How to get on the protagonist’s flower path

“The giant robot is a girl’s dream!”

“Isn’t it awesome!”

“Ha ha ha! Is that why you pulled this stunt?”

Currently, the invention duo was in tatters but somehow still managed to stand before the teachers.

The teachers seemed to want to scold the invention duo, but since Yggdrasil was standing there with a cheerful smile, listening to them, it didn’t appear they could.

“Oh, by the way, Yggdrasil! We created an artificial core, and unlike the usual natural cores, it doesn’t contain anti-factors, which cause rejection when implanted in other monsters or different species. So, would it be alright if we experiment with it—”

“Absolutely not!”

“You want to implant a core into a monster?”

“There are teams experimenting with monsters, right! Let us do it!”

“They went through formal procedures and got permission! And they only experiment on weak monsters!”

“Look at the accident you just caused today!”

Even amidst the chaos, the invention duo continued to request permission for their monster-related experiments, only to be met with fierce opposition.

Yggdrasil, who had been chuckling at their antics as if watching a comedy show, eventually clapped her hands to focus their attention.

“Enough! I understand the situation well. I also know how passionate and foolish you are!”

The other teachers sensed an ominous vibe from Yggdrasil’s words, which contained an oddly friendly tone, and flinched.

“Since you’ll do it secretly anyway, I’ll allow it!”

“Yggdrasil?!”

“Even Yggdrasil shouldn’t allow this!”

“Shut up! As long as the teachers keep an eye on you, that’s all that matters. To be frank, it’s the teachers’ fault for not detecting something so large being made underground at the school in the first place!”

Yggdrasil pointed at the teachers and shouted.

“Everyone, gather at the training ground tonight! I’ll personally train you after a long time!”

At those words, the teachers turned pale.

…It seems even the teachers find Yggdrasil’s training to be tough.

“Wait, just a moment—”

“Yggdrasil…?”

“It’s only been a little while since we graduated!”

“Who cares? Weak is weak!”

The conversation had somehow shifted back to avoiding Yggdrasil’s training.

I shook my head at the situation.

Kang-yu, holding my hand tightly, tilted his head in confusion.

“Is it over?”

“I think so. Should we go back?”

“Yeah!”

Kang-yu and I, who had come to the staff room as witnesses to the incident, stealthily slipped out, keeping an eye on the teachers.

The hallway was empty, perhaps because it was class time, and the sound of our footsteps echoed as we walked.

Just as we were nearing the classroom, the bell signaling the end of the break rang out.

As soon as I opened the classroom door, my classmates, who seemed to have been waiting for this moment, all rushed out and surrounded Kang-yu and me.

“I heard you took down a robot that even the teachers couldn’t handle?”

“There was an epic battle, right?”

“Who used that incredible water magic we saw earlier? The transfer student?”

“It was me! I did it! The one who took it down was my master, and I stopped the explosion!”

Amidst the barrage of questions, Kang-yu confidently replied. He then quickly mixed in with the other kids and started chatting with them.

The kids, bright and lively, seemed to find Kang-yu quite cute, given that he still showed some childlike traits.

Yeah. My little brother is cute, right?

I smiled contentedly.

At some point, Choi Su-jeong, who had come close to me, put her arm around my shoulders. Lee Ha-na, who approached with her, handed me her notes.

“Good job, junior!”

“Here, my notes. Use them to catch up on what you missed.”

“Oh, seniors!”

Besides the two seniors, all my club friends gathered around me naturally.

Glancing over to the other side of the classroom, I noticed Kang-yu blending well with the other students. I felt relieved and turned my attention to my friends.

“It looks like you guys get along really well…! I’m jealous; I wish I had siblings too.”

“Right? But, Jae-yoon, not all siblings get along like Na-hyun and Kang-yu do.”

“Well, that’s true…”

I couldn’t help but quietly agree with Na-yuri’s words. They were more persuasive since she said them.

I smiled as I watched Na-yu-han, who was subtly avoiding the topic.

“What are you doing, unnie?”

Kang-yu, having finished chatting with the other kids, came over and peeked his head in.

To him, Park Si-u said flatly, “It’s about how you and your sister are really close.”

“That’s right! We’re super close! I bet my sister likes me the most in the world!”

Kang-yu puffed out his chest as if to boast about this fact.

“Kang-yu…”

I felt a bit shy about such an overt declaration.

Choi Su-jeong, who had been watching with interest, suddenly seemed to remember something and playfully asked, “So, what would you think if your sister got a boyfriend? If she has a boyfriend, that person would definitely become her priority!”

“To my sister?”

“…A boyfriend?”

Why are they suddenly asking that?

I thought the question was unnecessary, but Kang-yu seemed to take it seriously.

“Hmm… If my sister likes him, I can’t do anything about it, but he must be a cool guy! He has to be stronger than me!”

“Does he have to be strong?”

“Yeah! That way, he won’t be a burden to my sister!”

“Well, I think I’d oppose if my sister brought home a weakling…”

Shin Ba-ran, who asked for a reason, nodded as if she agreed.

Hearing Kang-yu’s answer, Choi Su-jeong chuckled and playfully slapped Na-yu-han’s back.

“Hmm, hmm. I see~ You better work hard, junior! I’ll cheer for you!”

“What, what are you cheering for?”

“Don’t you know?”

Choi Su-jeong often showed her mischievous side, teasing me and Na-yu-han together.

Even now, look at her! She has a playful smile full of mischief, wanting to tease someone.

Na-yu-han, on the other hand, seemed not to have developed any tolerance for this kind of teasing; she just stood there, her face flushed.

“…Personally, I don’t think you’re a good match for Na-hyun,” Na-yuri gently broke the mood.

She hugged me tightly as if to say she wouldn’t let anyone take me away.

“How about you live with me, Na-hyun?”

“Should we?”

Living with Na-yuri might not be a bad idea. I chuckled as I responded.

Just then, a familiar voice unexpectedly chimed in.

“What about me?”

I turned my head to see sapphire-blue eyes looking at me.

Park Si-u, who asked the question with an expression that was hard to read, whether it was a joke or not, was looking at me.

Living with Park Si-u… we get along pretty well and communicate easily…

“Not a bad idea, right?”

“Is that so? I’m glad.”

Park Si-u smiled faintly.

Then, as if it were nothing, he quickly changed the subject.

“You said your name is Kang-yu. We always train together after school. Your sister joins us too. Do you want to come along?”

“Yeah! I want to! Let me join!”

“Alright then. How about we start with some warm-up exercises and a sparring session today?”

“Sure. Let’s ask Yggdrasil to let us use the training room.”

Na-yu-han expressed her agreement, and the other kids nodded without objection.

“I think it would be good to see if we can coordinate our attacks.”

Lee Ha-na said, looking at Kang-yu.

With the combination of water and ice magic, if they managed to sync up, their attacks would surely be more powerful. It seemed like Lee Ha-na was interested in that aspect too.

…Yggdrasil wouldn’t miss out on such chemistry. I almost wiped away tears at the thought of the two facing a rough future ahead.

“Can I spar with you?”

“Sure!”

With Park Si-u’s challenge to Kang-yu, the bell signaling the end of the break rang out.

Since it was the first day of school, we would only have theory classes in the morning.

So when classes ended, it was lunchtime.

We naturally headed to a nearby restaurant to eat lunch and chat.

“Na-yu-han, can you pass the sauce?”

“Oh, sure.”

Na-yuri seemed to have completely redefined her way of addressing Na-yu-han.

The two had become somewhat casual with each other, and while the others seemed puzzled by the change, they appeared relieved that it wasn’t as serious as before.

After finishing lunch, we were supposed to head to the training ground with Yggdrasil, but…

Yggdrasil
I have something to take care of! Go ahead; I’ll be there soon!
Yggdrasil
Oh, I have someone I want to introduce you to, so I’ll show you soon!
Yggdrasil
I’ve already given permission to use the training room, so feel free to use it!

…Since Yggdrasil had something to attend to, we decided to go ahead without him.

It turned out no one was planning to use the training ground right from the first day of school; it was completely empty.

We reserved the sparring room inside the training ground and stepped in.

Min Jae-yoon and Shin Ba-ran were checking their weapons and said, “I wonder how much stronger everyone got during the break!”

“I worked hard. I won’t lose!”

Everyone seemed to have trained during the break; their energy felt different.

As for Na-yu-han… well, it was just Na-yu-han.

“First up for the sparring… is it Kang-yu and Park Si-u?”

Since Na-yu-han found it difficult to fight directly due to his stats, he decided to take on the role of referee.

He smirked playfully as he said, “Kang-yu, do your best.”

“I’ll do it without needing to be told!”

Kang-yu reacted somewhat irritably. He had been particularly snappy toward Na-yu-han since earlier, seemingly wary of the teasing from Choi Su-jeong that linked me and Na-yu-han together.

There was no need to be so cautious, though. He was just overly jealous.

I occasionally shook my head in amusement at Kang-yu’s behavior, which often led to him being teased as a “sibling-complex” type.

“Alright, then…”

Na-yu-han raised one arm high, then lowered it while shouting.

“Start!”