Chapter 7 : School is a fucking spectacle #2 - No Kidding, I’m an Extra

What insane nonsense is this?! "Hey, you crazy bastard! In a kids' fight, you think it's normal to draw a knife?! Did your mom from the back alleys teach you like this?!" "I'm going to kill you!" What kind of madness is this?! I never thought he'd actually pull a knife! This is far beyond what I could ever calculate! A teenage student attempting murder—what kind of world is this?! "Help! Someone, please help!!!" —Crash! I dashed across the spacious classroom, toppling chairs and pushing over desks. The other students, who were supposed to be heroes-in-training, just stood there in shock, completely useless. "This noisy bastard dares...!" Ryu Cheon Hui followed me, visibly seething with anger. A sharp aura began forming on his refined sword, of course! What's done is done! I just need to handle this calmly! I can't break down crying like a fool again like yesterday! "Put down the knife, you would-be murderer! If you stop now, I won't press charges!" "Shut up!" I steadied myself. Did you think I acted recklessly? I didn't kick up this mess thoughtlessly. At the very least, by shouting, it would draw someone's attention. Be it an instructor or anyone else. It's almost morning assembly time, so someone would come running upon hearing the commotion. If it's an instructor, that's practically a success in repelling the situation. And I do have a secondary strategy, just in case. As per the stereotypical plot of this kind of game... —Slide! "What's going on here!" Isn't it true that protagonists can't stand injustice? Right? * * * A rather handsome student with the same black hair as me entered through the door, shouting. As soon as he did, I took the opportunity to slip out through the door into the corridor. From the hallway, I peeked back into the classroom through the door I had just exited. "Let's stop for now. Fighting in school? What on earth is going on?" "Get lost." "Can't do that. If there's someone pulling a knife intending to fight, I can't just step aside." Such righteous attitude! I know it! That guy over there is surely Lee Si Hoo, the protagonist character from the game 'War Heroes of the Academy'! Based on a rough look at his profile, he was known to have a kind and righteous personality. They also said he could be a bit of a pushover. A typical protagonist type. He was one of my tactical options. Be it an instructor, Lee Si Hoo, or even Leona, who had a chat with me yesterday. If any of the three showed up, the fight would be resolved. Even if this causes more problems, I can just go see the principal. After all, that bastard started it by picking a fight, so I'm standing on solid ground. If I ask, the principal, who once beat me to a pulp, should help out, right? "Sheathe the sword first. Why did the fight break out? Explain how you came to fight with a friend in school." So reliable. According to the wiki, the protagonist has immense growth potential. I don't know the details, but seeing as the game is named 'War Heroes of the Academy', the protagonist likely solves crises at the end and becomes such a hero. That means he's strong. "Shouldn't be doing this—ugh! What are you doing!" —Slash! "If you side with him, I'll kill you too." At that moment, Ryu Cheon Hui swung his sword toward Lee Si Hoo! "What a crazy psycho!" And with a frighteningly sharp edge! This bastard is a complete murderer! Going so far as to slash at a classmate just for intervening in a fight that had nothing to do with him! It defies all common sense! He's got to be expelled from school immediately...! I'll double the lawsuit! But suddenly! —Clang! Out of nowhere, Lee Si Hoo, wielding a golden shining sword, magnificently blocked the attack! "What are you doing!" "...Defended it? My strike?" "Hmm? Wasn't that an attack meant to be blocked? Ah. So you weren't truly intent on attacking? That's a relief." "This bastard!!!" Even with his impressive taunting skills...! And thus. —Boom! —Clang! A duel between the top student Ryu Cheon Hui and the protagonist Lee Si Hoo began. Their fierce sword clashes were so intense that sparks flew everywhere. The scene was so dazzlingly spectacular that I couldn't help but watch, dumbfounded. It was literally breathtaking action. "Oh, oh..." "That's the top student's skill..." "But who is he? How is he blocking every attack from the top student..." The other students were doing the same, watching the fight in awe like me. "I'll kill you!!!" "Wait! Hold on! Let's solve this through dialogue! Ah, damn! If you insist on fighting, I'll have to show my skills!" "Shut up!!!" As the battle intensified... "You fight quite well." A voice was heard from behind. Is it directed at me? "Seriously. What the hell are those kids, fighting so well... Human weapons, human weapons." "Well, Ryu Cheon Hui is the heir of Ryeo Sung Group. He's probably been training since childhood. But Kim Geun Cheol, is it right to call the friend who helped you a kid?" "Huh? Ah, sorry. I didn't mean it like that. I just have this compulsive habit of swearing... Ah, I need to fix it, but it slipped out again in surprise. Sorry. I'll go apologize. But who are you?" Looking around carefully, "Instructor Lee So Ra." "Oh." My heart just about burst. "Stop immediately, you moronic bastards!!!!!!" With the instructor's lion-like roar, "Uaaaaagh!" I couldn't withstand the pressure and ended up flying right into the wall. "Cahk!" Can I skip the morning assembly, please? * * * After the assembly ended, I seized a brief moment before the first period began to drag Lee Si Hoo to the vending machine by the stairs to express my gratitude. With Ryu Cheon Hui being taken away, I felt reassured. "Hey! Thanks a lot! Your name is Si Hoo, right? Let's get along!" "Ah, yeah. Nice to meet you, too. Your name's Geun Cheol, right?" He responded with a refreshing smile. "Yeah. Just call me whatever you're comfortable with." —Thud. Anyway, I handed a can of cola from the vending machine to Lee Si Hoo. "Here, drink up. It's not much, but I need to pay you back for saving me. You're my life saver." "Haha, you don't have to worry about it. Stopping a fight among friends is just the right thing to do, isn't it? No need to repay something that's just common sense." "Really? Then buying a cola for a friend is just as obvious. Take it, man." "...Oh." Lee Si Hoo hesitated for a moment at those words but then accepted the cola with a thanks. —Pop. A bit hesitant about drinking it while pointing fingers. Anyway, I grabbed a can of zero cola for myself. After all, something with sugar tastes better; it's the least I can do in terms of hospitality. —Gulp, gulp. Wow, the sensation of this carbonation going down the throat... it's absolutely top-notch! Even if the world changes, cola stays the same! "Ah! Seriously, thanks a lot! No joke, I almost died back there. Getting into the fight was fine, but then he pulled out a knife all of a sudden? It seriously gave me chills, almost made me sit right down. So I was in a panic about whether I'd really die, but then you showed up and saved me." —Pat, pat. Expressing my gratitude, I patted Lee Si Hoo on the shoulder, who grinned awkwardly while scratching his cheek. "Cheon Hui probably didn't truly intend to kill. If he did, he would have swung the sword for real." "Well, to my eyes, it looked all the same." This Lee Si Hoo guy has a good-natured protagonist vibe. If judging by the game’s title, he might get even stronger and go on to save the world or something later. Becoming friends with such a person would be fantastic. After all, the game likely centers around the protagonist. Becoming close to him is bound to give me more avenues for survival. And besides, he's the one who saved me. There's no reason not to get closer. I'm really grateful. "But what started the fight in the first place?" "Nothing major. When I went to sit down, the guy had his foot on my chair. I asked him to move it, he didn’t, so I sat. Then, out of nowhere, he kicked my back... Damn! So I thought about giving him a beating and stood up, but then he draws a knife. The dude's lost it." It's enough to give anyone the creeps. I'll definitely press charges. Who does that bastard think he is to pull such a stunt? Seeing a guy like that become a hero is something I can't allow. I'll file a formal complaint with the school. This place isn't some jungle; suddenly pulling out a knife, seriously? "Oh, but he pulled the knife because after getting kicked, I got really angry and started cursing him out. Anyway, his sudden aura was... wow. No joke, it was intense. That's when I realized, 'Ah, I can't beat this guy.' So I ran like hell, hehe." After somewhat explaining the situation like that, "Heh... Ha, haha! Hahaha!" He laughed like he found it all incredibly amusing. "What? You're laughing?" "No, no! I'm not mocking you! It was just the way you explained it was so funny! Haha, you tell stories in a really entertaining way, don't you?" "How entertaining was it, really? Ah, I finished my drink. Let's head back in. Thanks again for saving me." "Alright." Is the first period really starting now? I don't know what lessons are coming up, but whatever it is, I'm probably scared enough to faint. But who cares. I've got my friend Lee Si Hoo. If there's anything I don't get, I'll just ask him. That way, I should be able to keep up with the classes, right? So, as we headed back toward the classroom, —Ding. ――――――――――――――――― 「Quest Complete」 「Repel Hostile Cadet」 「Reward: 2,000 Coin」 ――――――――――――――――― I received a reward. "Hehe." See, repelling isn't so difficult, huh? At school, if you make a fuss, the teachers will inevitably find out. Even if you try to keep it quiet, if you storm into the faculty room and say a fight happened, they'd come to stop it. Besides, this isn't even a regular school; it's an academy. A place where students with weapons roam. Those settings should demand fast and precise responses, which is why I acted like that. Well, gaining 2,000 coins isn’t that big of a profit for making an enemy, but that bastard started the fight, so it was just a matter of time. Consider it a pre-emptive way of clearing away trouble that was bound to happen sooner or later. This isn’t a workplace, no need to compromise. Normally when someone acts like an ass, they should get their due. Unless we're talking about a ridiculously massive monster, people in civilized society aren’t that scary. No matter what, I’m grateful Lee Si Hoo came. Even if he hadn't, I would've made a fuss with Instructor Lee So Ra, or I'd sprint down the hallway yelling until attention was drawn. "Sweet, 2,000 coins are nice and sweet." How delightful. But what am I supposed to do with this? Give me a clue, would you? "Whoo." Anyway. Before the first lesson, let's calm the nerves a bit? Just as I sat down to pull out my phone, —Slide! The door burst open, and a stunning woman entered. "Hello, hello! Hi, hi! Greetings, cadets! I’m Kawar, your magic combat instructor! Please take your seats!" She exuded a cheery atmosphere.