RE: Player again

373

[Chapter 110]

[The New Rising Class of Middle School Academy]

Society's view towards players varied greatly depending on the person.

Because there was no way they could understand the 'world' players lived in.

Some treated them as heroes who killed monsters to protect the country.

Others simply accepted their monster-killing battles as capitalist logic and treated them as lowly butchers.

Nevertheless, players were indispensable to live in this world, so the demand for them and treatment from the country remained.

"...From today I've become a student at this academy."

""""...Wow.... The building is really amazing.""""

Players could certainly become butchers as people said, and could also become heroes.

In a way, it was the profession where one could experience social mobility the fastest.

So countless people applied to the academy every year.

Since there was only one academy located in Jongno-gu in this country, they couldn't accept all applicants.

Fortunately there's no age limit for transferring into 3rd year high school academy, but 1st year middle and high school academy students must be students entering middle and high school that year.

Unlike high school academy, middle school academy set the quota at 300 students, so the competition rate was very high.

Unless one had extraordinary talent, admission was implicitly determined mostly by parents' wealth.

"They said to go to the classroom first, right? Does anyone know where the lecture building is?"

"The grounds are so big... Shouldn't we just ask other people?"

"...They won't pick a fight, right?"

"Why would we pick a fight! We're also 031 class and middle school academy students!"

Lee Cheonsu, 16 years old.

Originally he couldn't attend here after failing the middle school academy entrance exam 3 years ago.

He who decided to become a player wanting to live a life receiving treatment from others was inevitably aiming for 1st year high school academy.

But luck happened.

It would have been unfortunate for someone else.

Last year, nearly half of the 031 class students died in Hoengseong-gun, and many dropped out of the academy due to aftereffects, creating many vacancies.

So the middle school academy tried to exceptionally select additional 031 class students, and Lee Cheonsu quickly applied to 031-2 class not wanting to miss this opportunity.

And he was able to be accepted to middle school academy after various twists and turns.

"...No. It'll be better if we look ourselves. What if they're kids from rich families if we ask unnecessarily?"

"I looked into it online, but it said most middle school academy students have high pride. Maybe they won't even deal with things like us."

Soon, the 11th year of Seonnyeo.

The new school year started and newly transferred 031 class students were looking around the academy grounds.

Lee Cheonsu whose dorm room was nearby was also looking around unfamiliarly just the same.

My life changes from now on.

My parents said to be in an environment with good friends to make good friends.

Success, advancement, social mobility.

Lee Cheonsu who was purely looking at his own advancement, not the cause of protecting people, already had his heart pounding.

Even if they were all players, generally there were ranks divided by academic background among players.

At least within the academy, academic background was a status that never crumbled.

Although he had nothing, by transferring to middle school academy he gained the qualification to look down on students entering high school academy in the distant future.

Now who should I get close to while attending here from now on...

While friends were looking for the classroom.

Lee Cheonsu checked the faces of those passing through the hallway to see if they were transfer students or existing students.

Before transferring to middle school academy, he gathered information about the 031 class here and there.

According to the information he remembered, 4 direct descendants of business groups ranked within the top 10 domestically were attending the 031 class.

Galaxy Group's direct descendant Choi Gain.

Yeongwon Group's direct descendant Yoo Dojun.

Alice Group's direct descendant Jung Hayang.

KK Group's direct descendant Kim Geunwoong.

There were largely four influential factions at the academy.

Students not in factions seemed to cower before them.

But unlike other classes, the 031 class had another force that sometimes encompassed each faction beyond the concept of factions.

"...What? Why are those kids suddenly making way?"

"Wow.... I didn't expect to see them on the first day. Hey, we should make way too. Quickly stick to the wall!"

"Why? For what?"

"Don't you know them? That boy there was even on K-You-Play!"

Lee Cheonsu turned his head at the voices of fellow transfer students.

There were students walking as if it was natural on the path other students made way for by sticking to the walls at the end of the hallway.

Those are...

The emotion students sent towards them was admiration.

Even students who just transferred to the 031 class were focused on looking at them chatting happily among themselves without caring about others' gazes.

Lee Cheonsu knew very well who they were.

The power encompassing four factions, and the actual power of middle school academy.

And the promising rookies of the 031 class as well as its main characters.

─Noh Eunha's corps.

Although it was a bit pretentious term.

According to information Lee Cheonsu gathered, people called them Noh Eunha's corps.

Because promising rookies acknowledged in each faction gathered centered on Noh Eunha receiving sponsorship from Sirius Group.

I didn't know just hearing their names...

They don't look scary unlike what I heard.

And...

Lee Cheonsu narrowed his eyes.

The people he wanted to get close to.

He closely examined their faces to memorize their names.

...The girls are really pretty.

The boys were quite handsome too.

But the girls had beauty that couldn't take eyes off.

To the extent of being dazed just looking.

...Huh?

Then Lee Cheonsu's gaze met Noh Eunha passing in front of him.

...W-What.

He got goosebumps for a moment.

Lee Cheonsu felt his whole body's senses cooling like being doused with cold water.

He could barely breathe only when Noh Eunha's gaze left.

I-It must be my imagination?

Oh geez, you i***t.

Getting scared just from brief eye contact...

Noh Eunha's corps dispersed to different classrooms.

Lee Cheonsu recalled their faces and thought Noh Eunha alone would be particularly difficult to get close to.

It wouldn't do to find Noh Eunha difficult when trying to enter Noh Eunha's corps.

I'll get close to nearby kids first then catch Noh Eunha's eye.

Just entering Noh Eunha's corps would practically guarantee the path to success.

Lee Cheonsu firmly resolved.

☆

The 11th year of Seonnyeo.

The new 031 class entered.

Unlike his previous life, over half were transfer students.

Eunha wanted to check if students who originally entered high school academy came in as 031-2 class.

But there were many clinging gazes.

"...It's annoying."

From leaving the dorm.

Students' gazes didn't decrease but kept increasing.

He was in a bad mood from the morning due to such blatant gazes.

"Are you the only one annoyed? We're no less annoyed too?"

"I'm too bothered."

Soon gazes following friends combined too.

Minji pouted and grumbled as soon as she saw him, and Seona was also showing signs of being displeased.

Other friends' reactions were similar.

"This is all because of you. If only you hadn't tied with Ryu Yeonhwa unni then..."

"Right, then we wouldn't be getting this much attention, right?"

Minji and Seona protested.

Eunha couldn't deny.

After tying with Ryu Yeonhwa in the graduation match a month ago.

Eunha ended up receiving more marriage proposals and industry attention than before.

Some students who only kept distance so far even requested to be included in his party.

How much must friends have suffered too.

"Lost all the money bet too... These days can't even train properly because of people's gazes! What is this, boss!"

"Who told you to bet on me losing?"

Eunhyeok seemed stressed too.

But Eunha didn't listen.

Actually, if friends had bet even a little on his victory, the match might not have happened that way.

In the end, none of the friends who participated in the bet won, and Eunha took all the money.

"...Hah. I didn't want to see your face today."

"Eunha, hello? But... it is a bit like that today."

Meanwhile, Eunha met Minho and Eunwoo leading students receiving Galaxy Group's sponsorship at the lecture building.

Minho immediately frowned.

Eunwoo awkwardly waved her hand too.

All gazes of students in the hallway focused on him and his friends.

"Let's not meet for a while."

"Hey, Yoo Dojun is coming there too."

"Hah..."

Mok Minho's face soured.

On the other hand, Yoo Dojun started approaching them showing his pure white teeth from the opposite end of the hallway.

Now even students inside classrooms were poking their heads out the door forming a huge crowd.

Is it because it's the start of the school year?

We're getting too much attention...

Getting attention from students happened every semester start.

Even so, this year the density of gazes seemed particularly high.

He just wanted to use Stygian Eye to turn their gazes elsewhere.

But this worked out well.

However, Eunha decided to think differently.

The fact that they were looking at him meant conversely he could meet their eyes if he just turned his head.

Eunha swept his gaze over students gathered in place.

There are many unfamiliar faces but...

There are quite a few familiar faces too.

Of course, Eunha couldn't check all their faces.

Unfortunately, no students caught his eye.

There were promising rookies, but they were students with relatively low recruitment priority.

He who roughly grasped the situation was about to pass through the path students made way for.

At that moment─

─Found him.

Eunha discovered the face of one promising rookie he had been eagerly waiting for among faces of students making way by sticking their backs tightly to the wall.

He couldn't not find him.

The male student was also looking at him with particularly fervent eyes.

To think I'd see Lee Cheonsu here.

He would have originally entered as 31 class, but it seems he entered 031 class because the future changed.

Lee Cheonsu who became On Taeyang's helper and shield protecting him as in his previous regression.

Seeing his large face and wide forehead, Eunha vaguely recalled information about him.

The first information that came to mind was that Lee Cheonsu was the only party member not included in On Taeyang's harem in his party.

Some people ridiculed Lee Cheonsu for not taking any of the many pretty girls.

However, most people praised Lee Cheonsu's admirable heart for thinking of On Taeyang as a friend, while saying he was born to protect others to the bone as a guardian.

In fact, he had a record of saving On Taeyang from crises several times even at the risk of death.

He was the guardian with the faintest presence among On Taeyang's party members, but his skills should be reliable.

Eunha turned his head to Lee Cheonsu and gently raised the corners of his mouth.

For guardian talent, not only talent but also credibility of whether they could be trusted and entrusted had to be checked.

There was a lot of supply for guardians, but they couldn't be carelessly employed. The life and death of a party depended on guardians taking the lead in protecting the party at the vanguard if a mistake was made.

As a result, players generally tried to employ people they were acquainted with as guardians when organizing parties.

Nevertheless, if guardians made mistakes like fleeing prioritizing their own lives over the party, or causing the party to be annihilated.

Their reputation dropped greatly and in some cases they could never set foot in this industry again.

There was no mercy for guardians' mistakes. Those who worked for high compensation had to take responsibility accordingly like the saying high risk high return.

Guardians especially can't be recruited carelessly.

They have to be carefully selected.

Therefore, caution was needed when recruiting guardians.

After contemplation, the guardian Eunha chose was Lee Cheonsu, On Taeyang's close friend and party member who didn't lose a single party member.

That alone could evaluate Lee Cheonsu's credibility and talent.

Actually I'd like to recruit Uncle Gijun as a party member but...

Of course, Eunha didn't particularly like the guardian Lee Cheonsu.

Even acknowledging his talent, the style of just blocking monsters didn't suit Eunha's temperament.

Like Seon Gijun who took charge of the Mist Flower party's guardian until the day he died in his previous regression.

He preferred guardians who drew aggro from enemies rather than guardians focused on protecting.

It can't be helped.

Uncle Gijun is older too...

I hope he lives comfortably now.

It was unavoidable.

Moreover, the party he would create in the future was to protect Ha Baekryeon, not recklessly rushing to death.

Perhaps a guardian who protects someone might be a better choice than a guardian who draws aggro.

Eunha inwardly regretted but resolved to recruit Lee Cheonsu to the party instead of Seon Gijun.

Even so, he couldn't erase the regret of not knowing anyone who knew about guardians who draw aggro.

But fortunately... it seems he's favorable towards me.

But the feeling was strange somehow.

Although Bae Subin, Mok Minho, and Hoshimiya Kaede that Eunha met at the academy so far didn't welcome him.

Judging by Lee Cheonsu's eyes, it seemed he would have favorable feelings towards him.

It won't be difficult to get close.

Eunha nodded inwardly.

Come to think of it, Lee Cheonsu seemed to be On Taeyang's friend who got along well and played the role of mood maker in the party in his previous life.

Although he didn't directly converse with him, he must be a cheerful and sociable person.

"If he tries to climb up then..."

He muttered quietly while entering his assigned classroom.

He was willing to allow treatment like Lee Cheonsu gave On Taeyang.

But if he tried to look down on him─

"─I'll have to teach him a lesson."

Eunha had a similar mindset to Mok Minho in some aspects.

He also extremely disliked having his authority infringed upon.

Friendship and authority had to be separated.

If Lee Cheonsu couldn't properly distinguish that like he did with On Taeyang, he planned to break his spirit then.

Meanwhile─

Come to think of it, Lee Cheonsu hasn't become a guardian yet, right? That means he could learn a different style in the future...

Should I just make him an aggro-drawing guardian?

─It wouldn't be bad to adjust Lee Cheonsu to his taste.