Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 056
Chapter Title: Catfight
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Friday. 5 p.m.
I headed to the women's dormitory to pick up Kang Ha-neul.
"Ah, Su-ho oppa!"
The moment I spotted the dormitory entrance in the distance, Kang Ha-neul, who had been waiting out front, recognized me and waved. I gave a casual wave back in greeting, and she bounced over to me with quick, springy steps.
"Were you waiting long?"
"No! I just came out too. You're the one who arrived early."
It seemed like the word "oppa" had already settled comfortably on her tongue after just one day. At least she wasn't fumbling and blushing like she had the day before.
...Or so I thought, but her slightly flushed earlobes suggested otherwise. As I stayed quiet, she looked up at me and broke into a beaming smile.
It was an innocent grin, not the polished expression she showed on broadcasts.
That pure, childlike smile naturally brought one to my own lips.
"You look pretty."
"Pardon?"
I realized my mistake the instant her face lit up in surprise at my absentminded mutter, so I quickly added,
"I mean the outfit you're wearing today. You look just like a freshman college student in that."
"Oh, the clothes..."
At my words, she deflated a bit, spreading her arms slightly to look down at her outfit.
Kang Ha-neul was dressed in a beige knit cardigan, a slim white turtleneck, and a sky-blue tennis skirt. It was obviously put-together—no trace of the disheveled look from when we first met.
"...Well, I am a freshman college student, so of course I'd look the part. Meanwhile, you look just like an office worker. No wonder people say guards dress like that."
She pointed out my outfit with a hint of complaint. Unlike her, who'd gone all out, I was in a plain white shirt and slacks—neat if you wanted to call it that, or just thrown-together if you didn't.
It couldn't be helped. Ever since possessing this body, I'd never gone shopping once, so all I had were the basic, safe clothes that came stocked in the closet.
"You're still in your early twenties, oppa. You should dress up a bit more. Don't you think?"
"...Isn't that when people start saying 'mid-twenties' once the 'si' 받침 kicks in?"
"Anyway! No can do. Next time, let's go shopping together. I'll coordinate your whole look."
"That's really not necess—"
"I want to!"
She cut me off mid-sentence, raising her voice a little.
"I want to do it for you... Is that no good...?"
She clung to my arm and gazed up at me anxiously, lips twitching nervously. I had no choice but to nod.
"Alright, then. I'll take you up on that next time."
"Yay!"
She spun around slightly, clenching her fist in delight. I couldn't help but chuckle. Was going shopping for someone else's clothes really that exciting?
I didn't quite get it, but if she was happy, that was what mattered.
"Then let's get going!"
With Kang Ha-neul skipping ahead, I headed toward the Academy's main gate. The closer we got, the more crowded it became.
It's Friday evening—makes sense there are so many people.
Groups of students chatting animatedly as they headed out the gate. The nation's top Hunter Academy or not, they were still fresh-faced young adults in their early twenties. Hitting up bars or karaoke with friends on a Friday night was no different from any other college kids.
By the time we reached the gate, it was packed with taxis called by students. We found the one we'd pre-ordered and hopped in.
"To Sokcho Station, please."
"Sure thing."
Green House was located in Sokcho City, Gangwon Province.
Sokcho in my original world wasn't rural, but it wasn't bustling either. But in this world, it was the most vibrant city in Gangwon—thanks to Green House being established in the late '90s, followed by guilds and corporations partnering with the Academy springing up like mushrooms.
Sokcho Station, which had been abandoned in my old world, was now a major hub connected to the metropolitan subway and KTX lines. The bustling streets around it were said to rival Sinchon or Gangnam...
Yeah, said to be.
Rumors flew about how the station area stacked up to Gangnam, but I'd never actually been there.
Come to think of it, I've been cooped up around the Academy for almost two months since possessing this body.
Instead of going out for fun in my free time, I'd focused on superpower practice and strength training. Right after possession, I'd been swamped with guard duties, Ji Ye-won, and all that anyway.
Here's hoping things stay peaceful for a while.
If events followed the original story, the first major crisis—threatening students' lives—would hit around mid-April.
I wanted to use that roughly one-month buffer to prepare for what came next. Unlike the early days when I was weak and unstable, my life here had settled into something solid.
I need to meet Black Dragon Society's Seol Ah-hyun at least once. And that item auctioned at the end of March—I want to snag it if possible. But that'll require funds. Where can I quickly make some cash using original knowledge...?
Lost in thought with my chin propped up, the driver glanced at me in the rearview mirror.
"Hey, on a date?"
"Pardon?"
His words snapped me back, and I reflexively parroted.
"Heh heh heh! Nah, what. You two all dressed up and heading out side-by-side this time of evening—I figured you were a couple. Not?"
"A c-couple?"
The driver's teasing made Kang Ha-neul's voice tremble with flustered eyes. He grinned warmly at us through the mirror.
"Man, you're one lucky guy! Looks like she's three or four years younger. Y'know that saying? A four-year age gap between man and woman means no need to even check compatibility."
"W-well, we're..."
Kang Ha-neul flushed beet red, stumbling over her words. She looked utterly distressed, so I jumped in.
"We're not a couple."
"Oh? Really?"
The driver laughed awkwardly at my firm denial.
"Aigoo, this old man's mouth ran ahead. The girl kept glancing at you all moony-eyed, so I assumed. Sorry 'bout that."
"No, it's fine..."
I glanced over, and Kang Ha-neul was mumbling to herself, face a mix of embarrassment and panic.
She sneaked a peek at me, then asked softly,
"W-we're not a couple, but... this is a date, right...?"
"...Huh?"
"I mean, just... a guy and a girl going out alone together is a date... right? Eh? N-not that it means anything special! But dates don't have to be between couples! I hear in the West, even close friends call hanging out a date?"
Kang Ha-neul suddenly launched into a rambling etymology and usage lesson on the word "date."
The driver watched her intently, then smirked.
"...Ah, young love."
His mutter faded into the whoosh of wind on the straight road.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A short while later.
The moment I saw the sign for the family restaurant right in front of Sokcho Station, I couldn't help but flinch.
Outback?
The big red letters on the sign matched a famous steakhouse from my original world. I knew some elements here overlapped—like portal sites or celebrities—but seeing it in person felt oddly nostalgic.
"Welcome! Do you have a reservation?"
"Yes. Under Kang Ha-neul."
"Kang Ha-neul plus one—confirmed. Right this way."
The place had a cozy dim lighting and Australian-themed decor. We sat at a window two-top and opened the menus right away.
But the prices were steeper than expected. I shot her a concerned look, but she puffed out her chest proudly.
"Don't worry about the money—order whatever you want."
"Still, isn't it too pricey? I'll pay for mine at least—"
"Don't worry about the money!"
She grinned after repeating her line.
"I hear the pasta here is amazing. So, steak for each of us and one pasta to share... No, two? Wait, could be too much—let's do one pasta. There's bread too! I'll have the T-bone steak and grapefruit ade. You?"
"Darling Point Strip here... and water's fine for me."
"Aw, you could go for something pricier. But T-bone portions are huge anyway, so we'll share. Oh, can I pick the pasta?"
"Knock yourself out."
"Hehe. There's this pasta I've been dying to try. Spicy seafood alio olio, then?"
I nodded, and she rang the bell.
"Yes, ready to order."
The approaching server got the menu pointed out by her eager finger.
"T-bone steak, 580 grams medium. Plus grapefruit ade, spicy seafood alio olio. Oppa wants Darling Point Strip, right? How would you like it cooked?"
"Ah, medium rare for me... Huh?"
"Yes, medium rare confir—Huh?"
Our twin gasps overlapped. Mine, and the server's.
"...Ahn Su-ho?"
The fresh smile on the server's face cracked. Confusion crept over her features under bright ash-gray hair.
"Ji Ye-won? What are you doing h—"
Here. I stopped short as a memory flashed.
'Nope! My name's Ye Ji-won! I came to the city chasing music dreams, crashed into harsh reality, went back home defeated—but couldn't face my parents, so I hastily went independent. Twenty-three-year-old high school grad, unemployed guitarist! Oh, and starting next week, I'll be working at the family restaurant by the station!'
"Ah."
In that instant, I realized the source of the odd déjà vu from yesterday.
No way the place Ha-neul picked overlaps with where Ji Ye-won works.
What a coincidence. An exquisitely contrived one.
...Right?
"Hm? Someone you know?"
Kang Ha-neul tilted her head, oblivious. Ji Ye-won's gaze shifted to her.
For a split second, her pupils seemed to quiver.
"...Who's this?"
"Kang Ha-neul, Green House freshman I met recently. You saw her last time, remember? When you visited me in the hospital..."
"Oh, right. The one who was with you when you got hurt."
They'd only crossed paths briefly since Ha-neul left right as Ji Ye-won arrived, but she remembered her face. At the reminder, Kang Ha-neul gasped in recognition too.
"Ah! I remember you. You came a bit late, with bananas and grapes... But, uh, what's your relationship with her?"
"Relationship?"
Defining my tie to Ji Ye-won was tricky in one word. After hemming and hawing, I vaguely settled on,
"Uh, neighbor next door."
"O-oppa's next-door neighbor...?"
"Oppa, huh...?"
Their eyes met. Some invisible tension crackled between them, beyond my sight.
"What? Why are you two like this?"
They turned to me in unison, glaring like alley cats who'd bumped into each other.
"You, alone in a restaurant with a girl? What's the occasion?"
Ji Ye-won spoke first, leaning over the table toward me—as if to block my view of Kang Ha-neul.
"F-for the favor from last time—"
"It's a d-date?"
"Huh?"
"...A date?"
Their stares pinned me. Kang Ha-neul smiled awkwardly; Ji Ye-won glared suspiciously.
"Y-you said so in the taxi, remember? Right, oppa?"
She pressed, eyes flickering with unease.
"A date? For real?"
Ji Ye-won matched her anxiety, eyes trembling as she demanded the truth.
Hold up. No fucking way this is...
In that sudden situation.
That unexpected clash.
That utterly baffling scene.
One possibility flashed through my mind.
Is this a catfight?
Catfight.
Cat squabble.
Webnovel slang for heroines sniping at each other over the protagonist.
I calmly reviewed the situation from a third-person view.
Two female characters bumping into each other unexpectedly.
Mysterious hostility between them.
And me stuck in the middle, them glancing at me while prodding for answers.
The analysis matched perfectly with standard harem webnovel or romcom manga catfight scenes.
"Answer me, Ahn Su-ho. Is this for real?"
"Oppa, you remember what we said in the taxi, right?"
It matched—but I still couldn't wrap my head around it.
Why the hell would they catfight over me?
I wasn't the protagonist, and neither were they heroines. So where did catfight even come from?
As I hesitated in confusion, Kang Ha-neul snapped at Ji Ye-won impatiently.
"I get you're neighbors and happy to see each other, but can you take our order first? We're customers, you're the server?"
Ji Ye-won shot her a sharp glare.
A tense air crackled between them.
Silence thick with anticipation.
Ji Ye-won backed down first. Predictable—she couldn't argue customer-server hierarchy.
She bit her lip in frustration.
"...Alright, confirming your order. T-bone 580g medium, Darling Point Strip medium rare. Spicy seafood alio olio, grapefruit ade. Correct?"
"Yes. Now that that's done, can you go? We have stuff to talk about."
"...Order received. Bread coming right up—please wait."
"If possible, have another server bring it. I don't want our date interrupted."
"Date..."
Ji Ye-won glanced between us, huffed through her nose, then leaned to whisper in my ear as she passed.
"Hey. You two really like that?"
"...Excuse me?"
"Whatever. I'll come by after work. Explain then. Got it?"
She emphasized "home," shooting Kang Ha-neul a side-eye before whirling away. Whispered, but clearly for her to hear.
As Ji Ye-won left, Kang Ha-neul fumed at me.
"...Oppa. What's with her?"
"Told you. Neighbors."
"Just neighbors? That's it? Right?"
"Yes."
"For real?"
"How many times? No, why are you so hung up on Ji—Ye Ji-won?"
"Well..."
She pouted, blurting petulantly,
"...I just don't like that Ye Ji-won girl much."
Dodging the question. But reading the intent behind her actions wasn't hard.
Not hard at all.
But why?
I wasn't the dense harem protag type—I had at least that much sense. Their attitudes were blatantly obvious.
Kang Ha-neul was straight out of a harem story, jealous of another heroine. Ji Ye-won was subtler, but the vibe was similar.
So why? Why were they acting like harem heroines toward me?
They can't both have fallen for me...
No way. Ridiculous delusion. I shook my head firmly.
Our relationships were barely two weeks and a month old. What could spark romance in that time? Sure, I'd saved each from crises, but falling for a stranger over one rescue? Absurd.
This wasn't some novel.
... ... ... Wait, fuck. It is a novel.
Right—this world was from a novel. And in webnovels, the source genre here, heroines falling hard after one save was cliché as hell.
And Kang Ha-neul and Ji Ye-won were novel characters.
Slowly, calmly—let's review.
I retraced their behaviors and reactions toward me.
I knew it was pathetic to assume crushes without confessions. So I analyzed coldly.
...Ambiguous.
That was the verdict. We'd built some camaraderie resolving incidents, but romantic interest? Maybe.
Ji Ye-won first. Since our heart-to-heart at her place, we'd opened up like friends or trusted allies—no romance there. Or so I thought.
Kang Ha-neul too. She'd warmed up, but stayed within friendly junior or little sister bounds. Calling me oppa and being chummy didn't mean love. I wasn't some old fogey confusing courtesy for affection.
...Or so I thought.
But then.
"Bread's here."
"...Excuse me. I specifically asked for another server."
"Busy time—everyone's tied up."
"There are two chatting at the counter?"
"I'm still new. Hard to dump my work on seniors."
"It's a customer request. Want me to file a formal complaint?"
"If you insist after my explanation, no choice. Big trouble—finding another job, scraping living expenses... Guess I'd have to lean on my kind neighbor then."
"Wh-what? What does that—"
"Su-ho and I are close. Neighbors, so dinners together, grocery runs. Oh, borrowed her bathroom once."
"B-bathroom?!"
"Not borrowed? We went in together—'borrowed' doesn't fit?"
"T-t-to-together???"
So why the fuck are you two shooting a third-rate light novel catfight scene right in front of me...?
I wanted to blurt, "What's with you two? Crushing on me?" But no way.
Probably—hell, highly likely—no romantic feelings. Asking that would kill the vibe, wreck our bonds. Without ironclad certainty, no guy asks "You like me?" first in romance. And I was denying the possibility full throttle.
Anyway. With the story's ending on the line, these relationships mattered. I couldn't risk them on a silly hunch.
But.
"Oppa? What do you mean bathroom together? Don't tell me you two are..."
"Huh? Thought you were acting all couple-y earlier. Guess not yet?"
"Oppa! She's really just a neighbor, right?!"
"How long you gonna sulk silently? Explain already."
"Say it. Oppa! Huh?!"
"I get the gist, but say it from your mouth. What's with her?"
"...Look, you two barely met today—why the blood feud?"
Their heroine-like persistence dangled the truth like bait.
"Feels like facing obsessive girlfriends."
Risking a bit, I tested the waters.
"What?"
"Huh?"
Their gasps synced. Kang Ha-neul and Ji Ye-won gawked like I'd lost it.
Awkward silence.
"Ha."
"Ahaha..."
They shook their heads in disbelief.
"...What? You eat something bad? Girlfriend? There's limits to wishful thinking."
"Oppa, you're joking, right? We've barely known each other..."
Ji Ye-won rubbed her arms like she had chills. Kang Ha-neul scratched her head awkwardly. They didn't say it outright, but the subtext screamed: Don't flatter yourself. As if.
"...Ahem."
But Ji Ye-won flushed to her ears, averting her eyes awkwardly.
"Heh. Fufu..."
And Kang Ha-neul glanced down, letting slip a pleased little laugh.
Fuck me.
The possibility I'd denied over and over started gaining eerie traction.
...The plausibility's utterly fucked.