Chapter 100: Slice of Life
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 100: Slice of Life
Final exams were over.
It might seem sudden, but they were. My application for the dormitory was accepted, and I got the job at Gold One.
I’d moved out of my studio apartment, and all that was left was to work hard and make money during winter break.
“What are you doing?”
“Imagining.”
Seo Ye-rin, sitting next to me in the lecture hall, tilted her head, wondering what on earth I was talking about.
Maybe it was because she was pretty, but every little thing she did was cute—which, from my perspective, I didn't particularly like.
“Just... imagining life after exams. Getting into the dorms. Things like that.”
“...But we haven't even taken a single exam yet?”
“That’s why I said I’m imagining it.”
It was just a daydream born from a desperate desire to finish exams and be a free man.
Sighing, I buried my face in the desk and rolled my head back and forth in a meaningless struggle.
Lee Eun-woo had told me that grades were the most important factor for getting into the dorms, so I needed to pay attention.
My grades for the first semester weren't too bad, but I hadn't done great on the second semester midterms.
To secure my GPA during finals, I’d claimed an empty lecture hall to study with Seo Ye-rin, since we shared a few classes.
“Yawn. How many hours has it been?”
I was about to suggest grabbing a coffee to clear my head, but...
She’s already clearing hers.
Seo Ye-rin had already put down her pen and was tapping away on her phone. I thought she might be playing a mobile game as usual, but her expression suggested otherwise.
“...”
She was typing furiously, as if she were in the middle of an argument. Soon, she huffed in frustration and slumped onto the desk.
“What’s wrong?”
It was my first time seeing her get angry like that, so I asked out of curiosity. She bolted upright as if she’d been waiting for me to ask.
“Look at this!”
She thrust her phone toward me.
On the screen was the familiar Bamboo Forest board.
For some reason, the conversation today was centered around the "Sex Master."
“Sigh.”
It looked like it might escalate into an IRL fight, so I opened the Bamboo Forest on my own phone and gave Anonymous 11 a one-day temporary ban.
While I was at it, I noticed a few inquiries had come in.
“I told you to look at this!”
“Ah, right.”
That’s right.
Seo Ye-rin had asked me to look at something.
“What? What’s the big deal?”
“They’re saying 90 is the Sex Master, not me!”
“...Congratulations.”
Isn't it a good thing to be cleared of a bad reputation? But apparently, Seo Ye-rin didn't see it that way.
“Congratulations? Congratulations?! Are you kidding me?! I am the Sex Master!”
She slammed her phone down, grabbed me by the collar, and started shaking me back and forth.
“Do you know how hard I worked for that?! I posted every single day! I even carefully posted and deleted things just to avoid the ban rules! I maintained that concept on purpose!”
“...You’re saying that to my face without a hint of shame?”
Is she telling me she wants to be banned by me, the Administrator?
Telling me she’s been using her brain to dodge my surveillance... it was practically a declaration of war.
I told her how absurd she was being, but Seo Ye-rin, who had already lost it, wasn't listening.
“W-What should I do? Is there a way?”
“What way? Just live your life. It’s not like being the Bamboo Forest Sex Master is some honorable title.”
“No! I’m going to be the Sex Master! It’s me!”
Then, as if a brilliant idea had struck her, she pulled my collar tight.
“W-Woo-jin! Ban Anonymous 90! He’s spamming! Being a Sex Parrot is a bad thing!”
“You realize you’re spitting in your own face, right?”
“Waaaaah! I’m the Sex Master! Anonymous 69 is a Bamboo Forest legend!”
“At this point, I should probably give you a permanent ban. You’re addicted.”
I’d often thought she was crazy, but I didn't know a person could be this crazy. Since the atmosphere for studying was ruined, I decided to clear out the inquiries.
Anonymous 111 was Popo.
There were rumors going around because she hadn't streamed lately, so it seemed an obsessed fan was trying to dig through her post history.
It does feel a bit unsettling.
Recalling how Popo had come looking for me in a panic during the festival made the back of my neck itch, but I let it go.
It was easier to assume she was doing fine on her own.
The very next inquiry was from someone I knew.
“Ah.”
Speak of the devil.
When I let out a small exclamation at the familiar name, the suffering Seo Ye-rin peeked over and looked at my phone screen.
“...”
An inquiry sent to me that was strikingly similar to a certain someone.
I cautiously looked to my side. Seo Ye-rin’s face was flushed red, her fists were clenched, and she was trembling violently.
“Y-You...! Youuuu!”
Suddenly, she started pummeling me.
“You! You thief! This is NTR! This is NTR! How dare you! How dare you copy me!”
“Hey! Hey! Calm down! Ow! You hit hard!”
“Don't go! Woo-jinaaaa! You can't go to her! I-I’ll do everything for you! I’ll do whatever you want! So don't gooooo!”
“No! Stop! People outside will hear! Calm down!”
“Waaaaaaaah!”
“H-Hey! Don't take your clothes off!”
* * *
It took a while to calm the hysterical Seo Ye-rin. I managed to end it by promising to let her meet Anonymous 90 later, though honestly, I wasn't sure if I’d keep that promise.
It was an anonymous community, after all; was there really a need to meet?
Besides, it felt like it would be a massive headache if those two actually met...
Since I couldn't study with Seo Ye-rin, I headed to the library alone. She had gone off in a huff after I gave her a one-day ban for spamming the Bamboo Forest with "sex."
With finals approaching, the library was almost full, but I managed to find a seat and settle in to study quietly.
It would be nice if I could get a national scholarship.
It was a shame that my family's income made it difficult to qualify, but there was nothing I could do about that.
.
.
.
Ugh.
I stretched my hunched back and checked the time; four hours had already passed.
Maybe it was because I hadn't studied in a while, but doing it after a long break felt like I’d used up all my stored-up concentration.
It was only four hours, but since I tend to study efficiently, I felt much more confident about the exams than before.
Not bad.
Looking around, the library had emptied out significantly. Outside the window, it was already dark, and the streetlights were on.
Time to go home.
As I stepped out of the library, the chilly air cooled my head, which had grown hot from studying.
I felt a sense of pride as a student that I hadn't felt in a long time.
Come to think of it, I felt like I’d been living a bit of a debauched life lately. This is what being a student is supposed to be like.
I should pick up some ramyeon on the way.
If I had to label it, it was peace. To put it a bit more cliché, it was daily life.
I bought two packs of ramyeon and headed home. I didn't meet anyone, and no one called.
I was humming along to the music in my earphones when...
A phone call broke the mood.
Wondering who it was, I checked my phone and saw a name I hadn't seen in quite a while.
— Second Hyung -
“Heh.”
Seeing that, I immediately disconnected my earphones and answered with a smile.
“Wow, look who it is. Isn't this the second brother who abandoned his sibling to live the high life on his own?”
— Hey, watch your mouth. You’re the one who abandoned us.
Kim Un’s warm voice made me chuckle. Out of everyone, my second brother was the easiest to talk to.
“What’s the occasion? Did you miss your little brother’s voice?”
When I asked, he laughed awkwardly and hesitated. It felt like he had something to ask but was gauging my reaction.
— Are you... seeing a girl lately?
The question was so unexpected that I hesitated involuntarily.
“...No? Why so sudden?”
— You’re not lying to your brother, are you?
“I might lie to Big Hyung, but I wouldn't lie to you. I’m not seeing anyone right now.”
— Right now?
Look at this guy.
“Stop acting. I know Big Hyung knew I had a girlfriend in the spring. There’s no way you didn't know.”
— ...This punk is all grown up, dating girls and everything.
“Just worry about yourself and your girlfriend.”
— ...Don't you ever get married.
“Why?”
— If I tell you not to, just don't do it, you brat.
“But you aren't even married yet, Hyung.”
— Because the car in front of me won't move.
“Big Hyung isn't going to marry a woman. He’s already married to his work.”
— Sigh.
A complicated sigh followed, as if he agreed. Eventually, Kim Un brushed the topic aside.
— Anyway, I just called because I was curious how you were doing. I heard you said you aren't coming home this winter either?
“What’s the point? I have a part-time job.”
— A job? Where?
“You don't need to know.”
— ...At this rate, I won't even see you before you head off to the military.
“You didn't even go.”
— I was overweight; I couldn't even do a prone shot. You have to go.
“I know.”
It’s not like I can get out of it, so of course I have to go. For the record, Big Hyung went too.
— Well, fine. I just called to check in. I’ll call you again later.
“Yeah, take care, Hyung.”
— Do you need pocket money?
“No, I’m good.”
I’d decided to handle my own affairs.
I didn't want to rely on my second brother here.
— Alright, keep up the hard work.
Perhaps finding that admirable, Kim Un hung up with a gentle tone.
“Phew.”
I’d reached home while talking.
A strange sensation lingered, like a small lump in my chest.
But I ignored it and just boiled my ramyeon.
* * *
Click.
Kim Un wiped the sweat from his forehead and smiled brightly after hanging up with his youngest brother.
He could now deliver the good news to the red-haired woman sitting across from him.
“See? I told you he isn't seeing anyone.”
Kim Un spoke, his chubby cheeks wobbling, as Oh Yun-ji sat with her legs crossed.
Despite his words, her expression remained dark and full of worry.
“I’m telling you, three women came out of his house! Three! And they were all beauties!”
“Oh, come on. They were probably just friends.”
“Just female friends staying over at his place? Three of them?! One of them was even my high school friend!”
Lucky bastard.
Kim Un, who was whipped by his older girlfriend, inwardly envied his youngest brother, Kim Woo-jin, but he spoke firmly.
“Even so, my brother has some principles. He’s been a tough nut since he was a kid.”
“...”
“You might not know this, but Father once told me he wanted to hand the business to Woo-jin, not Big Hyung. That’s how much grit the kid had.”
“Wouldn't it be different when it comes to women?”
“It won't be that different. You dated him, so you know. He’s got a strong core.”
I also know he’s surprisingly weak to a woman’s seduction.
Oh Yun-ji wanted to add that, but she held her tongue and pressed her fingers against her eyes.
Sensing an opportunity, Kim Un reached for the documents on the table.
“Let’s talk business first. That way, we can go see Woo-jin sooner, right?”
“Sigh. Fine. Who’s next?”
“The name is... Popo? That’s a strange nickname.”
It wasn't so much strange as it was...
“Tacky.”
Clicking her tongue, Oh Yun-ji began to scan the profile of the tasteless personal broadcaster.