CHAPTER 119: CHAPTER 119 - I WILL JOIN THIS CLUB

The booth stood out like a beast among lambs—crafted from dark wood and draped in rugged brown and green fabrics, it exuded a wild, adventurous aura. Animal pelts hung neatly on the sides, with a lifelike model of a massive stag positioned beside a rack of ornately carved bows and hunting spears. Small glass jars held preserved herbs and rare monster claws, while a strong, smoky aroma wafted from a roasted meat skewer stand nearby, drawing curious students like moths to flame. A large banner overhead bore the image of a bow entwined with a beast’s paw, the emblem of the club, fluttering proudly in the breeze.

Eric, walking beside him, followed his gaze and raised a brow.

"The Hunting Club, huh?" he mused.

Luca’s eyes narrowed as he spotted a familiar figure standing confidently near the booth. Aurelia, dressed in a light brown adventuring outfit, had her long hair tied back in a loose ponytail and a short cape fluttering at her back. Her bow rested beside her as she laughed brightly with a few students gathered around.

She turned, perhaps sensing his gaze—and her eyes lit up.

"Luca!" she waved, her voice brimming with warmth and energy. "You’re here!"

She hurried over, grabbing him by the wrist and dragging him closer. "You’ve got to hear about this one. It’s perfect for people like us."

Kyle was already standing near the booth, arms crossed and looking as though he was weighing his life decisions.

"Look, Kyle already joined!" Aurelia declared proudly.

Kyle sighed. "More like I was forc—mmph!"

Aurelia quickly clamped a hand over his mouth, all while smiling like a saint. "Ignore him. He’s just shy."

She turned back to them, smiling innocently. "The Hunting Club explores the wild outskirts of the continent during sanctioned expeditions. We track and study magical beasts, gather rare herbs, and practice survival skills—everything from foraging to setting up camp. And yes, we also hunt, but ethically, under academy guidelines. It’s thrilling, and it builds endurance and teamwork."

Eric chuckled, leaning in close to Luca’s ear. "So? Gonna join your lover’s club?"

Thwack.

Luca’s foot connected with Eric’s rear, making the latter stumble forward with a yelp. "Watch it!"

Without waiting for Aurelia’s reaction, the two slipped away—though Luca did glance back once, meeting Aurelia’s curious eyes.

They continued their exploration across the fair, stopping by clubs of all sorts:

—The Enchanted Painting Society, where animated brushes painted on their own.

—The Potion Brewers’ League, whose stall reeked of herbs and unholy combinations.

—The Beastcallers’ Guild

, whose tame creatures yawned lazily in cages behind them.

—The Celestial Choir, harmonizing so powerfully it shattered a nearby glass bottle.

But none quite clicked for Luca.

Meanwhile, Eric’s steps grew heavier, his hair slightly disheveled and his patience worn thin.

"You’re impossible," he muttered. "Still haven’t picked one? You’re going to end up clubless and pathetic."

Luca shrugged, scanning the remaining booths.

That’s when he spotted it.

"...Wait. What is that? An... Eating Club?"

Sure enough, a long booth with an enormous banner titled "The Gourmet Gastronomy Association" stood proudly in the corner. Plates of food were displayed along the tables—pastries, dumplings, skewers, and even mana-infused dishes that shimmered faintly under sunlight.

Selena stood there—yes, Selena—nodding as a senior with a plump belly and sparkling eyes passionately explained the club’s purpose.

"We study cuisine from all over the continent. Beast meats, mana vegetables, sweets from elven lands, fermented drinks from dwarven mines—anything and everything edible. We taste, we experiment, we feast."

Luca and Eric quietly joined the small circle of listeners as Selena looked... intrigued. Her elegant demeanor hadn’t changed, but her usual cold distance seemed momentarily replaced by curiosity.

After a brief pause, Selena nodded. "I’ll join."

Luca blinked. Wait, what?

He tilted his head. Selena? Here?

He thought back to how no one ever knew what club she was in, even in the game. Now he understood why.

Selena looked up, meeting both their stares.

"Don’t tell anyone I’m in this club," she said flatly.

Luca and Eric raised their hands in a silent vow.

As the crowd dispersed, Eric leaned in. "Well, that was unexpected."

Luca folded his arms, still watching the food-laden tables.

If I don’t find anything else... I might join this one too. Who can refuse free food, anyway?

And with that delicious thought, they continued their journey, still searching for a club that felt just right

They visited a few more clubs—some themed around divination, others around monster dissections or historical re-enactments—but by the time the sun dipped beneath the horizon, painting the sky in streaks of orange and gold, both of them had grown weary.

Eric slumped heavily onto a bench near the outer courtyard, dragging his feet dramatically like he’d survived a battlefield. "You bastard..." he panted, wiping sweat from his brow with the sleeve of his blazer. "You don’t want to join any club, do you?"

Luca let out an awkward chuckle, scratching the back of his head. A guilty smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Well... a lot of them just felt like a waste of time."

He sat down beside Eric, their backs leaning against the cool stone wall. "Sorry," he added, nudging him with an elbow. "Anyway... are you gonna tell me now? Which club you’re joining?"

At that, Eric’s exhaustion evaporated like steam off a hot pan. He suddenly sat up straight, a mischievous glint igniting in his eyes. "Heh. Let me show you instead."

Luca raised a brow. "...That’s not suspicious at all."

But intrigued nonetheless, he stood and followed as Eric led him through the winding paths of the academy grounds. The bustling noise of the club fair faded behind them, replaced by chirping cicadas and rustling leaves. Shadows stretched long across the cobblestones.

They soon arrived at a quiet area tucked between two towering sycamore trees, partially hidden by ivy-covered walls and overgrown hedges. A small, unimpressive building stood nestled in the corner—its roof slightly slanted, the wood faded with age.

Luca squinted. "This isn’t... some illegal club, right? Like a stalker society or a secret drug ring?"

Eric rolled his eyes and gave him a playful shove toward the door. "Just shut up and come in."

Inside, the place was... underwhelming, to say the least.

There were no mystical glows or arcane diagrams on the walls. No posters, no trophies, no banners proclaiming glory. Just a dusty common room lit by flickering magical lanterns, a few worn-out couches, and some half-crumpled pamphlets lying scattered across a coffee table. The air smelled faintly of old parchment and ink.

Five people lounged across the room in varying states of consciousness—one reading, one sipping tea, one actually snoring softly on a couch like it was his living room.

One of them, a tall guy with unruly dark hair and a loose academy coat, looked up lazily as the door creaked open. His sharp gray eyes immediately locked onto Eric.

"Oh! Eric, my boy!" he said, his voice light and theatrical, like a stage actor greeting an old friend. "So, you’ve finally decided to join us?"

Eric grinned and gave a casual salute. "Sure have. And I brought a guest."

The guy turned to Luca with an amused smirk. "Well, well, well. If it isn’t Mr. NewsLine himself. The infamous first-year who practically made the student bulletin explode."

He rose from the couch and strode over, extending a hand. "Name’s John Bond. Vice president of this fine establishment. So are you interested in joining this club as well?"

Luca shook his hand, still trying to process what kind of place this was. "Nice to meet you. Uh... Eric didn’t really explain what kind of club this is."

John let out a dramatic laugh and flung his arms wide, spinning once like he was presenting a grand theater stage. "No worries, my boy! Allow me to illuminate you!"

He cleared his throat, striking a mock-heroic pose with one hand over his heart. "You are now standing in the most ancient club of Arcadia Academy. The one with the longest, most prestigious, and most overlooked legacy—The Hero Research Club."

Luca blinked. "Hero Research...?"

John’s grin widened, and he leaned in slightly, voice dropping to a reverent tone. "That’s right. We study the true legends of the seven heroes who rose up against the Devil Emperor over seven thousand years ago."

He paced slowly as he spoke, gesturing passionately with his hands. "While the official history books have forgotten them, we dig deeper. We explore the truth hidden beneath the fiction. Their bloodlines, their unique powers, the unexplained disappearances after their final battle... we hunt down every scrap of information."

He turned and pointed to a corkboard at the back of the room, cluttered with old maps, aged sketches of weapons, faded parchment notes, and mysterious symbols. "From ancient archives to lost ruins, forgotten artifacts to coded memoirs—we connect the dots."

Luca stared, his heart thudding.

His breath caught slightly. This was it.

This is what I’ve been looking for.

Not just another club. Not a way to kill time or make friends. But something real. A path to the truth. A place to dig into the deeper mysteries of this world.

He could already feel the pieces clicking into place in his mind—the hero fragments, the unknown relics, the anomalies that didn’t match the game’s canon.

"I’ll join this club," Luca said, his voice firm and immediate.

Everyone in the room turned to him.

Eric stared at him like he’d just watched someone steal his dessert. "You bastard! Then why did you make me run all over the damn campus?!"

Luca scratched his head, his expression sheepish. "Who told you to be so secretive about it?"

John roared with laughter, slapping a nearby couch cushion. "Hahahaha! I like this kid! Not only did we score a wildcard first-year, but now we’ve got two. Not bad at all!"

The rest of the lounging members perked up slightly, one even lifting their cup in a lazy toast. "Welcome to the club, I guess," someone muttered.

Just then, a soft, hesitant voice drifted in from the entrance.

"C-Can I join this club too?"

Everyone turned toward the door.

There, standing with her hands clutched nervously in front of her skirt, head bowed so that only the tips of her pink hair were visible, was another 1st year girl.

Her presence was like a gentle breeze—quiet, unnoticed, yet oddly soothing.

The room fell silent.

Luca’s eyes widened as recognition hit him.

Wait... isn’t that—