Why Is Everyone in This Dating Sim Trying to Kill Me?!

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Translator: Vine

Chapter Title: She Ate Too Much (1)

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Even though a bomb had dropped at the Hunter Management Bureau, making the world boil with noise, the clock at Velvet Academy continued to turn.

Of course, given how big the incident was, various rumors circulated among the cadets.

However, since Velvet Academy and the Hunter Management Bureau were fundamentally independent organizations, the cadets' reactions were more detached than expected.

Some wondered if they should reconsider their career paths if they had planned to join the Hunter Management Bureau later, while others thought that right after such an incident would be the easiest time to get hired, so now was the time to seize the opportunity.

Isn't it true that in the military, no matter what happens in the outside world, you always observe from a distance?

It was exactly that feeling.

Since all their necessities—food, clothing, and shelter—were provided here at Velvet Academy, they didn't feel the full impact.

Yawn—

A yawn escaped me, still half-asleep. Lee Yu-ri was waiting for me in front of the dorm.

"Jin Yuha! Overslept again!"

That's right.

Today was the day we would clear a dungeon with Im Ga-eul and Lee Yu-ri.

The practical gate training day had returned.

The dungeon assigned to us today was a C-rank dungeon, Lizardman's Field.

It was a dungeon where fire-breathing lizard monsters roamed.

And, with Choi A-ram, the tutorial boss who was originally in our party, gone, there was a new person who took his place…

"I'm Kim Cheol-hyeon, porter and healer! It's truly an honor to be with the Utopia Party!"

The remaining quota member, whom I hadn't seen last time, filled that spot.

Thus, our party was completed with a strange combination: Lee Yu-ri, Im Ga-eul, and three male quota members, including myself.

"Junior, are you really sure about this? There were quite a few others who wanted to join our party, you know…"

Im Ga-eul asked me, her brow furrowed.

Our Utopia Party had skyrocketed in popularity over the weekend thanks to Shin Se-hee's media play.

With Choi A-ram's absence, many people from other parties wanted to switch to ours, even abandoning their original groups, but…

"Then, are those people also willing to be porters?"

"…Not exactly."

I let out a small chuckle.

Honestly, for us, who had even cleared the unknown hardcore mode of the B-rank dungeon, Thornfield, over the weekend, a C-rank dungeon was an incredibly easy task.

Therefore, unless they were a damage dealer on par with Kang Do-hee, bringing someone else in wouldn't be much help.

'They're more comfortable than those who might try to cozy up to us with ulterior motives. Plus, they're useful for increasing item slots, so even better.'

And so, the two girls and three boys headed to the dungeon, drawing everyone's attention.

* * *

"Wow! Unnie! I feel so much lighter than before, somehow!? Did your skills improve even more?"

Lee Yu-ri, after clashing with a group of lizardmen and finishing a battle, ran up to Im Ga-eul and spoke with an excited look.

"Ahahaha… R-Really? W-Well, that's a relief…"

"No, it felt completely different from last time! Unnie, are you seriously a genius?"

I, too, looked at Im Ga-eul with renewed surprise.

'…Her skill efficiency really seems to have gone up significantly. How did she improve so quickly?'

Im Ga-eul's skill efficiency had noticeably increased in just a week, as if she had undergone a complete transformation.

'Even if initial proficiency increases quickly, this is definitely… too fast. Was going to the B-rank dungeon a big factor? Or did she train a bit like Baek Seol-hee this time?'

Hmm, I'm not sure of the exact reason. But well, good is good.

"I didn't do anything. This is all thanks to Yuha Junior…"

Im Ga-eul said, clutching a magic stone tightly in her hand, looking a bit embarrassed.

"Then, if we keep this up, we can finish even faster than last time today!"

.

.

.

However.

After her initial surge, Im Ga-eul's skill efficiency plummeted like a lie. And it was a devastating drop.

Of course, it wasn't as bad as her pure, unenhanced skill, but it felt like she couldn't provide the smooth support she had before.

In the end, it took us nearly twice as long as last time to complete our quota.

And Im Ga-eul's complexion had noticeably worsened.

"Senior, your face looks really bad right now. Did you drink the potion I gave you?"

"Unnie, are you sick…?"

"Oh, oh? I-I'm fine! I-I can endure it!"

Im Ga-eul clenched her fists and made a fighting pose, saying she was fine, but… her hands were trembling, making her look quite exhausted.

"Hmm, it seems Unnie isn't feeling well today. Just by looking at her. You must have overexerted yourself at first, huh? No wonder, your skills were quite extraordinary back then."

Lee Yu-ri nodded and said,

I decided that there was no point in continuing here.

"Since we've completed our quota for today, let's head back. Kim Cheol-hyeon, Kim So-hoon, both of you pack up the byproducts and magic stones."

"Yes! Leader!"

"Got it! Leader!"

*

"Hmm? You're late today."

Director Lina asked, twitching an eyebrow.

"Yes, Senior seems to be a little unwell today."

"Then would you like to go to the infirmary for some healing?"

At Director Lina's words, Im Ga-eul shook her head vigorously.

"Oh, no! I-I'm fine! I just need a short rest, that's all!"

"Is that so… Alright. Well, you've completed your quota. Everyone worked hard. And Jin Yuha, you…"

Director Lina seemed to have something to say to me.

"No, I'll arrange a separate meeting later. Everyone, go in and rest."

"""Yes!"""

But she seemed to decide to postpone it and dismissed our party.

'Well, it's probably about the Hunter Management Bureau incident.'

Since she said she'd arrange a separate meeting, I could talk to her then.

'Right now, more than that…'

Im Ga-eul was on my mind.

'It seems like one crisis after another, with each person taking a turn.'

I had been in the dungeon all day since morning, so I was sweaty and wanted to change my clothes. I headed to my dorm first.

After I showered and came out,

Rrrrr—

My phone on the bed rang.

"Hello?"

—Junior…

"Senior? What's up?"

—Uh, I have something important to talk about… Can you… come out for a bit?

I was planning to go see her anyway, but Im Ga-eul called me first.

"Yes, where are you?"

—I'm in front of the academy's central park right now.

"Please wait a moment, I'll be there."

I changed into comfortable clothes and went out to the park, where I saw Im Ga-eul.

She was sitting on a bench, her face hardened with a very serious expression.

"Senior."

"Ah, Yuha Junior… you're… here?"

"What's wrong?"

I sat next to her on the bench and asked directly.

Given her personality, if I don't get straight to the point, she's likely to beat around the bush.

"Th-That is…"

Im Ga-eul had asked for my advice, yet she still seemed to hesitate whether to speak or not.

"You need to tell me honestly right now so I can help you. I'm Senior Ga-eul's party leader, after all. I'm responsible for my party members."

I met her eyes and spoke seriously.

Then, Im Ga-eul swallowed hard and, as if she had made up her mind, parted her lips.

"…I have something I want to ask you about my skill."

Huh? Skill, all of a sudden?

I tilted my head.

'Is it because the output suddenly dropped today?'

"H-How many times can I use my skill with one low-grade magic stone…?"

At her question, something clicked for me.

"Senior, did you… use low-grade magic stones today?"

Im Ga-eul slowly nodded.

"Uh-huh. That's right. I used low-grade magic stones today."

"Ah, so that's why?"

Ah, thankfully, it was a lighter problem than I thought.

It seemed she felt a considerable burden using the top-grade magic stone I gave her.

Indeed, a top-grade magic stone commanded any price, so it wasn't unreasonable for her to act this way.

"Hmm, a low-grade magic stone, at Senior's current level, you'd probably use one up in half a day. I told you to just use the top-grade magic stone… I can give you another one after you use that one up in a month. Don't feel pressured."

At that, Im Ga-eul's face instantly turned pale.

"…No way."

At that, I realized something had happened to the top-grade magic stone.

"Did you lose the top-grade magic stone? Or was it stolen?"

Im Ga-eul shook her head from side to side.

"…Or did you sell it? Were you in urgent need of money?"

She shook her head vigorously again.

"…Then?"

Im Ga-eul bowed her head deeply.

Then, she spoke in a voice as quiet as an ant crawling.

"…I-I used… it."

"What?"

"I used it all…."

My eyes widened as I activated my detection skill and caught her words.

"You… you used it all? That? The top-grade magic stone…!? All of it!?"

* * *

"How long has it been since I gave it to you… and you used up an entire top-grade magic stone?"

"…Well, I just kept using it whenever I could, so—"

I stared down at Im Ga-eul.

Im Ga-eul hung her head low, looking like a wife who had blown her husband's monthly allowance in a single week.

'But how did she use it all?'

It was difficult for someone at Im Ga-eul's level to use up an entire top-grade magic stone in just one week.

Even if she used it for training in the training ground and for dungeons, using it all up would be a distant prospect.

'Well, at least it's not the kind of bad news I was expecting, so that's a relief… So, the amazing skill effect she had at first was because she used up an entire top-grade magic stone and her proficiency went up? And that's why low-grade magic stones aren't as effective now.'

Yes, it wasn't bad news.

Her improved abilities would, in any case, help our party.

Furthermore, while top-grade magic stones were rare now, as time passed and the enemies' levels gradually increased, the quality of magic stones dropped by monsters would also proportionally rise, so it wasn't a big problem.

'Still, magic stone inflation hasn't even happened yet, and one top-grade magic stone a week is too big of an expense.'

I sighed deeply.

"For now, carry low-grade magic stones and use your skills. I'll slowly figure out how this happened—"

"N-No."

Im Ga-eul suddenly cut me off. Her voice was uncharacteristically firm.

"What?"

"…Take responsibility."

Im Ga-eul was suddenly saying something out of the blue.

She raised her head, her face looking indignant.

"You're the one who made me like this, Junior, so you have to take responsibility!"

"…S-Senior? Calm down."

"Now, if it's not that big one, my body just won't be satisfied anymore…!"

Im Ga-eul grabbed my lapel and shouted words that could be heavily misinterpreted in the open park.

Murmuring—

"…"