Chloe's eyes, as she returned, had a crazed glint to them.
"Heh heh… T-Thanks for letting me in, Taeyang…"
The stench of masochism was already thick…
"Hey. Follow me."
"O-Okay…"
When I turned back, noticing she wasn't following, I saw Chloe crawling on all fours like it was natural.
"Hey! Stop crawling! You look like a ghost from a horror movie—it's creepy!!"
"My legs gave out…"
She didn't stand up in the end.
Enjoying her self-inflicted masochistic scenario to the fullest…
Maybe I should just free her from slavery and make her a true friend…
"Mini sow. Can't live without my PT now, huh?"
Flat on the floor, Chloe answered.
"I went to the school gym… but the trainers were all pathetic… Nobody knows muscles like you, Taeyang…"
"Don't state the obvious! You think I got this perfect body without studying and grinding?! Huh?!"
"Y-Yeah…! So… will you train me…?"
"Beg harder."
"Huh…?"
"I said beg for PT…! If you want to train under me, show some sincerity!! It's not for just anyone!!"
Honestly, I didn't mean to go this far.
But my mouth just ran with it.
Chloe's face twisted with embarrassment.
She tried to compose herself and pleaded.
"P-Please train me…?"
"No sincerity! Make it dirtier!!!"
"I'm sorry for my pathetic muscles…?! Please crush my gummy pecs and flat-dumpling glutes with your weight and bulk me up…?!?"
"*Heh heh heh. Not bad, huh?"
"Dump sticky protein on this public gym newbie ready to train anytime, anywhere…! I'm a supplement toilet who loves cheap, indigestion-causing whey protein and fishy, nasty soy protein…♡"
"Hey. Don't go brain-dead."
"…"
Chloe was itching to revel in masochistic scenarios at every chance.
It's a slightly off-kilter, pseudo-masochism, but I can't let my guard down…
"Let's go! I'll train you!"
"Thank you!!"
"But. There's one condition."
"Condition…?"
Yesterday, Rebel's crew brought some intel.
They reported suspicious activity from the disciplinary committee.
I thought those extra NPCs were useless, but they're surprisingly helpful here.
Playing Academia with this insane freedom is just too fun.
"Tell me everything about what the disciplinary committee's scheming."
"…!"
Chloe's shoulders flinched.
Her disheveled hair trembled.
"Ugh- If you don't wanna talk, forget it. I'll just snag another scrawny sow from the committee."
"N-No!! I'll tell you everything!!! But… can you train me first…?"
"Huh?! Are you messing with me?! A slave sow trying to take control?! Always put me first!!!!"
"Okay…! I'm sorry! I'll tell you right now…!!"
In the end, she spilled the entire disciplinary committee's plan.
Fabricating evidence, exposing me at the performance review,
And submitting a "Kim Taeyang expulsion" proposal to the faculty…
Is that what the disciplinary committee's supposed to do?
"Vice-Principal's plan?"
"Yeah…"
Looks like Shin Hyewon's desperate.
Not surprising, given the rumors starting to spread.
"Mini sow. Do exactly as I say. Then I'll give you all the PT you want."
Chloe swallowed hard and asked.
"Massage too…?"
"I'll knead you till you pass out, so brace yourself. Begging me to stop won't help."
"G-Good…♡"
Now that I know the plan, time to counter it.
With Chloe completely under my thumb, there's barely any countering needed.
The presenter at the performance review in a few days? None other than Chloe Maiden.
So, I'll just have her sabotage it.
***
Today, too, ArkGal was ablaze with its usual chaos.
-Btw, you guys galling knowing this?
Vice-Principal passed out getting pounded by Kim Taeyang lol
↳ ?
↳ What's this now lol
↳ Nothing but ghost stories keep popping up ;
↳ This crosses the line, dude
↳ Got the ppt. Suing for sexual harassment gg
↳ Why a ppt? Prepping for a presentation? Lol
↳ But this seems legit? More than a few kids saw it.
↳ Bullshit
↳ All the profs hate Kim Taeyang's guts
Today's hot topic was Vice-Principal Shin Hyewon.
A rumor that she passed out during sex with Kim Taeyang.
They were bickering over whether it was true.
-But if it's Gallery Icon, maybe it's possible?
Gallery Icon's got a big nose, so bet it's huge down there too lol
No matter how aloof a woman is, she can't resist a big one lol
↳ Since when was that delinquent Gallery Icon?
↳ ㅇㅇㅇㅇ! Half the board is Gallery Icon posts, just admit he's Gallery Icon already!
↳ I'm a 3rd-year, ugh. Those cocky freshman delinquents are done for once I'm back from my internship. I'm cracking down on Ark's discipline hard.
↳ Huh? How you gonna enforce discipline with Kim Taeyang around?!
↳ This guy lmao acting all tough www
Public opinion, as always, was split.
Thanks to the spreading rumors, surprisingly many believed them to be true.
"These shameless brats aren't even training…!!"
The person at the center of it all, Shin Hyewon.
Unable to hold back while scrolling, she slammed the [Post] button.
-The Vice-Principal speaks casually, you disrespectful brats
You guys are getting too cocky, no respect for hierarchy??
Just casually saying the Vice-Principal got pounded or passed out~ WTF
You're not middle schoolers, you're over 20, and you can't tell shit from shinola???
I'll track every IP and send you to jail to wake you up!!!
I'm screenshotting this and submitting it to the disciplinary committee…
Shin Hyewon wasn't a regular on ArkGal.
So, in her rage, she poured out 5,700 characters without thinking.
The response was predictable.
↳ Upvote. But give me a 3-line summary.
↳ This guy's just a troll. Ignore.
Downvotes: 23
'What the hell's a troll…?!'
Shin Hyewon was furious at being called a "troll" without knowing what it meant, but that was the end of it.
Her post got buried under a barrage of downvotes with just two comments.
"These brats…!"
Whooshhh-!!
In her office, Shin Hyewon trembled with rage.
Her uncontrolled aura whipped up, sending papers flying.
If ArkGal users who ignored her saw this, they'd quake in fear…
But for now, it was just her.
Calming down, Shin Hyewon let out a heavy sigh.
"I'm going insane…"
She vowed never to visit ArkGal again and tidied the scattered papers.
"This humiliation ends now… The exposé at the performance review will turn public opinion against him, and even the Principal won't be able to shield him then…!"
Fabrication.
Exposure.
And the faculty meeting.
The plan to expel Kim Taeyang was already in motion.
All that was left was to wait for the performance review…!
***
"Class will end a bit early today. I'll now explain the group assignment, so pay attention."
It was finally here.
The practical for 'Basic Dungeon Exploration'…
The freshmen's first off-campus field training and their first group assignment…!!
"You'll form groups of three and enter cleared dungeons around Ark Island. We've placed low-level monsters in each dungeon. You'll explore as a team."
For a veteran Academia player like me, entering a dungeon was thrilling.
With two 9-star constellations, I was eager to test my strength.
"Use the remaining time to form groups and submit them to me."
Rustle rustle-
Students got up, scrambling to find teammates.
I stayed seated, observing.
In group assignments, the most popular students are the capable ones.
So, naturally, with two 9-star constellations, I should—
"Hey, quick, let's form a group of three…!"
"Hide me for a bit…"
"No way, we're doing it as three. Submit it before Kim Taeyang sees!"
"Ugh, what do I do…? I made eye contact with Kim Taeyang…"
"?"
Why is avoiding me their top priority?!
Who said I'd eat them?!!
As someone who always sits in the front, taking diligent notes, this was deeply unfair…
But given my track record, it's not surprising…
Ugh, so lonely!
I had fantasies of being a super-popular honor student, basking in thunderous applause at the heart of the academy…!
"You okay? Something wrong with your face?"
"…Nothing."
Seol Harin was already standing in front of me, uninvited.
Well, she probably doesn't have friends either.
Someone might think I made her an outcast, but that's not true.
In the original story, she didn't have friends either.
She's so domineering and subtly rude that people avoid her.
If anything, I'm the one who's made her somewhat human, right?
"Good if nothing's wrong. So, who're we picking for the third member?"
The team had to be three people.
We needed one more, and while a loyal guy like Rebel would be fine…
This mission has a hidden event.
I stood up and strode confidently toward the crowd of students.
"K-Kim Taeyang…!"
"Eek…!"
"I-I already formed a team!!!"
"Ugh… my stomach suddenly…"
The students parted like the Red Sea to avoid me.
What is this, the miracle of Moses?!
I get that I'm scary, but this hurts a bit…!
I didn't plan to team up with these extra NPCs anyway…
"Hey. You got a team yet?"
"What… you talking to me?"
"Huh? Who else is standing in front of me?!"
The guy I was looking for was none other than the game's protagonist.
Kang Juhyeok.
"You… want to team up with me?"
He stammered, flustered.
I get it.
From Kang Juhyeok's perspective, it must be absurd.
The guy who stole his childhood friend and crush is suggesting a team-up—it's gotta seem suspicious.
But that's a misunderstanding.
I'm not thinking anything shady.
I'm thinking something insanely shady!!!!!
"Well, I've been a bit harsh, so I thought I'd apologize and make friends this time. Heh heh heh."
"…"
At that moment, a constellation popped out from Kang Juhyeok's chest.
A small ghost draped in a blanket.
The ghost knight, Plancel.
"Hey, you. Stop scheming and get lost."
"Huh? What's scheming about it, virgin ghost?!!"
"Who're you calling a virgin ghost, you delinquent?!!"
Plancel flared up.
But… you are a virgin, right…?
"Plancel-nim, let me handle this."
"Fine… Just don't let this guy drag you around."
"Understood."
Plancel vanished, looking thoroughly pissed.
"So, you in or out? Huh?!"
"…Fine. I'm in."
"Heh heh heh. Thanks for being cool about it."
Just when it seemed settled, Seol Harin started freaking out.
"Wait a sec. Do we have to go with Juhyeok…?"
"Huh? You're defending this guy in front of me?!"
"N-No, it's not like that…"
"You better shape up!! Is he better than me or what?!?!"
"…"
Seol Harin glanced between me and Kang Juhyeok, clearly troubled.
Her eyes on Kang Juhyeok were somehow wistful.
But her body leaned toward me.
She lifted my arm, draping it over her shoulder and pressing close.
"What kind of stupid question is that? Of course I like you more."
[NTR Situation Staged!]
[Earned 85 Coins!]
Eighty-five coins from that plain soup of a guy, Kang Juhyeok.
Thanks…!
"Harin… I was wrong last time… Can you forgive me?"
"No need to apologize, so don't."
"…"
The vibe between them was weird.
I'm not sure, but something must've happened.
Probably fought because of me.
This slow drift apart is good for the long game.
Still, I'm taking Kang Ju-hyeok along.
"Hey, sow. If this guy pulls anything annoying, I'll handle him, so we're going together."
"…Fine, then."
Seol Harin reluctantly agreed, pretending she had no choice.
The reason for bringing Kang Juhyeok is clear.
The dungeon we're entering.
There's a legendary sword hidden there.
In the original story, Kang Juhyeok would obtain it, triggering Plancel's humanization as a key item.
This time, I'm stealing that sword.
And after that…?
I'm taking that prickly ghost knight, Plancel…!
NTR for the win!!
"Heh heh heh. So, we're a team. The ex-boyfriend and the current boyfriend on one team… Isn't this hilarious?!"
"You… just said 'current boyfriend'…?"
"Hey! It was just a figure of speech! Not like actual boyfriend!! 'Current boyfriend' is just a metaphor to describe the main concept of me, Kim Taeyang!! Didn't you learn this in literature class?! Don't read into it and just let it slide…!!!"
Got too excited and slipped up…
Retracting words is harder than I thought…
As we finalized the team, I heard sniffling behind me.
"Sob… sniff…"
"?"
Turning around, I saw Rebel and his crew crying like they'd just been dumped.
"What's with you guys? Why're you bawling so pathetically?"
Rebel spat out his words with resentment.
"Taeyang… I thought you'd be the leader of our delinquent team… Why… Why'd you pick that goody-two-shoes Kang Juhyeok over us…?! Is he that great…? We've spent way more time with you…!! Sob…"
[NTR Situation Staged!]
[Earned 25 Coins!]
What the hell?!
Why is this NTR…?!
Don't tell me… Rebel, that jerk…
He thinks I got NTR'd by Kang Juhyeok?!?!
"I didn't abandon you, Rebel. I'm entrusting you with your own team…!"
"Ughhh~ As expected of the God of Delinquents, Kim Taeyang… I believed in you…!!"
With some half-hearted consoling, Rebel perked up.
I could've ignored him, but his crew's been surprisingly useful.
They handle annoying tasks efficiently, and this time they dug up the disciplinary committee's plans.
Sure, they're delinquents, but they don't really do anything bad, so it's fine…
After classes ended, I headed to the disciplinary committee's office.
I needed something to get that legendary sword.
Click-
"…"
The office was quiet.
Normally, passionate committee members would be debating heatedly.
They're probably fabricating evidence at some secret hideout.
'Works out for me.'
I put on orange sunglasses.
They revealed a faint mana flow emanating from a locker.
Clank…!
The locker was locked.
But I had a master key.
Blackmailed it out of the committee president, Chloe.
"Woo~☆ Got the disciplinary committee rulebook~"
Inside was a stack of documents.
The committee's rulebook, an in-game item that triggers an event.
And the event's key is the cat sitting on top.
"Hoh? A challenger after so long, nyang! Wanna play a riddle game, nyang?"
A riddle-giving cat constellation.
Not Sphinx… but Spankings.
Never thought I'd meet this masochistic furball in real life.