic, those whose magical talents are at their peak, gather.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that social gatherings are events that directly reflect such desires. Various small gatherings are also places where people who want to have connections and influence at the gathering place gather, not just to laugh and chat.
“Plus, this year, it overlaps with the National Foundation Day, right? There will be a huge influx of outside guests. Members of the Supreme Council, executives from various large corporations, and even experts from the National Guard… ”
A gathering is a place where people evaluate and are evaluated. If the group leader deems that the group is not valuable, the group will be completely ignored and marginalized.
Considering that background, Yeonminha’s current situation could be seen as extremely precarious.
“I feel like my personality has become a bit dead these days because of someone… but it was so bad last year… ”
Kwon Yuri glanced into my eyes and spoke. I could immediately tell what she was trying to say.
Aristocratic arrogance, fierce and arrogant personality, and excessive cruelty. That was my first impression of Yeonmin-ha.
Last year, when Yeonmin-ha entered school, the followers who flocked to her like clouds and even fought over her because of her outstanding appearance and background as a descendant of five families are now almost gone.
The great disaster that followed was the communist incident. Because of this, Yeonminha’s family was almost destroyed, and she almost lost her life to the punitive forces.
With even the family’s power gone, their reputation, which was not very good to begin with, plummeted.
Thanks to Heukryeon and I protecting Yeonmin-ha, she was able to rise again by taking on a position as a student council member in the cradle. The ‘Spirit Master’s Curse’ that was eating away at her has also almost completely been cured thanks to my power.
But what has already happened cannot be undone.
Even from my perspective as someone who personally cherishes Yeonmin-ha, the word popularity has nothing to do with her.
Perhaps the reason Yeonmin-ha was appointed as the head of the group… was because she was more conscious of the influence of Heukryeon rather than because she was qualified to be a judge.
Then, the opposite interpretation is also possible. If Yeonminha’s small gathering is sluggish in this social gathering, the negative influence may flow back toward Heukryeon.
“I wonder if Seoyeon will be pushed back a lot…? As far as I know, I heard that Paechon is putting a lot of effort into the social event this year… ”
Kwon Yuri trailed off as if gently provoking me.
“Hmm… I thought you said you rented a hall that could easily accommodate 200 people… Seoyeon has so many people she likes… But I don’t know what will happen to Min-ha… ”
“… ”
“There are still a lot of kids who are afraid of Min-ha… I wonder if it’ll be okay… What if no one comes… ”
“… ”
“I feel like someone needs help… But our chick doesn’t know anything… Hmm… I have quite a few friends… But not as many as Seoyeon… ”
Am I mistaken in thinking that I am trying to get the answer I want by pretending to be innocent and mumbling?
One thing is certain: the only person who can reach out to me right now is this woman.
“Then what you said about senior Min-ha helping senior… ”
“Ahem. Well, that could be possible. I’m not sure… ”
The expression on Kwon Yuri’s face as she looked at me was exactly that of a fisherman looking at a fish taking bait.
“But if I bring all my friends and connections… wouldn’t it be a little helpful? I’ll also tell the visitors some good stories… ”
Kwon Yuri glances at me.
“People live by helping each other, right…? Right…?”
“… What should I do when I go to your senior’s meeting?”
“What are you going to do? Just have fun. Get some life advice from pretty senior girls… and talk about this and that with each other… ”
If that’s the case, there would be no need to organize an illegal gathering while avoiding the eyes of the leader. Wasn’t it created to allow for deviations that would be impossible in an official setting?
“… I will go.”
“Oh my, good idea!”
But the worry didn’t last long. After hearing the answer, Kwon Yuri expressed her joy by jumping around like a rabbit.
What on earth does that innocent face want from me? Is it to make me a male prostitute?
I don’t think it’s that bad, but even if it were, I’d be willing to take the risk.
Even so, it would only be a few hours of suffering. If that sacrifice could help the family of the compassionate and the leader…
“When will the seniors’ meeting be held?”
“Day 2. Hehe, it’s going to be really fun. You can look forward to it… !”
“Please keep your promise.”
“Then, of course. Should I write a slave agreement? ‘If you break the promise, I, Kwon Yuri, will permanently give up all my rights as a human being, including the right to sexual self-determination, and I will be treated as such…’”
Kwon Yuri nodded and continued to recite very suspicious and uncomfortable words as if it were a memorandum. The content was bizarre, but in the end, she had no choice but to agree. It wasn’t going to happen anyway.
“Oh right.”
Finally, when she reached an agreement, she looked at me and smiled.
“Our conversation. Is it absolutely a secret from Min-ha?”
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