I Became the Youngest Daughter of a Chaebol Family-Chapter 77: Middle Schooler Yoo Ha-yeon (3)

...Is that so? Is that what happened?

–Fwoop.

After the end of the school day, I sat in my chair and let out a sigh.

‘I’m going through puberty, huh.’

I’m not even in eighth grade yet, and I already have eighth-grader syndrome...

I accepted that fact quickly. Human memory tends to fade over time, but I remembered everything perfectly.

I had changed a lot since before.

In the end, are humans nothing more than slaves to hormones...? Is that it...?

‘Ah, wait a second.’

Something clicked.

That means I can just blame everything I do on puberty. I’m a teenage girl going through puberty, so I have the right to rebel as much as I want.

“What are you thinking about, Miss?”

Seo Ji-yeon stared at me with wide eyes.

“Just wondering what to do for fun.”

I shrugged and glanced around.

A computer lab packed with shiny new machines—our club room.

The official name was the Software Development Club, but... it was great because we could play games at school with full legal backing. Why didn’t I think of this earlier?

“What the heck, weren’t we supposed to develop a game?”

Myrian scratched his head while fiddling with the computer.

“That too. And playing is part of it, right?”

“Hm... well, you’re not wrong.”

The game Myrian and I made together would no doubt become a masterpiece. Of course... from a purely commercial standpoint, it’d be a waste of my time.

But there’s nothing quite as satisfying as wasting opportunity cost. I think I’ll live like a casual observer for a while.

‘...Feels like I’ve had this thought before.’

Weird... I’m sure when I was younger, I planned to hide away and live life as a modest genius. How’d things end up like this?

It’s probably because I haven’t fixed my habit of springing up at the sight of money and working myself to death. I really am a workaholic.

Time to relax with some gaming.

“Let’s leave the computers for now... Nah. Ji-yeon, play with me.”

I gave the game console I’d half-forcibly brought along a few taps. It was Street Fighter II.

“Huh? Ah, okay.”

Seo Ji-yeon came scurrying over and sat next to me, grabbing a joystick.

A few moments later—

“Ah— I can see the lines.”

Pah. Chwachwachwachwak!

My character knocked hers out with flashy moves.

The K.O. screen filled the display.

Yes, this is it. Beating someone down under fair conditions is the most satisfying thing in the world.

“...You’re not even ashamed of using combos on a beginner?”

Myrian gave me a look of pure disappointment. I responded confidently.

“It’s fine. I used combos even when I was a beginner.”

“Of course you did.”

Seo Ji-yeon was obviously struggling to keep up with my playstyle, but I let her be. It was kind of pathetic and kind of cute.

“Anyway, are there just three of us in this club?”

“Yeah. Any more than that is annoying.”

When there are more than three, I feel like I get left out when they start chatting...

“Besides, let’s be honest. Most of the kids here can’t code for crap. Even if we make Ji-yeon draw, the rest we can handle ourselves.”

“...Can’t argue with that.”

One reincarnated genius with an S-rank brain, and one born genius programmer. Not many kids can keep up with us.

“Have you tried NetHack? The graphics are whatever, but it’s pretty fun.”

“Wasn’t the graphics for that decent? Gonna make it NetHack-based?”

That would end up feeling like Li—ge, though...

“Not exactly. Just borrowing the roguelike system. Then mixing in other stuff... Hm, what do you think about this?”

Ta-da.

I pulled out a paper card.

[Black Lotus. Effect: Sacrifice Black Lotus to add three mana of any one color.]

“...What’s this?”

“Card game? It was just released in America recently. Pretty fun.”

The first TCG, Magic: The Gathering, was actually supposed to launch next year, but... I moved it forward. This is exactly why I gained power in the first place.

Nothing creative ever comes out of nowhere overnight. Most creative works are born from years of ideas rolling around in someone’s head, waiting for the right time.

Garfield’s great-great-grandson wasn’t hard to find in the U.S.

“I hope it’s a game that works even on weak computers... Actually, yeah. If we make it turn-based, that solves a lot.”

Myrian nodded to herself while muttering. She had good instincts for game design, so she caught on fast.

Seo Ji-yeon, who’d been watching quietly, timidly raised a hand.

“U-um, what about a board game? One you don’t even need a computer for...?”

“Ooh, that’s a good idea.”

Since current computer specs are kind of trashy, aiming for a board game might actually be better.

No wonder Magic was fun.

“Board game? Like Blue Marble? I don’t like that—it’s too luck-based.”

“No, Myrian. The thing I just mentioned, Magic, is also a board game.”

Deck-building started with Dominion, but... honestly, I can’t wait that long. Even if it stings my conscience, I’m using the idea early.

A roguelike deck-building game, huh... Hmm, Slay the S**?*

Tch, not sure if I can pull that off. That came out way later, but it’s not super demanding performance-wise, so maybe I could make a downgraded version.

Slay the S*** is technically real-time and eats some memory, but if I write the code right, I could make it fully turn-based.

–Sssrrk.

I fiddled with the card, immersed in this rare moment of playful creativity.

***

Throwing money around in middle school really was a whole new experience—and a great one.

At Daeha Middle School, students who met the qualifications could replace part of their classes with club or external activities after going through a screening process, and I fully took advantage of that by joining five or six clubs.

I replaced P.E. with the swim team, and computer class with the software development club.

Math and science classes... I replaced those with academic papers. That was the easiest.

Anyway, thanks to that, our school had an absurd number of clubs for the 20th century.

There were typical “-club” clubs like broadcasting, newspaper, dance, reading, swimming, soccer... and more unusual ones like plant observation, space observation, lizard-watching, ghost story, and math clubs.

There was even a board game club where they played Blue Marble with real cash, but... that was just a hobby, so let’s skip over it.

–Splash.

As usual, I enjoyed a peaceful moment splashing around in the school’s indoor pool. Next to me, the swim team captain—a brown-haired girl—chattered away, keeping me company.

“Haha, thanks to you, Miss, we get to swim at school. I used to go to an actual pool to practice.”

From the fact that she could afford to go to a pool regularly, I could tell that the captain wasn’t quite at my level, but she still came from a decently wealthy family.

Her dad was a district court judge, I think?

“Feels good, right?”

“Mmhm, really good. Thanks so much.”

So satisfying.

Making money is great, but spending money? Also very fulfilling.

“...But sometimes I wonder, Miss, you really have... unique tastes. What kind of school name is Daeha Middle School?”

“You saying I’ve got a thick face?”

“No no, I didn’t mean it like that.”

What an outrageous accusation. Pure slander, 100% baseless.

“I didn’t even name it! I pushed for a different name.”

–Whoosh.

I crossed my arms and shifted my position in the water with a clearly dissatisfied face. The girl chuckled awkwardly and apologized.

“Ah, seriously? Sorry for the misunderstanding, Miss. What name were you going for, then?”

“Hayun Middle School.”

“....”

I’m not particularly fond of my dad, but... I do think he had a good sense for names. Every time I see a school with an old-fashioned name, I get a little twitchy.

Honestly, Hayun Middle School sounds decent, doesn’t it? No?

“What? You don’t like it?”

“You’re cra—pfft! cough cough!”

She got so flustered she choked on the water and forgot to swim.

Tsk, serves you right for not being careful.

“You just insulted the precious name my late father gave me? I’m shocked. Didn’t think you’d stoop this low.”

“N-no! I didn’t mean it like that, Miss! A-and seriously, who names a school after themselves?! While still a student, even...!”

True, people sometimes attach their pen names, but not their real names.

Still, to say it to my face like that... admirable. She’s got guts. I like that.

–Hup.

I stopped swimming and climbed out of the pool, then declared confidently:

“Alright, then someone that bold deserves a reward. I’ll grant you the right to answer my question.”

“...That’s a reward?”

“Correction. I’ll give you the right to answer my question and walk away in one piece.”

Finally, the captain pulled off her swim cap slightly and asked:

“Fine, what’s the question?”

“...Why do you think no one comes to the pool?”

I let out a faint sigh while glancing at my reflection. I’d mustered the courage to go all-in on enjoying puberty, even wore a swimsuit... but still.

“Well, probably because you’re dressed like a thot...?”

“...What?”

“Who wears a bikini in a school pool?! The other girls are too scared—no, too embarrassed to come! Miss, there are a ton of girls who quit the swim team just because of you!”

“....”

The brown-haired girl, who had been passionately voicing her grievance, suddenly slapped a hand over her mouth, realizing too late what she’d just said.

Hoo...

“So, it was because people are still stuck in the old ways... I see. That’s what it was.”

“M-Miss, you’re not mad, right? You’re still going to keep your promise, right...?”

“It’s fine. I keep my promises. Just one more question. What kind of club are kids into these days? Something that gets lots of attention—got any suggestions?”

She thought for a moment, then answered:

“...Hmm. These days, the film club is pretty popular.”

Aha.

In that case...

I’ll just acquire a film studio.

***

“...So, you're saying I should go to Hollywood?”

Lee ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) Si-hyun, who had just returned from Russia after two months, asked back with a stunned look.

Her hands were visibly trembling.