Chapter 18 : School is a fucking spectacle #13 - No Kidding, I’m an Extra

Si Hoo and I lounged around the room while eating chicken. We just ate some chicken, played on the computer a bit, and chatted lazily. "So, Si Hoo, you came up from the countryside?" "Yeah. I think I'll have to go back during the vacation." "Really? Well, visiting home during vacations is the norm." Talking with him, it became clear that Si Hoo had come from the countryside. Well, the dorms here are well-maintained, so he can live without problems. But now, I'm a bit curious. What kind of family is Si Hoo from to be so adept in combat? He seemed pretty good with a sword during training, and he handled magic freely too. However, given his evasive demeanor earlier, it's hard to bring it up again. Is he from a renowned awakened family? I've heard there are such families, like Leona's. Whatever the case, I'll find out eventually. "What about you, Geun Cheol?" "Me? Well..." I'm officially listed as an orphan. No parents or siblings. Just a complete lone wolf. Since I'm admitted to the academy as an orphan, I can continue using my dorm room until I graduate or leave school. It's a pretty decent welfare system. Even orphans, once awakened, are supported properly to become heroes. Still, isn't 500,000 won a month as subsidy a bit stingy? Please increase it, I beg you. I also want to eat at buffets. What can you do with 500,000 won? It's because of you guys that I scrape by. Well, uniforms and textbooks are provided, so if I manage wisely, there won't be a problem. All necessities are covered. "I'm from the orphanage. I'll stay here during the vacation too." "What?" I said it casually. "Huh? Huh?" Si Hoo momentarily froze. It's indeed a sensitive topic. "What?!" – He jumped up! But he got so startled that he stood up and shouted. It's not that grave of a matter, though. "Hold on! Geun Cheol! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to pry...!" "No worries, sit down. It's not a big deal." "But still!" He was completely spooked by the word orphan. He turned pale, thinking he made a blunder. "I said it's okay." And honestly, it doesn't bother me at all. Because I'm not actually an orphan. I ended up in this strange world and became an orphan, but my parents are probably doing well. "..." Though, I wonder how well they are without their son. "Ah...!" While briefly thinking of my parents, Si Hoo came and sat next to me. "Geun Cheol. I'm sorry for asking something unnecessary. I didn't know." "Well, you couldn't have known, I never mentioned it. It's really alright." "But your face just now...!" "My face?" "No, no! Geun Cheol! If you ever have a hard time, talk to me! I'll help with anything I can!" Si Hoo, overwhelmed with remorse, offered words of comfort. Some people, when they mess up with others, get more flustered and repeatedly apologize, not knowing what to do. Si Hoo was exactly that type. Anyway, since it really didn't bother me, I decided to move past it, feeling that saying more would just make it complicated. "Hehe, sure. If you offer help, of course, I'll accept. Thanks." "Yeah!" Finally, his face brightened a bit. He's just genuinely kind-hearted. "More importantly!" "Hm?" "Eating chicken in the room like this is fun! I'll treat next time! Let's eat together then too!" "If you're buying, I'm there." No man refuses free chicken. "But isn't it too much to get chicken after receiving training help from you too?" "It's fine. We're friends, right? What's being friends about?" "Haha, this guy knows how it is. Yeah! That's what friends are for!" I can help him if there's anything I can do. "Yeah. So if you have any difficulties, come to me anytime, Geun Cheol." "There's nothing for now, but if there is, I'll come." So, after hanging out with Si Hoo for a while in his room, I went back to mine. "Whew, I'm exhausted." Guess the magic training was intense today. I'm dead tired. Gotta shower and sleep quickly. Oh, I wish I could go to the top floor bath, but I’m too exhausted to manage that. I'll just shower in my room. But why does Si Hoo dislike going to the bathhouse so much? I love bathhouses. I'll definitely drag him there next time. * * * The next morning. "Hey, Si Hoo." I knocked at Si Hoo's door to go to school together, but there's no response. What's up? Did he leave early for school? I sent him a message, but it remains unread. Looks like he went ahead. So, I headed to school alone. "Ugh, I'm tired." "What's the first period?" "Listen, I went to the training grounds yesterday." Mornings truly feel like mornings. Even though everyone here is an awakened, they're still high schoolers at heart. All the students, looking tired, were chatting amongst themselves as they walked into school. It’s such a familiar scene. Savoring this feeling, I opened the classroom door. – Creak. "Oh hey! Scream Man is here!" "Ken, is that you?" As soon as I entered, Ken greeted me cheerfully. "But seriously with the Scream Man thing. How long are you going to call me that? Would you like it if I called you 'Brown-haired Glasses Man'?" This maple-head punk. "With such an unimpressive nickname, it doesn’t seem like it'd matter much. It's not exactly creative. Anyway, I'll predict that you'll scream again today, Scream Man." As Ken adjusted his glasses, a gleam flashed across them. What's with this guy? "All that confidence? How about a bet?" "Oh! What are you proposing?" "A snack." "A snack? What's that?" You don't know? "There's this bread at the school store. It's really delicious." "What? The school store? The food there can’t be healthy." Rich kid alert! Ken, this guy is probably eating buffet meals in the cafeteria daily. "Okay, then let's bet on a drink. You drink beverages, right?" "Oh, sure, make it a zero-calorie cola." "Laughing like you've already won, huh?" "Because the first period is Kawar Instructor's class." Oh hell. No wonder he seemed so confident. But no worries. Surely, today won’t be the same. "Speaking of Kawar Instructor... Hey, isn't Si Hoo coming?" Looking around, Si Hoo was absent. "He hasn’t come yet?" What? Was he still asleep in his room? I should’ve awakened him. If he ends up being late, I'll feel bad. Anyway, I settled into my seat and noticed Ryu Cheon Hwi was absent again today. I couldn't protest yesterday due to time, but today I will. Why doesn’t he ever show up at school? As Ken and I were chatting away, – Creak. The door opened, and Leona walked in. "Hello everyone." Leona, already the class popular, greeted everyone with smiles as she entered. Meanwhile, I haven't even had proper chats with the others in class. As she passed by me, "Ah! Too bright!" I shut my eyes against the angelic flash she radiated! "What? Wh-what’s that about? Kim Geun Cheol? What's wrong?" "Hey...! What are you doing!" "What do you mean?" "Angel Leona! You're too dazzling; I can't open my eyes! Please turn down the halo!" "What the—! Before I brighten your eyes even more, quiet down! Who are you teasing!" "Teasing? I am sincere! I’m always earnest with Angel Leona, the savior of my life." "Sincere my—! I said stop!" – Flash! Suddenly, Leona raised her fist, looking menacing! "Shush! Shut it! I’ll give you one last chance, Kim Geun Cheol—do you know what a 'fist kiss' is?" A fist kiss? No way! "No, no! I get it, I get it! Just joking! I won’t do it again!" Not even wayward monks resort to such threats! "That's a shame. I wanted to teach you about a fist kiss. Anyway, Kim Geun Cheol? I’ll be watching today. Whether you scream or not." "And why are you watching for that?" "Of course, it’s natural." With one hand on her hip, – Swoosh. Leona put her other hand behind her neck, tossing her gorgeous silver hair elegantly as she spoke with a proud air. "Kim Geun Cheol screaming means he's losing his composure. After rescuing you while you were writhing from leg cramps, I won't allow such a scene again. As class president, my leadership can’t tolerate it. If you scream again, I'll sew your mouth shut." Good heavens, to think she'd speak of sewing mouths shut so casually! "How can you say something like that! Scary talk indeed! Spare me, won't you?! Is this how angels behave!" "Precisely because I’m an angel. Don't you know wounds need to be stitched? Also, I'm quite skilled in physiotherapy. I even have a fist kiss procedure certificate. Anyway, this Leona will keep an eye on you, so brace yourself. A hero should never lose tension. Now then." – Click, click. After leaving her chilling words, Leona returned to her seat. "Oh, geez!" "Gosh, I swear! You keep this up?" "I got it! I got it! I'll stop now!" "Hmph!" She's seriously one intimidating character. I’ve never seen such an imperious woman. Makes me feel like collapsing and wailing. An angel and a demon—both sides in one woman... She's practically the Asura of legend. "Whew." After Leona left, I waited as Instructor Lee Sora entered to commence the morning roll call. "We have two absentees today? Ryu Cheon Hwi and Lee Si Hoo." Indeed, Si Hoo hasn't arrived yet. Checking my phone, the message still remained unread. "Well, no announcements. First period is Kawar Instructor's magic combat class, so make sure you pay attention." The instructor gave her brief announcement and left. First period was about to begin. Keep it together, Geun Cheol. Today, I'll shed the Scream Man title for good.