Chapter 66: Senior "Ugh… I don't want to study…"
Rio grumbles as he collapses onto his desk.
Masayoshi doesn't whine like him, but he seems to feel the same way, silently nodding his head in agreement.
Seriously, what have we even done that it's already time to prep for finals?
Time is just flying by, even though it feels like nothing's happened.
I guess Chapter 1, which felt like a prologue, is finally coming to an end.
From here on out, I'll be actively taking on commissions and stepping outside the stage of Yggdrasil.
Akito seems to have grown well and gathered his heroines, so he'll probably handle himself just fine.
But Akito, I did ask Rebecca to give you a 30% discount, but aren't you overdoing it a bit?
The moment I got him that discount, this guy started panic-buying items from Rebecca. The accumulated expenses are getting pretty high.
Did you find a secret bank account your father left behind or something?
Even with the discount, I have plenty of money, so the spending doesn't exactly hurt, but how should I put it… It feels like I told a guy, "Eat as much as you want today, it's on me," and the madman actually ordered everything on the menu and even asked for doggy bags to take home.
Take it easy, man, take it easy. There's such a thing as common courtesy.
"It's 30 denier."
"No, it's not a real stocking unless it's at least 50."
"What are you talking about? If the skin tone doesn't show through, it's not a stocking."
"Skin shows through at 50 too, you know? You clearly don't know your stockings."
Why are these lunatics arguing about stockings in the middle of studying?
I get that they can't focus since there's still a while until finals, but if they're going to chatter, they should do it outside.
"Yeon-woo, what kind of stockings do you like? 30, right?"
"Fleece-lined."
At my answer, Rio's expression stiffens as he falls into deep thought, and Masayoshi strokes his chin with a serious face.
"I see… There was also fleece-lined. The skin doesn't show, but that moderate thickness hugging the flesh has its own charm."
"Shouldn't we first have an ontological discussion on whether fleece-lined ones even count as stockings?"
Please, put that much thought into your magic.
Leaving the two perverts behind, I continue studying when Mary sits in front of me, turns around, and smiles.
"Don't we have a promise?"
"A promise?"
"Yeah, yeah. It starts with 'swim' and ends with 'suit'."
"…Wait, the promise was for a swimsuit, not the beach?"
"The beach and swimsuits are inseparable. So, are you going to keep your promise or not?"
Now that she mentions it, it wasn't exactly a formal promise, but I did mention in passing that we should go to the beach.
But I've been pretty busy.
I took on a special mission, crushed that guy Keiji or whatever his name was, unlocked Yukina's virginity, and went to a charity party.
I've actually done quite a lot. No wonder time flew by.
Ignoring the gag duo whose eyes are now silently sparkling at the mention of swimsuits, I look over at Yukina, who is standing a bit further away with Jade.
"I'm fine whenever. Should we go after finals?"
"What are you talking about? We have to go once before finals and once after."
"You must really like the beach."
"I like swimsuits more than the beach."
Mary gives a suggestive, mischievous grin.
Hey, gag duo. Don't nod your heads. When you guys say you like swimsuits, you just sound like perverts.
But I'm not sure if we'll have time before finals.
Nothing's set in stone yet, but those 'seniors' are about to come down and pull the "You, join my crew!" routine.
"Hee-hee? Are you going to the beach with another woman and leaving me behind?"
Oh, come on. Why are you showing up now?
At the playful voice, I sigh and turn around to see Park Yu-jeong with a bright expression.
"Are you two… close?"
Perhaps because Park Yu-jeong's fearsome reputation hasn't spread through Yggdrasil yet, Mary asks nonchalantly.
"Yeah. He complimented my pussy, saying it was pretty. Isn't that close enough?"
"… …"
Stop it… You're just dropping bombshells on purpose because you think it's fun to tease me.
I even paid off double your debt, and this is how you treat me?
Because she's so cheerful and bright, Park Yu-jeong's voice is loud, and everyone in the classroom stares at me in silence.
"I guess he cheated."
Jade whispers into Yukina's ear, but the classroom is so quiet that everyone hears it.
However, I don't see any jealousy or anger in Yukina's eyes.
That indifferent face of hers actually hurts more.
"To start with an excuse, I work at that massage shop in front of the station."
"Is it a brothel?"
"No! It's a normal place! Nothing happened!"
Infuriated by Rio's question, I find myself shouting.
Seeing my reaction, Park Yu-jeong giggles, clearly enjoying herself.
Aren't you embarrassed to say the word 'pussy' with your own mouth and tell people you showed it to me?
As I'm sighing, Mary tilts her head and asks.
"But why did you compliment her… a woman's precious area?"
"She didn't know much about massages, so she just took everything off to get one."
"I'm asking why you complimented it."
"… …"
Are you going to keep making me speechless?
Park Yu-jeong just keeps cackling at my predicament.
Mary, looking back and forth between the silent me and Yukina, narrows her eyes suspiciously.
"Where did you say you work?"
"At Hill House, in front of the station—"
"Oh, that mint-colored sign! I know that place. They do skin care there too. They have a spa. Isn't it expensive?"
It seems the Boss's shop is quite well-known, as other girls seem to recognize it.
The fact that it's not a brothel has been cleared up, but the fact that I saw Park Yu-jeong's pussy hasn't vanished.
I can hear Shiori and the Samurai in the distance saying they should never go there.
Boss, I'm sorry. You might lose a few customers.
But I've brought in quite a few regulars, so let's call it even.
Just as I'm hoping someone will rescue me from this hellish situation, the front door of the classroom opens, and half a dozen men and women walk in.
Even though it's not their classroom, a jerk-looking guy walks in without hesitation and stands at the podium.
"Everyone, quiet down and sit."
It's a face I've never seen before, but he's wearing the same school uniform as us. Park Yu-jeong's eyebrows twitch, clearly annoyed by his overbearing attitude.
It's finally happening! He's a jerk, but I welcome him right now!
In Yggdrasil, a team tournament is always held during the first-semester finals.
It's partly for publicity, an event where students compete in various categories and the results are made public.
The entire grade is split into four teams, and these guys are the seniors who have come to headhunt their juniors.
As long as the numbers match, it doesn't matter, so the whole class doesn't have to be on one team; individuals can choose their own.
In the game, the heroine you get to sleep with changes depending on which team you join.
This is the point where seniors, who have had zero presence until now, start appearing in the game, and Akito gets involved with the Student Council.
The man, having finished laying out the information I already knew, scans the students.
"Who are Akito and Seo Yeon-woo?"
"I am Akito."
"So you're Daihara Akito. Nice to meet you. I'm Clyde, from the 2nd-year Student Council. Your father was a respectable man."
Ugh, why do these Japanese contents always portray the Student Council as if they're something so grand?
They show up acting like they're a big deal, but they're all just fodder who get rolled by Akito.
Clyde's face is full of pride for being in the Student Council, making me want to smack the back of his head.
"Who is Seo Yeon-woo?"
When I don't answer, the other students' eyes turn toward me.
"That's me."
"I've heard you're quite excellent. You're more handsome than I expected. But looks don't create skill."
I'm not just 'more handsome than expected,' I'm the most handsome man in the world, you punk.
And every word out of his mouth is damn annoying.
If I'm excellent, I'm excellent; why add 'quite'? And he came here to headhunt, yet instead of praising Akito, he talks about how great his father was.
His sense of superiority is dripping from his tone.
"You two, come outside. We'll talk privately."
"I don't want to."
Clyde, who was about to leave the classroom, pauses and glares at me.
I never had any intention of joining your team from the start.
Leader? Captain? Team Manager? Whatever the title, I hate Clyde's arrogant personality, and there aren't many characters I like on that team anyway.
Clyde stops in his tracks as if he's heard something shocking, and the seniors who came with him look on with aghast expressions.
Is being rejected really that shocking?
"Aren't you going to ask us to join your team? I'm not joining. No need to waste time."
"…You're not joining my team? Why?"
Because you're a jerk, I almost said.
Hmm… it's a bit much to just say I hate him, so is there an excuse?
"The team name is too tacky."
"Pfft—"
Park Yu-jeong, who had been listening quietly, bursts out laughing and taps my shoulder.
Starting with Park Yu-jeong's laughter, other students turn their heads away, struggling to hold back their own.
Honestly, 'Black Dragon' is just… you know.
For identification, team names must have a color in front, followed by whatever word they want.
The strongest of all dragons, the Black Dragon, roared. Graaaawr—
Why would you put 'Dragon' in there? It's so tacky.
By the way, Yu-jeong, my shoulder hurts, so can you stop hitting me?
"Are you… are you calling the name I came up with tacky?"
You came up with it? No wonder it's tacky.
Clyde pushes up his glasses, trying to act calm, but his body is trembling.
"It doesn't matter who came up with it. Tacky is tacky."
"Ugh—"
Clyde, visibly damaged by my words, flinches. When a senior next to him tries to steady him, he brushes them off roughly and straightens his clothes.
"The name isn't important. My Black Dra—ahem, my team has the best skills, so we can aim for victory. Anyone with a brain would naturally want to join my team."
"Aren't grades based on individual evaluation anyway, and the victory is just a nominal thing for the event? Is there a reason to aim for victory?"
Since it's an exam, you don't really get anything even if your team wins.
At most, the winning team representative comes out at the end to give a self-important speech, and then they all go out for a group dinner?
"I see, I understand now."
Clyde nods, returning to his arrogant demeanor.
"You're a man who doesn't know honor. You're just like Mer. Do you not realize how honorable it is to win here?"
To me, it's more amazing to see a young person in this day and age talking about honor.
And what honor?
"Doesn't this happen every year? It's not like it's rare, and we're not even competing against other schools. Is there really any honor in it?"
"People like you wouldn't understand. Conviction and honor are important to a person. They are what prove one's worth."
No, I asked if there was any honor; I didn't say I didn't know it was important.
Why are you acting like you're delivering some epic line?
But arguing with this stubborn, arrogant guy is just a waste of time.
Anyway, when I refuse again, Clyde—who was just striking poses while talking about conviction and honor—drops a petty line about how I'll regret this and storms out of the classroom.
He did at least call out to Akito as if he were disappointed, though.
"You even talk back to seniors. You're amazing in a way."
"Because I'm handsome."
"That has nothing to do with being handsome."
Actually, it's the handsome guys who rebel and oppose the old system.
As Rio looks at me in disbelief, Park Yu-jeong sits next to me with a beaming smile.
"Which team are you going to join?"
"I haven't decided, but it definitely won't be Black Whatever."
Since Akito will join a team and conquer everyone, I plan to go wherever he doesn't.
"I'm joining Blue Lagoon. Want to come with me?"
"Okay, I've decided. It's not Blue Lagoon either."
"That's so mean~ Yeon-woo, you're such a prankster."
We're not that close, so go back to your own class.
I have to choose between Black Dragon, Blue Lagoon, White Rim, and Red.
Seeing Park Yu-jeong join Blue Lagoon, it seems the 1st-year heroines will choose their teams according to the game.
For the record, everyone's team is fixed for this event, regardless of whether their affinity with Akito is high or low.
Though, considering Shiori's insane brother complex, things might not go exactly like the game.
The most relaxed option is White Rim. The leader has no motivation, so there's no "let's do our best" team spirit or group training, meaning my schedule won't get messed up.
On the downside, it's the hardest team to win with, and since they don't gather, there are fewer characters to get close to.
Black is exactly as you saw, and Blue Lagoon is for characters with… unique personalities? You can tell just by looking at Park Yu-jeong. Though she only joined because her hair is light blue.
And then there's Red.
The place Akito is most likely to join.
A team with many characters, low difficulty, and lots of rewards.
For a 'gentleman' who wants to turn Akito into a peerless, one-man army, broken solo-play character, this is the most efficient team to pick without a second thought.
There are many senior heroines, you can learn great skills, and it's a 'giving tree' that provides growth items useful until the late game and even unlocks extra routes.
Akito seems strong enough already, so I wonder if he even needs it, but for now, I'll wait for him to choose first.
I don't want to overlap and end up watching Akito conquer all the characters.
There's still some time left anyway, so I can take my time deciding.
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