RE: Player again

336

[Chapter 104] [A Monster with Worn-out Emotions]

The middle school academy decided to exceptionally recruit additional students.

The application period was from mid-summer vacation to the beginning of the second semester.

Applicants were scheduled to take the entrance exam when the cultural festival ended.

Moreover, the academy had to prepare for the entrance exam of the 033 class entering next year.

As a result, there were opinions within the academy that the cultural festival should be canceled this year.

Given the current situation.

Even if public opinion was denouncing the political and financial circles, mainly the chaebol families, the academy hadn't completely escaped the storm of public opinion either.

If they carelessly held the cultural festival, they might face public criticism.

Nevertheless, the academy decided to go ahead with the cultural festival.

Because the academy cultural festival was practically a job market.

The positive functions of the cultural festival were largely twofold.

One was to make the public feel familiar with players.

The other was for many industry officials to identify students currently attending the academy or those graduating from the academy next year.

From the second semester of the third year of high school academy, clans that received permission from the academy also recruited players as instructors.

However, this opportunity wasn't given to all clans, and even selected clans were assigned different numbers.

Therefore, players hoped for opportunities to contact students besides that.

At the same time, those trying to join clans wanted opportunities to showcase their skills to many players.

"...Of course, we concluded to drastically reduce the scale of the cultural festival compared to last year. And we decided to only let in general public selected by lottery. Ah, your families are exceptions."

Eunha's class instructor spoke about the changed cultural festival compared to last year while looking over the students.

There are restrictions on general public entry. However, students' families are exceptions.

This year's cultural festival will only allow entry to general public selected by lottery.

Meanwhile, industry officials can enter by showing their ID at the entrance. However, officials participating in the cultural festival must send an application to the academy in advance via the internet.

'Industry officials' are not limited to the player industry, so people intending to employ players can also enter the cultural festival.

But in this case, they need to provide evidence of a business plan, and if the academy judges it unsuitable, they cannot enter.

The same goes for those working in media. The academy will control journalists who can enter the cultural festival through strict screening.

This showed how conscious the academy was of public opinion.

It was quite a tight regulation.

Still, there would be many people interested.

Even in the year Seoul was invaded by monster legions, the academy didn't skip the cultural festival.

The academy was criticized then too, but nevertheless, the cultural festival entry tickets quickly sold out.

Although the cultural festival runs for 5 days, tickets for each day that could be entered all sold out.

Probably a similar situation will occur in this life too.

"And this time we decided to run a cultural festival booth together with the next class, so I hope you'll do well without fighting each other."

Meanwhile, the instructor ended with those words and left the classroom.

He vacated the place for students to hold a meeting autonomously.

Then two students elected as presidents for the second semester went up to the platform.

"I hope we can all enjoy the cultural festival together. Let's do well."

"Everyone, if you have something you want to do at the cultural festival, raise your hand and tell us!"

Two presidents.

Since about 30% of the total 031 class members had passed away, they had no choice but to combine two classes to set up a booth at the cultural festival.

As a result, the second year of middle school academy ended up operating booths by combining two classes.

As long as I don't have to fry dumplings like last year, I'm fine with anything.

Eunha was watching the meeting with his chin propped up, sitting between Hayang and Bae Subin.

He had nothing he wanted to do at the cultural festival, and wasn't interested to begin with.

It was just crowded and noisy, and only a waste of energy.

There was one advantage to the cultural festival though─

"─Eunha, here."

"Is this the list of artifacts being submitted for the division competitions this time?"

"There seem to be some still undecided, but from the explanation I just heard, that seems to be all."

He buried his head in the printout Hayang handed over.

The two with their shoulders touching were intently looking at the contents of the printout.

Academy students could win artifacts by winning division competitions and comprehensive competitions during the cultural festival period.

However, middle school academy students couldn't participate in the comprehensive competition.

In the end, Eunha's gaze was on the artifacts handled in the division competitions.

Nothing special this year either.

While the high school academy's division competitions had a few somewhat usable artifacts, the artifacts submitted to the middle school academy's division competitions were just so-so.

There wasn't a single artifact that caught Eunha's eye.

"What are you going to do, Hayang?"

"I'm going to enter one in the navigator division. Other kids said they're entering division competitions this year too, are you not entering, Eunha?"

"I'm not interested."

Eunha soon raised his head from the printout he was looking at.

Since he had no intention of entering division competitions, he decided to just watch his friends enter division competitions.

It might be somewhat fun to watch while eating popcorn.

"Bae Subin, you're entering too, right?"

"Yeah. I'll apply for the caster division later. They said if you win in the division competition, you get additional points next semester."

"But you still won't be able to beat Hayang, right?"

"We'll see about that. Want to die?"

Eunha provoked Bae Subin.

Subin, who couldn't get first place in the school last semester either, responded with eyes full of hostility.

Moreover, since she ended up in the same class as Hayang, she couldn't even get first in the class this year.

As a result, she was showing competitiveness towards Hayang even though their divisions were different.

"Just wait and see. I'll definitely beat you in the division competition."

"Ahaha..."

Hayang just laughed awkwardly.

Even though there was no element to compete since they were in different divisions.

Hayang didn't say anything unnecessary, perhaps having gotten used to Subin burning with competitiveness throughout the semester.

And that's when─

"─Then by majority vote, we'll do a haunted house!"

"...I didn't even raise my hand?"

It was decided what to do for the cultural festival.

A haunted house.

Eunha thought maybe frying dumplings might be better after all.

☆

Meanwhile, Minji's class decided to run a cultural festival booth with Mok Minho's class.

The students who agreed to safely do a cafe decided to select students to enter the division competitions.

"Then we'll have only Minho enter the dealer division! There's no one else entering, right?"

Each class had to select at least one representative per division to enter the division competitions.

There was no limit on the number of people.

Of course, as long as it didn't interfere with operating the cultural festival booth.

"Then we'll close the dealer division and move on to the hunter division. Anyone who wants to apply for the hunter division!"

"Wait! President! Me! Me! I want to apply for dealer too!?"

"I've told you several times that strategically, Binggu oppa should enter the hunter division since Minho will enter the dealer division."

At that moment, Jin Parang raised his hand high.

Minji sitting next to him sighed, "Ehyu."

Parang had been saying he wanted to apply for the dealer division for a while.

However, the class students weren't listening to Jin Parang's words.

"Hey! I'm telling you I'm better than Mok Minho? I can beat Choi Eunhyeok too!"

"You're pathetic. You'll just embarrass yourself if you enter the dealer division, so stay still."

"You bastard! Hey! What did you just say!?"

There's one winner for each division.

The class that produced the most winners received a small prize money and reward on the last day of the cultural festival.

So each class had to carefully decide who to send to the division competitions.

"Seona's class will have Choi Eunhyeok enter as dealer. Can Binggu oppa beat Eunhyeok?"

"You don't know until you fight!"

"Hmph, I heard from Seona that you lost to Eunhyeok in a duel last time."

"T-that was because I suddenly had to poop!"

"Ha, stop saying disgusting things."

"That's just an excuse anyway, Jin Parang."

Mok Minho will enter the dealer division.

This was something the students of both classes agreed on.

Assuming Eunha, who was pervaded with laziness, wouldn't enter the division competition, Choi Eunhyeok was considered one of the top dealers in the same grade.

And Mok Minho was likely the one who could match him.

If they put in Jin Parang in this situation, they wouldn't be able to take other divisions.

So with the agreement of the class students, it was concluded that Parang would enter the hunter division where he could utilize his mobility.

"Dealer! Let me enter as dealer!"

"President! Binggu oppa said he wants to enter the hunter division!"

"Hey! When did I!?"

"Then we'll select Parang hyung for the hunter division. No one else wants to enter, right?"

Fortunately, Minji got along well with the two presidents.

Minji recommended Parang, and they put his name at the top.

The class students unanimously decided to have Jin Parang enter the hunter division.

Parang could only grumble.

It must be tough trying to appease that oppa.

Next was the caster division.

The students had already given up on the caster division, thinking either Subin or Hayang from Hayang's class would enter the caster division.

They decided to send out anyone just to meet the minimum number.

Meanwhile, Kim Minji sighed, thinking of trying to appease the sulking Jin Parang.

The only one who could appease that Binggu, no, that sulker, was probably herself here.

"Next is the supporter division! Eunwoo, how about you enter?"

"Yeah, I'd like to try entering once. I'm not sure if I can do well, but I'll try my best."

"Since Eunwoo is entering the supporter division, we can end this... Next is the ranger division..."

While she was lost in thought, the students entering the division competitions had almost been decided.

Now only the ranger division was left.

The two presidents seemed to be contemplating who to put forward for the ranger division.

Neither class had students who stood out in the ranger division.

If there was someone with decent skills, it would be─

"─Minji, do you want to try entering?"

"Me?"

The president from her class pointed to Minji.

She blinked as if she hadn't expected to be pointed out.

"Hmm..."

Minji was skeptical.

It would be unreasonable to win in the ranger division with her skills.

She now knew her own abilities better than anyone.

But maybe.

It might be possible if she's lucky.

Someone had to enter the ranger division anyway.

Minji nodded, judging that she would be better than the remaining people.

☆

In this cultural festival, Eunha somehow ended up with the role of a ghoul.

Thanks to that, he had to dye his hair white and wear an iron mask revealing his mouth, which he asked Byeokhaesu for.

Red lenses were a bonus.

Honestly, Eunha couldn't understand.

The ghoul he imagined wasn't like that at all.

"Then what is it?"

"Noona, don't you know what a ghoul is either?"

"I've only heard stories, I've never seen one directly. Have you seen one, Eunha?"

"...I haven't either."

Eunha, who trained with Yeonhwa every morning, avoided her gaze and answered.

In fact, he had seen ghouls before.

Because Sindorim manifested "Necromancy" and caused a calamity by turning the corpses of the dead into ghouls.

At that time, he directly witnessed skinned corpses transforming into emaciated wild dogs.

It was no joke back then.

Undead in the form of wild dogs with sunken eyes.

He couldn't be sure if they could be described as wild dogs.

The ghouls running on four legs at that time reacted to living beings and pounced like dogs.

Since they couldn't feel pain, normal attacks didn't work on them, so they had to exert effort to subjugate them.

Later, Lee Yujung complained her waist hurt and asked Eunha for a massage.

'Why do I have to do it...'

'Shut up. I was dragged along because of you and worked almost without pay, so I should at least get this. Right?'

'...Just this once.'

'Ah... there. That part was sore.'

'Here?'

'Yeah, there too. Ah... I think you could go a little lower.'

'......'

'...A little more... lower...'

'Just how much lower are you talking about?'

There were several happenings at that time.

Thinking about it now, Lee Yujung was unusually trying to seduce him despite her embarrassment.

Eunha deliberately ignored it and got scolded thoroughly later.

"What are you thinking about now?"

"...I wasn't thinking about anything?"

"Hmm..."

Eunha, who woke up from the past, avoided Ryu Yeonhwa's gaze this time too.

Somehow the surroundings felt chilly.

Even though summer hadn't ended yet.

The sweat that had flowed down while dueling earlier had already frozen and was falling to the floor in drops.

"Come to think of it, what is your class doing for the cultural festival this time, noona?"

"We're not doing anything this time. Third-year high school academy students can just enjoy it."

"Ah, right."

Eunha nodded.

Ryu Yeonhwa had become a third-year high school academy student this year.

She, who would graduate next year, was too busy preparing for employment to pay attention to the cultural festival.

Of course, she with good grades had already concluded to join Regulus Clan.

The same was true for Euna and Han Changjin who decided to join the same clan.

Ah, I'm envious.

Eunha envied Ryu Yeonhwa.

For not having to do annoying things.

He wanted to quickly become a player and enter society too.

Of course, although that's how he felt, there was a mountain of things he had to do until the day he graduated from high school academy.

"So I have something I want to ask you, Eunha."

"Huh? What is it?"

I sweated too much today too.

Eunha stood up thinking of taking a light shower.

That's when she got up with him and spoke to him.

It was very unexpected for Ryu Yeonhwa to ask him for a favor.

"I became the 027 class graduate representative this time..."

"Really? That's great. And?"

"The graduate representative has to show martial arts to people representing the students, right."

"Yes, there was something like that. Who did you decide to duel with, noona? It's not with my noona, is it?"

"No. My duel opponent is─"

Eventually, Eunha widened his eyes hearing her request.

"─I want to ask you, Eunha."