I wasn’t able to understand at first, so I had to think quite a bit about the meaning of what Choi Woojin blurted out.
It may have been a short time, less than a minute, but still.
“Human trafficking… surely that’s not it,” I muttered.
If that were the case, the male students here wouldn’t be waiting so calmly for something.
Hearing my mumblings, Choi Woojin narrowed his eyes lightly as if he had heard something he shouldn’t have.
“Hey, save your innocence for later in front of the girls. We’re with the guys here, so cut it out.”
“…”
“…You really have no idea what’s going on? This isn’t a joke?”
As I didn’t respond, Choi Woojin’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“I just heard the term ‘Shadow Banquet’ for the first time.”
“This is a masterpiece in a different sense. A guy who’s supposed to be a successor of five prominent families…”
“Don’t be too harsh. You might not know everything. I only found out right before admission…”
Choi Woojin spoke with pure admiration, without a hint of sarcasm, and Seunghun tried to stop him.
“Wait, so you guys knew about it?”
“I heard it from my older brother who graduated.”
“I found out gradually while preparing for admission…”
Choi Woojin and Seunghun answered, each feeling a bit unfair. From what I’ve heard, it sounds like a gathering where the children of prestigious families indulge in secretive escapades.
Why didn’t the principal inform me about this? If he had just given me a hint, I could have avoided it. He lectured me about everything else without hesitation.
Maybe he couldn’t tell me out of consideration for the older girls. Perhaps the sisters hoped I would pass by without knowing the existence of the Shadow Banquet. They were overly protective of me.
Nonetheless, it has become irrelevant now.
“I had no idea… I was just following the kind senior who asked me to help…”
The male student wearing glasses, with a pale face after waking up, chimed in late to the conversation.
“I never imagined it would be such a den… Ugh… how could I make such a mistake… The spirits clearly whispered that it was fine… Truly, if you judge people by their appearances…”
His voice was filled with resentment towards Kwon Yuri.
“Well, now that it’s come to this, let’s just enjoy it!”
Choi Woojin laughed heartily, patting Mu-young on the back.
“Think of it as an experience! Isn’t this a good opportunity for you? Half of those girls laughing over there are the daughters of prestigious magic families. If you make a good connection, it could be a turning point in your life…”
“No, no! Why would I associate with such smelly and dirty girls?!”
“Tsk tsk. Hanging around that grim masked guy must have rubbed off on you in strange ways. Isn’t your grade among the top for spirit mages? If only you fixed that personality of yours, girls would line up…”
“I just don’t like it…! I don’t want it, I don’t like it!”
Choi Woojin and Mu-young began to argue fiercely. In the meantime, Seunghun, still with a troubled expression, approached and spoke up.
“You know the male students have the upper hand during the social gatherings, right? Selection of partners and all that. The girls who don’t like that created the Shadow Banquet in the first place. They couldn’t stand how male students, who typically didn’t say much, suddenly strutted around during this time… At least that’s what I know.”
It seems the number of those awakening as wizards is slightly higher among girls compared to boys. Due to physical suitability, the ratio of those who become excellent wizards is also higher for girls. Perhaps this was a secret club formed against that backdrop.
“Well, even so, at this point, it’s just a social meeting. Anyway, consider the Male Student Auction as part of that. Though it’s called an auction, it’s just for fun… what happens after is up to each person.”
I guess I’ve finally figured out the general context. It also explains why Kwon Yuri referred to me as ‘bait.’
So I just need to have fun and leave, huh? Well, that doesn’t seem entirely wrong.
“…Then where are we, exactly?”
“This is part of the management area of the Yoram Underground. They found a place omitted from the blueprints and remodeled it without the professors knowing. It’s been decades.”
While Mu-young was tearing his hair out in despair, Choi Woojin stepped in to join the conversation.
I could see a bit of the outside through the large window set in one wall of the waiting room.
It was too dark to see properly, but it was definitely too extravagant to be a space below ground.
If I hadn’t entered via a secret passage, I would have mistaken it for a high-end party hall on the surface. Luxurious lighting, various amenities, and even windows showing artificial scenery…
Amidst this, a new question suddenly crossed my mind.
“So you all came here knowing what you were getting into?”
At first, I could understand Mu-young’s situation, but the others definitely weren’t the type to enjoy such a situation.
Seunghun even has a fiancé. It felt uncomfortable, but still…
And upon hearing my question, both of them suddenly fell silent, as if they’d made a pact.
“…So why did you come then?”
“Uh…”
And after a moment of silence, Seunghun’s question left me speechless.
There was no way I could tell them I was here supporting Yeon Minha’s sub-group.
At the same time, I realized, judging by their awkward expressions, that Choi Woojin and Seunghun must have gone through similar processes as I did.
Choi Woojin casually said, “Well, it’s an experience. I don’t think it’s that bad. I was getting tired of dull gatherings anyway.”
“I just thought I could fill a spot…”
“That’s boring. Did you come all the way here just to fill a spot? Sometimes it’s okay to indulge a bit.”
“That would make it too unfair to Yeouli… no matter how politically tied we are…”
Seunghun, who had been shaking his head at Choi Woojin’s words, suddenly seemed to recall something.
“But are you okay? If you bump into Senior Choi Ireh here…”
“Would that even happen?”
However, Choi Woojin shook his head outright.
“The most uptight person I know is my sister. Do you think someone like her would be caught dead in this kind of decadent gathering? She’ll probably be patrolling the school with the student council members.”
“True…”
Seunghun was just beginning to agree with Choi Woojin.
– Thank you for waiting, esteemed guests!
Suddenly, a commotion erupted. Bright lights focused on the dark stage visible beyond the waiting room window. At the same time, a voice amplified by a speaker rang out, booming through the air.
Then, with the sound of clicking heels, a curvy and graceful shadow revealed itself in the center of the stage.
Wearing a silk hat secured with a ribbon, holding a staff with a bent end, and draped in a soft velvet cloak…
A female student wearing a rabbit-shaped half-mask appeared. Two fluffy ears protruded from beneath her silk hat as if I had seen them just a moment ago.
I had no trouble recognizing the identity of the student who elegantly made her entrance as if she were a magician.
“Are you all enjoying the Shadow Banquet?”
A clearly joyful expression was visible on Kwon Yuri’s face.
*
The moment she revealed herself, an uproar of applause erupted. Although it was too dark to see clearly inside, it was certainly evident that there were at least dozens of people in the space.
“Muhihihi…”
Seeing the response, her mouth curled up in satisfaction.
“It’s wonderful! Very wonderful! What an incredibly heartwarming reaction!”
Then, hopping about the stage, she continued with a cute voice.
“Free spirits who have thrown off all student hierarchy! It is now time for you to receive your gifts!”
With her arms raised high, the girl wearing the rabbit mask shouted from the center of the stage.
“The main event and highlight of the Shadow Banquet! Let the ‘Male Student Auction’ begin!!”
“Wow!!”
“The children of prestigious families, like sweets from a painting! Handsome male students who make your heart race just by looking! Stop just admiring them in silence and get involved!!”
As she spoke, excited cheers erupted all around.
“For those city girls who rushed in with inflated dreams from the outskirts! For those ladies trapped in loveless engagements dreaming of a thrill! It doesn’t matter who you are! You can only participate with student credits! Just secure the bid! For the next two hours, that guy will be entirely yours!”
“…I had no idea that senior could speak so well.”
“Right…”
The uproar was now so loud it almost made my ears ring. The rabbit girl wore a smile that seemed almost sinister.
“Quick, let’s get started!”
“I can’t wait…!”
“Muhihihi, don’t be in such a hurry! The night is long and there are plenty of men! Now, who will be the glorious first? Please come out!!”
– Ding!
With a shake of her staff, she announced the start of the auction. Soon after, a male student from the waiting room stood up with an excited demeanor and huffed as he made his way out.
“I-I’ll be back!”
Now that I looked closely, there was a small sticker with the number ‘1’ attached to his collar. Others also had stickers, bracelets, or badges with various numbers.
I had not noticed any such markers on me, which puzzled me. Just then, Choi Woojin burst into laughter, as if he had discovered something amusing.
“Ha, look at that guy with a weird sticker on his back.”
“…?”
When I fumbled my way to check my outerwear’s back, I finally spotted a sticker with ’15’ that Kwon Yuri had stuck on me.
A quick estimation revealed I had ended up being the last person. I hoped it would wrap up quickly since I was already here.
“38 credits! Ah! What is this… the lowest bid in the 88-year history of the Shadow Banquet…”
Not long after the previous male student exited, Kwon Yuri’s voice echoed with an air of despair. A few male students began chuckling uncontrollably at the sound.
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