44. I No Longer Wanted to Be with These Crazy College ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Students.

"See, it's Jinhyung. You came to rescue me."

"Nah. I got caught too."

The library was packed with spirits who'd been dragged in. I had no idea our university had this many people.

The open-plan library spanning three floors is our university's pride and joy, but right now it's overflowing with these zombies.

Jinhyung, who'd come to study because he wanted to play but had no one to play with during exam season, sat down and asked me,

"I'm dying. Inmok. How far'd you get in AI Ethics?"

"I haven't even touched it."

"Educational Philosophy?"

"What's that?"

"Yeah, you're not right in the head. Sorry. Bad question."

Jinhyung and Do-jin both sat there with utterly wrecked faces.

It wasn't just us—our department and students from other majors all had miserable expressions plastered on.

Seeing the freshmen huddled far away, tearing their hair out, was at least a small comfort.

The only one with a perfectly serene face was Ina.

—Hey, aren't you studying?

At Hana's question, Ina replied,

—I'm getting married? Gonna be a housewife. Gotta take care of my oppa.

—Ah~. Maybe I should get pregnant too.

As the conversation showed, Ina felt a bit less burdened by studying.

That said, she wasn't skipping it entirely—she'd punch in and out like it was a commute.

Realistically, pulling all-nighters while pregnant wasn't feasible, and lately her morning sickness had gotten worse, plus she was more fatigued, so she couldn't sit for long stretches anyway.

"Character Education Theory....... Ha, haha. Feels like it's gonna shatter my character first."

I agreed with Jinhyung. Second year meant way more to study than first year.

"Who the hell made Educational Technology? I wanna punch 'em."

"Go find Hyun-hak."

Lee Hyun-hak. The professor lecturing on Understanding Educational Technology.

Since it's open to all years 1 through 4, there's naturally a ton to do. And it's complicated.

"Im Geo-cheol's got the lightest load, at least."

Im Geo-cheol. Our eternal professor. His classes and assignments are brutal, but his exams are on the easier side.

Im Geo-cheol, treated like a saint for summer-only like Willis Carrier, but a saint for exams.

Modern people have three essential nutrients.

Caffeine - Nicotine - Alcohol.

College students especially need a balanced intake of those three.

But during exam period, alcohol gets cut out, leading to nutritional imbalance and kids going nuts one by one.

I don't smoke, so I go even crazier.

Part-time job, 'Sex Education,' classes—my daily schedule was packed tight.

"Inmok."

Hana called out to me mid-study, her face exhausted.

"What."

"Let's play."

You know 'play' doesn't mean play innocently.

Ever since that day, she nags me to play at every chance, but I haven't said yes once.

"No can do. Gotta finish up to here today."

"Awuuu~. I don't wannaaa~."

I glanced at Do-jin.

"Do-jin, aren't you managing your girlfriend? She's losing it."

"If she wants to play.... Playing a bit wouldn't be bad."

"......"

Do-jin looks fine at a glance, but his eyes are crazy. Look at those pure, clear eyes.

Ever since seeing that video, Do-jin keeps subtly asking.

—Not playing with Hana today?

—I'm working late tonight, so Hana's alone. Play with her.

Yeah, no way in hell.

"No, man."

Of course, it's not because I hate doing it with Hana. My balls, wrung dry and empty from that day, are full up with fresh stock.

Reason for refusing? Gotta ace my grades this year.

—Son. Love's great and all, but you need a stable job, right? For that, good scores in school first, yeah? Get ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠those grades.

I nodded at Dad's question. But he didn't trust me, adding,

—If it's not a score I'd approve of, your allowance goes straight to Ina.

—Huh? What about me?

—Not my problem. Every time Ina sees something tasty or pretty, she says it reminds her of us and brings it over to the house.

Huh? When?

Turns out, while I was at my part-time or meeting Suyeon, Ina would drop by our house sometimes.

First I heard of it? She makes a bunch of side dishes or grabs stuff from good shops and just shows up.

I had no clue?

—She's got such a deep affection. Son, she's too good for you. So prove it. With grades.

Damn!

When your affinity with a heroine maxes out, you get effects like this!

Especially Ina's <Contract Series>—it's a build where I enter her family, but it goes both ways.

Ina enters our family too. To avoid bad endings, she looks after my family in her own way to boost affinity.

Good thing. Grateful. Happy.

—Gotta get a job to buy tasty stuff for your kid, right? Work hard. Grind through it. Son.

Damn!

Can't be a deadbeat seed-dumping dad. What do I even have to inherit the throne with?

So, study till dark circles form.

"Midterms over. Then we'll play. If I bomb grades, my allowance goes to Ina."

"......Bummer."

Seeing Hana most disappointed, seems she just wants to play.

This busy, but gotta do what I gotta.

That's 5-star.

You think I don't know exploits?

How many tries to perfect the Guidebook? Hundreds optimizing every detail.

Stop at 4-star? Could just play the video and enjoy.

But! Then! Wouldn't the reason for memory wipe at 3-star fade?

Right after checking out of the hotel morning, got home and inputted 5-star.

<#Hashtag Story Registration>

<#Story>

<#Lee Hana ★★★★★>

<#Eternal Love> - <#Only Friend> - <#Unique Taste> - <#Fun Study> - <#Joy and Satisfaction>

<#Rapid Adaptability>

5-star's name, as you see, <#Joy and Satisfaction>.

Being 5-star, it's extra malicious. Spot it?

5-star, (Problem)

'When he saw.' That's the malice.

Overwrites 3-star Do-jin's <#Unique Taste> restriction. Only gets hard seeing me fuck her!

Whether live or video—only when he sees me and Ina, or never.

But kind me didn't stop there. I'm human too—getting cucked hurts.

5-star, (Solution)

See!

I want my friend Do-jin's life full of joy and satisfaction. For real.

He'll cum only by toys forever, but he's happy! Satisfied! I did it all! Good enough.

Plus 3-star, (Solution)

Short, simple, effective fix.

When Do-jin's happy, Hana's happy too—at the peak level from their memory.

Gave them eternal love and ultimate joy—how thoughtful and kind am I?

Nobel Peace Prize? Mine by rights.

Not just one malice. There's a darker one.

5-star, (Method)

See 'better'?

Thus, 5-star complete.

Hana thinks,

—Toys are better than me.

Believes it blindly, no dissonance at 5-star.

Do-jin subconsciously,

—Toys better than Hana.

Downplays his girlfriend unconsciously.

Never fucked memory-Hana, but he'll believe it. No self-correction. Still love each other most, no doubts.

Why's 1-star 1-star? Foundation for 5-star skyscraper.

Proud as a friend.

Passive too,

<#Rapid Adaptability>

First one gets 'quickly.' Learns new fast.

Daily life help, big for me. Learns anything quick, plus 'fun' buff.

Passive tiers based on 'player' perspective.

<#Charm Emission> amazing? But players with heroine harems and customs? Low tier.

<#Excellent Dexterity> top-tier ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠by that rule.

Hashtag's hyper-real AI game. <#Excellent Dexterity> shines in handjob videos.

Virgin shows pro handjob—players won't skimp 0-tier?

<#Tetris>

<Prepare!>

<10~!>

...

...

...

<1~!>

<Start~!>

Midterms delayed 100% Alteration Rate longer than usual, no management after.

Still, mind at ease.

With 5-star Alteration complete, Hana's bare skin never touches Do-jin's dick lifetime.

And long-awaited exam day arrived.

Midterms check one-and-a-half months post-Start of Semester lectures.

One-and-a-half? High school different.

Major classes alone several, plus required liberal arts. Campus activities, volunteering too—ignored in high school.

"Open-book, so relax, relax."

Prof for Intelligent Information Society and AI Ethics smiles—open-book still hard.

Subjective essays. Undergrads no theses expected. But vague, brutal criteria.

—Undergrads can handle this level, right?

Professors' common delusion.

College brains? Few geniuses aside, baby-level.

"Uh-buh-buh."

"Eurghh-."

"E-be-be-bep."

Drooling idiots scanning books—where's the college in that?

Me too.

Answer here...?

Did I even learn this...?

Did I time-machine to future alone? What?

Scratch-scratch-

Huh. Why everyone finding answers writing? Just me clueless?

Found it. Aah~. This it.

Problem passage found, foggy brain clears.

First exam barely done, second hits.

"Alright~. Everyone study well?"

Geocheol.

Educational Philosophy exam. Relief—easy test.

"This one's closed-book. You got the notice, right, fellow students? How'd spring campus dream-finding go? Let's start. TA?"

"Yup."

TA hands out papers.

<Explain main views of Plato, Rousseau, Comenius's educational philosophies respectively.>

<Discuss necessity of educational philosophy through critical reflection.>

<Compare and discuss classical and modern educational philosophies.>

Three pages total.

Said easy. Was easy freshman year!

Why! Why why!

"Grrooo."

"I'm dying-."

Groans everywhere. Han River bridge meetup soon?

Second done, day over.

"Tomorrow. Answer's tomorrow."

"Study? Just do it. Do well."

"Aah. Mother, forgive this unworthy child."

Crazies scattered everywhere.

"Sunbae-nim! Did good?"

"Huh? Uh. Yeah. Probably?"

"Hehet. I legit couldn't get it even looking."

Today 1-2 years together; Ina's face super bright unlike mine.

"Ah~. Was fun. Heehee. Hungry, let's eat~."

"Uh. Y-yeah, did good?"

"Hmm. I bombed?"

Oof. Yeah. Acceptance frees.

Mortals like me live for exam highs/lows.

Then Jinhyung shuffles up, aged decades. Behind, Do-jin and Hana death-masked.

Their wrecked faces refresh me.

"Geocheol betrayed me......"

Jinhyung Gestalt-collapsed, trembling.

"Tomorrow worse."

Oh right.

"Educational Statistics."

Thud-! Heart drops.

Educational Statistics: Intro to education data analysis. 'Intro'—first steps.

Basics, sampling, correlation, regression, ANOVA on data.

How's this 'intro'?

Made to smash lit major babies like me.

Stats majors pity us, but baby lit hates numbers—seizure on sight.

Easier Joseon kings analysis paper. If assigned, headache too.

"Graphs.... gotta make?"

"......Yeah."

"Regression formula alone KOs me."

"Controlled variables calc actually KO'd me."

As Jinhyung-Hana chat shows, most hated in department.

Unless alien brain-modded kids, no one wants.

"Hehet."

Only one. Ina grabs my hand, beaming innocent.

"Why you so fresh?"

Hana snaps at Ina, irritation thick.

"Me? Slept 9 hours solid yesterday?"

"That's why—how'd you sleep solid? Aren't you college? Heretic! Burn the witch!"

Blood-sis hate plus college madness brewing.

"Rather..., rather. Interpret Neo-Confucianism...."

Everyone freaks at Hana.

"History kids' ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wails reach here—we do that?"

"Better death."

Ed college, history basics. Run into History majors sometimes; they got that.

East Asian politics class assignment:

<Choose Noron or Soron, explain Zhu Xi's Neo-Confucianism.>

Real. Crazy History fucks don't keyboard—real brawl. Prof not mildly crazy—passionate for grades.

"Passion might shatter prof's head on inkstone?"

"Here here."

Dunno. I no longer wanted to be with these crazy college students.

Or normal me goes mad too.

"Hey, Inmok's drooling."

"Overclocked brain burnout."

"Yeah, due for crash."