NOVEL NEXT Chapter 21.2
After the written exam, we moved into the academy dormitory.
The dormitory was largely divided into the high nobles zone, the low nobles zone, and the commoners-only zone.
While we had been living in the imperial palace, strictly speaking, we were not originally from a noble family in this world, so we were entered into the commoners’ dormitory.
I was appointed as the fiancé of the 2nd Princess Soniel.
A royal’s betrothed is customarily treated as royalty too, but her betrothal is still unknown to most except for the imperial family and a handful of high-ranking nobles.
This was because they were concerned about the backlash that would arise from my getting engaged to the princess since I had not achieved anything yet.
Some will understand that being a mythical attribute awakened is enough of an achievement in itself, but there will surely be nobles who feel that that alone is not enough as the princess’ consort.
And it is true that it shouldn’t end with just one’s attributes.
It is only when one puts in the effort and persistence to develop their attributes that they can acquire skills that match their talents.
So the title of No. 1 in the entire academy should prove my achievements enough.
Somehow, it has become almost like I have a secret relationship of sorts with Soniel.
She has already graduated from the academy, but since I have only just enrolled, she decided that this year she would take up the post of the academy’s director.
From my point of view, it is a very welcome decision because a useful connection and a great fuckbuddy is nearby.
And so, my class entered the dormitory building with the other commoner students…
“Okay then! To the new freshmen! Cheers!”
“Cheers!”
“Nice to meet you!”
Before I could unpack all my luggage, I was kidnapped by the seniors for a drink.
‘What’s this?’
In a large restaurant, where we were guided to by the ignorant seniors, there were already tables full of snacks and drinks such as soups, meat, and fries.
And I looked at the liquor in front of me.
A large glass was filled to the brim with a yellow beverage, with bubbles continuing to rise to the surface.
“·······.”
Anyone could tell that it was beer.
Every day at the imperial palace these past few months we drank only the finest wines with tender steak, and so seeing this sight, it felt familiar yet strange.
After each person took a sip after being toasted, a man who appeared to be the representative of the seniors stood up.
“Hello everyone! Are you guys excited? I’m Ian, the president of the academy’s commoners’ dormitory! It’s nice to meet you all!”
As Ian lowered his head, an awkward applause could be heard from all directions.
He had brown hair and a stocky body.
“This gathering is a tradition and the pride of our commoners’ dormitory! It’s a welcome party for freshmen! The boring orientation sessions like the introduction to the academy will be held tomorrow, so let’s get to know each other while eating and drinking for now!”
Today was precisely three days before the entrance ceremony.
Apparently, there seems to be a culture of drinking amongst the commoner students.
The atmosphere was very different from the classy academy banquet I attended last time.
We introduced ourselves, starting with Ian and going clockwise.
There were 30 freshmen and 6 seniors.
The probability of a commoner awakening was extremely low, but there were about 10 of them every year.
This year, it appeared that there were 8 commoner Awakened students and 22 members of our class, totalling 30 commoner freshmen.
After the self-introductions, an awkward silence returned to the restaurant.
It was not easy to talk to people who were new faces.
Our class was quiet because we were paying attention to the seniors.
Ian shouted as he looked at the freshmen who only looked at him like sitting ducks.
“As expected, welcome parties should start with a drinking game!”
And so that’s how we divided into 6 groups of 6 people each and started a drinking game.
I was in the same group as Jihye and Hyerin, two unknown freshmen, and a female senior.
“Hello! My name is Carolina!”
We introduced ourselves once more between the members and passed a drink down our throats under the lead of the senior.
“I heard rumours that you guys came from another world! Are there drinking games there too?”
“Maybe, but I am not too sure. Do you know anything?”
“I don’t know either...”
The only game I knew of was 007 Bang.
The senior student happened to know a lot of different games though, probably because she had a lot of drinking experience.
We started learning how to play each one from her one by one.
“Ah, senior, why do you keep attacking only me!? This is the first time I am playing this.”
“Hee hee, originally, drinking games were meant to be played while drunk haha!”
It was more fun than expected.
It’s fun to feel the alcohol gradually accumulating in my body and my skin getting hotter little by little while juggling between victory or defeat in the games.
It’s been a while since I’ve been immersed in such a fun atmosphere.
I can see why adults go out drinking.
Do all college students on Earth play like this?
Ji-hye pointed to our senior’s untouched glass and called her out.
“Unnie hasn’t even taken a sip since a while ago!”
“Welp. If you want me to empty my cup, attack me and knock me down then!”
“Ugh...”
She was unable to refute her senior’s words and her shoulders sank.
“Then, how about this?”
Likewise, Hyerin, who was disapprovingly looking at the full glass, suggested an idea.
The method was very effective.
“I’m a Ground starts now!” [T/N: Pick a name to refer to themselves and play with rhythm by making a beat by snapping or clapping.]
“Carolina Go!”
“Carolaina, Carolana, Carol... What is this?! A person with a longer name like me is at a disadvantage!”
“Hehe.”
For the first time this evening, I saw Hyerin’s proud expression.
The alcohol seemed to have chipped away at her expressionlessness.
Looking at the clock, it was already past midnight.
What are the others playing?
The loudest and most visible group was obvious, and it included Ian and Choi Ji-hoon.
What kind of game are they playing that everyone has to stand up and sing?
In contrast, Minho and Ahyoung’s group is the quietest.
They seem to be drinking more for conversational purposes than for games.
Gradually, there were students who got up after having gotten drunk and went back to their rooms.
Groups slowly reduced from six to four.
“How much did you guys drink?”
“We didn’t drink much.”
Our group merged with Minho’s group.
There was no change in the expression on Minho’s face, but Ayeong’s cheeks were slightly red.
“This is not right! All the newcomers’ handsome faces and beautiful women have gathered to drink today!”
A male senior named Lyle, who was talking to Minho, gazed at him with a playful and sinister expression on his face.
And then he suggested an idea while uncapping a new bottle.
“How about we play the truth game this time?”
“Oh, that’s a good idea!”
With the approval of senior Carolina, we started playing the game of truths.
It was a simple game of choosing between telling the truth and alcohol when presented with a question.
“Then, I’ll go first. Minho and Ayeong, the hearsay is that you guys are a couple. How far have you gone?”
“Ugh...”
Ahyeong turned her head in response to Lyle’s mischievous question.
I don’t know if her blush was from the alcohol or from shame.
“Hmm... Holding hands I guess?”
“Really?”
“Hmm, something platonic I see. That’s nice.”
I glanced at Ah-young’s body.
The size of her breasts, which could not be hidden even with her having worn loose clothes, stood out.
I couldn’t believe Minho’s answer.
If it had been me, I would have gently coaxed her into my bed when she finally became an adult.
Well, if what he said is true, that’s good news for me.
The truth game continued.
We took turns asking questions, sometimes telling the truth, and sometimes drinking.
I could feel the level of alcohol growing in my stomach.
I guess I’ll have to tap out soon.
“Ummm... I don’t know what to ask in particular... Then what about your weight?”
“Guh.”
Minho unknowingly asked a woman a question that should never be asked out loud.
Jihye glared at him as if she would kill him.
“S-sorry. Then something else—”
“A question once asked can’t be canceled~. Come on, Miss Ji-hye, please reveal your weight!”
“Huh, I’ll drink...”
She turned her head to look at me and asked in a sincere tone.
“Black Knight...?” [T/N: someone, generally a guy, who volunteers to take a drink for the sake of another person, who is generally a girl.]
“Nope. You drink haha.”
“Booo.”
48kg.
That is Jihye’s weight.
She could be very confident about her own body.
From slender limbs and breasts that are good enough for paizuri, to a slender body—
She has a very curvy body.
But Jihye doesn’t think so.
She believes that she is not attractive at all.
I made her think like this.
Having almost completely blocked her interactions with others, I continued to feed her with the reasons why she suddenly became an outcast in middle school.
That way she would be thankful to me.
While everyone ignored her, my Jihye would look at me and only long for me- the only one left by her side.
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