Chapter 19
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Dormitory Ghost Story
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'The dormitory, huh.'
The Seoul Hunter Academy was massive enough to house pretty much every facility you could think of right on campus.
Large shopping centers, restaurants, movie theaters, and all sorts of other entertainment spots.
You could satisfy almost any need without ever stepping off campus.
'Which is why the dorm competition is ridiculously high.'
In fact, most of the faculty and staff lived in the dorms too.
And naturally, the students were all clamoring to get in.
The academy had three dorm buildings: A, B, and C Wings.
Put them all together, and it was like a full apartment complex.
For a dorm, it was shockingly huge.
Even excluding the students, you needed more maintenance staff than pupils just to keep the Hunter Academy running, so it made sense.
But the cost for student dorms—excluding faculty...
'Don't think about it.'
No need to dwell on pricing that makes you question if it's really a national institution.
Most of the academy's students came from the so-called 'gold spoon' elite.
No issue for them.
"Do I have that kind of spare cash?"
Just thinking about my little sister's hospital bills made staying in a place like that impossible.
'Ugh, now I've gone and thought about it.'
Don't. Say. It.
'But where there's a will, there's a way!'
Not that I found it—I just remembered it.
[Dormitory Administrative Office]
The building right in front of me.
This was where pretty much all dorm-related matters got handled.
'With a setup this big, no surprise they have a dedicated office on campus.'
I pushed open the door and stepped inside. It was fairly quiet.
A dozen or so new students applying for dorms seemed to be the only ones there.
Dorm applications were already nearing the deadline.
Makes sense.
"Kim Si-woo?"
One unexpected face, though.
'Why's Baek A-rin here?'
She must have been applying for one of the special suites in A Wing.
'Perks of being a chaebol daughter.'
Though seriously, why do the school dorms even have tiers like that?
Given Baek A-rin's personality, you'd think she'd refuse to touch money she didn't earn herself.
Truth is, she's a bit more nuanced.
Anything legitimately hers, she'll squeeze every drop out of.
'It's her due as heir to the Snow Mountain Clan—no reason not to claim it. Smart girl.'
A special suite with perfect access to the academy and top-notch amenities.
Of course, better rest means better performance.
That's probably why she picked A Wing special.
'Lucky.'
No, what am I even thinking?
Lucky? What for!
From here on, what I'm getting is way better!
Superior!
My sweet home!
Even if I had the money, I wouldn't have picked A, B, or C.
Baek A-rin spotted me and waved with a faint smile.
A sly, fox-like grin.
"Baek A-rin smiling at a guy...?"
"Who's that?"
"Check the badge—E3, right?"
The guys looked stunned by her reaction.
A girl who seemed to be the group's center spoke up in disbelief.
"You think A-rin would hang with a loser like that? You must be seeing things."
As if she'd ever be friends with trash like that.
'What's the average morality level in the Awakening to SSS Hunter Academy world?'
I ignored them and approached the counter.
"How can I help you?"
"I applied for a dorm, but I haven't gotten approval yet."
The female staffer tilted her head curiously.
"With how competitive they are, it might not go through."
"No way that's happening."
The group's girl shouted my way.
That pig girl from earlier.
"Hey! They probably saw you couldn't pay and cut you. You even know dorm prices?"
She snickered mockingly, like it was hilarious.
No, pig girl.
...I know ten times better than you.
It was a cheap, third-rate villain vibe—different from the commanding aura of someone like Kang Hwa-yeon or Baek A-rin.
'No upside to getting involved.'
I ignored the pig and asked the staffer.
"Kim Si-woo, freshman E3 rank. Could you check?"
"Sure thing."
They must've overheard, because the chewing started.
"Yeah, that dead last."
"The one with just one skillbook?"
"What was he thinking applying here?"
Pig got even more pissed that I ignored her.
"A nobody like that getting in? Academy standards have tanked."
Yeah, I can't hear you.
Like reciting sutras to a cow's ear.
Insults that petty don't even register after all the crap I've weathered.
'Wait, thinking about it... what kind of life did I even live in my past one...?'
The staffer rummaged through papers for a bit, then looked at me with mild surprise.
"Kim Si-woo? You really applied here?"
"Yes. Any issue?"
She frowned, puzzled.
"This is weird. Where'd you even hear about this...?"
Sorry.
I read Awakening to SSS Hunter Academy.
"Dormitory G, right? You sure?"
"Yes."
"That's not actually in operation."
"It should still be applicable administratively. Please check."
I smiled as I spoke, and she replied awkwardly.
"Got it. But it'll probably get denied."
Pig jumped on my words.
"Like he knows better than staff."
"Ignorance makes 'em bold."
Then an older staffer emerged from behind the counter.
"Dormitory G? We don't advertise it, but we gotta take applications."
"Really?"
"Administratively, it's fully valid. Can't turn it down! Been ages since G Wing saw any life. Heh heh heh."
The old guy chuckled and headed back.
Dormitory G.
The old wooden building that predated A, B, and C Wings.
Once the new ones went up, it got shuttered due to outdated facilities.
But regulations require keeping low-cost options, so it lingers on paper only.
Probably no students know it's even an option—maybe not even most staff.
"Sorry, must've been my oversight."
The staffer apologized. Pig looked away in disbelief,
while Baek A-rin watched with interest.
She continued, her tone tinged with concern.
"But are you sure about this?"
The reason she asked.
Dormitory G's ghost story.
Officially shut down for disrepair, but that's not the truth.
There was a murder back in the day.
After that, every resident reported ghosts or weird experiences—lost their minds one by one. Foot traffic dried up.
Mention of Dormitory G had the group—and even Baek A-rin—staring in shock.
'This is the real honey spot, you idiots.'
Not as rundown as the rumors say,
close to the main academy building,
and best of all, no residents means the whole wing's mine. Insane perks.
"Yes, I'm set on Dormitory G."
I smiled back, and she sighed.
"Alright. Normally dorm fees are due upfront for the semester, but you can get a full refund within the first week. Come back if anything feels off."
She stamped the papers.
"I can move in today, right?"
"Yes, no manager there, so anytime."
"Thanks."
As I turned to leave after thanking her,
pig approached me.
"Pfft! Perfect fit. Congrats on dorm life."
"Thanks."
I smiled back.
She scowled, displeased.
"Do you know who I am?"
"Sorry, no clue."
As if.
Second daughter of the Cheongsong Clan.
Not big, not small... kinda forgettable, honestly.
"Hah! You little...'
Why pick on me? I'm nothing but gentle, even to pigs.
As she started snapping at me,
"Looks like you have words for my benefactor. Want me to pass them on? Say it again for me?"
"Huh?"
Baek A-rin stepped up, done with her business, planting herself in front of pig.
The arrogant girl clammed up instantly.
"N-no, I mean..."
"You've been itching to chat me up since I walked in, acting all buddy-buddy."
Baek A-rin pointed to her eyes.
"If you wanna be friends, work on telling people apart first. I don't hang with folks who can't spot the difference between a puppy and a tiger."
Ah, so that's why she was nice to me but hysterical with her? Bitching about Baek A-rin through me?
Nasty piece.
"What? When did I ever do anything to you!"
"Must be a misunderstanding. I didn't specifically mean you with 'tiger.'"
"Then who..."
Baek A-rin glanced my way.
"Oh. There he is. The tiger."
I was the tiger, huh.
She turned to the group.
"And you all—choose friends wisely..."
She paused, like something clicked.
"Ah! You're all birds of a feather anyway."
Guess she slotted me as tiger-tier.
Didn't think much of it,
but watching pig fume wordlessly felt pretty good.
'Reality's topping the novel for appeal.'
Baek A-rin turned to me with a smile.
"So, when are we eating?"
Why's she so obsessed with food?
"Should be coming into view any minute now."
I climbed a path overgrown with weeds, like it hadn't been touched in ages—just faint traces left.
A small hill trail inside academy grounds, but a chill like deep mountain woods prickled my spine.
"Hoo."
I exhaled roughly and looked up.
'Here it is.'
Through rustling leaves and sunlight,
a signboard appeared before my eyes.
[ag-mukig-susaG]
They say the dead do everything backwards.
Applause with the back of their hands.
Speech reversed.
So they flipped this too?
Fine. Me too.
"A tih sumeu ney gi yeki!"
Hand it over.