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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Ichika and Sophia (1)
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Upon Utopia's return from the monster subjugation request in America.
Another "Utopia craze" swept through Velvet Hunter Academy.
"Utopia!"
"Utopia!"
"Utopia!"
Not only had every member shown significant growth, but they had also not merely held their own among the seasoned, reputable hunters from other countries; they had truly distinguished themselves.
What's more, with Utopia, a group of mere first-year students, achieving such remarkable results, even other academy students found themselves receiving higher evaluations than before, simply by virtue of being from Velvet Hunter Academy!
It was only natural, then, to warmly welcome Utopia, who had brought such a beneficial trickle-down effect.
So, among the Utopia party members, whose renown had once again soared, who was the most sought-after by both seniors and fellow students?
"Sophia!"
"Sophia! Hi!"
"Sophia! Could I possibly trouble you for a quick photo? My mom really insisted!"
"Oh, of course. Of course. Yoonhee sunbae-nim. Please, come right over."
Click─
Sophia smiled radiantly and posed for the photo.
"Oh my gosh, you're gorgeous!!! Thank you, I'll treasure this forever, pass it down through generations!!!"
"Hehe, it's nothing, really."
Truth be told, the most recognized and admired individual within the Utopia party was, naturally, Jin Yuha.
However, Jin Yuha was fundamentally preoccupied with training and personal schedules. Moreover, her strong, aloof image as an 'unreachable flower' on a cliff meant that those outside the Utopia party typically only observed her from a distance.
The other party members—Lee Yuri, Kang Dohui, Shin Sehee, and so on—were much the same.
Each of them had such a clearly defined personal space that a certain distance was always maintained.
Of course, there was Im Gaeul, who was unfailingly kind to everyone and always greeted them with a smile.
How to put it...
She was Utopia's sole second-year student.
And in the Utopia channel, she was always portrayed with an air of 'bluster' and 'self-admiration,' making her surprisingly difficult to approach intimately.
It was harder than one might think to casually approach someone who smiled ominously and spouted lines like, 'You're already cut.'
In contrast, Sophia was always vibrant, and perhaps because she had prior social experience as a model before joining Utopia, she had a considerate, ingrained way of speaking.
Add to that the fact that she was the 'Saintess' who had saved all the injured students during the midterm evaluation—what more could be said?
People always flocked around her like clouds.
"Ahahaha, I'm so sorry, but I'll have to stop here for today. I have some personal business to attend to."
Then, the students who had come to take pictures with her dispersed, their faces etched with disappointment.
Ichika watched her from behind.
'...She's so different from me.'
Unlike herself, a born outsider.
Sophia was an insider through and through.
Like a dog wagging its tail at the sight of people?
Someone who loved being with people, kind to everyone.
It was as if they were born of entirely different species.
So why were these two, so dissimilar in every way, together now?
Ichika, a Japanese national. And Sophia, mixed-race with a foreign father.
Both transfer students at Velvet Hunter Academy.
The fact that neither was an original member of Utopia, but had joined midway.
Because the two shared many similar circumstances, Sophia, who had adapted first, was helping Ichika!
"Our next class is together, isn't it? Support Roles and Specialization Linkage."
"Yeah, that's right."
Sophia and Ichika headed to class together.
*
"Today's class concludes here. Finally, I want you to reflect on why 'Specialization' is called 'Specialization.'"
The class they attended together concluded.
"..."
Sophia stared intently at Ichika, who was sound asleep beside her.
Poke. Poke. Poke.
She gently poked her shoulder.
Ichika blinked, her eyes fluttering open.
"Didn't you sleep last night?"
"I did."
"Hmm, but why...?"
"I'm sleepy."
"Still, you should try to listen in class..."
"I'm a foreigner, so it's hard for me to understand the lectures."
Ichika said this without a flicker of change in her expression.
She knew perfectly well that the Korean was automatically translated to native-level fluency through her earphones, yet she still said this.
'She's a unique one, isn't she?'
She was just... inscrutable.
Everyone in Utopia had strong, distinct personalities, but they were generally manageable as long as you were careful about certain things.
Kang Dohui was fine as long as you didn't sting her pride.
Lee Yuri just needed respect.
Shin Sehee was difficult, but as an operator and combatant, it wasn't hard to avoid clashing with her.
As for Gaeul sunbae...
She was simply an easygoing person.
On the other hand, Ichika was a complete enigma.
Talking to her felt like hitting a brick wall, somehow?
It was an awkwardness she hadn't felt before.
'Ugh...!'
Because Sophia was naturally bad at tolerating such awkwardness, she opened her mouth, ready to say something.
"Um, uh, d-do you happen to know about something called MBTI?"
"...MBTI?"
Ichika lifted her face from the desk and sat up.
"Yes, it's a personality type test that was quite popular a while ago. It's, it's not bad for a bit of fun! I'm an ENFJ!"
"Never tried it."
"Would you like to try it, then?"
"Alright."
Tap-tap.
Ichika tapped away on the phone Sophia handed her, her expression indifferent.
A little while later.
Ichika's results appeared.
"Oh, Ichika-ssi, you're an INTP!"
"...And?"
"Not very social, likes to space out... very clear likes and dislikes... no interest in popular trends..."
Sophia, who had been reciting the characteristics she found online, hastily clamped her mouth shut.
Because the more she spoke, the more it felt like she was insulting Ichika to her face.
However, Ichika's reaction was different from what Sophia expected.
"Oh."
Ichika's eyes widened in surprise, and her mouth fell open.
"That's amazing. It all seems to be true."
"Right?! Right!?"
Just as she was about to eagerly dive in, thinking she had finally found a common interest.
"Ah—"
Thud!
Ichika suddenly slammed her head hard onto the desk.
"What's wrong, all of a sudden?! Ichika-ssi! Are you alright?!"
Sophia, startled, shook her shoulder.
Ichika's body was trembling.
"Not enough..."
"What? Not enough...? What is...?"
"Benefactor. The benefactor... Otherwise, I might go berserk..."
"Benefactor...? Jin Yuha-nim?"
* * *
Upon receiving Sophia's call, Jin Yuha rushed to the infirmary.
And as Sophia explained the situation, Jin Yuha nodded in understanding and abruptly pulled Ichika into a hug, stroking her gently, as if she were something infinitely precious.
Then, Ichika, who had been groaning and breaking out in a cold sweat, instantly relaxed her expression as if nothing had ever been wrong.
Sophia's face was utterly bewildered as she watched the scene unfold.
'What, in the world, is going on...?'
It couldn't be helped.
It was Ichika, of all people—not another party member—who was monopolizing him and receiving his embrace.
She suddenly collapsed, and then her condition improved just by Jin Yuha touching her.
Wasn't this... wrong?
'And she was the last one to join...?'
Her head tilted.
What was the reason she, and the others, had endured until now?
What was the reason she was holding back from rushing to Jin Yuha herself?
It was precisely because she didn't want Jin Yuha to inadvertently disrupt the party's cohesion.
Because she knew that if she did something like that, he would be the one most hurt.
'But that woman... how dare she?'
A woman who was only 3%.
The bewilderment was like a stray cat brazenly snatching the most delicious strawberry from her carefully cherished shortcake.
No, such a cute analogy couldn't even begin to express the sense of loss she was feeling right now.
A pang.
Her chest ached.
'...This is dangerous, isn't it?'
It wasn't just dangerous.
It felt like a slight nudge would make her jealousy explode.
However, fortunately, Sophia was good at examining her own emotions.
And she was skilled at controlling herself.
'...No. Phew, I have to hold back.'
First, she needed to hear the reason behind this behavior.
Only then could she argue, if she had to.
"Um, Jin Yuha-ssi. As the party's healer, I'd like to ask about Ichika-ssi's condition."
Sophia gathered her surging emotions and calmly asked Jin Yuha.
.
.
.
"You mean, it's the influence of the Incubus's Apostle we dealt with back then...?"
What is that...?
There's no such thing...
I'm so jealous!!!!
Her forcibly raised lips trembled.
* * *
"But don't worry too much, she's not demon-possessed or anything like that. It seems she was exposed to mental attacks for a long time, causing continuous desires in that direction."
"S-so, the solution is...?"
"Yes, it seems to be resolved with regular physical contact with me. But, I'm sorry, could you... keep this a secret?"
"R-regular physical contact...? And, a secret?"
"Yes, if word gets out that she was influenced by a demon, people will surely look at her negatively. You know what happens to hunters suspected of being demon-possessed, right?"
"Y-yes, that's right..."
Sophia nodded mechanically, yet couldn't organize her chaotic thoughts.
"For now, I have my next class to get to. If anything happens, contact me right away. I'll come even if I'm in class. Please look after Ichika."
"Y-yes..."
Creak─
Thud.
The door closed, and Jin Yuha left.
Sophia could only gaze with complex eyes at Ichika, who was asleep in the bed.
"This isn't just *that* kind of problem, Jin Yuha-nim..."
Fortunately, Jin Yuha seemed to think it was merely a therapeutic act for an ailing person, devoid of any ulterior motives.
But this was more serious than any other problem.
Just thinking about how the other party members would react if they found out made her head ache already.
It felt like she could see a future where Utopia would not only face internal strife but also completely disband.
"I need to find a way to handle this... before anyone else finds out."
With that resolve, Sophia clenched her fist.