Chapter 491

“Has the payment gone through? Yes, yes, one child. Yes, thank you!”

Jacqueline Carroll finished her call and turned her gaze toward me.

“The horseback riding experience for today, Disneyland for tomorrow, and the aquarium the day after are all booked!”

“I feel like I’m being such a hassle.”

“No, no! I’m just so happy that I can go with Name. Oh, by the way, we need to book the hotel too, right?”

“Oh, I’ve already made the reservation for the hotel room. Thank you.”

“Great, let’s have fun for three days and two nights!”

This was my first trip with Seviron Academy.

The homeroom teacher gathered the kids, who were distracted by a Shikojabibong puppy, and loaded them onto the bus.

The seat assigned to me by the kids was right in the middle of the back row of the bus.

I heard that only the most powerful person in the class could sit there, but isn’t that the spot where you’d be the first to go if an accident happened?

Holding such doubts in my heart, I admired the lush greenery stretching out outside the window.

“But what if I fall off the horse? Isn’t that dangerous? What if I get trampled and die?”

“We’re not riding horses, but ponies. Shetland ponies.”

“Wow, that’s so cute!”

“Name, this is your first time riding, right?”

“No, I’ve done it many times.”

At that, all the kids turned around and looked at me.

“When did you? In America?”

“I guess I rode to school in America.”

“Ahahahaha! Then where do you park it?”

“We could tie it up in the parking lot.”

“Aren’t you talking about virtual reality?”

“Uh, yeah. I’ve tried riding in virtual reality.”

“Hey, that doesn’t count!”

“But I’m really good at it.”

The friends still didn’t seem to believe me.

Before I knew it, the bus arrived at a wide-open prairie.

Giant wind turbines slowly turned beneath clouds resembling wool.

We first stopped by the pony museum to learn about the history of ponies and admire various pony statues.

“Name, there’s a pony that looks like you here.”

“Wow, it really does!”

“Hey…”

[The world’s smallest horse: ‘Miniature Horse’]

[Miniature horses are one of the smallest horse breeds, standing at only 80 cm when fully grown.]

It was already a small horse, and it looked even smaller next to the largest breed, the Shire.

In my past life, I drove a horse that was 3 meters tall and weighed 3 tons, so this is just too much.

After going back downstairs, we learned the precautions from the instructor and each chose a pony to ride.

“Eek!”

Yuna shyly offered a carrot, and the pony snatched it from her hand.

I gently surrounded the pony’s head with a soft aura and patted it slowly.

After all, isn’t there a higher chance that friends who resonate well with magical energy would follow my commands?

The pony that flinched away from my touch, and the pony that closed its eyes and stretched its head out for more petting.

Among the latter, I chose the one that was chewing on the wooden fence, crying pathetically as I left.

“You’ve got some spirit, don’t you?”

You have to seize the opportunities when they come.

I put on a helmet and grabbed the reins of a 4-year-old pony named Navy.

The instructor demonstrated how to ride first.

I was easily able to step into the stirrups and climb on Navy.

I spread my aura generously and roughly patted the mane on its neck.

Yuna beside me looked amazed.

“Wow, you really can ride!”

“Yeah, want me to show you my handstand?”

“Can you do that…? Wait, Name, that’s so dangerous!”

I wrapped the reins around my wrist and lifted my feet off the stirrups.

I fixed my hands on the saddle and tightened my arms and core muscles.

Then, very slowly, my body began to rotate like a clock hand.

The hour hand pointing at 6 gradually became horizontal and pointed at 3.

This is the peak of body exercises, the planche position.

Then at 2, 1, finally, my toes pointed directly at noon, achieving the perfect handstand.

“Ta-da.”

“Wha- what are you doing?! Get down quickly, it’s dangerous!”

I thought of showing them I could do it with one hand, when the instructor hurried over and stopped me.

I used my arms to propel myself, doing a half turn in the air, and landed back on Navy.

My friends clapped in awe.

“Wow, I’m shocked. Name, don’t ever do that again from now on, alright?”

“Yes, I’m sorry…”

I scratched my head and apologized to the instructor.

From then on, we strictly observed the rules and headed toward the walking course.

The sound of hoofbeats rang out rhythmically.

With the refreshing spring breeze, I inhaled the fragrant scent of flowers.

“Yuna, I feel like I could do a somersault here, should I try it?”

“No! The instructor said not to.”

“She’s right in front, so she won’t see. I could do it in two seconds.”

“Ahhh, Instructor!”

“Alright, alright, I won’t do it.”

“Wow, don’t go there!”

In the midst of all this, Han Seori’s pony slightly veered off to the side.

It began munching on the weeds that had crept onto the walking path.

Seori gently held the reins, poking it every time she spurred it on, worried it might get hurt.

Would that really make the ponies listen to commands properly?

“Whiiir! Sunny!”

The pony returned to the line upon hearing the trainer’s whistle from the front.

After the walk, the ponies dropped off the kids first and headed for the stable.

I noticed at the zoo too, that surprisingly, animals are aware of their quitting time.

“Yeah, you want to go home and rest, right?”

“Hehe!”

But Navy didn’t seem entirely indifferent and looked back at me once.

“Aah, I can’t walk because my legs are so weak.”

“Isn’t your back hurting? Ugh…”

“Me too, my shoulders hurt so much.”

The friends groaned, shaking their legs in unison.

Ji Hye seemed to have completely cramped up, collapsing onto the stone ground.

I kneeled beside her, pressing and rubbing her thighs and calves.

“Horse riding is unexpectedly tiring, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. It was fine while riding, but now that I’m off, I feel completely exhausted.”

“If you don’t know the proper riding techniques, you expend a lot of energy.”

“Really?”

“It’s about twice as tiring as swimming. Besides, it uses muscles you don’t typically use. Now, let’s get up and dust off our butts.”

The academy’s wealth ended up harming the kids.

It’s like going to a buffet and forcing yourself to eat more even when you’re already full.

Since we purposely booked the most expensive one-hour walking course, the kids completely wore themselves out and became wrecks.

When we returned to the bus, no one played the karaoke machine; everyone quietly watched VTubers on their phones or drifted off into sleep.

“Uuugh…”

The bus was quiet.

Jacqueline Carroll’s voice was particularly bright as she spoke with the other class’s teacher.

‘Could it have been intentional…?’

I suddenly thought it might be a national decision for restoring peace in the class.

“Yawn… Name, can I lean my head on your shoulder?”

“Sure.”

“Thank you… yawn…”

* * *

They say Malamutes can run 250 km and then another 250 km the next day.

“Let’s gooo!”

“Wow, finally the hotel!”

Twenty Malamutes rushed off the bus.

Each of us grabbed our luggage and entered the hotel lobby.

The homeroom teacher distributed the card keys to the students, while I went to the desk to check in.

My friends waited in front of the elevator instead of going up first.

“Nona Name! What room are you in?”

“Room 2113. How about you?”

“21st floor? Wow, that’s amazing, Name is on the 21st floor!”

“Whoa, that’s a suite!”

“We’re on the 8th floor. The boys are on the 7th.”

“Everyone launch an assault on Name’s room!”

“No, I warned you not to come!”

“Did you just say something weird?”

“Haha!”

After dropping off my friends on the 7th and 8th floors, I headed up to the 21st floor alone.

Ding-ding—

As I inserted the card key, the window curtains automatically opened, revealing the view of Hallasan.

The spacious living room and the wooden finish on the floor exuded luxury.

I checked out the separate bedroom, which had three double beds.

Just as I was unpacking my suitcase, the doorbell rang.

“Hey, did you actually climb all the way up here?”

“Ugh, is this the Demon Lord’s castle…? This overwhelming energy! Everyone, don’t let your guard down!”

“Even so, the Demon Lord is all alone! Charge forward!”

If I left them outside for too long, they would cause a ruckus.

Reluctantly, I let my friends in and locked the door.

“Wow, this place is huge!”

Yuna exclaimed with sparkling eyes.

“Did you plan to use this room all by yourself? Nona Name, that’s shameless!”

“Of course I should use it alone. I paid a fair price for this room. You guys who got to come on a free school trip don’t have a say.”

“Wooosh. Take your suitcase!”

Han Seori excitedly dragged her suitcase to the living room.

“Why did you bring a suitcase? Are you really planning to sleep here?”

“No! I mentioned this earlier, didn’t I? It’s filled with instant noodles and snacks.”

“…?”

“Ta-da! Ta-da!”

Seori hummed as she opened the zipper of her suitcase wide.

Just as she said, dozens of snack bags poured out.

It’s so much hassle to bring snacks instead of just buying them from the convenience store in front of the hotel.

“I can’t understand, I can’t…”

“Wow, Han Seori, you’re so creative.”

“Hahaha, this is the weapon to defeat the Demon Lord… quickly, everyone grab one.”

Together, we pushed the heavy carpet in the center of the living room to the corner.

Snack crumbs could fall off it.

Then, in front of the big TV, the eleven of us, including me, sat in a circle and tore open the bags of snacks.

“Honestly, isn’t Nona Name the craziest among us? Who does a handstand while riding a pony?”

“When the instructor rushed over, did you hear what he said? ‘Wha- what are you doing there! It’s dangerous, get down fast!’”

“Ahahahaha!”

“This is real madness. Seoyuna and Han Seori are just fake madness.”

“I admit to that. Name is the real deal.”

“By the way, you mentioned you’d show me a somersault while walking.”

“When did I say that?”

Crunch—

I quietly popped a snack into my mouth and pretended not to hear.

“I totally did!”

“Oh, right. I heard it from behind.”

“Name! That’s not okay!”

“We need to watch you closely so you don’t cause an accident.”

I had no rebuttal.

Friends who corresponded with the J in MBTI were already discussing dinner menus among themselves.

I’d heard no dinner would be prepared by the academy.

It didn’t mean they were supposed to go hungry, but they could freely eat dinner by either going to the hotel restaurant or ordering delivery to their rooms.

It seemed most people wanted to order takeout.

I was intrigued and pushed my way in, raising my face.

“Ohhh, our cute little Dongnam!”

Jeon Nuri greeted me warmly, pinching my cheeks.

“What? Where’d you hear that name?”

“Huh? My older sister calls me that all the time. Why?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. So what are you eating?”

“Hmm, I’m looking into it. Do you want something?”

I paused for a moment before sharing my list.

“Hanwoo carpaccio.”

“I don’t think they’ll sell that.”

“How about Hanwoo PTB?”

“What’s PTB?”

“How about venison?”

“Hiiing, we shouldn’t be cruel to deer…! Oh, let’s order pork belly, I’m drooling.”

“Isn’t the pig not pitiable?”

Ding ding ding—

“Hey, whose phone is that? Answer the call.”

It was a video call coming in from Iharu.

“Han Gyeol Kim? Why are you calling?”

Over there, ten boys were gathered together in a small two-person room.

It seemed they were huddled into one room much like we were.

“Why is your room so spacious?” Han Gyeol frowned.

“This is Name’s room. Hehe, jealous? Jealous??”

Haru jumped around the suite, accidentally giving them a tour of the room.

Through the screen, the boys looked shocked, their eyes wide.

“Hey, isn’t this cheating? We can barely move in here. We can’t even play together.”

“Yeah, but we have Nona Name, so what do you expect? That’s not our problem!”

“Wow, that’s so rude…! Can we come too?”

“Nope! Not allowed! If you wanna come, you better ask Name for permission.”

“Nona Name! We really want to come! Please! Please…!”

Han Gyeol clasped his hands together in a begging manner.

Haru turned the phone to show me.

I sat on the couch, crossing one leg and resting my chin on my hand.

And pretending to think deeply, I counted the heads of my friends on the screen.

Exactly ten of them.

“What’s one plus two plus three plus four?”

“Uhh… 10! What’s this, a quiz?”

“Right, so if all ten of you bow together, I’ll let you in.”

“Hey, did you hear that? If you bow…”

“But you have to form a human pyramid.”

“Wait what?”

“The bottom layer needs four people. The top layer just one. That gives a perfect four-layer pyramid.”

“Wait a minute!”

“I’m giving you one minute. Starting now. 60, 59, 58…”

“Wowww! Hurry and lay down! Climb on!”

“Hmph, 57, 56…”

It was total chaos.

We all watched the scene, laughing so hard our stomachs hurt.

Just when they seemed to complete the pyramid, the camera tipped over, and one person had to climb down to fix it.

“11, 10. Aah, my stomach hurts, heh. 8, 7, 6…”

“Truly a Demon Lord…”

“Hey, did you do it? Did it work, Nona Name?”

With three seconds left, a magnificent human pyramid was formed.

I clapped my hands and gestured for them to come up to the Demon Lord’s castle.

What a funny group of friends they truly are.