The Support Ate it All-Chapter 562: Finals Week 17–18 (17)

Right as the sun went down, at the time when most of the red tint had faded from the sky.

A dozen or so students were gathered at the midpoint between Group A and Group C.

The mood was somewhat subdued, but either way, it was a meeting set up to talk.

So Moyong Jun opened first.

“Looks like the damage was pretty severe.”

“Well, as you can see.”

Jeong Jin-myeong replied evenly, then flicked their eyes over their shoulder.

They’d shown their faces yesterday evening, but quite a few weren’t here today.

It didn’t seem like they’d been deliberately left out so much as they couldn’t attend for other reasons.

Like being rendered combat-incapable and getting kicked out of the dungeon.

Jeong Jin-myeong gave a bitter smile, thinking of Go Hyeon-woo and Han So-mi.

“The kids’ absence is pretty big.”

“We suffered quite a bit too, thanks to the holes in our strength. [Defection]... I never thought something like that would exist.”

“I told you. They keep bringing back ridiculous stuff from somewhere.”

When the pillar of light shot up on the volcano’s slope, we’d all wondered what it was.

Turns out it had been Hidden Piece.

Moyong Jun spoke.

“We figured out how to obtain it, but I’m not sure it’s worth the effort.”

“From our perspective, it’s useless.”

Based on testimony from Baek Jun-seok and the others who’d formed a temporary party with Hong Yeon-hwa, they’d already gotten the gist of Hidden Piece.

If they really wanted, they could send out some members and secure one or two cards.

But even if they did, pulling someone out of Group B was practically impossible.

[Defection]

▷Changes the user’s affiliation to another group.

Because the person who wanted to switch had to use it themselves.

Meaning you had to trust the other side completely and hand it over.

If it was Kim Ho’s crew, they’d either refuse flat-out—or not use it and just swallow it whole.

The only one with even a hint of possibility was Bukgung Hansol, but judging by the current situation, they had no reason to switch.

For those reasons, to Group A and Group C, it was a card that might as well not exist.

So was it worth offering precious crystals and making their members suffer?

They didn’t know that, at a certain probability, not only [Defection] but also [Freeze] could come out.

But even if they had known, their decision wouldn’t have changed.

Soon, the two of them glanced toward Group B’s base.

“From the start, it looks like they set the board with even that in mind.”

“Probably. Even setting Hidden Piece aside, there’s a lot to learn.”

Jeong Jin-myeong looked oddly pleased.

Watching them, Moyong Jun let out an inward note of admiration.

This one’s guts aren’t ordinary.

They’d been beaten one-sidedly by Kim Ho and Group B for two straight days, so it would be natural to feel resentful.

But they still didn’t lose the smile at their lips—if anything, they were acknowledging the opponent.

White Magic Club president Jeong Chong-myeong had been no ordinary person either.

It really was like brother, like sibling.

Of course, Jeong Jin-myeong wasn’t the type to just smile softly and stay harmless.

They quickly hardened their expression and continued.

“Now, want to talk about tomorrow?”

“Go on.”

“If things stay like this, we’ll be second and third together. And with high probability, we’ll be third.”

“.......”

“I want to hear what you think.”

Moyong Jun smiled.

“So you thought I’d be satisfied with second place. I won’t deny I pursue stability.”

“But?”

Moyong Jun’s smile deepened.

“But isn’t it too early to settle? I want to push as far as I can. If we can reclaim first place, that would be perfect.”

“Good. Looks like our understanding still matches.”

Jeong Jin-myeong smiled back, but Moyong Jun didn’t miss it.

For a moment, a chilling light flickered through their eyes.

If Moyong Jun had answered vaguely, the nonaggression might have broken right there.

And then, nine times out of ten, Group C’s arrows would have turned toward Group A.

Moyong Jun repeated their own words in their head.

It’s still too early.

In a slightly different sense.

Either way, for now, the nonaggression would probably hold.

Jeong Jin-myeong continued.

“Tomorrow’s the last day.”

“We’ll be going into the tower race in earnest.”

On days one and two, we’d needed to keep life at a certain level to manage condition.

And because we had to protect the base, crystals got spread out all over the place.

If we got ten, we’d devote maybe one or two to the tower at best.

But once tomorrow night passed, Finals Week 17–18 would end and the dungeon would reset.

The importance of staying and guarding would drop sharply.

So if we got ten, we’d dump all ten into the tower.

Jeong Jin-myeong’s eyes flashed.

“But what if we block Group B’s crystal supply?”

“Then reducing the gap—or even flipping it—would be more than possible. But how exactly are you planning to do it?”

“What Kim Ho did yesterday.”

Storm into Group B’s territory, disrupt charging, and steal crystals.

“If we’ve got close to double the headcount, isn’t it worth trying?”

“True. Even accounting for the ones who crossed over with [Defection], it looks like we have some odds. But is that really all?”

A question asking if there was more intent underneath.

Jeong Jin-myeong grinned.

“Sharp. I was just about to say it.”

And they pulled out a stack of cards.

“If we fight, we’ll burn through them little by little.”

“With us being outnumbered, I’d expect the consumption to be greater.”

“Right. And after we do that—”

The next card Jeong Jin-myeong produced was [Concealment].

“—we finish with this.”

“I see. I understand the picture you’re drawing.”

“You’re not going to start talking nonsense now, right?”

“Of course. Let’s try it.”

*****

—That’s probably what they’re thinking.

Those two weren’t the type to give up already.

They’d try to turn it around somehow.

But there weren’t many methods, so it was predictable enough.

The moment I mentioned that, worry rose quickly on Song Cheon-hye’s face.

“......It’s one mountain after another.”

“First place isn’t easy. People below keep trying to drag you down.”

“Still—you only brought it up because there’s a solution, right?”

“Of course there is.”

I explained what our schedule should be tomorrow, and how Group B should move.

Song Cheon-hye looked doubtful, but in the end, they nodded.

“......I’ve never lost by listening to you. I’ll try it.”

“Good. Rest well today.”

“I’m resting right now, you know.”

As they said, we were sitting around a campfire, relaxed.

“.......”

Seo Ye-in was getting repaid for today’s suffering with the Kim Ho pillow.

Lying down, occupying my lap.

Their eyelids half-closed, then opened, then half-closed again.

Hong Yeon-hwa sat off to the side, glancing over again and again like they were jealous.

Watching the two of them alternately, Song Cheon-hye looked like they were having a serious internal conflict.

Like they wanted to just leave it alone—yet it was weird—and they were curious.

Finally, like they couldn’t stand it anymore, they asked.

“Is it that comfortable?”

“Very comfortable......”

“And yesterday too—seriously, I don’t get it. Isn’t it just a knee?”

“.......”

Then Seo Ye-in pushed themselves up and pointed at my lap.

“Lie down.”

“......What?”

“Lie down.”

“No, why would I lie down there?”

Song Cheon-hye looked over at me.

I answered like it was nothing.

“Testing it for a moment is fine.”

“But it’s just... a knee.”

“Then why’d you ask if it was comfortable?”

“Well, that’s.......”

Song Cheon-hye flinched like they’d been hit in the core.

Even so, they hesitated again and again.

It seemed, by their values, they couldn’t readily do a Kim Ho pillow test.

Unable to watch any longer, Hong Yeon-hwa frowned and tossed out a line.

“Just live without knowing.”

“What kind of thing is that to say?”

“It’s not your business anyway. Whether it’s comfortable or not—why are you sticking your nose in?”

They were being shoved aside by a gray cat and could only watch.

And now some hedgehog was talking like they were full and satisfied.

Of course their mood would twist.

Song Cheon-hye didn’t know that inner story, but the aggressive tone made them bristle.

“It is my business. Not my business?”

“What isn’t?”

“We’re close enough that I can ask about stuff like this!”

And they stood up and marched right toward me.

Looks like pride had crushed hesitation.

Because if they backed down now, they’d lose.

“I’ll lie down once.”

“Sure.”

I offered my lap without fuss.

Song Cheon-hye made one last suspicious face, then slowly lowered themselves and set their head down.

They stayed like that for a while.

Then Song Cheon-hye muttered like they were talking to themselves.

“It really is... just a knee... but....”

The stiffness in their face gradually melted into softness.

I added ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) one line.

“You look comfortable.”

“Seems... like it....”

Then Hong Yeon-hwa trotted over and yanked Song Cheon-hye by the arm.

“Get out now.”

“Why? Already?”

“You tested it. That’s enough.”

Song Cheon-hye braced, resisting.

“......Ah, not yet.”

“What isn’t yet?”

“I need to stay longer. To be sure.”

“What kind of nonsense is that.”

But maybe because their strength was similar, a surprisingly even tug-of-war followed.

Watching, Seo Ye-in grabbed Song Cheon-hye’s other arm.

“......Lying down is over.”

“W-Wait.”

“My spot.”

Then, with Hong Yeon-hwa, they pulled the unauthorized Kim Ho pillow squatter out.

Meanwhile, Han So-mi watched the romantic farce with eyes that were half fascinated and half appalled.

With a full oh my, oh my face, they whispered fast into Go Hyeon-woo’s ear.

“Womanizer. Total womanizer.”

“Haha. I did hear there is some mysterious demonic charm within Brother Kim.”

“So that’s how you lure them in one by one?”

“How could that be? It is merely that they were moved by another side of Brother Kim.”

“Is that so?”

Han So-mi nodded like it made sense.

Then, as if another thought occurred to them, they faced Go Hyeon-woo, looked at his knees, then faced him again.

“.......”

“.......”

“......You’re pretending not to notice on purpose, aren’t you?”

“That is not the case. It is simply that I believe it is still too early.”

“Right, I’m a training dummy for martial arts! Knees are still too early!”

“Lady Han, calm yourself and listen.”

Why was that sharp guy so dense whenever it came to Han So-mi?

At this point, it felt like he was doing it on purpose.

We watched the two sword users bicker, traded questions and answers about the Kim Ho pillow with Song Cheon-hye, and chatted about everyday things.

Before I knew it, night had deepened, so I got up while tidying the area.

“Let’s go in and rest. You’re all tired.”

“Um, wait.”

Song Cheon-hye started, then hesitated, and finally spoke in a careful tone.

“There’s something I want to talk about. Just the two of us.”

“Me? Just the two of us?”

When I asked back, a strange current passed through the group.

Han So-mi immediately whispered again—womanizer, womanizer!—and even Seo Ye-in mouthed, philanderer.

Like they sensed it, Song Cheon-hye said in a firm tone.

“I don’t know what you all are thinking, but it’s not that.”

“Yeah, figured. Then what is it?”

“This. You know.”

They clenched a fist, then opened it wide like they were reading palm lines.

A code only the two of us could understand.

Inferno Fist.