Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Exam (1)
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I stepped out the front door early in the morning. My bag, stuffed with exam prep materials, clinked with the Hunter Academy-issued pad inside. The sound of the door locking automatically behind me felt like a little cheer of encouragement for doing well on the test. As I descended the stairs and stepped into the courtyard of my boarding house, I spotted someone standing by the parking lot pillar.
"Su-hyeon oppa."
Ichigaya Ichie. My companion during my time at the Hunter Academy. Her eyes glowed faintly red as she looked at me, her eyebrows curving just a bit like she was smiling. I said,
"You're out early? You could've taken your time. I told you I'd wait."
"I can't make you wait."
There was still plenty of time before class started. Looking at Ichie, I once again thought I'd made the right choice picking this boarding house. The first place I'd considered felt off for various reasons, and Ichie had strongly opposed it, so we scrapped that. But renting somewhere in Jang-an-dong where Yu-jeong sunbae lived, leaving Ichie behind, didn't make sense either. So, as a compromise, I chose a one-room village between Jang-an-dong and the Academy.
It was a convenient distance for Yu-jeong sunbae to drop by, and it was also what Ichie meant by "near Jang-an-dong."
"Ichie. Did you... study hard for the exam?"
Why did the word "study" always sound so naughty? Every time I'd fool around with Yu-jeong sunbae, chanting "study, study," it had turned the word into something lewd. Ichie gave me an odd look when I stumbled over it, then answered.
"I studied hard. Gonna get first place and snag that scholarship."
"What'll you do if you get it?"
"Go eat something tasty."
She said it while looking right at me. Meaning she wanted to go together. I nodded. Ichie pulled out her phone and showed me a photo.
"We went here with relatives last time, but the family can't handle spice, so I had the mild version. This time, spicy."
It was a dakgalbi place. I handled spice pretty well. To enjoy spicy yukgaejang or kongnamul gukbap with that perfect tang, you had to be able to take the heat. I nodded and asked,
"We'll stir-fry the rice, right?"
"Of course. No stir-fry, no go."
"Ichie, you're basically Korean now."
"Still Japanese."
Ichie replied with a playful tone. I chuckled and started walking toward the Academy. Ichie asked me,
"Su-hyeon oppa. What if you get second place?"
"First place is yours, right?"
"Yeah. So second is yours."
"If I get second... I was thinking of buying some bedding and a few changes of clothes since I just moved into the new place."
I'd felt it over the weekend, tangled up with Yu-jeong sunbae on that thin mattress. I needed a plush bed and cozy blankets. Crashing on that flimsy sheet made love feel so dry. Ichie said,
"That's practical. No computer or anything? Guys like games."
"Not into games. Haven't had time since becoming a hunter, and even before that, not really."
"Then what do you do to relax?"
My routine ended with training, meditation, and bed. Pretty much, chatting with Ichie or sex with Yu-jeong sunbae was my entire leisure life. I pondered how to answer without saying something weird. No way could I just blurt out "sex with Yu-jeong sunbae," right?
"Just meditate at home or watch V-Tube on my phone."
"That's no fun. Dad says enjoy life when you're young."
"Sounds like a good guy. Come to think of it, I never heard what your dad does. What's your family like, Ichie?"
"Dad's in construction. Ichigaya Gumi."
Sounded like a big company. I didn't know much about construction, so I just nodded and said,
"Big company?"
"Big. Second biggest in the Kanto region."
Pretty huge, then. I nodded again and said,
"So you're a young lady from a fine family."
"Right. They call me missy at home."
Definitely from a big family. I felt a twinge of tension, then decided to wipe it from my mind. The moment you start judging people by their background, you lose sight of who they really are.
"We're here already."
"It's close."
"Right? Good choice on the room."
Ichie glanced at me sideways but didn't reply, heading into the classroom first. I wondered if I'd said something wrong, replaying it in my head, but nothing came up. Probably just reminded her of something unpleasant.
We took our seats in the room. Even on exam day, the vibe was pretty chaotic. Some kids chattered about weekend plans, others actually studied for the scholarship. Felt like different classes altogether.
Chun-bae bobbed his head to music through earphones, lost in his own world. Kim Ju-seong and Kim Chun-bae, who'd seemed tight early on, weren't hanging out much lately. Chun-bae was still stuck below strength 10 in the bottom ranks, while rumors said Ju-seong had hit his training limit and would add courses soon.
Chun-bae spotted us and suddenly stood. He strode over to me and Ichie, then said to her,
"Ichigaya sunbae. Can we... talk for a sec?"
"Talk?"
Ichie blinked in confusion. Chun-bae nodded, glanced around, then said,
"Not here. Somewhere private."
"Say it here. Important?"
"Uh, y-yeah, kinda awkward here. Let's go somewhere else."
Ichie looked around once, then slowly nodded and stood. As soon as they left, a guy next to Kim Ju-seong spoke up.
"Look at that fucker hitting on her thinking she'll date him 'cause she's Japanese. Degenerate weeb."
Kim Ju-seong calmly defended Chun-bae.
"Don't talk like that. He's not a bad guy."
"Bullshit."
Ju-seong just smirked at the retort. Complaints about Kim Chun-bae started bubbling up among the students.
"Tell that prick to shower. Smells fucking weird."
"Other day, me and Jeong-pyo talking, he butts in outta nowhere? 'That wasn't great...' Who fucking asked?"
I stayed out of it. None of my business. Didn't want to defend Chun-bae, nor join in the bashing. Even the kids training with him seemed fed up with his attitude.
"Heard he mouthed off to the instructor last time? 'Why do I gotta do this training when my ability's so good?' Like, who trains 'cause their ability sucks?"
"Always whining for breaks, saying he's tired. Sick of it. And what does he do on break? Sits in the gym corner playing some weird game."
"Saw him once—the instructor's like, 'Let's try hard,' and he snaps back, 'I'm trying hard too.'"
"For real? He said that?"
Even Kim Ju-seong looked shocked, eyes wide with surprise and interest.
I glanced at Ichie and Chun-bae talking in the hall. Chun-bae looked dead serious, but Ichie just tilted her head, uninterested.
What were they talking about?
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"Th-that Jeong Su-hyeon guy's... super weird and has a bad per-personality."
Kim Chun-bae stammered. Ichie tilted her head. She was caught off guard. She hadn't expected some rando to badmouth her "partner."
"Outta nowhere?"
"Y-you don't know him well, do you? He's bad news. Even his nickname—Ada Bomber. Means a guy who picks on virgins and does creepy shit."
Ichie scanned Chun-bae coolly. He couldn't meet her eyes, scratching his head, legs fidgeting, gaze darting away. Ichie toyed with her sword hilt, fingers tapping a steady rhythm like piano keys.
Tock, tock, tock.
He flinched with each tap. Chun-bae said,
"Y-you don't know Korea well, so I thought I'd..."
"I..."
Ichie spoke up. Chun-bae shut his mouth. She scanned him once more and said firmly,
"I don't like people who speak ill of others."
With that, Ichie opened the door and walked back in. She ignored Chun-bae following and let the door close. He shuffled in late, face drooping, glaring daggers at Jeong Su-hyeon.
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What the hell's his deal? Trying to pick a fight? I couldn't understand Chun-bae's sudden hostility. I'd done nothing to him. Ichie looked a bit upset. I asked,
"Ichie. What happened out there?"
She glanced at me, shook her head, and said,
"Nothing."
Then added,
"Su-hyeon oppa's a good person."
"Uh... thanks?"
Ichie nodded, satisfied. As soon as Chun-bae sat, the guy who'd been talking to Kim Ju-seong asked,
"Hey, so what'd you do out there?"
Chun-bae didn't answer. The guy poked his arm chummily and pressed,
"C'mon, Chun-bae, spill. Huh? Yeah?"
"I said I don't know!"
Kim Chun-bae exploded, jumping up. Everyone—kids chatting among themselves, me, Ichie—snapped to look at him in shock. The guy looked awkward and muttered,
"Okay, fine. No need to yell, fuck."
Right then, the door opened. Teacher Lee Jeong-ah walked in, arms full of test papers. With a blank expression, she said,
"Alright, everyone. As I explained before, we'll start the exam right away."
The uneasy atmosphere settled abruptly at the word "exam."