Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: University
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University
"Jung Se-hee?"
Da-bin tilted her head.
"She's always got guys hanging around her near the Chemistry Department. From what I know, at least ten of them. And the last time I saw her, she had long hair..."
"That bitch?"
"Huh? You know her?"
"Yeah. That bitch. The one who wrecked our group. That fucking idiot."
Her intense reaction threw me off instead.
Wrecked the group? What was that about?
"How do you know her? What do you mean she wrecked your group?"
"You. Got business with her?"
"Yeah... I do."
"What is it? Revenge?"
"Something like that."
"Kinda lukewarm, though?"
"Does it?"
"You seem kinda unmotivated."
"No way."
"Whatever... doesn't matter. But you'll have a hard time going solo. She's always got guys protecting her."
"Obviously. Her skill's Charm."
"Charm? Like seduction?"
"Way beyond that. She turns them into slaves."
Smart didn't even cover it—she was cunning as hell. Probably jumped for joy when she could pick that skill, since she was used to keeping guys around her like breathing.
"Ah... fuck. That explains it. Now it makes sense."
"You've seen her?"
"Half a year ago."
"Tell me."
"Ah... shit. Hate talking about it. But you saved me, so no choice."
Da-bin pulled a canteen from her backpack and rinsed it under the lab faucet.
She filled it with water, took a sip, and started talking.
"I'm in Political Science and Diplomacy. After the world went to hell, me and my officetel-sharing Poli Sci buddies formed a group."
Familiar story. My Chemistry crew did the same.
"We left campus and holed up in the nearby big mart. Had to secure food first."
"You telling the whole story from the start? Can't you just skip to Se-hee?"
Da-bin shot me a hurt look.
I flinched inside but met her gaze coolly.
"Bet you're not popular with girls."
"What's popularity good for in this shit world?"
"Why not? Can't get pregnant, so you can fuck around freely. Isn't that every guy's dream?"
"Ha... you really a girl? Feels like there's a dude in there."
"Oh, you say the wildest shit to girls. You'll never get a girlfriend."
"Enough. Just tell me about Se-hee."
"Sigh. Fine. Not like I care if you date or whatever. Anyway. Half a year ago. Ugh... pisses me off just thinking. Our food had run out a while back. So... we were scraping by like everyone else."
"Murder?"
"Gotta pick at every detail?"
"Not exactly special."
"You... lived rougher than I thought?"
"Everyone alive now's the same. You talk like you're different."
I could read the guilt on her face.
Guilt... wasn't that the first emotion to die when the world ended?
"Yeah. Anyway, that's how we were living. Then one day, they raided our hideout."
"Se-hee?"
"Yeah. That bitch I wanna rip apart."
"How'd you survive? Invisibility?"
"Yep. Saved my ass big time."
"Go on."
"The funny part? Two from our group went with her. Four died, Min-young got captured. I was the only one who got out clean. Thought Sung-kyu and Joo-min betrayed us... but Charm? So they live like slaves forever?"
"Far as I know, it has a duration. But the real trick's Se-hee's skill. You said two friends joined her? And she took one girl too? I think I know why."
"Why."
Da-bin's eyes blazed with hate. Furious over the truth after half a year?
"Your two pals got Charmed and joined up. When it wears off, they rampage in rage, right? I've seen it. That captured girl? Probably raped and killed by your friends."
Da-bin's shocked expression.
"Se-hee smiles and tells your freed friends, 'You guys caught, raped, and killed that girl. Wasn't my order.' What do you think their faces looked like?"
Da-bin's hands shook with rage.
Hm... that reaction. Were they close? Not easy in this world.
"I've seen it firsthand. That's why I know. Most guys around Se-hee are like that. Only about four Chemistry originals; the rest joined that way. They might not even know they were Charmed. Maybe suspect. But without knowing the mechanics, they're unsure. Their will versus the Charm. So they stick around her. What's it called? Gaslighting? Yeah. Living like that."
Da-bin went deep in thought after hearing me out, silent.
After a long pause, she looked at me.
"How do you know so much?"
"Told you. Chemistry. Lucky sucker number 17 who escaped her."
"Sucker 17? What?"
"Can't tell from the name?"
"For real?"
"Got another meaning?"
Da-bin fell silent again.
"So? You didn't say the important part. Where'd she go?"
"Don't know. But I have a guess."
"Where."
"When I tailed them invisible for a bit before bailing—no skills, had to quit. Last I heard, she said they were heading somewhere with lots of people."
"Crowded place? Why?"
"No idea. Probably hunt properly since scavenging's tough."
"Crowded place..."
I thought about what Da-bin said.
Crowded spots nearby... Underground mall's the only one that comes to mind.
"Anyway, that's all I know. Done."
"No real gains. No location. Just your unrelated story."
"You little shit... you really talk like an asshole. Bet you had no friends before the world ended."
I stared at her blankly.
She flinched but didn't look away.
Saved her and now she's getting cocky? Annoying.
Doesn't get her situation?
"Hey."
"What."
"Wanna die?"
"You said you wouldn't kill me."
"You trust me?"
Finally sensing something off, Da-bin's face hardened a bit.
"Why... what's wrong?"
"You know my skill, saw my face. Name, age... lots. I know yours too, and you can't beat me. You think I'll just let you walk?"
"No... why? I won't tell anyone."
"Can't know that."
"C'mon... we were having a nice moment. In this shithole world, wasn't that heartwarming?"
"Your opinion."
Da-bin stared holes through me; I could feel her thoughts tangling.
What now? Beg? Run?
"Invisible."
She chose run.
She vanished, but the duct tape scrap on her hair didn't.
She bolted quick, but I was ready—guessed lab door. Grabbed her taped ponytail easy.
"Let go! Let go, fuck!"
"Scream and you're dead."
I pressed the machete to her throat and whispered.
Realizing she was trapped, Da-bin shut up.
"Drop the invis."
"...Released."
She reappeared, glaring resentfully as she caught her breath.
"Da-bin."
Suddenly calling her sweetly and pulling the machete back, her face went baffled.
"Don't trust just anyone."
I turned, grabbed her backpack, dropped it in front of her.
"Tested to check something, so don't take it personal."
"You... you!"
"And please, don't blab about me. I'm letting you go 'cause I can kill you if needed. So don't trust others, don't talk about me, don't get caught by dumbasses like today. Got it?"
No real way to track and kill her, but she'd never know. Solid bluff.
She might still talk, but not carelessly.
"You're fucking insane."
"Took you this long?"
Tension gone, her body shivered.
Somehow sexy; wanted to pin her then, but held back.
Bit harsh prank, but she's surviving this mad world on her own.
"Ugh. Seriously. Can I just smack you once?"
"If you can."
Dunno why I'm acting stupid, but after today's shocks, Da-bin took it as quirky.
Her look shifted—not terror, but "don't run into this psycho" vibe.
"Alright, bye. Don't cross paths again."
She shouldered her pack, muttered something soft.
She vanished, but I watched the tape head to the lab door and grinned.
"Hey. Peel off the head one."
She frantically felt her hair, ripped the scrap, tossed it rough.
Invisible, but the fallen tape confirmed it.