Academy (2)

Watching Alice’s retreating figure, I couldn’t help but smirk. In front of me was her status window.

★ Heroine Status Window

[Alice]

[Affection: 68]

[Lust: 50]

[Appetite: 40]

[Fatigue: 55]

Current Status: I have to go home and get ready. First, I need to send Sebastian away…

Seems like the issue lies with this girl.

If men are flowers and women are bees, then Alice is the queen bee.

[It’s only natural for a capable man to attract bees. I can tolerate anything. But, remember, I am the queen bee.]

This is Alice’s words to the protagonist in the original work. As open-minded as she is in the harem, the crucial point is her insistence on being the queen bee.

It’s not about each bee having its role—worker bees work, soldier bees fight, and queen bees give birth to offspring. It’s about being the queen among the chosen bees that matter.

That’s Alice’s mindset.

Maybe I should’ve conquered Alice first.

It probably would’ve made things smoother. But I don’t regret it. Baek Ahyeong, Nam Daeun, Lucy, and Lumi—all precious in their own way. Besides, there were plenty of uncontrollable events I couldn’t dodge.

“I’ll figure out something this time too.”

Still, the path of massage is open, so I’ll explore that avenue. I trust only in my magic and fingers.

Back in the classroom, Lucy and Lumi were waiting. They were chatting, facing each other.

“Lumi, what about tteokbokki for lunch… huh? He’s here?”

“Hoyeon, where would you like to go for lunch?”

“I’m craving a hamburger, but Lumi’s all about the tteokbokki. You decide, Hoyeon.”

I slung my bag over my shoulder, basking in the sparkling eyes of both of them.

“Let’s go for a hot pot.”

“Eh?”

“I’m fine with whatever you choose, Hoyeon.”

“Come on, Lumi. You can’t just pull that off! You were so against my hamburger idea!”

This familiar atmosphere. Hanging out with the twins is just my comfort zone. We kept the chatter going and grabbed some lunch. Once classes wrapped up, Lucy and Lumi pulled a vanishing act in a hurry.

“Looks like they’re heading to the club room.”

How did I figure it out? Well, I was strolling in that direction too. On my way to the club building, eyeing a visit to the student council, I spotted Lucy and Lumi up ahead, deep in conversation.

Given their heads-up about expecting something, I slyly hid behind, steering clear to avoid any accidental collisions. After making sure they entered the building, I fired off a quick message on my smartwatch.

[Me: Soorin Noona, I’m swinging by the student council to celebrate my discharge.]

Thinking of revisiting the student council after a while, being part of the PR department. Yeah, things have been a bit slow on the activities front lately, but it’s just the way it is.

Moon Soorin created the PR department to lure me into the student council, but with both of us caught up in various things, proper activities are on hold. Anyway, after a good while, I entered the club building.

“Feels kinda awkward.”

I’m curious about what Lucy and Lumi are up to in the club room, but I’ve got a rough idea, so I let them be and headed for the elevator.

In the club building, the student council room sits pretty on the top floor, the 17th floor. The elevator hummed as it moved.

Someone like me in the student council, it’s still quite a new experience when I think about it now.

17th floor.

The elevator doors opened, unveiling the student council room, the president’s office, and a lounge area. It gave off that office-vibe you’d find in a company.

Any familiar faces around?

As I stepped out of the elevator and scanned the room, a girl working on a hologram monitor looked up, and we locked eyes.

“Huh? It’s the junior!”

“What? What are you talking about… Oh? It really is.”

Some seniors I got chummy with when I first joined the student council recognized me and came over.

“Hey, it’s been a while. Just dropping by to celebrate my discharge.”

“Heh. Our junior shot to fame real quick, making it weird to act all buddy-buddy.”

“Totally…!”

“But hey, since we’re senior council members, can’t we just be chill with each other?”

“You go first.”

“No, I don’t wanna…”

The seniors exchanged glances and scratched their heads. Well, with my newfound fame, this conversation isn’t moving at this rate.

With a chuckle, I remarked, “Haha… Where’s the president? I’d like to say hello.”

While these seniors are amiable, Moon Soorin holds greater significance. My apologies, everyone.

“The president is currently in her office. She might be busy; is that okay?”

“Hoyeon junior is here, it should be fine. Knock and go in.”

“Sure, thanks.” I nodded respectfully to the friendly seniors, who waved casually, seemingly absorbed in their work, and returned to their desks, tapping on keyboards.

Knock, knock.

“President, I’m here.”

No response.

“Surely, they said she’s inside.” I pressed my ear against the doo and focused my mana. Then, I could hear faint sounds from inside.

“That bastard… Shin Dongmin… What do we do if that jerk runs away like this?”

I cringed at the quiet swearing from inside.

“…”

Soorin Noona’s voice was too intimidating. Glancing back, the seniors were also focused on their work. They were staring at the monitors with intensity and fiercely pounding on keyboards, it created an atmosphere that was hard to disturb.

Why are they… Oh, I get it. There aren’t many people here. Looks like they all ran away.

Recently, a series of articles about Vice President Shin Dongmin, instigated by Moon Soorin, surfaced one after another. As the vice president of the student council, the academy swiftly cut ties with him to manage the image. Consequently, the vice president’s cronies disappeared from the student council.

“Well, it’s tough when about half of them suddenly disappear. No wonder the seniors seemed somewhat lifeless.”

Hmm… But no matter how busy, they can’t keep this up indefinitely.

I knocked on the door again. Still, there was no response.

“Noona, can I just come in…?” As I gently turned the doorknob, the door opened, revealing Moon Soorin’s face with a pen in hand and a furrowed brow.

Surely she won’t scold me for this…?

She was engrossed in her work, oblivious to the door opening, and I quietly approached.

A platinum blonde covered part of her forehead. Her sensual figure, trying to break free from the neat school uniform, caught my attention.

I reached right behind her. Although we were within earshot of each other’s breathing, her gaze remained fixed on the documents. At this point, she should have noticed, but perhaps stress has taken a toll.

“Shin Dongmin, that bastard… that scumbag… This son of a b…!”

“Noona, I’m here.”

“Kyaaa!”

I placed a hand on her shoulder and quickly intervened, thinking worse profanities might come if left unchecked. Moon Soorin recoiled cutely, and simultaneously, the documents on her desk began to levitate with telekinetic force.

“Um… Noona, it’s me, I’m Hoyeon.”

“Huh… Oh? H-Hoyeon, when did you arrive…?”

“Since you didn’t respond to my knock… I just came in. Sorry if I startled you.”

“No, it’s okay. Yeah, not startled at all.”

As if saying, ‘I intended to organize them like this from the start,’ the floating documents smoothly rearranged themselves and fell onto the desk. Moon Soorin flipped her hair back, meeting my gaze.

“You came after being discharged… You should’ve let me know in advance.”

“I left a message, but there was no reply.”

“Oh, sorry… I’ve been really busy.”

I could tell by the dark circles under her eyes.

“Ah, it’s fine. Noona, how have you been?”

“Good. I’ve been waiting for the day you get discharged. I even made a reservation at Pungmidang.”

“Ahaha… I can come anytime, you know.”

While chatting with Moon Soorin, I asked about her well-being during our casual conversation today, hoping to get hints about the conquest.

“Are you having any kind of trouble these days?”

“Like what?”

“Um…”

Even though the stalker has disappeared, Moon Soorin’s psyche might still be affected. She had expressed strong aversion to stalking in the past, although she also made seemingly contradictory statements. Still, it’s worth poking at.

“Lately, I’ve been under immense stress because of journalists. They gather around for anything… even when I was discharged, they were lurking. How about you, Noona?”

“Well, I’ve adapted. It comes with being a celebrity.”

“…”

Sorry, but adapting is not a good sign. If the heroine targeted in the conquest gets used to it, what should I do?

“I can… somewhat understand the feelings of those people. Like a fan’s emotions.”

“Huh?”

“Nothing, forget it.”

It’s definitely not nothing.

★ Heroine Status Window

[Moon Soorin]

[Affection: 88]

[Lust: 50]

[Appetite: 40]

[Fatigue: 73]

Current Status: Sorry, Hoyeon…

Noona, what on earth… Why is she apologizing to me? Why does her affection keep rising? If she gets conquered all alone like that, what am I supposed to do?

I stared at Moon Soorin with a frustrated feeling, but she avoided my gaze and spoke.

“Well… Anyway, I’m fine. Don’t worry about it.”

As Moon Soorin continued speaking, her profile, slightly turned away, seemed somewhat apologetic.

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