The "Understanding Dungeon History" lecture was genuinely fun.
Since I'd only skimmed this info in the game, learning new details was surprisingly engaging.
I even complimented the professor to boost her confidence.
Sure, my words came out a bit weird, but my sincerity got through, right?
If you ignore the "fired up" part, it wasn't that bad, was it?
After a few more classes, it was lunchtime.
The cafeteria was like a hotel buffet, but…
Somehow, the convenience store food was more tempting.
Is this Kim Taeyang's trait at work?
So unfair!!
"Woo~ Got some drool-worthy convenience store snacks☆"
So, I sat on a bench with Seol Harin to eat lunch.
She seemed hesitant, unfamiliar with convenience store food.
"Woof!"
Oh, Pomi was with us too.
Eating lunch together and taking a walk, you know.
"Here, Pomi. Lunchtime! Today's your favorite K-food flavor!! Bulgogi kimbap!!!"
"Woof woof♡"
As I tried to feed Pomi the kimbap, Seol Harin freaked out.
"W-Wait! You're feeding Pomi junk food like that?!"
"Huh?! Calling the ultimate K-food combo of bulgogi and kimbap junk?! You're the daughter of a corporate giant backed by the nation, and you're dissing Korea?!! Huh?!!!"
"Tch… That's not what I meant!"
"Pomi's a constellation, not a dog—she can digest anything!! You wouldn't know, since you're so clueless about your own constellation!!"
"Woof woof woof! Grrrrr…!!"
"Tch…"
Scolded by both me and Pomi, Seol Harin had to shut up.
"Hey, I'm taking Pomi for a walk, so wait here."
"…Fine."
After devouring five rolls of kimbap in a flash, I got up from the bench.
I wanted to clear my head and think about my plans.
'My goal is to steal as many constellations as possible.'
Kang Juhyeok's constellations would be ideal, but except for one, the others will take time to NTR.
There's a more extreme method, of course.
Let Kang Juhyeok date a heroine.
His constellations would leave him on their own.
But there's no guarantee they'd come to me, and the moment the protagonist falls for romance, he's useless as an ally. So, not a great idea.
'So, I'll just steal them…!'
This is wholesome NTR.
A benevolent NTR for everyone's happiness!
Anyway.
Right now, I need to focus on the event that's about to happen.
Chloe Maiden.
That pervert's about to make her move.
It's weird she's been quiet this long.
By the end of today, 'that event' will happen.
She'll probably try to punish me or throw me in the dungeon.
But I've already prepared the perfect countermeasure.
I can't wait to see Chloe crumble helplessly.
"Huh? Time's already flown by?"
"Woof?"
"Pomi, walking with you made time zoom by! You're so damn lovable I can't stand not walking with you?!! From now on, you only walk with me!!! Ignore any other guy who asks!!!!"
"Woof woof…♡"
Pomi rubbed her face against me, full of affection.
I gave her a big pat before sending her off.
She'd head home and wait for me.
The next class was Basic Swordsmanship.
Finally, time to learn real combat skills.
Since I've only fought in the game, I was hyped for this class.
When I returned to the bench, Seol Harin's face was bright red.
"Why the hell did it take so long…?"
"Huh? I wasn't even that late, what's with the whining?!"
Seol Harin grabbed my arm and crossed her legs.
Her breathing was somehow heavy.
In a barely audible voice, she whispered,
"I… had to go to the bathroom so bad… I thought I'd die…!"
"Huh? Then just go!!"
"You said I have to report to you before going anywhere…!"
"…?"
She was planning to report even a bathroom trip?!!
A true latent masochist!!!!
"Heh heh heh. You're a better slave than I thought! Alright, I permit you. Go take a nice piss~"
"Pervert…!"
Seol Harin bolted to the bathroom.
I waited for her, and we headed to the gym together.
"Hey, feel refreshed?"
"D-Don't ask about every little thing…!"
"Huh? Checking on my slave's health is my duty as a master, no?"
"Be quiet…! Someone might hear!"
The swordsmanship professor was already waiting for us in the gym.
"Greetings. I'm Shin Hyewon, teaching 'Understanding Basic Swordsmanship.'"
Shin Hyewon.
She's the swordsmanship professor and the vice-dean of the school.
Known for her cynical demeanor and strict, intimidating reputation, she's still a popular professor.
A role model for female students.
An unexpected first crush for male students…
Because she's insanely pretty.
Being good-looking is just the best, isn't it?
"I need a student to assist me. Luckily, we have an outstanding swordsmanship student in this class. Seol Harin, come forward."
"…Yes, ma'am."
Seol Harin stepped forward as if she'd been waiting for the call.
Unlike when she was whining about needing the bathroom, she exuded a dignified aura.
"I'll now explain the basic movements. I won't repeat myself, so keep your eyes open and pay attention."
With Seol Harin's assistance, Shin Hyewon began her swordsmanship demonstration.
Her movements carried the true spirit of a top-tier swordsman.
But my attention was drawn more to Seol Harin.
Her flawless execution seemed to match the professor's perfectly.
It felt like Seol Harin might already have reached mastery in swordsmanship.
Even so,
The gazes directed at her were rather crude.
"Talk about thick-skinned~"
"I'd have quit from embarrassment ages ago."
"A slave acting all high and mighty? Heh heh heh."
The whispers were unusually loud.
For some reason, our class had a lot of sleazy punks.
They turned into meek lambs around me, but the moment they got a chance, they'd badmouth others or stir up trouble.
Even so, this kind of bullying was a bit much, wasn't it?
I mean, I might've caused it, but still.
Seol Harin's expression twisted slightly, likely hearing the criticism.
My excellent slave shouldn't be hurt by childish nonsense.
Stress is poison to muscle growth!
After class, I'd have to call those punks aside for some "education."
—Or so I thought.
Why… why am I grabbing a classmate by the collar?!!
"Hey, you punk!!! What did you just say?!!!"
"Guh! W-What's with you all of a sudden…?!"
"You dared to badmouth my girl in front of me?!! You think you're tough, huh?!!!!"
"N-No! I'm not tough at all…!"
"Pathetic loser!! Talk like that again, and I'll beat you to death!!! Got it?!!!!"
"Y-Yes! Sorry! I'm sorry!!"
It was a complete snap.
I thought I had some control over my words and actions, but this was beyond my control.
He can't forgive anyone who messes with his woman?
Well, that's very Kim Taeyang-like…
But acting without thinking is a problem, isn't it?
"Kim Taeyang. You never fail to meet expectations."
A chilling voice pierced through my skull.
My entire body froze.
Grrrr…
It was the killing intent radiating from Professor Shin Hyewon.
"I won't forgive anyone who disrupts my class."
"Huh?"
"Hm… You can withstand this level of killing intent?"
Whoosh─────!!
Shin Hyewon unleashed an even stronger wave of killing intent.
The students around her—
"Urgh!"
"Eek—!"
—scattered in panic.
But me?
I, Kim Taeyang,
Am a man who never backs down.
"Heh heh heh."
"…?"
Shin Hyewon seemed a bit taken aback.
She probably didn't expect a delinquent like me to withstand her killing intent.
"I'll give you that. You've got some guts."
"Obviously, right? I'm the second-ranked student, after all~"
"Now I'm curious how much you can handle."
"?"
Huff—!
Shin Hyewon suddenly took a deep breath,
Looking like she'd made up her mind.
The other students sensed it and backed away.
And then—
BOOM───────────!!!!
An immense surge of mana erupted from her.
This wasn't ordinary mana.
It was likely what this world calls "sword aura."
Not just intimidating, but an invisible blade capable of cutting down enemies.
The transparent blade filled the gym, slashing everything in its path.
Crack!!!
Shatter—!!
The walls were scratched, and windows shattered.
It was like a tornado tearing through, destroying everything in sight.
"Eek!"
"It's dangerous!!"
An invisible threat breeds greater fear.
The students scrambled to hide in corners.
And me?
I didn't budge.
Even if shattered glass pierced my body, I wouldn't move an inch.
Because that's who Kim Taeyang is.
"How's that guy holding up?!!"
"He's taking all that killing intent head-on?!!!"
"How strong is his mental fortitude?!"
"Urgh! I can barely breathe…!!"
'Oh…'
'Is this all…?'
'I wanna die…'
'I'm so scared I wanna die!!!!'
'Save meeeee!!!!'
"This might end up destroying the gym."
Grrrr…
Soon, Shin Hyewon's sword aura subsided.
As the surroundings calmed, I could finally relax.
I almost pissed myself…
"I'll be watching you, Kim Taeyang."
"Huh? Already the star student, huh?! Heh heh heh."
"Someone like you is called a 'problem child.' Don't give me any more reasons to call you out, and go back to your seat."
I barely stopped myself from blurting out "Hey, hey!" and returned to my spot.
Good thing I had control at a critical moment.
If things had escalated further, it would've been tough to handle.
"Start practicing the basic movements. I'll go around and correct you."
The rest of the class went surprisingly smoothly.
Shin Hyewon occasionally shot me sharp glares while checking on other students, but that was it.
"Come to the next class with the basic movements mastered. Anyone sloppy will be doing duck walks around the field. That's all."
"Thank you!"
Aside from the professor's occasional glares, it was a smooth wrap-up.
The unexpected twist came after class ended.
Most students headed to the locker room to change.
I was about to follow when a group of students surrounded me.
Dyed hair, excessive piercings, and dragon tattoos peeking out from loosely worn uniforms.
They were the rowdiest bunch in our class.
"Kim Taeyang…!"
"Huh? Who're you guys?"
Was this the start of a delinquent turf war?
Did they plan to gang up on me, the top dog, to claim the throne?!
I was on edge, but I didn't need to be.
"…How did you withstand the vice-dean's killing intent earlier?"
"Honestly, I thought I'd piss myself from fear! But you stood there like it was nothing! It was freaking awesome!!"
"That damn vice-dean! Acting all high and mighty as the disciplinary head, looking down on guys like us! We want to get strong like you and give her a piece of our mind!!"
"Yeah! Taeyang, you're our hope!!"
"…?"
What the hell are you scary kids talking about??
"Huh? What's this 'we' you're talking about?!"
"You know! It's kinda embarrassing to say, but… 'delinquents,' maybe?"
"Not delinquents—real men! Untamed wild stallions!"
"Yeah, that's what I mean! We're different from those goody-two-shoes nerds!"
As expected?!
Have I unknowingly become the king of delinquents…?!!
But I'm not a delinquent!
—Though, with my appearance, I can't really deny it…
Every single one of them was bad news.
Hardly any had constellations, and the ones they did have were probably worthless.
As I pondered what to do with these scary-looking trash punks,
It happened.
BOOM!!!!
"…?!!"
The door was blasted off its hinges and crashed to the floor.
Someone had smashed the gym door.
"What the hell is that?!"
Toot-toot!
With a bizarre horn sound, a group of shirtless male students crawled in on all fours.
The shocking part? They were literally crawling.
Whack!! Whack!!!!
"Eek!!"
Whips lashed down on the bald, half-naked students.
They were treated worse than horses pulling a cart.
Wielding the whip from atop a palanquin was…
"Ch-Chloe Maiden?!!"
"The disciplinary head…!!!"
Chloe Maiden, the disciplinary committee president.
A blonde, twin-tailed, sadistic pervert.
Crack!!!
"Move faster, you trash!!!"
"S-Sorryyyyy!!"
Crack! Crack! CRACK!!!
The whipping didn't stop.
She smirked, clearly enjoying the violence.
"Stoooooop!!!!"
The palanquin halted right in front of me.
The slaves hurriedly lowered it and bowed their heads,
Moving with exaggerated flair, as if an emperor were arriving.
Chloe stepped down gracefully and stood before me.
"I got a report!!"
"Huh? A report?"
A slave handed her a small notebook.
It was the Ark rulebook.
Her eyes gleamed with uncontrollable delight.
"Article 2, Section 1 of the school rules! All Ark students must wear the designated uniform to school! Violators face 1,000 lashes!!!"
A school that whips you 1,000 times for not wearing a uniform.
"As disciplinary president, I, Chloe Maiden, have the duty and right to reform wayward students!!"
A school where the disciplinary committee beating students is a legal "punishment."
"Kim Taeyang!!! You're under arrest as a flagrant violator!!! You'll be punished on the spot!!! You have no right to a lawyer or silence, you filthy pig!!!!"
A school where human rights don't exist.
A school where all this is normal.
That's Ark.
Crunch!
"Gaaah…!!"
Chloe's heel dug into a slave's back.
In that position, she leaned in close, pressing her whip against my lower abdomen.
"Didn't I say we'd meet again, Taeyang???"
The queen of the disciplinary committee, consumed by madness.
This was the true face of Chloe Maiden.