[Chapter 122]
[Intentions Disguised as Goodwill]
April came.
Most clubs finished recruiting and started their activities in earnest.
The cultural exploration club was no exception.
The club that selected members through interviews arrived at Hoegi Station to conduct their first official activity.
Dongdaemun-gu is an administrative district where monsters frequently appear.
With several dungeons nearby...
Eun-ha looked around while eating chicken skewers in front of the station.
Even without deliberately sharpening his senses, he could clearly feel the mana energy dissolved in the air.
This is because dungeons are distributed in the surrounding areas, including the adjacent Cheongnyangni.
Dungeons that occurred due to
On top of that, since Dangun Clan isn't functioning properly now...
Dongdaemun-gu generally belonged to Dangun Clan's jurisdiction.
But Dangun Clan was being pushed around here and there due to clan wars.
They say they're desperately trying to protect Dongdaemun-gu, which could be called Dangun Clan's heart, somehow.
Nevertheless, with the majority of their forces focused on clan wars, they inevitably had difficulties managing their jurisdiction.
"That's precisely why the cultural exploration club selected the Hoegi Station area for its first activity. You've probably researched in advance, but complaints about mana imbalance are pouring in in Dongdaemun-gu right now. Because there aren't enough players for Dangun Clan to support."
The new club members listen attentively to the club president's words.
Eun-ha bought and ate a hot dog at a distance.
Other friends familiar with the club officers also bought and shared food from food stalls.
"So the Dongdaemun-gu Mana Management Bureau requested volunteer work from our club. They say they'll pay compensation in the name of scholarships soon, though it's a small amount."
""""Wow....""""
The students who newly joined the club soon had their eyes shining at the president's words.
They didn't seem to expect to receive scholarships from the first activity.
In contrast, Eun-ha and his friends who had received scholarships several times for similar situations leisurely tasted the food.
"...All the kids who were going to join have joined."
Then Eun-ha found the people he was keeping an eye on among the students listening to the explanation.
Yoon I-byeol, Bong Gu-rae, Ariel.
The three joined the cultural exploration club, no different from the previous life.
And On Tae-yang and Jo A-ra were mixed in the crowd too.
"I heard from A-ra recently that On Tae-yang seemed hesitant about joining here at first."
"Really? Why?"
Then, as if reading Eun-ha's gaze.
Cha Eun-woo who was chatting with the girls spoke while holding a cup of tteokbokki.
Eun-ha showed interest and asked back.
"He said he didn't want to join when he found out you were here."
Somehow it seemed that way.
Eun-ha quietly left his friends alone as they talked about Cha Eun-woo in disbelief and badmouthed On Tae-yang.
I don't know why I'm being treated like Mok Min-ho by On Tae-yang.
Eun-ha had approached On Tae-yang several times in the meantime.
Each time, On Tae-yang interpreted and misunderstood whatever he said as he pleased.
Once On Tae-yang misunderstood like that, that was the end of it.
Misunderstandings seemed to completely settle as prejudices in his mind.
In a way, his way of thinking is the same as mine.
Then there was one thing he came to know.
Just as he sometimes acted on his own without listening to others, so did On Tae-yang.
He seemed to dislike being influenced by others while extremely disliking getting on others' stages at the same time.
In other words, On Tae-yang doesn't seem like someone who will go under others.
Can't be helped.
I have no choice but to leave him alone for now.
I should focus on drawing in other people first while slowly recruiting On Tae-yang, geez...
He might be attractive as a leader, but not attractive as a party member.
This was the judgment Eun-ha recently made.
Nevertheless, because On Tae-yang's power was desperately needed, he decided to devise a plan to draw him in as a party member somehow.
Right then, the club president finished his explanation.
"Then I'll now announce the groups that will start exploring mana imbalance! Each group will have a different activity range!"
The club president called students, and the called students came forward.
They say the groups were randomly organized to mix grades appropriately.
At least outwardly.
"No Eun-ha. You should thank me. I organized it while watching the seniors' reactions."
"The club officers thanked me for helping with the explanation meeting last time. Let's call it even with that."
"Well..."
Mok Min-ho, who is a 1st year officer in the club, got involved in group assignments at Eun-ha's request.
He asked to make him and On Tae-yang in the same group, and sociable friends in the same group as Jo A-ra.
The reason Mok Min-ho grumbled as if showing off was because he granted Eun-ha's request.
Sure enough, Eun-ha was in the same group as On Tae-yang.
"...What? What did you say?"
"Tae-yang, you're in the same group as Eun-ha, I-byeol, Cheon-seo, and Eun-woo. Among the 31st grade, there's..."
Eun-ha raised the corners of his mouth hearing the names of people in the same group.
In contrast, On Tae-yang couldn't hide his displeased look.
"Hello?"
"..."
Eun-ha who had been far away eating food stall food with friends greeted On Tae-yang cheerfully.
On Tae-yang made a face like he'd bitten a bug and turned his head away.
We really have a long way to go.
But if only the elixir is completed, even he won't be able to dislike me...
He changed his expression and sighed.
With On Tae-yang showing such an antagonistic attitude towards him, it seemed it would take quite some time to become close with him.
Especially for Eun-ha alone.
"But No Eun-ha."
"What?"
"You didn't ask to put Eun-woo in too because of that On Tae-yang bastard, right? If you try to make Eun-woo suffer unnecessarily..."
"That's right?"
"...I see. That's why I put Ha-yang in our group. I won't let it slide if you make Eun-woo suffer."
"Why is Ha-yang's name coming up here? And Ha-yang isn't someone who'll be pushed around by you."
As a result of investigating On Tae-yang so far.
On Tae-yang was keeping his distance from most 031st grade students.
He was distancing himself from people occupying high positions in the invisible hierarchy.
But there were two people he exceptionally kept close to, one was Choi Ga-in, and the other was Cha Eun-woo.
So Eun-ha asked Min-ho to make him in the same group as Cha Eun-woo.
I don't understand Choi Ga-in well, but is it because Eun-woo has a good reputation?
Eun-woo says she doesn't know well either...
I don't know which part of Eun-woo On Tae-yang likes.
One fact that can be known is that he is showing a favorable response to Cha Eun-woo in this life too.
Therefore, he decided to borrow Eun-woo's help in becoming close with On Tae-yang.
"Eun-woo."
"Yes. Eun-ha. What?"
Eun-ha called Eun-woo.
She who had been listening to the conversation between Mok Min-ho and Eun-ha while squeezed between them blinked her eyes.
"Could you deal with On Tae-yang just for today? I'm afraid I'll only create antipathy if I approach and teach how to control mana imbalance."
"Okay, that's fine. It's not a difficult task. The seniors will probably help too. But he shows such dislike towards you, do you still want to become close?"
"Compared to how Su-bin or Pa-rang hyung sometimes act towards me, this level is just cute."
"That and this are different."
"Don't you remember it was like this when becoming close with Kaede too?"
"Hmm... That's true, but..."
Cha Eun-woo has a skeptical reaction.
Though granting the request wasn't difficult, she didn't seem to feel the reason why On Tae-yang really needed to be drawn in.
Eun-ha thought that was unexpected.
Because in the previous life, Cha Eun-woo became On Tae-yang's second wife.
"I'm asking you."
"Okay. Since it's your request, Eun-ha, I'll do it."
Eun-ha sent Eun-woo to On Tae-yang who was standing in place grumbling without going to the group.
Eun-woo soon made a bright face as if she had never done that and mixed words with On Tae-yang.
Eun-ha saw the shadows gradually lifting from On Tae-yang's face which had been full of displeasure.
And Mok Min-ho saw it too.
"I don't like him going around ruining the atmosphere... I really dislike him more and more I see him."
"Don't try to be too hostile just because of that. He might become a party member."
"What I don't like is what I don't like."
Mok Min-ho frowns.
Eun-ha patted his shoulder as he looked at On Tae-yang with displeasure.
But Mok Min-ho's complaints didn't stop there.
"I don't think the thought of wanting to correct what's wrong is bad. But I can't understand the mindset of unconditionally saying what I think is wrong is wrong."
"He's still young."
"Then aren't we young too?"
"...Right, you're correct."
Even if something is wrong, sometimes there's a reason for its existence.
It can't be unconditionally denied.
Moreover, what On Tae-yang has done in school so far is just raising his voice loudly without actually taking any action.
He didn't present any solutions.
He just steps forward.
"That guy is an agitator. If he enters the party, won't he ruin the party atmosphere in an instant?"
"..."
"Given his personality of disliking being under others, he might even aim for party leader through politicking."
"He's not the type to do politicking."
"How can you guarantee that when you're not even close with him?"
Eun-ha didn't answer Mok Min-ho's question.
He couldn't tell the story of On Tae-yang being accepted as a hero by the people in his previous life.
He was called
"Anyway, I warned you. Don't just focus on him, pay attention to Eun-woo too."
"Okay. You pay attention to the kids too."
"Alright. But are you planning to entrust that guy to Eun-woo, and Yoon I-byeol to Cheon-seo?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"No. Cheon-seo seems excessively kind."
"...Why is he like that."
Mok Min-ho pointed with his chin towards On Tae-yang's group.
While Eun-woo and On Tae-yang were conversing, Lee Cheon-seo was chattering to Yoon I-byeol.
But Lee Cheon-seo speaks to Yoon I-byeol almost pressing against her.
To the extent that her uncomfortable appearance could be seen even from afar.
"He too... Honestly, I don't understand well what you're thinking trying to bring him into the party."
"That's right. I don't understand him well either. He has some talent but doesn't train well..."
Eun-ha clicked his tongue.
The Lee Cheon-seo he remembered still possessed decent skills, but Lee Cheon-seo in this life was busy playing around.
He doesn't even show signs of effort.
He didn't like it at all.
"I really need to grab him sometime and train him to death."
Even though he's now hoping his friends will train on their own.
Lee Cheon-seo seems like he can't be left like this.
Eun-ha resolved to make a hell training plan for Lee Cheon-seo.
Meanwhile─.
"─I'll take charge of I-byeol, so you focus on resolving mana imbalance."
"What? Eun-ha, I was just about to teach I-byeol but if you do this..."
Eun-ha separated the two.
Lee Cheon-seo seemed flustered, but Eun-ha didn't care.
Who are you trying to teach when you're still unskilled at mana control?
Since he couldn't say it out loud in front of people.
Instead of telling Cheon-seo, Eun-ha decided to speak to Yoon I-byeol.
"Yoon I-byeol."
"...Huh?"
"I'll teach you. Learn from me."
He decided to leave the choice to Yoon I-byeol.
Of course, there was only one choice that didn't even mention Lee Cheon-seo.
That of receiving teachings from No Eun-ha.
"Then if it's okay with you Eun-ha, would you teach me?"
And her answer was set in this situation.
Eun-ha raised the corners of his mouth and looked at Lee Cheon-seo again.
See?
You just practice more.
He speaks with just facial expressions.
Lee Cheon-seo made a displeased face and clicked his tongue.
☆
He's 17 years old.
An age legally recognized as a quasi-adult.
But even at this age, Lee Cheon-seo thought he hadn't left any meaningful indicators in life.
Damn, I thought I'd get a girlfriend when I entered the academy...!
The academy, a place for commoners to rise in status.
Even when he transferred as a 3rd year middle academy student, he thought he could make an opposite sex friend.
After studying and training his bones out, isn't it okay to have that much of a romance?
Moreover, Lee Cheon-seo somehow even entered No Eun-ha's group that all academy students envied.
How can you do this to me!
At least one! Shouldn't there be at least one I can catch!
With so many pretty girls, why don't I have even one!
No Eun-ha's group is certainly good.
They have good backgrounds, solid families, good personalities, and many are outstanding in looks too.
So Cheon-seo messed with this girl and that girl in No Eun-ha's group with compensation psychology.
But the girls didn't even glance at him.
I even lowered my standards.
But should I be rejected even by Bae Su-bin with her bad personality?
There was a time when he felt frustrated.
So he compromised with his heart and approached kids with similar status to him by lowering his standards.
Then some female students showed interest.
He turned his gaze to targeting female students in No Eun-ha's group again after gaining confidence from them.
And after being rejected again, he aimed for other female students by lowering his standards again.
As a result, a year passed without any gains.
I should make a girlfriend from No Eun-ha's group after all.
What's the reason I worked my ass off to come this far?
The reason he was hung up on female students in No Eun-ha's group was simply because of their faces.
For some unknown reason, the female students belonging to No Eun-ha's group seemed to have halos.
There are no unattractive ones.
With
Moreover, even the women showing signs of newly joining No Eun-ha's group were quite pretty.
From my intuition...
That Yoon I-byeol would be really pretty if she just changed her fashion style.
Above all... she seems quiet so I don't think she'll reject me!
So Lee Cheon-seo made a grand plan again as a year passed.
Just catch one woman from No Eun-ha's group.
If he stuck close to No Eun-ha like this, there might be at least one woman who develops into a good relationship.
Isn't it natural with so many female students?
It's not like that No Eun-ha kid will build a harem or anything...
If I just follow Eun-ha, eventually I'll catch some girl.
Until then, I'll watch for opportunities to date someone while pleasing Eun-ha.
Lee Cheon-seo's ten-year plan.
Thus, he decided to enter No Eun-ha's party after graduating from the academy. To try poking at girls from behind while being a mood maker.
Meanwhile, he was subtly wary of On Tae-yang who might newly enter No Eun-ha's group.
The quiet cat climbs on the stove first...
Now that I look, Cha Eun-woo is more flirtatious than she looks.
Is she trying to look really good to him because On Tae-yang is handsome?
Lee Cheon-seo glared at Eun-woo.
Along with On Tae-yang who was chatting pleasantly with her.
A man with looks that seem like he'd win girls' hearts just by standing still.
I don't like it.
But he decided to think positively.
Surely he won't build a harem too!?
And even if he builds a harem, how many could he build? There are so many girls here!
If On Tae-yang deals with Cha Eun-woo.
Lee Cheon-seo resolved to target Yoon I-byeol who happened to be in the same group.
The personnel distribution was just right, and Eun-ha didn't show much interest in this kind of thing.
Until now, Cheon-seo thought he'd get a girlfriend today.
Since Yoon I-byeol wasn't showing signs of dislike either.
Forgetting that she was just being polite.
"You seem to have a problem with me? Why, do you have any complaints?"
"..."
But Eun-ha put on the brakes.
Cheon-seo ended up having the opportunity to spend time alone with Yoon I-byeol snatched away before his eyes.
Lee Cheon-seo who felt upset for a moment tried to oppose Eun-ha but─.
"─Wh-what complaints would I have? If I listen to you, rice cakes would come out even while sleeping!"
Lee Cheon-seo grinned like a sycophant.
He knew there was nothing good about opposing Eun-ha.
Did he not know about Eun-ha's actions in the academy?
Moreover, he had to prostrate himself to gain opportunities that would continue in the future.
Eun-ha.
But isn't this too much?
Lee Cheon-seo swallowed tears inwardly.
Envying No Eun-ha who women wouldn't leave alone even if he just stood still.
"Ah, by the way, I don't go easy when teaching?"
"It-it's okay...! I'm good at following. It'll be fine. Probably..."
"Really? You might cry?"
"I-I'll try to endure."
"I'm joking."
Look at that.
The faint liking appearing in Yoon I-byeol's gaze.
How on earth do you make women flock to you like that?
Do I need to be reborn...
Lee Cheon-seo envied him sincerely.