ReLife Player

The academy had various outside food establishments scattered around the premises, including a chicken franchise located in the basement floor of the high school lecture building.

The chic store with its sophisticated interior was deserted, unlike the late evening hours.

The reason became apparent only when she asked the people occupying the seats.

“Euna rented it with points.”

“Noona, using points to rent a store…”

Eunha’s expression turned pale after hearing Yeonhwa’s words.

Furthermore, Changjin whispered that the store’s revenue would be covered by the group’s sponsorship for the time rented.

All she could do was laugh it off.

The scale was too large.

There was no room for extravagance.

“It’s okay. We have enough points this year, and Seoyeon also said not to spare the sponsorship when you’re eating delicious food with her, right?”

“That’s all debt, Noona…”

“Well, if there’s a problem later, Dad will take care of it, won’t he?” “……”

It felt like discovering another side of Eunha she didn’t know.

Seeing her smiling as if she had no fears, he raised his white flag.

Euna was the truth.

While others might not, Eunha could nod to whatever she said.

But such truth set the mood as if demanding the right course.

“I heard a rumor today.”

The ordered chicken arrived.

The smell of fried food stimulated their senses, making them salivate.

As he was about to transfer the chicken to a plate, Yeonhwa handed him a cola to accompany it─

“─Eunha, they say you’re following Bae Soobin?” “…What?”

He dropped the plate he was moving the chicken onto.

Euna asked him if the story she heard a while ago was true.

The returning story was the same.

And gradually, her voice revealed more urgency.

“The rumor I heard today was that Noh Eunha, who ranked second in the secondary academy entrance exam, stalking Bae Soobin.”

“Either way, it’s the same thing, isn’t it, Changjin?”

“Yeah, Euna’s words are correct.”

Han Changjin’s judgment was instantaneous.

He shook his head in dismay while dipping his hand, initially reaching for mustard sauce, hastily into seasoned sauce.

Eunha looked at him behaving like a comedy act beside Euna as if he found him pathetic.

Sensing his gaze, Han Changjin averted his eyes with an awkward smile.

“Anyway, is the rumor true?”

“There’s no way that could be true. I did approach her, but saying I stalked her is an exaggeration…”

“It’s true that you approached her.”

A chill ran down his spine.

Eunha was scared by the chill emanating from her.

Even without asking, he could sense how she was feeling right now.

“Who is she?”

“…She’s the one who ranked third in the recent entrance exam and is expected to become an excellent caster.”

“What about her looks? Is she pretty?” “…She’s on the pretty side.” “More than me?” “Of course, Noona, you’re prettier.”

“What about her personality? Is she kind?”

“She’s not particularly kind…” “If she’s not kind, is she bad?” “…She’s not bad, but she’s like Minji. She really hates losing and doesn’t neglect efforts.” “How do you know that, Eunha?”

“Just… an intuition.”

“……”

It felt like stepping on a mine.

Facing Euna’s gaze was like confronting a predator.

On the other hand, Yeonhwa and Changjin were eating chicken without paying attention to the conversation.

He didn’t eat a single piece himself.

“Why did you approach her?”

“I wanted to become friends with her…”

“As in romantically?” “No, that’s not it. Absolutely not.”

Eunha firmly denied it.

To him, Bae Soobin was a colleague.

He had never thought of her in a romantic way.

Perhaps satisfied with the answer, Euna relaxed her stiff expression and sighed, as if relieved.

Yet, she didn’t forget to double-check.

“Really? You’re not lying to me, right?”

“Why would I lie to Noona?”

“If you lie later, I’ll be mad.”

“That won’t happen.”

“Okay, hungry? Let’s quickly eat our chicken!”

Only then could Eunha eat the chicken.

Eunha watched him eating the chicken contentedly, and whenever the plate emptied, she refilled it, smiling, feeling satisfied just by watching him eat.

“But how did you do something that caused such a rumor?”

“I didn’t do anything much…”

Eunha didn’t particularly care about what she did to Soobin.

So, he casually brushed it off while savoring the chicken.

Yeonhwa and Changjin, who had heard the story, didn’t close their mouths.

“Who approaches someone on their first meeting?”

“I approached her because I was lucky…”

“It was vague at first…”

Euna let out a sigh.

She reconfirmed her younger brother’s mischief and reprimanded him.

“Eunha, even if you want to get close, approaching someone like that on your first meeting, won’t they be wary?”

“…Noona is right.”

“And even if the other person feels uncomfortable, if you chase them like that, what then?” “He was waiting until she came out of the women’s restroom.” “Changjin, you just stay quiet!”

While eating chicken, Eunha felt a pang of conscience.

The incident of approaching someone and stimulating their guard on the first encounter.

The actions of trailing her, almost like stalking.

Certainly, Eunha also knew that it shouldn’t be like what she described.

However, he couldn’t figure out how to approach Soobin. It was the first time he had tried to make a friend.

Before the regression, he had left it to Yoojung, and in this life, they had come forward.

Eunha, who had lived building walls towards others, had never approached anyone directly. He was always the one being approached, always waiting for someone to come.

Living life that way, approaching someone was unfamiliar.

…Difficult. How did others make friends so far?

Approaching and becoming friends first.

For him, it was as difficult as anything in the world.

Now, saying this, if Yoojung hadn’t approached first in the previous life, he might have spent his life alone.

“Eunha, remember this. It’s not about getting close to be friends; it’s about getting to know each other and naturally becoming friends.”

“…Yeah.”

“While I understand your desire to be close to her, do you really need to be close to her right away?” “…Right.”

Eunha answered after contemplating.

It would suffice to create a connection with Bae Soobin before graduating from the high academy. Also, before she gets involved with someone else.

“Then let’s take our time to gradually get closer. Maybe she feels pressured because you’re trying to get closer. It’s not that she doesn’t like you.” “…Sounds like what Noona said is right. I’ll take my time to get to know her as Noona suggested. But… how should I approach?”

“Don’t try to approach her forcefully; expect a natural encounter. That’s what you’re good at.” “Huh?”

“That’s what you’re good at.”

Eunha was startled when Euna confidently asserted.

He had no clue what she meant. Trying to consciously do something he usually did unconsciously, no thoughts came to his mind.

Meanwhile, Yeonhwa, who had been quietly eating chicken, spoke up.

“I was thankful that you approached me first, Euna. I… find it hard to get close to someone because I’m guarded.”

“Yeonhwa… you look really pretty today!”

“You look pretty too.”

Euna hugged Yeonhwa. (TLN: Yeonhwa is low-key best girl fr.)

Yeonhwa, comforting her with her presence, showed a warm smile.

“Maybe that girl is also waiting for someone to approach her. Maybe she gets angry every time you approach her because she’s guarded or because she’s not used to it.”

Hmm, she’s not that kind of person.

While harboring skeptical feelings, Eunha listened quietly to Yeonhwa’s story.

It was rare for her to offer advice, so she decided to accept it gratefully.

“Anyway! Order whatever you want to eat today!”

“Can I take some to Eunhyuk and Parang?”

“Of course!”

They decided to fully enjoy the chicken.

“─It’s the chicken!”

When Eunha returned to the dorm, Parang, who keenly caught the smell of chicken, was waiting at the door.

☆

Since that day, Eunha didn’t try to approach Soobin.

While he couldn’t grasp the idea of a natural encounter emphasized by Euna, he knew from experience that trying to force his way in could backfire.

So, he decided to take it slow.

The conscious idea of ‘slowly’ made time feel prolonged, but fortunately, he had something else to focus on.

Club promotions.

“Wow, this is serious. There are so many clubs here?”

“It seems like there are also societies that are not recognized as clubs and operate without academy support.”

Third week of March.

From this day on, clubs and societies from the secondary academy started promoting activities in various parts of the premises.

Students on their way to lunch were surprised to see the crowded areas.

“Captain, I didn’t know there were extra-curricular activities at the Player Academy.”

“We can’t go outside without permission, but we need a place to breathe. That’s why there are extra-curricular activities.”

Those attending the secondary academy were, after all, students. The academy needed to provide an environment for their leisure activities to support their studies.

Stress needed to be relieved.

There was a wide variety of academy activities. Some focused on the uniqueness of the academy, while others were for hobbies.

Here, by guaranteeing students’ autonomous activities, there was an underlying intention to teach them how to organize.

“It’s good to join at least one academy activity. Meeting various people can help you figure out which parties you get along with.”

In the previous life, Eunha didn’t participate in any extracurricular activities.

He was solely focused on training.

At that time, he didn’t pay attention to the benefits that activities could bring.

He thought he could do it alone.

But this time was different.

To create the party he desired, he needed to make connections with people of equal skill.

“Which club are you planning to join?”

Asked Parang, seeing the handed out promotional flyers, looking puzzled.

Eunha had a predetermined answer.

“I’m thinking of joining the Culture Exploration Club.” “Eunha, what kind of club is that?”

“It’s a club that regularly visits famous landmarks and tourist spots in the country to observe cultural trends.”

The club he decided on after much deliberation was the Culture Exploration Club.

Including <Braver> Ontaeyang, many of his comrades were members.

In this life, he planned to recruit Ontaeyang and his comrades, who had skills surpassing the Twelve Seats, for his party.

That’s why he decided to join the Culture Exploration Club.

Even though the meeting he desired might only happen when Ontaeyang enrolls in the high academy.

It wouldn’t hurt to get to know the members of the Culture Exploration Club now.

There might even be Ontaeyang’s comrades in the secondary academy’s Culture Exploration Club.

He recalled two individuals who were part of Ontaeyang’s comrades in the 031 cohort.

<Holy Maiden> Chae Eunwoo.

<Divine Archer> Hoshimiya Kaede.

Both were impressive talents. In the previous life, both had been active as supporters and rangers supporting Ontaeyang, even playing a decisive role in subduing the Second Hierarch Monster Maegu.

I should approach Chae Eunwoo first.

Chae Eunwoo is bound to join the Culture Exploration Club.

That would make it easier to approach her as fellow club members.

With that in mind, Eunha sought out members of the Culture Exploration Club.

“Oh? Wait, isn’t that Noh Eunha, who enrolled as a top student this time?”

“Really? And isn’t the one next to him Jung Hayang?”

“What? Really?”

“………..”

The kids, casually looking around, were all speechless.

The people handing out flyers were giving Noh Eunha and Jung Hayang intense looks.

They had the predatory gaze of a bird targeting its prey.

“Hey, do any of you have an interest in the rock climbing club!?” “Our Mythology and Literature Club has tons of material for researching monsters!”

“Hey! If you’re a guy, obviously it’s the Swordsmanship Club!”

Club members closed in. Word spread, and more people gathered.

In no time, the kids found themselves surrounded.

“Noh Eunha! Hurry, take Hayang and run!”

“Minji, it seems like it’s not the right time for Eunha and Hayang to leave…”

Shouting amidst the crowd, Minji was cautious.

Sena guarded against the encroaching crowd.

Sena was right.

The people already knew they were at the top academically.

“Unni, Oppa, I’ll handle it.” “You want a girlfriend? Ah, even a boyfriend.”

“We really are like family in our club. I’ve never seen anyone regret joining us.”

The kids patted each other’s backs.

As if they were surrounded by monsters.

[Kids, when I give the signal, run! Eunha, take care of Hayang!]

Sena sent a telepathic message.

All the kids nodded.

Eunha tightly held Hayang’s hand to ensure they could escape the crowd.

“…Noh Eunha.”

“…What?”

Jin Parang spoke up with a somewhat serious tone.

Baring his fangs, he set a death flag.

“─Let’s see who survives.”

Hyung, don’t make the situation tense for no reason.

Of course, Eunha didn’t respond.

But oddly, that seemed to please Parang more.

“Oh yeah! Bring it on, everyone!”

Excited, Jin Parang shouted.

Just as if they were waiting for that moment, Sena sent a signal telepathically.

[Guys, run! Let’s solve our lunch problem separately today!]

“You might not be able to hang out here for a while! Captain, see you later!”

“All of you, go! I’ll hold…uh…!”

“Shut up and run, you blockhead!”

The kids scattered, breaking through the encircling crowd.

Eunha and Hayang also exhibited their inner mana and swiftly made their way off-campus.

When they arrived at an empty area after running for a while, the two finally stopped.

“I thought we were going to get scolded.”

“They’re really scary people. I don’t think we should come near the student cafeteria for a while.” “But it was fun!” “Yeah, it was.”

The two looked at each other and burst into laughter.

Then, they decided to have lunch.

Since lunchtime was already over, they planned to quickly grab something from the school store.

“Is there a nearby school store here…?”

“I know! It’s inside this building.”

“You memorized the academy layout?” “I just looked at the guidebook out of boredom the other day….”

Hayang looked sheepish as she stuck out her tongue. Chuckling, Eunha entered the building she was pointing to.

As they turned the corner to find the store, suddenly—

“Hello, we’re the Ancient Literature Research Club. Nice to m─.”

A flyer thrust out suddenly as they turned the corner.

Eunha blinked as she recognized the person handing out flyers.

It was Bae Soobin.

“Why are you…?”

“Not today.”

She denied quickly. As someone who had decided not to follow her anymore, he felt unjustly treated.

But she seemed to have guessed something on her own.

She seemed about to say something.

Right then—

“─Soobin, what’s wrong? Is something bothering you?” “Oh, Oppa. It’s nothing.”

A man who came out of the store approached Bae Soobin in a friendly manner.

At that moment, Eunha saw it.

She had been staring at him, then instantly changed her expression to look happy as she gazed at the man.

Ah, so it’s him….

He had hoped they wouldn’t meet, but it seemed fated.