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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Kang Dohee
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"Unbelievable…."
A deep sigh escaped me.
To be called forward.
It was like being called onto the stage during a school trip back in high school.
Of course, I'd never experienced that myself. But I still remember the look of despair on the face of the quietest kid who was called up then.
'But now, that's me…?'
Both special admission students and male quota students had one thing in common: neither had taken the entrance exam.
However, the way they were viewed was worlds apart.
One side garnered envy and admiration.
The other, disregard and contempt.
Special admission students were those who had achieved astounding feats outside, so much so that the academy would pay to bring them in.
Meanwhile, the male quota was for guys who were chosen simply for applying, even though they weren't qualified, all to balance the gender ratio.
'What on earth possessed Jin Yu-ha to apply for the male quota? Is he out of his mind?'
It looks like I'm going to start with rock-bottom unfavorable impressions before I even begin building character affinity.
No matter how much I racked my brain, there was no answer.
What can I do when they tell me to come out? I have to go.
'…No, it's still too early to give up.'
Even in this auditorium alone, the number of male students was fewer than females.
Roughly a third of the total population, by a quick estimate.
That meant it was considerably harder for men to get into Velvet Academy.
Of course, it could also mean 'this place isn't that appealing to men,' but,
Considering how well-regarded graduates of Velvet Academy were in the world, that probably wasn't the case.
'There must be quite a few other guys who got in through the male quota. Maybe if I blend in well with them, I can get by?'
"Jin Yu-ha?"
Yi Yuri, standing next to me, spoke as if asking what I was thinking.
Ah, right.
If I didn't tell her now and she found out later, her sense of betrayal would be significant.
Even if I explained it later, it would be better to tell her first.
Still, I'd shown my skill in front of Gukbap, so even if I told her this,
'Hmm, partying with a male quota student might be a bit…'
She wouldn't say that.
I didn't raise Yi Yuri that way! I trust my Gukbap!
"Gukbap. Actually, I'm a male quota student."
"…What?"
After whispering my confession to Yi Yuri,
I left her dumbfounded expression behind.
And stepped forward.
"Excuse me, coming through."
I pushed through the crowd of people,
And waited near the stairs leading to the stage.
My plan was to follow behind others when they came.
However,
'What? Why isn't anyone coming…?'
No one came.
Thump.
Just then, a red-haired woman shoved past my shoulder and strode onto the stage.
"…Huh? Pit Bull?"
She spun her head around and glared at me sharply.
Sure enough, it was Kang Dohee.
Oh, she was a special admission student too?
As I blankly watched her retreating back, two men hesitantly approached from behind me.
And for a moment, they exchanged glances.
—Hey, you too?
—Yeah, me too.
It seemed everyone had the same idea as me.
To let someone else go first and then follow in their wake.
But, surely… Are we the only three male quota students?
With so many men here?
"Oh my, are you perhaps the gentlemen who entered through the male quota this time?"
As we were in the midst of a silent standoff, trying to figure out who would step forward first like true men, a gentle voice interjected.
I turned my head in that direction.
There stood a woman with a pure white face and long, straight hair, exuding angelic kindness.
"Nice to meet you! Hello. My name is Shin Se-hee."
"Wow, Heavenly Blossom, in person—!"
"…I'm, I'm a fan!"
A gentle demeanor and a kind voice.
This woman was also someone I knew.
Shin Se-hee.
Her known epithet was [Heavenly Blossom].
A young lady from a prestigious hunter family,
Boasting exceptionally powerful magic, she was a 4-star named character.
She always led the charge in clearing high-grade gates and showed kindness to everyone,
Possessing popularity that rivaled any celebrity.
She took the hands of the male quota students as if genuinely pleased.
"There's been a lot of talk about selecting male students this time… You must have had a hard time, haven't you?"
"Ugh, yes…"
"It's because we're not capable…"
The two male students hung their heads low, speaking shyly.
But Shin Se-hee, with a benevolent expression, gently stroked their heads.
"Please don't put yourselves down. And don't feel uncomfortable. I, for one, believe the male quota is absolutely necessary."
"Huh?"
"Why, why is that?"
"Well—just because women are naturally stronger, we shouldn't take it for granted or disregard men. Men have roles that only they can fulfill. Sometimes when I enter a gate, I often think, 'Ah, men would be so much better at this in situations like these…'"
"Ah…"
"Th-thank you…"
At Shin Se-hee's words, the two men were so moved that their eyes welled up with tears.
Meanwhile, as I watched the scene unfold,
'…Ugh, seeing it in person makes it even creepier.'
Knowing Shin Se-hee's true nature, I only felt a sense of unease.
This woman.
Despite her sweet smile and angelic face, she was the type with an incredibly, incredibly, incredibly dark interior.
Besides her epithet [Heavenly Blossom], meaning 'a thousand blossoms,' she had another.
[Black Serpent], a black snake.
In other words, she was the type to smile sweetly like a flower on the outside, then sink her venomous fangs into you from behind.
Of course, given the nature of the game 'Velvet's,' users shouldn't just abandon important characters they've acquired,
So even characters like her would get a 'reputation wash' of sorts,
But I still couldn't bring myself to like her.
I watched her with cold eyes for a moment, then quickly turned my head away.
'There's no benefit to catching the eye of a woman like that. My goal from the start was Kang Dohee.'
The ill-tempered-looking redhead who had bumped my shoulder just moments ago.
She was the very person I had intended to recruit during this training period.
She stood on the stage, arms crossed, glaring down at us with an irritated expression.
"Hey, aren't you coming up?! You're making the announcements run late!"
"Ah, oh! Yes, yes sir!"
"S-sorry!"
"Oh dear, why does Dohee speak like that? Please don't mind her too much. She's a good kid, just a bit particular. Come on, let's go up together."
Not wanting to be lumped together with these guys, I strode purposefully and went up onto the stage first.
I felt the gaze of the auditorium shift towards me.
Whispering voices.
I deliberately feigned ignorance and stood next to Kang Dohee.
She glanced at me, clicked her tongue, and sharply turned her head away.
'Well, I probably look exactly like the type she'd hate.'
Kang Dohee didn't despise a lack of ability; she despised a lack of effort.
A woman who always insisted on going solo, even in gates.
She was a 5-star dealer who had proven everything solely through her own skill.
Once we were all on the stage,
The impassive-faced supervisor began to speak.
"Everyone's gathered, I see. Let me just confirm. Special admission students, Kang Dohee, Shin Se-hee, is that correct?"
"Yes."
"Yeees."
"And these are the male quota prospective students, Jin Yu-ha, Kim Cheol-hyun, Kim So-hoon."
"Yes."
"Yes, sir!"
"Yes, sir!!"
The female supervisor nodded mechanically.
"Alright, confirmation complete. Normally, the first week involves position-specific training followed by joint training, but it's a bit different for special admission and male quota students."
"…Excuse me? How is it different?"
Shin Se-hee tilted her head, asking.
"You five will be grouped into one team from the start and undergo joint training."
"Wait, aren't our positions all different?"
Kang Dohee, a surge of irritation seemingly rising within her, asked without concealing her displeasure.
The supervisor flipped through the papers she held and replied.
"Yes, two dealers, one special, and a healer, a supporter. That's the breakdown."
"Then, it makes no sense to have position-specific basic training, does it?"
Shin Se-hee added, as if this was unexpected for her too.
"There will be no changes to the decision. This group will conduct position training concurrently with joint training."
"…Hah. Why is that? And the joint training, too, is just a pre-assigned group, regardless of our preferences?"
"It's a decision from higher-ups, so I don't know the exact reasons, but it seems they wish for the special admission students to guide the male quota students."
'This is that thing. That misconception that if you pair the top student with the bottom student, the top one will carry the bottom one and make them useful.'
But what actually happens when you pair them?
It usually turns into a total mess.
The top student thinks, 'Why do I have to waste my precious time because of this jerk?'
And the bottom student thinks, 'Why is that jerk acting so smart?'
It's a direct route to disaster!
I let out a hollow laugh.
It seemed the fantastical mindset of the higher-ups was a commonality, both here and in my previous world.
'But, actually, this is good.'
Kang Dohee is really hard to find inside the academy, you see.
She's either always out of the academy or holed up in her room.
"Then, we will assemble in Training Hall C of the adjacent building in 30 minutes."
With that, the supervisor, speaking in a stiff tone, delivered the instructions and then turned her back and left, as if her duty was done.
Clap—!
Just then, Shin Se-hee, whose face had been stern, suddenly switched to a sweet smile and clapped her hands.
"It seems we'll be training together for about three weeks from now on, so why don't we introduce ourselves to each other~?"
"Kang Dohee. Dealer. Uses Fist and Leg Arts. Done?"
Stride, stride—
Kang Dohee quickly uttered a few words and then left the spot.
The two men looked flustered.
"Uhm—Well, I know Dohee well! Don't mind her. Shall we introduce ourselves first, then?"
"Yes…! I, I'm good with that!"
"Me too!"
The two of them nodded as if enchanted by Shin Se-hee.
Her gaze turned to me.
"And you?"
"I'll be going too. I'll make sure to be at the training hall on time later."
"Wouldn't it be better if we introduced ourselves together?"
Her tone dropped slightly, and the corner of her eye twitched imperceptibly.
'Why is she bothering with these useless quota guys?'
In any case, her attention wasn't good.
I needed a plausible excuse to leave.
"Ah, I really need to use the restroom right now."
"…The restroom?"
"Yes, a big one."
"…"
Shin Se-hee then fell silent, as if she had nothing further to say.
"At least tell us your name before you go."
Seriously, why is she so fixated on me?
There are two other guys here who are practically falling head over heels for her.
"You heard the supervisor call my name earlier. It's Jin Yu-ha."
I said that and quickly headed outside.
In the exact direction Kang Dohee had gone.
'Where could she have gone?'
I turned my head from side to side, searching for Kang Dohee, but she was nowhere in sight.
Just then,
I saw white smoke wafting up from a slightly secluded corner.
'There she is.'
I started walking in that direction.
And there she was,
Leaning against a shabby wall, smoking a cigarette.
Her bright red hair was tied up tightly.
Sharp eyes and a firm, well-toned physique.
Her long, straight legs in black leggings and a white tank top fully highlighted her healthy, vibrant body.
"Hoo—."
And her full lips.
White smoke drifted from the cigarette held between them.
I watched her for a moment, then spoke.
"This isn't a smoking area, you know."
Kang Dohee, looking chagrined, glanced back and forth between the remaining cigarettes in her pack and the one she was smoking, then clicked her tongue.
Plop.
She dropped the cigarette.
"Dammit, I didn't know."
She stomped out the butt with her foot and then raised her head.
And then,
Our eyes met.
"What do you want? Quota student?"