Chapter 183
Chapter 183
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 183
Chapter Title: Episode 60. Campus Community Service 10/10 (1)
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When he suggested they take their time and talk things through,
her flustered emotions seemed to have calmed a bit.
From the next day onward, Bom was different from her usual self. He couldn't quite put his finger on what it was, but she had definitely changed. It felt similar to how Yoo Ji-tae could often distinguish her sulky expressions.
If they needed fixed time slots, it wasn't impossible to make them. Among the three Yoo Ji-taes, this one was maintaining daily life. And daily life came with plenty of spare time.
Especially when heading out for meals—it painted a perfectly plausible picture even if it was just the two of them.
Today, it was dinner.
“That looks tasty.”
He had come to the large mart with Bom. The kid who usually ignored tasting stations was poking around everywhere today, diligently sampling everything.
“What is it?”
“Mandu. Do you like mandu?”
“It's okay.”
“Try this.”
She skewered one with a toothpick and ate it. Then she skewered another and handed it to Yoo Ji-tae. He accepted it smoothly out of habit now and popped it in his mouth.
“How is it?”
“Tasty.”
“More specifically?”
“...Hmm. The seasoning's just right. Spicy—Yeoreum would like it.”
Bom nodded and grabbed a pack of mandu.
Next up was a stick-shaped long snack. Bom bit off half and offered the rest to Yoo Ji-tae. He took it without thinking and ate.
“How is it?”
“Good. This one's for Winter.”
“Right?”
Bom grabbed the snack.
Then it was yogurt in a small paper cup. Bom scooped up a big spoonful, shoved it in her mouth, wandered around eyeing other yogurts for a bit, then scooped another big one and held it out to him.
The spoon—she hadn't used it, had she? He hesitated for a second and pulled away.
“Huh?”
As he slightly drew back his head, Bom leaned in closer. He pulled back again, and she went up on her tiptoes, pressing the spoon toward his lips.
Then something blocked Yoo Ji-tae's back. Of all places, they were next to a pillar. He stayed expressionless, but the yogurt touched his lips. With no choice, he ate it.
“Huh? Why'd you do that just now?”
“No... it's fine.”
“Don't tell me you thought it was the one I lipped?”
“...”
When he didn't answer, Bom lit up like his reaction was adorable and giggled softly under her breath.
Then she pointed toward the tasting station.
“I threw away the one I ate. This is a new one. It's yours, ajusshi.”
“...Wasn't thinking anything.”
“Oh, really?”
She narrowed her eyes slyly and smiled. Then she said nothing more. Suddenly feeling like he'd been had, Yoo Ji-tae roughly shoveled down the yogurt in the cart. When Bom returned from the station with her own yogurt, her eyes went wide.
“Huh? You ate it all?”
“You said it was mine.”
“Yeah.”
But with her smirking like that, a nagging suspicion lingered.
The shopping continued like that.
This year too, thousands of cadets entered Lair.
A massive, grand graduation ceremony unfolded, and there was a brief mishap where this year's declaration reader got compared to last year's Gaeul. With entrance ceremonies happening simultaneously, thousands coming and going made the academy district bustle for a while.
And today, the new semester finally began.
That was why the girls had dug out their cadet uniforms after so long.
“Ah, this fucking sucks.”
Yeoreum grumbled, holding up her cadet skirt.
“Huh? Why?”
“Why the hell is it so short when I'm tall?”
Originally 170cm, Yeoreum had done 'standing training' with Yoo Ji-tae over break. Right after some enlightenment from it, her height shot up massively for some reason—fully 6cm. Which made her already short skirt feel way too short now. Walking made her overly conscious of everything below.
“Hey, Yoo Gaeul. Look.”
“Eww... why's your butt sticking out?”
“How's it look?”
“How's what look? It's gross...!”
“Ugh, uwaaang...!” Gaeul groaned, caught in a headlock.
Wondering what the noise was, Winter poked her head out from Bom's room.
“Look again. Butthole showing?”
“Hmm... no? But it does seem super short...! Want some of unni's shorts?”
As they chattered, Gaeul suddenly questioned.
“But why's being tall a problem? Just shrink it back?”
“You never tried? Polymorph body modding?”
“Nope!”
“Try it. Nothing as shitty.”
“They say it's uncomfortable.”
“Not just uncomfortable. Fucking hell uncomfortable. Before you adapt, your mind and body don't connect right—your body moves on its own and shit.”
Gaeul's eyes went wide.
“Really? But still, unni got too tall... kinda weird...”
“Yeah? Hmm...”
Short skirt was fine with shorts underneath, but another issue arose. Her custom-fitted cadet shirt was now too short.
Yeoreum buttoned it all up, stood, and checked the mirror. Navel fully exposed.
“How's this? Crop top vibe?”
“Be honest?”
“Insanely sexy?”
“Insanely crazy. Who wears a uniform like that?”
Winter, listening quietly from the side, nodded.
“Kyaang... sexy... insanely sexy...!” With her arm twisted, Gaeul flopped to the floor whimpering. Winter had already fled far away.
So that morning, grumbling Yeoreum sighed and adjusted her polymorph. Back to her old height and build.
On the way home after classes, she spotted a ball on the street and kicked it. But the awkward leg length caused a heart magic signal glitch—the kick sliced empty air. At the end was a parked car. Kwang—! The driver's door crumpled.
“Ah, fuck. Busted...”
She glanced around, then sneaked off pretending not to notice.
But blackbox footage caught her, and she got nabbed eventually.
Guidance office sentenced her to demerits, repair compensation, and 3 hours campus community service.
Coming out, Yeoreum smiled awkwardly.
“Honey. This one was an accident...”
Yoo Ji-tae didn't reply.
“Honey? Accident, I said?”
“...”
“Hm? Sorry, oppa♥”
“...”
“Why no answer, dear♥”
“Stop— I know it was an accident. It's fine, so quit whining and do the service properly.”
“Yeah.”
He said nothing about breaking stuff and fleeing. Yeoreum was Yeoreum. He had no intention of changing her.
Just a bit annoying. Guardians had to accompany cadet service.
Then he remembered—he had 3 hours overdue too. Procrastinated past deadline. They couldn't force him.
So he decided to do it with Yeoreum.
Weekend morning.
He headed to Guidance with just Yeoreum.
“Ah! Guardian Yoo Ji-tae! Welcome...!”
The perennial service desk manager, Yi Chi-mon, rubbed his palms together greeting them. Every time he saw the Eastern guy, Yoo Ji-tae noted how servilely he could smile.
“Aigoo. We could've extended it more if you didn't wanna.”
“Gotta do what's gotta be done. What services are available?”
“Umm... well. When you said you'd come, I looked for loose time slots.”
—Environmental Beautification Support (Cleaning, 3 hours)
—Daily Assistance for Disabled Cadet (3 hours)
—No. 4 Stable Latrine Cleanup (Wait until afternoon inspection, 3 hours)
“Semester just started, not many exact 3-hour ones...”
“That's all?”
“Yes. The doable ones...”
All exact 3-hour tasks. He didn't want to spend extra time on this crap.
“What's this?”
Yoo Ji-tae eyed another service lower on the list.
—No. 8 Logistics Warehouse Rat Hunt (3 hours)
“Ah. Better not do that one.”
“Why?”
“It's been about three months... some rat pups chewing wires at night, stealing stuff. Real headache. They pop up sporadically, but warehouse too big—Guidance staff can't catch 'em.”
“If Guidance can't, shouldn't you hire a company? Why's it a service item?”
“Yessir. Pr-procedure... damage amount's small, awkward to hire out... planning to remove it after the period ends.”
“No. 8 Logistics is military supplies warehouse, right?”
“Yes. Y-yes.”
Military supplies. Small cost. Ignore?
‘No need to worry. Haha...!’ Yi Chi-mon grinned, flashing his big buckteeth.
Every society had desperate overworkers. Lair had plenty. Yoo Ji-tae realized Chi-mon was one.
“Catch rat gets 3 hours?”
“Pardon? Y-yes, but... no catch, doesn't count no matter how long...”
“We'll do that.”
“Ah, then at least beautification—we'll count the time even if you take it easy.”
Still meant standing 3 hours. Time was precious.
Yoo Ji-tae first requested No. 8 data. Checked internal layout. Checked stored items.
Then decided.
“We're going there.”
“Really going rat hunting?”
South end of academy district. Far off, a massive logistics warehouse nearly size of four fields.
She followed silently, but Yeoreum looked thoroughly displeased.
“Yeah.”
“Why? Think it's quick?”
“Pretty much.”
“But Guidance couldn't catch for months?”
The regressor paused, then asked.
“You study military science.”
“Yeah.”
“Ever heard of military logistics standards?”
Yeoreum boredly dug her ear, closed her eyes. Like accessing past memories.
“Yeah. Federation standards...”
“Know the warehouse structure too?”
“Warehouse... hmm, not really. Just saw diagrams. Looked super complex...”
Finally sensing something off, Yeoreum went ‘Hm?’ and stared at the distant warehouse.
“Federation public military warehouses are monopoly-built by Fed affiliates only.”
“Huh? Oh.”
“Standards super strict—no rats or small monsters can infiltrate.”
“Eh? Then the service name itself is weird?”
“Exactly.”
“What? Strict build but why issue?”
Usually from poor comms between maker, manager, aftercare. Lair's tangled national/org interests made it common.
After his explanation, Yeoreum shut her mouth, pondering deeply.
One key thing nagged.
“But rats are real, right? Photos. Here.”
“Yeah. So, see what they stole?”
Yeoreum scanned the docs.
Stolen: monster horns, gelatinizing milk, powder sacks, roots, special solution bottles. Some odd for rats, some plausible.
“Hmm... small stuff? Lots organics? But common thread... none?”
Yoo Ji-tae nodded. Guidance investigators probably thought same.
Thus shoved aside, no one bothered—landed in services.
“Common point in stolen goods?”
“There is.”
“What?”
“Chimera ingredients.”
Yeoreum's eyes widened.
“Eh?!”
Chimera.
Till she saw BM's, Yeoreum thought it minor tech.
But Lair classes changed her mind. Chimera was one of International Suphuman Federation's “Three Taboos of Madotechnology.” Officially near-extinct—only high Guidance knew to spot.
“Chimera?”