Looking down at Cha Eun-ju, who was meekly offering her head for me to stroke, I organized my predictions for the academy entrance exam results in my mind.
'Seo Woo-jin probably passed the entrance exam itself too.'
They wouldn't have openly passed him right in front of us—that would look too suspicious—but they'd have arranged a retake or given him some minor advantage to squeeze him through somehow.
To keep him from spilling about the boss monster (Owl Bear), enrolling him in the academy was the best way to ensure his silence. Since what we took was the first round, they had plenty of opportunities to slip him into a later exam with the regular students.
'Still, unlike the original story, Han Sora probably took top score this time.'
She got the Owl Bear's heart as a reward for subjugating it, so that was a safe bet. If a goblin heart was worth about 5 points and an orc heart 10, then the Owl Bear heart had to be around 200.
It might look like they were handing out points like candy after a training camp, especially after an hour and a half of grueling work. But taking down an Owl Bear at trainee level was absurd to begin with.
...There had been a bit of debate over whether Han Sora should get the heart, the most valuable part, but in the end, it worked out.
'Like I said earlier, Han Sora's the one who killed the Owl Bear, so she gets the heart.'
'What are you talking about, Lee Seon-ho? You worked the hardest, so you should take it! Everyone else agrees!'
'I worked the hardest because my abilities aren't much help in combat. Think about it coldly—who else among us even had a shot at soloing an Owl Bear besides you?'
'W-well, maybe not, but still... me taking the heart...'
'If you really think I worked the hardest, then listen to me now. Don't forget—effort and actual contribution are two different things.'
'...Haa, fine.'
She couldn't refute my point that she was the only one who could have killed the Owl Bear, so she reluctantly accepted the material.
In truth, the whole plan hinged on Han Sora. Her accuracy might be low, but with teammates covering for her, her raw power was reliable.
She looked uneasy about taking it, but we had to settle it clearly.
In real hunter parties, support roles get the scraps left over. And for future relations, I had to play the nice guy more than necessary.
Crucially, if I'd ended up with the Owl Bear heart and snagged top score, the aggro from that would be unbearable. That was my biggest worry, so I half-shifted the responsibility to Han Sora.
'Okay, heart's settled. For the brain, it'd be good if Kim Isabel or Eun-ju took it...'
'N-no way...! The brain has to go to Seon-ho no matter what!'
'I told you, Eun-ju. Material distribution should be based on contribution, not effort...'
'I-if Seon-ho doesn't take the brain, I won't take anything either! N-not even you can make me yield on this...!!'
'Alright, got it. Sorry, Isabel. Looks like I'll have to take the brain.'
-Shake, shake.
'N-no... I-I'm fine with Lee Seon-ho taking it... r-really...'
...I couldn't hold out against Cha Eun-ju's fierce opposition on the second-most valuable part, the brain.
Playing nice was about building favor with the heroines and lowering their guards, so no need to reject too hard and tank affinity. The brain went to me.
That left the hide as the most valuable remaining material, with teeth and claws as byproducts. Combined, they matched the hide's value, so Cha Eun-ju and Kim Isabel split the rest. Their pocket slots—1 and 3—fit perfectly.
Of course, Seo Woo-jin, who sat out the fight, got zilch—not even a claw.
-Stroke, stroke.
"Koo... koooo... kooooool..."
She really needs to recover fast and get up. Then I can take her on dates... and have sex.
Even after rubbing her head for over ten minutes, Cha Eun-ju kept up her sleeping act, making my mind drift downward.
'Maybe I should cop a feel of her chest while she's pretending.'
I'd checked them out once before anyway. As I considered slyly groping Cha Eun-ju's chest while she faked sleep...
-Rattle.
"What, you really got hurt? I thought you were joking."
The pink ponytail senior I hadn't seen in a while burst into the room.
...Dodged a bullet there. If I'd been groping, it'd have been disaster.
"Hey, Senior. Here to visit the patient?"
"Not exactly. Just stopping by on my way home from training. Figured you might be faking an injury to skip."
"No way. Oh, sorry for texting late yesterday. By the time I finished emergency treatment, it was past ten at night..."
"Whatever. You're the patient. No big deal."
Her athletic coolness was one of Choi Marie's charms.
Once I hit her with Suggestion: Hypnosis, she'd probably suck my dick coolly, like it was nothing.
Oblivious to my lewd thoughts, she just glanced at my injuries and commented.
"Anyway, you're something else. How do you get this messed up against hologram monsters? Friendly fire?"
"They weren't holograms, Senior."
"Huh?"
"Seems they changed it to real monster subjugation this year. We went into an actual dungeon gate, took down goblins and orcs."
"...For real? Government approved that?"
"Dunno. But it's Cheonmu Academy."
"Yeah, true. Cheonmu can get away with anything..."
"Anyway, felt like I did well on the exam, so no worries."
"...Looking like that?"
"Say I worked hard enough to get hurt, Senior."
"Hmmm..."
Choi Marie eyed my full-body fractures skeptically, arms crossed, and muttered indifferently.
"Guess support department's still support. Even a tough guy ends up like this after a few hits from an orc."
-Spring!
"N-no! Seon-ho didn't get hit by an orc, he got—mmph?!"
"Whoa, she's awake?"
"...Must've woken up hearing your voice."
"So, not an orc? What then? Another monster?"
"...Not a regular orc—a 'variant orc.' Hurt bad, but high points, so passing's basically guaranteed."
"Ah, variant orc. Yeah, that'd do it."
...Close call. Cha Eun-ju nearly spilled the Owl Bear after snapping at the orc comment. Good thing I shoved her head back into the pillow.
The academy hadn't decided whether to announce our Owl Bear kill yet, so best keep quiet. They'd probably reveal it eventually, but us saying it first could cause issues.
And if she's pretending to sleep, commit to it. Might as well admit she was faking the whole time.
"You awake, Cha Eun-ju?"
"Uh... y-yeah... just woke up..."
"Say hi then. That's Choi Marie, our senior by a year at the academy."
"H-hi... Ch-Cha Eun-ju... M-Magic Department..."
"This is the friend I mentioned who took the practical with me. Cha Eun-ju, incoming Magic Department freshman next year."
"...Hmmm, got it. I'm Choi Marie, Shield Department. Nice to meet you, Junior Cha Eun-ju."
Cha Eun-ju still got flustered meeting new people, stammering and bowing.
And for some reason, Choi Marie scanned her up and down before offering a handshake.
'She won't bring up calling Cha Eun-ju prettier last time, right?'
Saying that to my face would put me in a tough spot picking sides.
Even if Cha Eun-ju was easier to soothe, siding with Choi Marie over it would feel off. Can't reward obedience with extra treats.
But I didn't want to tank early-stage favor with Choi Marie either. The dilemma of juggling multiple women.
"Might see you around next year after you enroll. If we're in the same class, take care of me."
"Y-yes...! T-take care of me too...!"
"Confirmed you're not skipping, so I'm out. When you resuming training?"
"Docs say discharge in three days. Training probably a week after."
"Don't push it. Heal fully before coming back. Don't overdo and get hurt again, weakling who drops to an orc."
"...Not an orc."
"Huh?"
"N-nothing, Senior. Thanks for worrying."
"And this is a get-well gift."
-Whoosh, thwack.
Something gold arced toward me; I caught it reflexively. Choi Marie had tossed me a mini chocolate bar, about two finger-widths long.
She carried them for quick calories during workouts.
Not brought specifically for me—more like leftovers. The slightly melted, squishy feel carried her thigh warmth.
...Personally preferred it that way, so no complaints.
"That's not a gift, Senior—just your half-eaten snack."
"So what? Penalty for making me wait yesterday."
"Fair enough. Thanks for coming."
"Yeah, hit training hard once you're better."
"Yes, Senior. See you."
-Rattle, click.
A whirlwind visit, but the room felt brighter with Choi Marie stopping by.
Missing her daily face gave it extra energy now.
Cha Eun-ju was great, but so was Choi Marie. Both together? Even better.
"..."
"What's up, Eun-ju?"
"...Hmph, nothing."
Puffing her cheeks cutely... pure jealousy, no doubt.
After letting me touch her chest, seeing me chat like old pals with Choi Marie—who I'd known longer—must've irked her.
Other women's jealousy would stress me out, but hers felt oddly cute.
'Sorry, but you'll have to get used to it.'
Cha Eun-ju might be enough for herself, but I had no intention of settling for just her.
As I slowly stroked her hair to soothe her sulk and waited for mealtime, the door opened again. Someone else entered.