Chapter 44
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Friend (1)
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The festival curtain had risen. An academy is a place where prospective and low-rank Hunters can train freely and rack up accomplishments without a care in the world.
It's also a system where they can grow freely and safely under the advice and attention of seniors who've already walked the path ahead.
Of course, there are concerns everywhere that it needs to be more professional and systematic, but at least for now, nothing has changed.
Gates come in all shapes and sizes anyway, and monsters don't move the way they're taught. So the way to hunt monsters? Just overwhelm them with sheer class difference.
In a situation like this, what more is there to teach? Under the philosophy that going all out on training and piling up experience is better, academies have taken on a bizarre form unworthy of their name.
And yet, if you had to pick one remnant of those peaceful old days...
"Welcome to the Hanul Festival, everyone!!"
It was the annual academy festival season. Since even non-Awakeners could enter, Hanul's main gate was already filling up with visitors before the festivities had even properly kicked off.
"It's super flashy again this year."
"Hanul's a pretty prestigious place. Lots of C-Rank grads and such. Must get tons of sponsorship money."
"Is that so...?"
"That's why they do stuff like this. I hear rural academies are desperate for one more request, festival or no."
In the bustling crowd, if you had to pick the hottest topic, there was only one.
"By the way, that starts today, right?"
"Huh? Oh, that? Yeah. From day one straight through to the end."
"I'm pumped. The boy next door vanished one day—bet he's one of 'em."
"Wait, weren't you eyeing that kid?"
"...Which bitch beat me to it."
The Hanul Boyfriend Boasting Contest. An event that'd make human rights groups from some other country lose their minds, but at least here, it was perfectly normal.
"Do-yun, no need to be nervous. It's just greetings at first anyway."
"...Can't I just go home?"
"No."
"Ah...."
Stroke, stroke. Seong Ha-neul petted the head of Do-yun, who kept anxiously scanning the surroundings.
"If you're that uneasy, want to stay in the car?"
"...No."
She was probably thinking of toying with him freely in the car again. He couldn't let his guard down for a second. Do-yun pouted his lips.
"Want a kiss? Okay."
Mwah—.
"Eek...."
Even this timid rebellion didn't work on Seong Ha-neul...! Do-yun's body trembled at her habit of immediately pressing in for his lips the moment he slipped up.
"What? Don't like it?"
"N-No...."
Of course, even that was lightly subdued as she draped an arm over his shoulders.
"It's fine. We need at least one or two places to show you off. Can't just keep such a cute boy locked away, right?"
"......"
She's already broadcasting it worldwide. Uploading to porn sites without even editing her own face out.
Of course, Seong Ha-neul, master of illusions, had slyly distorted perceptions, so hardly anyone could recognize Do-yun's real face anyway.
Not doing so would have been weirder from the start. The moment it got out that Do-yun could impregnate someone, danger was inevitable.
Most would dismiss it as CG or props, but if even a sliver of suspicion arose...
...Better to prepare in advance.
That's why she'd deliberately degraded the quality and edited with all sorts of tricks to make sure no one even thought of Do-yun—like adding fake tattoos on his back.
Unaware of this, Do-yun only found it harder to venture outside.
"R-Really, no one..."
Seeing Do-yun shiver, Seong Ha-neul pondered for a moment.
...Have we gone too far?
His excessive fear of the outside made her side feel safer, sure.
But if he broke completely, that'd be trouble. What Seong Ha-neul wanted wasn't a dead-eyed Do-yun.
Probably none of her comrades did either.
Hmm... Tricky.
This issue needed discussion with the others later. Might even require outside help.
"Nothing else you want to see?"
"N-No. Nothing...."
His expression confirmed it was serious. Seong Ha-neul shook her head.
"Then let's go rest. First day's nothing much anyway."
"Yes...."
After laying Do-yun in the car and covering him with a blanket, Seong Ha-neul waited until he dozed off before hardening her expression.
"Hey, is this really okay?"
"Dunno. Looks kinda severe."
Ju Hana, who'd been hiding and watching the surroundings, stepped out with a sigh.
"Have we been too harsh?"
"...You only realizing now is the weird part."
They'd casually ignored human rights from the start. It wasn't strange for him to be this terrified.
"...If he saw how other guys are treated, maybe he'd feel better."
Other men—not elite possessions like theirs, but ones used purely for 'species preservation.'
Knowing what they endured might make him grateful for his situation...
"Wouldn't he just get more scared?"
"......"
True. So how to ease Do-yun's anxiety...
"Should we make him a friend?"
"...Oh?"
Not a bad idea. Plenty of potential 'friends' right here.
"Mmm...."
How long had it been since he slept so peacefully? He could barely remember. Waking on the flat seat where he'd nodded off, he reflexively checked for other women around.
'None...'
Normally, they'd be staring or already slurping on his dick. No wonder the sleep felt so good.
"What's going on...."
Wondering if something happened to them, he shook his head.
"No, why am I worrying about those people...."
Was this Stockholm syndrome? Just as he mentally chided himself for caring even briefly, the car door flew open.
"Oh, you're up?"
"Y-Yes...."
"Perfect timing. Got some people to introduce."
Ju Hana, peeking through the door, beckoned with a smile. He hurriedly shoved off the blanket, slipped on his shoes, and scrambled out as fast as he could.
"...No need to rush like that."
"N-No, it's fine...."
What if he moved slow and pissed her off? Ju Hana pouted slightly, seemingly displeased, then grabbed his hand.
"Come on. They're waiting at the cafe."
"...Cafe?"
What scheme now...
Anxious but helpless as always, he was led by Ju Hana's hand to a cute little cafe. Seong Ha-neul and the others were already seated, waving at him.
"Ah, over here."
And... sitting beside them were more people. Three girls... and another boy.
'...Who're they?'
Unfamiliar faces. Was he doing it with them this time...?
Up close, he got a better look.
A plain-looking glasses girl with a short bob. A gloomy type with the biggest chest he'd seen yet. And a girl who looked straight-up like a delinquent thug.
"Ah, this the kid...? So cute... Yeah, he and our Hyeon would make great friends."
"Hehe, right?"
The leader seemed to be the glasses girl, starting a chat with Ju Hana as they approached.
"Come on, Hyeon. Say hi."
"U-um... Hello... I'm Lee Hyun."
The boy beside them bowed his head. About Do-yun's age...
'...Him too?'
Kidnapped like me? The thought came naturally.
"Do-yun, you say hi too."
"...Sado Yun."
As he bowed per Ju Hana's cue, greetings followed from the gloomy girl and delinquent.
"Whoa... so cuuute...."
"Eh, not bad. Not quite Hyeon level, though."
Casual appraisals. Not unpleasant, but their gazes made him shrink anyway.
"Okay, that's enough. We'll talk among ourselves."
Seong Ha-neul clapped sharply and turned to Do-yun and this Lee Hyun kid.
"Let the kids play."
"Hey, really no swapping?"
The delinquent grinned mischievously.
"Our Hyeon's pretty amazing, y'know."
Swap. A word he'd heard plenty before.
'No way...'
She wouldn't. He thought so, but couldn't help glancing anxiously at Ju Hana.
"We said absolutely not."
"Aw, c'mon..."
Shiiiiver—.
A chill emanated from somewhere. The delinquent, tracing its source, met Choi Ju-eun's eyes and gulped.
"O-Okay."
...Unexpected. He'd figured his girls wouldn't hesitate.
"At least bring higher ranks next time. And..."
Seong Ha-neul sipped her coffee with a smile.
"We're keeping our Do-yun on virgins only."
"......?"
"Take care of your own."
"...Tch, fine."
Hierarchy was clear, even in these meetings. Lee Hyun seemed aware too, sneaking peeks at Do-yun.
"U-Um..."
"Yeah?"
Unable to withstand the silent pressure, Lee Hyun spoke first.
"W-Wanna... hang out with me?"
"...Sure."
How do you refuse? First fellow guy he'd ever seen, isolated like this. Do-yun had questions too.
"...But where?"
"......Ah."
Without guardians, neither could go anywhere. He already felt eyes from the cafe crowd gathering.
'Oh no...'
If even one recognized him from those videos. Approached him...
His mind flashed to a scene: someone whipping out a phone, playing a video, then dragging the terrified him to a bathroom or dark corner for merciless...
"N-No... hate it...."
"...Huh?"
Lee Hyun blinked wide-eyed in confusion.
"Ah, no, I mean... where though...?"
"Hmm...."
No answers from them alone. Do-yun toddled to Ju Hana and explained.
"Then play in the car. Want me to take you?"
"Uh... it's fine."
"Okay? Car keys."
Taking the keys, he headed to their car with Lee Hyun.
'Today might be chill.'
Sorry, but he'd use this as an excuse.