My Childhood Friend’s Stock Will Never Fail Chapter 32

‘So this is Joohoon’s mana.’

 

It was the first time Yoohee had seen him use his powers after awakening as an Esper. The cold aura surrounding him made him feel unfamiliar compared to his usual self.

 

Still, she quickly shook her head.

 

“No. I’m not scared at all. Thanks for protecting me.”

 

Looking up at him, Yoohee smiled.

 

Only then did Joohoon seem reassured, the stiffness leaving his face.

 

Just then, Teacher Youngju returned with a new ball and warned him.

 

“You there. Try not to destroy the balls if you can. They’re all school property. It’s just a game, so please take it easy.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

Joohoon looked as though he wanted to say something, but quietly accepted the warning.

 

Once Teacher Youngju walked away, he rolled the ball between his hands with an expressionless face.

 

Almost as if he were calculating how to throw it without making it explode.

 

Tweet—

 

The whistle blew once more, signaling the match to resume.

 

This time, the attacking side was Joohoon’s team.

 

The muscular Esper from the Kestrel Class, who had failed his previous attack, watched them with obvious tension.

 

“…Hey. You’re not actually going to throw it seriously, right? If it somehow hits a Guide, they’ll be done for.”

 

“So you knew that?”

 

Joohoon asked calmly.

 

“Don’t worry. I’m not aiming at the Guide.”

 

In pair dodgeball, the objective was to eliminate the opposing Guide.

 

So if he wasn’t aiming for the Guide…

 

“You’re the one who’s getting hit.”

 

At the same moment, the ball left Joohoon’s hand.

 

A cloud of white vapor burst out, and in an instant, the ball transformed into one covered in razor-sharp frost.

 

That would hurt… a lot if it hit someone.

 

“—!”

 

The muscular Esper’s eyes widened in horror at the sight of the spiked ice-covered ball.

 

Standing directly behind him was his paired Guide.

 

If he dodged, the Guide would be the one in danger.

 

That left him with only one option—block it himself.

 

If his elemental affinity had been compatible, he might have been able to counter Joohoon’s frost.

 

For example, a fire or water attribute could have melted the ice.

 

Though… it probably wouldn’t have melted easily.

 

“D-Damn it!”

 

Caught between impossible choices, the muscular Esper finally decided to take the hit himself.

 

Bulking up his already massive muscles as much as possible, he braced himself and tried to catch the incoming frozen ball with his body.

 

“Gah!”

 

The result was disastrous.

 

Blood sprayed into the air as the muscular Esper collapsed onto the ground.

 

“Guide! Hurry! Mass— no, Guiding!”

 

Chaos erupted among the Kestrel Class.

 

The students rushed to surround the injured Esper and began administering emergency treatment.

 

Fortunately, it was the kind of wound that would heal quickly with proper Guiding.

 

“But what’s his attribute?”

 

While the match was briefly paused, Yoohee quietly asked one of her classmates about the muscular Esper.

 

She couldn’t understand why he hadn’t used his attribute to block the attack.

 

“Strength. That guy can probably pull a tree out of the ground with his bare hands.”

 

So he’s literally just… ridiculously strong?

 

“Yoohee, don’t look over there.”

 

Just then, Joohoon stepped in front of her, blocking her view with his body.

 

“Hm?”

 

“There’s nothing worth seeing.”

 

Because of the blood?

 

Yoohee wasn’t particularly bothered by blood.

 

She had seen far worse in her previous life.

 

When the match resumed, the Black Panther Class ultimately claimed victory.

 

For the first time ever, Yoohee survived until the very end and was awarded the title of MVP.

 

A sparkling glass pendant.

 

Yes! Tonight’s prize is pickled radish for my fried chicken!

 

The engraving on it was admittedly a little strange, but it was small, beautiful, and glittered brightly.

 

It would look wonderful decorating her room.

 

It was a special prize Teacher Youngju had prepared just for today.

 

“Wow… I’ve never won something like this before.”

 

“You like it? I can get you more if you want.”

 

“No, one is enough. Besides, this one is special. I got it on the first day we had class together.”

 

As Yoohee happily fiddled with the pendant, Joohoon scratched the back of his head shyly.

 

“I’m glad you like it.”

 

The two walked together in high spirits.

 

Then two female students approached, whispering to each other.

 

“Hey… this is kind of embarrassing…”

 

“If not now, then when? Just do it!”

 

The girls stepped in front of them, forcing Yoohee and Joohoon to stop.

 

One of them, a girl with short black hair, hesitated for a moment before holding out a can of coffee toward Joohoon.

 

“H-Here… drink this!”

 

“……”

 

Thud.

 

Because she thrust it out so suddenly, Joohoon instinctively accepted the canned coffee.

 

“And… you looked really cool today.”

 

Blushing brightly, the girl complimented him before grabbing her friend’s hand and hurrying around the corner.

 

The whole exchange happened in the blink of an eye.

 

Joohoon looked just as bewildered as Yoohee standing beside him.

 

‘Don’t tell me she likes Joohoon…?’

 

No matter how anyone looked at it, she was clearly a girl with a crush on him.

 

‘Well… Joohoon is handsome. And he stood out during dodgeball too.’

 

Logically, Yoohee understood the girl’s behavior.

 

But somewhere deep inside, an inexplicable sense of loss welled up.

 

It felt as though a precious hidden treasure that she wanted to keep all to herself had suddenly been revealed to everyone else.

 

Just then, messages from the Constellations began appearing one after another.

 

[The majority of the Constellations frown at the uninvited guest’s interruption.]

[Constellation, “Hopeless Romance Novel Fanatic,” tells you to throw that canned coffee away immediately.]

[A minority of the Constellations are enjoying the uninvited guest’s appearance.]

 

Yoohee froze at the last message.

 

They’re… enjoying this?

 

Wait.

 

How many Constellations were connected right now again?

 

As Yoohee absentmindedly fell into thought, Joohoon asked awkwardly,

 

“Um… Yoohee, are you thirsty?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Do you want this? …Actually, maybe I should take a sip first. You never know if someone put poison in it.”

 

As Joohoon started opening the can, Yoohee instinctively stopped him.

 

“B-But… she gave it to you. Wouldn’t it be wrong if I drank it instead?”

 

“…Does it really matter? She’s a complete stranger.”

 

Joohoon asked in genuine confusion, leaving Yoohee speechless.

 

He could be surprisingly cold about things like this.

 

“Uh… but still…”

 

Just as she was about to defend the girl’s feelings out of basic courtesy, the status window appeared before her eyes.

 

[Hello, Twenty-Ninth Possessor! You’ve been doing well, haven’t you?]

 

You completely ruined the mood.

 

Unlike yesterday, the status window sounded unusually energetic.

 

[Today I’ve brought you some very special news! Feel free to get excited!]

 

[That’s right! The Thirtieth Possessor has just entered Channel R-30, which shares the same setting as Channel R-29! Therefore, today we’ll be holding a special Welcome Newbie Event for the Thirtieth Possessor!]

 

A new transmigrator had arrived.

 

That alone was shocking enough—

 

But a Welcome Newbie Event?

 

There wasn’t anything like that when I arrived.

 

[This event will be called… hmm… yes! “It Rings When You’re Close!” Starting now and lasting for three weeks, the Twenty-Ninth Possessor and the Thirtieth Possessor will be able to detect each other’s locations. Since the two of you share the same setting, it’s an exclusive event just for you!]

 

The status window continued explaining rapidly.

 

[However, there’s a slight difference! The Twenty-Ninth Possessor will only receive an alert when the Thirtieth Possessor comes within a ten-meter radius, while the Thirtieth Possessor can see the Twenty-Ninth Possessor’s location on a minimap regardless of distance!]

 

The longer Yoohee listened, the angrier she became.

 

What kind of broken game is this?

 

[Twenty-Ninth Possessor, we ask for your understanding for the sake of the newcomer. They just started—wouldn’t it be boring if they had to begin under exactly the same conditions as you?]

 

That only made it more irritating because…

 

It wasn’t wrong.

 

If a beginner were forced to compete against an experienced veteran from the very start, anyone would lose the will to play.

 

‘But why reveal another transmigrator’s location in the first place?’

 

This wasn’t a competitive game.

 

Everyone had their own scenario.

 

There didn’t seem to be any real reason for them to seek each other out—or avoid one another.

 

[One more thing, Twenty-Ninth Possessor. If a character’s Affection reaches 0 and they are removed as a Male Lead Candidate, another Possessor may then register that person as their own Male Lead Candidate.]

 

[Once a Male Lead Candidate has been taken by someone else, you can never reclaim them, so please keep that in mind.]

 

The status window disappeared.

 

Immediately afterward, a new scenario materialized in its place.

 

— Main Scenario 4: I’m Not the Queen Bee, But I’m Still the Best

 

Difficulty: C

 

Objective: Do not let either Male Lead Candidate, Kim Joohoon or Seo Hyunho, be stolen.

 

Time Limit: Until the end of the “It Rings When You’re Close” event.

 

Reward for Success: ???

 

Penalty for Failure: Since the love triangle/reverse harem route has been disrupted, two Constellations now desire a single-ending for the protagonists.

 

Hosting Constellations: Dark Mage, Mala-Spice Churu