I Hate You Too
I Hate You Too
After the lecture ended and we returned to the classroom, I observed Aisha, who was glancing to her right.
"Hehehe..."
'There's no girl more in love than her.'
She looks like she's going to die of happiness just from sitting next to him.
Though I think I know why.
Unlike this morning, Class A is packed with no empty seats.
Cheon Hae-won, who appeared during the lecture, seemed lost in thought while quietly looking at his Artifact, completely unaware that she was happy because of him.
Every now and then, he would twitch his nose, too.
... I pretended to rest my hand on my neck, but instead placed it on the Choker button.
'Better to stay on guard just in case.'
He's the guy who tried to kill me as easily as crushing a bug, claiming I smelled like some guy he didn't know.
Even though he let me go saying he was mistaken, the fact that he could kill me at any moment hasn't changed.
I just hope the Suit Arnes was so confident about actually works.
If it means I can survive without dying, I'm fully prepared to walk around half-naked in front of others.
'Maybe the look he showed earlier was just to make me let my guard down?'
Him making sweet moves on Aisha must also have some reason I don't know about.
Just being nice because they're childhood friends? Even until yesterday, he was the guy who hated the very fact that Chapssaltteok was at the Academy?
As various thoughts crossed my mind, I suddenly remembered the conversation I had with Cheon Hae-won on the rooftop before he choked me.
'If I said I'd hold you, would you offer your body?'
Ah, fuck.
Is it really that?
'Treating me like a simple plaything.'
Does he consider me and Chapssaltteok as collectible onaholes— no, wait, just momentary toys for his amusement?
They say even rivers and mountains change after ten years.
I don't know what Cheon Hae-won was like in Aisha's past memories, but right now, he's just a delinquent smoking cigarettes inside the school.
He's just turned twenty, but who knows how many women he might have made cry before this.
'He doesn't even need to be "pedo-corrupted"; he's just a hopeless philanderer who likes any woman.'
That was the conclusion I reached after spinning my high-intelligence brain.
A guy who chokes others without hesitation couldn't possibly have a kind heart.
I pulled Aisha in and hugged her tightly.
Unlike me, who uses standard-issue shampoo, her hair had a subtle scent of cherry blossoms.
"Don't get close to someone like that. You'll get tainted too."
"Ayy~ Even if Hae-won has looked rough since we were little, ugh~ he's not a bad guy~"
"Don't talk nonsense, staying away from him is much better for you— uh, uh, uh?"
I tried to use my strength to hold her back, but I was helplessly dragged along by Aisha, who was heading back to her seat like a puppy meeting its owner.
Both Aisha and I are just soft lumps with weak muscles, but I guess the difference between Strength D and F can't be ignored.
Unlike me, who was struggling, the fact that Aisha didn't look tired at all and kept that dazed expression was even more shocking.
I haven't met a Goblin so I can't really feel it, but I wonder if there's anything I can actually win against.
Aisha looked up at Cheon Hae-won and asked.
"Right? Hae-won-ah."
"... Think whatever you want."
At least he has a conscience; he's not trying to appeal as a "good guy."
Arnes walked into the bustling classroom.
"You all worked hard today. I'll add armor and weapons considering your stats and abilities. Oh, and by the way, an official document has come down. Could everyone please turn on your Artifacts?"
When I took out my Artifact, there was a text message just as Arnes said.
It was a directive sent by the UN-affiliated Hero Management Association.
The content was... regional patrol?
"You all know that cases of Magic Beasts appearing inside the Barrier have become frequent recently. To strengthen our alert posture, each class will take turns, one team per day, to patrol the vicinity of the Academy."
A shift rotation happening roughly once every ten days.
I wondered if we were being put into real combat already when we hadn't learned anything, but Arnes said she would take responsibility, so the first-years should just report it if they find a Magic Beast and avoid combat as much as possible.
Judging by Arnes's uneasy look, she doesn't seem to like it either.
Then again, in Korea, there isn't a single organization that runs properly except for archery. I really didn't want that kind of realism to be reflected...
"There are many heroes in Gangnam, so you don't need to worry too much. Just think of it as a 3-hour field trip. Of course, since patrolling is considered work, you'll naturally get paid for it. So... Doa-yang, Aisha-yang, and Hae-won-gun."
"Yes."
"Yes!"
"..."
Arnes looked at us with a sly gaze.
I had a feeling this would happen.
"Our class will start with the team in the front row, is that okay?"
"Yep, sounds good!"
Aisha's answer rang through the classroom.
The development where the story begins the moment the protagonist and heroine step up. It's a cliché of all clichés.
Even if we put off the patrol now, I can see a future where an incident breaks out when Cheon Hae-won and I are together.
I wish they would twist the overly traditional clichés a bit.
Hearing his name called, Cheon Hae-won stood up as if annoyed and tried to leave— but after glancing at the excited Chapssaltteok, he sat back down.
I asked Cheon Hae-won.
"Not ditching?"
"I'm running low on smokes, so I thought I'd go buy some while I'm at it. Why, do you want me to fuck off?"
"Yeah. I hate you."
Cheon Hae-won smiles while touching his cigarette pack.
"I hate you too."
That's a relief.
Because there's absolutely no chance our relationship will ever improve.
...
Dismissal time.
After leaving the Academy, we patrolled the downtown area.
'It's no different from what I saw from afar, but... it's still fascinating.'
Cars of familiar brands pass by, but they have no wheels, and people riding boards pass between buildings just like I saw out the window yesterday.
Large buildings like skyscrapers have designs similar to the Academy, but clothing stores and markets gave off a vibe similar to the world I used to be in.
And the golden Barrier spread out in a dome shape in the sky.
Even though it's a situation where Magi would flood in if the Barrier broke, seeing everyone going about their daily lives as if nothing was wrong felt a bit awkward.
'I guess that means it's that safe...'
If so, that's a relief.
About two hours into walking around, Aisha pointed at a cafe, her eyes sparkling.
"Aren't you both thirsty? I'll buy!"
I was just getting thirsty, so that works out well.
Some heroes I saw during the patrol were eating hamburgers or sandwiches, so it shouldn't be a problem.
"I'll have an Americano."
"Doa, are you good with bitter things?"
"Just, I can drink it well enough."
"Hmm~ Is that so?"
"I'm serious!"
I got used to it, so I started drinking it well.
I drank it before standing night guard duty in the army, and when playing the UtoAca demo, I drank it to the point where caffeine flowed in my veins instead of blood.
Aisha looks at me with a pout, as if she doesn't believe me.
"You can order something expensive... then, do you want to add a Dujjonku?"
"... An Americano is fine."
An Americano is 2,000 won, but does it make sense for the price to skyrocket to 10,000 won just by adding one little thing that looks like kangaroo poop?
I don't have a single penny right now, but even if I did, I wouldn't touch such extravagant food.
With that money, I could eat bean sprout dishes for at least three days.
"Aisha, move aside."
Cheon Hae-won went in front of Aisha, who was standing on tiptoes in front of the kiosk, and selected the menu.
In order: Americano, Cafe Latte, Strawberry Yogurt Smoothie.
As he finished paying, Aisha's twin tails jumped up in surprise.
"Uh... Hae-won-ah?"
"Didn't you like this back in the day? If you don't like it, change it."
"Ah, no, I like it. I love it... You remembered?"
"Do you think I'm a blockhead like a kid? As if I wouldn't remember that."
He's subtly dissing me.
A moment later, we received the drinks we ordered.
"I wanted to buy it for you..."
"Just consider it paying back for the bread I ate when we were little. As for the kid, just buy me a meal later?"
"Are you crazy?"
If Chapssaltteok had bought it, I would naturally pay her back, but with you, it's a different story.
'Why would I pay back coffee that I was "forced to receive"? If anything, I'm the one who should be getting compensation for the choking and emotional distress.'
Ignoring Cheon Hae-won like that, I drank the Americano... but the unbearable bitterness made my mouth open involuntarily.
"Mwahk?!"
"Doa?!"
"Well, look at that?"
I managed to pull my body back, but the sleeve of my blouse holding the cup got soaked with coffee.
'This isn't even drinkable...?!'
The astringent and bitter sensation still remains in my mouth.
It's at a level where I seriously suspect they gave me muddy water by mistake.
"Did you choke? Wait, a handkerchief..."
"Ah, ugh... Thank you."
Tap-
While Aisha was wiping me off, Cheon Hae-won snatched the cup from my hand.
Then he took a sip of the coffee, his lips slowly curling up, and handed me the Cafe Latte he had in his other hand.
"You were acting all cool saying you were used to it... just drink this."
"Ugh... give mine back, I can drink it all."
"I don't want to hear you making weird noises, okay? I didn't touch it with my mouth, so just drink it."
Grrr-
Since we were outside and Aisha, caught between us, didn't know what to do, I decided to hold back.
'I definitely drank it just fine without any issues...'
Seeing Cheon Hae-won drink it easily, it seems my taste buds changed after possessing this body.
Should I be glad that I didn't like bitter food?
Wait, that thing Cheon Hae-won is holding in his mouth.
'That's the straw I was using.'
There are straws next to the kiosk, but he's probably just using it because he's too lazy to get a new one.
... Forget it. He's the type to just smash his lips onto someone, he's not the kind of guy to think about something like an indirect kiss, right?
Still... it's annoying.
Let's not worry about it. I feel like I'm the only one getting weird for no reason.
It's just tiring if I nitpick every little thing.
To clear my head, I rinsed my mouth with the Cafe Latte I received from Cheon Hae-won.
Slurp-
"... Oh."
Caramel syrup full of a much richer and stickier sweetness than coffee peanuts.
I took one sip and my eyes sparkled; it's a taste that somehow feels like it could be addictive.
"Now you're finally drinking something that suits your appearance."
"Pfft?! I am not?!"
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[Emergency Disaster Alert]
[Massive appearance of Magic Beasts in Gangnam-gu and near the Academy]
[Observation result: E-Rank Slime]
[Danger level: Low]
[Caution: Be careful not to let them touch objects such as vehicles, buildings, clothing, etc.]
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