Academy's Celebrity (1)
The morning sunlight stung more than usual.
I dragged my heavy body out of bed by force.
It was because of the gift from Lee Seojin last night—I hadn't been able to sleep deeply.
The bizarre vibrations from yesterday kept replaying in my mind, making my lower abdomen throb incessantly.
"…Haa, get it together. Seo Eunha."
In the mirror, I looked like the same beauty as always. Except my eyes seemed languidly unfocused in a way they never had before.
At the massage parlor yesterday, and then using the massager at home… I could barely remember how many times I'd climaxed.
Judging by the new Sensitive Body addition to my Ero Status, I'd clearly gone at it like my life depended on it.
Pushing aside my complicated feelings, I unfolded the abandoned factory map I'd obtained as payment.
The abandoned factory was a base for low-level villains. To cut off the supply of aphrodisiacs spreading through the city, I had to smash it.
That would slow the rate at which my hypnosis depth increased, too.
But I couldn't charge in right away. It was Monday—Seongwon Academy had classes today.
'It's not time to drop out yet. There's still a lot to learn here, and things left to do.'
The fourth dungeon I needed to tackle was inside the academy itself.
Dropping out would be a last resort. Maintaining my student status was far more advantageous for gathering info and getting around.
I buttoned my uniform all the way up to my collar while facing the mirror.
Thanks to Hayeon's recent pointing it out, I'd gained a bit of wariness about exposure.
Of course, buttoning up fully did make mana circulation feel stuffy—but right now, with my body's condition, preserving my sanity mattered more than mana.
Under the uniform, I was still wearing my Libido Skin.
To prepare for any unexpected situations, anytime, anywhere.
The air on the way to the academy felt stickier than usual.
It wasn't my imagination.
Because my hypnosis depth had surpassed 10, the city's lewd energy had intensified even further.
Street couples devoured each other without a care for prying eyes.
Used condoms littered the sidewalks, worn out from heavy use.
The molester incident from last week was probably tied to this lewd aura, too.
That molester's parting words were still etched deep in my memory.
'7 PM, subway XX station….'
"No, don't think about it. Just forget it."
I deliberately avoided the subway and took the bus to school.
But the academy interior was no different. Just walking the halls filled my ears with sticky friction sounds and lewd moans from every direction.
"……This place is pure hell."
I kept my eyes glued to the floor as much as possible and headed to the lecture hall.
Thank goodness I'd chosen only the safest classes during registration.
I hadn't even known about the hypnosis back then, but somehow I'd picked well.
At least I wouldn't get openly toyed with during class.
Then, as I turned a corner in the hallway, a familiar, unpleasant massive shadow blocked my path.
"Hey, Eunha. Long time no see."
It was Park Dusik.
He grinned sleazily, showing off his bulging muscles as usual.
His eyes blatantly raked over my chest and hips.
"Instructor. Good morning."
I bowed my head as formally and curtly as possible.
Park Dusik frowned, clearly displeased by my defensive attitude.
"Haven't seen you in any of my classes. Kinda disappointing. Especially after you reacted so… honestly during that makeup lesson last time."
"I wasn't in good condition then. And I just signed up for classes that suit my aptitude."
I took a step back.
"Sorry, but class is about to start. I need to go."
"…Is that so? Hmph, you've gotten pretty stiff. Fine, whatever. We'll see each other again soon enough."
Park Dusik left without hiding his irritation.
I let out a sigh of relief as his back receded.
He couldn't drag me to his office on some contrived excuse like before, so he'd been powerless.
'"We'll see each other again soon"? What shady scheme is he plotting now.'
The academy had seemed too quiet lately. Figures it wouldn't last.
I headed to the lecture hall with my nerves on edge.
Park Dusik's words about seeing me soon weren't empty. Not long after, a message arrived—not from him personally, but an official academy summons to his office.
Vowing not to let him lay a finger on me no matter what, I knocked.
Knock knock.
"It's Seo Eunha."
"Come in."
The moment I opened the door, a wave of stale male sweat hit me.
Park Dusik lounged arrogantly on the sofa, flipping through papers.
"You're here, Seo Eunha."
He flashed a vile smile the instant he saw me and stood.
Then he reached out with those thick hands of his toward my shoulder.
Whoosh.
I instinctively stepped back. His hand sliced through empty air and froze.
He was trying to act friendly, but we weren't that close.
…And above all, I knew if those strong hands gripped my shoulder, I wouldn't be able to resist.
Park Dusik's eyebrow twitched.
"Hmm?"
"What is it, Instructor? Please make it quick. I have afternoon classes."
I spoke in the most businesslike, rigid tone I could muster.
After yesterday's massage ordeal, I'd learned all too well how dangerous a man's touch could be.
Park Dusik awkwardly lowered his hand.
"Seo Eunha. Your Resonance participation has hit rock bottom lately."
"I thought Resonance was a matter of personal freedom."
"Freedom? In the academy, freedom means following your instincts—not rejecting them. Especially for a talented Awakener like you to refuse Resonance and stagnate… that's not what the academy wants."
He slammed a document onto the desk.
Seo Eunha
Resonance Refusal
Uncooperative Class Attitude
"The chairman himself raised questions when a student who twisted my wrist on day one refuses Resonance."
"…."
Mention of the student council president sent chills down my spine.
Park Dusik, that petty bastard, had snitched to the chairman about day one without shame.
I'd thought I was avoiding the student council's notice, but it had been pointless from the start.
"So, we've decided on volunteer work to correct your attitude."
"Volunteer… work?"
Park Dusik chuckled as he continued.
"Yeah. Your aversion to Resonance is probably from lack of contact with the opposite sex. So we've set up special conversation volunteer hours."
I couldn't believe my ears once he explained.
His so-called volunteer work was sitting one-on-one with academy male students for 5-minute chats.
Volunteer in name only—it was basically an idol fan meet-and-greet.
"Chat with the boys to understand the value of Resonance. We'll randomly draw from volunteers. Light physical contact during the talk—like holding hands—is allowed."
"I refuse."
"Refusal means 10 demerit points. I can report your irresponsibility to the student council president directly."
Cowardly prick.
10 demerit points would flag me for special correction immediately.
I ground my teeth, weighing my options: drop out of the academy, or accept this absurd volunteer gig.
"Just talking, right?"
"Yep. Sit with each one for 5 minutes and chat sincerely. Light contact's allowed, but I won't force it. Refuse if you hate it."
"I see."
Chatting with dozens of guys would suck, but better than becoming the student council president's target.
And without touches, I could hold out 5 minutes behind an iron wall.
"…Fine. I'll do it."
"Good choice. We'll start as soon as the students gather."
Park Dusik stamped the paper contentedly. I gave a curt nod and slipped out of the office.
He let me go without grabbing me.
Every time I'd come to his office, something awful happened… Walking out unscathed felt oddly itchy.
'…No, him letting me go easy is a blessing. What am I even thinking?'
I shook off the inexplicable regret in my heart and prepared for the volunteer work.
The news spread like wildfire across the entire academy.
The campus bulletin board was already in chaos. Far from the official "Mutual Trust-Building Campaign for Resonance Promotion," it felt exactly like a fan meet.
And on the big day of the volunteer work.
I sat in a small booth set up in one corner of the academy auditorium.
Peeking outside, it was a sight to behold.
Male students lined up from the auditorium entrance all the way past the sports field.
Way more than I'd expected.
I'd figured maybe one class's worth, but this was practically the whole male student body.
The boys' lecherous gazes fixed on me inside the booth.
Apparently, I was way more famous than I'd realized.