Chapter 146. Hero, Do You Like Me Calling You Hoon?
Chapter 146. Hero, Do You Like Me Calling You Hoon?
Had I heard that wrong?
I was sure I just heard the word "graduate school," not "university."
"..."
I froze for a moment without realizing it, and an impolite thought crossed my mind.
'Was this old man out of his mind...?'
The Department Head's eyes gleamed like someone who had just discovered a 'capable slave.'
"Graduate school is fine..."
Even I've heard about it.
The terrifying rumors about graduate school.
The rumor that if a juvenile delinquent messes up, they go to juvenile detention, but if a college student messes up, they go to graduate school.
At my refusal, a hint of regret flickered across the Department Head's face, but he quickly smiled and spoke.
"It's the course registration change period anyway, so I'll handle everything myself. You, Song Hoon 'student,' just enjoy campus life comfortably!"
"Yes... thank you."
And so, the two of us left the Department Head's office.
Laila's excited expression was plain to see.
"Why are you so happy about this?"
"I've always wanted to be a campus couple, the kind you only see in movies~"
As we were being all lovey-dovey while walking away, the Department Head's voice rang out from his office.
- There's urgent business to take care of, so tell the assistant to come to my office.
Graduate school.
No matter how I thought about it, I was glad I refused.
---
A few days later.
The course registration change period ended, and the weekend arrived.
It felt like everything had been handled with a single 'click.'
Even though I did nothing, my name was on the roster.
And I could log into the school portal site normally, my status changed to an incoming student for this year.
'But... this isn't just any school, it's the top university in South Korea. was it really okay for things to be this lax...?'
In the meantime, Laila and I wandered around, sightseeing all over campus.
The student cafeteria, the club booth street, the library, the lake, the walking paths...
We truly roamed every nook and cranny.
"Pffft..."
"What is it?"
"Look at this~"
Laila handed me her phone.
It was full of posts about us.
[ Author: Anonymous ]
[ Title: Real-time Saintess and Hero Campus Date ]
[ Content: (Picture taken from far away) Does this really need an explanation? ]
↳ LOL Even doing a somersault, it's them
↳ It's so damn infuriating that the Hero bastard even tried to hide by wearing a mask and hat, seriously
↳ The campus was pretty, but there were plenty of other places. Why date here of all places?
↳ So the college kids get jealous and die, LOL
↳ Dusky skin + blonde hair visible behind the hat + a blue-haired woman walking hand in hand = ???
↳ This bastard isn't even trying to hide, LOL
↳ If the Saintess had at least worn a wig, I might have been fooled, LOL
↳ This guy seriously thought we're all just goddamn NPCs, LOLOL
↳ ??? : I was sure I never got caught when I did this in the game...?
Countless eyewitness accounts were being uploaded even on the school-only community.
There was no need to look any further, so I handed the phone back to Laila.
"Mm... If I turn on the stream, they'll definitely say something, right?"
"Isn't that obvious...?"
It wasn't just a simple campus date.
Someone had posted proof they were in the same department as Laila, and even uploaded a group photo from the freshman orientation.
"Well, no one's really come up and talked to us directly yet, besides the people we got friendly with back then."
"When I go to school, I'll be watching you with my eyes wide open."
"Watching for what?"
"Whether you're bewitching other people or not."
Honestly, it's not that I didn’t trust Laila.
It's the other wolves around her that I didn’t trust.
Because, whether they succeed or not, if there's a pretty woman, guys would always try to hit on her at least once.
"Keehee... Hero, really..."
"Your crime is being too beautiful."
Natural flirting.
Then, very carefully, I made a single request of Laila.
"Do you remember last time, when I got caught by the security guard?"
"Ah, back then... heehee..."
Maybe the situation was funny, because Laila giggled, covering her mouth.
Watching her, I scratched my head and brought up the subject.
"Back then, you called me Hoon... I was wondering if you could keep using my name from now on..."
In an instant, Laila's eyes curved into a smile.
"You want me to call you Hoon?"
"Yeah..."
Leaning forward, Laila looked up at me with a peculiar expression.
"Hmm... Hero, do you like it when I call you Hoon?"
"..."
Then, Laila grabbed my forearm and whispered in my ear.
"But what if I want to call you 'yeobo'?"
"...!"
"Alright! I'll call you 'Hoon' from now on. The title 'yeobo' is only for nighttime...♥"
This was hopeless.
This bewitching little fox.
I'll have to keep my eyes wide open and watch her even during the semester.
"Hoon, shall we head home soon then, since you have to stream later?"
---
- Hoon, wash your hands and eat first~
- Hoon, I tried brewing a new tea this time...
- Hoon, just a moment...
Laila calling me by my name.
The solemn expression I wore as the Hero who saved the world kept threatening to melt away.
"Do you like it that much?"
Laila had just gotten home, showered, and was draped in a towel, her hair wet.
At her words, 'Hoon, I was done washing up,' I unconsciously pounced on her.
Of course, the outcome was always the same, but...
[ World's Strongest Hero : hi ]
[Explain explain explain]
[What what what?]
[If this bastard does school life, won't he neglect the stream?]
As expected, the moment I turned on the stream, the chat was flooded with people demanding an explanation like a swarm of bees.
"Laila is a new student this year, and I also transferred into Laila's department as a new student."
I just coolly laid it all out in the open.
[Not returning student?]
[What? You transferred?]
[Transferred but you're a new student, wtf LOL What kind of country's university is this?]
[No, weren't you two in different admission years in the first place?]
"Just think of it as me attending the same department as Laila and graduating together with her."
The viewers kept pouring out their doubts.
But the method for taming them was always the same.
"Just let it be."
[Yes yes, LOL, who are we to argue]
[Just let it be, haha]
"So, about that... while I'm doing school life, the stream will be..."
I paused for effect.
[ Overflowing Holy-Power Pouch has donated 5,000 Watts! ]
- If you reduce stream hours, I'll die. Goodbye.
"It's not that. The schedule will just change to the evening."
[Isn't that actually better?]
[Sometimes this bastard turns it on when I'm asleep and I miss it, so this is actually good]
[??? You sleep even at that time?]
People asked all sorts of things.
Questions like, why did an Unknown Hunter go to university?
What grade did I get on the college entrance exam?
Why did I suddenly go back to school?
"To be a campus couple with Laila."
[...?]
[Now you're just doing it out in the open, you bastard!!!]
[Please fill it with bleach...]
[ This Is Hell has donated 10,000 Watts! ]
- Junior, if I ever run into you, could I ask for an autograph?
A viewer with a suspicious nickname right off the bat.
It was someone who'd probably made some huge mistake.
"Yeah, feel free to ask. I won't be picky and keep my distance, so just think of me comfortably as a classmate or a junior."
I wanted to enjoy university life, not walk around with a stiff neck full of pride.
And finally, I made that one thing perfectly clear.
"I'm just saying this out of an abundance of caution... I'd appreciate it if no one came just to see us and ended up harming other enrolled students."
[Who do you think you are?]
[Acts like he's some Hollywood actor;;]
[Idiot lololol]
"No, it's just... these days, there are always controversies at airports with celebrities and stuff..."
[Exactly, that's celebrities. What are you supposed to be?]
"..."
It was just the usual conversation with the viewers.
---
The course add/drop period ended, and it was the first day of the full semester.
With the rumors already spread, hiding it was pointless.
I drove my first beloved car, the SUV I still cherished, to school together with her.
We arrived at the parking lot in front of the department building a little early.
Even the car itself was a fairly conspicuous model, and more than anything, as we stepped out, we attracted the gazes of several students.
"Whoa... look at those people."
"That's those Unknown people."
"I heard a rumor they were attending, but seeing it in person is amazing..."
The community, the school app, even the department messenger.
The rumor that we were attending here had already spread through every possible channel.
"Big sis!"
"Oh my, did you have a good weekend?"
"Yes!"
Like it didn't matter that Laila was an Unknown Hunter, the girl greeted her with a bright smile.
Then she glanced at me standing next to her and bowed her head deeply.
"I'm sorry... for misunderstanding you last time..."
At her apology, I waved my hand and chuckled.
"It's okay. Anyone would have thought I was suspicious back then..."
Seeing this normal interaction with a friend, a few students who had been tense began to cautiously approach.
Laila and I casually took seats around the middle of the lecture hall.
"Um, ex-excuse me... Hunter."
"Student council president?"
"Well... the Department Head was looking for you for a moment, so..."
I smiled at the student council president, who was watching his words and bowing his head, and said,
"Senior, you can speak comfortably. I'm your junior, after all."
At my words, perhaps a bit of his tension eased, and he nodded.
After telling him we would find our own way there, we immediately headed for the top floor.
"Department Head?"
"Ah, student... do you perhaps have a moment?"
"Yes, there's still some time before class starts."
"If it's not too much trouble... could you come with me to the President's office?"
"...?"
I nearly laughed at the professor's extremely polite tone.
"Yes, I don't mind."
Following the Department Head's guidance, we headed toward the administration building.
The Department Head quietly spoke up.
"The President... said he would like to have a brief talk with the students. To listen to whether you have any inconveniences..."
To voice any inconveniences...
It hasn't even been two weeks since the semester started.
We soon arrived at the top floor of the administration building.
We passed through a glass inner door and stood in front of the President's office. The Department Head knocked and opened the door.
"Come in."
The moment the door opened, several department professors, board members, and the university President were seated inside, waiting.
As Laila and I entered, they all rose in unison, straightened their attire, and greeted us by bowing their heads courteously.
"You've arrived. Then, please have a seat over here."
The President's words were gentle, but each and every word carried weight.
I stared pointedly at the Department Head.
The President, the Department Head, me, Laila.
I thought it was a meeting for four.
'You said it was a simple talk?'