Something in Common
I hurriedly composed my expression.
Acting as if nothing had happened, I slowly rose from my seat.
“...You’re here. Let’s go.”
I said, forcing myself to stay calm. Then I turned and started walking. The direction was toward the academy’s training facilities.
“......”
Seo I-eung followed silently behind me.
An awkward silence. The atmosphere was icy, like getting caught watching porn.
She won’t spread rumors about this, right?
I didn’t know Seo I-eung well, but she didn’t seem the type. She looked far removed from the blabbermouth sort.
Anyway. Please, just forget the scene you just saw. Treat it as nothing and don’t even bring it up.
As I was desperately praying inside—
“You know how to smile, huh. Unexpected.”
Seo I-eung said, one corner of her mouth curling up.
Ah. Of course. There was no way she’d just let this slide… I’d be curious too if I saw a guy who was always expressionless and silent suddenly grinning like an idiot.
Did I look easy? Did I look like a total loser? Is my academy life already screwed?
All sorts of worries were swirling together when—
“You like animals, don’t you?”
Seo I-eung opened her mouth again. Not the sharp voice from before. It had softened considerably.
My wariness easing a little, I gave a small nod.
“Yeah? No wonder you looked so happy.”
Her reaction was different from what I’d expected. I’d braced myself for something like “You act all quiet but you’re actually a total nerd.” Thankfully not.
“I like animals too.”
Suddenly Seo I-eung was chatty. Had finding a common interest made her feel closer? I didn’t know the reason.
“What animal do you like the most?”
Was this really the same girl who’d just stared out the window looking bored during class?
I answered anyway.
“All of them.”
“All of them?”
“If it’s a cute animal, I like them all.”
“There’s gotta be one you like especially more.”
“I don’t discriminate.”
“How is that discrimination… Fine, I’ll ask differently. If you could only raise one animal, which would you want?”
Choose just one among countless animals. What a vicious question. I racked my brains. It wasn’t easy to choose, since I loved all cute animals equally.
If I say I don’t discriminate again, she’ll get mad.
Biting back tears, I finally picked one.
“If I had to pick just one… a cat.”
The cat I’d been happily petting just moments ago.
“Hmm… a cat, huh… Okay.”
What was okay about it? Muttering something incomprehensible, Seo I-eung nodded slightly. Then she asked again.
“Oh right. And do you have any pets at home?”
“No.”
“Why? Your parents against it?”
“No.”
“What else is there no?”
“Parents.”
“…S-sorry.”
Seo I-eung apologized, flustered. She kept the conversation going after that—on the topic of animals, nothing else. It was pure hell. Why was she like this for real. I desperately missed the silent Seo I-eung from earlier.
Twenty minutes passed. The training facility was quite a distance away, so we were still walking.
And Seo I-eung was still talking to me. I was going crazy.
“Hey. Can I ask you just one thing?”
Had she gotten comfortable with me now? Not just animal topics—she was mixing in personal questions.
No. I wanted to firmly refuse. But like a total loser, I just nodded.
“I know this might be rude to ask… but I’ve been dying of curiosity since earlier.”
Judging by the preamble, it seemed like she was about to ask something pretty rude.
“So, like. Do you like guys by any chance?”
Ruder than I imagined. What kind of question was this? Why would I like guys? I was so dumbfounded I couldn’t even speak.
I just had trouble with women. I was a perfectly normal heterosexual. I absolutely did not like the same sex.
“No, I don’t.”
“Yeah? Guess I was mistaken. Sorry if the question offended you.”
After apologizing, Seo I-eung immediately explained why she’d asked.
“I just thought you weren’t just uninterested in girls… um. How do I put it? Looking at you, it seemed more like you hated them? That vibe, so I wondered if maybe you liked guys.”
Hearing it that way, it was understandable she’d misunderstand. I was the one who’d caused it.
“So you don’t like guys, but… you do hate women, right?”
A complicated question to answer. I was heterosexual, but ironically I had a hatred for the opposite sex. Except for women whose looks didn’t register as romantic at all. Average-looking women made me uncomfortable. And beautiful girls triggered fear from my trauma.
Of course, even beautiful girls were fine if they were on a screen. I watched porn just fine, after all. It was only when they came into reality—when I faced them right in front of me—that I was afraid.
Calling this hating women feels a bit off. It’s not like I don’t feel sexual desire toward women.
Hating yet liking them. Hate and love. Ambivalence was the right word.
Just as I was about to conclude and answer—
“Nah, never mind. You don’t have to answer. Looking at your reaction, it’s clear you hate women.”
Seo I-eung decided on her own. If she was going to do that, why ask?
“You don’t have to feel uncomfortable just because I know the truth. I don’t really care. I’m used to being hated by guys by now.”
I missed the timing to answer. The chance to explain was gone.
Seo I-eung gazed at the distant mountains for a moment. Then she fidgeted and soon tossed another question.
“But, do you hate female animals too?”
“No.”
I answered this one without even thinking. If you discriminate by animal gender, you’re the crazy one.
Anyway. I wanted the conversation to stop now. My stomach was starting to churn.
“I see. Oh right, I didn’t ask this. Have you been to a cat cafe?”
Please stop.
The training facility. We arrived at a place called the Illusion Dungeon. According to the guide, you could experience virtual dungeons here.
“See those square booths up ahead? Illusion magic is cast on them, so the moment you enter, you’re transported to a virtual dungeon.”
The guide continued her friendly explanation. Of course, she was also a beautiful girl.
“The official name is Dungeon Experience Booth, and difficulties from A-grade to F-grade are installed.”
“Can we try it now?”
While listening to the explanation, Seo I-eung asked the guide.
“Of course. However, today you can only use the F-grade booths.”
“Why? I want to experience A-grade.”
“To prevent overconfident new students from challenging high-difficulty dungeons, getting discouraged, and dropping out.”
“......”
Seo I-eung frowned. She looked displeased. She seemed to have realized the comment was directed at her.
The guide continued unfazed.
“Since it’s a virtual dungeon, you won’t actually die and you won’t feel pain, so some people ask to just use high-difficulty ones… That’s all true, but virtual doesn’t mean you don’t feel fear. If you develop trauma once, it can hinder your future Hunter life. You might even give up on being a Hunter altogether.”
I agreed with the guide. Every word was right. Trauma wasn’t something you could overcome easily. Seo I-eung seemed to think differently, though.
“F-grade is too lame…”
“Have you entered real dungeons before, I-eung?”
“I often went with my parents. Up to C-grade.”
“Ah, is that so? You’re experienced then.”
The guide nodded. Then Seo I-eung asked with expectant eyes.
“Do experienced people get to use higher dungeons?”
“No? Rules are rules. D-grade and above virtual dungeons are for class use.”
“What the… I want to use them freely normally.”
“If you get a permit from a professor, you can use them freely. Though getting a permit won’t be easy.”
Seo I-eung clicked her tongue quietly. In the end, we decided to try an F-grade dungeon. It’d be a shame to come all this way without experiencing it.
Seo I-eung and I picked one of the many F-grade booths and stood in front.
“Before you enter, please keep in mind that clearing isn’t the main goal. The objective is purely to adapt and get used to dungeons. Building the mental fortitude to face monsters bravely without fear comes first.”
This seemed directed at me. While choosing the booth, I’d revealed I’d never entered a dungeon before.
“Then, good luck.”
I placed my hand on the booth’s handle and turned it.
Click. Click.
Huh? Why won’t the door open?
As I looked down at the handle, Seo I-eung made an incredulous face.
“What are you doing? Trying to get in for free? You gotta pay first.”
Ah right. Our academy had cheap tuition, but free facilities were few and most were paid. I’d momentarily forgotten.
I have to pay for this round no matter what.
Looking around the booth, I found the payment machine. Cash or card accepted. The fee was listed next to the machine.
100,000 won per person.
…This crazy academy is money-grubbing.
The amount made me curse involuntarily. But what could I do. Nothing in this world is free.
Swallowing a sigh, just as I was about to pull out my wallet with trembling hands—
“100,000 won to experience an F-grade dungeon? Why so expensive? What a waste of money… Hey, how about I just pay the 200,000 for both of us?”
I witnessed Seo I-eung bringing her card to the payment machine.
Slap!
Startled by the unexpected situation, I quickly smacked her hand away.
“Wh-what?”
I’d conceded lunch. But this time I couldn’t. Because of my trauma, I hated women buying me meals, and also hated them paying for me. Dutch treat was fine, though.
As Seo I-eung looked at me with startled eyes, I hurriedly completed the payment with my card.
Admission fee for 2 people has been paid!
How dare she try to pay first. Don’t trigger my trauma.