How to get on the protagonist’s flower path - Chapter 117

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Choi Borim snapped at my expression.

“Why, why are you guys receiving medals?”

Why? Because we did well.

I once again wore the pure smile of someone who catches sunlight and mentally celebrated.

Nahyun is clueless~ But anyway, you’re not in the same position as her.

“Huh? Didn’t you know? Siwoo, Baran, and I defeated the tier boss together! We did quite well! Right, Jaeyun?”

“Uh, yeah!”

I smiled at Choi Borim, who was taken aback by the fact that Min Jaeyun and I were receiving medals, revealing her true colors for a moment.

Min Jaeyun also nodded proudly, as if recalling that time.

Choi Borim, trying hard to hide her feelings of inferiority, smiled.

“Ah, so you were with Siwoo and Baran? You must have helped a lot! Good job!”

Look at how she’s talking.

I patted Min Jaeyun, who was glued to me and glancing at Choi Borim.

Yggdrasil tapped his foot, gathering our gazes back to him.

“And regarding the departure date, it’s tomorrow!”

“Tomorrow?!”

“I don’t even have the right clothes for that!”

“A student should be fine in a school uniform! What else do you think you need?”

Yggdrasil cleared his throat and continued.

“Alright, I’ve said all I needed to say. It’s training time, kids!”

Before we could ask more questions, training resumed.

Choi Borim was doing some physical training in one corner, then glancing at us and taking appropriate breaks.

She seemed to be putting in some effort, but when we and Yggdrasil were busy training, she often slacked off.

It seemed she was trying to be clever, but I mostly noticed her behavior…

Yggdrasil clicked his tongue lightly.

“…This just won’t do.”

And that behavior seemed to be the catalyst for Nayu Ri, who had been somewhat lenient towards Choi Borim, to decide to push her away.

After finishing the training, we were all exhausted, and after drinking the potions that Yggdrasil provided, we sprawled out on the floor.

At that time, Choi Borim, who hadn’t received a potion because she was still energetic, crept over.

“Is everyone okay? Should I get you something to drink?”

“No. Once the potion takes effect, we’ll be fine. By the way, Choi Borim, I have something to say.”

Nayu Ri stood up and spoke in a calm voice.

Choi Borim tilted her head as if she didn’t understand, looking at Nayu Ri’s firm expression.

Unfazed by her seemingly innocent face, Nayu Ri coldly delivered her decision.

“Choi Borim, if you’re going to participate in training like it’s a joke, it would be better for you to stay separate from us. I appreciated your help with the letter, but I can repay that in another way.”

“What? What do you mean? Why are you joking around?”

“This isn’t a joke. It’s a conclusion I’ve reached after careful consideration. And I hesitate to say this, but… with your current level, it seems difficult for you to match our pace.”

At Nayu Ri’s words, Choi Borim looked flustered as she scanned our faces.

It was as if she was hoping someone would tell her that Nayu Ri was joking.

But there was no one among us who would disagree with her, so silence filled the air.

It seemed she realized that Nayu Ri’s words were close to the consensus of our group, and she gradually looked more sullen.

“Why?”

“I told you. We—”

“Lack of skill? Attitude? Those are just excuses, right? Is it because I’m not in Class A? Do you think I don’t qualify?”

“That’s not it.”

“Liar. Then why are you all in Class A? You included that kid who’s similar to me and even someone lacking in ability to receive medals because they’re in Class A, right? Otherwise, a government-supported Awakened wouldn’t receive a medal!”

Choi Borim roughly rubbed her eyes with her arm.

Then, she suddenly burst into a fake tone of laughter.

“Alright! So the minimum condition to join your group is to move up to Class A, right? Then I’ll move up to Class A!”

“Wait, Choi Borim—”

“My wish hasn’t changed. If I become Class A, you have to let me join your group as a reward for helping you!”

Choi Borim said this while glaring fiercely at Min Jaeyun.

Then she smiled sweetly.

As if she were targeting him.

“So just wait. I’ll be moving up soon.”

Objectively, both in the story and in reality, Choi Borim’s skills were insufficient to be in Class A.

The fact that she was currently in Class B was only because she had been lucky with her team in the first semester.

Rather, she should hope that her ranking wouldn’t drop in the upcoming mid-term evaluation.

But I felt like I understood why she was so confident.

There was no way I couldn’t know.

Here’s the translation of your text:

***

“I’ll hold back a little. Goodbye!”

Choi Borim turned to leave.

She would probably be aiming for a special evaluation rather than a regular one.

…Although her abilities wouldn’t be enough even for a special evaluation, she probably had one target in mind that she thought she could take on.

That person is…

“Are you okay, Yuri?”

Min Jaeyun, that soft-hearted kid.

Choi Borim knows that Min Jaeyun has been hurt by her.

So, she’s planning to target Min Jaeyun during the special evaluation and scratch at the wounds in his heart, fighting to win.

“Who’s worrying about whom? Are you okay, Jaeyun?”

“Yeah! You’ve been looking unwell since earlier!”

I watched Min Jaeyun, who was being worried about by Nayu Ri and Shin Baran, while Nayu Han, who was also watching, glanced at her.

In the original novel, Choi Borim focused on Nayu Han, the center of the group, and Min Jaeyun, who had been relying emotionally on Nayu Han, became extremely unstable.

But the current Min Jaeyun seemed much stronger and more stable.

I wondered if the differences between Nayu Han in the original novel and the present one had something to do with it, or if there were other reasons.

Even if the situation played out like in the novel, with Choi Borim scratching at Min Jaeyun’s heart wounds during the special evaluation, he probably wouldn’t go on a rampage.

However… I couldn’t help but worry about the emotional wounds that Min Jaeyun might suffer.

“How about we go eat something delicious to cheer you up?”

I approached Min Jaeyun with a bright smile, resolving to pay more attention to him.

***

And the next day.

We had to get busy early in the morning to head to the medal ceremony.

Although Yggdrasil had announced that school uniforms were sufficient to wear…

I couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease about going to such an event for the first time.

Dusting myself off, I made my way to the fountain in front of the dormitory.

All my friends and the principal were already there at the meeting point.

“Hello?”

The principal covered her mouth as she chuckled and waved at me with a smile. I returned her smile and greeted her.

“Hello!”

“Right.”

After we exchanged greetings, she looked at me intently with a peculiar expression. What was that about?

When I looked back at her with wide eyes, she burst into laughter.

“I’m looking forward to your performance.”

“T-Thank you…?”

“Hehe, yes. If you do well, this principal will praise you!”

Praise… from the principal, huh.

I recalled the original novel.

When the principal met Nayu Han at the Valder residence, she had deliberately acted seductively to tease him.

“Principal, or rather, Irina’s ample chest approached me. She whispered in my ear, blowing a gentle breeze. The moment her sharp fangs brushed against my ear, I shivered.”

“If you work hard, I’ll give you even more praise?”

“I felt my face heat up—”

Ugh.

I really didn’t want any of that…

“Oh my, what are you thinking so deeply about?”

“Um… I’m contemplating how to depict a healthy relationship between teacher and student.”

“Hmm?”

The principal tilted her head, seemingly unsure of what I meant.

“Hello.”

I was startled by the familiar voice of a hybrid fox beastman who interrupted.

“Y-You, Mihail? Are you going too?”

“Yeah. I have some business to take care of regarding the Valder family, so I got permission.”

“The Valder family….”

“Please take good care of our master when you see her, okay?”

The fox said playfully, and I nodded.

The fox’s master, Nika Valder, the head of the Valder family.

She is the person I need to meet at this medal ceremony and gain cooperation from.

How will she respond to me?

Can I proceed according to the plan I’ve set?

While I was lost in such thoughts due to the tension, it seemed everyone had gathered.

The principal smiled lightly and waved her gnarled staff, which looked like it was carved from a small branch.

“It seems like everyone is here. Shall we get going?”

A barrier preventing teleportation had been set up at the academy since the attack of the Wild Hunters.

Additionally, a similar barrier had been established at the dining venue, so we planned to move to the teleport zone outside the academy using the academy bus, and then to the teleport zone near the building.

Once everyone boarded the bus, Nayu Han naturally seemed to want to sit next to me but was gently pushed aside by the fox.

“I’d like to have a brief conversation with my friend, so I hope you don’t mind?”

“What?”

“Sorry… Yuhan.”

I awkwardly smiled and asked for Nayu Han’s understanding.

It was amusing to see her look somewhat shocked, as she had naturally thought that was her seat.

Nayu Ri sighed, then grabbed Nayu Han’s arm and pulled her away. It seemed she intended to have her sit next to her.

“I want to sit next to Nahyun too—”

“……”

It sounded like the two of them were chattering about something, but it was probably just my imagination.

I pretended not to hear the voices coming from behind me.

As everyone settled into their seats, the bus departed immediately.