-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: The Worst Team (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Hey, what was your healing aptitude rating today?"
"Just what my status window said. C."
"No way, isn't that top-tier among the guys?! You could pick who you want for joint training!"
"Why would I decide that? If they send an offer, I'll think about it then. Besides, there aren't many, but there are female healers above me."
"Oh, come on, they'd want to team up with a guy too! A C-rank guy would be recruited by everyone… Wow, I'm so jealous."
"Ahem! Well, that's true! Hmm, I'm thinking of accepting if the party leader is at least B-rank."
"So humble. If it were me, I'd say I wouldn't accept anything less than A-rank."
As I approached the assigned quarters, I sensed students chattering inside.
'Nine people, I guess…? Three empty spots. Ah, so those are the three male quota spots.'
It seemed twelve cadets lived together in each set of quarters.
They were already friendly with each other, exchanging all sorts of trivial stories.
*Creak—*
I grabbed the doorknob and opened it.
Instantly, silence fell over the quarters.
Eighteen eyes turned towards me.
Then, whispered voices.
"…He's one of the quota students, right?"
"Yeah, he went up to the stage with Cheon Hwa earlier."
"Seriously? He just waltzed in and was with Cheon Hwa?"
"He's the kind of guy who makes all other men look bad."
"But where are the other two?"
At that moment, the two remaining quota cadets entered behind me.
"Excuse us…"
"Ah, hello."
The atmosphere grew even colder.
It seemed the quota system was an eyesore not just for the girls, but for the boys as well. No, it was even more blatant.
Because they, as men, had to take the test to get in, but we didn't.
The two behind me seemed to grasp the atmosphere, huddling together and taking seats while shrinking their bodies.
'Ah, so this is how it is.'
Given the atmosphere, the quota students were unwelcome nuisances everywhere.
So, quota students had to stick together.
But I had just cursed those guys out.
Because of this, the quota students avoided me, and the regular students made no secret of their hostility.
'Well, it doesn't matter.'
The reason I was reluctant to be known as a male quota student wasn't because I was afraid of the stares of these nobodies.
It was only because of the key characters.
I was worried that even those I absolutely needed in the future would look at me with such prejudiced eyes.
I took a seat in the most secluded corner, right next to the entrance.
'Guess I'll take a nap until dinner time.'
This would be the last day I could rest so comfortably.
Starting tomorrow, three weeks of hellish schedules awaited.
What I needed right now was desperate rest.
I heard the children murmuring again, but I lay down and tried to sleep.
And how much time had passed?
*Knock. Knock. Knock.*
I woke up to the sound of someone knocking on the door.
"Excuse me."
The voice was clear, probably because I was right by the entrance.
It was a woman's voice.
A commotion arose in the room as well.
"…What, a girl?"
"No way, a party contact on the first day? They shouldn't even have the authority yet…?"
"Who is it?"
The person knocking didn't open the door, but immediately stated their business.
"Is Cadet Jin Yu-ha inside, by any chance?"
"…Jin Yu-ha? Who's that?"
"I don't know, he's not among us."
Ah, at first, it was hard to recognize because of the feigned voice, but now I knew.
It was Gukbap.
Before the other kids could step forward, I got up and opened the door myself.
When I opened the door, Lee Yu-ri stood there, her face flushed crimson.
As soon as I saw her, I smiled brightly.
"What were you doing standing out there? You could've just opened the door and come in."
"…You idiot. How could I just open the door to a men's quarters?"
"Ah, so that's how it is in this world?"
"Huh?"
"Never mind. Anyway, you came to say something, right? It's almost dinner time… Shall we get something to eat together?"
"E-eat? Oh, okay."
We exited the quarters.
The Velvet Hunter Academy was an institution like the military, teaching how to fight monsters, but
the overall atmosphere and system actually felt more like a university.
'Which means, when you eat, you don't get served, but have to go to the cafeteria and buy food yourself.'
I looked at Lee Yu-ri, who was walking with a slightly awkward expression, and spoke.
"Gukbap. Don't you feel like having cup ramen today?"
"…Cup ramen?"
"Yeah, maybe it's because we're at the training camp. It feels like military life. How about cup ramen and triangle kimbap from the convenience store? Tell me if you wanted something else."
"…Cup ramen and triangle kimbap. Sounds good."
Lee Yu-ri looked momentarily flustered, then her face relaxed.
We entered the convenience store inside Velvet Academy.
I chose a small cup of Yukgaejang and Tuna Mayo. Lee Yu-ri picked a Wangttukkeong and a Beef Bulgogi triangle kimbap.
We each paid for our food, got hot water, and sat down at a makeshift table outside the convenience store.
"I like the cup ramen and kimbap combo. Just filling enough, and delicious."
"Yeah, me too."
While we waited for the ramen to cook.
─ Hey, isn't that him?
─ Wow, he came in through the quota system and he's already picked up a girl? He's having it easy at this school.
'Enough already.'
Every time they see me, it's "quota system, quota system."
It wouldn't have mattered if I were alone, but it bothered me that Lee Yu-ri was getting cursed at too.
As I said before, my biggest fear was being disliked by key characters like Lee Yu-ri.
"You're getting cursed at because of me."
I clicked my tongue and apologized to her.
"It seemed like that this afternoon too, but why is it because of you?"
"This afternoon, it was because I'm handsome. Now, it's because I'm a cadet who waltzed in effortlessly?"
I said it lightly, mixing in a bit of a joke, and Lee Yu-ri let out a hollow laugh.
"Nonsense. I think you didn't even have the luxury of taking the test, and choosing the male quota system wasn't your intention. It was probably unavoidable. Am I wrong?"
She stared intently at her ramen as she spoke.
'What? How does she know that…?'
In reality, when I possessed this body, Jin Yu-ha had already applied for the male quota system and had even been accepted.
So, I had no choice but to be dragged along.
"How do you know that…?"
Lee Yu-ri then took her eyes off the ramen and looked up.
"Well, because of me… No, no! I can tell just by your skill! Someone who didn't even take the test is slicing goblins to pieces. You'd be an idiot not to know that, wouldn't you?"
"Still, I'm sorry."
"Hey, Jin Yu-ha."
"Yeah?"
"I don't care about stuff like that. No matter what other people say. I only believe what I see with my own eyes and hear with my own ears."
Lee Yu-ri said that with eyes full of seriousness.
Words that instantly dispelled my anxiety.
Yes, this is Gukbap for you.
I was truly glad I had built a rapport with her before coming here.
Could a person really be this reliable?
"So don't apologize for such ridiculous things, just act normal."
"Alright, Gukbap."
"It's all cooked now. Let's eat."
*Slurp—*
*Slurp—*
"…Well, and honestly, I'm kind of looking forward to it too."
Lee Yu-ri said, almost as an afterthought, while eating her ramen.
"Looking forward to what?"
"Aren't you curious? What kind of expressions everyone will make when they realize that the person they all ignored and scorned was actually incredibly amazing."
*Grin—*
She gave a mischievous smile.
*Slurp!*
A strand of ramen was sucked into her lips.
Having slurped down even the broth, Lee Yu-ri's lips were upturned in satisfaction.
*Ahem. Ahem.*
She cleared her throat awkwardly, perhaps embarrassed that she had been so engrossed in her meal in front of me.
Then she whispered in a slightly lower voice.
"So, about that… Jin Yu-ha. You haven't received any party invitations yet, have you?"
"Party? Can anyone apply for that?"
"No, only students who achieve top scores in their respective position training are given party leader authority. And they pick party members one by one, in order of their scores."
Ah, I roughly understood how the system worked.
Cadets who achieved top scores in each position's training become party leaders. And party member selection is sequential.
That way, it would prevent all the highly skilled individuals from being concentrated in one party.
It was a method devised for fairness.
I smiled mischievously.
"So, you're confident you'll get a top score on the first day, and you want to accept me as a party member, is that what you're saying?"
"Ahem! W-well, what if I do?! Is that not allowed?! You're under the stigma of the quota system right now, so I can buy low! And, w-we work pretty well together, don't we?! You said you needed me to protect you!"
Lee Yu-ri said what she needed to say firmly, even while blushing.
'Look at her, remembering what I said and saying it herself. She was so disgusted back then.'
A laugh escaped me without my knowing.
Ah.
A party with Lee Yu-ri.
I really wanted to do it.
But, I don't think that'll be possible this time…
"About that, I'm sorry."
I scratched my forehead and said.
"W-what?! No way, has someone already contacted you?!"
"No, it's not that. This time, male quota cadets and special admission cadets are forced to form a party."
"…What?!"
Lee Yu-ri, who hadn't known this information, cried out in surprise.
"It can't be helped. I wanted to be in a party with you too…"
"What is that?! That's a scam!!! Two special admission cadets are already a lot, and then you too!"
"So there'll probably be a big penalty. Otherwise, it wouldn't make sense."
"But you'll avoid that penalty, since you're a quota student."
"Well, I guess so."
"That's unfair."
Lee Yu-ri narrowed her eyes and glared at me.
I chuckled.
"Then, I'll tell you a few names. Want to keep an eye out for them?"
"Oh? Do you know anyone?"
"Hmm, not incredibly amazing, but useful enough…?"
When I said that, Lee Yu-ri's eyes sparkled.
"Oh, yes! Since it's sequential selection, those kinds of people are more important than someone who's noticeably great!"
"Hmm, then…"
I told her the names of individuals who weren't major characters in Velvetstra, but showed decent performance early on.
Lee Yu-ri mumbled the names, repeating them several times, then nodded.
"Okay, I remember them all. Thanks."
With that, we exchanged meaningful information and returned to the quarters.
* * *
The next morning.
Training was originally scheduled for 8 AM, but I went outside about 30 minutes early.
'I should warm up beforehand. Kang Do-hee's training volume won't be a joke.'
Thinking that, I went outside, and Kang Do-hee was already there.
It seemed she had been training for quite a while, as beads of sweat glistened on her forehead.
I approached her.
"You're out early."
"Hmph."
Kang Do-hee glanced at me sideways, then sharply turned her head away.
*Thud!*
Then she immediately started running.
Kang Do-hee reached the far end in an instant.
After watching her red ponytail flutter in the wind for a moment,
I also began to meticulously warm up from my fingertips to my toes.
About 30 minutes into my stretching,
The instructor in charge and the other students all arrived.
"Alright, we'll begin morning basic training immediately. As I said yesterday, this training is set to the standard of special admission cadets. Quota cadets may give up at any time, so feel free to speak up if you need to."
She went straight to the point without a single greeting.
"Then, let's start with running. A light 50 laps around the training ground. Begin!"