Episode 510: Lung Crisis (2)
Song Cheon-gi leaves to go through the procedures related to the statue.
I met with Dang Gyu-yeong and explained the whole story.
“—So, I’m ready to get here.”
“Now that we’ve gathered the materials, what should we do with them?”
“It’s publicity.”
Any rumor can spread in an instant if it’s a thieves’ club.
I nodded to the sculptor sitting next to me.
“This large-scale sculpture is my first external project.”
“Then there will be a second and third one?”
Dang Gyu-young with sparkling eyes.
I nodded and answered.
“There’s nothing set in stone, but it’ll happen.”
“If you just open the commission, there will be many people who will entrust it to you. It would be good to have some statues in the office.”
The bachelor’s side only counts statues with valid options as achievements, but the clubs will also be interested in various other life-related effects.
For example, maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature or creating a comfortable atmosphere.
For this reason, there are already many clubs that want to take on commissions, and I guess they will just pour in after they prove their abilities through their first project.
“But that doesn’t mean everyone can receive it. There’s only one member.”
“Yeah, yeah, I guess we’ll have to differentiate?”
We looked at each other and smiled meaningfully.
On the other hand, the sculptor manager still looked like he didn’t understand, so I added an explanation.
“Even if we say we are doing it for our own performance, from others’ perspectives, it is a project with strong public interest.”
“That’s right.”
Since the scope is set broadly, all students using the training center will be able to benefit from it.
“We are all making this for the good of all, so we don’t have to shoulder the burden alone. We will receive support.”
“That was the story.”
Only then did the sculptor manager nod his head.
If you can enjoy the buff equivalent to a rank boost until graduation, is it worth spending a little bit of materials?
Even third-year students who will be graduating soon will consider it a good investment.
“I think I know what you mean by making a difference.”
“You can just accept requests in order of sponsorship ranking.”
In summary, clubs can gain two benefits from sponsorship.
The honor of contributing to the public interest, and priority in requests equivalent to [Production VIP Ticket].
The sculptor’s complexion was incomparably brighter than before.
“So the materials problem has been solved?”
“It’s too early to be sure, but I’m optimistic.”
It may not be 100%, but it’s at least 90%.
Dang Gyu-yeong added a word.
“In my opinion, this is the only thing left to sell. I’ll work hard to promote it, so prepare it, and if you make one for us later, I’d appreciate it.”
“Yes, senior.”
“Well, since it seems like everything is roughly sorted out, I’ll take her with me. Thanks for your hard work.”
We left together, leaving the sculptor chief behind, who was bowing his head.
As I was walking, Dang Gyu-yeong looked at me and slowly narrowed his eyes.
So I spoke first.
“Why are you questioning me again today, Kyu Kyu?”
“I gave it some thought.”
“What were you thinking?”
Dang Gyu-yeong gestured towards the sculptor’s club.
“You and him and this… … No matter how I look at it, it’s a cliché.”
I looked back on what had happened just a moment ago.
A heroine in crisis.
A protagonist who listens to people’s worries and suggests solutions.
Two people who overcome crises together.
The bond between the two gradually deepens… … .
“Now that I hear it, it makes sense.”
“Are there more women? Are you going to be the Trash King?”
Dang Gyu-yeong reached out with both hands, grabbed my arms, and slowly began to bring them to my lips.
It means that you will be bitten without mercy depending on the answer.
At this, I smiled a kind, brave smile.
“Haha, that’s a misunderstanding.”
“Are you sure? A misunderstanding?”
“I may be a trash lord, but I don’t always look down on women.”
“Wasn’t it?”
“No, I feel bad if you look at it that way.”
Dang Gyu-yeong looked into my eyes for a while as if trying to gauge my feelings.
Then he slowly nods his head.
“… … I have to believe you say that.”
“Thank you. Now, please let go of my arm.”
Then Dang Gyu-yeong looked down at my arm and bit it hard.
“yes.”
“If you believe me, why are you biting me?”
“It’s just fun. Huh.”
“This is a total beast.”
* * *
Apart from the suspicion of being a trash lord, Dang Gyu-yeong has faithfully fulfilled his role.
In less than a day, the rumor spread throughout the school.
– I heard they’re making a statue at the training center?
– Suddenly? Why?
– How would I know? I was making room.
– What is the effect?
– It’s similar to a rank boost, but it’s good.
I could often find students having similar conversations.
Most people responded that it was a good thing that the buffs increased.
Meanwhile, several clubs quickly moved as soon as they heard the rumor.
In the form of a sponsorship bomb.
As a result, on one side of the room, ingots were piled up to the ceiling, while on the other side, jewels formed a small mountain.
The sculptor chief looked a little bewildered.
“… … Isn’t that too much?”
“There will be more coming in. It’s only the first day.”
“Hey, I can’t handle this.”
“What can I afford? It’s sponsorship anyway.”
It’s not like, ‘I’m giving it to you in advance, so pay it back later!’
It contains the meaning of, ‘I support the sculptor’s club. I ask for your continued support in the future!’
“Everything else that goes into the project is club property.”
“I know, but I still feel like there’s too much left over.”
“Then, with what’s left, please create one or two good juniors for me.”
Only then did the sculptor manager seem to notice something.
“This is why you received sponsorship.”
“I didn’t plan on it, but think of it as a side income. I also invested an A-rank.”
“… … That’s true.”
The manager couldn’t refute it.
If it weren’t for the core materials extracted from the statue, things wouldn’t have gone this smoothly.
Just as I was about to say something else, a message suddenly came flying in.
After checking the contents, I couldn’t help but narrow my eyes.
‘Here at this timing?’
The head sculptor asked, sensing something unusual.
“Why, who are you?”
“This is the principal.”
“Teacher… Teacher Jang?”
“I guess the conversation has gone that far.”
The Thieves’ Club did a pretty good job.
It’s a rumor that’s spreading among students, so it’s nonsense for the academic administration to not know about it.
Moreover, it was a rare project to install a large sculpture, so it was worth watching with interest.
It was somewhat surprising that they found out that I was involved, but it wasn’t really a secret.
So I shrugged and relayed the message.
“They told me to come for a moment.”
“… … Is this okay?”
“At least I won’t tell you to flip it. In fact, there’s a good chance it’ll turn out well.”
And I left the room with the somewhat dubious sculptor manager.
* * *
When we entered the principal’s office, the first thing we saw was the fully armed principal.
He is wearing full body armor and a helmet, holding a golden greatsword in his hand and staring out the window.
‘I don’t think it was that bad even when I fought the Witch of Exhaustion.’
The homeroom teacher must have had similar thoughts to me because his face was full of the look of disgust on his face.
However, the principal paid no attention and posed, then belatedly turned his head this way.
“Oh, you’re here.”
“hello.”
“I heard from student Song Cheon-gi. It seems like a good thing to do, so it will be approved soon.”
“thank you.”
If the student council president and the principal lend their support, it wouldn’t be a big deal to create a position at the training center.
But it seemed like the main point was just beginning.
The principal let out a muffled ‘Ugh…’ sound as if he was about to say something difficult, and the vice principal looked at him with pitiful eyes.
If you read the expression, you can guess the general meaning.
‘Can’t you just not do it?’
Nevertheless, the principal opened his mouth with a hardened face, as if he was going to push through to the end.
“That… … statue.”
“yes.”
“Have you decided on a model?”
The item extracted from the A-rank statue is the courageous spirit of a ‘hero’.
There is no problem in adding valid options even if you do not necessarily re-create the ‘Orc Hero’.
Of course, this is entirely up to the creator, so I looked to the side and the head sculptor answered in a tone of dismay.
“It’s still… … in the planning stage.”
“Khuh-huh! Then what do the previous warriors think?”
“… … .”
I wondered why he suddenly did a full setup, but it seemed like he wanted me to be used as a model.
Because it would have been less likely if he was wearing his usual baggy tracksuit.
Of course, wearing armor was also embarrassing to those around him.
The homeroom teacher covered her face with both hands and spoke in a sobbing voice.
“Please, I beg you, come to your senses… … .”
“No, I’m also the principal, so it would be good to leave something behind for the school during my term.”
“I hope you don’t leave me behind.”
“Why doesn’t it work?”
“I feel embarrassed every time I see it.”
Normally, when the vice principal did something like this, the principal would back down as if he couldn’t handle it, but now it seemed like he was going to push hard.
As I watched the two adults arguing, I whispered to the head sculptor.
“I guess you really want to do it, model.”
“I see, was that the kind of person you were originally?”
“Even on normal days, you don’t pay much for your age.”
“… … .”
“If you don’t have anything else in mind, wouldn’t a former warrior be okay? I’ll consider it as granting your wish.”
“Okay, let’s do that.”
He seemed to agree very reluctantly, but he agreed anyway.
So I said to the two adults who were still arguing.
“I think it might be possible.”
“really?”
The principal is already getting flustered, wondering what the hell that statue is.
I added with a grin.
“I’d like to add some conditions.”
The supporters ate it all
