How to get on the protagonist’s flower path

Could it be because of ‘that dungeon’?

Soon, a fixed gate, which appeared in the original novel, will open near our academy.

The items that come from there are useful in the dungeon where you can obtain a ‘key’. So, for Nayuhan, it’s only natural that he’d want to go.

It works out perfectly. I also need to ask him about the lucky letter.

Got time? Is something bothering you?

I think we need to start our club activities soon.

Tomorrow night, a fixed gate will appear at the academy.

It’s an item dungeon, and it’s not a particularly dangerous place. We should be able to clear it with our current strength.

The items that come from there will be necessary later on.

Will you help me?

I chuckled at the last message.

He used to be so reckless with people, and now he’s asking for help.

Of course! We’re friends, right? Let’s gather everyone in the group chat to discuss the details!

After reading the message, Nayuhan, who hadn’t responded for a while, finally sent a brief reply.

Thanks.

That was pretty cute.

But I had something to ask.

Hey, Yu-han, what’s the lucky letter? It seems to be trending lately.

Kang Yu received one, but it feels a bit ominous…

You’ve already received one?

Yeah. A senior named Sion said it was a good thing and gave it to me today! It feels like a good luck charm.

But um… I’m not really into that kind of thing.

It’s better that you’re not into it. It’s not a good thing. That’s actually a cursed item.

…A cursed item?

I felt the color drain from my face.

What should I do? My little brother just got healthy again! What if he gets hurt!

I needed to find a countermeasure.

First… it’ll be fine for 3 days. It might even bring some good luck. However, the letter will return even if you throw it away. If you transfer it to someone else within 3 days, you might only receive good luck. Even after 3 days, if you’re lucky, a bit of misfortune may come your way. That’s why it’s called a lucky letter. Especially since Senior Sion is superstitious, he probably transferred it within 3 days, so he likely only received the good luck. I think he believed the same about others, so there was no malice involved.

I shook my head, recalling Sion from the novel, who carried around a pot of fermented soybean paste, claiming it was today’s lucky item.

‘…Senior, what’s that?’

‘It’s today’s lucky item! Speaking of which, your birthday is the same as mine! You should get one too—’

‘I’ll decline.’

I heard there was a happening like that.

By the way, that day, everyone apparently avoided Sion.

Considering who Sion is… there was probably no malice.

So if I transfer it within 3 days, it’s okay?

I should get the letter from Kang Yu.

Better to give it to me.

That’s a better option.

The problem is that a powerful curse will activate for someone who violates the condition of transferring it within 3 days.

It’s a similar curse to the one the teachers placed during the midterms. It requires tricky conditions, but once activated, it can only be lifted in a specific way. The trinket Senior Hana has will probably not work on it.

I bit my lip.

It felt like I was leaving Kang Yu with a ticking time bomb.

The way to resolve the curse is to burn the letter. However, once the curse activates, everyone who had the letter will receive their own copy.
You have to find and eliminate the original letter held by one of those people.
…After hearing rumors about the letter, I inquired separately with the teachers, and they said they couldn’t confiscate personal items unless their danger was directly confirmed. So I probably can’t ask the teachers for help right now.
Got it. Thanks!

I quickly contacted Kang Yu.

I sent a message asking him to give me the letter.

And then…

A senior woman wanted it so badly that she asked Senior Sion about it and transferred it?
She told me to do as I please…
Who?
I met her while taking a walk alone after dinner.
I don’t know her name. We just had a little chat. She said she’s in Class B?

I quietly held my head.

I never expected Kang Yu’s friendly nature would be a problem in this situation.

I didn’t know whether to be happy that Kang Yu avoided danger or feel sorry for that woman who became the next target, so I just buried my head in the pillow.

I felt pathetic for being so relieved.

I’m being foolish for dismissing the use of metaphor points when I shouldn’t use them recklessly.

……However, if someone suffers because of the lucky, no, cursed letter that was passed from Kang Yu, I will definitely help them.

With that determination, I buried my face back into the pillow.

***

“What happened with the letter?”

Early in the morning.

As if concerned for me, Nayuhan arrived early and asked as soon as he saw my face.

I explained what happened yesterday and shared my thoughts.

“First, let’s identify who has the letters. We never know when something might happen. The teachers said they can’t take anything unless its danger is directly confirmed, right? Most people will likely believe it’s a lucky letter, so it would be difficult to just take it away.”

“Exactly. We can’t forcibly take something that people think is a good item.”

“Then… let’s keep a close watch on the targets, and as soon as the curse activates, we should report it and gather those affected by the curse.”

“That’s what I think too. That’s the best plan.”

After finishing his words, Nayuhan hesitated for a moment, seemingly concerned about my somewhat dark complexion.

“Don’t worry too much. It’ll be fine.”

“…Thank you.”

I smiled, glad for his kind heart.

“You’ll tell me the strategy for the dungeon we’re going to tonight, right?”

“Ah, yeah. I’m planning to brief everyone after school. By the way… didn’t Kang Yu come with you?”

“Kang Yu came too, but he said he wanted to explore the school a bit more on his own.”

I pointed to Kang Yu’s bag hanging on the hook next to my desk and smiled.

“He’ll be here before the morning assembly.”

“I see…”

Nayuhan seemed to contemplate for a moment before speaking again.

“If you want, I’m thinking of including Kang Yu in this dungeon expedition. What do you think?”

“I’m against it.”

I preferred that Kang Yu stayed away from the actual combat as much as possible and learned at a slower pace.

“Even though he’s enrolled here, I feel like Kang Yu is still too young… I don’t think it’s good for him to participate in a sudden real battle. But he might be eager and want to join.”

“Alright, then let’s try to keep Kang Yu out… but can we really separate him…?”

“…….”

Right?

I thought of Kang Yu, who had been sticking to me all day.

Can we gather the rest of the team without Kang Yu…?

“…How about creating a group chat and discussing it?”

“That sounds better….”

I silently apologized for unintentionally ostracizing Kang Yu. Sorry, Kang Yu….

Thus, the secret operation began.

“Ugh, uhm! A message!”

“Wow, you’re right!”

Starting with Sin Baran and Min Jaeyoon awkwardly clutching their devices,

“Nyahha~ I just got a message~”

“Me too.”

“Are the seniors also busy? Me too!”

One by one, everyone began to focus on their devices under the pretense of urgent messages.

…At least it seemed fine except for those two… Sin Baran and Min Jaeyoon.

Time passed, and it was lunchtime.

Seeing everyone glued to their devices made Kang Yu furrow his brows.

“What are you doing?”

I awkwardly smiled at Kang Yu, who peeked his head out, pointing to the screen of my device.

“Just a little… um….”

“I’m bored! Why is everyone just glued to their devices? Is there something fun?”

“No, no, no.”

I turned my attention to Kang Yu, leaving the group chat, which was still explaining things.

Suddenly, I noticed Nayuhan looking anxious from a distance.

Kang Yu, having turned to look at that direction, cast an even more suspicious gaze.

What if he finds out!

Nayuhan, who was accustomed to bluffing in predictable situations from the novel, seemed unfamiliar with this unexpected circumstance.

Was it because Kang Yu was someone he didn’t have a grasp on?

You’re stripped of your con artist qualifications, you trickster.

I redirected Kang Yu’s attention.

“You were bored, right, Kang Yu? I’m sorry.”

“Uh-huh…”

I gave Kang Yu a pillow for his lap and gently stroked his head.

Seemingly satisfied, Kang Yu quickly fell asleep.

Even after the situation had settled, Nayuhan kept glancing at Kang Yu with worried eyes. When I urged him, he updated the briefing in the group chat again.

“Hey, Nayun! Me too!”
“Me too!”
“Pillow!”
“Pillow!!!”

I did see messages like this from Nayuri in between, but I pretended not to. Her sparkling gaze felt piercing.

I can’t see, can’t see.

Oh dear, Nayuri seemed to be getting increasingly clingy.

Park Siwoo, seeing that Kang Yu had fallen asleep, said,

“So tonight, we’ll deal with the gate that opens, and starting tomorrow, we’ll investigate the lucky letter situation, right?”

“Yeah. Just in case.”

“Got it.”

“Everyone has to be careful not to let Kang Yu find out, okay?”

Everyone nodded at my words.

Well, the meeting time is after ten, and by that time, Kang Yu would probably be fast asleep…

I sighed as I fiddled with Kang Yu’s soft cheeks, which kept twitching as if he were dreaming.

***

Before I knew it, it was night.

It was well past curfew, past ten o’clock.

I jumped over the dormitory window and headed to the meeting place.

It seemed that everyone else had already arrived.

However, the one who had gathered all these people, Nayuhan, had not yet shown up.

Come to think of it, Nayuhan’s room was next to Kang Yu’s.

…I wonder if he can come without getting caught?

Well, his specs are low, but he must have plenty of items, so it should be fine.

Unless Kang Yu is fully alert and on guard with all his might at this hour, there shouldn’t be any problem.

Kang Yu always falls asleep by ten.

Still, I waited with a slight sense of worry.

Before I knew it, it was 11:55.

There were only five minutes left until the gate that Nayuhan mentioned would appear.

Nayuhan finally arrived.

“…Sorry.”

“How could you leave me behind?!”

With Kang Yu.

In that moment, I almost revealed a completely rotten expression to Nayuhan.

Seriously, that—