ITINERANT CLUB

...

The sunlight filtered through the large windows of the classroom, illuminating the faces of the cadets. However, the sparkle in their eyes vanished as soon as Instructor Kim Soohyuk mentioned Cube's rules about relationships. Like a shooting star, the initial excitement of the students quickly dissipated. I couldn't help but smile discreetly as I observed their mixed reactions. The look of disappointment that replaced their initial enthusiasm was almost comical.

Nayun, sitting beside me, let out a frustrated sigh.

"What hypocrisy... They know full well that people are hooking up all over the place."

I turned to her with an amused look.

"Including you?"

She immediately blushed and punched me in the arm. The force would have hurt someone else, but on me, it didn't even tickle.

"Shut up!"

Despite the teasing, I also thought that rule was utterly ridiculous. Banning relationships at Cube was like trying to block the sun with a sieve. It was obvious that students would find ways around it, and the prohibition only served to encourage the cadets to do so...

Thanks to Cube's stupid rule, I can't announce that Nayun and I are dating. Not that I wanted to shout it from the rooftops, but it would be nice not to have to hide something that, in the end, is just ours. Of course, the school rule is only part of the problem. The real obstacle is her family.

Nayun told me everything at the café on the day we decided to start dating. She warned me that her family, especially her grandfather, would never approve of our relationship. And knowing what I know about that old man, it's not hard to imagine what he would do if he found out that an orphan like me was dating the heiress of one of the most influential families in the country.

That old man is the type who would do anything to keep the family's image impeccable. He wouldn't hesitate to use his influence to separate me from her, or worse, to put me in a situation where I'd be forced to disappear. Hah! As if he could. I'm not afraid of him, but I also don't want to see Nayun suffer because of this. I don't want to see her clash with her family over me.

For now, we'll keep things low-key. No one needs to know. Not the school, not her family, not the other cadets. It's our secret, and maybe it's better that way. At least for now.

Instructor Soohyuk ignored the murmurs of the students and continued explaining about Cube's clubs.

"Anyway, Cube's clubs exist so you can develop secondary skills and relax a bit. Some are focused on hobbies, others on combat or strategy improvement. Participating in a club can even earn you extra points if your performance is satisfactory."

Hearing this, some students became interested again, and the chatter in the room grew louder.

"There are clubs for fencing, martial arts, military strategy, hunting, even a cooking club and a travel club for those who enjoy it. The full list can be accessed on your smartwatches."

The hologram projected at the front of the room changed, displaying the most popular clubs and their respective descriptions. I skimmed through the list, reflecting. I didn't have a particular interest in joining a club, but it could be a good opportunity to interact more with certain cadets. Besides, depending on the club, it might be useful for my own plans.

Beside me, Nayun was staring intently at the list, her fingers lightly tapping on the desk.

"Maybe I'll join one..."

She murmured thoughtfully.

"Which one? Hunting?"

"I was thinking about joining that one before, but considering I'm about to start using a sword again, I'm thinking of joining the travel club."

"Eh? I thought you'd say you'd join the fencing club."

"Uh? I don't need that, look... It's a club focused on basic training. I've already moved past that, and besides, I have you and my master to teach me."

I raised an eyebrow at Nayun's response. Even now, I didn't fully understand why she had chosen this club in the original story, considering her somewhat extravagant personality.

"The travel club, huh?"

"Yeah. If I'm going to join one, I'd prefer one that helps me relax from time to time."

I nodded. It made sense. Despite Nayun's competitive and fiery personality, she was also someone who enjoyed moments of tranquility when she wasn't trying to prove something to herself or others.

As we chatted, Instructor Kim Soohyuk coughed, calling the class's attention again.

"As I was saying, the clubs are part of the Cube experience. Registration will be open for a week, so think carefully about which one you want to join. Some spots are limited, so don't wait until the last minute."

The cadets nodded, and the teacher continued with the lesson. I leaned back in my chair, listening attentively, but part of my mind was still thinking about the clubs.

'Is it worth joining?'

I didn't necessarily need to participate in these activities—after all, points and things like that were easy to obtain. But there were other advantages. If I joined, for example, the travel club, I could have more opportunities to interact with Yeonha and even keep an eye on Nayun. What if the Co-author made changes that put their lives in danger?

There was Suho and the class president, whom I considered friends. There was also Kin Hajin, who, even though we'd never spoken, I held no resentment toward.

Of course, the main reason was that this particular club was the most active—that's how Hajin had designed the Itinerant Club.

'Since Nayun is only thinking of joining one this time, I guess it's an easy choice.'

But the issue was that Yeonha was part of the Study Club, a club that, in the future, would be linked to the deaths of cadets and even her near-death experience.

The Princess of England, Rachel, was the least of my concerns. Even though I enjoyed literature a bit and wanted to get closer to her, that wasn't a big enough reason for me to join the club. There would be other opportunities to interact with her anyway.

'Itinerant... I think just one club is enough... There's no need to join the Study Club just because a djinn might put Yeonha's life in danger. I can eliminate him before he does anything or even warn her. But what if there are changes in the future? Then I'll have to wait and see.'

Time flew by, and the first class ended. Nayun turned to me with a curious look.

"What about you, Theo? Are you thinking of joining one?"

"Yeah, I'm thinking of joining the travel club too. It's good to get out and about a bit."

Nayun raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised.

"You? The travel club?"

"Why the surprise?"

Was it really that strange for me to join?

"I don't know... It just doesn't seem like your style. I never see you training, so I thought staying indoors was more your thing."

I think she misunderstood something. It's not that I only like staying in the dorm—it's just that training was pointless for me.

Well, let's go with another reason...

"Exploring new places, learning about different cultures, relaxing, and breaking up my monotonous life... It sounds interesting."

She stared at me for a moment, as if trying to decipher my true intentions, but then shrugged.

"Well, if you join, at least I won't be alone."

There were people she knew there, but if someone asked who she'd feel most comfortable with, she'd say Theo without hesitation—after all, we were dating. It's normal to feel that way, and she was happy about it.

"Look at that, seems like you really enjoy my company."

As we chatted, a voice from near the entrance interrupted.

"Are you two planning to join the same club?"

We turned to see Yoo Yeonha watching us with interest as she approached. She had left a few minutes earlier to go somewhere during the break between instructors.

"Yeah. Any problem?"

I asked casually.

Yeonha shook her head with a small smile.

"No, just... curious. But it makes sense. The travel club offers a lot of freedom, and for someone like you, Theo, I imagine that's a plus."

She said it as if she were analyzing something beyond the surface.

I just smiled and said,

"Well, if you already know me so well, I don't need to explain, do I?"

Yeonha narrowed her eyes slightly, but before she could respond, another instructor entered the room, and she started heading back to her desk just above.

But as soon as she took two steps, Jonghak brushed past Yeonha abruptly, bumping her shoulder. The impact was light but enough to make her lose her balance for a moment. She looked at him, surprised, but he didn't even stop to apologize. Instead, he shot a glare full of anger in my direction before walking away, as if I were to blame for something.

I stood there, watching the scene with a raised eyebrow, trying to figure out what had just happened.

'What did I do now?'

I thought, trying to decipher that look. It was obvious that the cause of that confrontation had something to do with me, but what exactly?

Could Yeonha have developed feelings for me? No, impossible. Even now, after Jonghak bumped into her, she still had that lovestruck look on her face. Sure, there was a hint of sadness there, a shadow of disappointment, but her love for him was stronger than that. She was still trapped in that web of unrequited feelings, as she always had been.

Wait...

'Since when did I become so sensitive to other people's emotions?'

The question echoed in my mind as I reflected on the situation. No, now that I think about it, it only happens when I pay attention to her. Yeonha was like an open book, easy to read even when she tried to hide her feelings.

Hah!

'What have I become... A friendzone meter?'

The irony of the situation wasn't lost on me. Me, who had an interest in her, was now analyzing the feelings of a girl who clearly wasn't interested in me. It was almost comical, if not a little sad.

But deep down, I knew it wasn't just that. Jonghak wasn't angry because Yeonha might have feelings for me.

There was something more, something I quickly understood. I'm absolutely sure he was jealous. He must have felt threatened after trying to persuade Nayun to stay away from me, and she simply ignored him.

Either way, I didn't have time to worry about that now.

I turned my attention forward, leaning back in my chair and sighing.

...