Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: True Loser
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SeCo.
The abbreviation for 'Seoul Comic World,' it had always been the biggest event related to subculture in Korea, where doujin activities were extremely limited both in the past and now.
It was an event that existed even a hundred years ago, disappeared for decades after gates appeared, and reemerged fifty years ago—a gathering with deep history, called a festival for hardcore fans by the internet.
"Wow, there are so many people."
The SeCo venue where I'd arrived with Seo-yeon now was packed with crowds.
'Who would've thought the culture that used to get so much hate as otaku stuff would become this popular.'
I hadn't been involved in this scene in my previous life, but I'd seen plenty of related info as internet memes.
[Photo of Paowan at a fujoshi event. Ugh, total disgust lol]
[Ugh, I can smell the sweat from here.]
[Fujoshi destroying a chair meme. Seriously, lose some weight; it's disgusting as a human.]
People who enjoyed subculture had been the butt of all sorts of jokes like that.
I'd naturally assumed it was still the same, but after checking online, it wasn't as despised as I'd thought.
'Hmm, is it because subculture became more real?'
Not that fantasy genres disappeared from subculture.
It meant that with gates appearing and mana emerging, reality itself had become fantasy.
'Reality turned into anime, huh.'
Gates brought monsters into existence, and mana allowed awakeners to use skills that could be called superpowers.
On top of that, awakeners often had changed eye and hair colors with high probability, making the world feel like characters from subculture had descended into reality.
'I read that right after gates appeared, subculture got even more hate than before.'
The reason people enjoy fiction is precisely because it can't become reality.
In my previous life, scenes of the Twin Towers collapsing were common in movies and games, but after the real 9/11 attacks, they were all deleted.
In the same vein, after gates appeared, subculture featuring superpowers and monsters was banned worldwide, but as time passed and humanity started winning, the bans lifted, and now it had become a common hobby even for ordinary people.
'I wasn't fully convinced since it was just internet info, but seeing it for real... it checks out.'
The venue we'd arrived at was swarming with a ton of people.
Regardless of age or gender, sightseers mingled with cosplayers already dressed as characters I didn't recognize, striking poses for photos.
'Subculture isn't looked down on anymore.'
Battle series, isekai—those were super popular.
Even romance, which was the most despised in my previous life in this tough era for dating, was accepted by ordinary folks.
'But why Ushimusuko?'
Everything except that one.
Was it because it combined bullfights and pretty boy training—like a dating sim?
Or because the fans were as intense as the ones I'd seen at the theater before?
"Jun-hyuk, what do you think?"
"It's lively; I like it. Didn't expect this many people."
I'd think about that later—right now, enjoy the date with Seo-yeon!
After I suggested going to SeCo together, she'd been so thrilled, and sharing her hobby made me happy too—no regrets.
"Hehe, I can't wait to see how surprised people will be when they see you, Jun-hyuk."
"That much?"
"Yeah! They'll all be shocked. They might even mistake you for a pro cosplayer."
For reference, Seo-yeon had decided to cosplay as a playable character from Ushimusuko, aka the coach.
And I, naturally looking just like him, went with the Kyubey set we'd bought last time.
"Shall we look around a bit, then change?"
"Yeah. There's so much cool stuff, and it's my first SeCo, so I want to check it out."
We put cosplay on hold and wandered the venue together.
"Jun-hyuk! Look over there! That's pro cosplayer Cat Tower!"
"Oh, the costume is amazing."
"Right? She has the Fiber Manipulation skill and makes her own outfits. She's famous for it, and her commissions are booked a year out, I hear."
We checked out pro cosplayers.
"Smells good. Takoyaki, right? Let's grab some."
"Sure!"
We hit up the food stalls.
"Ooh! So many doujinshi!"
We browsed the thin books called doujinshi.
"......"
Most doujinshi were wholesome fanbooks, but when Seo-yeon suddenly glanced at me, I looked over and saw some naughty ones.
『Disciplining the Arrogant Kyubey』
It wasn't naughty stuff making her glance—it was that specific one.
Pretending to know it would make things awkward, so I played dumb.
"Looks like we've seen everything. Ready to change?"
"Yeah. But is there a changing room here?"
"Yes! This way!"
She'd been here often enough to guide me smoothly.
At the changing rooms, they were separated by gender, so we parted briefly.
"See you here after!"
"Yeah."
Changing didn't take long.
But mentally preparing held me back from stepping out.
'Phew, is this okay?'
Just cosplay alone wouldn't be embarrassing.
But I'd learned on her birthday: Seo-yeon was a total fujoshi who stuck strictly to character settings.
'That's why we didn't—no, couldn't—have sex? Even alone, she was strict; here it'll be worse?'
Did I have to go this far? But since I was matching her hobby, I hoped she'd be thrilled.
So I'd studied the character's personality more deeply and memorized some lines!
"Jun-hyuk! Here!"
Once mentally ready, I stepped out, and Seo-yeon was waiting.
In her blue gym uniform like army PE clothes, she gave off a gruff uncle vibe, matching the playable character I'd seen, so I recited a line from it.
"Don't come close; it'll smell like old lady on my clothes."
With the most contemptuous glare I could muster.
Did my effort pay off? Her eyes shone with pure love.
"Jun-hyuk."
But her follow-up wasn't what I'd expected.
I'd thought she'd say something like, You're the perfect Kyubey! or Ooh, Lord Kyubey!
"You don't have to force it like that."
She said the most normal thing.
"Don't act just to match me—let's just have fun as us."
Which felt a bit irrational.
＊＊＊
Yoo Jun-hyuk and Lee Seo-yeon wandered the hall in cosplay.
"Wow! Are you cosplayers? The accuracy is insane."
"Um, mind if we take a photo? Oh, can we post it on SNS?"
He didn't know, but Kyubey was modeled after Yoo Jun-hyuk himself.
Of course the accuracy was beyond high—100%. Naturally, the two became stars, surrounded by crowds.
"Sure. Of course."
It was his first time, so Yoo Jun-hyuk panicked briefly.
Soon he started enjoying it, and Lee Seo-yeon watched happily from the side.
[What're you looking at?]
[Oh, just bored, checking the community. Wanna see this? An article on true loser traits. Kinda interesting.]
At the same time, she recalled a story from the bike club get-together not long ago.
[True loser: Obsesses over facts, can't read the mood.]
She'd joined clubs full of popular kids to become one herself, but as always, she was on the outside.
Luckily, being from Millennium Guild, members saw her as the quiet, cautious elite type.
[True loser: Brags about what they know, ignoring others. For real? People like that exist?]
[Probably, or this post wouldn't exist. Haven't seen any myself.]
That day too, she quietly sipped while some members did local gossip, but as it went on, it felt like attacks on her, stabbing her heart.
[When others are talking, they push contrarian views. Then act smug like they landed a zinger.]
[Brings up topics everyone knows but avoids to keep chat flowing, killing the vibe.]
[Thinks they're super considerate, so others should be too. But they've hogged all the consideration without giving any back.]
It wasn't riveting gossip, so it ended quick, and everyone was tired anyway, wrapping up before late evening. But Lee Seo-yeon kept those words in her heart.
'Jun-hyuk, thinking about it... I've only been receiving consideration from you.'
The cosplay on her birthday.
Suggesting SeCo first, despite no interest.
And the acting just now.
'It's the mood, not facts.'
She'd nitpicked him before, saying Kyubey wouldn't do that, obsessing over facts.
She loved and cherished her benefactor, but consideration was still one-sided from him.
Even now, he'd suggested coming here first to consider her.
'I'll consider you now too.'
First step: stop obsessing over facts.
She'd worried if she could do it, but trying showed it was easy.
'I don't want to be loved—I want to love.'
Ignoring facts paradoxically revealed the truth.
The truth that she didn't like the character Kyubey.
She didn't like him for his arrogant actions or quirky lines.
'If it were before, I'd be depressed about messing up, but not anymore.'
She liked him because he resembled Yoo Jun-hyuk.
So it was fine if Yoo Jun-hyuk couldn't mimic Kyubey anymore.
No—she even wished Kyubey resembled his speech and actions.
"You did great. First cosplay, right? How was it?"
"Surprisingly fun. Was nervous at first, but with people taking photos and asking for signatures... felt like a celebrity."
She was no longer a true loser.
She'd finally shed the past of clinging to facts to fill her self-esteem, worn down by bullying.
"It's getting late—let's grab dinner. Reserved a good spot nearby."
"Oh, really? Nice one."
She'd joined clubs to fit in but never did.
Still, what she'd seen and heard let her act much improved now.
"Here. New place, but already famous as a hotspot."
She'd reserved the restaurant ahead.
They ate and chatted happily.
"You still can't handle alcohol, right?"
"Haha... yeah?"
"Then I'll drink alone."
She wanted to see him drunk but wouldn't push if he hated it.
"Mm, the sashimi is so fresh—perfect. Been craving it lately."
She'd reviewed their messages and talks to pick foods he'd like.
She was no longer true loser Lee Seo-yeon—she was human Lee Seo-yeon.
"Here, ahh~"
"...People are watching."
"So what? Feeding your lover is normal."
As a human, she boldly went for it.
Did he like it? The chef and owner brought an unrequested dish as service.
"You two look so lovey-dovey. Here, on the house!"
"Oh, thanks!"
"Thank you so much."
It was fried oysters.
As the owner passed Lee Seo-yeon's side with the plate, he whispered.
"You know oysters are good for stamina, right?"
Nosy? Or Korean hospitality?
Either way, Lee Seo-yeon, who hadn't thought that far, felt her body heat up.
'Yeah, we're lovers—what's wrong with that! Tonight, we're doing it right!'
Her first time hadn't gone well.
Afterward, she'd blown her own chances, so of course she was fired up.
"Delicious. Oh, Seo-yeon paid first?"
"Hehe, girls pay for this."
"Hmm, then dessert's on me."
After dinner, they walked the night streets.
They'd planned a cafe for dessert, but something felt off.
'Nervous?'
Or walking with her beloved?
Too much love makes the world spin, they say.
"Jun-hyuk."
"Seo-yeon."
Was the world helping her?
Yoo Jun-hyuk seemed to think the same; they stopped simultaneously, gazing at each other.
"First..."
"First..."
This was the flow.
Unavoidable, shouldn't avoid it.
Yoo Jun-hyuk spoke first.
"Us..."
He read the mood and moved.
Clutching her fluttering heart, Lee Seo-yeon awaited his next words.
"Let's rest a..."
The world spun dizzily.
No, was this really love?
It felt more like...
"Da... urk!"
Yoo Jun-hyuk suddenly vomited, and she rushed to him.
"Jun-hyuk! No... uwaaack!"
She hurled spectacularly too.
[Next news. Last night, a 20-something couple who ate at a sashimi restaurant were rushed to the hospital with norovirus food poisoning. They're out of danger but need long-term hospitalization. The owner claims, 'I had leftover oysters, so I made fried ones as service. They were a bit old but well-refrigerated; I didn't think they'd be bad. No intent.' Norovirus lingers in cold weather, so caution in raw foods advised. Police say the owner faces suspension and later investigation without detention.]