Chapter 37: Academy Heroine's Right Diagonal Back Seat
Chapter 37
On Thursday morning, the class president was going around the classroom, asking the kids if they had joined any club activities.
Even at Aegis Academy, there were surprisingly various club activities, since it was still a school.
Besides the cooking club I had joined, there were many peculiar club activities like the Monster Research Club and the History Study Club. It was a bit fascinating since the original work never mentioned anything about club activities.
Academy trope: Once the story progresses, it moves away from the academy setting.
In [Academy’s Holy Sword], that period came relatively early.
As the story progressed, the characters were not in situations where they could leisurely enjoy club activities.
The class president, who had come close to where I was sitting, asked Yoon Si-woo and Sylvia, who were seated in front of me, if they had joined any clubs, and both of them shook their heads.
It seemed they hadn't joined any clubs from the beginning.
Since joining a club was optional, there were quite a few students who didn’t participate.
Honestly, what’s the point of forcibly doing club activities?
"Scarlet, have you joined any clubs?"
I nodded at the class president's question.
Both the class president, and Yoon Si-woo and Sylvia, who had been glancing at me, looked surprised.
Is it that surprising that I joined a club?
"Can you tell me which club?"
"The cooking club."
"The cooking club... Got it."
The class president, upon hearing my answer, made a thoughtful expression for a moment before writing something on the paper she was holding and then nodding her head before moving on to other students.
"Scarlet, did you join the cooking club?"
"...For now."
After the class president left, Sylvia turned and asked.
When I replied, Sylvia nodded her head after a brief thought.
"Come to think of it, you mentioned the macarons you gave me were homemade. It's a shame I couldn't join the same club with you because of my family duties..."
Seeing Sylvia genuinely look regretful made my heart ache.
Even though it ached, I took out some macarons from my bag since her ears perked up.
Sylvia, receiving the macarons I offered, looked apologetic.
"Thank you... I always feel like I'm just receiving from you, and I wish I could give you something in return..."
"Th... There's no need. I give them to you because I want to..."
I quickly shook my head, firmly refusing.
Just being friends with someone like me was enough.
To think of receiving a friendship fee from Sylvia, what was that?
A reversed friendship world?
As I was lost in such thoughts, I felt Yoon Si-woo's gaze.
Feeling unpleasant with his somewhat sympathetic look, I glared at him, making him flinch and lower his gaze.
*
After class, most students had left the school, except for those enjoying club activities.
I sat blankly in the empty space next to the gymnasium, where we used to spar, watching the construction work being carried out.
Whether it was psychic power or magic, the building materials floated in the air, aligning piece by piece, gradually taking shape.
What was being constructed outside the gymnasium looked more like a wall than a door.
It didn't seem like it would be opened and closed by pushing, but rather like a shutter that would be lifted and lowered.
Either way, it looked incredibly sturdy.
Although the construction probably started yesterday, it seemed quite progressed already.
It looked like it would be finished by Monday, but I wanted to be sure, so I approached the person who seemed to be the construction supervisor and asked.
Although my question might have seemed like a push, the man, who appeared to be the supervisor, smiled and assured me that it would be finished by tomorrow at the latest.
Being a student at the academy was convenient at times like this.
Heroes were like soldiers in this world, and people generally didn't speak harshly to those who risked their lives to protect them.
In a unique country where most men were obliged to serve in the military for a few years for some reason, there were exceptions, but usually, that was the rule.
As I stood silently watching the construction after getting my answer, the supervisor, perhaps bored, started talking to himself.
He complained about the sudden change of plans from the higher-ups, which required apologizing to another party, reminding me of my former superior at work.
It seemed that middle management everywhere was stressful.
Remembering my past experience, I gave him a few words of comfort, which made him quite happy, and his eyes were full of goodwill towards me.
After chatting briefly, I left with a request to make it sturdy.
He laughed heartily at my words and confidently assured me that no ordinary monster could even scratch it.
That assurance helped ease my worries a bit.
I returned home, prepared to end the day, and lay down to sleep.
Closing my eyes, I thought of the people I had met since coming here.
In the original work, they were mere passerby citizens B with no names.
But facing them directly, they were not beings who could be described with just a few letters.
Each and every one of them was just ordinary people.
They were not expendables to be sacrificed for the progression of the story.
But all I could do for them was to install a single door.
After all, I was just another ordinary character, not the protagonist.
I had no idea what the outcome of my actions, which might change the future, would be.
The anxiety made my hands tremble.
Unable to bear the overwhelming helplessness, I clasped my hands together.
And then I murmured a small prayer in my heart.
Please, let us get through Monday safely...
Being nothing more than an ordinary human, I had no choice but to pray to a possibly non existent god.
*
On Friday, after having lunch and resting, I found a text message on my phone.
[In celebration of joining the cooking club, I'll make something delicious today, so gather at the dining hall after school!]
It was a message from Leonor.
She had mentioned cooking in the kitchen every Friday.
There was no reason to refuse, so I replied that I would be there.
It was the first time since coming here that I was eating something other than bean sprouts for dinner.
For the record, the 20-piece macaron wasn't considered a meal.
That’s not a meal...
Eating too many bean sprouts might lead to monotony, so I thought it wouldn't be bad to eat something else occasionally to catch a breath.
If bean sprouts were like a dating partner, today's dinner felt more like a fling.
If the bean sprouts in the fridge, which were replenished with the allowance from a suspicious man, found out, they would be sad and ask how I could do that to them. But as long as they didn't find out, there would be no problem!
Thinking of the dish that would fill me up in a way bean sprouts never could made my stomach flutter in anticipation.
Hurry up and end, class!
As soon as class ended, I headed to the dining hall with a pounding heart.
When I arrived, Leonor, who was smiling and waving, came into view.
I bowed my head in greeting and looked at her with full expectation.
Seeing my eager eyes, she took out a bunch of keys and shook them.
The tag on the key said "kitchen key."
Hearing the clinking of the keys, I felt like I was already drooling.
Like Pavlov’s Evande...
"Wait a moment, there's still someone else coming."
I'm baby Evande, I don't know such things. Just feed me quickly.
I grumbled in my head at the word "wait," but since there was someone else coming, I figured it must be another cooking club member and waited.
I saw someone entering the dining hall.
It was the class president.
Why are you here?
Surprised by the unexpected person, I watched the class president approach and greet Leonor.
"I’m Mei from Class 1-A, who applied to join yesterday. I look forward to working with you."
"Sure. Nice to meet you. I heard someone else from your class joined yesterday too, so I called them. You two are close, right?"
Leonor asked if I was close with the class president.
The class president was trying not to show it, but she was listening intently to my answer.
How could I say no here!
When I nodded, the class president's face lit up brightly.
Feeling pity, I watched the class president, who scratched her cheek in embarrassment.
"Okay, then let's go have the welcoming ceremony. Follow me."
Leonor said with her characteristic sly smile.
Seeing that, the class president looked a bit uneasy.
It seemed like the class president was meeting Leonor for the first time today. Given her rough appearance, it was only natural for her to feel uneasy when someone like her talked about holding a welcome ceremony.
Moreover, historically, the class president character tends to be weak against the delinquent character—that’s a universal rule.
"Oh, come to think of it, I haven’t introduced myself to you. I’m Leonor Lionelle from Class 2-B. I’m the head of the cooking club for now. Most of the other members are ghost members, so I’m glad you two joined. If you have time on Fridays, let’s cook together."
Leonor introduced herself to the class president as if she had just remembered. Hearing her name, the uneasy class president widened her eyes and scrutinized Leonor’s appearance, finally nodding as if she understood.
It seemed the class president had realized where Leonor’s distinctive appearance came from.
Like many heroines in academy stories, Leonor’s family was famous. Her father was a renowned hero, and she had inherited his distinctive looks.
Blonde hair and a tanned complexion were genetic traits. Although it was hard to understand how that could be genetic, given that there were elves and people with odd eyes in the class, I decided to let it go.
Leonor unlocked the kitchen door with a key.
The kitchen was fully equipped, resembling a hotel kitchen. I was amazed, but the real surprise was inside the refrigerator that Leonor opened with a smile.
The refrigerator was packed with all sorts of ingredients.
It was on a different level compared to our home refrigerator, which only had macaron ingredients and bean sprouts.
The most surprising thing was Leonor’s comment while looking at the refrigerator.
"Everything in here is leftover ingredients, so feel free to use them."
What... did she say?
I looked at Leonor with trembling eyes, and she smiled, saying, "Isn’t it worth 100,000 gold?"
I nodded.
100 bean sprouts... you were worth it...
"Since today is a welcoming day, I'll cook for you. Does anyone have a particular dish they want to eat?"
When Leonor asked, I looked at the class president.
And just as I turned my head, the class president and I made eye contact.
"We'll eat whatever Scarlet wants."
Darn it! I was going to say that!
Having been attacked by the class president’s “Let’s eat what you want” tactic, I seriously looked into the refrigerator.
Engaged in deep contemplation about the age-old question of "What should we eat for dinner?" which countless philosophers have pondered without finding a clear answer, I discovered something tempting me with its pale flesh.
As if in a trance, I spoke its name.
"Chicken... fried chicken, please."
It seemed like I had found the answer to the difficult question.
Meat is always delicious, and chicken is always right.
For me, it was an answer close to absolute truth.
Leonor, upon hearing my answer, took out some chicken from the refrigerator.
"Fried chicken? Sounds good. Should we make one per person?"
"Four."
"Can you eat two by yourself? It’ll be tough."
I nodded with determination, looking at Leonor, who questioned my ability to eat four chickens.
Four chicken... no, four chickens! Totally possible!
Feeling my unwavering determination, Leonor sighed and took out four chickens.
The sound of the chickens being fried in oil was music to my ears, making me involuntarily swallow my saliva.
Chicken is an expensive food.
Franchise chicken usually costs between 16,000 to 20,000 won per piece.
Some people ask why chicken is so expensive, but I loved it enough to feel it was worth the price.
Of course, even though I loved chicken, I only ate it occasionally after growing up and getting a job.
The first chicken I ever had was a 10,000 won whole chicken my father brought home on my birthday.
That day, I cried with gratitude, realizing such a delicious food existed in the world.
Leonor took out the fried chicken, drained the oil, and placed it on a plate.
Two golden-brown fried chickens were placed in front of me.
I bit into one of the legs, savoring the crispy, salty skin and the juicy, tender meat.
Dad had one, I had one, and Mom couldn't have the legs.
If there had been three legs, Mom could have shared too.
That’s why, for a brief period, I wanted to be a scientist as a child—to create a chicken with about 100 legs.
Why 100? Because I learned that when divided by 3, 1 would be left over.
That remaining one would be for Mom, who couldn't have it that day.
After devouring the legs and wings, only the breast meat, often called the driest part, was left.
Though it tasted good, it still felt lacking compared to the other parts.
I believe it’s the least tasty part of the chicken.
Anyone who prefers chicken breast over legs is probably not ordinary.
After Dad disappeared, and our financial situation worsened, there were birthdays without chicken.
After eating bland vegetables every day, I mentioned wanting chicken, and the next day, Mom bought and fried chicken from the market.
It wasn’t as good as the whole chicken Dad bought, but it was still delicious.
I wanted to give Mom the extra leg since Dad wasn’t there, but Mom said she preferred breast meat, so I ate both legs alone.
I thought Mom didn't like the legs and that’s why she didn’t eat them on the first chicken night.
The breast meat felt overwhelmingly plentiful, making me wonder if all chickens did upper body workouts to have such lean, soft legs.
Eating two chickens' worth of breast meat made my throat a bit dry.
I only realized after going on a school trip in middle school that hardly anyone liked breast meat.
During the trip, a rich kid treated the entire school to chicken, and I noticed that while the kids fought over the legs, they left the breast meat behind.
That night, by the campfire, I thought of my mother who chose to like the dry breast meat for my sake.
She had given up being ordinary for me.
When I came to, the two chickens had been reduced to bones.
I felt as if I had unknowingly mastered the magic of making chicken disappear.
The class president and Leonor looked astonished at the feat I had performed.
I disposed of the remaining bones in the large grinder in the corner of the kitchen, erasing the evidence, so no one would know that three girls devoured four chickens.
I thanked Leonor for the delicious meal and told the class president we’d meet again next Monday.
Before parting ways, I paid 3,000 gold to Leonor and received a magic herb.
Leaving the dining hall, I saw that the construction was almost finished, with the heavy wall-like door slowly lowering to block the gym entrance.
The gym, with its door closed, looked as sturdy as a fortress, keeping dangers out, making me feel a bit more at ease.
Returning home, I lay down on my bed with hands trembling less than yesterday.
I clasped my hands together and prayed earnestly again.
That door should protect us so we can continue enjoying activities like today.
With that prayer, the weekend passed.
Saturday.
Sunday.
And then, Monday morning dawned.
Its here ! Will she pull through safely ? Or will she go berserk ??? Lets find out soon
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chapter !
Oh shit, I think mc might have really only changed the disaster location to an other shelter that would have been postponed due to the work on the gymnasium.
ReplyDeleteDam, did not think of that.
DeleteDamn!
DeleteDamn the cliff again, thanks for the chapters
ReplyDelete