Chapter 1
Chapter 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: I'm the Only Human at Beastkin University, and They're Obsessed With Me
-----------------------------------------------------------------
They say life is like the branches of a tree.
You know, you follow the path laid out before you, picking from all the forks in the road, walking some more, choosing again. Everyone claims they're always aiming for the best option, right?
But why me?
Why do I always pick the worst one? Why? What the actual hell?
"God... fuck..."
I'd made a bet with a friend.
The loser—the one with the lowest damage output in the canyon—had to fill out every college aspiration slot except their first choice with "that" university.
I lost by the slimmest of margins, but I was confident in my grades, my school record, and my interview skills, so I didn't hesitate. Filled every blank with "that" university.
And then, like some ghost haunting me, my life started unraveling.
I actually got accepted.
To "that" university.
Beastkin University.
One hundred years ago.
Gates opened in South Korea.
The government sent in the military to these massive gates that appeared out of nowhere, and that's when the beings on the other side revealed themselves.
Animals.
They had bodies just like humans, walked on two legs, spoke a language, had incredible athleticism—but no matter how you sliced it, they looked like animals.
Their leader said to the Korean president:
"We are the First Leader, rulers of the otherworld. We wish to forge friendly relations with humanity."
The whole situation in Korea was broadcast live overseas thanks to foreign media, and major powers started urging Korea to accept the otherworld race—the First Leader, or Furries for short.
Crazy furballs. Are you out of your minds???
If a time machine gets invented, I'll be the first in line. I'd go back and tell them to just kill the bastards outright!!
Deviant fetishes are a mental illness. And with a not-insignificant chunk of Korea's population suffering from one, the president accepted the Furries' proposal. And what did that lead to?
As the first step toward harmony between our races, they pushed interspecies arranged marriages between humans and Furries. Insane furballs!
Over the next century, their numbers grew substantially. With a mandate for equal education, humans and Furries joined forces to establish universities in every country for their mixed-blood offspring, the Beastkin.
And the name of those universities? That's right—Beastkin University.
Which is where I'll be attending, by the way.
Joo Ji-hyeok.
Why?
Because I bombed my first-choice school!
Kyarruk!
Ughhh...
Why does this shit happen to me? Isn't reserve number one supposed to guarantee admission? Why not me?
Huhuhuhuh...
Mom, who played with Furries as a kid, just told me to get along with the Beastkin.
Of course, I'm a good son—I listen to Mom. I don't hate Beastkin anyway; it's just the Furries that get under my skin!
But first off, isn't the commute insane? School's in Seoul, house is way out in bumfuck Pocheon. Six hours round-trip on the subway alone!!!!
So I applied for the dorms. Honestly, if I didn't get in, I'd use that as an excuse to drop out and retake the exam...
And I got in. Shit.
They approved it because commuting would make dropping out unavoidable. What a kind university. So thoughtful!
Clackety-clack.
And that's why I'm on the subway heading to school right now. Classes start tomorrow, so I need to check in early. Already shipped my stuff ahead—on my way, but...
Aaah... the whole world's full of Beastkin...
Fur's flying everywhere in this train car.
Furries, little Beastkin kids holding their Furry parents' hands. But mostly Beastkin my age, which is already giving me a glimpse of my future. Depressing as hell.
This must be how a lone white guy feels dropped into a black neighborhood. Whoa, weasel Beastkin. That waist-to-leg ratio is wild.
Broad daylight on the subway, and every kind of Beastkin and Furry is here. Hmm. At least it's Beastkin University, not Furry U? Beastkin are half-human, while Furries are just animals playing dress-up... Ack, ptoo! What the—?!
"Urk."
I was spacing out staring when something brushed my mouth. A rat Beastkin's tail! Why a rat tail of all things?! And how'd such a tiny body reach me? You messing with me?!
A cat tail would've been better!!!
Not that I like either!
Anyway!!!
After a bumpy ride, I finally reached the university.
From the outside, it looks like any ordinary college, but the furballs rolling around campus everywhere set it apart. If I had a fur allergy, I'd be buried and dead by now.
I probably shouldn't just trash the school I'll be attending, so if I had to name a positive...
Nothing?
Okay, fine. The dorms.
No, the dorms. The dorms are great.
Beastkin with Furry blood are super territorial. Single rooms or multi-occupancy are the norm, but as the lone human student, I got assigned a single. Score!
"You're Joo Ji-hyeok, right?"
"Uh, yeah."
Bzzz—
I passed through the automatic doors into the dorm supervisor's office, where the first thing I saw was a dog Beastkin supervisor with huge ears and a fluffy tail. Those eyes are scary. Big-dog Beastkin are intimidating, man.
"A human student, huh. You're Joo Ji-hyeok?"
"Uh, yeah."
"ID."
"Here."
The supervisor snatched my ID, sniffed it, and wrinkled her nose.
"Good. No scent of lies."
What kinda smell is that even?!
Once the "verification" was done, she handed me my dorm keycard.
It said Narae Dorm. So that's where I'm staying! ...Wait, Narae Dorm?!
"Supervisor, you gave me the wrong one. Narae Dorm's the girls' Beastkin dorm!"
"So?"
"I'm a guy! I should be in Maru Dorm!"
A guy in the girls' dorm?! One wrong move and it's #MeToo, life ruined!
Gasp. Did they plan this from the start?!
Heading to college and immediately hit with Beastkin racism—gonna get MeToo'd!!!
I froze in paranoid terror, and the supervisor sighed.
"You don't know? Male Beastkin are hot-blooded and vicious. Stick a weak human like you in there, and come mating season, they might shower you with 'classmate love' nonstop."
"Aha!"
I snatched the keycard and bolted from the office.
A Post-it on the back had my room number.
"Room 503? Why 503 of all numbers?"
Evokes that princess locked in a breadbun tower... Not hinting my life's a prison sentence, right?
Nah, no way!!
Beep—.
Swiped into Narae Dorm.
Oh. Cleaner than I thought.
Imagined Beastkin living spots with piss stains on torn wallpaper, fur-clogged shit piles in corners. But these are educated college Beastkin? Way cleaner than expected. Impressed.
Plus, cozy warm inside despite the chilly season. Big win!
Ding—.
[Fifth floor.]
Rode the elevator up.
Every dorm room door wide open. Guess I'm the first freshman to move in.
"503. My room. Oh, luggage already here."
Beastkin are strong, huh? Must've moved it for me.
Stepping into my dorm room, it finally felt real—I was in college. Like a dream. Surreal. Beastkin University. Huhuhu.
But hey, not a bad vibe so far!
Felt it on the way in, but the place shines like new construction. Private bathroom per room—dorm or solo apartment? Hard to tell!
Time to unpack! Clothes, toiletries, laptop, charger...
And just like that, three hours gone!
Groooowl!!!
"I'm starving!!!"
Sun high in the sky!!! Lunchtime!!!!
Dorm cafeteria opens before term starts, right!
Charged out of the dorm toward the cafeteria!!!!! ...Then backed right up!!!
What the hell!!
Isn't tomorrow the first day? Why so many students!!! All dormers?!
The Beastkin lining up inside looked downright alien. Never seen this many at once, and the human-like bodies with animal ears, tails, or patterns? Major dissonance!
But the real mindfuck? I'm the only human in the bunch!!
When you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes back. Hesitating at the cafeteria entrance, and Beastkin eyes turned my way.
"That's this year's freshman, huh."
"Didn't last year's and the year before's drop out before even finishing a semester?"
"Wonder how long this one's gonna last..."
What.
If the humans from last year and the year before dropped out before 3rd year... does that mean I'm the only one left?
Should I just drop out too? Retake the exam?
Mulling that seriously when buuuzz! My smartphone rang.
[Mom]
[Hope my boy's doing okay? Must be tough adjusting to a strange new place far from home while studying, but Mom believes in you~ Love you, son! Fighting~^^!!]
"Mooom..."
Eyes getting misty.
Yeah. I'm Joo Ji-hyeok, the flaming filial son. I'll listen to Mom. No dropping out, no retakes. I'll graduate, no matter what...!
Phone already out, so checked KakaoTalk too.
Amid app ads, one friend checking in. Note: the most hated bastard right now.
[Na Min-seo: Dude lol how's college life? lolol]
"You bitch!"
Na Min-seo. Top laner girl friend—unlike my ADC role—and the culprit who landed me here at Beastkin U!!!!!
If I hadn't bet with her, I wouldn't be here!!
Agh, sure, I could've refused the bet. But she poked at a guy's pride you don't touch.
—"Dude. Lowest damage writes Beastkin U in 2nd/3rd choices?"
—"Psh. Who'd put that?"
—"Hahaha. Scared?"
—"Bet. Now."
How do you hold back? How?!
I should've held back somehow, Joo Ji-hyeok!!!!!
[Me: Bitch fr I can't tell if I came to college or the zoo ffs]
[Na Min-seo: lmaoooo prolly all Beastkin in the cafeteria too lol]
[Me: Fr ;;;]
Incredibly, she nailed it. Male, female Beastkin alike, ordering cafeteria food on human trays and staring at me. Even outside, they're whispering and eyeing me—what happens if I go in? Total aggro magnet.
Wiped cold sweat.
[Me: Fk it convenience store go]
[Na Min-seo: Pussy lol?]
[Me: lol]
Went back in.
Grabbed the cheapest meal.
Tray in hand, about to eat, when Na Min-seo sends a pic.
[Na Min-seo: (sent photo)]
"Th... th-that's...!"
Her with new dorm buddies—humans!—devouring pizza.
That should've been me!
Agh, not the time.
The Beastkin, curious about the sole human enrollee, started tilting heads.
Humans usually mind their business, but mixed with animals, these guys broadcast interest everywhere.
So what'd I do?
Dont-look-back!
Shoveled food in so fast I couldn't tell if it went mouth or nose. Bolted.
Guess this is how I'll eat from now on?
Did I come to college for this? Self-loathing hits hard...