How to Put Pressure on the Complacent Hunter Community

    The next morning.

    It''s almost laughable to think I''m still an academy student. I can''t even remember the last time I set foot in a classroom. Every outing seemed to trigger a new dungeon or gate, which I had to clear. Each time I succeeded, I got a vacation, and I didn''t go back to the academy. This happened a few times that going to the academy became strange and unfamiliar.

    I''ve skipped more days than I''ve attended since transferring. To anyone watching, I''d look like a delinquent intentionally dodging school.

    Before I go, let''s check a few things one last time...

    For the first time in ages, I checked the deadline on the main quest.

    ———————————The remaining time for the Netori Quest is 329 days.———————————

    A long time if you think it''s long, and short if you think it''s short—a maddeningly vague deadline. Despite Melanie supposedly being on the brink, the harsh reality is that Yoomin is the only heroine I''ve managed to woo so far.

    My protagonist''s share is 20.1%. In a simple calculation I did before, there are four more women to come.

    Since heroines don''t operate like game characters, there''s no timetable for winning one over each month. The quick success with Yumin was nothing but a stroke of luck. Normally, it would take a slow build-up of affection, much like with Melanie. Even after spending time together at the gathering yesterday, the best I achieved was ‘going to the academy together.''

    Doing anything more in the car is out of the question...

    It looks like the only viable approach with Melanie and Ryu Hemi is to gradually build rapport. The former is already willingly involved, so she''s not a concern. The real hurdle is Ryu Hyemi, but things have started to look up. The biggest problem with her was the limited interaction opportunities. Thankfully, the Heracles Club I got has resolved this issue.

    ———————————Heracles Club :: The Club of Heracles

    It''s a mythical artifact that wasn''t meant to be obtained, but was given due to some reward issues.@@@@

    A once ordinary club became a relic through encountering Heracles and stacking multiple myths. With a change in ownership, all the myths accumulated in the club are now empty.

    Heracles Club has changed its name to match the disposition of the user, Baek Taeyang. After recently using [Demonization] to crush his opponent in the state of [Byeon Satto], Heracles Club has transformed into the Greed Club.

    May you touch upon mythology with your unique achievements.

    Current list of achievements stored in the Greed Club:

    [Corrupt Official] :: When striking with the Greed Club, you temporarily acquire the attributes of the struck area.———————————

    When I first got the Heracles Club, I wondered what to do with it. But if I show it to Ryu Hemi, she''ll surely be thrilled and latch onto me. Plus, explaining how it''s now customized for me will definitely create an opening.

    I''ve already splattered her face with my semen, so that should make things easier.

    "Good." With that thought, I stepped out of the house.

    "Really? So, it''s all just mundane stuff."

    "Don''t tell me you''re just going to walk away after I went through all that trouble to inform you?"

    "Of course not, I know how to show gratitude."

    "Baek Taeyang, you better mean it..."

    As we talked, we found ourselves already inside the academy. The limousine stopped in the designated parking spot, and an unexpected figure appeared as we parked.

    "Student Baek Taeyang, did you have a good break?"

    It was Jang Duchul, the homeroom teacher of Class 1-A and one of the few hunters who could be called the strongest.

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    A few hours before Baek Taeyang''s arrival at the academy, the instructors gathered in the auditorium for a meeting.

    "With the recent surge in gates and dungeons, we''re even dispatching first-year students, but their numbers are woefully insufficient."

    "I don''t understand why this is happening only in Korea. Other countries are seeing a decrease in gates, but Korea''s numbers are rising. We might need to request support from other countries."

    "The biggest issue is the hunters'' self-interest. While many are not like this, more hunters are hiking up their fees due to the surge in gates and dungeons."

    "Those idiots! They''ve forgotten why they became hunters. Blinded by greed and act like fools! Even students are struggling to manage this mess!"

    The meeting heated up. The main agenda was the discussion of the increasing gates and dungeons. As the conversation revealed, the surge of gates and dungeons uniquely affecting Korea and the hunters'' greed were major issues. If this continued, the image of hunters as lifesavers could degrade into that of mercenaries weighing lives against money.

    "Student Baek Taeyang and Kim Minsoo are returning soon. Wouldn''t their return improve the situation?"

    "That''s true, after all, this field is all about skill, and those two have resolved two S-rank gates at a young age."

    "But it''s ridiculous to say that. What difference does it make if students are skilled? Are we suggesting they be thrown into gates when they should still be protected?"

    The heated debate seemed endless, with no conclusion in sight.

    "How about we try this?'' At that moment, Jang Duchul, who had been silent, spoke up. As he continued, the expressions of the instructors changed rapidly. Some applauded enthusiastically, while others looked reluctant and disapproving.

    "Indeed, that method could certainly put some pressure on the complacent hunter community."

    A completely new method to rehabilitate the rotten hunters. The beginning of this plan relied on Baek Taeyang and Kim Minsoo.