Chapter 26 : Main Quest Madness #5 - No Kidding, I’m an Extra

"Would you please just shut up for once!" Honestly, this guy here is such a serious male tsundere. With that thought in mind, I added to my statement directed at the adjudicator. "He acts like this because he's embarrassed, I believe. Anyway, as the victim, since I'm agreeable to reconciliation and have received an apology, I would like to declare my intention to forgive the offender, Ryu Cheon-Hwi. Please take note of my opinion on this. Also, Instructor Lee So-Ra? I think Ryu Cheon-Hwi could use some calming down." "Seems so." —Swoosh. Instructor Lee So-Ra immediately strode over to stand beside Ryu Cheon-Hwi. "Ryu Cheon-Hwi? It would be wise to quiet down a bit." "Damn it...!" Even when offered forgiveness, he throws a tantrum. In any case, he's not all that bad. When he stomped on my back before, I thought he was a complete bastard, but seeing him now, I feel a little guilty. However, you can't take back what you've already said. As with all words, especially those kind of aggressive comments, they linger forever. Even if I regret it later, I can never take it back. But then again, I have no intention of doing so; it was the right thing to do at the time. And who knows? Maybe it was that aggressive comment that snapped him back to reality. Actually... Wait a minute. The pieces are all coming together now, aren't they? Could it be my harsh words were a form of shock therapy for Ryu Cheon-Hwi? Sometimes, even if you can't take back certain things, they can have positive outcomes. Thinking about that gives me a warm feeling inside. Even when you sow indiscriminately, beans still grow, right? "Hehehe, well, I did mention his parents in a rather colorful way, so it's as much my fault as his. Please don't impose excessive punishment, Your Honor. What are friends for, after all? Although wielding a knife was...! A bit overboard! I have forgiven him!" With overwhelming generosity, I forgive him! "You punk...!" As forgiveness left my lips, Ryu Cheon-Hwi's face flushed red. Watching that— "Huh, Kim Geun-Cheol. Do you truly forgive him?" "Yes. Isn't it possible for school kids to get into fights? Besides, Ryu Cheon-Hwi talks big, but deep down, he isn't such a bad guy." "Indeed." Instructor Lee So-Ra gave a small smile at my words. A peaceful resolution would also be good for her as an instructor. Ryu Cheon-Hwi isn't all that bad. He even asked Leona what I received to be so pleased with it. And after that, he hasn't caused me any trouble. He hasn't gathered a gang to finish me off either, so I can forgive everything. Getting teamed up on really hurts. It could hurt so bad you'd need to be hospitalized, but since he didn't do that, I'm willing to forgive. "Cadet Kim Geun-Cheol. Thank you for stating your position. Would you confirm once more your intention as the victim to forgive?" "Yes. I forgive." After I spoke, the adjudicators began whispering among themselves. They're likely discussing briefly. "Kim Geun-Cheol? Quite the manly stance. Even if he has apologized, forgiving is an entirely different matter." "My feelings have been resolved. That's all there is to it." "Ho. Even such convictions, eh? I quite like it—Kim Geun-Cheol, you're very manly." —Rustle, rustle. Instructor Lee So-Ra ruffled my hair with her hand. My hair's getting all messed up. "Hehehe, I like you too, Instructor. The true adult of our times! The celestial fighter who embodies both beauty and intelligence—Instructor Lee So-Ra!" "Stop spouting nonsense, Kim Geun-Cheol!" "Yes." Anyway. What will the judgment be? "Then, I'll deliver the verdict. Since Cadet Kim Geun-Cheol, the victim, has expressed forgiveness, the punishment for Cadet Ryu Cheon-Hwi will be set at... 20 hours of school service. Ryu Cheon-Hwi will serve two hours after school starting today. Report to the student council room. That is all." And with that, the disciplinary committee session concluded. Even so, they slammed down 20 hours of school service for a fight. This essentially means his dismissal from school will be delayed by 2 hours each day. "Instructor Lee So-Ra. May I go now?" "You may. Ryu Cheon-Hwi, follow along." "Hmph, when will this damn brat stop acting up...!" A little grudge, hmm. Anyway, as I stepped into the corridor— "You." "What?" Ryu Cheon-Hwi called out to me as he spoke. "Don't get it twisted. I've neither apologized to you nor sought your assistance. You went ahead and forgave me on your own, that's all. Do you think I'd accept such pity from you?" "Okay, next up: Meal Voucher Man." "You bastard...! Shut that mouth of yours! It was merely compensation! It's repulsive to say another word! Now get lost!" "We're heading in the same direction to class, aren’t we?" "This damn guy...!" His expression was truly something to behold, seeing as I teased him a little. "Hehehe." But I know he's not someone who would hit me. "Just wait and see! I'll make sure you pay for messing around!" "Hey, cut it out already. Seriously, what 'pay'? Want to head back to the disciplinary committee? Ah. Instructor Lee So-Ra, it's alright if you leave now. We just need to have a little chat." "Very well." Instructor Lee So-Ra promptly turned on her heel. "Do you think I fear some punishment? Ha. Now that the instructor has left, who’s going to protect you? Lee Si-hoo or whoever isn't here now." With the instructor gone, Ryu Cheon-Hwi, feeling quite emboldened, glared at me, his eyes practically ablaze. "Hah. So you're saying you're up for it?" Challenging him with a stare prompted him to gear up for confrontation. Of course, I have no business with this guy. —Step. I walked over to the vending machine in front of us. "What are you doing now—" —Clunk. Swiping my card, I grabbed two drinks. "Hey." "What?" "Here, take this." I offered him my usual choice, a zero cola. "This?" Ryu Cheon-Hwi looked at the cola with a puzzled expression, as if laying eyes on such a thing for the first time. "It's a cola." "Just looking at it disgusts me. You think I’d drink this commoner's beverage?" "What? You're not taking it? Should I just throw it away? Throwing it away then?" "I’m not taking it!" —Smack! In an instant, he slapped my hand away! —Thud! The can of cola hit the floor with a dull thud...! Well, damn it! He's smashed my gesture of reconciliation just like that! "Oh... damn." "Ha, what a fitting end for such a low-grade can drink, the kind only commoners consume. A truly fitting end." "Hey, are you really throwing it away?" "What?" "I thought you were someone with your own standards. So I figured you'd admit your mistakes and came to apologize, but you're rejecting my cola?" With that, he seemed about to say something. This guy's pride is no joke. I was hoping we could get along, but if not, so be it. "Fine. Do what you want. I'm leaving." Just as I turned my body. "Tch!" "Hmm?" I heard a clicking sound from behind. "Stay out of my sight from now on! You infuriating pest!" Ryu Cheon-Hwi stormed off in the opposite direction. Even though the classroom is this way. "Damn." The cola that was on the floor was now gone. "What a detestable tsundere." A guy with no sense of honesty. * * * Ryu Cheon-Hwi didn’t return to the classroom. Seems like he’s skipping again. Midway through the lesson, I went back to my seat. And when break time arrived. "Kim Geun-Cheol? What did you do?" Leona approached and asked. "Take a guess." "The only things you’d do are practice screaming in the school karaoke room or scavenge food from the welfare center. How’s the screaming practice and food foraging going, you impoverished child and screamer-hero, Mr. Kim Geun-Cheol?" "Hey! Why do you insult me so suddenly? Are you going to keep disrespecting impoverished kids like that? Is that angelic behavior?" And what’s this 'screamer-hero' nonsense? "Who said I was disrespecting them? Anyway, if you’re done fooling around, why don't you just tell me?" Leona's teasing tone suggested she was genuinely curious. "What did you even do to leave in the middle of class? I have to record it in the class president’s observation log." Class president’s observation log? Is that something like a squad leader’s observation log? Guess I should respond. "I went to the disciplinary committee with Ryu Cheon-Hwi." "What?" As I explained, Ken, Brian, and even Si Hoo gathered around. I ended up explaining the story to everyone, not just Leona. I briefly shared the day's events, the story of 'Angel Ryu Cheon-Hwi,' and the recent disciplinary committee session. "My, so you coolly forgave him after meeting?" Leona said, surprised with her mouth slightly open. "Yeah. Since I got an apology, I didn’t feel the need to hold onto it. So I said I’d forgive him. But he still got slapped with school service." If I hadn’t forgiven him, it might have been ‘school service execution’. This guy owes me his life. "My goodness... I’m astonished!" "What’s so shocking?" "Kim Geun-Cheol, you have magnanimity, don’t you? Just because your body is hungry, doesn’t mean your mind has to starve. Indeed. This is why our Kainus family runs a charity to support the poor." "What did you say?" This woman? "Oh, right. So Ryu Cheon-Hwi must have asked me about that then. Unbelievable. Maybe he's not as bad as I thought?" "So, Angel Le ona? How about I return the meal vouchers?" "Uh." "I’ve collected a lot from Ryu Cheon-Hwi. So stop taking them. Keeping what I can’t use is just annoying." "Wait! Kim Geun-Cheol!" Suddenly, she raised her voice in protest. "What now?" "So you're willing to accept meal vouchers from Ryu Cheon-Hwi, but you dismiss the grace of the Kainus family? This could only be seen as an insult to me and my family!" "Hey! Why take it that way! What you gave was purely out of kindness, while his was an apology! I have to decide what I'll accept!" "Humph! Nonsense! Fine, I'm leaving!" —Clack, clack! "Hey, you!" Leona stomped off, making quite the show with her clicking heels! "Screamer-man. You seem to have gotten quite close with Leona?" "Oh! Screamer-man! That’s amazing! Are you two dating?" "Cut it out...! Si Hoo! Huh?" But then I noticed— "..." Si Hoo was looking at me with an odd expression. "Si Hoo?" "Huh? Oh, Geun-Cheol. Class is about to start. Let’s take our seats." "Sure. By the way, want to hit the gym after class again today?" "Why do you like the gym so much, Kim Geun-Cheol!" "Got to build stamina, you know. Seriously, are you skipping again today? I wanted us to crush the gym and then hit the bathhouse together." "You bathhouse addict Kim Geun-Cheol!!!" "Argh!" Why are you calling me an addict too?! Oh man, gotta hit the gym alone again! This is just too much! * * * Taking off my uniform. —Slid. Slowly unwinding the warm bandages. "Haa." A sigh escaped as a feeling of liberation hit. The bandages are becoming increasingly stifling. "Why does he keep suggesting the bathhouse? Is he really a bathhouse fanatic?" In the end, I didn't go to the training or gym today. As soon as school ended, I headed straight back to the dorm. If I got caught, I'd have been dragged along unwillingly. After unwinding the bandages, Lee Si-hoo sighed as he struggled to take off his school uniform pants around his hips and tailbone. "How could I possibly go to a bathhouse with this body...?" Changing clothes at the gym might be possible with the right timing, but going to a bathhouse? Should I enter only when it's empty and maybe wrap a towel around my body if it's just the two of us there? That's impossible. There's no way it would work. Moreover, I've never been to a bathhouse before. "Sigh." With such thoughts clouding his mind, Lee Si-hoo stepped into the shower. Creak. He turned on the hot water and began his shower. "...Geun-Cheol." A very peculiar guy. An unusual friend. "He’s gotten pretty close with Leona..." For some reason, that thought lingered with him.