Chapter 29
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 29: Freshman Welcome Party (2)
The President's dope male student crucifixion finally ended.
"Thank you!"
Along with the applause, the lights in the auditorium turned on.
I got up from the chair with my soul half gone.
Our 7 male students gathered in one place as if promised.
It was instinct.
Like platoon members isolated in the middle of enemy territory sticking together, we sought each other's body heat to survive.
Now we have to move to each department's OT location. Meaning, we have to leave this safe fence and scatter into that hungry pack of hyenas.
"Excuse me... contact info..."
The horn-rimmed glasses next to me held out a smartphone with trembling hands. The other crouching guys behind him sent desperate gazes too.
We exchanged phone numbers grimly, like recruits right before being deployed to the battlefield. Let's meet again alive, comrades.
In an instant, a group chat room with all 7 people was created.
"Please take care of me from now on..."
"Let's see each other alive..."
Grim greetings went back and forth. The Dyed Guy and Tight Pants Guy sitting in the front row were already giggling holding their phones as if they came to a hunting pocha (bar).
But.
Ding.
A new invitation message popped up on my phone.
"......?"
Checking the number of people, it's 5.
Only Dyed Guy No. 1 and Tight Pants Guy No. 2 who were dancing the chaos blues just now were excluded.
I slightly lifted my head and looked at the horn-rimmed glasses next to me. The guy was fiddling with his phone with the most innocent and aggrieved expression in the world.
'...This guy, he's something.'
Don't misunderstand. I didn't lead this. I stayed still. This is purely that horn-rimmed glasses' independent crime, and excellent crisis management ability.
This is not bullying, it's hazardous material isolation measure.
Could ordinary people like us mix with guys throwing winks and blowing kisses over there?
They are walking aggro generators. If we hang out together, we'll get hit by the stray bullets of interest pouring onto them.
Our goal is to quietly get the diploma and leave. The path is different.
I pressed 'Accept' without a shred of guilt.
Made eye contact. The horn-rimmed glasses pushed up his glasses and nodded grimly.
'Must live.'
'Right, must live.'
Minds connected. Let's be friends, friend.
"Now, we will move by college! Engineering College this way! Humanities College that way!"
Movement started under the control of assistants.
Moment of fear. Now this reliable group has to scatter. To the battlefield called each department.
I looked towards the Engineering College flag. Please let there be at least one man. If I go alone I really die.
"Excuse me... anyone going to Engineering?"
I asked quietly.
Looking around, everyone was splitting saying Business or Arts etc. Just when my spine was chilling.
"...Me."
Familiar voice.
Turning around, it was that friend.
The horn-rimmed glasses who just opened that 'Clean Room'.
"......!" "......!"
The moment we confirmed each other, we choked up like meeting an ally on the battlefield.
"Name?"
"Park Hyun-woo."
"I'm Seol Jin-hyuk. Let's go, Hyun-woo-ya."
"Yes, Hyung-nim... no, Jin-hyuk-ah."
We gripped each other's shoulders tight.
In this vast campus, amidst thousands of female students, the only comrade who fell into the same Engineering College.
I was certain.
That we are destined to become a Soul Duo.
"Let's go. To the battlefield."
You pull all the aggro for my share too.
. . .
...Want to kill the me from 5 minutes ago who shouted grimly like that.
Cancel. Shiii*t, cancel Soul Duo.
This crap isn't a duo.
I am the Main Tanker, and that bastard is a baggage hiding behind my back sucking honey (benefiting).
Gazes, cheers, and burdensome interest pouring throughout the move. All that aggro was landing solely on me.
Reason is simple. Because I'm tall. Because I'm big. Because I stand out.
"Wow, look over there. Really big."
"Look at the shoulders... Crazy."
"Can't see the kid next to him. Was there someone behind?"
Women's gazes were cruelly honest. Staring only at me sticking out a head above the crowd, and Park Hyun-woo, the horn-rimmed glasses of mediocre size sticking next to me, is out of sight (Out of An-jung).
'Mom...'
Glanced sideways.
This bad guy. Looks extremely comfortable.
Using my back as a shield, walking with head bowed low, expression is very cozy. As if entered the calm eye of the typhoon.
'Is that the reality of the ringleader who bullied kids by opening the Clean Room.'
A guy with amazing survival instinct. Using me as a meat shield.
After twists and turns, Department OT ended, and was dragged to the long-awaited drinking party.
Large Hof (Pub) in front of school. Rented the whole thing apparently.
Heat and alcohol smell emitted by hundreds of female students vibrated. And as if natural, we were seated at the head table, read as spectacle seat.
Park Hyun-woo was still sticking next to me like gum. The guy was extremely tense, only drinking water.
I tapped him.
"Hey."
"...Yes? No, why?"
"Do you drink well?"
This is most important. Have to keep sanity to survive here.
Hyun-woo shook his head vigorously.
"No. I'm Al-sseu (Alcohol Trash/Weak). Get drunk just smelling it. You? Jin-hyuk do you drink well?"
"...Me?"
I paused for a moment.
Drink well?
'Drank alcohol a few weeks ago, smashed my head and dimension shifted, f*cker.'
...Can't say that.
True my alcohol tolerance is strong. But that day, showing off bravado with that pig bastard Bang Jae-hyuk, film cut and woke up like this. Shudder just thinking of alcohol.
Moreover if I say "I drink well" here, obvious those hungry hyena-like seniors will pour bomb shots like poison saying "Oh~ manly!".
I lied without changing facial expression.
"I can't drink either. Liver isn't fresh."
"Ah... that's a relief. Let's take care of each other."
Hyun-woo sighed in relief. Yeah, we are a community of destiny. If one falls, will abandon and run.
"Now now! Freshmen fill glasses!" "Welcome our precious male students! Cheers!"
Toasts burst out here and there. Atmosphere heating up. As one, two glasses of alcohol went in, women's eyes started becoming murky and sticky.
'......'
I stole a look at the phone clock under the table.
'...How do I leave early.'
Going crazy. Still drinking party. How can I escape. Wish Mom would call right now screaming "Son! Curfew time! Come in right now!". That overprotection I usually detest felt like a savior now.
Situation worsened gradually.
"Oh my, Hyun-woo-nim would be very pretty if you take off glasses?" "Jin-hyuk-nim, can I touch your forearm? Wow... rock, rock."
Engineering's typical male-heavy atmosphere nowhere to be found, strong older sisters typical of female-heavy departments surrounded our table.
The four-eyes next to me, Hyun-woo already had his soul leave. Every time a female senior put a hand on his thigh, the guy convulsed saying "Hiiik!".
'Pitiful guy.'
But not like my situation is good. Seniors sticking to both sides were coming on strong enough to blow nose wind into my nostrils.
'If you can't avoid it, enjoy it they say.'
Still, it's a Freshman Welcome Party. Came to play, can't just have a dying face. If I frown here, future college life gets twisted.
I forced the corners of my mouth up.
"Haha. Seniors are really funny."
When I threw one soulless reaction, the table flipped over.
"Kyaaaaak!" "Did you hear? Said funny! Look at him smile!" "Jin-hyuk-nim's voice is a cave, crazy!"
Didn't say much. Just moved mouth but reaction is generous (Hye-ja). Is this the Male Premium.
As the atmosphere ripened, a senior with good build introduced as the Department Representative got up.
"Now, now! Attention! Our precious male students came, can't just pass!"
Ominous premonition brushed the spine.
"Need initiation ceremony right? Talent Show Time!"
Waaaaaaah!!!
Along with applause, gazes fixed on the two of us. Hyun-woo turned pale and shook his head, eventually all expectation focused on me.
"Jin-hyuk-ah! Show us! Show us!" "Aegyo? Dance? Song?"
Seniors tapped the table beating rhythm. No place to run.
I swallowed a sigh and got up. Yeah, show it. Show it and end it. Can't do that damned 'Aegyo' women of this world go crazy for even if I die.
What I can do. What I do best.
I opened my mouth with a grim expression.
"I will... do a vocal mimicry."
"Oooooo!!"
Expectation pierced the ceiling. I cleared my throat. The famous line from the game I dedicated half my life to, <Legacy Era Legend>. That most manly, most spirited character.
I glared, and pulled up sound from the energy center (Dan-jeon) with abdominal breathing.
"Time to show... my skills properly!!"
Line of the blond guy wearing a gauntlet (Ezreal from LoL). Even mixed hand gestures, digested perfectly.
And.
"......"
Silence flowed. All noise in the noisy pub was eliminated instantly.
Smiles hanging on seniors' lips convulsed and hardened. Hyun-woo next to me adjusted his glasses and bowed his head low.
'Why... why do this to me...'
Sudden chill. Perfect sudden chill.
'...F*ck.'
Fcked up. Felt rtarded even though I did it.
In that suffocating silence, just when 3 seconds felt like 3 years. The Rep jumped up and started seal clapping.
"Waaaaaaah!!!"
"Dae, Daebak! What was that just now? Acting?" "Did you see the voice tone change? Thought he was a musical actor!" "To, too... powerful! Don't know the meaning but cool!"
Desperate. Tearful sh*t show of seniors trying to save this atmosphere somehow, and not discourage this precious male student continued.
"Kyaaak! Jin-hyuk-nim Jjang! Encore!"
Forced cheers hit the pub ceiling. I flopped into the seat with a face flushed like a ripe persimmon.
'...Ha, want to go home.'
Mouse hole. If there is a mouse hole leading to the 4th dimension somewhere on this pub floor tile, want to stick head first and run away. Even lived alone for efficient life, but accumulated dark history as mileage from the start.
It was then.
Slither.
Under the table, something heavy and hot dug into my inner thigh.
"......?"
Turning my head, a high-year senior next to me was staring at me with loose pupils. Lips were glistening.
"Honey. Wanna go out and drink separately? Noona's place... you know right?"
Crazy. What is this situation again. Assassin sent by my high school senior homeroom teacher Kim Bang-seok? or new type of gold digger (Flower Snake)? Aiming for my kidney?
Hand massaging the thigh is very blatant. Ordinary men would have freaked out or face exploded but.
'......'
No inspiration.
Heart rate change zero. Whether my sexual desire was castrated, or this situation is too unrealistic so brain refuses to recognize. Just feels like a disgusting grub crawling.
'Became troublesome.'
If caught like this, either organs get robbed, or energy (Qi) get robbed, one of the two will be robbed.
Need a groundbreaking method to break this situation.
Ah!
One phrase flashing through the brain like lightning.
There is a maxim in the Jiu-Jitsu world.
'A master who reached a certain level is not bound by form (Kata) and technique.'
I forced my crumpled brow open, and leaned towards Hyun-woo sitting next to me.
"Hey. I'm going now. Please take care."
"Yes...? Wh, what...?"
Hyun-woo blinked eyes as if he didn't understand. I patted the guy's shoulder grimly.
"I'll buy you something delicious later. And Hyun-woo-ya. I took all the aggro until now right. Now it's your turn."
"Yes? Where are you going? Excuse me?"
Hyun-woo tried to grab my clothes, but I had already sprung up from the seat like a spring.
Instantly, hundreds of eyes focused on me as if attracted by a magnet. Eyes mixed with expectation and fear of 'What is he going to do again?'.
I enjoyed that gaze, and opened my mouth with a very serious expression.
"Now! Everyone! Earlier was warm-up, going for one more quiz!"
The pub submerged in silence. Seeing me casting nonsense again following the Rel (LoL) cosplay just now, the audience fell into a crucible of confusion.
"What is the fastest chicken in the world? If you guess I'll grant one wish!"
Signs of panic are evident. Expressions looking at each other asking 'What is this situation?', 'New humor?'.
"What? Fried?" "No, Scallion Chicken (Pa-dak)?"
Some quick-witted girls threw random words to lift the mood.
I didn't miss that gap. I started walking backwards towards the door very naturally, like a singer walking on stage.
"Ding (Wrong)! No! Think more!"
As my body got closer to the exit, people's gazes were tied to the quiz I gave, not my mouth.
"Hmm... Too hard? Then how about this!"
I crossed the central aisle, reaching for the doorknob.
"What do rabbits do best?"
The audience was silent. Analysing why that crazy male student is asking such things, they didn't perceive the fact that the questioner reached right in front of the exit.
I stood with my back to the front door, the only lifeline of the pub. Perfect positioning.
"Now, curious about the answer?"
The gag I will show from now on, is a gag shown with the body.
I turned the doorknob behind my back. Click, sensation of unlocking transmitted to fingertips.
And, shouted loud enough for the shop to leave.
"Answer is Hu-da-dak (Scuttling) and Tok-ki-gi (Rabbiting/Running away)!!! SorryIdidn'tturnoffgasvalveathome!!!"
Bang!
I kicked the door open and threw my body into the darkness.
Heard screams of "Hey!! Catch him!!" from behind but already late. I possessed Usain Bolt and disappeared into the darkness.
Yes.
The maxim of Jiu-Jitsu world mentioned earlier, the name of that stage masters reach is exactly...
[Ji-jo-ddae-ro] (Doing whatever the f*ck one wants).
. . .
Street.
"Huff... Huff..."
I sprinted through the streets admiring myself.
'Kuehh... Wet myself (Dope). Seol Jin-hyuk, you man.'
Smart head to enter prestigious university. Outstanding gag sense to escape that savage drinking party naturally. What on earth am I lacking.
I hummed a tune and headed to the studio apartment. Completely forgetting the safety of Hyun-woo left behind.