Chapter 9
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Bet (1)
One step.
With that distance, Cha Ji-hyuk and I drew closer.
Only then did I truly feel it deep in my bones—this quiet, spacious classroom held just the two of us.
As I approached him, an inexplicable pressure settled against my skin.
His height and build were incomparable to mine right now.
"Ugh..."
Feeling it, a groan escaped my throat before I could stop it.
"If you don't hurry, I'll come to you?"
"I'm coming! I said I'm coming..."
At his urging, I forced my hesitating legs to move again.
Another step.
Strangely, meeting his eyes felt impossible, so I kept my head slightly lowered, gaze dropping to his chest as I walked.
Another step.
The sight of him filled more and more of my vision, growing larger.
How heavy it felt—I gritted my teeth and kept going.
And the final step.
Finally, I stood before Cha Ji-hyuk.
Close enough for our breaths to mingle.
In the heavy silence that followed, I glanced up at him. He gazed down expressionlessly.
That blank face seemed to tighten around my throat even more.
What was he planning?
If he really meant to subdue me and take my bodily fluids...
That was when it happened.
Shattering the suffocating quiet, he let out a soft chuckle.
"Kang Seo-ah."
His laugh cut off as he called my name.
I just stared, saying nothing.
Cha Ji-hyuk watched me a moment before speaking again.
"Good job."
"......What?"
Totally unexpected words from him.
They clashed with the taut atmosphere of moments ago, so I blurted back.
"Good job. You finished with some time left... but I'll let you go today."
As he spoke, he shifted aside, clearing the path ahead.
Like I could just open the door and leave.
I stared blankly at him, frozen.
"Why? Disappointed? Want to go together?"
"...!!!"
His follow-up snapped me out of it. I snatched my bag and yanked the door open.
"If you want to go together, just say so honestly."
His voice trailed after me.
Not worth answering—I slammed the door and ran.
Shame flooded my body. Gritting my teeth, I vowed: for finals, I'd pass and break free from him.
Back home, I plopped at my desk and flipped open the academy textbook.
All because I'd sworn to raise my grades somehow.
But the world never bends to your will.
No matter how hard I stared, nothing sank in.
Every problem looked like alien script.
Cha Ji-hyuk wasn't wrong.
At my level, I couldn't tackle this textbook.
"Ah..."
The realization hit hard, helplessness crashing over me.
Earlier, and now—
Having to cling to his help and mercy bruised my pride too much.
As I reached to close it, a slip of paper caught my eye in the book's corner.
-Call anytime if you have questions 010-XXXX-XXXX.
"Aaaah!!"
I tore it to shreds on reflex and chucked it in the trash.
Just like a protagonist from an erotic novel,
always picking the sleaziest, sneakiest moves.
After fuming a while, I caught my breath
and replayed the classroom scene.
Cornered, helplessly obeying his words—that humiliating memory. If he'd wanted to pin me down, I'd have been helpless.
"This can't happen..."
Raising my math scores to escape him mattered, but
first, protect my body.
Seventy-five days till finals.
The thought of repeats like today for seventy-five more days sent chills racing down my spine.
"Absolutely... no way."
Alert to the danger, I grabbed my phone and searched nearby dojos.
Anything worked.
Judo, boxing, taekwondo.
If it taught self-defense to shield my body from him, style didn't matter.
Scrolling the map, one near my house popped up.
"Park Dae-nam Comprehensive Martial Arts Dojo?"
A name screaming reliability. I tapped for details.
First image loaded.
Instant recognition—this place.
A building glimpsed passing by once or twice.
Shabbier than neighbors, etched in memory.
Dojo on the fifth floor.
"Tsk..."
I hissed a breath, hesitating.
Said anything for self-defense was fine, but this rundown... honestly, off-putting.
Checked others, but distance killed them.
Too far from home.
This was the only convenient spot.
"...Let's check it out."
Self-convincing, I grabbed jacket and mask, headed out.
Internet said late hours; today, just visit and consult.
Building reached soon after leaving.
Still unimpressive exterior.
If this flopped, I'd scout farther ones despite hassle. Into the building.
Elevator handy—up to five easy.
Fifth-floor hall quieter than thought. No people, no training noise.
Hallway-end sign.
—Park Dae-nam Comprehensive Martial Arts Dojo.
Deep breath, handle gripped, door pushed.
Creak.
Old hinges groaned open.
Inside... spacious.
Worn mats floored it, one wall lined with sandbags and gear.
Bright lights, but eerily devoid of human warmth.
"……"
Dojo empty.
My footsteps boomed as I entered.
Wondering if wrong place, door-glance—
"Welcome."
Voice thick and booming through the dojo.
I startled, whipped around.
Back door to changing room swung open; man emerged.
Beard thick and wild.
Burly neck, broad shoulders, gym-hardened build.
A burly uncle towering a head over me.
'Whoa... matches his name perfectly.'
Kept the rude thought silent, returned greeting.
"Haha! Finally some life here. Ah, sorry. Been ages since a customer."
Heartily laughed solo, then head-scratch apology.
His no-students admission strengthened other-dojo thoughts.
"Here for self-defense?"
Thought evaporated.
Lately, mind-readers everywhere.
Cha Ji-hyuk right—face gives it away? But mask on.
"H-How...?"
Uncle scanned mask-visible face, grinned casually.
"Girls coming solo this late? Always that."
Index to mat.
"Sit, wait. Relax."
I sat as bid.
He ducked into office-like room, returned with paper.
"So, why self-defense?"
Park Dae-nam sat opposite, asked.
"Just... world's rough."
Vague dodge.
Couldn't admit erotic-novel-powered guy eyeing my fluids.
Park Dae-nam laughed, no offense taken.
"Haha! Solid reason."
Laugh rattled eardrums.
"Got a student-age daughter? Told her learn martial arts, world's rough—she ignores."
"Haha..."
Sudden TMI dump from Park Dae-nam.
Unsure, awkward smile.
"Like this."
His vibe shifted abrupt.
"No special trigger, folks skip self-defense hassle."
Mouth smiled, eyes bored into me.
"Solo late to dingy building? Special reason only."
Speechless.
No pressure from him.
Instead, hearty toss:
"Haha! No sweat. Hate sharing? Skip it."
Relief budding—
"But know why you're learning martial arts. Crystal clear."
Added.
"Self-defense, see."
Park Dae-nam chest-thumped open palm.
"Not to win fights. To live, escape."
Straight eye-lock.
"So, know what you're dodging."
Lip bit hard.
Cha Ji-hyuk's face, classroom air, wall-trapped helplessness flashed.
"...People."
Out faster than thought.
Park Dae-nam brows twitched up.
"People?"
"Yes. Way... bigger than me."
Silence brief.
Then bigger laugh.
"Hahaha! Perfect. Crystal now."
Sprung up.
"Guys like that? Special self-defense."
Lately, post-possession, busiest days ever.
Academy: Cha Ji-hyuk study.
Home: review.
Dojo: martial arts.
My blueprint? Far from this grind.
...Blame Cha Ji-hyuk.
Inward curses swallowed as usual, I kneaded shoulders knotted from yesterday's brutal workout.
Thought techniques only—nah, basics first for conditioning.
Body perpetually leaden now.
"Hurt somewhere?"
Mid-rub, hated voice beside me.
"Don't care."
"Harsh. Just worried."
"Who asked?"
"Pretty words?"
"Best you've got."
"Why. Last time, so obedient..."
"Argh, enough!!"
Cha Ji-hyuk dredging buried memories.
'Touch me, you're dead—with martial arts.'
Vow made, refocused math.
"Studying hard, huh?"
"Know, scram."
"Your mentor. Stuck? I'll teach."
Hoo... hoo...
Ignore. Focus.
Chanted inwardly, problem dive.
Cha Ji-hyuk relentless.
"Hate sessions with me that much?"
Really clueless?
Resolve forgotten, snapped.
"Yeah, fucking hate. Said how many times? Hate you."
"Ease up? Seeing me long-term anyway."
"Long-term what?"
"Finals too soon for no-fail. Academy book untouched."
Truth stung.
Level too low for textbook.
Grinding, but basics overload to digest.
Still.
"Finals pass guaranteed. Buzz off."
I'll nail it.
To crack that smug grin.
"Yeah?"
Meaningful smirk at my words.
"Bet then?"