NOVEL NEXT Chapter 31
“And you, the short-lived race known as Kim Shinwoo.”
The female elf from earlier suddenly turned her gaze toward me.
The pressure was still there, but her gaze was not as icy as when she looked at Lucian.
“What’s up with me?”
“You’ve done something interesting.”
“Looks like you have a tricky decision to make?”
The female elf laughed lightly at my words.
I continued with a smile.
“I’m good with women too.”
“Heh. I hope I get a chance.”
The female elf then started walking towards the front door.
As she moved slowly, she spoke to me.
“The elf society is paying attention to you.”
“Are you going to assassinate me? I literally tore that ear goblin apart fair and square, what’s with this?”
“…You should be careful with that term. Anyway, that’s not it.”
Before I knew it, the elf had reached the front door of the classroom.
Before leaving, she said with a faint smile,
“Rather, something fun will happen to you soon.”
“Usually, that sort of thing isn’t very fun for the person involved, you know.”
“Well, for now, enjoy this moment peacefully. Farewell.”
With that, the female elf left the classroom.
Then she came back in, gave a brief nod to us, and dragged a dazed Lucian out.
You clean up the trash well.
You’re polite.
Suddenly, Jeong Ahyeon, who was just regaining her senses, hurriedly asked me,
“Master Shinwoo! You surely aren’t an ability user, right? What’s going on?!”
“I don’t know either. Seriously, what’s happening?”
“Shinwoo, what will you do if you really get expelled?”
Hyeji asked anxiously, her expression full of concern.
I scratched my head at her words.
“I guess I’ll just do some delivery or something.”
“Hmm, hmm. Just let me know if you have nowhere to go.”
“Oh, are you trying to help me out?”
Hyeji looked oddly confident.
I was curious what her backing was.
“My dad works at Samsung, so I can easily take care of someone like you.”
“Hey, don’t you have to pass the interview after the open recruitment?”
“Open recruitment?… I don’t understand what you mean.”
“What are you talking about? Samsung, right?”
It was a slightly misaligned conversation.
Eventually, as the conversation didn’t progress, Hyeji hurriedly wrapped it up.
“Yeah, it’s Samsung. Anyway, just tell me if you have nowhere to go. I’ll take care of you.”
“Thanks for worrying about me, anyway.”
I patted Hyeji’s shoulder a couple of times in gratitude.
Just then, Professor Pilyong snapped back to reality and started the class.
At that moment, Hyeji leaned closer and quietly asked me,
“Shinwoo, did you really awaken your ability?”
“You didn’t believe anything I said yesterday?”
“No, the atmosphere was like that, so I didn’t think it was real.”
Hyeji looked embarrassed.
I felt a bit strange since I had worked up the courage to say it, but she was trustworthy after all.
“The only person I trust here is you.”
“Yeah!! Just trust me without worry!!”
Hyeji grinned at me as she moved away.
Then a voice in my head spoke up.
What will you do if you really get expelled? Do you have anyone else to ask for help?
Ah, I have one person…
Immediately after the first class ended, I contacted the only trustworthy person I had left.
That person was none other than…
Hey, old man, I’m in deep trouble.
Bro, what happened?
Ryu Kang-hyuk.
I knew my parents would ignore any messages I sent.
Since I had such a narrow social circle, I had only one person left.
It’s a long explanation, but basically, I got an ability.
Not some pseudo-ability, but a real one?
Exactly. I told you the results of the scanner before, right?
Right.
Well, this time it said ‘Ability cannot be identified,’ which can be treated as having a hidden ability?
Ryu Kang-hyuk took a moment before replying.
So, are you going to get expelled?
They’re holding a meeting internally, and if it doesn’t end well, it’s expulsion.
Wait. I’ll sort it out for you.
Ugh, thank you, sensei.
I felt relieved.
Honestly, I didn’t know how he would help, but at least I felt a bit calmer.
Just as I was about to turn off my phone, I received a hurried message from him.
But first, can you do me a favor?
What is it?
Ryu took a moment before sending another message.
It seemed he was contemplating something.
Suddenly, I got a response.
Please ask Yerim to get me some bunny costumes.
What colors?
…Can you get me a variety?
Seeing that, I immediately contacted Yerim.
Sis. Sis. Sis.
What’s up?
Quickly send me your home address. It’s urgent.
Why?? Just wait a moment.
I found a reverse bunny costume on an online cosplay site.
Just when I was hesitating, I got the address from Yerim.
Without a second thought, I bought one of each type and sent it to her place.
Sis, how long did you wear that Kyaru costume last time?
…Don’t tell anyone. Three days straight.
If you wear what I just sent, you might need to take at least a week off.
Fck, I’m going to mess them up now.*
I had finished my task with Yerim.
Then I contacted Ryu again.
She’s going to take at least a week off.
Thank you so much, fck, seriously, thank you so much.*
Old man, you might end up having a kid. At least think of a name.
If it’s a girl, I was thinking of naming her after the season she’s born in: spring, summer, autumn, or winter.
Just then, a sudden thought hit me.
I quickly texted Ryu.
But don’t name her Autumn.
Okay.
That name just didn’t sit well with me.
It sounded like something terrible was going to happen.
*
For now, I planned to head to Professor Pilyong’s research building after all the classes were over.
Since the professor’s meeting was scheduled for the evening, I thought I could swing by the research building and catch a glimpse of the professor’s meeting.
Currently…
Hyeji and I were eating in the cafeteria.
Then suddenly, I noticed Jeong Ahyeon being cornered by a female student.
“I can’t help you!”
“Oh, please just once! We have classes together!”
Jeong Ahyeon looked extremely troubled.
In contrast, the female student holding her seemed desperate, clutching a book in her hand.
Why don’t you just call her?
Ugh, sounds annoying.
But following the voice in my head, I called out to Ahyeon.
This caught the attention of both of them.
Seeing me, Jeong Ahyeon’s face turned pale.
On the other hand, the female student’s face lit up as she let go of Jeong Ahyeon and rushed toward me.
Jeong Ahyeon tried to shout something but the female student was faster.
“Hello! I’m Choi Da-eun! You’re Kim Shinwoo, right?”
“Yeah, that’s me. What’s going on?”
“I really wanted to meet you, Kim Shinwoo!”
“Are you a fan of mine?”
“Yes! I’ve been a fan since I first saw you!!!”
I felt oddly moved.
She has been a fan since the first time she saw me, huh?
Was this what it was like to have a fan cheering for you from your underdog days?
“Thank you so much for being a fan!”
“Of course. Can I ask you one favor?”
“Sure, go ahead.”
“I’m writing an article featuring you. The thing is, this time—”
I felt a strange vibe.
I hurriedly interrupted her.
“Wait a minute, can you repeat that?”
“Huh? Well, this time—”
“No, not that part. The part before that.”
“I’m writing an article about you, Kim Shinwoo. This part?”
Something felt off.
An unknown unease began to stir within me.
“Did you write the school newspaper article?”
“Yes! That’s right! I wrote every single one from the start!”
I contemplated ending her life on the spot, but I held back.
I needed to conduct one last verification.
“Did you write ‘The God of Ada’ too?”
“Yes! It was the hottest piece I’ve ever written. It’s still in the top 10 for overall views!”
…Found you.
“Huh?”
The verification was complete.
It was you, you piece of sh*t.
“First off, let’s have a chat.”
“Why are you trying to hit me!?”
“You little sh*tty reporter!!! You’ve caused me so much pain!!!!!”
At my yell, Hyeji looked alarmed and scolded me.
“Shinwoo! Why are you so suddenly angry?”
“This girl is the one who’s been writing articles about me!”
Hyeji’s expression changed immediately.
She turned her gaze to Choi Da-eun, looking ready to interrogate.
“Did you write anything about me, besides Shinwoo?”
“Yes! I got confused about whether you’re male or female and wrote one article.”
…Found you.
Hyeji and I looked at each other and silently grabbed our spoons, as if we had a prior agreement.
Then we both hit Choi Da-eun with our spoons at the same time.
“The God of Ada? Are you actually insane?”
“I’m a girl! I’m a girl! I’m a girl!!!!”
“AAAH!!! I’m sorry!! Stop hitting me!!”
“And this is why I warned you.”
The violence didn’t stop until we had beaten her for quite a while.
Tears were welling in Choi Da-eun’s eyes as she ruffled her hair.
Hyeji and I growled at her.
“If you write another sh*tty article, you’re dead, understand?”
“Remember. I’m a girl. Just because I have no breasts doesn’t mean I’m a guy, you sh*t.”
“Sniff… Okay, I understand.”
Anyway, we beat her to a reasonable extent.
Feeling satisfied, I returned to asking her the reason she sought me out initially.
“But what was the favor you wanted to ask?”
Immediately, the tears that were on the verge of spilling from Choi Da-eun’s eyes vanished.
Without hesitation, she handed me a book.
“What’s this?”
“I’m a reporter for the school newspaper but also an author!”
“So this is your book?”
“Yes, I tried writing a female-oriented romance this time!”
Female-oriented romance.
Not exactly my preferred genre.
But why was she handing this to me?
“Really? But why this?”
“Could you sign it for me?”
“Sign it? I could, but what’s the connection?”
I wondered.
Why ask for my autograph on a story that isn’t even female-oriented romance?
“Actually, the protagonist in this book is based on you!”
“Really? I’m the protagonist? I’ll read it then.”
“Master!!! Stop there!!!! Don’t cross that river!!!!!”
Despite Jeong Ahyeon’s shout, my hands were already flipping through the book.
My eyes locked onto the text as it began to imprint itself in my brain.
I was breathing heavily, my legs trembling as if I was a newborn fawn.
Turning my head, I glared at the culprit who had been scratching their ears and pretending to be indifferent.
As I approached him, I whispered softly, ‘Now it’s my turn.’
The content was odd.
And also unsettling.
Just as I was about to check the title for confirmation, it felt like an urgent warning was being blared in my head.
Don’t ever check.
But curiosity might just kill the cat, as they say.
Ignoring that warning, I finally checked the title.
[Reciprocal Relations Between Long-lived and Short-lived Races]
I prayed hard that it wasn’t true.
I hoped I had seen it wrong.
No, even if I saw it correctly, I hoped that I didn’t understand it correctly.
“…Just asking, but.”
“Yes! Go ahead.”
“The long-lived prototype is that ear goblin I fought, right?”
“You caught on quickly! Yes, that’s right!”
My hand started to tremble with tension.
I had to confirm her guilt with one final question.
“…What’s the genre? And what’s the age restriction?”
“It’s female-oriented! The level is moderate, but it’s still 19+. And it’s a BL genre!… Oh.”
“Didn’t you say it’s a female-oriented romance?”
Guilty.
This bitch is guilty.
By then, one spoon was firmly in my grasp.
“…Move your hands away from my head. You’re going to break my bones.”
“Just a second! This just happened unexpectedly! AAH!!!!!”
Smack!
With renewed vigor, I began to pound Choi Da-eun’s head again.
I mechanically kept repeating that action while asking Hyeji for help.
“Hyeji, burn that book.”
“What? Let me see it first.”
“I won’t be responsible if you get hurt.”
As I struck Choi Da-eun’s head with a spoon, Hyeji began reading the forbidden book.
Without hesitation, she started displaying her abilities and ignited the book into flames.
“No! My first edition!!!!”
“You deserve to be beaten more, you sh*tty brat.”
“Shinwoo, I’m going to join in now.”
“…I told you not to do that.”
Of course, since Hyeji used her abilities in the cafeteria, a few faculty members came to investigate.
The charges being unlawful use of abilities and arson.
However, when the additional forbidden book that Choi Da-eun was hiding in her possession was presented, the teachers had understanding expressions, patting my shoulder and walking off.
There was no need for further conversation.
If I had the strength, I would have liked to land another hit.
“Please let me go!!! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!!!”
The hollow echo of Choi Da-eun’s screams mixed with the rhythmic sound of the spoon hitting.
Students nearby hurriedly fled their seats.
They surely didn’t want to get caught up in the crazy duo’s shenanigans.