Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Classroom Revelation
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Surprisingly, even our other classes were almost identical.
At most, if you removed two majors from my schedule and added two general electives, it matched Sihyun's perfectly.
By the way, this girl is no ordinary person. Did she just sign up for all the major classes?
"But why are you taking third-year classes?"
"Oh, well... In the Korean Literature Department, the majors are interconnected, so it doesn't really feel like you have to take them step by step, right? So I figured I'd knock out the majors early and have it easier in my upper years."
"As a freshman, don't you have to take required general electives too...? So you've filled your schedule just with those and majors?"
"Yeah. I thought if I'm going to suffer, better to do it now."
"Wow, that's not easy for underclassmen. You'd get called all over the place."
"It's true, but there are past notes and stuff..."
"Even with past notes, there are a lot of essay questions, so relying on them too much could backfire later. Especially in our department—professors are wary of notes and set lots of traps."
"R-Really?"
"Yeah."
"I guess I'll have to study hard."
"Come to think of it, did you take all the intro classes as a freshman? Even if liberal arts classes are less intense than sciences, you won't keep up without them. You'll need to review in your spare time..."
"I'll keep that in mind, sunbae."
"Ah, the lecture hall's coming up."
"You said you'd mention being a Mutant at orientation, right?"
"Yeah. But... I was thinking of just saying it when the professor calls attendance anyway."
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah. Shall we sit over there?"
"Sunbae, can I call over my classmate too? She has the same schedule as me..."
"Sure. Nam Soo-yeon, right? Yeah, I remember seeing her at freshman orientation."
"Yes! I'll call her right now!"
"Okay. I'll step aside—got some messages from classmates."
I peeked into the group chat. Sure enough, my classmates were blowing it up looking for me.
[Han Tae-hoon: Hey. Where's Yoon Seo-hyun?]
[Yoon Seo-hyun: Listening to Understanding Modern Literature, heading to next class.]
[Han Tae-hoon: What class?]
[Yoon Seo-hyun: Classical Poetry and Culture.]
[Han Tae-hoon: The one from last time. Oh right, you're retaking it...]
[Yoon Seo-hyun: Anyone else, maybe, but your classes won't overlap with mine at all, Tae-hoon. Ours matched completely last semester.]
[Han Tae-hoon: Oh yeah;;]
[Yoo Han-gyeol: Huh? I'm taking that. Finally gonna see the Mutant Yoon Seo-hyun you've been hiding?]
[Yoon Seo-hyun: Lol, you probably won't recognize me right away.]
[Yoo Han-gyeol: Dude, no matter how much you change, that grumpy face ain't going anywhere.]
[Yoon Seo-hyun: Don't be shocked when you see lol]
[Yoo Han-gyeol: What the hell did you turn into? Wait, but is it okay to reveal you're a Mutant? People are gonna stare.]
[Yoon Seo-hyun: Just gonna come out with it. No point hiding forever. Was gonna do it at orientation anyway... but better to take the hit first.]
[Yoo Han-gyeol: Ooh.]
[Heo Ji-hwan: I'm doing independent study.]
[Yoo Han-gyeol: Ji-hwan, you on leave?]
[Heo Ji-hwan: Nah, went hard last semester, so this term I only need four classes lol]
[Jo Min-hyuk: That's why last semester he was as packed as Seo-hyun ㅇㅇ]
[Han Tae-hoon: Han-gyeol, give us your thoughts on Yoon Seo-hyun's new look later.]
[Yoo Han-gyeol: This guy's weirdly confident—did he turn into a total hunk-Mutant?]
[Yoon Seo-hyun: Nah, nothing like that, don't worry.]
[Yoo Han-gyeol: ㅇㅋ]
"Sihyun~ You called me? Oh, hi! I'm Nam Soo-yeon, Korean Literature Class of '18!"
"Hi. Yoon Seo-hyun, Korean Literature Class of '14."
"What? Yoon Seo-hyun sunbae from Korean Literature? As far as I know, there's only one..."
Soo-yeon wore a puzzled expression, like she'd heard stories about me.
"You haven't told her yet?"
Sihyun apparently hadn't spilled all the details about me.
She's got a tight lip, that Sihyun girl.
More genuine than I thought. Most people would tell their close friends... anyway.
"Nope. Is it okay to tell her?"
"I was planning to reveal it anyway."
"What are you guys talking about?"
Soo-yeon's face grew confused.
"I'm that Yoon Seo-hyun. I mutated early last semester."
"Mutated?"
"Sorry for hiding it, Soo-yeon. I didn't expect Seo-hyun sunbae to come out so soon."
"Sihyun. I'm having a hard time following—what's going on? Give me the summary?"
"So, here's what happened..."
Sihyun explained our story to Soo-yeon.
From what I gathered, she'd edited out the Mutant-related parts of what happened between us. So...
"I'm really sorry!"
She was bowing her head to Soo-yeon right now.
"No, no. I get it, so lift your head? People are watching."
Soo-yeon didn't seem to mind Sihyun's white lie much.
She fully understood it was well-intentioned.
"But you don't look like a Mutant at all. That's surprising."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Don't most have traits? Like horns or..."
"I've got horns too. Just hiding them under this hat. And my eyes are naturally golden."
"Oh... Contacts, huh?"
"Yep."
"Not sure if I should say this, but it's kinda weird in a fascinating way."
"I get that."
"Um... do the other sunbaes know?"
"Nope. Even my classmates don't. Wanted to surprise them a bit."
"You're surprisingly playful."
"You're a bit like that too, aren't you, Soo-yeon hoobaenim?"
"True! But you're so different from the rumors."
"Department gossip is mostly bad. I used to have a grumpy look too. Only way to know someone is to meet them yourself. Even if others hate them, they might click with you."
"True."
"Anyway, let's get along this semester. Won't be bored. Most classmates are in different classes."
"Oh, really?"
"The one taking this with me is Yoo Han-gyeol—know her?"
"Yeah! Han-gyeol oppa. I mooched a lot of meals off her."
"Anyway, I'll probably hang with her for a bit. Class ends right at lunch."
"Um, if it's not a bother, can we join you guys from now on?"
"No reason not to. Though it'd be more fun with classmates... Ah, there she is. Han-gyeol."
"Oh, yeah?"
Soo-yeon said that and trotted over to Han-gyeol.
"Han-gyeol oppa, hi!"
"Oh, Soo-yeon, hey. Doing well? Taking this class?"
"Yeah! Sihyun's here too!"
"Lots of familiar faces. Good thing. Thought it'd be boring with no one else from class. Someone to ask if I miss assignment news while dozing off. Uh... but weird?"
"What?"
"My classmate's not here. She'd arrive like ten minutes early with her personality."
"Your classmate—Seo-hyun sunbae?"
"Yeah. She's overly diligent. Supposed to be holding down the vibe with that signature grumpy face... weird, huh?"
As Han-gyeol said that, Soo-yeon glanced at me with a smirk. She's definitely more playful than Sihyun.
"You know too, oppa, but I never crossed paths with Seo-hyun sunbae."
"I know, I know. Just weird. Guess I'll text her later. Making me worry. Let's sit. Professor's coming soon."
"Yep."
"Gotta talk to Sihyun after class."
"Wanna have lunch with us?"
"Sure."
Right on cue, the professor walked in. Professor Hong Jeong-tae.
He always takes it slow, so the class itself isn't hard... but infamous for tons of assignments.
And, rude as this is, his lectures are so boring that lots of students doze off.
"Whoa, lots of students this semester too. Nice to meet you all. I'm Hong Jeong-tae, teaching Classical Poetry and Culture."
Applause followed his quick intro. He chatted a bit more, then called roll.
"Yoon Seo-hyun."
"Yes."
Hearing my name, I was sure. Professor Hong Jeong-tae hadn't gotten word from Professor Kim Yeon-hwa.
"Hm? New face... but familiar name. Mind taking off the hat?"
" Ah, sure."
I hadn't expected to come out like this. I took off my hat and hung it on the side.
Shrill screams erupted around me.
"Eek!?"
No surprise there. It was Yoo Han-gyeol. Other students whispered, staring at me. Yeah, I expected this reaction.
"Uh... you're that Yoon Seo-hyun, right?"
"Yes. Yoon Seo-hyun, Class of '14, Professor. Sorry for ghosting last semester without a word. I became a Mutant."
"Oh, no, it's fine. These things happen."
Nearby students eyed me uneasily.
A Mutant suddenly barging into the lecture hall—natural reaction.
I got it. Mutants caused so many incidents.
No choice but to change minds gradually.
The murmurs died down after the professor swallowed his shock.
"Quiet, quiet. Bit of a commotion. Haha... This is awkward. So, Seo-hyun—er, miss now? Can you tell us what kind of Mutant?"
"Dragon-type Mutant."
"Dragon? Like in myths and legends?"
"Uh, yeah. Specifically Western dragon style. The kind media calls dragons..."
Right then, I saw it. The professor's eyes burning with curiosity.
Oh man, Department Head. How could you forget to tell the one person who needed to know first...