〈 128화 〉 127화 – Animals are great. Furries are even greater.
*
Thanks to money, the most reliable means in the world, the Saintess Caressy and I became best friends in an instant.
“Hey, can’t I be a little suspicious? It could happen. I trust our Caressy!”
“Nyahahaha!! I won’t betray you!!!”
“Wow, awesome! I’ll give you a ‘I won’t betray you all day’ sticker.”
“Shut it!!!!”
[It seems both Kyaruna and Caressa will betray us.]
‘Oh, what’s wrong with a little betrayal?’
If Kyar can be forgiven, then our Caressa can be forgiven too.
With this money, I could understand if we received a betrayal settlement in advance.
At the same time, as I cautiously batted away the reaching claws with my cash, I growled.
“Ow!”
“HAAAAAAAH!!!!”
It was none other than Elcia.
No matter how much of an idiot I am, if I get hit three times in a row, that’s my fault.
I’ve already been robbed for money by Elcia twice in a row with my eyes wide open.
This time is different.
Elcia waved her hands as if she was disappointed.
“Husband! Let’s invest this money!”
“HAAAAAAAACK!! What nonsense!!!”
“That’s my catchphrase!!!! Don’t steal my concept!!!!”
Caressy stomped her feet in a fit of passionate irritation towards me.
Regardless, I cherished the money bag, petting it lovingly as I spoke.
“Money, please be careful. I have to protect you.”
“What nonsense…”
Caressa looked at me in disbelief.
Then she turned her gaze to Elcia and began speaking to her.
“Since our idiots made a mistake earlier, here’s a reward!”
As those words were spoken, the Leader Holy Knight presented another money bag.
In that moment, Elcia and I exchanged glances and immediately took action.
Thud!
Elcia and I simultaneously knelt in front of Caressy, paying our respects.
It looked just like a knight’s ceremony.
“Go-shujin-sama. My life for Zootopia.”
“Please give me orders, furry.”
However, Caressy seemed displeased as she started to get even angrier.
“Shut your damn mouths!!!!!”
“Hey, that’s a discriminatory statement against Beastmen.”
“Damn you.”
Then, Elcia, who was still kneeling, simply looked up at me and said.
“Husband! I think I speak English better!”
“Of course, it’s a country using the imperial system. I’ll reflect on that.”
“That’s not the problem!!! You idiots!!!!!”
[Please leave both Blizzard and Disney out of this!!!!]
‘Go-shujin-sama also includes the puppet show.’
[That’s not what I meant!!!!!!!]
But I couldn’t just stay quiet while being scolded by Elcia.
I murmured another appropriate line in English under my breath.
“I am not a furry, but…”
“Oh! Husband! You’ve got some skill!”
“Just please shut up!!!!!!!!!”
Before I knew it, the Leader Holy Knight had fled from the classroom.
It must have been hard to keep his composure in such chaos.
Meanwhile, Caressy, spewing rage, finally sat next to Elcia in resignation.
Watching all this unfold, Hyeji and Jeong Ahyeon each muttered a word.
“Idiots…”
“Crazy bastards.”
What a truly peaceful classroom of the same rank.
*
From the second year at the academy, things get quite relaxed.
Once the morning theory classes are over, the afternoon is a time for自由.
That doesn’t mean theory is easy, though.
In the combat department, they focus intensively on subjects unique to combat.
For example.
“What to do when there’s a bunch of monsters packed together? Hyeji, please answer.”
“Yes.”
Hyeji puffed up her nonexistent chest confidently and spoke.
“Burn them all down without leaving a single one.”
“Correct! 10 points for Gryffindor!”
“Hey, you’re going too far for someone who’s passed away.”
“Shut it, Kim Shinwoo.”
Starting from this simple content.
“In front of you, there’s a monster with excellent regeneration, and behind you, there’s a very powerful monster. In this case, what should you do? Kim Shinwoo, please answer.”
“I’ll use all the supportive teammates as meat shields, and the dealer will attack the one with regeneration.”
“Why?”
“So they can exploit the damage meter.”
“Great answer, but you’ll lose points because it’s you, Kim Shinwoo.”
“F*cking bitch.”
They even enforced operational tactics requiring strategic choices.
The theory taught various aspects in equal measure.
[What the fck do you think this fcking support department is!!!!]
‘Just a tool, right?’
[You fucking DPS-loving bastard! What will you do if they die?]
‘What would I do? I’ll just give them to the necromancers as materials.’
[……Yeah, you were originally that kind of a bastard.]
What’s the reason for bringing a lot of porters in a fantasy novel?
Just think for a moment and you’ll understand.
To provide materials for necromancers in case of emergencies.
‘This is common sense. Remember it well.’
[Stop talking crap!!!!!!]
After the relentless theory class ended, the afternoon is for free time.
As Caressy stared at her phone throughout the class, she must have had something to say because she approached me as soon as the class ended.
“Will you come to the Beastman Kingdom during this vacation?”
“I don’t like shedding fur.”
“Shut it!!! Why do you keep saying fur! Fur! Shut the hell up!!!!”
Caressy bowed her head and muttered, ‘Some fur will shed a little…’
Then she raised her head and looked at me, saying.
“Our Anima Society members want to see you.”
“I’m non-religious. Shincheonji, no thanks.”
“Stop spouting that annoying crap!!!!”
Then Caressy pointed at me and said.
“Let’s have a contest! If I win, you’ll come to the Beastman Kingdom!”
“A wish bet? I won’t stop you from that. But what’s the challenge?”
“If I win the tournament during finals, you have to follow my orders!”
A tournament.
In the academy, from the second year, midterms and finals are held as one tournament, like a test.
Since two people team up to participate, it’s crucial to either find someone who clicks well with you or catch a bus.
Unlike other tests, where there’s pure peer evaluation, choices and concentration are very important.
Mentioning the tournament, Caressy expressed her demands to me.
“If I win, you’ll come to the Beastman Kingdom!”
“If I win, you have to fulfill whatever I ask?”
“Of course! You won’t be able to beat me anyway!”
At that moment, Hyeji and Elcia suddenly rushed to me and urgently asked.
“Shinwoo, is that true? If you win the tournament, you’ll grant any wish?”
“Husband! I want to make a wish too!”
“I’ll fulfill as much as I can, but I only have one body?”
“That’s enough!”
“Me too!”
Hyeji and Elcia spoke with their eyes wide open.
“Don’t take that back, okay? If you don’t keep your promise, you’ll be in big trouble.”
“I can’t give this up!”
“Uh… Good luck?”
As soon as the two of them heard my words, they rushed out of the classroom.
Then, Piece spoke to me urgently.
[Hey! What will you do if those two team up?]
‘Ah, f*ck. I messed up for real. I should have caught one of them.’
Not knowing whether she realized my internal turmoil or not, Caressy said, ‘Just wait and see!’ as she left the classroom.
At that moment, Jeong Ahyeon, who had been observing, spoke to me.
“Hmm! Hmm! Gongja, who are you planning to team up with?”
“Want to team up with me?”
“Well… Gongja doesn’t quite match my caliber, but if you really want it, I’ll consider it.”
Jeong Ahyeon glanced at me, subtly signaling her upper hand.
No way in hell, you little brat.
“I’ll look for someone else. Good luck, Jeong Ahyeon.”
“Please don’t do that! I made a mistake! Please pair up with me!”
“Bring me the friend fee.”
“……Can I transfer it to your account?”
Jeong Ahyeon quickly became servile.
However, I had no intention of ending things there.
[How far are you planning to humiliate the heroine?]
‘Who do you think you’re trying to pull a power play on?’
Those who try to pull rank must experience the bitterness of being on the receiving end.
“One more thing.”
“…Go ahead.”
“Repeat after me. I will follow Shinwoo in every situation without acting up.”
Grr!
“If you don’t, I won’t team up with you.”
“Okay! I’ll…”
With great effort, Jeong Ahyeon tried to say the line I gave.
[At this point, I’ve seen this scene before.]
‘What is this? Why am I suddenly getting déjà vu…?’
As unease slowly rose in my heart, Jeong Ahyeon clenched her fists, shivering, and opened her mouth again.
“Mo…”
“Go on.”
“Mo, mo…”
“What’s so hard about it? We don’t have time, so hurry up.”
“MoMo Chamba!!! Just please die!!!”
“Ah, f*ck.”
Jeong Ahyeon’s clean jab lodged squarely in my solar plexus.
At least she wasn’t holding a katana, but I couldn’t shake off the momentary surprise.
Then Piece finally seemed to realize something and chuckled.
[It reminded me! You did the same when taking Jeong Ahyeon to the Forest of Elves.]
‘F*ck, say that sooner! That hurt like hell!’
“MoMo Chamba!! MoMo Chamba!!”
“Ugh!! Crazy girl, that’s a copyrighted move!”
“Then how about Morushin Punch (?????)!!!!”
“What? It must be a punch! And stop using random kanji terms!! Aah!”
After getting beaten for 10 minutes, we were finally able to form a team for the tournament.
The birth of the ultimate team.
*