"Ring of Affection and Obsession"
An item that grants a percentage buff to all characters based on one person’s affection for another, undoubtedly a top-tier, almost cheat-level item in "Velvet School Life!".
It was clear that obtaining or not obtaining this item would significantly impact future gaplay.
Otherwise, no matter how well-prepared I was, I wouldn’t have ventured into the dangerous Jukai Forest.
’But... what’s going on?’
Right after putting on the ring, I couldn’t help but feel bewildered.
Ding─♬
" You have equipped the "Ring of Affection and Obsession". All your favored individuals receive a boost in their abilities. "
There were so unexpected nas among the beneficiaries.
" Beneficiaries "
[ Lee Yoo-ri ] – 4%
[ Kang Do-hee ] – 4%
[ Lim Ga-eul ] – 4%
[ Sophia ] – 4%
[ Shin Se-hee ] – 4%
[ Ichika ] – 3%
Honestly, I thought it would be amazing if it applied to just Sophia. But, it went a step further, including Shin Se-hee, who isn’t even in a combat role, and Ichika, who hasn’t officially joined yet.
Well, this much is understandable. After all, Shin Se-hee isn’t in a combat role, but she’s a founding mber of Utopia, and Ichika automatically joins the party if she survives, so it’s not entirely unreasonable.
However,
[ Baek Seol-hee ] – 4%
[ Rina ] – 3%
Seeing these two nas was truly unexpected.
’What? Master and Chairman Rina? Why these two...?’
Just as I was thinking that, Director Rina’s na started blinking. Soon, her na was completely removed from the list.
’...Is it a bug?’
I had no choice but to think so, scratching my head.
With this strange feeling, I submitted the completion report to the Japanese Hunter Managent Headquarters. By the ti I returned to Velvet Academy, it was late at night.
I dismissed the tired party mbers and was giving a brief to Shin Se-hee when,
"Disciple, I have sothing urgent to discuss."
The problematic Master ca looking for .
"Follow for a mont."
Step— Step—
Walking behind her in uncomfortable silence, I thought,
’It feels like I haven’t seen her in a long ti...’
She had originally planned to help train during the sumr break, but due to her increasing personal duties, that promise wasn’t kept.
So, I was glad to see her, but...
Her steps ahead were different from usual. And her normally quiet breathing seed slightly rough.
’Is she angry?’
For so reason, her displeased mood seed to be conveyed to .
’Why is she angry? Could it be...?’
Just then, Kang Do-hee’s earlier question, asked with a complicated expression, flashed through my mind.
" Little Fool, what’s this... what’s going on? Suddenly, my strength increased..."
She asked about the ring that had suddenly appeared on her finger and the power boost. And I explained it to her as it was.
" Yes, it’s because of the artifact. It has a fraudulent effect that boosts all stats for people closely connected to . It’s fortunate that it applied to everyone."
I boasted about it to the party mbers, but their reactions were unexpectedly complex.
It was then that I realized again. This is not a ga, but reality.
The "Ring of Affection and Obsession" was undeniably an item that a gar could never miss. An item that had to be secured. However, accepting it in reality was another matter.
’I didn’t consider that sudden power enhancents from an artifact might not be welcod.’
Power enhanced by an artifact is not strength obtained through one’s own efforts. For soone like Kang Do-hee, who prides herself on her self-acquired strength, this could be a blow to her pride.
’Of course, even if I had to choose again, I would make the sa choice...’
Considering the future events, it was clear that our Utopia needed even more power than it currently had.
Anyway, Kang Do-hee’s case was sowhat better. She had participated in the Jukai Forest raid, and there was a justification that it was a reward for that raid.
But what about Master?
Sudden power increase for no apparent reason. Could soone like Master just accept it happily?
’...No, that can’t be.’
Abruptly.
Baek Seol-hee, who had been walking silently, stopped and turned to look at . She suddenly extended her hand with the ring on it.
"What is this about?"
"Well..."
I explained everything to her as honestly as possible.
The events in the Jukai Forest, eting the new special mber Ichika, fighting the Incubus’s apostle, and obtaining the ring.
"So, this demon’s item grants power to people closely connected to you, proportional to your feelings for them..."
"Yes, I deeply respect you, Master. I apologize for doing this without your consent."
Flinch─
Baek Seol-hee’s body trembled slightly at the word ’respect’. But soon the atmosphere turned icy again.
Jin Yuha thought that Baek Seol-hee was rejecting the power that had appeared out of nowhere, but in reality, it was different.
There was a cost involved. It was Jin Yuha’s feelings.
Since the ring granted power based on how much he liked soone, there was no way she would reject it.
What complicated Baek Seol-hee’s feelings now was sothing else entirely.
It was Chairman Rina.
The words Rina had said earlier, with a smug expression, lingered in her mind.
’...7%’
That ant Chairman Rina held a 3% higher stake in Jin Yuha’s feelings compared to herself! Baek Seol-hee gritted her teeth.
’...Director Rina hasn’t particularly done anything for you, right?’
She felt wronged. How could soone who hardly showed her face take such a significant portion of her disciple’s feelings? What kind of tricks was she pulling?
Was it because her personality wasn’t very amiable? No. On reflection, Chairman Rina wasn’t exactly amiable either. She was more on the cranky and irritable side.
At that mont, a word flashed in Baek Seol-hee’s mind.
’...Could it be, money?’
Money.
Yes.
Co to think of it, whenever Jin Yuha needed money or items, he never asked her for help. He always went to Chairman Rina.
’The subspace tattoo, the mansion, and even the recent Haeundae Festival tickets...!’
Tremble—
Her tightly clenched fist started to shake.
’That damn fox. Buying the favor of my disciple with money...’
In an instant, Rina’s title changed from Chairman to damn fox, though no one knew since she didn’t say it out loud.
"Is there anything you need?"
Baek Seol-hee asked Jin Yuha in a suppressed voice, wanting to secure a higher share of his affection than Rina.
"...What? Need sothing?"
"Yes, since I’ve received an imasurably great gift from you, I should repay you sohow."
"It’s okay! I did sothing unilateral that Master didn’t even want, so I’m not shaless enough to expect repaynt."
Though Jin Yuha said this,
In Baek Seol-hee’s eyes, he was just a pitiful disciple who had been unknowingly swayed by Rina’s financial power.
"...Is that so."
"Yes, really, it’s okay."
Pressing her lips together tightly, Baek Seol-hee turned away sharply.
"I’ll see you in class soon."
Her words, as if issuing a challenge, left Jin Yuha swallowing hard in confusion.
’Does that an she’s going to show hell in the next class...?’
.
.
.
The next day,
Ichika, having recovered her energy and sporting a fresh face thanks to the Velvet Hunter Academy’s advanced technology, had a one-on-one eting with Shin Se-hee.
It was to finish the conversation they couldn’t complete the previous day.
"Ichika-san."
Sip.
Shin Se-hee sipped her coffee and looked at Ichika over the cup.
"Yeah."
"I heard you’re joining Utopia."
"That’s right."
"Before you join Utopia, we need to change your affiliation to Velvet Hunter Academy. Do you agree to that?"
"Yes, I agree."
Shin Se-hee laid out several docunts in front of her.
"Before that, there are a few things to confirm. Are you currently affiliated with the Japan Hunter Managent Bureau? Or have you been affiliated with them before?"
Ichika shook her head.
"No, I’ve only lived in the Jukai Forest since my awakening."
"Hmm, so the Japan Hunter Managent Bureau doesn’t even know that you’re an awakened being?"
"...Probably?"
"That simplifies things. If you were affiliated with the Japan Hunter Bureau, there would be a lot to handle, but if not, and they don’t even know about your awakening... Hmm, it’s doable. ...Would it be okay if we register you as a Japanese expatriate who returned to Korea this year?"
"Yeah, I don’t mind."
Nod.
Ichika nodded quietly.
’I thought this conversation would be challenging at first...’
Surprisingly, things beca easier as she showed a willingness to accept everything.
’What kind of person is she?’
First of all, I gathered information that she is obsessed with Jin Yuha.
’Shall I probe her a bit...?’
Probing her and observing her reaction would help determine how to deal with her in the future. Shin Se-hee pushed aside the docunts as if the work-related conversation was over and leaned forward.
"Um, Ichika-san."
"Yes."
"Could you tell what percentage it is?"
A direct question. She surely understood what this question ant.
’Let’s see what she says.’
"Three."
Ichika’s response was imdiate.
Shin Se-hee stared intently at Ichika. Ichika, in turn, looked at Shin Se-hee with the sa expressionless face as before.
’...It doesn’t seem like she’s lying. That’s a relief. At least I’m higher than Ichika.’
Shin Se-hee, like the other party mbers, breathed a sigh of relief internally.
"Hmm, now I’m curious about how much the others have..."
It was a small mumble, barely audible even to the person right in front of her, but Ichika responded imdiately.
"Do you want to know?"
"...What?"
"How much the others have increased."
"...You know?"
"Yes, I already know everything. These guys told ."
Swoosh—
Shadows erged from beneath Ichika’s feet.
"...!"
Shin Se-hee’s eyes widened at the sight of Ichika’s ability for the first ti.
"I think we should be on friendly terms."
"...What?"
"It would be troubleso to have you as an enemy."
"...You have good intuition."
"Yes. So, a bribe."
And that bribe was indeed effective for Shin Se-hee.
Smirk—
Shin Se-hee lifted the corners of her mouth and extended her hand forward.
"Deal. Ichika-san, I think we can beco good friends from now on."
"Good."
Ichika and Shin Se-hee shook hands.
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
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