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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Sorry, Alice, But I'm Borrowing This
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The Velvet School Life management team are total bastards.
That was an unchanging, ancient truth.
But, just for now, I honestly wanted to praise them.
Just when I was at a loss with Jin Yuha's starting point and no gacha system, the resources the developers tossed my way were more valuable than an oasis found in the desert.
I tried to calm my pounding heart and examined the list.
The items laid out before me.
These were all things I had prepared for Alice.
I, who was a light user and rarely spent money beyond the monthly subscription, had shelled out for these expensive items, my eyes fixated on the illustration, opening my wallet wide for the first and last time.
"They're all sword-specialized items, huh."
Since the pre-released Alice was a sword-wielding character, all the resources I'd hoarded were sword-specialized.
And Jin Yuha.
This guy I possessed, even though his sword skill rank was E, was ironically a 'sword-specialized' character.
So.
This meant that even if Jin Yuha consumed the resources prepared for Alice, the overall direction wouldn't be skewed!
"...The efficiency will drop like hell, though."
A native 5-star and a native 1-star.
The starting line was the difference between a king and a commoner.
Honestly, if I were only thinking about clearing the final chapter of the game, Alice should be the one to consume all of these.
But if I don't consume them, I'll die before I even get to clear anything, won't I?
The conflict was brief.
Because this wasn't a 'mobile game' manipulated by tapping fingers from outside a screen, but 'reality,' where I had to run and roll with my own body. Among the enemies I'd have to face while attending Velvet Academy, there were those like demons and devils who treated human lives like trash.
And life was a one-coin game.
"So, I'm sorry, Alice. But I'm going to use yours."
I offered Alice a silent apology and rummaged through the box.
"First, the sword skill books, enhancement scrolls, trait recommendation letters, skill recommendation letters, and the overall stat boost coupon. I'll take all of these. And I'll use Moonlight too—. As for the equipment… Ah, these are all for women. Right, I'll leave these for you, Alice."
Even if I wanted to consume everything, there were quite a few things I couldn't use due to the difference in gender.
I originally intended these for Alice, so I'll give them to her when I meet her later.
This definitely isn't me passing off junk.
"Hmm, this Moonlight Earring… Can a man wear an earring?"
In my original world, I'd seen guys who liked to accessorize or celebrities wear them,
but I wonder how it'll be perceived in this gender-reversed world.
"Well, I have to. This is an item that grants a pretty efficient sword skill."
I took out the earring and secured it.
And, an hour later.
I was reborn.
* * *
In the bathroom mirror, there was a distinctly changed man.
He seemed a bit taller, and his originally thin physique had become firm,
now exuding a robust aura.
If he previously had a frail and dissipated vibe, now a wildness had been added, giving off the aura of a bad boy, perhaps. Since his face was handsome, even the feminine earring suited him well.
I idly drew Moonlight from my waist.
Shing—
"The luster is insane."
A sword blade with a faint blue glow, and a white hilt.
The deep blue blade felt sharp just by looking at it.
It was originally a unique-grade weapon, but with weapon enhancements plastered all over it, it had risen to legendary grade.
Clack!
I sheathed the sword back at my waist and uttered the words.
Those very words.
"Status Window."
───────────
Name ─ Jin Yuha (☆)
Gender ─ Male (20)
Stats
Strength ─ 53 Spirit ─ 53
Magic ─ 56 Endurance ─ 56
Agility ─ 59 Charm ─ 69
Specialization ─ Swordsmanship [ Rank S ]
Title ─ Flower on the Cliff [Aehwa (崖花)]
─ Sword Prodigy [Geomgwi (劍鬼)]
Skills ─ [One-Hit Severance], [Quick Draw], [Sword Dance], [Waxing Moon (Moonlight Earring equipped)]
Traits ─ [Perception], [Insight], [Intuition]
Exclusive Weapon ─ Moonlight (月光) (Legendary)
───────────
A surge of exhilaration enveloped my entire body.
"Kuhuhuhu…"
A villainous laugh escaped my lips.
Who would ever call this the status window of a 1-star character?
Specialization, which determined a character's performance.
The Swordsmanship rank, which was E, had reached S!
Only three ranks remained.
SS, SSS, and EX.
Normally, upgrading lower ranks was quick, unless you were grinding through training. Even using just one top-tier sword skill book could make you jump two ranks from E to C.
Of course, if Alice had consumed them, she would have reached EX and still had some left over,
but since Jin Yuha consumed them, it only reached S.
Still, this was something.
The difference between E-rank and S-rank was truly significant.
It was a whopping six rank difference.
Thanks to that, not only did I have a ridiculous title like 'Flower on the Cliff,' but also a plausible epithet like 'Sword Prodigy (劍鬼).'
Furthermore, the stats, which were originally single-digit baby levels, instantly transformed into a respectable range in the 50s. The results from the randomly generated skill and trait recommendation letters were ordinary, but not bad.
"If I disregard the S-rank specialization… my specs are roughly equivalent to a freshly pulled, pure 4-star character, aren't they?"
I scanned the status window and made my assessment.
I'd say this was a decent outcome, considering it went into Jin Yuha.
Even in the game, a 4-star character at the time of admission was a spec you couldn't get enough of.
With a bit of luck, I might even aim for first place in classes.
"First, I need time to adapt to this body."
Upgrading my body through resources was good.
I was worried I'd have to read each sword skill book and enhancement scroll one by one, but thankfully, that wasn't the case.
It felt like I just had to hold them in my hand, channel mana, and the item would disappear, with the knowledge automatically imprinting itself in my mind.
In that aspect, it felt like a game again.
But why is there no gacha? Damn it.
Anyway, my body had changed so drastically that I wasn't confident I could naturally perform what was now in my mind.
"There's still about a month left until the academy entrance ceremony…"
Until then, I should get used to it by hunting monsters at gates.
* * *
Gate Raids.
Something Velvet Hunter Academy students did as a part-time job to gain experience and earn money.
Unlike the game where everything was solved with a single button, in reality, there was a separate website for finding parties.
It was operated under a real-name system for a fee, so while dangers weren't nonexistent, they were rare, I heard.
So, when I went to the website,
that Jin Yuha guy did something good for the first time.
Auto-login!
This guy, looking at his account, he didn't have much money.
To think he was a full member of a hunter site.
However.
This is where the shitty part of the gender-reversed world came in.
I went into a recruitment post looking for a damage dealer position and submitted my resume, but perhaps because of my gender, they accepted it but never contacted me.
So, I tried to make something happen by calling the secure number listed in the recruitment post.
"—Oh, you're a man…? Men are a bit…"
Bitches who wouldn't let men join their party.
"—Hmm, if we carry you, what will you do for us?"
Bitches who demanded compensation for carrying them.
"—It's good, but our gate location is a bit far… Would it be okay if you slept over at our place the night before we go in? ❤"
Bitches who tried to pull a fast one, saying I had to sleep over.
Honestly, the last one was a bit tempting.
But would those girls be proper ones?
If I trusted them and went in, I'd probably get stabbed in the back or not get paid properly.
My current self had S-rank swordsmanship and decent stats.
However, since I had no experience killing monsters yet, I might not be able to perform properly when it came down to it.
So, I needed a reliable party that would tolerate even a beginner like me.
"Ha, damn it. Is there no decent party anywhere…?"
Click-clack—
As I sat in front of the computer, chin in hand, scrolling the mouse wheel for a long time,
a strangely familiar name caught my eye.
"Huh?"
[ (URGENT!) Seeking one damage dealer!!! Location: E-rank Gate, Carmela's Forest! Urgently seeking as departure is tomorrow! - Lee Yuri (20) ]
"This… Lee Yuri? 20 years old? No way… Could it be her?"
I clicked on the recruitment post and opened the resume.
A familiar face appeared.
From Velvet S.R., a 3-star character.
[ Dirt Spoon ] Lee Yuri.
The girl who was more often called by the cute nickname [ Gukbap-i ] than by the malicious title [ Dirt Spoon ] given by the developers.
"It was said that Gukbap-i had been a hunter since she was young, but I guess she was still doing it right before the entrance ceremony."
I read her profile and fell into thought.
Honestly, it would be really good to party with her, but…
'The problem is that she's a character who puts up a lot of defenses in the beginning.'
As could be seen from her title, Dirt Spoon, Lee Yuri's family was dirt poor.
Her mother failed in business, or something? Anyway, so there was quite a bit of debt at home.
Despite that, her skills were undeniable, and she managed to get into Velvet Academy with quite good grades,
but she often appeared in pitiable scenes, unable to afford meal expenses and filling her stomach with water alone.
"She's the type to put up walls because of that inferiority complex, not wanting to show any weakness."
Still, once you got close to her, there was no one better.
Her position was an evasion tank, and her HP was quite high, to the extent that she was often utilized even in PVP, where native 5-stars dominated.
She was easy to pull as a 3-star, had skill, was loyal, and if you bought her a meal once, she'd be so touched she'd return it tenfold.
Truly, a Gukbap!
"...Hmph, I'm not in a position to be picky. If it's Gukbap-i, of course, I should contact her. Where else would I find someone this good? I need to cling to her coattails."
I immediately called the secure number listed on the resume.
Ring-ring-ring—
Click—!
"—Pant! Pant! Hello?"
A woman's voice came from beyond the phone, accompanied by heavy breathing.
"—Pant! I'm sorry. I was training just now."
I chuckled softly and replied.
"Yes, hello. I'm calling regarding the party recruitment post."
"—…"
Suddenly, it went quiet on the other end of the line.
No way, was she going to hang up after hearing my voice?
"W-wait a minute! Please, at least hear me out before hanging up! I really want to join your party!"
"—…We don't accept men. I'm sorr—"
"I'm a Velvet Hunter Academy prospective student!"
I cut Lee Yuri off and urgently exclaimed.
The first card I played to grab her attention.
It was none other than Velvet Hunter Academy.
Of course, I was an enrollee through the 'male quota system,' but since Lee Yuri wouldn't know that, I could use it.
Anyway, as a fellow prospective student, she'd surely be curious.
"—…Velvet Hunter Academy?"
My intention seemed to have worked; thankfully, Lee Yuri didn't hang up.
"Yes, yes! I'm enrolling this time, and, well, I don't have any money to use at the academy right now… I urgently need money. I heard the meal expenses are already expensive…"
And then I played my second card.
Creating a sense of camaraderie!
In reality, Jin Yuha was also a poor orphan with no parents.
However, unlike Lee Yuri, this guy tended to eat well at the academy.
Why? Because this bastard constantly swapped out female students and got free meals from them. When I didn't know it was a gender-reversed world, I just thought he got meals from women because he was handsome,
but once I knew it was reversed, he was nothing short of a gigolo.
"—Ha… Still, it's difficult…"
'Academy prospective student' and 'poverty.' And the 'urgency' of having to depart tomorrow.
As these three factors combined, Lee Yuri's voice softened, unlike before.
She was probably seeing herself reflected in me.
I spoke in a desperate voice to firmly change her mind.
"...Please, I beg you. I'm really in a desperate financial situation. I'm enrolling in a month, and I truly don't have a single penny. I'll have to fill my stomach with water during lunch breaks! I won't ask for anything extra. I'll only take what I earn through my contributions!"
Then, Lee Yuri let out a groan, seemingly in thought for a moment.
"—Tsk, your skills… You're confident, right?"
"I'm someone who proudly passed the Velvet Academy entrance exam with my skills!"
exclaimed the guy who had gotten in by coasting on the male quota system.
"—Haa… Alright. If it weren't for the urgent need, this wouldn't have happened. Send your resume. Tomorrow morning at 7 AM. Sindorim Station. Can you make it?"
"Yes! Of course! See you tomorrow!"
And so, my first gate raid would be with the reliable Gukbap-i.