Chapter 12
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 12: Sperm Donation Center (1)
I am currently sitting in front of the computer. On the monitor screen, the familiar blue vortex, Heroes: Arena of the Storm (a.k.a. Sh*tty Dead Game), is on. Since my Stem account is gone, all I can do is leave for the Rift or the Storm of the Vortex.
"...Phew."
Someone might ask. If you came to a Reverse World, shouldn't you go out and sightsee, maybe enjoy a harem?
But, I'm not going out. No, I don't want to go out. Smashing the head of that elementary schooler who insulted my parents used up all my energy, but the fundamental reason is different.
I'm tired.
That day, I felt it to the bone with just a short outing. Those sticky and blatant gazes sticking to me wherever I went. Is this what it feels like to be a monkey in a zoo? Or a rare species panda?
Unless you're a considerable attention seeker, it's hard to endure that burden with a normal mental state. I understood a hundred times why the men of this world, and Fake Jin-hyuk, became room-corner hikikomoris. Guys with weak mental strength would probably ride a bus once, get drained of energy, and lie sick at home.
I'm only enduring it because I came with my mental trained in a balanced (blood-splattering) world where the gender ratio is 1:1. If I grew up exposed to this excessive interest and potential threat from a young age... even I would have locked the door saying it's dangerous outside the blanket.
"Still, gotta loosen up the body."
Anyway, I've been secluded like this for a few days. Not that I'm just lazing around. Since I'm a guy thorough with self-management.
In the corner of my room, I'm grinding bodyweight exercises like push-ups, squats, and planks whenever I can. Just because men in this world are weak doesn't mean I can be like that too.
Muscle loss is unacceptable. If I seem to gain weight here, I should sign up for a gym. (Though I'm a bit reluctant since it's obvious I'll be eye-raped there.)
"......"
Anyway, so I am sitting in front of the computer right now. But I'm not playing games. Just the mouse cursor is hovering in empty air.
Then what am I doing?
Thinking.
About how to survive in this unfamiliar world from now on. And about how to walk into that giant 'Tiger's Den' approaching right under my nose on my own feet.
I pressed Alt+Tab to bring up the internet window. The Hoyeon University Admissions Office homepage was up on the screen.
"...I have to go."
Staring blankly at the tuition bill, I fell into deep thought.
Actually, there is zero financial problem. Doesn't matter if our family receives multi-child benefits or not. Just because I am a 'Male of Republic of Korea Nationality', I get a full scholarship from admission fee to tuition.
It's like the country is stepping up and pouring money saying, "Please come to university, Young Master."
The problem is housing.
Checking the map, the distance between the university and my house is quite far. 2 hours 30 minutes round trip by bus. Subway is similar.
If I want to commute... it's not impossible. But during those 2 hours 30 minutes, I have to handle hundreds of eyes pouring on me in the bus and subway. What if I get sandwiched in the hell-train during commute hours and get sexually harassed? Ugh, just imagining it is terrible.
'Since I'm going to college anyway, should I try living alone.'
Independence. Freedom. Escaping the family's overprotection and building my own fortress. Plus, if it's a studio near school, I can sleep in late.
'But how should I say this...'
It's obvious Mom and Ji-hye will faint. People who stop me from going to the convenience store, if I say I'm going to live alone, they'll grab my pant legs and hang on.
Come to think of it, bumping against my family for these few days, I felt that my family was adapting to my rough change faster than I thought.
Just last night.
Look at the reply speed. It's 5G class. For reference, 'Southern Barbarian Turned Nice' is the name I saved Seol Ji-hye as. In the original world she was a Barbarian I couldn't communicate with, but here she became nice.
I sent only the business, short and bold.
10 seconds later. Knock knock, Ji-hye entered with a knocking sound. Without a word of complaint, the punk pressed the switch to turn off my room light, said "Good night...", and quietly closed the door and left.
"......"
I smirked looking at the darkened ceiling.
'Turning off lights without lifting a finger. This works.'
. . .
Yes. For now, the family has adapted to me to some extent. At first they worried "Brother must be crazy", but now they entered the stage of accepting "Guess he's originally like that".
I told you. Time is medicine.
Now it's time to slowly bring up the main topic.
I should naturally launch the 'Living Alone Declaration' at today's dinner table.
"Before that, shall we do some warm-up."
I turned on the computer power. Tuition issues or scholarships aren't things I need to worry about anyway. Since the country takes care of it all. I should leave for the Storm of the Vortex during the remaining time.
I double-clicked the Vortex icon on the desktop.
Knock knock.
Just as I was about to queue up, a knocking sound was heard.
"...Brother, can I come in for a moment?"
It was Ji-hye. Glad it was before the game started.
"Come in."
Creaaak.
The door opened and Ji-hye entered. But her expression was quite strange. As if uncomfortable to say something, she was rolling her eyes here and there and fiddling with something in her hand.
"Why. Came to find something? You don't have stuff in my room."
"No... not that, um... a letter came."
"Letter for me?"
From the university? Acceptance notice or orientation guide? Doesn't everything come via text these days?
"What is it? Give it here."
I turned my chair and held out my hand. But Ji-hye hesitated and couldn't readily hand over the envelope.
"That is... um..."
"What is it, why are you stalling. Did a draft notice come or something?"
Of course, it's a joke. Since I'm not going to the army.
Ji-hye hesitated for a long time, then read the sender written on the envelope with a crawling voice.
"Um... Sperm Donation Center...?"
"......"
Instantly, silence flowed in the room.
"...What?"
Did I hear wrong? Sperm... what?
"What is that? From the name, it sounds severely f*cked up."
"Um... You know... As a male duty..."
Ji-hye blushed and avoided my gaze.
"Male duty?"
If it's a male duty, damn it, originally there's only military duty. Holding a gun, climbing mountains, shoveling snow, eating army food.
But Sperm Donation Center. What kind of dog grass eating sound is this...
"Ah."
Instantly, a lightning-like memory flashed through my brain.
A few days ago, the Namu Wiki document I searched as soon as I fell into this world. Under the [Male Support Fund] item, that phrase written very small and briefly.
"Ah, f*ck..."
I remembered. Instead of not going to the army, there was another 'duty' I had to shoulder.
I looked at the white envelope in Ji-hye's hand. It looked like a disaster more terrible and more embarrassing than an enlistment notice.
If they gave me a gun I could at least fight. This is... what do they want me to hold. My d*ck?
"...For now, leave."
"Huh? Uh, yeah... Um, I'll leave the letter there."
Ji-hye also turned into a ripe tomato perhaps from embarrassment and frantically left the room. The door closed, and silence returned.
I picked up the envelope with trembling hands. The serif logo [State Designated Male Health Management Center] written on the outside tightened my chest frustratingly.
'Before the Living Alone Declaration, an even more f*cked up hardship was waiting...'
I opened the envelope. Inside was a notice and reservation confirmation.
Date: February 11~17, 2020. 13:00~18:00
"What is this... what do I have to do."
My mind went blank. Thinking with the common sense of the original world, I just go into a small room, watch porn, into a cup... hmm, do that and it's over.
But this is the Reverse World. A place where common sense is flipped.
Surely... do I have to do a public masturbation? With researchers watching from behind a glass wall? Or do crazy doctors come in holding machines saying "Shall I help you?"?
"Huh..."
Just imagining it made me want to bite my tongue. That's not a medical act, it's a public execution. Social suicide.
I threw the notice onto the bed.
"F*ck."
Not going to the army is good. But my precious genes being treated like state property is a bit... very f*cked up.
But what can I do. They say I'll receive legal punishment if I refuse. Searching it up, the disadvantages are enormous.
"...I guess I just go there, jerk off refreshingly once and come back. Surely they won't eat me."
I tried to turn on the positive circuit and clutched my head.
Surely... hiding my face in front of a camera like some deep dark eromanga,
"O-Oh my... My name is Seol Jin-hyuk... age 19, height 180s... my precious length is..."
They wouldn't make me do this sht right... Seriously fck if so, I'll just bite my tongue and die.
Suddenly, Fake Jin-hyuk's search history came to mind. [How to die without pain].
"...Now I understand."
I feel like I understand to the bone why that guy wanted to die. To a hikikomori, this trial must have been no different from a death sentence.
Living alone or whatever. I feel like the next chapter of my life will open only after I resolve that embarrassing duty first.