Chapter 104. Weekend (3)
"Honey... mmng..."
"You did well."
I stroked Baek A-Young's hair as she lay on my arm.
It was kind of funny to be doing this in the middle of volunteer work, but hey, that's life.
Just in case the kids woke up, I blocked off their ears with magic and used a rune barrier to keep sound from leaking out of the room—so we were safe.
We lay together, basking in the afterglow.
"A-Young, come here."
"Honey... mm... chu..."
We shared soft kisses as I gently ran my hands over her body.
It got me aroused again, but doing more now would be pushing it.
The kids' nap time was nearly over.
I pulled away from A-Young and looked toward the children.
"They're really cute. How can kids be this adorable?"
"...Right? They're so sweet."
A-Young was smiling warmly, lost in thought as she looked at the children.
★ Heroine Status Window
[Baek A-Young]
- [ Affection: 89 ] (+0.5)
- [ Lust: 80 ]
- [ Appetite: 30 ]
- [ Fatigue: 35 ]
Current Status: I wish I had a child that cute... with him...?
I averted my eyes from A-Young's glance. That look was scary.
Don't start thinking that far ahead, A-Young.
I don't even know how many future wives I'll have.
"Ahem. I think the caretakers will be here soon."
"Yeah. It's about that time."
The kids would be waking up soon.
We used Clean Magic to tidy up the area and started helping the first few kids as they stirred.
Knock knock.
Just then, the caretaker entered the room.
"Oh my, they're already waking up."
Since she'd taken over, it was time for us to leave.
"We'll get going now."
"Thanks for your help today."
All we did was have sex next to napping kids, and she was thanking us... what a world.
'This is what volunteering's about.'
Still, I kind of wanted to play with the kids a bit. Leaving now felt a little unsatisfying.
"Kind of a shame. Feels like we didn't actually volunteer much."
"Yeah. It does."
A-Young looked just as disappointed as I felt.
She really did like kids.
"Hyung!"
"Unnie!"
As we headed to the director's office to say goodbye, kids came running toward us.
The red-haired boy who always led the group came sprinting over.
The same one who almost caught A-Young and me having sex before.
Behind him were more than ten kids and the director.
"Play with us, hyung!"
"Where did the others go?"
"They ran away again."
"Ran away?"
There were more than five volunteers earlier, but none were in sight now.
"That's how most newcomers are. They're enthusiastic at first, but once they realize how hard it is to play with the kids, they leave and don't come back."
"Ah..."
The director gave a bitter smile as she walked up.
"It's not good for the children, but there's nothing we can do with how many visitors we're getting..."
That kind of behavior could make the kids feel abandoned or teach them not to trust people.
I didn't expect the academy's PR shoot here to cause this kind of side effect...
"Hyung?"
I patted the red-haired boy's head as he tilted his head at my and A-Young's gloomy expressions.
"A-Young. Wanna stay and play with them a bit?"
"Yeah. Let's do that."
We smiled at each other.
A-Young and I really were in sync.
*
"I'll stop by the infirmary next time, A-Young."
"Okay. See you later."
We waved each other goodbye.
I probably wouldn't see her next week, but she didn't seem disappointed—maybe she didn't know yet.
★ Heroine Status Window
[Baek A-Young]
- [ Affection: 89 ] (+0.5)
- [ Lust: 80 ]
- [ Appetite: 30 ]
- [ Fatigue: 35 ]
Current Status: How do I follow during the survival test...?
'Ah, so she does know.'
She must've taken an oath of mana as staff—otherwise, she'd have mentioned it.
I just hope she doesn't get herself into trouble trying to tag along.
I left A-Young and headed back toward the dorm. It was past 4 PM, almost dinner time.
Around now, Liliana should be in the middle of her stream.
Whenever I come home, Liliana ends her stream to match.
She complains, but she just wants to spend time with me. I'm the only one who sees her off-stream.
Still, ending her stream whenever I come home probably isn't great for her channel's growth.
"Don't really feel like going home yet... but there's nothing else to do. Ah, maybe I'll go shopping."
I had a lot to buy in preparation for next week's survival test.
It's kind of like a second playthrough perk from the original game—the test begins with a sudden announcement and immediate transport, giving no prep time.
You have to survive a week with only the minimal rations provided—everything else from food to shelter is up to you.
But there's a loophole.
If you sneak in a subspace artifact during Monday's classes, you're set.
There's no baggage check since we're instantly sent to a deserted island after the announcement.
With that plan in mind, I turned back. Time to head to the big mart where I ran into Nam Daeun last time.
I should buy things like camping gear.
"Lee Hoyeon!"
Then, at the sound of a high-tension voice calling me from behind, I turned around.
Lucy and Lumi were coming this way.
"Hi, Lee Hoyeon! Where were you going?"
"Hello, Hoyeon."
"Hey. Lucy, Lumi. I was just heading out to buy a few things."
No matter how close we are, I can't leak info about the survival exam.
If it's just me, they might brush it off like I'm crazy for being overprepared. But if more people start preparing, it'll raise suspicion.
"Really? We were about to hang out at a cafe. Want to come with?"
"A cafe?"
Not a bad idea… the timing's a bit awkward, but honestly, I can go shopping tomorrow instead.
"Did you eat yet? We're going to get tteokbokki too."
"Okay, let's go."
Despite being close with the Lucy-Lumi twins, I hadn't hung out with them outside the academy.
I did meet with Lumi early on after the possession, but after we became secret friends, we hadn't met up. So this felt like the right time.
Well, aside from all that—what kind of idiot says no to a weekend cafe date with two pretty girls?
"I shall accept with joy."
"Pfft. What are you even saying."
We headed together toward the academy's shopping district.
We entered a nice-looking cafe and ordered some drinks.
"Clair Rose Latte…? You like weird stuff, huh."
"It's pretty good."
Honestly, it's something Moon Surin liked. I had it a few times and it grew on me.
Sweet and lightly rosy at first, minty like toothpaste after, and then finishes with a spicy kick. A strange flavor.
"Wanna try a sip?"
"Uh, huh? Just like that?"
"Yeah, how else would you drink it."
I handed the Clair Rose Latte I'd been drinking to Lucy, and she looked a little flustered.
What, is she worried about an indirect kiss or something? We're not kids.
After glancing at me, Lucy finally sipped it from the straw.
"Hmm? Ew, ew! Gross."
"That bad?"
I thought it was fine once you got used to it.
"Why would you drink that… ew. I need to rinse my mouth."
Lucy went back to chugging her strawberry latte.
Lumi watched us with a faint smile.
"Hoyeon, are you preparing for Monday's special exam?"
"It's not like I know what to prepare for. They don't tell us anything."
"Last year, they gathered all the first-years in the auditorium and did a battle royale. Then the next exam was hide-and-seek, and they almost wrecked half the academy."
"… Seriously?"
The previous exams Lucy mentioned were pretty intense.
I guess that was a thing. Makes sense—not preparing at all for an annual survival exam would be dumb.
The midterm's special exam always has some crazy theme.
"Ahh~ I just hope it's not something too physically tiring. I hate being hungry too."
"It's okay, Lucy. According to Everyday, this year's is supposed to be an easy one. They say it alternates yearly between hard and easy."
"Don't believe that… those people are students just like us."
Lumi's too trusting of what she reads online. This is probably the most annoying exam yet.
'Guess I'll have to pack more food into the subspace gear.'
In the game, I only packed what I personally needed, but now I have more people to take care of.
"Uhh~ I'm going to the bathroom real quick."
Lucy left, and Lumi and I locked eyes.
"Hoyeon. Did you see the new character that came out recently?"
"Huh? Oh… yeah, I saw."
I didn't get it at first, but thankfully I remembered Lumi's an otaku.
★ Heroine Status Window
[Lumi]
- [ Affection: 89 ] (+0.1)
- [ Lust: 80 ]
- [ Appetite: 20 ]
- [ Fatigue: 40 ]
Current Status: Still watching Idol Party lately…? Hinata-chan appeared.
"You mean Hinata, right? She's decently cute."
"Yes! That's right. I think she's super cute. And Hinata-chan—"
When I played along, Lumi smiled brightly and continued.
Seeing Lumi rattle on about Hinata-chan made it obvious—she still hadn't shaken off her outsider aura.
I'm only putting up with it because it's cute when Lumi does it. If it were someone else, I'd have lost my patience.
"Lumi. Want to come to the bathroom later?"
I ended up steering Lumi's attention elsewhere.
"Huh…?"
"It's been a while since our secret friend activity. Meet me in the last stall of the men's bathroom. I'll go first."
"Ah… o-okay."
Lumi smiled as if she was happy to hear it.
I saw her Lust stat earlier, and it was pretty high. She's probably been holding back without showing it.
I headed to the bathroom before Lucy came back.
If we went together, it might raise suspicion, so I went on ahead.
Since this is a fancy cafe near the academy, the bathrooms were clean and neat.
Just like I said, I waited in the last stall of the men's bathroom.
Soon, I heard a knock at the door.
"Hoyeon, I'm here."
"You, are you really Lumi? Prove it."
"Huh? Please open up… someone might come…!"
It's always more fun teasing girls like Lumi who react so well.
Also, she deserved a little punishment for babbling about otaku stuff earlier.
"Take off your panties and pass them under the door."
"Hoyeon…"
"If you don't hurry, someone might come in."
rustle rustle
A pair of pink panties slid under the door. Already damp.
Definitely Lumi's.
clunk
"Okay, it's you. Come in."
Lumi came in with tears in her eyes.
"You're so mean… huu…"
Well, who told you to say weird stuff in the first place.