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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Party Launch Ceremony (1)
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"Wow, that class was insane..."
The previous day's specialized class had hit me so hard that I collapsed like a dead man the moment I returned to my room.
I'd increased my Spirit by 10% and boosted my EXP gain by a whopping 30%, but I still couldn't comprehend how ridiculously difficult that class was.
However, when I woke up in the morning and checked my status window, I had no choice but to acknowledge Baek Seol-hee's class once again.
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Name ─ Jin Yuha (☆)
Gender ─ Male (20)
Stats
Strength ─ 56 (+3) Spirit ─ 64 (+10%)
Magic ─ 59 (+3) Durability ─ 58 (+1)
Speed ─ 60 (+1) Charm ─ 72
Specialization ─ Swordsmanship S
Titles ─ Flower on the Cliff [Aehwa]
─ Sword Prodigy [Geomgwi]
Skills ─ [One-Strike Cleave], [Draw Sword], [Sword Dance], [Waning Moon (Moonlight Earring equipped)]
Traits ─ [Perception], [Insight], [Intuition]
Exclusive Weapon ─ Moonlight
Items ─ Bracelet of Experience (Bound), Ring of Ability Boost (Bound), Moonlight Earring.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
'Is it for real that my stats go up every single time I take a class?'
My Strength and Magic had each increased by 3, and Durability and Speed by 1. Even with the Bracelet of Experience equipped, it was only a 30% bonus, not a triple bonus. Yet, my stats had jumped by a total of 8 points.
'Right, no wonder it was so damn hard even with bound items equipped...'
It was a good thing my Spirit had greatly increased thanks to the Ring of Ability. Otherwise, it would have been completely normal for me to just break down crying and declare I couldn't do it right there.
It was a continuous schedule that pushed me to my limits at every moment. It was as if the class had thoroughly considered how to 'make a human suffer the most in the shortest amount of time.'
"─ Drink this before you sleep tonight... And you've suffered a lot because of Seol-hee..."
If it hadn't been for the stamina potion the chairman, who had observed the class the day before, had handed me with a strangely sympathetic expression, I probably wouldn't have been able to get up by now.
'...Thankfully, I won't be late for the party launch ceremony today.'
Initially, I'd doubted if something like that was really necessary, but Shin Se-hee was adamant about it.
"─ We're now a party officially sanctioned by the academy. And to give our party members a sense of belonging, it's essential to hold formal events like a launch ceremony."
'Well, we also need to decide on a party name and give the members their equipment.'
Shin Se-hee had taken all the equipment I bought from the luxury store, saying she'd set them up in advance for the launch ceremony.
Hiring Shin Se-hee as our operator was, without a doubt, an excellent decision. Having someone so perceptive manage the party meant she automatically filled in the gaps where I was lacking or couldn't pay attention.
'Hmm, maybe I should get washed up and head out? Then I should contact Kang Do-hee...'
She was in the same dormitory as me, so I was about to contact her, thinking we could go together, when...
─♬
'Huh?'
Along with the ringing, 'Gukbap' appeared on my phone screen.
It was a call from Lee Yu-ri.
I pressed the call button and brought the phone to my ear.
"Hello?"
"─ *Ahem!* He-hello...?"
Lee Yu-ri answered the phone with a cough.
"What's up? We still have some time until our meeting."
"─ U-um, I was wondering if we could go together since we're heading that way anyway."
"Oh, really? Then Kang Do-hee too—"
"─ C-could we perhaps meet just the two of us?"
'Just the two of us?'
It seemed Lee Yu-ri had something to tell me.
"Hmm, alright, I get it. Then... how about we meet in about ten minutes?"
I nodded and replied.
"Oh, yeah. I'll come to your dorm in ten minutes."
"Okay, see you in a bit."
*Click.*
After ending the call with Lee Yu-ri, I immediately went into the bathroom, quickly washed up, and got ready.
When I came out, Lee Yu-ri was waiting for me in front of the dorm, her hands clasped behind her back.
"Gukbap."
"Oh, oh, you're out? Oh, you're not late today? Phew, excellent!"
I had only called her name, but Lee Yu-ri somehow stammered and looked flustered.
'What's up? Is something going on?'
"We were going to meet in a bit anyway... but you suddenly wanted to meet just the two of us. Is something wrong?"
I asked her directly.
"W-well, um... it's not really 'something wrong' but..."
Lee Yu-ri mumbled, as if hesitating to say something, then.
"I-it's just that I wanted to go together! I-I'd be lonely going alone!"
She forced her tension up, spouting nonsensical excuses and mumbling her words. My eyes narrowed slightly.
'Hmm, there's definitely something...'
Then I noticed that Lee Yu-ri had kept her hands clasped behind her back ever since I first saw her, and hadn't let them go.
'Is she hiding something behind her back?'
Since my stats had already gone up thanks to Baek Seol-hee's class, Lee Yu-ri would make an excellent test subject.
*Thump—!*
I quickly pushed off the ground and lunged towards Lee Yu-ri.
*Swoosh!*
"Ah!?"
Lee Yu-ri, with a flustered expression, immediately ducked her head, evading my hand.
"What are you doing all of a sudden!"
I didn't answer her words, simply moving behind her. But with that action, Lee Yu-ri understood what I was aiming for.
"Not this!"
Lee Yu-ri clenched her hands tightly and pulled them even further back.
'As expected of an evasion tank, not easy. In times like these... as expected.'
I met her gaze, then shifted my eyes to the ground beside her and spoke.
"Huh! Is that a 10,000 won bill dropped over there?"
"...Who would fall for such a provocation, you idiot."
Lee Yu-ri replied with a coldly dismissive voice.
She scoffed, but her eyes were honest. Lee Yu-ri unconsciously turned her head to the ground.
'Now!'
I didn't miss that moment, immediately reaching out and snatching what Lee Yu-ri was holding in her hand.
*Thwack!*
"Ah!"
Having her grip loosened and the item snatched away in that unguarded moment, Lee Yu-ri reached out with both hands like a hamster whose almond had been taken away.
'Hmm? A card?'
What she was holding was a single laminated piece of paper. It was so crumpled because she'd clenched it so tightly.
'Did she cut up an A4 sheet and laminate it?'
After looking at the back for a moment, I flipped the card over and read the text written on it.
「☆ Lee Yu-ri Unlimited Pass, 1 Use Per Month ☆」
'...Huh? Unlimited Pass?'
I raised my head, a little flustered.
In front of me, Lee Yu-ri stood with her head turned away. Her bright red earlobes caught my eye.
"...Um, you, you. I-I thought it was your bi-birthday..."
Lee Yu-ri stammered, her head still turned away.
"...My birthday?"
'Was Jin Yuha's birthday today?'
It couldn't be, considering his birthday wasn't displayed on his chat profile.
I looked at her, my eyes silently asking for an explanation, unable to process the situation for a moment.
"W-well, the other day... Shin Se-hee told me to pick out a gift for you..."
Lee Yu-ri bowed her head deeply and replied in a voice as small as a mosquito's buzz. Only then did I understand what had happened.
'Ah, right, I told them to get their equipment, and then to prepare a gift for that...?'
The equipment was in lieu of a contract fee, so I didn't really need a gift in return. Normally, I should probably return this as well, but...
I let out a chuckle as I looked at the 'Gukbap' Unlimited Pass in my hand.
'This is even one use per month, and there's no set expiration date. What, is she planning to be my slave for life or something?'
I put on a mischievous smile and spoke to her.
"This, it doesn't seem to have an expiration date, does it? One use per month, for life?"
"...Huh?"
Lee Yu-ri's mouth fell open as if she hadn't considered that part.
"I-I was going to... until your next birthday!?"
"But it says here there's no specific usage period?"
"!"
*Heh.*
'Still, that's 12 uses a year. Isn't that too generous, Gukbap?'
"I... I really like this."
I told her, my voice still tinged with amusement.
"W-well, if you like it, that's fine! Let's go!!!"
Lee Yu-ri, seemingly embarrassed, spun around and walked ahead.
"Hmm, I'm really wondering what I should use this for first... Can I really use it for anything?"
I asked, following behind her.
"Do whatever you want!"
Lee Yu-ri yelled back, as if she didn't want to hear it, and walked even faster.
***
Without clarifying the 'birthday' misunderstanding, Lee Yu-ri and I headed to the meeting place together.
The venue for the launch ceremony was a cafe Shin Se-hee had reserved. It was on the outskirts of the academy, near the boundary but not quite outside. It wasn't too far, but not too close either.
It seemed she had rented out an entire cafe for today's party launch ceremony.
*Creak.*
As I carefully opened the door and stepped inside, a fantastic space was revealed.
The refreshing scent of wood from ancient trees brushed my nose. Giant trees, lush plants, and beautiful flowers covered the floor, as if an entire forest had been transplanted indoors.
"Wow... What is this?"
Lee Yu-ri's mouth hung open as she looked around. I was just as surprised. We had clearly entered a building, but there was a forest inside.
"You've arrived?"
Shin Se-hee, who had been waiting inside, appeared and greeted us.
"Hehe, I really liked the unique concept of this place. So, I just went ahead and bought it."
"...What?"
I asked back, my face showing utter surprise.
"Our party needs our own hideout when we start operating, right? This place isn't too conspicuous and I liked the space. So I thought, why not make this our hideout from now on?"
"..."
"How is it, Mr. Jin Yuha? Do you like my gift?"
Shin Se-hee said, a clear smile gracing her lips.