Chapter 130
Chapter 130
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: 44. Perplexity (1)
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There was a large hill behind Dormitory 107. It was one of the few real mountains on Hate Ling.
Though it was a restricted area off-limits to cadets, lately, more and more people had been visiting the place.
"Ppi-yung."
The chick arrived first.
About once a week, Ppi-yung would sneak out of the dormitory and head to the mountain. Now a bit larger than a basketball, it could even glide using mana.
Having claimed this area as its territory, the chick waged fierce battles against the cat spirit gang. In the past, it would get beaten bloody every time, but now, with its increased size, the cat spirits were no match for Ppi-yung.
"Meeeow…."
The cat whose head was being stomped by the chick let out an angry yowl. In response, more pressure was applied to the paw pinning its head.
"Ppi-yung. (Try invading again if you dare.)"
"Ppi-yak. (Say your last words to your kittens first.)"
As soon as the foot lifted, the cat spirits scampered away in a panic.
The chick always found it puzzling. They never fled far, even after running. They must have a hideout nearby, but it couldn't figure out where or what they were up to.
Anyway, chasing them off was enough. After the fight, Ppi-yung would vanish somewhere. During Gaeul's absences, the chick busily searched for something. It always returned home before she did.
"You went out again, didn't you."
On unlucky days, it would run into Bom.
"Ppi-yung? (Ppi-yung?)"
"Acting cute won't work. You planning to keep sneaking out like this?"
"Ppi-yak."
"It's not just going out. You fight with someone and always come back hurt."
Bom scolded the chick in her gentle tone. Even thinking it might not understand, she couldn't help but speak out of frustration.
"Seriously. What if Gaeul sees you hurt? What are you going to do then?"
Gaeul adored Ppi-yung.
She always hugged it to sleep. In the mornings, it was the first thing she looked for. She brushed its bright yellow feathers every day. When not in class, she hand-fed it and took it for walks.
"This won't do."
Even Bom felt heartbroken seeing the chick return injured. What if Gaeul, who had brought it home first, saw it?
Bom sighed and summoned the Guardian.
"Yes, Miss. You called?"
"From now on, watch this child."
The Guardian's red eyes gleamed.
From that day, the chick was confined to the storage room during Gaeul's absences.
— Ppi-yak ppi-yak!
Meanwhile, another sneaky escape artist emerged: Winter.
Classes rarely overlapped completely, so someone was always in the dormitory. But when everyone was out, Winter would nap, read books, or play with the Guardian and chick to pass the time.
Here's where Winter's secret came in—no one except Yoo Ji-tae knew.
Once it could walk well on two legs and fly using magic, Winter often slipped out Bom's window to wander the residential district.
As a dragon of sorts, and having received Bom's magic, it could clumsily handle a dragon's subspace, Cheonri (S). No risk of getting caught.
Lately, Winter had picked up a new hobby: feeding the cat spirits.
Today, too, Winter sneaked out some chick feed, stuffed both arms full, and flew off, concealing its presence. It headed to the ridge below the back mountain of 107.
After feeding them here a few times, the cat spirits always gathered. Covered in wounds from who-knows-what fights, Winter spread out the feed bag for them.
Chomp chomp….
Munch munch….
Winter smiled at the sounds of the cat spirits eating.
They devoured it so eagerly—it was heartwarming just to watch.
Some spirits approached to lick Winter, but it shook its head, refusing. Too dirty.
"…Tasty?"
Meowrr.
Myaaaooong!
But today, one spirit placed something in front of Winter.
A dead rat.
"……."
Winter frowned and shook its head.
"…No need."
Meow….
Kyaang….
The cat spirits, understanding, looked dejected.
Anyway, while feeding them as usual, a rustling sound came from behind. Crunch— The cat spirits startled and bolted into the woods.
Left alone by the feed, Winter turned to see a massive shadow over its head.
"Little Miss. What are you doing here?"
It was Bom, in oversized padding, floral apron, brand-new rubber gloves, black mask, and sunglasses hiding gleaming red eyes.
The Guardian.
When asked what it was doing, Winter glanced slyly and held out the feed with both hands. Meaning: feeding them.
"Sigh. Little Miss, you can't feed the cats."
"…Why?"
"They're swarming the area, so the chick comes out to fight them."
Winter tilted its head.
"…Hungry, though."
"Still no. They hunt on their own and eat fine. No more feeding. I'll store the feed."
Winter crossed its arms sulkily. But even the ever-indulgent Guardian was firm this time.
"Let's go, Miss."
Winter's bravado crumbled into gloom.
"…Hate you."
"Thinking of serializing it."
"Serializing?"
Bom, in round glasses, nodded.
"Too long till the contest. Staring at a blank page is tough. Feedback from readers would help."
"I'm giving you feedback."
"Not scared, huh?"
True. Bom's novel wasn't scary at all.
"Thought about it. Is there even a novel that could scare you?"
"Dunno."
"See? Your horror fan credentials are suspect."
"……."
He rubbed his nape. As a regressor, he'd studied other novels to learn horror: grotesque disgust, twists, fear of the unknown, disappearance of the confident. Common tropes. But Bom's lacked them.
"Maybe the genre doesn't suit you."
"Why?"
"Write what you're good at. You know magic well. Fantasy?"
"I'm super scary."
"……."
Her face was brazen.
"I'm a dragon, kinda…."
"Fine, sure."
Bom, who had been staring blankly at Ji-tae, turned to her screen.
"Anyway, you not getting scared proves nothing. Normal people will."
And a week later.
"……."
Bom's fists trembled as she viewed the screen. She'd serialized quite a bit, but the response was poor.
"What's wrong."
"……."
Bom slowly removed her glasses and set them on the desk.
"Not scary, they say. My novel."
Told you.
"You weren't thinking 'I knew it,' right?"
Bom whipped around to face Ji-tae. He flinched.
Rare scowl, heavy breathing. Fists clenched tight. First time she'd been this mad since Yeoreum humiliated her in Africa.
"No. Why isn't this scary? It scares me."
"What're they saying."
"This. Look."
Bom showed the comments.
"No. Why are they laughing…!"
They were laughing at her scary novel. Bom was fuming.
"That's what they say."
Bom sighed deeply, covering her eyes.
There was a collar-grab scene. But even to Ji-tae, it wasn't scary. It just didn't feel like something a monster would do.
"You think it's not scary too?"
"Yeah."
"Why? Imagine it's not broad daylight."
He silently shook his head. Not scary was not scary. Bom snapped her fingers. Click! Lights out, curtains drawn automatically. In the dark, she grabbed Ji-tae's collar as he sat beside her.
Then leaned in close.
"See? Still not? Monster glaring down like this?"
She made an angry face.
Still not scary. Close or far, no difference. As he shook his head, Bom released him with a deflated look and slumped in her chair. "Aah—." A sigh like the world was ending.
"I'm so deflated. No talent for writing."
"You write well."
"……."
"It's the collar grab. Why that?"
"Sudden invasion of space is scary. No mental prep…?"
"Yeah?"
"Can't run when collared."
Her reasoning.
Bom looked downcast.
Ji-tae stood. He suppressed his presence, melting into the dark. As startled Bom looked around, a firm hand emerged from the shadows, gripping her chin.
She jolted back against the wall. "Eut…!" Slowly, Ji-tae's face emerged from the darkness.
Suddenly.
Unexpected.
No prep.
Couldn't turn away, pure panic on Bom's face.
"……!"
Next instant, she shoved his shoulders with both hands, full force. Ji-tae backed off appropriately.
"How was that? Convincing?"
"Uh…."
"Collar's too clumsy. Chin grab forcing eye contact—scarier, right?"
Probably. Even with senses dulled for dragons lately, he heard her dragon heart thumping wildly. That scared her.
"Wasn't that scary either?"
"You jumped."
"Surprised. Just surprised."
"……."
"For real…. Warn me next time?"
"Why."
Despite words, it scared her. Proved by Bom, head lowered, muttering softly with a hot sigh.
"…This is troublesome."
She looked extremely troubled.
For a fleeting moment, Ji-tae felt something unfamiliar. He wanted to trouble her more.
How to describe it? He pondered silently. Reminded him of Bom enjoying his own predicaments. Was this her feeling? She called it "fun."
So, he enjoyed making the Green Dragon squirm?
Intrigued by the novelty, the regressor decided to try again.
"Bom."
Her spring-green eyes turned to him.