The Shiny Elf (1)
“Second Seat, tasty?”
“Yeah, it’s good. Free food’s the best.”
“You get it.”
That afternoon after unintentionally sharing a bed with Serena, Seong Hyun-jin was in the student cafeteria. Surprisingly, Serena wasn’t sitting next to him—instead, it was a group of other male students. They were the ones he’d helped out recently, buying him lunch in return for fixing their stuff.
Fork steak, beef stew, French toast, rye bread with bacon and eggs. Daniel, a combat department classmate who’d treated him to the stew, eyed the massive spread and asked, “You gonna eat all that?”
“I’ll still have room after.”
“You’re small but you eat like a beast, huh?”
Seong Hyun-jin nodded casually and shoved more food into his mouth.
Good deeds always come back around. Old sayings don’t lie.
All this food for free—Seong Hyun-jin was feeling the full reward of his handiwork.
As he tucked into his meal with gusto, the student who’d bought the fork steak spoke up. “By the way, Second Seat, I heard you went into the dorm room with the top student yesterday.”
“How’d you know?”
“It’s all over the rumor mill. You didn’t hear?”
The fork steak guy, Judro, continued, “They’re saying you’re dating Serena Eldark, or that you’ve already done everything there is to do…”
“Huh. Yeah?”
“Why the lukewarm reaction? You don’t seem shocked at all.”
“It’s just nonsense, so it’s kinda ridiculous.”
“What? It’s not true?”
Seong Hyun-jin nodded simply.
“I was helping fix your stuff?”
“Uh… Serena Eldark?”
“There was too much for me to handle alone, so when she offered to help, I took it. While I was repairing, she handled the disassembly and reassembly.”
“…That’s surprising. She knows how to do that?”
Daniel, from the same combat department class, chimed in. “That’s why she was late today? She’s always early.”
“…Yeah.”
Seong Hyun-jin affirmed awkwardly. Truth was, Serena had been late because she’d spent the night in his room. She’d snuck back to the girls’ dorm without anyone noticing, but skipping a wash meant extra prep time this morning. That delay made her late to class for the first time.
“Setting that aside, you two seem pretty close, right? In class and always together.”
“We met when we entered the academy, so we’ve been hanging out.”
“Nothing more than that? For real?”
Daniel’s questions were getting persistent. Feeling it, Seong Hyun-jin shot him a glare while munching toast. “It’s true, but is that that interesting?”
“Of course it is. You’re the only guy close to Dragon Princess.”
“And none of the new guys this year aren’t into Serena Eldark? She’s pretty, skilled, high status… perfect.”
“…Is that so?”
Listening to Daniel, Seong Hyun-jin thought even more that last night’s sleepover better stay secret.
“Yeah, but you’ve been with her from day one, so no one dared approach. But if you’re just friends…”
Daniel’s eyes gleamed boldly. “Guess I’ll give it a shot. How do I catch her eye?”
“No chance for you, Daniel. You fail on looks.”
“Judro, I’m better than you.”
Seong Hyun-jin ignored their banter and focused on eating.
I knew she was popular.
The second he said they were just friends, these guys jumped in—her popularity was beyond imagination.
Their chit-chat suddenly halted as all eyes turned one way.
“I’m not worse than you… Uh, over there…”
“Oh, looks like she’s here for lunch too.”
Seong Hyun-jin looked up, mouth full of bread. Serena was entering the cafeteria. He’d stepped away to eat with these guys, leaving her alone as usual.
Doesn’t she wanna make friends with other girls?
She’d be better off with more friends, he thought. But Serena looked unfazed by solitude. If anything, the stares from everyone made her a bit uncomfortable. She ordered quickly and sat in a corner.
With her looks and talents superior to all, she could still shrink like that. If that was a skill, it was a skill.
“…She really doesn’t live up to her face.”
Seong Hyun-jin chuckled. Daniel beside him replied, “You talking about me?”
“Huh?”
He’d unintentionally insulted Daniel. Glancing at him, Seong Hyun-jin smirked amusedly. “Wasn’t about you, but it fits now?”
“Hearing that from a blessed elf-blooded one, this squid’ll stay shrunk.”
“Still better than me right now, though?”
“What kinda bullshit is that… Sorry, it was too absurd; swear slipped out.”
Daniel looked baffled, but Seong Hyun-jin said dead seriously, “Might change later, but for now, yeah.”
“That humble-hot-guy act’s outdated, Second Seat. ‘I don’t know I’m handsome’ is cliché. You’re half-elf anyway—elf blood, and you don’t know?”
“Not that… Beyond elf blood making me decent-looking, I just look young right now.”
Seong Hyun-jin sounded stressed. “No manly appeal. Slow growth means height like girls’.”
“True, girls usually like tall guys.”
Daniel yelled frustratedly at him. “That’s for average Joes! If you’re handsome, height doesn’t matter!”
“Really?”
“Yes, you unlucky bastard!”
Seong Hyun-jin pondered. No way.
He knew he was handsome this life. Elves meant beauty, so even half-elf him couldn’t be ugly. But slow growth from elf blood made his face youthful, body small for his age. No guy here was shorter or smaller—that proved it.
That’s why he doubted. Master showed zero interest. Means I lack manly charm.
Small, young-looking = no appeal, so Karin didn’t see him as a man, he figured.
Looks aren’t everything.
That’s why he genuinely thought Daniel was better. But he was wrong—Karin wasn’t every woman’s standard. Half-elf uniqueness charmed girls. Snow-white skin from elf blood, bright cyan hair gleaming in sun like fresh leaves. Rare silver eyes captivated. With curly hair groomed, his cuteness could turn to allure.
But feeling unappealing, he never bothered.
Daniel shattered his worldview. “Dragon Princess aside, you’re kinda famous too.”
“Me?”
“You wrecked everyone in class placement. I dodged you, but still.”
“Wrecked? Just efficient survival.”
“Girls who eyed you at first now avoid you.”
Seong Hyun-jin’s face stiffened. “For real?”
“Duh? You stole from everyone, guys and girls.”
“Not that.”
He knew the fallout. He’d planned it. What shocked him: “Girls were into me?”
“Yeah. Top of entrance exam, decent face. Rare elf blood, half-elf draws eyes. You didn’t know?”
“Not kidding, no clue.”
“Probably ’cause you’re always with Dragon Princess. Steals all attention.”
“Was like that, then placement killed it.”
Seong Hyun-jin regretted late. “Should’ve played nice.”
“Enjoyed it all, now regret?”
Karin’s indifference despite tries made him think small/young looks flopped here.
Some girls like this type?
Uncommon taste, but he was oblivious.
“Had no idea. Would’ve only stolen from guys.”
“What?”
“Next time, yeah.”
Daniel stared dumbfounded at his resolve. Ignoring him, Seong Hyun-jin pondered.
Check if he’s right later.
If his face worked on girls, trying others—as Karin suggested—might not suck. He’d win her someday, but dating was trial-error, right?
Master’d prefer experienced over newbie? Gotta gain some.
Thoughts that’d make Karin call him crazy—then he spotted someone approaching corner-Serena. Golden hair shining excessively, cascading long. Could mistake for girl, but build screamed male.
“Someone’s hitting on Serena,” he told Daniel.
“No way, stealing my shot!”
“Pointy ears, though.”
Hearing Judro, Seong Hyun-jin paused mid-scoop. “Elf? Damn, another pretty boy after the beauty…!”
Half-elf ears weren’t pointy. Pureblood elf, then.
Pure elf in academy…
Pure elves grew slower. Half at 20s; pure over 50. Academy entry usually 20, but long-lived like elves had exceptions. That guy: at least 50, maybe more.
Elves didn’t care about age, but humans did. To Seong Hyun-jin, he was a creep hitting on 30-years-younger Serena—daughter-age nutjob.
“…That pretty-boy elf’s lost it.”
He set down his spoon, face twisted in disgust, and stood.