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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Velvet Hunter Academy
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The world of "Velvet School Life!" is set in modern-day Korea.
So, where exactly is the 'Velvet Hunter Academy' that serves as its backdrop?
This profound question was once a heated topic of debate among VelvetSra users.
The developers, probably thinking it would be a headache if the location was pinpointed, had meticulously hidden all clues that could hint at the region's name. They'd completely revamped buildings, landmarks, and scenery, citing "Gate Era development" and such. They even wrote scripts to omit nearby station names and regional designations.
After all that immense effort to hide it...
The developers must have been surprised. They couldn't have dreamed that a single comment from a user, who appeared like a comet, would completely put an end to the debate.
[Anonymous (122.XXX): Hey, that blue dot over there. Isn't that it? I used the eyedropper tool in Photoshop, and it perfectly matches the safety color!]
VelvetSra had undoubtedly changed many things, claiming it was Gate Era Korea, but at the same time, there were a few things they couldn't completely erase, to hint that the setting was indeed Korea.
One of them was...
Seoul's iconic landmark, perched atop Namsan Mountain.
Namsan Tower.
In the original world, it was practically a fine dust sensor and a famous structure where couples about to break up went to hang their love locks.
In the world of VelvetSra, its role had been transformed into a control tower that observed and broadcasted abnormal gate situations.
Even so, perhaps unwilling to abandon its unique identity of changing building colors, blue meant safe, yellow meant caution, orange meant alert, and red meant severe.
It thus signaled Seoul's status like a beacon.
But that appeared as a faint dot in the background of the mountain behind during the courage test episode.
After that, once other users realized that blue dot was Namsan Tower, they measured its size and distance, calculated its latitude and longitude, and eventually managed to pinpoint the academy's location.
So, where is it?
"Ah, we're almost at Sillim Station, Jin Yu-ha. You can get off now. We'll have to walk from here."
Yi Yu-ri said, parking the car.
That's right.
The university where Korea's top elites gathered, with Gwanak Mountain as its backdrop.
Seoul National University.
The VelvetSra developers had completely razed that vast site, committing the atrocity of reincarnating it under the name 'Velvet Hunter Academy.'
* * *
Modern-style commercial buildings lined both sides of the main street, with street trees stretching along the path.
On the street, students who looked barely twenty, perhaps prospective cadets, walked, each carrying their weapons.
"Hey, hey, over there. Look over there."
"What is it? Oh? Wow, crazy. That's insane."
"How can someone look like that? I seriously want to get married to him."
A group of women glanced this way, whispering.
Even with my detection ability off, I could hear them, which meant they weren't even trying to hide it.
"No way, is he also an incoming student this term?"
"Nah—. Why would a guy like that be lacking anything? Look beside him. He probably just came to see his girlfriend off for basic training this time."
"I'm so jealous, seriously. What did that girl do in her past life, block a Demon King's strike or something?"
"No, hey! That's a male cadet uniform!"
"What? Really!?"
Starting with those women's exclamations, gazes pierced me from all directions.
"...What do you think his position is?"
"Why ask? Obviously a Healer or a Supporter."
"Sigh... I wish a guy like that would heal me too. I wouldn't mind losing an arm for it, I guess?"
Even though I had a sword at my hip, no one thought I was a Dealer.
In this world, civilians also carried weapons, so it was common for Healers and Supporters to carry self-defense weapons.
'This is more tiring than I thought.'
Intense gazes I'd never received in my previous life.
Even before admission, I was already attracting excessive attention.
Of course, it wasn't as much of a burden now that I didn't have that pathetic status window from before. It was more like I wasn't used to it yet, and it was draining.
"Are you okay?"
Just then, Yi Yu-ri, who was walking beside me, seemed to read my expression and asked.
She definitely wouldn't like attracting this kind of attention either.
I felt unnecessarily sorry.
"Are *you* okay?"
"What do you mean?"
"Because of me, you're also getting all the attention. And it sounds like they're talking about you too."
"Huh, I thought it was something serious. It doesn't really matter. I expected this would happen anyway, from the moment we decided to come together."
Yi Yu-ri replied with a nonchalant expression.
Oh, that's quite touching.
She came with me even knowing this would happen.
As expected, she's reliable. My Gukbap-i.
"Still, it's not ideal. You need to train and be evaluated now, and I feel like annoying people will flock to you."
Yi Yu-ri quickly scanned her surroundings, then furrowed her brow.
"Then Gukbap-i, you should protect me. You're my Tanker, after all."
"...W-What!?"
At that, Yi Yu-ri flinched in surprise and recoiled slightly.
I subtly implied, 'You're the Tanker of my party,' but her resistance was more intense than I expected.
'Tsk, not yet. I want a definite answer soon.'
"Ah, was that too much?"
"It's, it's not too much, but...! Th-That's too soon! Ah, my situation still—"
"Right, the admission ceremony hasn't even happened yet. I was too hasty. Alright, let's take it slow. I'll keep waiting."
"You, what kind of guy...!"
Yi Yu-ri blushed, looking mortified.
'Oh, right. Here, it's usually women who lead parties.'
So, for me to form a party and designate her as the Tanker seemed abrupt. No matter how skilled I was, it went against common sense for a woman to be under a man.
'Hmm, still, this is troublesome... I want to avoid being affiliated with a specific party...'
At the very least, I need to find and recruit high-performing characters to form a team, to prepare for the upcoming incidents.
But, any parties haphazardly formed here would surely include guys like pre-awakening Jin Yu-ha.
Without gacha, there's no way I can navigate this harsh world with such deadweights.
'First, right. I'll prove my worth in this training. Then maybe she'll think more positively.'
Walking alongside Yi Yu-ri, receiving countless gazes, we finally arrived at the Velvet Hunter Academy.
And I, for a moment, couldn't help but be captivated by the scenery before my eyes.
Under the dazzling midday sun, two pillars stood like sculptures. Fresh flowers and grasses swayed gently in the breeze within the vast grounds.
The main building, shaped like a colossal clock tower, and various other buildings showcasing modern architectural beauty, surrounded it.
It was a scene both unfamiliar and familiar.
Because this was the opening scene of "Velvet School Life!"
A faint background melody, like a phantom sound, echoed in my ears.
"Jin Yu-ha. What are you doing? Aren't you coming?"
Yi Yu-ri, a character from that game, walked ahead, then turned back from within the scenery and spoke, telling me to hurry.
I stared blankly at her, then chuckled and nodded.
"Yeah, I'm coming. I have to."
I stepped inside the Velvet Hunter Academy.
* * *
Following Yi Yu-ri, we arrived at the training ground.
I had imagined an atmosphere similar to Nonsan Training Center from my previous world, but it was nothing like that.
It felt more like a colossal auditorium.
Prospective cadets, who would be admitted along with me, were gathered here. I tried to look for any familiar faces around, but the atmosphere was too chaotic to find anyone.
"Ugh, it's noisy."
"Tell me about it."
Just as I was vaguely nodding to Yi Yu-ri, who had covered her ears with both hands, "Kiiiiek— *Whoosh*—!"
A sharp sound blared from the speakers installed in the auditorium.
On the platform stood a woman with an unsmiling face. Was she the supervisor?
"Greetings, prospective cadets. Welcome to Velvet Hunter Academy. A stat verification test will now commence, so please line up in front of the instructor assigned to your respective position."
Five signboards were swiftly set up in front of the supervisor.
Each signboard was labeled [Dealer], [Healer], [Tanker], [Supporter], [Special], and a woman, seemingly the instructor in charge, stood beside each one.
'So I should line up with the Dealers? The Dealer line is...'
Just as the prospective cadets were about to move according to their positions, the supervisor, as if she had briefly forgotten something, opened her mouth again.
"Ah, prospective cadets admitted through special admission and the male quota system, please come to me separately."
Ah, damn it.
Isn't this public humiliation a bit much here?
That single sentence thrown by the supervisor had quite an impact.
The students suddenly began to murmur.
"Special admission? Male quota system? What's that?"
"Ah, special admission is when you've already proven sufficient skill before entering the academy, so you don't need to take a separate test. Like, you know, guys like Cheon-hwa."
"Ah, right, if they're that famous, it would be strange for them to take the test. Then what about the male quota system?"
"Hmm, you know that incident, right? Last year, that guy who was kidnapped into a gate. A female hunter rescued him, but then she was sued for sexual harassment, and it turned out to be a false accusation."
"Oh, yeah, that scumbag! But what does that have to do with the male quota system?"
"Apparently, Velvet Academy received political pressure to send men for male rescues and to admit more male cadets."
"Crazy, so guys who get in through the male quota system don't take the test either?"
"That's what they say."
"That's insane."
'Ah, this is bullshit.'
Hearing the conversation from the front, my head suddenly spun.
"Jin Yu-ha? Why do you look like that? Are you feeling sick?"
Yi Yu-ri asked me with a worried expression.
"...No, I just think I need to go out now."
"Go out? Where? The Dealer line is right next to us."
With a trembling hand, I pointed to the front.
Right at the black-haired, bob-cut supervisor.
"Jin Yu-ha!"
At that, Yi Yu-ri's face registered surprise.
"You!"
I hadn't intended to reveal it like this.
But there was no helping it.
"Yes, that's right."
I slowly nodded to Yi Yu-ri, who I expected to be disappointed.
"I'm sorry for deceiving you all this time."
How would Yi Yu-ri react if I said this?
"I'm actually a m—"
"You were a special admission student!?"
W-wait, Gukbap-i?
"No wonder you seemed extraordinary!"
Sorry, but,
"So you have to be *that* good to be a special admission student!?"
I'm
a male quota cadet.