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Chapter 25 - Chapter 25: Chapter 25

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Translator: Vine

Chapter Title: The Bully (1)

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Lee Yuri's mood had been extremely low recently.

To the point where she'd sigh deeply and couldn't even focus on training at times.

The cause was a rumor circulating among the provisional cadets these days.

It started with an eyewitness account from one of the provisional cadets.

"I saw Cheonhwa heading to Rohana Restaurant with the male quota."

At first, that statement was dismissed as nonsense, with people wondering why Cheonhwa would ever bother with such a person.

However, the next day at lunchtime, when Cheonhwa appeared at the burger joint, the rumor began to catch fire.

Cheonhwa was interested in the male quota.

And apparently, the Mad Dog was also eyeing that man.

They reportedly had a fierce battle of wills over him.

Simultaneously, details about the quota's appearance also spread covertly.

— An homme fatale, his looks are the justification, eye candy, he feels like a wall. Perfect.

Various nicknames were attached to him.

It was an unprecedented event for a provisional cadet, one who hadn't even had an entrance ceremony yet, and not even a special admission student, to become the center of such buzz.

And perhaps because of his appearance, the rumor gradually began to get distorted.

Something like, "The quota student named Jin Yuha is flirting with the special admission students."

Lee Yuri didn't believe the distorted rumor was true.

Rather, she thought the initial stories were more plausible.

'It's clear they were unilaterally interested in Jin Yuha.'

The reason was probably Jin Yuha's hidden skill.

Since the special admission students and the male quota were training together, they would naturally have confirmed Jin Yuha's abilities.

And they must have realized it.

That Jin Yuha possessed incredible skill, unfitting for that "male quota" label.

Now, she wasn't the only one who knew about his specialness.

She had anticipated this would happen someday, and since she was realistically in a situation where she couldn't reciprocate Jin Yuha's feelings, she tried to accept it calmly.

Yes, she tried to accept it, but...

The sense of injustice welling up deep in her heart was unbearable.

'...He only came here because of me!'

Jin Yuha had hastily enrolled in Velvet Academy, a place he originally had no interest in, just to follow her.

It was so sudden that he lacked preparation time, even enduring the ridiculous label of "male quota."

But now, women far more beautiful, capable, and wealthy than herself—

Women she couldn't possibly compete with—were approaching Jin Yuha.

'So, I thought Jin Yuha would naturally waver towards them... But now, what?'

*

"So that bitch Cheonhwa pulled some dirty trick, huh?"

"Yeah, I was even attacked by her followers yesterday. And she definitely knew about it."

At the beginning of their conversation, the light had vanished from Lee Yuri's eyes, but as the discussion continued, she gradually regained her former self.

'What is it? Gukbap's mood improved again?'

"She's completely insane."

"Exactly. She's quite shady."

"But how did you get involved?"

Lee Yuri asked, crossing her arms.

"Hmm, the detailed circumstances are a bit complicated to explain, but... I made a deal with that woman."

"A deal?"

"Yeah, the condition is that I eat lunch with her for a while."

Lee Yuri bit her lip in anger.

Then she let out a hollow laugh.

"They say her public image is like an angel, but she uses her status to make deals? Forcing you to eat with her as a condition... That's quite sinister. Don't tell me, then, this rumor is also an attempt to preemptively claim Jin Yuha?"

Lee Yuri frowned, organizing her thoughts to herself, then asked me.

"So, the rumor that you like Cheonhwa is also nonsense, right?"

"Of course."

I nodded.

In truth, it would have been natural for her to doubt me, considering Cheonhwa's image in the media, yet Lee Yuri immediately believed my words.

"So, what do you need me to help you with?"

Lee Yuri asked back eagerly.

"I said I'd be eating with that woman, right?"

"Yeah."

"I'd like you to come with me to that meal."

"Okay. Got it."

Lee Yuri accepted my request without a moment's hesitation.

At that, a creeping sense of gratitude, coupled with a twinge of guilt, pricked my conscience.

'She'll get caught up in the rumors for no reason, and her lunchtime training will be cut short...'

Asking for such a favor empty-handed still bothered me.

"This is you helping me, so as a reward..."

"Hey, Jin Yuha."

"Huh?"

"Do you think I'd accept something like that?"

She shot back as if offended.

It's genuinely reassuring to hear her say that, though.

"Still, you, Gukbap. You train during lunchtime, too. I feel bad taking your time because of my situation."

"...How do you know that?"

Her face suddenly stiffened.

"...Just a guess? Am I wrong?"

"R-Right. Ah, you knew?"

Her face flushed crimson, and she averted her gaze.

'She trains without even properly eating lunch. She must be embarrassed that I found out.'

I wore a pleased smile.

"Okay. Well, I guess it would be a bit strange for us to exchange money. Then this time, I'll just treat you to the meal we share. And next time you need a favor, I'll definitely grant it."

"...'Us'?"

"Yeah, we're partners, in sync."

I said playfully.

A brief silence.

Suddenly, Lee Yuri shot up from her seat and turned her back.

"Gukbap...?"

"I-I understand for now! Then let's meet at lunchtime tomorrow, and I'll come find you in front of your training ground. Wait for me! It's my bedtime right now, but something urgent just came to mind? Sorry, but I have to go, bye! See you tomorrow!"

Slam—!

"..."

Lee Yuri rattled off her words like a machine gun and rushed into the dormitory.

It must have been a truly urgent matter.

In any case, I had secured a reliable leash to put around Shin Sehee's neck.

* * *

The next morning.

6:00 AM.

I woke up an hour earlier than usual.

Snores and puffs—

I gazed at the dormitory occupants still deep in sleep before carefully getting out of bed.

I grabbed the wooden sword I'd been hugging all night, quickly washed up, and headed to the training ground.

And there, a woman was already present.

Kang Dohee.

She was stretching her body, bending low with her legs spread wide on the floor.

'I should give her a preemptive shot.'

Step.

Step.

I approached her, making my presence known.

Kang Dohee lifted her head, glaring fiercely with narrowed eyes.

"What is it?"

"You're already out here training? You're incredibly diligent, aren't you?"

"So what, quota? Don't you dare show your face around me anymore. You'll seriously regret it."

"How can I not be in your sight when we train together anyway?"

Kang Dohee cracked her neck to both sides, a smirk playing on her lips.

Then she glared at me and said,

"Hey, you. You said that flower garden bitch was a poisonous weed or whatever, and then... you ended up siding with her, didn't you? I don't know what kind of trick you're pulling now, but..."

"So, if I switch to you instead of Shin Sehee, will you accept me?"

"Bullshit. I can't stand men with no backbone who jump from one side to another."

Kang Dohee said with a sneering tone.

On top of being the male quota, my constant irritation by following Shin Sehee around seemed to have made her even sharper.

"Kang Dohee."

"Don't even say my name. Don't act like you know me."

"Then, Mad Dog?"

"Do you seriously want to die?"

I gazed at her and opened my mouth calmly.

"Alright, from today onward, I'll never speak to you first. Just listen carefully to what I'm saying right now."

"..."

Kang Dohee nodded her chin.

It seemed she decided to at least hear what I had to say, given how I was speaking.

"Later, no matter what question you come to me with, I'll answer honestly, no matter what."

"What...?"

"And the fact that I want to be your friend? That will never change. Keep that in mind, too."

As if to ask what kind of nonsense that was, appearing out of nowhere like this, Kang Dohee frowned.

"Come and ask me directly anytime."

"What kind of idiotic talk is that? Me, come to you? Do you think something like that would ever happen?"

"Who knows."

I shrugged in response.

I didn't know what kind of trick Shin Sehee would pull to lure Kang Dohee.

But I knew she would use her snake-like tongue to win Kang Dohee over somehow.

In such a situation, the most effective preemptive shot was this:

Frankly opening up to each other.

Right now, Kang Dohee's aversion to me was too strong for it to resonate with her, but later, she would definitely remember my words.

Then, all I would need to do was respond honestly to Kang Dohee when she came to me.

With the exact same answer as now.

After giving Kang Dohee that preemptive shot, I moved away and began my own training.

* * *

Instructor Baek Seolhee's morning training schedule concluded.

Then Shin Sehee approached.

"Jin Yuha! Let's go to lunch together again today!"

Shin Sehee said in a cheerful voice.

"Alright, got it."

But I stopped walking at the training ground entrance.

"Hmm? Aren't you going?"

Shin Sehee, who had been walking ahead, turned back and tilted her head.

"Ah, sorry. A friend is coming."

"...A friend?"

"Yeah, a friend I came to the academy with. We originally planned to eat lunch together when we came here."

"What?"

"Our training groups were separated, so we've been eating separately until now, but I think it'd be good to eat together now. It doesn't matter if there's one more person when we're going to eat anyway, right?"

At that, Shin Sehee nodded with a hesitant expression.

"...Well, okay. But who is it?"

"Ah, here she comes."

In the distance, Lee Yuri was walking towards us.

Looking utterly reliable.

'Alright, Shin Sehee. Your designated bully has arrived. Time to say hello, isn't it?'

I smiled inwardly.

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