I Wished for Non-Face-to-Face Lectures

The incident all started with a single thick fish bone.

After receiving permission from [Grumbler], or Jaehyuk, to stay for a few days, I arrived at his apartment.

Since I didn’t bring any luggage, I was spacing out for a bit after arriving when hunger started to creep in, probably because I hadn’t eaten properly at my parents’ house.

“…Is there anything to eat?”

Since he goes out to work at night, it would take at least 6 hours before he returned to the apartment.

Thinking I’d eat some snacks or drinks while waiting, I headed to the kitchen and discovered some leftover braised fish.

He’s still the same, living messily as ever.

Just as I was clicking my tongue and about to help clean up.

Yes, ‘that’ caught my eye.

A thick fish bone as ‘pointed’ as a needle.

“KYAAAAAAAAAA!!!”

They say once bitten, twice shy, but this was ridiculous.

As I stepped back in terror, unfortunately, there was a rice container right there.

Whoosh—

As if protesting the merciless violence inflicted upon it, the rice container vigorously spewed out the rice it had been holding, plunging me into despair.

“Ah…”

Looking at the rice scattered on the kitchen floor, my counting compulsion began to manifest.

But it’s fine!

There’s still plenty of time before the owner returns, right?

I just need to count quickly while cleaning up, and return everything to its original state!

Well, I was bored anyway, so this is great! At least I won’t be bored until Jaehyuk returns!

With a positive mindset, I took a large bowl from the sink and began counting the rice grains, but.

Contrary to my expectations, not even 2 hours had passed when I heard the sound of the door lock.

Beep beep beep beep!

…What? Why is he back already?

Didn’t he usually say work ends at 7 AM?

Startled and forgetting to count the rice grains, I looked toward the entrance door where the homeowner entered and stared at me with a dumbfounded expression.

“What kind of idiot is this…?”

A scathing insult.

But I couldn’t possibly refute those words.

Even I thought I looked like an idiot.

I let out an awkward laugh and said to [Grumbler]:

“Uh… I’m estimating there are about 300 left? Wait 8 minutes, I’ll explain after I finish counting these.”

“…”

His gaze toward me became even more contemptuous.

After spending 9 more minutes counting all 7,124 grains of rice, I immediately began explaining the whole story to Jaehyuk.

From becoming a vampire the day after the meteor fell, to losing my apartment to a dragon transformee who lived in the same building.

As I recited it all, I felt like a pathological liar, but surprisingly, he believed my words easily.

“There were a few alien species among the bar customers. Having seen magic or sorcery with my own eyes, there’s nothing I can’t believe.”

“Ah.”

Thinking that was a valid reason, I was munching on dried squid when.

Having already emptied a can of beer, he asked me a question with a concerned voice.

“…But, can you live a normal life? From what I’ve heard, it seems like daily life is almost impossible? Like counting rice grains earlier.”

“Hmm, it’s not completely impossible. There are loopholes in each weakness, so it’s manageable.”

“Wait, aren’t there any advantages? Usually, when there are so many weaknesses, there are also many advantages. The saying ‘high risk, high return’ exists for a reason, right?”

“Well… I haven’t really thought about it.”

To be precise, I didn’t have the luxury to think about it.

I had a lot to deal with, and I spent quite busy days adapting to the vampire body.

For a species that could die at the slightest mistake, it’s natural to think about weaknesses first, right?

Grabbing a new piece of dried squid, I started searching for vampire advantages on my phone.

“You’re right, I should look for advantages as you said. It’s a bit strange to have only weaknesses.”

“Find out quickly. Honestly, that’s what I’m most curious about.”

“What is?”

“Whether you can stop time, and whether you can easily lift a road roller.”

“Oh…”

I immediately tried to imagine stopping time at Jaehyuk’s words, but unfortunately, I didn’t seem to have such an amazing ability.

Instead, my strength was strong enough to lift a road roller. As a test, I tried lifting a washing machine, and it felt as light as lifting a pink dumbbell.

“I think I only have abilities that are commonly known? Like creating minions through bloodsucking, or charming others.”

“…These aren’t abilities that can be tested like the one just now. While they might have been useful in medieval times, they don’t seem particularly good for use in the modern era?”

“Well, who would want to become such a pathetic species anyway. Charm ability… ugh, just imagining it is terrible.”

Me, a male, charming men is terrifying just to imagine.

And charming women would make the picture a bit strange.

“It’s so fucking useless.”

To think that after acquiring so many weaknesses, all I gained was incredibly strong physical strength.

It would be a lie to say I didn’t feel depressed.

Crunch, crunch.

As I silently tore off squid legs with a sad heart, for once, he consoled me.

“Hey, cheer up, kid. Who knows? You might have an amazing ability hidden that you don’t know about.”

“…You think so? There could be other abilities besides physical strength?”

“Yeah, it’s only been a week since you changed. Don’t be too disheartened and look for them slowly, okay?”

How pitiful must I look for this guy, who’s usually itching to grumble, to show this kind of behavior?

Still, receiving comfort made my heart lighter, so I expressed my gratitude to him.

“Thanks.”

“Why are you being so cringe-worthy? Just curse at me instead of showing pity, you bastard.”

“As expected of the grumbler.”

While exchanging friendly insults and drinking, I suddenly became curious.

If he had seen alien species at his workplace, had he also spoken with them?

Wondering how other transformees were living, I asked him a question.

“You said alien species came as bar customers.”

“Did I?”

“What kind of species came as customers? And did you have conversations with them?”

Upon receiving my question, Jaehyuk seemed to ponder deeply, then slowly opened his mouth.

“About three people came? I remember a fox beastman, a pixie, and an arachne… I only had conversations with the fox beastman and the pixie.”

“How was it? Did they mention any inconveniences or problems?”

“Hmm… the fox beastman customer didn’t say much. Overall, they were leisurely and relaxed, I guess? On the other hand, the pixie customer…”

His face suddenly crumpled.

Shaking his head, he continued with a desolate voice.

“There’s a cat at the bar, you know? Its name is Nero.”

“…?”

“After taking a sip of cocktail, they became completely drunk… and became the cat’s toy. It was a bit sad seeing them desperately crying for help while being chased by Nero.”

“…”

There wasn’t a grain of exaggeration in what was written in the community, pixie.

I can’t believe there’s a more garbage species than vampires.

As I made a satisfied expression with a slight sense of superiority, Jaehyuk, as if remembering something forgotten, asked me with a serious face.

“Hey, wait a minute. Didn’t you say earlier that you needed to find a room?”

“Yes.”

“Will you be able to find a new place? You said your previous room was destroyed because of an alien species.”

“…”

A part I had overlooked due to immediate urgency.

Realizing that the situation was worse than I thought, I fell into contemplation.

It’s already been a week since the large-scale alien species transformation incident occurred.

The news daily covered various incidents caused by alien species, and as a result, people’s perception of alien species wasn’t very positive.

I didn’t like this nickname given to alien species, but honestly, I agreed to some extent.

Even I don’t know what kind of accident I might cause.

Consecutive incidents, and perceptions that have become quite negative, though not rock bottom.

The situation was already not good, and a dragon with anger management issues had burned down an entire building.

Hearing this news, which landlord would allow an alien species into their building?

Of course, there might be a slim chance with a landlord who has a heart as vast as the ocean, thinking it’s a hasty generalization fallacy, but.

“…Indeed, finding a room would be completely impossible. It’s even more difficult with school starting tomorrow.”

At this point, finding an apartment was virtually impossible, as that guy said.

Even if there were available properties, I wouldn’t be able to meet the conditions the other party would set.

“Haah… damn lizard.”

I pondered while cursing.

Should I just go back to my family home?

Even if there are practicums, I can’t participate anyway.

One in ten thousand people becomes an alien species.

And there wouldn’t be guidelines accommodating nocturnal species, which are a minority among them.

“Sigh, I guess I’ll just head back to my family home as soon as it gets dark tomorrow! Come to think of it, it’s remote learning, so it is kind of strange to have a room anyway!”

I’d face as much interference as possible due to becoming a vampire, but what can I do? With my apartment gone, there’s no other option.

As I lay spread-eagled on the floor and laughed weakly, Jaehyuk stared at me intently.

“Do you dislike staying at your family home that much?”

“It’s a bit awkward. It’s complicated to explain in words, but it’s a feeling of not being fully recognized as family yet.”

“Hmm…”

Knock. Knock. Knock.

He tapped the table as if pondering something.

Wondering what he was thinking about, I turned my gaze toward him, and after a moment, Jaehyuk opened his mouth.

“Just one semester, right?”

“…What?”

“The apartment problem, you just need a solution for this semester?”

Crossing his arms, he extended a sturdy rope to me, who had a bewildered expression.

“This is a two-room apartment, you know? If I clear out one room somehow, there would be a spare room.”

An unexpected cohabitation proposal.

Looking at his flushed face, I thought:

This bastard.

He’s drunk right now.