Chapter 129: The Bait Must Be Dangled to Be Tasty (1)

"It seems like the problem is that you're just too outstanding, Young Master."

Seo Jae-pil's words, delivered with what looked like an amused laugh, made my face scrunch up involuntarily.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Well, everyone's looking for you regardless of age or gender, so it doesn't really make sense to be suspicious of anyone who shows interest in you."

There was one particularly grating word that drilled into my ears.

"What kind of stories have you been hearing that make you say 'regardless of age or gender'?"

"Haha. I heard it from the instructors. Not just the instructors either. Apparently, all the disciples, male and female alike, are quite interested in you, Young Master."

The part about female disciples being interested in me didn't bother me at all. It was the bit about male disciples being interested that got under my skin.

"...Don't even mention such horrifying things."

The mere mention of it conjured images of those certain crazy bastards in my head.

My mind was instantly filled with the revolting sight of those muscleheads from the Bodybuilding Club, flexing and grunting as they discussed me.

Shudder.

I felt like I was about to throw up, so I quickly shook my head to banish those horrifying thoughts.

When I finally regained my calm, I saw Seo Jae-pil watching me have my little breakdown with what looked like fascination.

"Whew. Anyway, the conclusion is that there's no particularly suspicious instructor. Pretty disappointing, all things considered."

I didn't like the way he was looking at me like some kind of test subject, so I tried to jab him a bit, but it had no effect.

“Hahaha. The study of the human psyche is not something that yields results overnight, Young Master."

Looking at this perpetually cheerful bastard, a thought occurred to me.

'Even if I started cursing him out right here, this crazy fuck would probably just get more excited, saying his research subject was having a meltdown.'

I could already picture him gleefully jotting down notes about finding a new research topic.

'Let's just ignore this nutjob for now. How can I catch someone's tail?'

I was mulling it over by myself, but somehow it didn't feel like I was actually alone in my thoughts.

And it wasn't because of Seo Jae-pil grinning away in front of me.

—Hehe. If you're going to act as bait anyway, why not be a little more proactive about it?

It was because my other self, the one obsessed with perfectionism, kept coming up with useful suggestions.

How should I put it?

Rather than thinking alone, it felt more like I was having a discussion with another version of myself.

And thanks to that damn side effect, I was able to organize my thoughts quickly.

"How about this instead? Let's shake them up."

"What kind of approach do you have in mind?"

"Didn't you say it yourself, Physician Seo? That all the instructors are interested in me. So, let's throw out some bait. Me as the bait."

"????"

Seeing Seo Jae-pil's still-confused expression, I elaborated.

"I'm thinking of stirring up some other clubs. I’ll give off the impression that I want to switch.”

Finally understanding my intent, Seo Jae-pil spoke with a surprised expression.

"That's an excellent idea, Young Master! There's a high chance that Instructor Ma Do-young will also change his behavior, and other instructors will be forced to make some kind of move too."

I nodded at his words.

“And as you continue your counseling sessions, conversations about my movements will naturally come up. It will be easier to spot anyone whose words don’t match their actions, or whose behavior seems contradictory.”

"As expected of you, Young Master. I think I'm starting to understand why people of all ages and genders end up admiring you. Haha."

"......."

It was clearly a compliment, but it felt like I was being mocked for some reason.

***

Since I'd decided to shake myself up as bait anyway, I figured I might as well be blatant about it.

“…You want to try out the Theater Club?"

Repeating what I'd just said, Instructor Eun Ryeo was looking at me with a deeply suspicious expression.

The other instructors in the vicinity also turned their gazes toward us.

"Disciple Il-mok. Haven't you already joined the Meditation Club? You even went as far as to establish it yourself."

I answered with a straight face at Instructor Eun Ryeo's point. Acting like I couldn't even feel the gazes of the instructors watching us from around.

"I think I was a bit hasty in creating a club without properly looking into the existing ones first, Instructor."

"So now you want to experience other clubs?"

"That's right, Instructor."

My clean, simple answer somehow made Instructor Eun Ryeo's face crumple up.

It was quite the sight.

This person, who always maintained a poker face, was now sighing heavily.

'Something about this feels similar to that day when Chu Il-hwan attacked me.'

Come to think of it, I'd completely forgotten about it because of Chu Il-hwan's subsequent attack.

She’d suddenly shown up and given me a strange lecture before leaving. Now, with that same look of pity, she sighed and spoke.

"Really, you don't have even a speck of responsibility, do you?"

I felt like I'd heard something similar back then too, but now wasn't the time to explain that.

I had bait to shake.

"Even if I were to transfer out of the Meditation Club, there would still be three people left, so it wouldn't be a big problem, would it?"

"Are you seriously saying that right now..."

Instructor Eun Ryeo, who seemed about to argue further, soon let out another big sigh before returning to her usual cold mask.

"Fine. Since you were at the main headquarters when the club system was first introduced, you wouldn't have had a proper chance to look into the other clubs. Since Disciple Il-mok's case is special, I'll let it slide this time."

After receiving her permission, I turned to leave the teachers' building.

I could feel the gazes of several of them following my back.

***

That afternoon, Il-mok headed to that familiar clearing for the first time in a while.

The place that once only Il-mok and Jeong Hyeon used to visit, and which had now become something like a clubroom for the Theater Club.

Baek Cheon, who had basically become the owner of the place, welcomed Il-mok with a very bright face.

"Haha! I believed in you, Young Master Il-mok!"

"What are you talking about?"

For some reason, this time it was Bang Mi-hwa who stepped forward, letting out a laugh.

"How mischievous of you to ask that, hohoho. I also believed that you would naturally return to the Theater Club, Young Master."

“Hahahaha! A man as outstanding as Young Master Il-mok deserves to be in the spotlight with me, Baek Cheon!”

“Others may not be worthy, but you're certainly qualified to be my 'partner' in acting, Young Master. Ohohoho."

Watching this pair of crazy actors laugh their heads off, Il-mok already felt dizzy.

'Damn it. I haven’t even been here for a minute.'

Ma Do-yeong’s constant nagging had made the Meditation Club uncomfortable, but being here now made the Meditation Club seem like a paradise.

Just as Il-mok was considering escape, a savior appeared in the unlikely form of Instructor Eun Ryeo.

"Alright. Stop chattering and start practicing. This is club time, not playtime."

Eun Ryeo got dizzy every time she came here too.

"Also, disciples are equals among themselves, so address him as Disciple Il-mok. How many times do I have to point this out?"

When Eun Ryeo sorted out the situation, the expressions of Baek Cheon and Bang Mi-hwa, who had been chatting with Il-mok, completely changed.

They might be crazy about everything else, but they were surprisingly serious when it came to acting.

“Then, as always, we will begin with vocalization practice, Instructor.”

Since Baek Cheon and Bang Mi-hwa were the ones leading the club time anyway, Eun Ryeo just nodded and stepped back.

Immersed in their practice—or rather, immersed in the image of themselves practicing—Baek Cheon and Bang Mi-hwa began to lead the other students.

And Eun Ryeo watched the scene while sneaking glances at Il-mok.

'He definitely has impure motives, but there's nothing I can do about it.'

In her mind, Il-mok was already branded as a playboy.

The reason Eun Ryeo bothered to accept such an Il-mok was simple.

Instructor Eun Ryeo's gaze had left Il-mok and turned toward Jeong Hyeon.

'How did she end up liking such a playboy? Tsk.'

It was a click of the tongue not of disdain, but of pity.

Perhaps because this was the first time in a while, Jeong Hyeon kept stealing glances at Il-mok.

Sensing Jeong Hyeon's gaze, Il-mok, who had been half-heartedly doing voice exercises, casually approached her.

Of course, Il-mok stopped at exactly ten feet away as always.

When Il-mok approached, Jeong Hyeon startled and stuttered.

"It's, it's been a while, Young Master."

“Don’t we see each other every day in class?”

“I-in the clearing, I-I mean… It’s been a while… right?”

“I suppose so. Haha. Have you been enjoying the club?"

He wanted to ask if she was having fun with Baek Cheon, but since Baek Cheon was right there, he phrased it more diplomatically.

Of course, Jeong Hyeon wanted to say no. But…

'Everyone’s watching, how can I say I don't like it…'

Her inherent shyness had her glancing around nervously, and in the end, she couldn't help but lie. “I-it’s been fun.”

Seeing Jeong Hyeon glance toward Baek Cheon as she answered, Il-mok nodded, thinking 'as expected.'

'Her feelings for Baek Cheon haven't changed, I see.'

She was really going down a tough path.

"Hang in there, Disciple Jeong Hyeon."

“Th-thank you.”

When Jeong Hyeon blushed at Il-mok's encouragement, Instructor Eun Ryeo, who was watching, let out a big sigh.

That sigh seemed to be a cue for Bang Mi-hwa to Il-mok.

Deep in her acting, she had only just noticed Il-mok chatting with Jeong Hyeon.

"Disciple Il-mok! You need to focus on practice."

Saying this, Bang Mi-hwa pulled Il-mok over along with Ha Young and Ju Seo-yeon.

Il-mok was surrounded by three women while Jeong Hyeon watched the four while being ten feet away.

Watching this pitiful scene, Eun Ryeo sighed once again.

Day by day, managing her expressions was becoming more difficult.

But soon Eun Ryeo returned to her characteristic cold expression.

She could sense someone approaching.

"What brings you here, Instructor Ma Do-young?"

It was because Ma Do-young, the instructor in charge of the meditation club, had suddenly come to the clearing.

"Excuse me, Head Instructor. If it's alright, may I have a word with Disciple Il-mok?”

Eun Ryeo, who found the sight of Il-mok laughing while surrounded by women quite distasteful, readily agreed.

"Disciple Il-mok!"

Hearing her call, Il-mok, who had escaped from among the women, soon spotted Ma Do-young.

"What brings you here, Instructor?"

Ma Do-young's forehead veins bulged at the seemingly innocent face, but he maintained his smile as he spoke.

"Let's move somewhere else to talk first."

Saying this, Ma Do-young turned and left the clearing with a swift motion, and Il-mok followed.

But Il-mok stopped after a few steps. He judged it dangerous to go to some secluded place where there were no people. There was a pretty high chance this guy was a rat.

Sensing that the presence behind him had stopped, Ma Do-yeong also stopped and turned around.

"Disciple Il-mok. What exactly are you trying to do?"

"What do you mean?"

“Huuu. I went so far as to accept the position of Meditation Club advisor at your request, and now you want to switch to another club. Do you really think this makes any sense?”

At Ma Do-young's question, Il-mok answered with a confused expression.

“I thought you would want me to, Instructor, so I decided to switch clubs.”

"...What kind of twisted logic is that, saying I would want it?"

“During class, during club activities… You seemed uncomfortable around me, didn't you? Since I couldn't dare ask you to change your assignment, I, a mere student, decided to be the one to transfer.”

"......."

Ma Do-young was momentarily speechless.

Not because Il-mok's words were logical.

'That's just because you're lazy as hell!!!'

Blood rushed to his head, making it difficult to even speak. And on top of that…

'Dammit!! If I try to force him to stay, I risk raising suspicion, just like the Vice Hall Master said. But if I let him go, he’ll end up transferring to another club.'

If that happened, all his plans to monitor Il-mok closely and look for opportunities would fall apart.

That meant his chance to achieve merit would also disappear.

He couldn't stop him, but he couldn't just let him go either.

'Should I just kill him? Should I just kill him now? If I kill him, wouldn't that still count as achieving something?'

With all other paths blocked, the final option kept popping into Ma Do-yeong's head.

***

Meanwhile, back in the Meditation Club’s room.

With Il-mok, the one who had dragged them into the club, and Ma Do-yeong, the instructor in charge, both absent…

"Sigh."

"Why the hell are we..."

The sighs of the trio, filled with complex emotions, echoed one after another.