Chapter 24 – The Academy Life Begins

"Mmm~ This pork is delicious."

With the scarecrow measurement complete, it was now lunchtime.

The Etsol Academy student cafeteria's spicy stir-fried pork was amazing!

Today, I also bought Henna's seafood pasta. Paying back the money I borrowed yesterday.

A total of 9 coins were spent, and the remaining balance was 45 coins.

"It's really okay."

"I bought it as a way to repay the favor."

"Favor? …Chest?"

If letting me touch her chest counts as a favor, then it's indeed a favor.

"…"

"If you're going to be so shy, don't mention it."

"I'm embarrassed…"

"The favor of covering for me when I was on the verge of being expelled."

The fact that I can now enjoy life at the academy is, after all, thanks to Henna.

From Henna's perspective, I would have been someone who would vanish if left alone.

Could it be due to gaslighting?

"Why did you feel compelled to defend me?"

"…"

"You don't have to say it if it's difficult."

The favor isn't something that can be repaid with just a meal; I plan to repay her a bit more.

I feel like I should be by Henna's side.

But I'm still not sure if it's a plus or a minus that I, the protagonist of an erotic game, am attached to her, who is known for her "depraved and perverted body."

I wonder if a random erotic event (an encounter) with "OnaAka" is waiting for me. That part worries me.

"Can I sit here?"

At that moment, Yuuna quietly takes a seat beside me.

"Aren't those your friends over there?"

She looks at me, puzzled.

"Today I decided to eat with Henna."

"But why are you sitting next to me?"

"…"

I can sense the questioning gaze, asking if I can just let it go.

"Then, should I not sit?"

"Please sit, Your Highness. I shall offer you a tribute to appease your anger."

I serve her some of my blood-like spicy pork.

"Hmmm. I have Mapo Tofu; is that okay?"

As promised, it's time to exchange side dishes.

"I don't mind."

"I can't eat spicy food."

"Then, should Henna give you dumplings? Oh, but without shrimp, please."

"Sure, I like dumplings."

We sample each other's dishes.

Mapo tofu isn't bad either. Next up is this.

"Have both of you prepared for the next class?"

"What's the next class?"

"You really know how to live moderately, Kim Sang-hyuk."

"Was it a bit 'D'-like?"

After turning on the Academy app and checking, I discovered that the afternoon session was dungeon exploration.

"Are we going outside or something?"

"Outside? What do you mean?"

Yuuna explained in detail, seemingly recalling that I was a student who refused to attend school. Astonishingly, there appears to be a system within the academy that creates dozens of dungeon entrances. Am I the only one attending the academy without knowing this?

"Isn't it dangerous? What's the benefit of having dungeons in the academy?"

"Academy students can safely grow and develop. There's nothing more dangerous than jumping onto the ground with your bare hands."

"Because it's a controlled environment, at least?"

"Yes. In comparison to dungeons that arise in various remote areas, the dungeons that occur within Ethol Academy have fewer anomalies. It's a primary characteristic of the Korean terrain."

'Fewer anomalies.'

In other words, the likelihood of encountering danger from within was minimal. That was the implication.

"Is the situation different in other countries?"

"It's dangerous. Transcendent beasts roam unchecked, and travel bans are updated monthly."

"A competent hunter is needed everywhere."

A hunter's status was not to be taken lightly, it seemed.

This meant that substantial rewards could be anticipated.

'Everything is starting to come together.'

The protagonist of "OnaAka" grows by collecting onaholes.

Upon considering the reason for this extraordinary ability, it must be to transform the protagonist, who was initially nothing more than D-class trash, into a respectable hunter.

The ultimate goal of this erotic game is to build a harem.

There must be numerous heroines in the hunting industry.

Yuuna, being a professional hunter, was one of the heroines in that field.

One could conclude that this was one of the standard routes in the game.

'This has to be the right answer.'

My roommate, Lee Su-hyeon—the OnaAka player who sent me here—proves helpful in moments like these.

Seeing that he had been engrossed for over 200 hours, OnaAka was more than just an erotic game. It was a simulation game incorporating the concept of nurturing a protagonist's or heroine's growth.

In that case, the "Hunter Route," which demands honest development, seemed perfect for me. I had given up on the expectation of a stable, respectable job. High risk, high return. Being a wealthy hunter was the ultimate goal. "Villain Route," "The Worst Villain Onahole Man"... As long as I could dodge such abhorrent events, everything would be fine.

"Is there anything else you're curious about?"

Despite everything, Yuuna had a personality inclined to care for others. She made an effort to help me without showing any signs of irritation. Her slightly smug face appeared endearing.

"Does less irregularity mean that Korean dungeons are easy?"

"Exactly. That's why there are so many prestigious academies in Korea. It's an environment where relatively weak dungeons are prevalent. In contrast, countries like Russia, where you start from at least an A-rank, nurturing newcomers is quite challenging."

It was only fitting that a level 1 slime would appear before a warrior who had just embarked on an adventure. After all, if they were to face level 80 dragons from the start, they would undoubtedly perish. It was a welcome fact that Korea provided a suitable environment for gradually growing stronger.

"By the way, have you been holed up somewhere all this time? You're asking me something you could easily learn from the news."

"I was watching anime at home."

I deftly evaded Yuuna's inquiry with a nonchalant tone. As soon as I mentioned anime, she seemed to lose the will to question me further.

Oh, I saw anime at home, huh? What now?

"What anime?"

That's when Henna chimed in. I hadn't expected to find an academy girl in front of me with such an interest in animation.

"Yeah, what anime? What anime?"

It seemed she would be sorely disappointed if I admitted to never having seen any anime from this world.

What should I say?

"It's an anime filled with beautiful girls, so Henna probably wouldn't know about it."

I ventured into a genre women would generally avoid.

"Could it be 'A Casual Otherworldly Romance'?"

However, it appeared I had underestimated Henna's devotion to the medium.

The name of a beautiful girl anime suddenly emerged.

Could it be a kindred spirit?

The dormant otaku within me stirred slightly.

"What? I like the title, though."

"It's an incredibly popular series. Anif's annual number one! If you haven't watched it yet, you absolutely must!"

As I suspected, this world's mainstream taste is pure love.

I had been concerned that everyone secretly enjoyed hypnotic, NTR, and tentacle-themed content with the wildly popular "OnaAka" universe shining at the top of the adult game industry.

I felt an odd sense of relief after realizing that pure love was, in fact, a universally shared value.

"Haven't seen it yet? Then, would you like to watch it together at my house? I have a collector's edition from episode 1 to 152, so let's binge-watch it together!"

"No, not so many episodes at once."

Henna, you were never a character who spoke with such a bright and lively voice!

"Then, let's try a sample first. Episode 1, no, 'that scene' starts from episode 3. At least until episode 3. Episode 3 is the best because Director Sakamoto is in charge of both the art and direction."

The heroine is so adorable that my heart is in danger."

As Henna passionately discusses the animated series, I find myself speechless and simply watch her in awe. Yuuna, unable to join the conversation, focuses on eating her mapo tofu, glancing back and forth between Henna and me.

'So that's the kind of thing she's into...'

Somehow, it made sense. At first glance, with her figure and the face partially hidden by her bangs, I wondered why she was portrayed as a nerdy heroine. But there was a plausible reason.

Being quite the formidable otaku myself, I can relate to her enthusiasm. I know how disappointed one might feel if their request to share a beloved series is declined.

"Alright. Let's watch it together."

"Really? Really? When and what time? How many minutes? I already know the ending, but I'll be quiet as if I've never seen it!"

"This weekend?"

"Yes! This weekend!"

Unexpectedly, I find myself agreeing to an anime viewing party with my female classmate (presumably K-cup-sized). If the genre is pure love, there's no reason to say no.

After making a choice, I couldn't help but wonder if this was a strategy option. A wry smile crossed my lips.

"Hehe."

If that were the case, it seemed as if marriage was already on the table. I was genuinely concerned. She seemed like the type who could easily be ensnared by some unsavory man and have her life twisted. I'd have to look out for her.

Of course, that didn't mean I intended to seize any opportunity to fondle her breasts. There would be no reason for that if we maintained a normal friendship.

Our first meeting had been a bit hasty, but as long as I remained cautious, we could maintain a good relationship without triggering any more random erotic events.

'I hope she doesn't get struck in the eye in the dungeon.'

It would be fortunate if I didn't hold back the two heroines, who were stronger than me.

In the afternoon class session, Class 2-F returned to the indoor training ground. Each student gathered the necessary items from their lockers to tackle the dungeon. Henna carried a dark brown, wall-like staff, while Yuuna was meticulously armed with a custom belt that could be worn over her school uniform and gloves to protect her hands. This was a stark contrast to her hasty preparation during the previous expedition.

Nevertheless, in my eyes, the sight of venturing into a dungeon clad in a school uniform that exposes bare thighs appears both perilous and tough.

The crucial point is that their level of preparedness surpasses mine.

I was the only one standing alone, garbed in nothing but a hoodie.

"What's this, Kim Sang-hyuk? Don't you have any personal gear?"

Yuuna inquires, taken aback.

"…"

There is a risqué magazine in the locker, featuring the idol "Lizna May," who bears a striking resemblance to the student council president.

Would that be of any help?

I felt like a pitiable student who couldn't afford to bring expensive equipment due to family circumstances.

And perhaps that woeful aura stirred Yuuna's class president instincts.

"There's still time, so follow me!"

With a snap, Yuuna took my hand and led me away.

"Uh, uh, Henna, I'll be back in a bit."

As I left the indoor training ground and followed Yuuna around the corner of the hallway, a seemingly sleep-deprived female student was guarding a door.

"Yuuna? What's going on?"

"Chen, could I take a look at your gear?"

"Kim Sang-hyuk? Isn't he a rank D? It might be a bit early for him."

"Well, he doesn't even have basic equipment. This guy."

I felt somewhat embarrassed.

A female student called Chen scrutinized me from head to toe and then sighed.

"Anyway, he probably won't know how to use any of this... but let him try going in."

"Yes!"

When the door Chen was guarding opened, I was taken aback.

An armory…?

An astonishing array of weapons and armor were displayed by category.

For each weapon category, academy students who were likely part of the "artisan" group were inspecting weapons, checking inventory, and performing various tasks.

"This is Academy B's workshop. It probably has the widest variety of available weapons."

"Can I buy weapons here?"

"Yeah. How about something like this?"

Yuuna immediately picked up a sword.

To be honest, I don't have confidence in wielding a sword as skillfully as Yuuna.

More importantly.

'It doesn't match my personality release.'

Although I haven't had much experience with it yet, personality release works well with weapons that deliver a shock.

It doesn't suit sharp weapons.

Inducing personality excretion can be achieved to some extent merely through contact, yet it is most satisfying when done alongside inflicting shock upon the enemy's body.

That was the reason I exerted myself with fervor, even when striking a mere training dummy.

In actual combat, however, it would be challenging to accomplish.

"Take a look around."

In that moment, a weapon ensnared my gaze.

The modern panacea for all ailments is a gun.

In my mind, I envision myself as the John Wick of the personality-excretion industry—a professional assassin from an action film.

'Personality excretion double tap, personality excretion Mozambique drill...'

How incredible, right?

EXTRA 5 CHAPTERS !!!!!!

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