Consultation
Geumgang Academy, regarded as the finest in Academy City, held a festival no less impressive than its reputation.
The Geumgang Festival, planned every second semester to promote both the students and the academy, had firmly established itself as one of Academy City’s specialties.
During the Geumgang Festival period, tourists visiting Academy City increased so much that it was almost absurd.
That was why we had to put our hearts into preparing for it.
If only to live up to expectations, we could not afford to be half-hearted.
So Min Arin and I used the morning class period to hold a class meeting.
“The Geumgang Festival starts as soon as midterms are over. Excluding the two weeks before exams, that means we basically don’t have much time left to prepare for it. So we need to get ready in advance whenever we have the leeway.”
“We have to decide what kind of booth we’ll run at the Geumgang Festival by the end of this week and report it to the student council, okay? So if anyone has a good idea, don’t worry about what others think and just speak up. For reference, keep in mind that each of you has to take on at least one role. I heard that during the Geumgang Festival, whether you carry out that role or not will count toward attendance.”
With Hong Yena and Yu Noeul quietly observing from the back of the lecture room,
Min Arin and I stood at the lectern and gathered opinions from the class.
Among them, one suggestion received especially enthusiastic support.
“If it has to be something we can all do together, there probably aren’t that many options. How about we go with something safe, like a pub? But with a unique concept.”
“A unique concept?”
“Hmm… how about a traditional tavern concept? In my opinion, the classes running pubs will probably push soju, beer, or liquor as their main items, so we sell makgeolli and dongdongju. And make jeon as side dishes.”
“A traditional tavern sounds good, doesn’t it? We could provide puffed rice or Al Saeuchip as the basic snacks. In a format where people can freely scoop them out of jars.”
“Instead of only making jeon, I think adding tteokbokki, ramyeon, or other menu items wouldn’t feel out of place either. I want to eat tteokbokki!”
“Makgeolli and tteokbokki isn’t a bad combination…. You can mix it with cider and drink it, too.”
“We could also put on performances here and there! Like magic or a sword dance….”
“You mean adding a distinctive feature suited to an academy that trains Hunters, right? I like it. It’d also be a good chance for us to get our faces out there.”
One by one, the students added their thoughts, and the plan became more concrete.
Judging by the mood, it seemed all but decided that we would go with a traditional tavern.
I had no objections.
Min Arin seemed to agree as well.
‘A traditional tavern, huh…. Not bad. I should add kimchi jeon and green onion jeon, since Haneul likes them. I’ll tell her to come eat during the festival.’
For things like alcohol and basic snacks, we could receive sponsorship from related companies.
If we filled out the application within the deadline and submitted a request to the student council, they would take care of it.
So it seemed all we had to do was focus on making the side dishes, serving customers, and performing.
After roughly calculating things in my head, I looked around at the students.
“There aren’t any other opinions, right? Then we’ll vote as is. Arin, you run the vote.”
“Listen carefully. Each person can raise their hand up to two times. Don’t get confused. Then we’ll start the vote now. First up… a twenty-four-hour human aquarium? Ah, that was the plan where we get into a tank and play the role of ornamental fish. Who wants to do this?”
“…”
“No one? Nobody? Shouldn’t the person who suggested it at least raise their hand? If there’s no one, we’ll move on. Next… an underground fighting arena? Who wants to do this? No one again?”
The result of the meeting went as expected.
By unanimous vote, we decided to run a traditional tavern booth at the Geumgang Festival.
In addition, swept up by the mood, Min Arin ended up agreeing to read the customers’ Four Pillars of Destiny.
—But isn’t a traditional tavern with performances not enough to stand out? It’d be nice if we could add something else to it….
—If we want to differentiate ourselves more from the other classes… couldn’t we promote something the other classes don’t have?
—What would that be?
—Hmm… Arin and Gyeonu? Our class has members of the Ten Great Families, doesn’t it?
—Other classes have the Ten Great Families too, though.
—But only our class has Min Arin Dynamite. We push Arin as the mascot.
—How, exactly?
—For example… reading tarot cards and telling people’s fortunes?
—Tarot doesn’t really fit a traditional tavern. How about Four Pillars of Destiny instead?
—Oh, that’s good. Min Arin of the Magecraft Min Family will read your Four Pillars of Destiny. I think it’ll work.
—What are you people even talking about? Why would I do that!?
—It’d suit you if you did it, Arin…. It’d be groundbreaking. You’d become famous, too.
—….
—Take flight, little griffin of the Magecraft Min Family!
—One! Ten! Hundred! Thousand! Ten thousand! Hundred thousand! Million! Ten million!
—Min Arin Dynamite!
—F-Fine! Fine, I said! If you want it that badly, I’ll do it specially for you. Be grateful.
Even though she surely knew what the students were really after, Min Arin accepted the suggestion while pretending to be reluctant.
Truly, she was weak to being praised.
‘Now you’ve become the weakest even in class…. Well, as long as you’re satisfied.’
I smiled bitterly.
* * *
The other classes likewise held meetings to decide what booth they would run at the Geumgang Festival.
In the case of the class that Gang Hanbyeol, Lisa, and Park Sagun belonged to, they decided to perform a play starring Arsène Lupin, the gentleman thief from Maurice Leblanc’s novels.
On top of that, Gang Hanbyeol, who had taken the lead role, planned to personally drive a van taxi around the academy grounds to promote the play and transport those interested in it.
Aside from that, the triplets’ class settled on a circus, Cha Eunsol’s class on a cooking class, Nam Yuri’s class on balloon shooting, and Yong Haerang’s class on stress relief through smashing objects.
And Year 1 Class 8, which Yeon Haneul and Go Eunbi belonged to…
“Then, by majority vote, we’ll decide on the casino, which got forty-one votes! No objections, right?”
After discussion, they decided to rent out the Cultural Hall and run a casino.
Yeon Haneul, who had left the meeting in Go Eunbi’s hands, wrote down the decided matters in the log.
As she did, her thoughts drifted elsewhere.
‘I wonder what Gyeonu’s class is doing?’
I’ll ask him later when we eat lunch.
A smile naturally seeped onto Yeon Haneul’s face as she thought of Do Gyeonu.
It was then that she snapped out of her thoughts.
“It looks like we’ve more or less decided on the game events, and next we need to decide… ah, outfits. If we’re going with a casino concept, of course we need a dress code that fits, right? First, should we decide on the dealers? Anyone have ideas?”
Go Eunbi brought up a new topic.
Just as they had earlier, the students proposed various ideas.
The problem occurred then.
“When you think of casinos, isn’t it bunny girls? How about a few people dress up as bunny girls and promote the casino? We have Haneul in our class, too, so we can put Haneul forward as the mascot.”
“Huh?”
A female student raised her hand and spoke.
Yeon Haneul could not help but flinch when her name was suddenly mentioned.
On top of that, bunny girl, out of nowhere…?
With her rabbit ears perked up, she was utterly flustered.
On the other hand, the opinion brought up by the female student was receiving considerable support.
“Bunny girl? …That sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? The disciple of the Seven-Colored Witch serving as a dealer in a bunny girl outfit…. If word gets out, it’ll be no joke. Let’s do that.”
“I like bunny girls too.”
“The promotional effect would be more than enough, wouldn’t it?”
“Hey, but won’t Gyeonu get mad at us?”
“Wouldn’t Gyeonu probably like it too?”
“I don’t know…. If it were me, I think I’d want to look at her by myself….”
“It’s not like only Haneul will wear it. Other kids will wear it too. Honestly, they’re not even dating yet, so he shouldn’t say anything about her outfit. It’s something decided in a class meeting, too.”
“Good. I’ll be a bunny girl too. When else am I going to get my face out there if not now? I need to start steadily building my reputation from now on.”
“…You’re smart. I’ll join too.”
“Um… guys? I’m embarrassed, so something like a bunny girl is absolutely…”
“When else would you get to wear it if not at a time like this? I’m for it. Haneul, don’t worry! I’ll wear it with you! I just so happen to have bunny girl costumes in my room. Want to try them on later? Black, red, white, pink… I have all kinds of colors! Anyone besides Haneul who wants to be a bunny girl, come to my room!”
“Um, can I come too? I suddenly want to wear a bunny girl outfit too….”
“Yeah, no boys allowed!”
The students chattered noisily.
Before anyone knew it, even Go Eunbi, who was supposed to be leading the meeting, had joined the commotion.
For Yeon Haneul, who did not want to become a bunny girl, it was nothing but a difficult situation.
She desperately tried to stop them.
But no matter how much she resisted, she could not go against the prevailing tide.
“Then Haneul will be a bunny girl! How nice, taking the lead as the class representative!”
“Nooo…. I said I don’t want to, so why…. I’m really embarrassed!”
“It’s okay, Haneul! Everyone’s like that at first! And I’ll be with you too, won’t I?”
And so, in the end,
Yeon Haneul nearly ended up being half-forced into wearing a bunny girl costume by majority vote…
But fortunately, she was rescued by their homeroom instructor, who was concerned about the suggestiveness.
The students compromised by having everyone, regardless of gender, wear black suits along with rabbit headbands and tails.
* * *
As we held the meeting to prepare for the Geumgang Festival, the morning classes flew by before we knew it.
After receiving Hong Yena’s closing remarks, Min Arin and I decided to leave the lecture room.
Normally, we would have gone straight to eat lunch with our friends, but…
“I have an appointment, so I’ll be going. I don’t think I can eat with you today.”
Since I had a separate schedule, I decided to leave.
Min Arin asked in confusion.
“What appointment? With who? Yeon Haneul was going to eat with us too. You’re not going?”
“With the chairwoman. And by the way, why does it sound like you think I’m desperate to eat with Haneul?”
“Hmph, why don’t you put your hand on your conscience? But the chairwoman… what for?”
“There’s something. I’m just going to briefly catch up with her. Anyway, I’ll get going first. Enjoy your lunch.”
I couldn’t explain the details in a hallway where people, even guest instructors, were passing by.
Up ahead, there was also Lee Gahyeon wedged between Hong Yena and Yu Noeul, seemingly on her way to lunch.
After vaguely brushing off Min Arin, I deliberately walked in the opposite direction from them.
As I headed toward the faculty building where the chairwoman’s office was located, I sent So Hyeyul a message.
[Me]: I’m on my way now.
Because I had gotten So Hyeyul’s number when I first met her, it was convenient to contact her and arrange an appointment.
I read the reply that arrived not long after.
[Chairwoman]: Yes, I’m in the chairwoman’s office, so take your time :)
It seemed So Hyeyul had not forgotten our appointment and was waiting.
After receiving confirmation of my visit, I took the elevator up and headed to the chairwoman’s office.
“It has been a while, Student Do Gyeonu.”
“Yes, it has been a while. I’m here because I have an appointment with the chairwoman….”
“I have heard about it. The chairwoman is inside.”
The secretary’s office was separated from the chairwoman’s office.
O Seung-a, who had been waiting there, acknowledged me and spoke to me.
Then she guided me to the chairwoman’s office.
I stepped inside through the door she opened for me.
“Welcome, Student Do Gyeonu. Have you been well? Did you rest properly during summer break? Meeting face-to-face like this… it’s been a while since the entrance exam.”
“Hello, Chairwoman. Have you been healthy?”
“I’ve been healthy, of course. Don’t stand there; come sit down. Since it’s lunchtime, I thought you might be hungry, so I prepared a little something for you to eat. Please help yourself.”
So Hyeyul was sitting on the sofa for receiving guests as she waited.
Her yellow eyes striking, she greeted me with a soft smile.
After bowing my head in a polite greeting, I sat in the seat she offered.
“Thank you for the meal.”
“If it isn’t enough, don’t hesitate to say so. What would you like to drink?”
“Coffee, please.”
“Seung-a, you heard him, right? One more for me too.”
“Yes, I will bring them shortly.”
A short while later, O Seung-a returned after going out to get the drinks.
After quietly placing the cups down, she soon closed the door and went outside.
Until then, we had only exchanged surface-level conversation, but now we decided to get to the point.
“What is the reason you requested a private meeting with me today, Student Do Gyeonu?”
“You know that villains have infiltrated among the guest instructors, don’t you, Chairwoman?”
“Yes. And?”
So Hyeyul tilted her head calmly, as if it were no great matter.
But she could not help but reveal her emotions at what I said next.
“Do you also know that the Puppet Demoness Lee Gahyeon has slipped in among them?”
“…”
So Hyeyul, who had been bringing her cup to her lips, flinched and stopped moving.
The disturbance she showed lasted only a moment.
Quickly composing herself, she set down the coffee she had not even drunk and made her yellow eyes gleam.
“That is an interesting story. And?”
“So I thought this might be the perfect opportunity to catch Lee Gahyeon.”
I Became the Childhood Friend of the Mid-Boss