My Childhood Friend’s Stock Will Never Fail Chapter 20

She hurled the thick foreign-language books from the 840s section like throwing stars.

 

Well, not quite like real throwing stars. They were far too heavy, so she had no choice but to hurl them with both hands as though she were pitching boulders.

 

One.

 

Two.

 

Three.

 

Four.

 

Every time a book struck a creature square in the head, a strange sense of satisfaction washed over her.

 

So this is what they call catharsis?

 

But in the thrill of the moment, Yoohee had forgotten one important fact—

 

Her Strength stat was pitifully low.

 

Her arms were beginning to tremble.

 

When she threw the last book at the remaining creature, she lost her balance and stumbled badly.

 

The book slipped from her hands, traced a short arc through the air, and crashed harmlessly onto the floor.

 

With the book missing its mark, the creature’s eyes widened as it lunged straight at Yoohee.

 

Its savage expression looked as though it meant to avenge all of its fallen companions.

 

N-No…

 

Is this really how my life ends?

 

She frantically reached for another book from the shelves, trying desperately to stop the creature charging toward her.

 

Whoosh— Thud!

 

“Nice shot!”

 

Jo Soo-young shouted triumphantly from beside her.

 

Standing in front of the 700 Languages section was none other than Choi Aram, looking more dependable than anyone else in the room.

 

“There. Now we’re even.”

 

“Yes.”

 

[Time Limit Reached!]

 

[As the White Day Event has ended, the spatial restrictions have been lifted.]

 

At the same time, the status window announced the end of the event.

 

As the creature Choi Aram had defeated spat out the final White Day candy, every remaining creature inside the library reference room dissolved into smoke.

 

The shutter blocking the entrance rolled back up, and the lights, which had cast an eerie gloom over the room, returned to their normal brightness.

 

[Congratulations! You have completed the Third Side Scenario, “White Day Burning Event”!]

 

[Creatures Defeated: 24]

 

Yoohee’s jaw dropped.

 

Twenty-four.

 

That meant +24 stat points!

 

She herself had only defeated around ten creatures at most.

 

The rest had come from Choi Aram, who had performed even better than she’d expected.

 

[As your reward, you may distribute a total of 24 stat points. Which stats would you like to increase?]

 

No question about it.

 

Guiding Ability.

 

“Guiding Ability. Put everything into that.”

 

Yoohee muttered quietly.

 

The status window immediately crackled like a computer suffering from a system error before replying in a somewhat dejected voice.

 

[We’re sorry, but the same stat can only be increased by a maximum of 10 points per day.]

 

Yoohee smacked herself on the forehead.

 

I knew it couldn’t be that easy.

 

As she stood there blankly for a moment, the impatient status window hurried her along again.

 

[Twenty-Ninth Possessor! If you do not respond soon, then—]

 

“Fine. Put 10 into Guiding Ability first.”

 

[Understood, Twenty-Ninth Possessor. 10 points have been allocated to Guiding Ability. You now have 14 points remaining.]

 

The rest required a little thought.

 

Her Strength was honestly in pretty bad shape, so she should raise that…

 

More Stamina would be useful too.

 

Then split the remaining points evenly between Agility and Perception.

 

[Twenty-Ninth Possessor. 6 points have been allocated to Strength, 4 to Stamina, and 2 each to Perception and Agility. All available stat points have now been distributed.]

 

The moment her stats increased, her body felt noticeably lighter.

 

Just to be sure, she opened her status screen and looked over the updated values.

 

Stamina: 8

 

Strength: 7

 

Agility: 7

 

Perception: 7

 

Guiding Ability: 17

 

Skill: Invincible Affinity (Lv.1)

 

Stigmata: None

 

Sacred Relics: None

 

Male Lead Candidates: Kim Joohoon (Affection ???), Seo Hyunho (Affection 2%)

 

Even at a glance, her stats had improved dramatically.

 

It wouldn’t be long before her Guiding Ability reached 20.

 

The fact that her Invincible Affinity skill was still only Level 1 bothered her a little, but even so, she felt much closer to successfully Guiding Joohoon than before.

 

“Was… everything that just happened a dream?”

 

“There were creatures right in front of me just a second ago.”

 

As the library returned to normal, the members of the follower group exchanged bewildered remarks.

 

“But… why are there candies everywhere?”

 

Oh right.

 

The candies.

 

Yoohee hurriedly looked down at the candies scattered across the floor.

 

“Oh! Aren’t these the handmade candies they sell at the academy bakery? I absolutely love these.”

 

Wrapped neatly in gold foil, they certainly looked similar.

 

But those candies were…

 

「A candy overflowing with the power of love! A candy that makes affection bloom where there was none before!」

 

The status window’s cheerful voice automatically played in her head.

 

“Wait!”

 

Yoohee hurriedly tried to stop the group, but Kim Na-yoon and Jo Soo-young had already peeled back the gold wrappers.

 

“Nooo, stop!”

 

Yoo-hee’s desperate cry seemed to play out in slow motion.

 

As if on purpose, the two simply stared at her before casually popping the round candies into their mouths.

 

Crunch. Crunch.

 

The candies must have been fairly soft—they munched on them with obvious enjoyment.

 

“Mmm, these are seriously delicious.”

 

“So freaking good.”

 

Still chewing, the two suddenly shuddered as though an electric current had run through their bodies.

 

Then they spoke again, this time in completely unfamiliar tones.

 

“…Junior.”

 

“Junior, are you feeling all right?”

 

So they really ate them…

 

Apparently, the candy’s effect worked even on people who weren’t male lead candidates. Kim Na-yoon and Jo Soo-young gazed at Yoo-hee with eyes overflowing with affection.

 

Yoohee awkwardly endured their intense attention when Choi Aram, who had been watching the entire exchange, frowned in confusion.

 

“What’s wrong with you two? Why are you suddenly speaking so politely to her?”

 

Grumbling to herself, Choi Aram began unwrapping the candy in her own hand.

 

The hairs on the back of Yoohee’s neck instantly stood on end.

 

She hurriedly stopped her.

 

“Don’t eat that, Senior!”

 

Choi Aram paused for a moment and looked at Yoo-hee intently.

 

For a second, Yoohee thought she might actually listen.

 

Instead, Choi Aram curled her lips into a stubborn smirk.

 

“Why shouldn’t I?”

 

You stubborn little…!

 

Then she casually tossed the candy into her mouth.

 

“…Junior.”

 

These contrarians, seriously!

 

“Sorry for bothering you in the library earlier.”

 

“Yeah. We were too reckless.”

 

“Please forgive us, Junior.”

 

“Ah… it’s okay.”

 

Avoiding the group’s overly affectionate gazes, Yoohee answered awkwardly.

 

Surely this candy doesn’t last forever… right?

 

That would be a little much.

 

No—

 

Way too much.

 

Just then, Choi Aram suddenly grabbed Yoohee’s hand.

 

“You don’t have to give me any candy. From now on, I’ll be rooting for you and Hyunho to end up together.”

 

“…Huh? What did you just say?”

 

Yoohee stared at her with wide, rabbit-like eyes.

 

This was Choi Aram—the girl who had openly bullied Ga-young in the original story.

 

And now she was giving up this easily?

 

“You’re… giving up on Seo Hyunho… I mean, Hyunho Senior?”

 

When Yoohee asked again, Choi Aram nodded as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

 

“Of course. He’s the person our junior likes. Naturally, I should step aside.”

 

Then Choi Aram gently released Yoohee’s hand.

 

“Our junior’s happiness is—”

 

“Our happiness too.”

 

The three of them declared the words together in perfect unison.

 

***

 

They left the library earlier than planned.

 

The follower group kept watching Yoohee nonstop, making it impossible for her to concentrate.

 

Though the books were heavy, she had no choice but to borrow them anyway. As she came out carrying them, Choi Aram suddenly reached a hand toward her.

 

“Junior. Give me your bag.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“It’s heavy. We’ll carry it for you.”

 

“Yeah, hand it over.”

 

“No, it’s—”

 

Before she could object, her bag was practically taken from her.

 

Kim Na-yoon, the tallest of the group, slung it over one shoulder.

 

“Our junior’s arms are going to fall off carrying this. I’ll take it all the way to the dorm.”

 

Clicking his tongue, Kim Na-yoon hefted the heavy bag.

 

Even after raising her Strength stat, Yoohee had still found it fairly heavy herself.

 

She appreciated the help…

 

But somehow she felt guilty, like she’d turned her seniors into personal bag carriers.

 

“You offered to carry it yourselves. No complaining later.”

 

“Of course not. Come on, Junior. We’ll make sure you get back safely.”

 

With Jo Soo-young on her left and Choi Aram and Kim Na-yoon on her right, Yoohee walked down the hill leading away from the library.

 

…This feels strangely surreal.

 

[A handful of Constellations admire your friendship.]

 

[Some Constellations dislike the appearance of unnecessary characters.]

 

Even the Constellations had mixed reactions to the follower group’s newfound devotion.

 

Meanwhile, Spicy Churu had been complaining for quite a while now, demanding to know why Yoo-\hee wasn’t giving the candy to one of the male lead candidates instead.

 

[The Constellation, “Spicy Churu,” shakes their legs impatiently, complaining that White Day will be over at this rate.]

 

Ordinarily, Yoohee had no desire to get on a Constellation’s bad side.

 

But this time…

 

Even she couldn’t help it.