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Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: The Secret Technique of the Anaconda Tribe
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Royal families and Korea's chaebol heirs are supposed to be smart, right? Exactly. They've received top-tier education, so it's only natural for them to be more mature and wise than their peers.
Position shapes a person, and second-generation heirs from those families are indeed superior to average commoners. Plus, how much effort do they put into educating their heirs? But Yoo Ji-hyuk is a fool.
'There's an author above the chaebol—that's the saying.'
The royal family in the novel is just the author's plaything. They're mere puppets performing the roles dictated by the author's set personality.
Yoo Ji-hyuk bullies Lee Do-jun. Not in the same crude way as Kim Sang-hyuk's gang, but in a more insidious manner. The reason is simple: he's close to Gong Su-ji.
'He doesn't even realize he's the problem.'
The emotional debt Yoo Ji-hyuk created—Gong Su-ji approaches Lee Do-jun to repay it. That connection gradually turns into affection, evolving into a deep bond.
That said, they don't actually get together. In the story, Lee Do-jun holds the solo virgin position. He does have sex eventually, but never with Gong Su-ji. In the end, she falls into Yoo Ji-hyuk's hands.
"Don't take it too hard, Johnson. Our country's gone rotten, but it's not as bad as some other places."
Dokgo Hwaryeon patted my shoulder to comfort me. Because of my height, her arm hung awkwardly. It was hard to tell if it was meant to be consoling or a victory pose.
I didn't feel particularly wronged or sad. I'd deliberately orchestrated this situation, so it didn't faze me. But I let my anger show plainly.
It was for Gong Su-ji, who was watching from behind. See? Your fiancé Yoo Ji-hyuk abused his unfair power. An innocent foreign exchange student got hurt because of it.
"You're strong anyway. Even if you get 'demoted in ranking,' you'll be fine."
Dokgo Hwaryeon didn't leave my side. We'd grown a bit closer after sparring. Or maybe she had something to ask me.
'Her eyes are twitching awkwardly. She wants a favor.'
The moment I arrived at the academy, I heard the news. The atmosphere made it awkward for her to ask right away, so she was hesitating. She planned to butter me up first before getting to the point.
"...This 'demotion in ranking'—my tribesmen back home are counting on me. I have to claim a high rank in Korea, but now I've betrayed their expectations."
I spilled my inner thoughts loud enough for Gong Su-ji to hear. The foreign student who came abroad with a mission, the tyrannical power of the Oseong House oppressing him—it struck at her guilt.
'It's working.'
Gong Su-ji's expression stiffened. Yoo Ji-hyuk was chattering away, but it felt different. I could see the subtle difference.
She'd reach out soon. Once she came to apologize and offer compensation, I'd cling tenaciously.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Academy classes are boring. Even Black Johnson, with his sturdy body, seemed to have no affinity for studying. It wasn't that I was dumb and couldn't keep up. My brain just didn't turn well.
'It's all just droning on about detailed settings anyway.'
To me, who knew the original story inside out, it was meaningless. I half-listened and killed time. The other cadets, excluding me, focused on the theory lesson.
'I'll go with practical skills.'
I trusted Black Johnson's talents. Skipping theory wouldn't hurt. As I said yesterday, the academy setting itself is pointless.
'Classes? Grades? Rankings? Screw 'em all.'
Today, classes ended normally. After Ryu Ji-ah's closing ceremony, the cadets poured out. In moments like this, they acted their age.
"Johnson!"
As I pushed back my small chair and stood, I perked up at the voice calling me. A sharp, biting tone, with flame-red hair swaying lightly.
"Hwaryeon, what's up?"
Dokgo Hwaryeon strode up to my desk. Her face screamed, I have business with you.
"Got any time?"
"Oh, plenty of time."
"Really?"
Dokgo Hwaryeon's face lit up. Classes had just ended—how much time could she lack? She knew that, but couldn't hide her joy. Dokgo Hwaryeon wore her emotions openly.
"...Wait a sec, Johnson."
Then Gong Su-ji approached me. Yoo Ji-hyuk, who usually clung to her, was absent. He'd gone off on some errand, giving her an opening.
Dokgo Hwaryeon narrowed her eyes at Gong Su-ji. She couldn't look kindly on the sudden intruder. Gong Su-ji ignored the piercing glare.
"I'm sorry you got disciplined because of Yoo Ji-hyuk."
"Su-ji did nothing wrong. The fault lies with Yoo Ji-hyuk, his cronies, and the academy."
"...His sins are partly mine for not stopping him. That's what merging families means."
Gong Su-ji bowed politely. The daughter of Korea's largest fanatic cult, the Fanatic Cult, humbly lowered her posture, calling it her own fault. For a cult leader's daughter, it was a bold apology.
"Ooh..."
Dokgo Hwaryeon glanced at me. She'd been fidgeting awkwardly in the interruption. Asking for my link details or a personal favor felt untimely now.
"I want to help you, Johnson. The damage from the 'demotion in ranking'—whatever you lost because of Yoo Ji-hyuk, I'll make it right somehow..."
Why fixate on this? I wondered. Wouldn't it be easier to brush it off?
But that's her character, I concluded. She agonizes over debts of gratitude, stunting her growth until resolved.
'That's why I stirred this up—because she's wired that way.'
For academy cadets, rankings are everything. 'Demotion in ranking' is one of the harshest penalties. The severity worked in my favor.
Gong Su-ji was now on the back foot with me. In reality, she's top-tier, but dodging the novel's setup was impossible.
She couldn't relax until repaying her debt to me. Only by shaking off that gnawing guilt could she move forward.
"I don't really need anything."
"You might need my help later. So give me your smartphone—I'll share my number."
"Su-ji's phone number? Sounds good."
I handed my smartphone to Gong Su-ji. She unlocked it and called her own number. We exchanged contacts instantly.
"Call anytime if you need something. No pressure. If it's a request from you, Johnson, I'll do anything."
"Okay, got it."
I'd snagged Gong Su-ji's number—one held by only a select few in the original. Satisfying. She returned my phone and left the classroom.
Dokgo Hwaryeon, who'd been staring blankly, belatedly offered her smartphone. The keypad was on screen. She wanted me to input my number.
"What's up, Hwaryeon?"
"I don't have your number either. Let's exchange."
"Oh, Hwaryeon's phone number."
I had to bed her too, so I entered it quickly. We called each other to confirm. Then I asked her purpose.
"Anyway, Hwaryeon, why'd you call me? Didn't you have something to say?"
"Ah!"
She'd forgotten amid Gong Su-ji's intrusion. Dokgo Hwaryeon cleared her throat awkwardly. She seemed to think it an impudent request, hesitant to speak.
"Um, Johnson, you know how to do links, right?"
"Yes, I can use links."
As expected, it was about links. She'd come to me to learn how to reach that level, to get stronger.
"I want to learn links too, but it's not easy alone..."
Dokgo Hwaryeon trailed off. Telling her about links was like handing over a restaurant's secret sauce recipe.
A person should have shame, know embarrassment and heed it. But Dokgo Hwaryeon had nerves of steel.
"You want me to teach you?"
"N-not everything! Your method might not work for me anyway. Just tips, pointers...?"
"Umm."
I knew how the heroines grew stronger. Dokgo Hwaryeon, Gong Su-ji, Wang Ja-hee, and others. Most who bonded with Lee Do-jun could level up through affection.
"There's a way to comprehend spirit possession."
"Really?!"
She reacted fiercely at my hint. Eyes wide, she grabbed my hands. Looking up with sparkling eyes—so cute. I wondered if she'd make that face in bed too.
"But this is our tribe's secret technique, so I can't teach it to you, Hwaryeon."
"Tribe's secret..."
Dokgo Hwaryeon's face crumpled like she might cry. Her excited shoulders slumped, hands slipping away.
'Sorry, but Black Johnson has no such tribal secret.'
It was a fabrication. Korean heroines had no way to verify. I could invent a flawless backstory.
"That said, I can share non-secret basics, like fundamental training methods."
"Training methods?"
Dokgo Hwaryeon perked up. Desperate and lost, she'd grasp any lifeline. Maybe my tips would open her path. She eyed me with hope.
"Yeah, a way to sense spirits more keenly and approach spirit possession."
"Tell me."
"Yes. Then let's go to my room."
"...Your room?"
A flicker of wariness crossed Dokgo Hwaryeon's face. I flashed an innocent smile to reassure her.
"It's our tribe's secret training method. Someone might copy it, so it must be done quietly, undisturbed. My room works—or yours, if not."
"..."
A plausible excuse. Dokgo Hwaryeon had no choice but to agree. Her desire to grow stronger melted her caution toward the black guy, nodding her head.
"Okay. Come to my room after dinner."
"Got it. See you then, Johnson."