episode_0189

Because I didn’t understand it at first, I had to think hard about the meaning of what Choi Woo-jin said.

Even so, it is only a short time, less than half a minute.

“Human trafficking… I don’t think so.”

If that were really the case, the boys here wouldn’t be waiting for something so calmly.

Choi Woo-jin, who heard my muttering, slightly narrowed his eyebrows as if he had heard something he shouldn’t have heard.

“Hey, you should act innocent in front of girls later. It’s embarrassing when you’re with guys.”

“… ”

“… Did you really come here without knowing anything? This isn’t a joke? ”

When there was no answer, Choi Woo-jin opened his eyes wide in disbelief.

“… I just heard the name Shadow Banquet.”

“This is a masterpiece in another sense. This guy is supposedly the successor to the five families… ”

“Don’t be like that. You might not know. I only heard about it right before I entered school… ”

Seungheon stops Choi Woojin, who is expressing pure admiration without a hint of sarcasm.

“So you knew about it?”

“I heard it from my older brother who graduated.”

“I also learned it step by step while preparing for admission… ”

Choi Woo-jin and Seung-heon each answered. I feel a little wronged. If you listen to what they say, it seems like a gathering of children from prestigious families who enjoy secret getaways.

Why didn’t the captain tell me about this? Couldn’t he have avoided it if he had just given me a little hint? He kept nagging me about other things even though I didn’t even ask about them.

… I think maybe I didn’t tell them because I was worried about my sisters. Maybe my sisters didn’t want me to pass by the Shadow Banquet without even knowing about its existence. They were so overprotective of me.

But now it’s all useless.

“I, I had no idea… I just followed a kind-looking senior who asked me to help him with some work… ”

A bespectacled boy with a pale face who had just woken up from a faint belatedly joined the conversation.

“I never thought it would be a cave like this… Ugh… How could I make such a mistake… The spirits whispered that it would be okay… You really can’t judge a person by their appearance… ”

“… ”

Moo-young’s voice was filled with resentment towards Kwon Yu-ri.

“Well, since it’s come to this, let’s enjoy it!”

Choi Woo-jin laughed heartily and patted Mu-young on the back.

“Think of this as an experience! Isn’t it a good opportunity for you? Most of the girls laughing and talking over there are children of the famous magic families in the capital. If you bite just one, your life will turn around in that moment… ”

“No, no…! Why am I with those smelly, dirty women…!”

“Tsk tsk. You’ve been hanging out with that gloomy masked man, and now you’ve become a strange person. That rare spirit master is also top-tier. If you just fix his personality, the girls will line up… ”

“Just say no…! I hate it, I hate it, I hate it… !”

Choi Woo-jin and Moo-young were arguing fiercely. In the midst of this, Seung-heon, who still had a troubled expression on his face, approached them and opened his mouth.

“Did you know that during social gatherings, the male students have the initiative? Even when it comes to choosing partners. The female students who didn’t like that first created the shadow banquet. They said that at this time, even the male students who usually couldn’t say a word started to show off their skills and things like that… That’s what I know.”

I know that the number of people who blossom into wizards is slightly higher for women than for men. The percentage of people who grow into excellent wizards due to their physical fitness is also higher for women. Was this the secret society that was born against that backdrop?

“Well, even so, it’s just a social gathering right now. Anyway, you can think of the boys’ auction as part of that. It’s called an auction, but it’s just something for fun… After that, it’s up to each person.”

Now I think I understand the general situation. And why Kwon Yuri used the word ‘attack’ to describe me.

They said to just have fun and go… Well, I guess that’s not entirely wrong.

“… Then where is this place?”

“This is part of the management space of the Yoram Underpass. They say they’ve been secretly remodeling the areas that were missing from the blueprints, without telling the professors. For decades. ”

Choi Woo-jin, who approached Moo-young, who was screaming and clutching his head, joined the conversation.

I could see the outside to some extent through the large window on one wall of the waiting room.

Although it was hard to see clearly due to the dark lighting, it was definitely too luxurious for an underground space.

If you hadn’t entered through a secret passage, you might have mistaken it for a fancy party hall on the ground floor. Luxurious lighting, various amenities, and even windows that show fake scenery…

In the midst of all this, a new question suddenly crossed my mind.

“So you came here knowing what you were doing?”

Even if that’s the case for Muyeong, the other two are definitely not the type of people to enjoy this situation.

Even Seung-heon has a fiancé. It’s a bit creepy, but whatever.

And the two who heard my question kept their mouths shut as if they had made a promise.

“… Then why did you come?”

“Uh… ”

And at the end of the silence, Seung-heon asked a question, and I too was momentarily speechless.

There’s no way I could tell anyone that it was in return for helping Yeonminha’s small group.

At the same time, I could realize that, even though I didn’t know it, looking at those troubled expressions, Choi Woo-jin and Seung-heon must have gone through a similar process as me.

Choi Woo-jin said it as if it was no big deal.

“Well, I guess I’ll try this experience while I’m at it. I don’t think it’s that bad. I was already a bit tired of boring gatherings.”

“I said that I just needed to fill the seat… ”

“How petty. Are you only thinking of filling the seats after coming all this way? Sometimes you even go astray.”

“Then I feel so sorry for Yeoul… Even though we are tied together for political reasons… ”

Seungheon, who had been shaking his head at Choi Woojin’s words, opened his mouth as if remembering something.

“Are you okay? If you happen to run into Senior Choi Ire here… ”

“How could that be?”

But Choi Woo-jin immediately shook his head.

“The most closed-minded person I know is my sister. Do you think someone like that would step into such a decadent club? She should be patrolling the campus with the students from the leadership team.”

“Well… ”

Seungheon was just about to agree with Choi Woojin’s words.

-Thank you for waiting, distinguished guests!

A sudden commotion is heard. Bright lights are focused on the dark stage seen through the waiting room window. At the same time, someone’s voice, amplified by a loudspeaker, rings out.

Then, with the sound of clacking shoes, a curved and soft shadow appeared in the middle of the stage.

A silk hat with a ribbon tied around her head, a curved cane in one hand, and a soft velvet cloak on her shoulders.

A school girl wearing a rabbit-shaped half-mask on her face. Two fluffy ears prickle up between her silk hat, just like the ones I saw earlier.

I could easily figure out the identity of the female student who appeared so flashily as if she were a magician.

“Are you enjoying the shadow banquet?”

A look of joy was evident on Kwon Yuri’s lips.

***

As soon as she appeared, a thunderous roar erupted. It was hard to tell exactly what was going on because the room was so dark, but it was clear that there were at least a few dozen people in that space.

“Mhhihi… ”

She raises the corners of her lips as if she is satisfied with the response.

“Good! Very good! How can this be such a touching reaction!”

Then he continued to sing in a pitiful voice, bouncing around the stage.

“Free spirits who have thrown away all grades and positions! Now is the time for a gift to be given to you!”

A woman wearing a rabbit mask standing in the center of the stage spread her arms wide and shouted.

“The main event and highlight of the Shadow Banquet! Let’s start with the ‘Boy Auction’!!”

“Wow!!”

“The children of prestigious families who seemed like a pie in the sky! Just looking at them makes your heart flutter, those handsome and cool boys! You who couldn’t even speak to them and were just anxious! Don’t do that anymore!!”

Her words once again erupt in loud cheers from all directions.

“Country girl who came to the capital from the outskirts with big dreams! Daughter of a noble family who dreams of an affair after a loveless engagement! It doesn’t matter who you are! An auction that can only be participated in with student credits! Just bid! In the next two hours! That man will be yours alone!”

“… I didn’t know that senior was so good at speaking.”

“Okay… ”

The noise has suddenly become so loud that it is deafening. The corners of the rabbit woman’s mouth are filled with a smile that even feels sinister.

“Hurry up, hurry up and start!”

“I can’t wait…!”

“Mhihi, don’t be impatient! The night is long and there are enough men! Then let’s begin! Who will be the glorious number 1? Come out right now!!”

-Ting!

She waved her wand to signal the start of the auction. Immediately after, a boy in the waiting room heard the bell ring and stood up with a look of excitement, snorting.

“I, I’ll be back!”

Now that I look at it, there was a small sticker on his lapel with the number ‘1’ written on it. The others also had stickers, bracelets, badges, etc. with numbers written on them.

I was wondering why I didn’t see any such signs at all. Choi Woo-jin, who discovered something, opened his mouth in a tone that was full of laughter.

“Kekeke. You’re walking around with something weird on your back.”

“… ?”

I fumbled with his words and checked the back of his coat. Only then could I find the number ’15’ that Kwon Yuri had attached.

After roughly checking the number of people, I could see that I was the last one in line. I had hoped that since I was already doing it, I could finish it quickly.

“38 Credits! Ah! What is this… Shadow Banquet Sold for the Lowest Price in 88 Years of History… ”

Not long after the male student in front left, Kwon Yuri’s voice filled with sorrow rang out. Several male students who heard it burst into laughter and held their stomachs.