Chapter 155. Grade Announcement (2)
Monday.
Finally, the long weekend was over and it was time to head back to the academy.
The exams were over. The festival too.
For now, a peaceful academy life awaited.
Though, mine wouldn't be peaceful.
I had way too much to do.
"I'm heading out. Watch the house."
"Okay. Come back safe~."
Liliana's persona ended after just one day.
She thought it was sashimi, but when chicken arrived, she hugged me crying and thanking me.
I checked her status Window and it said, "This was a failure. But Mom will teach me a secret weapon!" Just what the hell did she talk to her mom about?
I told her to ask about the Demon King, but did she ask something weird instead?
No way she's dumb enough to waste a once-a-month chance.
I left the dorm and walked toward Class A.
People passing by kept sneaking glances at me. It was overwhelming.
Honestly, I'd gotten used to the stares, but over the weekend, public opinion about me had gone wild, and now everyone looked at me like I was famous.
Even if you're used to it, hundreds of eyes on you at once is still a lot.
"Wow~ Look at you, Mr. Famous Lee Hoyeon."
A familiar voice spoke up beside me.
"Yeah, it just kinda happened."
Kim Younghan walked up next to me.
"You're always at the center of some incident. People would think you're the protagonist of a comic."
"Ugh. If you're here to tease me, just go away. I'm tired."
"Nah, I came to walk with you. It's grade day today—cheer up. It's the day Victoria Academy's history changes."
"What nonsense is that."
Where does this guy get all this weird info from?
Unlike you, I don't have an information network.
"Hmmm~ Judging by your reaction, you really don't know, huh."
"I told you, I don't have connections like you."
"It's just a lack of interest. Anyway, let's head to the lecture hall."
We headed toward Class A, chatting about pointless stuff.
As soon as we arrived, we silently split into our respective groups. It was our unspoken rule.
Lucy and Lumi sitting at the back were a welcome sight.
"Hey."
"Hi hi. Hoyeon, are you feeling okay?"
"Yeah. Of course."
"Hello, Mr. Hoyeon."
"Morning."
I sat naturally between Lucy and Lumi. There was a letter on my desk.
"What's this?"
I flipped it around, but there were no markings.
"It was there when we came. Looked like it was for you, so we left it."
"Hmm."
Cadet seats were technically free, but practically fixed.
People sat with their friends, so there was no reason to move around.
It was probably meant for me.
I opened the letter to check.
[Mr. Lee Hoyeon. Please come to the rooftop alone during lunch.]
"Looks like it."
Why the rooftop, though? Is someone planning something shady?
"What does it say?"
"It's a secret."
"Tch."
"Lucy, you know it's rude to peek at others' letters."
"Just kidding. Like I'd really try to read it."
Her expression said otherwise.
Anyway, I guess I'd check out the rooftop at lunch.
Slide—
"Everyone looks refreshed after the break."
Professor Kim Jinhyuk entered through the front door.
Always expressionless with slicked-back hair, he looked especially worn out today.
Probably from cleaning up after the terrorist incident.
"Sigh. No special announcements today. Details about the terror incident will be shared later. As for rumors about specific cadets, the academy will gather info and respond accordingly. And yes, the grades you've been waiting for will be announced during lunch."
"Ugh...."
"My mom's gonna kill me."
The class groaned at the news.
I glanced at Nam Daeun in the corner.
★ Heroine Status Window
[Nam Daeun]
- [ Affection: 56 ]
- [ Lust: 19 ]
- [ Appetite: 42 ]
- [ Fatigue: 26 ]
Current Status: If I get first place, I get a day pass with Dahee. Where should we hang out?
She looked expressionless, but I was starting to read her moods.
Her lips were slightly curled upward—that was her happy face. She wore the same one when I gave her the wallet.
'I can't wait for lunch.'
I wanted to see the grades and find out who called me.
The first morning class was Modern Hunter Studies.
"Hello, everyone~. I'm Professor Kang Hyorin. Long time no see."
Dr. Kang Hyorin, who taught Modern Hunter Studies, entered the classroom dressed neatly.
It really did feel like it'd been ages since we had class.
That's how long the survival training and festival had gone on.
It had been two whole weeks.
"Oh, before we start class, an announcement. Grades will be released after this morning class. Since I'm in charge of the first years, come to my office if you have any grade-related questions. Now, let's begin!"
Since I hadn't studied lately, there were a few things I didn't know, but most of it was familiar material.
'I should find time to read a book.'
That's more efficient than listening to class.
So instead of focusing on the lecture, I began planning things out.
Scribble, scribble.
I wrote the word "terror" in my notebook.
No need to worry about terror attacks for a while. Once there's one, Pandemic tends to stay quiet for at least a month.
Even if they look like indiscriminate attacks, they actually plan things out carefully and wait for the right gaps.
That's how they've stayed alive in the shadows, even while the whole world is after them.
Next: Heroines.
I tapped my pen and stared at the word "heroines."
'Capturing the heroines isn't a bad idea...'
There are a few issues, like Moon Surin's mental state, Elise's voyeurism, and Lucy's vague path, but I can handle those.
The real issue is that the closer they get, the more likely they are to become wary of each other.
Which means I have to be even more careful in approaching them.
Just dating them doesn't mean the capture is complete.
Making them mine is a different matter entirely.
'What was that rooftop letter about?'
That mysterious letter.
None of the heroines seem like they'd do something like that.
If not a heroine, the only one left is Kim Younghan—but even he doesn't seem the type.
"Hmm...."
"What's wrong? Is it hard?"
"No, it's nothing."
I shook my head at Lucy, who was staring at me mid-lecture.
No point in thinking about something I won't know until I go.
No way an enemy would try something in school.
*
"P-Please go out with me!"
"...."
Why was I even nervous?
I'd come to the rooftop half-expecting something shady and had my Cotton Guard ready just in case. But instead, some girl I'd never seen before was holding out a heart-covered letter.
What is this, a dating sim? Are confessions supposed to look like this?
I hate this so much.
If a guy you've never talked to suddenly confessed to you, would you say yes?
How out of touch with reality do you have to be to think this is how you confess?
I sighed internally, gave an awkward expression, and began to reject her.
"...Sorry. I don't think I'm in a place to date anyone right now."
"W-Why...?"
Why do you think? I don't even know your name.
As she lifted her head in shock, I vaguely remembered her.
She used to hang around with Lucy.
But they stopped hanging out at some point. So why the sudden confession?
"You get along so well with that bitch Lucy, but why not with me?!"
"...?"
Why bring up Lucy?
Of course Lucy's more important than some extra.
Never mind that she's a heroine—she's prettier than this girl and has bigger boobs.
"Um, sorry. Lucy's just my friend and... I'm just not ready to date yet."
"You're so mean! Ugh!"
The girl threw the letter aside and ran off crying.
"Sigh, what a crazy bitch."
Has she been watching too much anime? You think I'd accept that?
Tsk tsk.
I sighed and left the rooftop.
I regretted not eating lunch with the twins because of this nonsense.
If it was going to end in 5 minutes, I should've just eaten with them.
Lucy and Lumi were probably already done eating at the cafeteria.
I wasn't that hungry, so I grabbed a triangle kimbap at the convenience store.
Thinking the grade announcements must've been posted by now, I went to the central corridor.
But they weren't up yet, so I went back to class—and found Lucy and the girl from earlier facing off.
Their voices were rising—it looked like a fight.
"You—you take that back!"
Lucy clenched her fists and glared.
"Why? Am I wrong? You trashed him behind his back, and now you're clinging to him like nothing happened. It's gross."
"What do you know? What did I ever do to you?!"
"You're disgusting and fake. You don't even realize Hoyeon's just being nice by not calling you out."
"I know, okay?! Between us, there was never even..."
From what I could hear, it was about the whole Felix thing.
"Lucy used to badmouth Hoyeon while praising Felix. Then when Felix was revealed to be a demon, she suddenly started clinging to Hoyeon."
That's what the fight boiled down to. And yeah, I knew that already.
But there was no helping it.
I treated her coldly on purpose, and Felix had her under a spell that lowered her affection toward me. The result was inevitable.
But what mattered now wasn't what actually happened.
"Wait, really? I thought Lucy was nice. Guess not."
"She hides behind Lumi, but she's a trash person too."
Maybe they had bottled-up resentment, because the girls were spreading rumors about Lucy like wildfire.
'Should I stop this?'
Maybe it would help if I stepped in.
Or... maybe I should use this.
I looked at the two of them, thinking it over.
"What did I do wrong...!"
At that moment, Lucy and I made eye contact.
The chattering cadets around us fell silent, noticing me.
Guess I have to step in now.
"Hey guys, let's all calm down."
First, I needed to de-escalate.
We couldn't have a full-on fight here.
"Hoyeon, didn't you hear? She talked shit behind your back and now she's all smiles like nothing happened!"
The girl who'd confessed earlier shouted at me.
She'd blushed asking me out, and now she was full of venom. What a switch.
And she was using honorifics earlier. Why the casual tone now?
"Sigh... Who are you to interfere? Lucy and I already made up. Don't act like you know everything. And the rest of you, stop spreading rumors."
I had to take the attention off Lucy.
Truth is, we never actually talked it out.
We just kind of let it slide.
But I couldn't say that here, so I lied.
I led Lucy back to our usual seat, and brought Lumi along too.
With me stepping in, the cadets all returned to their places.
Now that things had settled, I could finally speak.
"Are you okay?"
I asked, looking at Lucy—who looked utterly deflated—and Lumi, who was still sniffling.
"...."
"...."
Both of them had their heads down.
Lucy, I could understand, but what was up with Lumi?
"Don't listen to any of that. I don't care either."
"...Yeah."
"Okay. Got it."
Tch. What a mess.
One crazy bitch ruined the mood.
Is this what people mean by a yandere?
I checked the twins' status Windows to see how they were doing.
★ Heroine Status Window
[Lucy]
- [ Affection: 90 ]
- [ Lust: 34 ]
- [ Appetite: 36 ]
- [ Fatigue: 85 ]
Current Status: It's true, I messed up. I should've apologized properly... What if he hates me now?
★ Heroine Status Window
[Lumi]
- [ Affection: 95 ] (+0.4)
- [ Lust: 65 ]
- [ Appetite: 35 ]
- [ Fatigue: 40 ]
Current Status: Lucy... What if she's really hurt?
'Hmm...'
Lumi looked okay. I just needed to cheer Lucy up a bit.
Her fatigue was at 85—she must've been really stressed.
"...Hoyeon."
But before I could say anything, Lucy spoke first.
"Yeah."
"A-About Felix... I'm really sorry. It was all my fault... I..."
[Quest Complete!]
As Lucy stammered her apology, a sudden system message popped up before me.
'A quest? What quest was that...'
Then it hit me—there was one quest I hadn't cleared yet.
Because there was still one quest that hadn't been cleared.