Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: A Man Full of Gaps (2)
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In the end, I decided to follow Chae-yeon Sister's advice and attend the academy. I swapped my Sunday shift with her Friday one, and started going to the weekend classes.
The academy offered not just weekend sessions but evening ones too, but they didn't line up with my store hours at all, so I had no choice. On weekends, I crammed in four-hour intensive classes each on theory and practicals, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. For theory, I dragged Pomi into it and made her memorize everything.
—Eeng... Study suh-ring!
"Pomi, just once. Okay? I'll buy you that game you wanted last time."
—Uuuu! Th-that one... and one more!
It took promising her the latest games and a ton of snacks before I could coax her. Surprisingly, though, Pomi's memory was incredible.
I figured I'd have her memorize the basics and cheat off other people's exam papers for the gaps, but it looked like I wouldn't need to.
Her intelligence stat hadn't been that high when I'd checked it before, but maybe one of those [???] talents was related to memory?
So I left the theory mostly to Pomi and focused on practicals myself.
Theory was just 60 multiple-choice questions—you only needed 36 right. Practicals, though, got evaluated right in front of the proctor. At least when they told you to massage a certain spot, I couldn't just zone out.
It felt a little bad cramming while everyone else studied hard, but honestly, I was going to rely on my skills for the massage anyway. This whole course was pretty pointless for me.
Even the best masseuse in the world couldn't match my [Masseur] skill's effects.
Anyway, Pomi had been coming to classes with me these past few weeks, memorizing alongside, but today I'd sent her off with Yu-ra to check out the festival, so I had to study alone.
This week's lessons: anatomy and physiology, cosmetology, and limb care techniques.
I crammed it all into my head before finally leaving the academy building.
Once outside, I went somewhere discreet, activated Invisibility and Flight, and slowly flew toward Yeon University while reviewing.
"The skin layer that makes melanin is the basal layer, intracellular digestive organ is the lysosome, galvanic device uses iontophoresis and dis... disinc... what was it?"
Up in the sky, no collisions, no onlookers—perfect. When I got stuck, I pulled out my notes and kept flying. Before I knew it, I was at Yeon University.
Looking down from above, one side was packed with people in blue clothes.
'That's the outdoor theater, huh?'
"Woooah! Woooaaah!"
"Sah-hee! Sah-hee!"
The young crowd's cheers carried far, so it seemed the guest singer had already hit the stage.
Sure enough, as I got closer, I spotted the world star: plump figure, black sunglasses, hair slicked dramatically to the side.
'Ooh! Sah-hee! He even came to our school back then...'
Over ten years ago, my freshman year. The first and last college festival of my life—Sah-hee showed up.
He was popular back then, but not like now. People called him a "comic freak singer," and I'd thought the same.
But after seeing that festival performance, I was convinced: 'This guy's gonna make it big!'
Why? His set ended, but he didn't leave the stage.
Maybe figuring he was the finale anyway, he just kept partying—way past the planned songs, five, six, and more. Past midnight into dawn, even the jumping crowd downstairs got worn out.
—Ugh, I'm dying. Seriously. Isn't he leaving?
—It's a full-on solo concert.
To hype the vibe, he chugged soju from the bottle and sprayed it like a fountain toward the audience. The front-row kids screaming and dodging in panic—still crystal clear in my memory. And here he was, over ten years later, gripping the mic just the same.
"From now on, let's make memories, not records. Put all your phones away. Light up the seats as bright as you can. The fancy effects aren't what matters."
He scanned the Yeon University crowd from behind those black shades, then dropped one line.
"This is the real spectacle."
"Woooah—!"
"Kyaa!"
The hyped-up evening cheers filled the stage.
He grinned and said, "Music, please." Backup dancers rushed out from both sides as a thumping heartbeat beat kicked in.
"I'm forty-fiiive!"
The crowd erupted in a massive sing-along as soon as Sah-hee opened his mouth.
"Fiiiorty-fiiive!"
"Waaaah!"
The ear-piercing cheers snapped me out of my nostalgia. I shook it off and whispered to Pomi.
—Pomi, I'm here.
—...
—Pomi! I'm here!
No reply—too loud, probably.
'VIP standing, so front row, right?'
I landed at the tip of the T-shaped stage, designed for the singer to come out to the crowd, and started scanning for them.
They'd stand out since they're cute—or so I thought. It didn't take long from stage height to spot them.
Pomi was zombie-like, flailing her short arms and shaking her head toward the stage. Yu-ra was right behind, waving her hands back and forth, belting out the lyrics.
"Art over technique."
"All right!"
"Charm over skill!"
"All riiiight!"
Unlike her usual self, Yu-ra was flushed, drunk on the music and vibe—her face fresh and girlish.
'Yu-ra's a college kid too, huh.'
I watched them a bit, then perched on the stage edge right in front of them. Pomi didn't notice me inches away, too fixated on the singer.
I pulled my phone from Inventory and started recording. Just like Sah-hee's show was a memory for me ten years ago, today was for Pomi and Yu-ra too.
They sang along, bouncing in place, savoring the moment.
Even amid it, Yu-ra checked her phone now and then—for time or missed calls, waiting for me. My heart warmed. Pomi, ignoring my whispers? Zero thoughts.
Their scene captured on my tiny screen. Not just their memory—mine too.
Ten years from now, if we watched this together and reminisced, "We were like that back then," how happy would that be?
When the show wrapped, I dropped Invisibility amid the crowd near them and joined up.
"You should've come sooner! It was just getting good!"
"I was right in front of your nose!"
"Ung?"
Pomi tilted her head, clueless. Yu-ra laughed from behind her.
"You made it?"
"Nyaa."
I grabbed both their hands and enjoyed the rest of the stages.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After all the singers finished, I took them to "KkoGi Village." The meat was pretty good last time with friends.
"Hey, wait till it's cooked before eating."
"Nom nom. Nom nom."
"Pomi, what'd sis say? Flip your own stuff."
"Ung! Okay!"
Pomi nodded eagerly and started flipping the meat in front of her.
I let her chow down while Yu-ra and I clinked full soju glasses. Out eating, so soda for Pomi only.
"Cheers!"
"Cheeeers~!"
I downed mine; Yu-ra slammed hers like a pro—college power? She squeezed her eyes shut with a "Keuugh."
Couldn't help but say it.
"Good times."
"Huh?"
"Wish I was young again."
"Oppa, you're young."
"Hey, when I was in college, you were in elementary school."
"And you know that?"
Her shoe tip tapped my shin under the table.
"Ahem. But today was more fun than I thought."
"Changing the subject."
"TV's different, y'know? Seeing your school kids go nuts made it way more exciting."
Yu-ra shot me a sweet glare.
"Oppa was going crazy when Ank.T came out too."
Ank.T was the hot pure-image girl group closing the show.
Group name's from the members' initials in age order—ANKT sounded lame, so they tweaked it.
"Nah. I only had eyes for you."
"Liar."
"For real. Honestly, you're prettier than them."
Objectively? I don’t know. But my biased self thought she could hold her own—as the visual, not the singer.
Yu-ra, being a girl, seemed pleased with the girl-group compliment. She smirked, leaning in, chin-jutting like "go on."
"Plus, they were all busted open. That 15-year-old maknae? Not a virgin..."
Smack!
"Ow!"
"You checked that already?"
She smacked my arm but couldn't resist: "For real?"
"Totally. Kids start at 13 these days, but damn, that guy's lu— ahem."
I'm not a lolicon. Just jealous of guys who've done it at 13.
"Agencies manage 'em tight online now, but I was shocked."
Her experience count was over five. Started how young?
"And that one from the mosol scandal."
"Oh, Kwon Yu-ra? Same name as me, stuck in my head. The pure-looking one? What about her?"
"Man, how's she so shameless? Most experienced of the bunch."
Yu-ra's eyes went wide in surprise.
"No way?"
"Way. She's just turned adult. Meanwhile, Kim Yu-ra here's barely lost it this year—ow! Hey, that hurts. Real hurt."
"You like getting hit, huh."
"You're the one who likes hitting, perv Yu-ra."
"Again."
"Ow!"
She pinched my hand.
"Oh, but the sexiest one's still a virgin."
"The phone ad girl?"
"Yeah. Aisol or whatever. Real name Lee Sol. Jeong clan."
"Jeong I-sol?"
"Yup. Anyway, Yu-ra—this is just between us. No blabbing, or we'll get sued."
Come to think of it, [Status Reveal] level 2 lets you check via photos or videos indirectly. But blowing 9,000pt to virginity-test TV idols? Overkill.
Girl-group gossip as anju? Soju went down smooth.
Mid-feast, Pomi headed to the bathroom for a pee break. Yu-ra and I, facing each other, slid to the sides.
Buzzing nicely now, I glanced at nearby tables and fiddled with Yu-ra's hand.
Squish squish.
"Yu-ra."
"Oppa, not at the shop."
"Should I go invisible in the bathroom first?"
"Oppa."
"Fine... Just a peck?"
"Garlic breath."
Yu-ra's lips and garlic.
"Both my faves, so it's fine."
"No."
"Hold your breath. C'mon, Yu-ra. Just a little?"
"Ugh, fine."
She pouted cutely, lips out. I kept my tongue tucked as promised and pecked quick.
Mwah.
"Ahem."
"...Now scoot over. People are staring."
"Ahem. So what? Just kissing 'cause we like it."
Place was rowdy, college district—no big stares. Still, we played it cool, embarrassed.
Pink vibes blooming...
Then the trap card dropped.
"Huh? Uncle?"