How to get on the protagonist’s flower path

How to Manage Connections (4)

As Choi Soo-jung suddenly appeared from thin air, Na Yu-ri clicked her tongue loudly enough for anyone to hear.

“What’s going on, Soo-jung?”

“Oh, it’s nothing much. You guys are heading to the training room, right? I was looking for someone to train with, too.”

It was 100% an excuse.

Choi Soo-jung turned her sharp gaze towards me, her eyes gleaming like a cat’s as she grinned.

“…Training? You?”

“Why not~? I always train hard!”

Ahem! Choi Soo-jung cleared her throat and landed her body, which had been floating in the air.

“So, can I join you guys?”

Oh, of course! New connections are always welcome!

I couldn’t sense the hidden motives behind Choi Soo-jung’s facade and just smiled, genuinely pleased to have made a new friend who wanted to grow alongside me.

“Of course! What’s your name?”

“Choi Soo-jung!”

“Wait, Na-hyun! This person is…!”

Just as Yu-ri was about to object, Dum Dum, who had been silently listening to the conversation, chimed in.

“The more comrades, the better.”

I knew it. Always a diligent guy.

“Why? Little bro, you jumped in too, didn’t you? Adding one more person isn’t a problem.”

The con artist also chimed in. Of course, he likely had ulterior motives to get acquainted with Choi Soo-jung.

Nice support, protagonists!

Na Yu-ri couldn’t shake off her unease. However, it seemed she reluctantly accepted Choi Soo-jung, thinking it would be better to go with the majority.

Choi Soo-jung immediately glued herself to the side of the con artist.

“I know your name too! It’s Na Yu-han, right?”

“Yeah. You said your name is Choi Soo-jung?”

“Call me cute Soo-jung~ to be friendly!”

“No, that feels a bit too soon.”

Oh, indeed, a candidate for the heroine. Is she already trying to charm with such an appeal just because she’s interested?

A heroine from the novel made her appearance sooner than expected. Should I assert myself a bit more?

No, wait, I actually want to be a sub-heroine at best. This level of presence is probably enough.

However, I want to earn more meta points. There’s still a lot to gain from the con artist.

…It can’t be helped. I really don’t want to do this, but…

It’s the ‘Jealous Heroine’ operation.

I reminded myself of the bunny-like younger siblings from our orphanage.

“Hey, won’t that make Yu-han uncomfortable?”

Of course, that wouldn’t be the case. The con artist would be secretly grinning with delight.

Na Yu-ri snorted, puffing her chest out as she linked arms with me.

“Let’s leave them to themselves and go with the three of us, Na-hyun, Si-woo!”

“Still…”

I glanced at them, trying to convey, ‘I’m worried about you two.’

“Oh? Oh?”

It seemed that piqued Choi Soo-jung’s interest as she playfully hugged the con artist tightly.

Sure, you can have him. Please.

…Oh, no, let’s stay focused.

I’m currently the jealous… sub-heroine who can’t fall in love… it’s unbearable. Anyway, it’s the concept of unrequited love.

“Ugh.”

The con artist hesitated, his face turning red. Oh, it must be nice for him. This socially inept virgin can’t handle this.

“Oh!”

I raised my voice unconsciously at the sight.

Choi Soo-jung grinned and wagged her tail as if to provoke me.

To think I’d have to stage a scene fighting over a trashy guy like the con artist. Sigh… this is really painful…

“…”

The good ‘me’ couldn’t bring myself to say anything more and just lowered my head.

This level of reaction should be appropriate.

At that moment, Dum Dum, who had been walking with his eyes straight ahead, turned to Choi Soo-jung.

“Right now, we’re on our way to train, so I hope you don’t overdo it. It looks like you’re joining for a different purpose.”

Hearing those words, Choi Soo-jung chuckled and raised her hands.

“Got it, got it! Just kidding! Na-hyun, I’m sorry!”

“No, you don’t need to apologize to me…”

“Oh, are you and Yu-han dating?”

Choi Soo-jung said playfully.

“Who’s dating whom?”

Na Yu-ri exploded. Truly, her skill in drawing attention is impressive.

After calming and soothing Na Yu-ri, by the time we arrived at the training area, I was completely drained.

“The rooms from 1 to 100 are for individual training, and the group training starts from 101. I’ve reserved Room 101.”

“Let’s go.”

“Yay~!”

“Let’s go, Na-hyun!”

I was the only one who was exhausted.

I suffered alone. The protagonists both just kept quiet.

In the end, after great effort, we arrived at the group training area, and I approached the con artist, who was chatting briefly with Choi Soo-jung.

“Hey, Yu-han! Shall we practice in pairs?”

Pairs.

In this world, it means training in tandem with another person.

I leaned close to the con artist and whispered in his ear, deliberately glancing at Choi Soo-jung as I spoke.

“We’re going to an important place today. It would be good to prepare.”

“Ah, right.”

For the record, Na Yu-ri was glaring at him from behind, as if she could kill him.

I couldn’t understand why it felt like a flaming hell was appearing behind Yu-ri. I didn’t know why her pupils were so dilated. Calm down. Oof, relax that clenched fist.

But Choi Soo-jung easily poured more oil on the fire.

“What’s this? You two are going to practice together? Are you two really in a thing?”

“Ah, no!”

The con artist merely flushed, saying nothing. Say something, already.

“No, we’re not.”

Just then, an icy voice pierced through us.

“Absolutely not.”

“Hmm? But—”

“Even if the world ends, no.”

Thank you. I was thinking the same thing.

Choi Soo-jung, who had been teasing the whole time, seemed surprised, her eyes wide open, unable to retort against Na Yu-ri’s assertiveness.

Ah, Choi Soo-jung’s tail puffed up. I guess being a beast hybrid means she has quite the cat-like traits.

“Are you jealous, little bro?”

Why are you causing a commotion at this serious moment, you crazy con artist!

Na Yu-ri’s neck creaked as she slowly turned to look at the con artist.

I wish they’d just let me go from here.

Just as the flame of tension seemed to rekindle…

“The simulator is all set up.”

Dum Dum interjected.

What perfect timing! Thanks to his diligence, which is qualitatively different from the con artist’s, I was saved.

“Phew—.”

Taking a deep breath, Na Yu-ri moved forward seriously.

“Let’s go.”

We all shut up and followed behind her. It was not a situation we could resist.

“First, we’ve set up a five-person simulation. The background is an emergent gate appearing in a city.”

I was impressed by Dum Dum’s calm demeanor, continuing the briefing even after seeing the earlier scene.

Anyway, the biggest advantage of the training area is this simulation feature.

It allows trainees to experience situations as if they were real using illusion skills. Detailed scenarios can be set, and an advanced AI can create unexpected situations.

So, even if they can’t level up, it’s a good place for a realistic experience… or so I read on the tablet.

“Emergent? Isn’t the difficulty too high right from the start? How about starting with a static one?”

It seemed the con artist wanted to practice in a static hidden piece dungeon, even amidst this.

“Static ones are rare, so I think it’s better to get used to emergent ones right from the beginning.”

Dum Dum replied earnestly to that.

The sight of the two discussing seriously was quite a picture.

Even so, it was a nice contrast between the calm, black-haired, wall-eyed youth and the black-haired, red-eyed youth with cat-like features.

As seen in the discussion between the con artist and Dum Dum, the types of gates in this world can be broadly divided into two categories.

The emergent gates, where monsters keep appearing until the last one is defeated, and the static gates, which are dungeons that we invade while the monsters cannot come out of the gate.

Emergent gates, especially near the “tower,” are more common. They are both the main job and source of income for hunters, given their high risk.

On the other hand, static gates randomly open anywhere, often referred to as “jackpot” gates. They are easier to hunt since you can retreat at any time, and the rewards are plentiful.

The dungeon that the con artist and I will go to later is also a static gate.

According to the novel, the con artist intends to use this ‘retreatable aspect’ of static gates to his advantage.

Anyway, their discussion went on for quite a while, and I had to listen to the two who kept exchanging ideas and even asking my opinion.

“Let’s decide on roles. Na Yu-ri will be the healer, and I’ll be the tank.”

“Then I’ll be the damage dealer.”

“What about you, Soo-jung?”

“Me? I’ll—!”

“Why don’t you be the scout?”

“A scout? Why?”

“Because you’re agile and can report back on enemy movements.”

“Hmm, okay, I’ll do that!”

In the end, everyone but me had a role, and I was left behind, just a little out of the loop.

As the mock drill unfolded, I felt left out. Well, in the end, I’m a support character who’s here to witness the main characters fight…

“Let’s begin!”

Under Dum Dum’s command, the mock drill finally began.

At first, they faced a swarm of monsters.

“Why aren’t they moving? They’re just standing there.”

After confirming the scenario, Na Yu-ri blurted out.

“It seems the simulation isn’t triggered yet.”

Dum Dum replied calmly.

“Indeed, the monsters usually move when we get close, so let’s draw them out.”

“Okay, then. Let’s go!”

“Let’s go!”

I stayed silent, following behind the main group.