Because Nam Yuri's club activities had not been an important part of the game.
It had never been known which club she joined or what activities she took part in.
Considering her personality—hating to be tied down like Cha Eunsol, and disliking requests, suggestions, and orders—it hadn't seemed likely she would join any club at all.
Even if she had joined one on impulse, it was easy to picture her falling out with the members, being ostracized, or getting kicked out.
I had never imagined meeting someone like her in the same club.
'What? Did she only attend the orientations and trial sessions without actually joining the Mystery Exploration Club in the end?'
Nam Yuri grinned broadly, waving her hand as she approached me.
I ran through various assumptions in my head.
It was only after hearing the circumstances from her that I realized the reason.
"Huh? Why I'm here? Hmm... Gyeonu, Gyeonu, you look really uncomfortable with me being here..."
"...That's not it. I just never thought I'd run into you here, so I was a little surprised. It's been a while since the entrance exam, hasn't it? Have you been well?"
"Mhm! I've been so-so! Have you been well too, Gyeonu? What a coincidence, meeting here! And after we met during the exam ticket scramble too, could it be we share some kind of fate?"
"Calling it fate that we met during the exam ticket scramble is a bit..."
"After that, we even went to the mine togeth... Ah, I was supposed to keep that a secret, right? Anyway, something like that happened too. Ah! Right! I was in the middle of saying why I came here? It's because... I've been incredibly stressed lately. So, you see..."
To state only the main point from that truly headache-inducing conversation:
It seemed she had suddenly remembered what I'd said while we were at the Hotel of Illusions—that she should eat some delicious food to change her mood.
And right as that thought came to mind, she happened to come across the Mystery Exploration Club, and impulsively decided to attend the orientation.
'To think something like this could happen...'
I had spoken those words at the Hotel of Illusions without a second thought, never imagining they would set off a butterfly effect like this.
Truly, what a remarkable coincidence.
I had unexpectedly benefited from it.
Thanks to that, I was spared the trouble of worrying about how to get close to Nam Yuri.
"That aside, Gyeonu! Don't you think you're being too much?"
"Huh?"
"We promised to eat together once we got into the Academy, so how could you not contact me at all? I've been waiting for you to ask me when! I'm really upset, you know?"
As if making sure I knew she was sulking, Nam Yuri hung her head, planted her hand on her waist, and tapped the floor with one foot.
Seeing her pouting face, I recalled the memory once more.
Now that I thought about it, back then at the Hotel of Illusions, I had suggested we grab a meal after entering the Academy.
Though they were merely words spoken as a pleasantry, it seemed she had taken them as a serious promise.
However, I had grounds to argue as well.
"Do you even know my number?"
"Huh? No, I don't?"
"I don't know your number either, so how was I supposed to contact you? I tried to ask after the exam ticket battle, but when I came back to my seat after taking care of something, you were already gone."
"...Huh? Was it my fault?"
"It's your fault. Apologize."
"...Huh? Ugh? ...Sorry?"
Truthfully, it hadn't really been anyone's fault.
I stroked Nam Yuri's head as she looked confused and bewildered.
Perhaps because of her short stature, she felt more like a little sister than someone my age.
Above all, her fluffy hair made her look like a furry animal.
It was exactly like petting a sheep.
Though considering her true nature, she was none other than a venomous serpent harboring lethal poison rather than a sheep.
"What!? Don't touch my head! I'm getting ups... Huh? Hmm? Mmm?"
"Ah, if you're upset, I'll stop. I overstepped by doing something so brazen..."
"No, keep petting me!"
"Huh?"
"Since you're a friend I've acknowledged, Gyeonu, Gyeonu, you can touch me as much as you want!"
"..."
Nam Yuri grabbed my hand, which had been about to pull away from her head.
She guided my hand and plopped it right back onto her head.
"Pet me, pet me—"
"Uh... okay..."
What wind had blown through Nam Yuri's heart in that brief moment?
Though bewildered, I complied with her request.
Whether she felt my touch, she leaned into my hand with a pleased expression.
It was a face that reminded me of how Mongsil and Mongsun used to enjoy my touch.
"This is good timing. Give me your number. Since it came up, let's grab a meal sometime soon."
"Yeah, great! I love it, love it!"
And so, I exchanged numbers with Nam Yuri.
Since I had my smartphone out anyway, I tried to exchange with Cha Eunsol as well.
"Eunsol, you too..."
"Ah, you're only looking at me now."
"Munch, munch."
While Cha Eunsol was eating her sausage, Yeon Haneul and the others were all staring at me.
Among them, Yeon Haneul's gaze was sharp.
"H-Haneul...?"
"You two seem incredibly close, huh?"
"..."
"Chatting and laughing together, having fun just the two of you while excluding us... And... making a meal date just between the two of you?"
"Uh... um... do you want to join us? The three of us, no, rather all of us..."
"Before that."
"..."
"Shouldn't you introduce her to us first?"
As Yeon Haneul spoke on behalf of the group, the others nodded in agreement.
Only Cha Eunsol seemed completely uninterested.
With an unreadable expression, she simply peeled the wrapper off her sausage.
At any rate...
'I should at least introduce her to them.'
They were people I would be facing various future events together with.
I decided to arrange things so Nam Yuri and they could get acquainted.
It was absolutely not because I flinched at Yeon Haneul's gaze and complied obediently.
"Some of you might know her from the entrance exam. She's Nam Yuri of the Yeonseong Nam Clan, a first-year like us..."
"Wow! A rabbit! A rabbit!"
"Kyah! What are you doing all of a sudden!?"
"..."
Before I could even finish the introduction, Nam Yuri—her gaze fixed on Yeon Haneul—excitedly lunged forward.
Caught in an unexpected situation, Yeon Haneul found herself being toyed with.
"H-hey, don't touch me so... Ah..."
"I'm Nam Yuri! I've heard a lot about you! You're Gyeonu's childhood friend, right!? Since you're Gyeonu's childhood friend, you're my friend too, so let's get along from now on!"
"If you want to get along, my hand..."
"Wow, you're so soft!"
"Listen to me...! Ah, ugh... G-Gyeonu, help me...!"
"...Yuri, that's enough."
"I was going to play a little more because it was fun! But since you asked, Gyeonu, I'll hold back!"
Nam Yuri withdrew her hands regretfully.
Only then freed, Yeon Haneul rushed to me without even fixing her clothes.
She clung to my back and cautiously peeked her face out.
Speaking in a tearful voice, she said,
"Gyeonu..."
"...Yeah?"
"I don't like her..."
"Uh, um... She might be even more shameless than Eunbi, but she's a good girl when you get to know her, probably... Try to get along with her slowly from now on."
"Hey, Gyeonu? Why are you dragging me into this when I'm just standing here!?"
After that as well, we chatted boisterously until the orientation began.
* * *
"Munch."
While Nam Yuri was teasing Yeon Haneul.
Cha Eunsol chewed her sausage thoroughly as she watched the scene.
"Wow, you're so soft!"
"Listen to me...! Ah, ugh... G-Gyeonu, help me...!"
Yeon Haneul was protesting.
She was asking for help.
Cha Eunsol, who had been spacing out until then, had tried to rescue her as a friend.
If Do Gyeonu hadn't stepped in, she would have used spirit magic.
"Munch."
But with the situation resolved, there was no need to go out of her way to act.
Cha Eunsol pulled out another sausage, as if nothing had happened, no different from before.
All the while, her green eyes were fixed intently on Nam Yuri.
'She's... a terribly jumbled-up girl.'
Cha Eunsol's eyes were special.
She could gaze into the soul, which could be called the core of existence.
To someone like her, Nam Yuri was nothing but an alien existence.
A human, yet not a human.
With one foot on the boundary line of humanity, she appeared to be an incomplete existence.
Should the precariously maintained harmony collapse even for a moment...
It was just as she was thinking that.
"Why do you keep staring?"
"..."
"Do you have something to say to me?"
Nam Yuri, who had been busy exchanging greetings with people, approached Cha Eunsol and tilted her head.
Contrary to her innocently smiling face, her narrowed purple eyes harbored wariness.
Soon, Cha Eunsol, who had been staring back without looking away, shook her head.
"No, nothing."
"Really? I'm Nam Yuri of the Yeonseong Nam Clan. Please take care of me from now on!"
"I'm Cha Eunsol."
If she needlessly involved herself in Nam Yuri's circumstances, she would likely get entangled in troublesome affairs.
Not paying her any mind was the best policy.
Having made that judgment inwardly, Cha Eunsol decided to keep her distance from her.
* * *
After the Great Cataclysm, the dimensions of this world had become unstable to a serious degree.
As a result, humanity had ended up threatened by Gates, dungeons, and monsters.
The World Tree, brought along when Grace, an empire from another world, crossed into this one, lent its strength to that situation.
The World Tree took on the role of fixing and stabilizing the unstable dimensions.
As a result, the frequency and danger level of anomalies occurring worldwide were greatly reduced.
However, as the World Tree's burden grew, the atmospheric mana and dimensional state of the surrounding area inevitably grew precarious.
Because of this, anomalies occurred frequently in Academy City, which had been designed around the World Tree.
"The anomalies you all know are nothing more than basic categories. In Academy City, far more diverse and mysterious phenomena are being observed. For instance, there exists a phenomenon where if you make a phone call during a specific time at a certain store, you get connected to someone from the past."
Anomalies also referred to as "mysteries."
The club that explored these phenomena was none other than the Mystery Exploration Club.
Kim Samo, who had become the club president this year, explained about the club to those who had come to the orientation.
"We mainly operate on weekends, searching for mysteries throughout Academy City..."
In truth, mysteries were difficult to verify, and explaining them was also problematic.
All too often, they would be fooled by rumors and come away empty-handed.
Consequently, the Mystery Exploration Club had unclear objectives and activities, and above all, its uncertain achievements meant it was treated poorly.
It was at risk of being disbanded every year.
This year was no different.
'I have to prevent disbandment somehow.'
The first notice Kim Samo received from the student council upon taking office as club president was a recommendation regarding the club's continued existence.
It stated that if the number of members and the club's performance failed to meet certain standards, it could be disbanded the following year.
Therefore, he had to stake everything on the club's survival.
His worries had been no small matter.
'What a relief...'
But now, it seemed he could ease his anxiety, if only a little.
Yeon Haneul, this year's top-ranked entrant and disciple of the Witch of Seven Colors.
Do Gyeonu, this year's second-ranked entrant and direct descendant of the Divine Sword Do Clan.
Gang Hanbyeol, disciple of Seo Jeongjin the Martial Ghost.
Yong Haerang of the Righteous Hero Yong Clan, who entered as the top-ranked student of the martial arts track.
Nam Yuri of the Yeonseong Nam Clan, who entered as the top-ranked student of the alchemy track.
Princess of the Grace Empire, Lisa Grace.
Min Arin of the Demonic Path Min Clan.
Cha Eunsol of the Circulation Cha Clan, and so on...
He was grateful that influential freshmen had come to the orientation, but even more so because they had filled out membership applications on the spot without any hesitation.
'I'm not dreaming, am I?'
So much so that he even had such a thought.
Kim Samo felt grateful to Do Gyeonu, who was said to have convinced his friends.
Had there been no one else around, he would have knelt on the floor and bowed deeply to him.
The club's future was bright beyond measure.
With them as club members, it would be able to transform from a weak, minor club into a popular club that everyone envied.
However, if there was one concern, it was that they overflowed with individuality.
“To think Haneul was secretly acquainted with such a pretty girl behind my back! But Haneul, you know that no matter what anyone says, I’m your best friend, right?”
“Why are you getting jealous over something like this? Fine, fine, I get it—.”
“…Haneul, am I not?”
“Nom…. Am I not your best friend?”
“Huh? Uh, guys, of course Lisa and Eunsol are both my best friends….”
“Yes! Haneul said I’m the only best friend! Haneul is mine now!”
“Eunbi!? When did I ever say that? What I meant was….”
“That’s right, Go Eunbi. Listen properly. In the first place, if Haneul only had one best friend, it would obviously be me, so what’s this about?”
“There Do Gyeonu goes again.”
“He gets like that whenever it involves Haneul.”
“Doesn’t he ever get tired of it…?”
“Gyeonu-Gyeonu and everyone! You’re having fun fighting over something weird, huh!?”
“Hmph! You all must not know, but true friendship only blossoms through a fistfight! In other words, only those who’ve traded blows can be called best friends!”
“Seriously, this is so chaotic I could die. Could you please stop chattering on both sides of me?”
“Hanbyeol, looking at the pamphlet, it seems like their activities are surprisingly solid?”
“Oh, yeah? What does it say?”
While Kim Samo was earnestly explaining, Do Gyeonu and his friends chattered among themselves.
For him, it was nothing but awkward.
“Um, guys? Sorry, but could you be quiet for just a moment?”
“Yes—.”
They answered like that, but the effect lasted only an instant.
As if nothing had happened, they soon burst into laughter again.
“Eunsol! You like food, huh? Then… I’ll give you Pepero, so will you be my best friend?”
“Pepero? Okay, sure. Let’s. Nom.”
“Yes! I became best friends with Eunsol too! But doing this kind of feels like feeding a hamster I used to raise. Cute!”
“…Eunbi, I have gummies.”
“What? Haneul is going to feed me? Then I’ll eat!”
“…You won’t give me any? Nom.”
“I’ll give some to Eunsol too.”
“…Haneul, I have some nuts. Would you like to eat them?”
“Wow! I love nuts! I want some too, Lisa-Lisa!”
“I don’t know because these are the only girls I know… but girls really are fascinating. It feels like they always carry snacks around. Are you that hungry? Min Arin, do you carry some too?”
“It’s not because I’m hungry. I carry them because my blood sugar drops, okay? I do carry some as emergency rations. Yanggaeng. Why? Do you want some? If you say ‘please’ to me, I might consider it.”
“Gyeonu, don’t eat that. Have some gummies instead. I have other kinds too. Want more?”
“Wait! Yeon Haneul! What exactly do you mean by ‘that’…?”
“Thanks, I’ll enjoy it. By the way, it’s not just one bag…. Does all of that fit in your bag?”
“Are you ignoring me right now!?”
“If you put it in, it fits!”
“It all fits.”
“Of course it fits.”
“Nom.”
“Sorry! I prefer traveling light, so I just don’t carry any!”
“Yeah, you’re all really something. It must be such a hassle to carry all that around….”
“Hm, Do Gyeonu. I think I understand. Isn’t it the same principle as carrying around sweet potatoes and chicken breast to replenish nutrients at the right time?”
“…Is that how it is? Hearing you say it, it does make a certain amount of sense.”
“In that sense, Do Gyeonu, how about eating sweet potatoes and chicken breast with me? I had a feeling this might happen, so I packed plenty.”
“…Haerang, you really are a good friend.”
“True, you can’t neglect protein for the sake of your muscles. That’s why I always carry some around too. It just so happens to be time for me to eat as well.”
“You guys carry that kind of stuff too? Haerang, Sagun! Can I mooch some off you? I’ll prepare some next time!”
“….”
As he listened in on their ceaseless, chaotic conversation, Kim Samo thought.
‘Have I already been swallowed up? Are they going to take over the club later?’
Since that possibility wasn’t entirely absent, he couldn’t help feeling afraid inside.
More than anything….
‘These kids… can I handle them?’
Kim Samo shook his head inwardly.
Until he graduated from the Academy, he had a feeling he would suffer like mad for two years, getting dragged around by Do Gyeonu and his friends.
I Became the Childhood Friend of the Mid-Boss