Memoirs of the Returnee-Novel

College Tour (3)

“Even on a second look……”

After Gerkhen Kal Doon and Shion had left, Aide, dressed in a striped tank top, was rewinding and watching the video.

“They’re so different.”

While Gerkhen Kal Doon had skillfully used Magic Body to avoid sinking into the muddy path, Shion Ascal had overcome it purely through physical ability.

“This kid’s athletic ability is legendary. He could be a star when he gets to college, right? Is this kind of physical talent even possible?”

Aide was in awe.

Of course, one could argue that Shion Ascal had simply ‘identified the weakness of the mud trap’.

Since it was a training exercise, there was a board laid at the bottom. If it had been a real situation, he would have died.

But even considering that he had made the decision to jump off it, and actually doing so, was unbelievable.

“Didn’t he just activate Magic Body inside there?”

A club member asked while eating popcorn.

“Then that’s even more amazing.”

The mud swallows magic. If he could activate Magic Body to that extent inside the mud, it’s not at the level of a high school student. It’s not even at the level of a college student. It’s at least fifth rank or above.

“Elasticity, explosiveness, strength, flexibility, agility, quickness, balance, power… all of it… this is a unique talent.”

He kept rewinding and watching, and he kept chuckling. The more he watched, the more he chewed on it, the more ‘real’ it felt. Especially for Aide, who was particularly interested in physicality and strength.

“No wonder his body was so good.”

“Did you touch him again in the meantime?”

A club member asked, as if incredulous.

“Yeah. When we greeted each other. His body isn’t that big, but it felt like there was a boulder inside.”

Aide clenched and unclenched his hand. He murmured, recalling the feel of Shion Ascal’s shoulders, his trapezius and deltoid muscles, and a bit of his latissimus dorsi.

“683 cm.”

The high jump record that suddenly appeared on Endex and stirred up the community for a while.

The controversy that it was either Gerkhen Kal Doon or the person in charge playing a prank had already been settled.

“But it could be this guy.”

A fascinating smile appeared on Aide’s lips.

We visited quite a few clubs. Starting with [Body Incline], the classical music club [Song of Spring], the reading club [Twilight Moon], the Latinel club [Golden Garden], and the candy club [Sweet Hill].

I received acceptance notifications from two places. Body Incline and Latinel.

On the other hand, Gerkhen Kal Doon passed everywhere.

“Oh, we’re in trouble.”

From my perspective, I still needed one more place, but we only had 30 minutes left.

There wasn’t even enough time for a proper interview.

There was no choice.

“……Hey.”

I called out to Gerkhen Kal Doon, who was walking ahead. He glanced back at me.

“Let’s go. Shiver. The travel club.”

“I refuse.”

Gerkhen Kal Doon responded immediately.

“Why. You don’t listen to weaker guys?”

“I hate traveling. I’m already on a journey.”

“……I know your hometown isn’t here, but I need to get a stamp, okay?”

I held up my smartphone. I sent a message to Céline.

[If I bring Gerkhen Kal Doon, will I pass?]

Then Gerkhen Kal Doon slightly furrowed his brows. I showed him my smartphone and asked.

“You’re snooping on someone else’s smartphone.”

“You’re showing it to me.”

Ding?

Just then, a reply came.

[Céline: Try bringing him lol;]

[If there’s no definite answer, I won’t bring him. We’ve already got all our acceptance stamps, so we don’t need to go there.]

[Céline: Okay lol]

[I promise to bring Gerkhen Kal Doon only if you promise to accept me. If not, I won’t bring him.]

“I never said I would go.”

Gerkhen Kal Doon refuted, but I ignored him.

[Céline: Ah, okay. If you bring him, I’ll accept you too. But what if you can’t bring him–?]

[I’ll kill myself, what else]

[Céline: That’s good. Let’s make a promise. I hate people who don’t keep their promises the most in the world?]

I shoved the text message content in Gerkhen Kal Doon’s face.

“See? I’ve staked my life on this. If I kill myself, I’ll write your name in my suicide note.”

“……”

Gerkhen Kal Doon looked at me with indifferent eyes and sighed deeply.

Shiver, the interview room for the travel club, was splendid. As a club with a long history, the interview room was like a high-end social gathering, with classical melodies flowing gently, and waiters serving champagne.

“……This year’s 13th batch is a bit unimpressive.”

On the other hand, the interviewers had rather dissatisfied faces. Céline also nodded gloomily.

“Last year’s college board was the easiest, right~ They lowered the difficulty because the talent pool was so bad. I expected this~”

“That’s right. The seniors actually looked better.”

Endex seniors also came for the interview. Elise, Layla, Kain, Asher, and so on. They were all juniors that Céline knew. They were freshmen when she was in her third year.

“I guess Gerkhen Kal Doon isn’t coming”

A club member sitting next to her said. Céline mumbled, holding her smartphone.

“That would have been a sight to see. If he doesn’t come, someone’s going to kill himself.”

“……Suicide?”

Just then, the door opened. Céline unknowingly straightened her posture.

Indeed, it was the halo-shining Gerkhen Kal Doon. And next to him was a blonde head.

“Oh my. He’s really handsome.”

“But who’s that next to him?”

“That’s Shion Ascal. Gerkhen Kal Doon’s friend.”

Céline smiled and waved her hand.

“You’re here~ Gerkhen Kal Doon.”

Then Gerkhen Kal Doon just slightly nodded his head. If an ordinary person had done that, she would have wanted to tear them apart, but when Gerkhen Kal Doon did it, it was just cool and reserved.

Shion Ascal next to him approached and said.

“Keep your promise.”

“Ah, well. Okay. You can go.”

He extended his card.

“Stamp it, please.”

“Ah, got it.”

Céline carelessly stamped the card.

“Gerkhen Kal Doon. You too?”

Gerkhen Kal Doon hesitated before extending his card. It was filled with approval stamps from various clubs.

“You’ve collected quite a few~ Erase the rest.”

She barely found a blank space and stamped it.

“Phew. Finally filled it.”

Shion muttered as he put the card in his pocket. Céline smiled brightly.

“Oh right. You know, right? We’re not a university club, so high school students can join too.”

At that moment, both of them flinched.

“They say it’s a joint club. I’ll accept you two~”

“I’m fine. Just accept him.”

I pushed Gerkhen Kal Doon forward. Gerkhen Kal Doon resisted. Céline tilted her head slightly and smiled. Her curved lips were sharp as a blade.

“Joining would be, beneficial, wouldn’t it?”

“……”

“……”

The two men quietly stared at her. Although they seemed to grumble internally, no words came out.

Céline waved her hand.

“Why are you looking like that? Go and eat. The buffet will be delicious.”

She pointed to the food filling the interview hall. The two men licked their lips and trudged towards it.

Gerkhen Kal Doon said,

“……Thanks. Now we’re really short on time.”

Shion responded,

“You didn’t even ask.”

…….

A hall overflowing with an atmosphere reminiscent of a ballroom.

“Why are you here?”

While I was getting food from the buffet, I locked eyes with Elise.

She was with the college students. Most of them were from Selenacio Academy.

How do I know? Selenacio has a blue flower-like emblem on their chests. They form their own cartel.

“I passed. Me too.”

“……You? How?”

Elise’s face showed genuine curiosity.

“I did a bit of human sacrifice.”

“Ginseng cat? What kind of cat is that?” (Misheard: 인신 공양 (insin gong-yang) as: 인삼 고양 (insam goyang)

“……What.”

“What are you saying. Anyway, you’re lucky. There are connections here you couldn’t even dream of at your level. Be grateful.”

I was dumbfounded. I didn’t even want to join, how was I lucky?

……But well, objectively speaking, it seemed that way.

The Shiver club is quite famous.

The founding purpose of this club is simply ‘travel’, but it’s a high-class club that chooses places that ordinary people can never go to, or places that people visit once or twice in their lifetime.

They collaborate with knights, magic towers, workshops to enter labyrinths or dungeons, go to the continent’s best casino, Berrygas, or ride on a super-luxury cruise.

You have to pay, but wouldn’t they give some consideration to a poor commoner like me?

I sat down at a random seat with my food. I took a bite and my eyes widened.

“Wow.”

The taste was no joke. I quickly checked the time.

There were only 20 minutes left, so I had to eat quickly.

Excitedly-

While devouring the buffet, I casually looked up at the balcony.

Before I knew it, the interview was over, and Céline, the club leaders, and several graduates in suits were leaning against the railing. They were babbling about various things, but Céline seemed uninterested in their conversation.

I buried my nose in my plate.

There was no need to worry about Céline.

Because it’s all in the past now.

That past, that future, will not repeat itself.

“…Alright, everyone.”

A host appeared. He held a microphone and spoke in a grandiose manner.

“I would like to introduce to all new students and current students, the new president of our Shiver club, Céline, from the class of ’12.”

The spotlight shone on Céline on the balcony. Her white hair was dyed by the light. She waved her hand like a movie heroine.

Suddenly, an old thought came to mind.

Céline Sianna Aventher Lucy.

Before the regression, she had tried to possess Gerkhen Kal Doon.

She planned to bring Gerkhen Kal Doon into the family as a son-in-law, push out her twin brother, Erick, and take over the family.

However, Gerkhen Kal Doon was not a man to be owned by anyone, and Céline was eventually driven out of Aventagher and became a tycoon’s wife.

Even there, she was entangled in adultery rumors.

The rumor itself was false, but also true.

She always had an unfortunate life – I mumbled as if talking to myself. Her unique vagabond-like personality, numerous misdeeds contrasting her orphaned appearance, considering her sense of superiority, more than 80% was self-inflicted. However, the failure of her marriage was not her fault.

Her husband was not heterosexual.

It was a sham marriage.

Céline, perhaps because of that, committed adultery.

She told someone other than her husband that she loved him.

I still don’t know whether it was love or impulse.

However, the person she loved did not love her.

He just happened to meet her because of work, happened to save her, protect her, and use her.

In other words.

If it weren’t for such coincidences, Céline would not have liked or loved him.

She would not have fallen into the abyss as an adulterous villainess from a tycoon’s wife for feeling something akin to love for him.

That’s how it should be.

“…Let’s live well in this life.”

I mumbled, looking up at Céline.

For a moment, her eyes drifted in my direction. We made brief eye contact. I lowered my head as naturally as possible and wiped the sauce from the corner of my mouth. I slowly got up from my seat.

“Hmm. Delicious.”

After roughly cleaning up my plate, I stepped out into the hall. I shrugged my shoulders, looking up at the university sky.

Ah, how do I know all this?

Because it’s someone I know.

…Yes.

Because it’s my story.

Before the regression, Céline was involved in an affair with a mere chauffeur.

The chauffeur’s name was Shion Ascal.