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

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Translator: Vine

Chapter Title: Approaching Shadows (1)

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"J-Jin Yuha!"

"Really? Where, where!?"

"There!!!"

"Holy cow, does he get beauty treatments even on a deserted island? Why is his face glowing?"

"Hey, get your grubby face out of here. Today, your face is truly an embarrassment."

"Finally…!"

"It was worth holding out until now!! I told you, I definitely saw Jin Yuha last night! Whoever said I was talking nonsense, come out!"

"You said you just dreamt it yourself, so why are you shouting…."

Jin Yuha led Sophia to the shop.

In front of the shop, a considerable number of students were gathered.

Most of them were healers and supporters.

They were the ones who had gathered in front of the shop, hoping to form parties with students from other positions.

"Hey! I'm a supporter who takes the 'Understanding Basic Monsters' class with you, have you found a supporter yet?"

"Hey, that's a common class that all first-years take together. Why are you bringing that up! Yuha, do you remember me from last time? I'm a healer you made eye contact with a few times while dining at Rohana Restaurant…."

"Me, me! Still! I haven't spent a single coin out of my 2000 yet! You can use it all however you want! Swords, food, anything you need is fine! So please, party with me!"

"Hmm, it's too noisy here, isn't it? I'll buy you ice cream from the shop, so could we talk in a quiet place for a moment?"

As soon as Jin Yuha appeared, everyone rushed towards him as if they had spotted a rolling gold nugget.

It was clear: the supporters and healers, who should have been in a position of power with their initial coins, were now practically begging, clinging to Jin Yuha.

In that scene of madness, Sophia, who had followed him, shrank back, her face pale.

'Ugh… W-what are these people!'

Of course, Sophia knew that Jin Yuha was remarkable.

It was only natural, given his fame was such that fan cafes were created outside the secluded Velvet Hunter Academy.

But even inside the academy, he was this amazing?

'Weren't you all promising hunters in your own right?'

Jin Yuha's prestige far exceeded her expectations.

Of course, it wasn't usually this extreme.

Jin Yuha was usually unapproachable, and even though students were occasionally surprised by his looks, those who attended classes with him had grown somewhat accustomed to him from frequent exposure.

But now, it was already the third day since the midterm evaluation began.

Those who had already settled for a party had long since met up with damage dealers and tanks, formed groups, and left to earn coins.

In the end, those who remained until now were the ones who had held out to find even better party members.

At such a time, Jin Yuha's appearance was the ultra-rare item they had been waiting for!

No, "ultra-rare" wasn't even enough to describe it.

'If I can get Jin Yuha here, it's a jackpot! This exam will be a total free ride!'

'First, the party limit is three members. He'll definitely try to fill one of the spots with either a healer or a supporter… But the supporter in the Utopia party is a second-year senior, which means there's an open spot right now!'

'And the other spot will be filled by Kang Dohee, Shin Sehee, or Lee Yuri…!!!'

This midterm evaluation required a three-person party with a healer or supporter, and Jin Yuha's party had one empty slot.

And if they managed to secure that one slot, it was clear that one of the Utopia party members would automatically join the remaining slot.

That's why they couldn't help but rush at Jin Yuha with wild eyes.

They looked like a VelvetSra player who had just pulled an SSS-rank character from a gacha.

However, for Sophia, who was unaware of these internal circumstances, it was inevitable that Jin Yuha appeared even more remarkable.

"Everyone, just a moment."

Jin Yuha extended his hand forward with a slightly annoyed expression, stopping those who were rushing towards him.

"…"

Instantly, the noisy area fell silent.

Every single one of them closed their mouths, waiting for Jin Yuha's next words.

"I'm sorry, but I've already found a healer."

Jin Yuha said in a firm voice.

At that, the students wore crestfallen expressions and let out sighs of disappointment.

"What…!?"

"Really!?"

"Then what on earth have I been waiting for until now…."

"W-who is it! Who became your healer!!!"

The female student standing at the very front, her cheeks covered in freckles, shouted incredulously.

Jin Yuha furrowed his brows, clearly displeased.

"Do I… have a reason to tell you that?"

His voice was chilling, completely different from the gentle tone he had used with her.

Sophia, standing behind him, gasped.

It felt as if the temperature in the area had dropped by several degrees.

The female student flinched, trembled, looked around, and then shouted again.

"Ha! Even if you're strong, you shouldn't act like that, should you!? Have you forgotten that student-on-student combat will soon be allowed?! No matter who your healer is, do you think you'll be safe after making enemies of all of us!?"

If they couldn't be on the same team, they were enemies. The most powerful enemies, even.

The freckled female student subtly jabbed at that point, turning Jin Yuha into a public enemy right there.

'…What do I do!'

As the atmosphere grew increasingly hostile, Sophia didn't know what to do.

A momentary silence followed.

Jin Yuha opened his mouth.

"From the start, all I said was that I already had a healer. I don't see why I should have to hear such things."

Jin Yuha gazed steadily at the freckled student, his expression unchanged.

At that, the freckled student slowly backed away.

"And I'm sorry, but our healer is so exceptional that they can't even be compared to someone like you."

Jin Yuha reached back and took Sophia's hand.

"Let's go, Sophia."

"Y-yes, yes…!"

Jin Yuha and Sophia entered the shop, drawing everyone's gaze.

***

As they entered the shop.

Inside, Director Lina greeted them with a grumpy expression.

"Still that insolent look in your eyes, boy. You've come again."

Lina, who was already small, had become even smaller, now the size of a palm.

She even had wings on her back, cosplaying as a fairy.

'Hmm, I saw it last time too, but it's still fascinating. To think this is an artificial life form (homunculus) made of mana.'

As he gazed at her for a moment with a curious expression.

The mini-sized director furrowed her brows sharply.

"Again, you're looking at me with insolent eyes! If you've come to the shop, just buy what you need and get out!"

*Whirr—*

A translucent holographic window appeared before their eyes.

On it was a list of items that could be obtained with coins.

From convenience items to various weapons, food, and materials, everything imaginable was available.

"…Um, Jin Yuha-nim, are you sure about this?"

As I scanned the items, Sophia spoke from beside me.

"Hm? About what?"

"It seemed like there was some friction with the others outside…"

"Ah, it's fine. They're opponents we'd have to fight eventually anyway. Besides, those guys who couldn't even form a party by now are all just deadwood."

"…Deadwood? What does that mean?"

"No, don't worry about it. More importantly, Sophia. You said you wanted to help me, didn't you?"

"Yes!!! Just tell me what to do!"

"Then, let's start by using your coins to buy some things."

I intended to use the basic coins she had been given here to purchase necessary items.

In this evaluation, coins held significant value, almost like a lifeline.

With the lists and their values displayed before her eyes, Sophia couldn't possibly be unaware of their worth.

However, she readily nodded, as if she had intended to do so from the beginning.

"Yes! You can use it all. Anything Yuha needs!"

'…Now that she puts it like that, I feel a little guilty.'

First, I purchased the most expensive weapon, a sword worth 1000 coins.

A black sub-space opened in the air, and a plain sword popped out.

'Hmm, it's definitely inferior to Moonlight, but it's a whole different level from the daggers I used to farm from monsters.'

Holding a proper sword in my hand, I nodded contentedly.

Then, I continued to purchase several items without hesitation, using up all 2000 coins Sophia possessed.

"What are all these?"

Sophia, whose coins had instantly dropped to zero, tilted her head, looking at the items I had purchased.

"Training equipment."

"…Training equipment?"

"Yeah, so that's what we'll buy first. Lina. I'm going to form a party."

At that, the homunculus in the form of the director furrowed her brow sharply, as if she had heard something unpleasant.

"I am not Lina! Don't compare me to that dwarf! I am Reina!"

"O-oh, really? Anyway, Reina. Forming a party is done here, right?"

"…Yes. Who are you planning to form a party with?"

"I'm going to form a party with student Sophia."

Just as they were about to finalize the party contract.

A questioning voice came from beside them.

"A party? You're forming a party with Sophia?"

I turned to her and nodded.

"Yes, Sophia as the healer."

"…So Sophia is the incomparably excellent healer you mentioned earlier?"

"That's right."

"Aha! B-but somehow that name sounds very familiar?"

Sophia's expression began to twist.

"Yes, it's your name."

"So, you mean… me, as Jin Yuha-nim's party healer…?"

She asked again, her expression clearly saying, 'Surely not.'

"Of course, I'm talking about you. You're the only Sophia I know."

"What!!!!!!??"

Sophia's shrill scream filled the shop.