Became a Swordsman Genius in a Pretty Girl Game

301. Male Quota System

It had already been a week since the new students entered the academy and began their training.

Every night, I received separate videos from Ichika.

Those videos were none other than Min Tae-hoon’s dream footage.

The scenes reflected there were the same landscapes and the same people as now, but the situation and atmosphere were quite different.

In Min Tae-hoon’s dream, the male quota cadets, who had been struggling, were soaring high after receiving the magic,

Min Tae-hoon avoided my gaze, actively expanding his territory, even among the other cadets enchanted by the rumor that special admission students would help them gain strength.

The process was much more vibrant and realistic than I had expected.

I couldn’t help but wonder if things could have really turned out this way if I hadn’t discovered that guy early on.

“Hmm, is that not quite right? Maybe it’s because it’s a dream that the story flowed too conveniently for that guy.”

Even though the cadets’ skills suddenly improved all at once, neither the instructors nor the other cadets expressed any doubts, and so on.

Well, there was a bit of a lack of plausibility, but Ichika’s new ability was effectively cornering Min Tae-hoon.

“Hmm, that felt really realistic… It seems like the other party members are also relieving stress with that.”

If I get the chance later, I should ask for it too.

“After this is over, I need to ask the others how they relieve their stress in their dreams.”

Anyway, returning to reality.

That guy was restrained before he could even attempt anything.

Thus, reality was far from the dream.

The special admission students, including Alice, were sweating profusely as they followed my training schedule.

The male quota cadets cursed and criticized me from behind, but in front of me, they couldn’t express their dissatisfaction.

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I gazed at the freshmen standing with tense faces before opening my mouth.

“For the past week, you’ve done a great job following the tough basic training.”

It was a sincere compliment.

Honestly, I didn’t expect the other two special admission students, Hwarang and Cheolweok, to volunteer for the same training as me after seeing Alice handle the same training load.

Of course, the two of them didn’t quite handle the training as perfectly as Alice did.

Still, they gritted their teeth, their eyes blazing with determination, and refused to give up until the end.

“You’ve been tested to your physical limits. It wasn’t an easy road, but you should be proud of yourselves for enduring it.”

“······!”

At this, Hwarang and Cheolweok’s spines seemed to stiffen, standing up straight.

“And those who have endured this training deserve a proper reward.”

This was something I had prepared with my own money after watching Min Tae-hoon’s dream video and thinking it wasn’t bad.

“Special admission students, step forward.”

Alice, Hwarang, and Cheolweok stood before me.

“Take it.”

I placed a box on each of their hands.

“What’s this?”

Alice asked me, having received the pill.

She’s come a long way, not using honorifics like she used to.

I chuckled to myself and explained.

“It’s called a ‘Chodan’.”

Chodan.

In the Velvet Star game, it’s referred to as a ‘Beginner’s Pill’.

A potion that randomly increases one of the six stats – strength, agility, endurance, or speed – by 1, as long as it’s below 60.

It’s not as good as the magic-enhancing potion I had before or the refined potion made from the Fire Dragon, but…

it’s a high-ranking potion that can be bought with money.

Well, it’s not like it’s useful even if I or other party members take it.

When my stats were below 60, this potion didn’t even exist.

“It’s a potion to help new characters shine in the latter half of the scenario, so to speak.”

“If I eat this, one of my abilities, such as strength, agility, or endurance, will increase by 60 or more.

Everyone’s eyes widened in surprise.

It seemed to be a priceless treasure.

Currently, all members of our Utopia party, including myself, were earning astronomical amounts of money.

There were many places searching for Utopia, and our body prices had skyrocketed.

Of course, if necessary, we would sometimes take on a quest without receiving payment.

Fundamentally, whenever we went out, we would earn tens of millions of dollars.

So, this level of expenditure was nothing.

However, from the recipient’s perspective, it wouldn’t feel that way.

“Wow, wow, if I just eat this, my ability will increase!?”

Hwarang’s eyes grew round as he looked at the pill in his hand and then at me.

“Yes, it’s a medicine that was completed a week ago. The clinical trials are already done, so you don’t have to worry about side effects.”

“Is it really okay to receive such a precious thing…?”

“It’s a reward for our hard work. Ah, but let’s not take it for now.”

“…?”

“So, there’s a team battle in two weeks, right? If I raise my abilities with a boost and get good results, there’s bound to be gossip. So, I’ll take it on the day our training is completely over.”

“Ah.”

Then, a look of understanding appeared in Hwarang’s eyes.

“Ugh…! This, this thing! Here!”

Hwarang handed me the box containing the premium item again, her hands trembling.

“What…?”

I looked at her with a puzzled expression.

She replied with a sheepish look.

“Well, I’m the type who can’t resist temptation… I have a hard time controlling my impulses, and I need to eat delicious things right away to feel relieved.”

I knew that.

Hwarang was a character who had a carefree personality and a solid fan base.

“So, if I have this, I’ll definitely get distracted. And if I get distracted, I won’t be able to focus on my training. So, can’t Instructor Jinyu keep it for me until the end?”

I was trying to test whether I could maintain my self-control even when I had something tempting in my hand…

But to think I’d get it back like this right away…

Indeed, this was another unexpected turn of events.

“This one too, would be great to drag into the Utopia sub-party.”

A pleased smile forms on my lips.

“I understand. I’ll keep the cadets’ badges until the schedule is all over. I’ll return them then.”

I nod my head and put the box back into the subspace.

“This.”

“Ah, I’d like to request one too!”

Alice and Cheolbeok also handed over their badges.

The award ceremony for the special admission students ended on a warm note.

Now, all that’s left are the male cadets.

Their eyes gleam with a strange expectation.

The expectation that something might be given to them.

“Hmm, look at these guys?”

I had no intention of giving them even a single badge.

Putting a badge in their mouths would be like throwing money into a trash can.

“If you’re expecting something, give up. I’ll tell you now. You guys get nothing.”

Did those words spark a fire on the fuse?

A large-built male student, one of the special admission students, stood up and shouted.

“This is unfair!”

“Unfair?”

I tilted my head to the side and replied.

“Yes, that’s right!”

“Why do you think that?”

“From the start, aren’t men and women physically different? They have bodies that are inherently different from ours, yet they receive the same training and are held to the same standards. Is that really fair?! Moreover, there was a training session that even the flower-like and iron-walled ones couldn’t keep up with!”

He pointed at the special admission students with his finger and rambled on.

At his behavior, I let out a dry laugh.

“You can’t even handle 10% of the training, yet you have the time to scrutinize others’ training so closely.”

When I mocked him, he bit his lip.

And the other guys also seemed to agree with him, glaring at me with a piercing gaze.

“I clearly gave you the choice from the beginning. Whether to receive training on the same level as the special admission students or not. And it was you who decided to receive the training.”

“······· But!”

“Yeah, I admit it. From the start, you and these guys are fundamentally different. Even your highest stats are inferior to their lowest.”

With that factual blow, anger surged in their eyes.

“But why aren’t you trying harder? If it were me, I would desperately cling to the hem of your pants just to keep up, even if it’s just a fraction. Why didn’t you do that?”

“Th-that’s because the training exceeds my limits—.”

Ah.

I truly understood why my master had such a cold expression when he first saw our male quota system.

That feeling resonated deeply within me.

To belittle someone else’s efforts so easily, despite lacking the qualifications.

It truly fills me with disgust.

“Earlier, did you say that Hwarang and Cheolbyeok couldn’t keep up with the training?”

Hwarang and Cheolbyeok’s faces stiffened.

Even in a situation where they should be angry, they were suppressing their feelings simply because they were men.

“That’s a ridiculous thing to say. They were just like you. They voluntarily chose to undergo training that was several times harder than what they were originally given.”

Is that nonsense being offered as an excuse now?

“And these individuals, even when exhausted to the point of collapse, did not give up. Don’t associate them with losers like you who quit after just 10 minutes or 5 minutes of half-hearted effort. It’s an insult to them.”

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I gazed at each of the male cadets, one by one, and said,

“Is there anyone among you who’s exhausted? Even just one?”

Then, the male cadets shut their mouths like clams.

There was nothing to say.

These guys would collapse at the slightest push, and just sit there, looking pathetic.

Some of them had even gained weight since before they enrolled.

“With that kind of mental state, you’re going to train and expect rewards? You’re shameless.”

“Well, even so, if I had known that such rewards would come, I would have—”

Sigh.

I let out a deep breath and rubbed my temples.

“So, you’re saying that because you have different innate physical abilities, this evaluation is unfair. Is that right?”

“…… Yeah.”

“That’s right. Good. We have three weeks left. I’ll review your performance every weekend and give you a rating. And if you really work hard, each of you male cadets can earn three badges.”

“!”

“And since we’ve discussed the difference in physical abilities, we’ll set that aside. From now on, the training won’t require physical strength. It’s all about mental power. That’s all I care about. Are you confident?”

“Don’t regret it.”

Bang─!

With his words, I stomped my foot on the ground.

Right after that.

Grrr─!

The guy who had been blabbering about not regretting it just seconds ago collapsed, frothing at the mouth, and wet himself.

I couldn’t help but look down at him with disdain and voice my true feelings.

“…Idiot.”