Ch.54Episode 10. Comforting the Loners (6)

“Oh, Instructor Eugene.”

“Ah, hello.”

I awkwardly ran my hand through the back of my hair and bowed my head to the female dormitory security guard.

“I saw the news. They say you defeated the Lotus Dragon Hero?”

“Ah… I was just lucky.”

“Lucky? The video spreading online shows you were completely dominant.”

Huh. So not just photos but videos were spreading on the internet too…!

I sighed at this shocking news.

I could ask the Association President to take measures, but it would be difficult to contain something already spread across the internet.

“Haha…”

I laughed dryly. Resignation seemed the most peaceful option right now.

I had no choice but to wait until things quieted down.

“By the way, what brings you to the women’s dormitory this late at night?”

“I came to meet a student I’m in charge of.”

“Hmm… I see? Could you fill out the registry? Purpose of visit too.”

I took the ledger the guard handed me and wrote down my basic information. For purpose, I wrote “student consultation.”

“But Instructor, don’t you usually conduct student meetings during the day?”

The guard looked up from the ledger with a questioning expression.

“I didn’t have that luxury.”

More precisely, I couldn’t even afford to give her that luxury.

“I’m not going to lay hands on any student, so you can rest assured.”

“Is that so.”

“May I go in now?”

“Yes. You can enter through the main entrance.”

Following the guard’s directions, I entered through the main entrance.

There was an ability detection sensor installed at the entrance. It was a machine installed to detect the possibility of villains disguising themselves with abilities.

“I don’t know what this is about, but have a good time.”

The nuance was somehow strange. I hope they’re not misunderstanding something?

Honestly, who wouldn’t understand what it might mean for me to visit a female student’s room after 10 PM?

Still, I felt a bit wronged. I was purely going to comfort her!

As I entered the dormitory building, I passed a female instructor in the hallway and gave a slight nod.

However, far from returning my greeting, she fled hurriedly into her room as if she’d seen a criminal.

The sound of her door slamming echoed through the hallway. What did I do wrong…?

I stood in front of the elevator, thinking I should just quietly go up.

I already knew the location of the room since I had contacted Gu Yeonhwa beforehand.

She had excitedly told me it was room 707 on the 7th floor, saying the room number was fitting for a spy, and rambled on about it for three minutes before I hung up.

Just as I was about to stand in front of room 707, I felt someone watching me and turned my head.

“…”

Someone was observing me?

Well, thinking about it, I’ve been the center of attention recently.

It wasn’t unexpected that people would create all sorts of fantasies and stories about me visiting the female student dormitory.

I turned around and sat down on a chair placed in the central hallway.

I considered just talking here and leaving, but I really didn’t want anyone else to hear about her parents.

If rumors spread, that would truly be something that would torment Gu Yeonhwa.

I took out my phone and called Gu Yeonhwa. She answered before the first ring even finished.

[Hello?]

“Gu Yeonhwa.”

[Yes?]

“You’re an attention seeker, aren’t you?”

[What are you suddenly saying?!]

I could hear something being pounded repeatedly through the phone. Was she beating a pillow?

“I’m not joking.”

[…Then what do you mean.]

I could hear her grumbling sulkily through the phone. I could imagine her pouting with her lips pushed out.

“Would you mind if strange rumors spread about us?”

[Strange rumors?]

“For example, rumors that you and I are lovers. That we’re dating.”

[Ah… No, I don’t mind. Rumors are just rumors. It’s not like we’re actually dating, right? Besides, the barking of inferior humans weaker than me can’t penetrate my mental barriers.]

I wanted to say that’s because you don’t have a mental immunity skill.

Still, Yeonhwa’s shamelessness was welcome today.

“I told you not to talk like that.”

[Hmph! So when are you coming?]

“I’m already in the central hallway of your floor. I feel like someone’s watching, so I’m being cautious.”

[Ah~ So that’s why you called. Are you nervous about such things too, Instructor! Haha! I’ve discovered a weakness!]

“Yeah. Discover more of my weaknesses and make sure you become a hero who surpasses me.”

[Hehe! I was planning to do that anyway!]

How cheeky.

I hung up and stood from my seat.

She didn’t seem to be speaking in roundabout ways like some women do, and since she said it was fine, there seemed no need to hesitate.

“Here you are, Instructor.”

Gu Yeonhwa approached me wearing a black t-shirt and dolphin pants. With her hair in buns, she looked so ordinary compared to usual that it felt like a charming reversal.

“You’re so~ timid, Instructor! Worrying about such trivial things!”

“If it was just me having problems, I wouldn’t have worried. I was concerned about you having a hard time because of me.”

Gu Yeonhwa acts like she forgets all the insults by the next day and behaves as if nothing happened, but in reality, she’s quite sensitive to what others say.

She just pretends not to be hurt, pretends it doesn’t bother her.

“Hmm~ You’re worried about me?”

I pinched her cheek hard as she tested me with an ambiguous smile.

“Oww!”

“Want to keep pushing it?”

“Le-let go!”

I released my grip as she wished. She frowned while rubbing her reddened cheek.

“I just don’t want you to suffer because of me.”

“But I gave you permission. So it’s fine.”

She placed her hands on her hips and lifted her chin, speaking proudly. It felt somewhat impertinent, as if she was scolding me.

“Fine. I got it. I got it. Let’s go to your room.”

I grabbed her shoulder, forcibly turning her around and pushing her back.

“You’re just like a son who hates being nagged!”

“…Are you my mother?”

I regretted it as soon as I said it.

I belatedly realized that “mother” was a taboo word in front of Gu Yeonhwa.

“Hehe. It would be fun to have a son like you, Instructor. We could wear cool outfits together and strike poses, creating scenes like from a manga.”

But contrary to my expectations, she responded calmly while raising her enthusiasm. Though I wondered if by “cool outfits” she meant cosplay.

“No peeking at the password! Turn around!”

“So strict.”

I already know Gu Yeonhwa’s room password.

780711.

Her mother’s birthday.

Every time she enters the password, she remembers her mother’s birthday, giving her a reason to contact her. Of course, the only response she gets is “Thank you.”

Ding!

With the notification sound, she opened the door.

“Come in.”

A well-organized room.

The room size was adequate and gave off a perfectly ordinary, stable feeling, but somehow it felt barren.

Perhaps it was because there was no trace of her usual cosplay or otaku tendencies visible in the room.

“Sit on that chair.”

She sat on the bed after closing the door and spoke. I sat on the chair in front of the desk as she instructed.

“Surprised there’s nothing much here?”

She asked as I glanced around the room.

“No, not really…”

“Hehehe! All my treasures are hidden here!”

She jumped up and opened the wardrobe door.

Inside hung several black dresses, a rare sight. Then from the bottom drawer came numerous manga and novels.

It must have been quite a hassle to move all that to the dormitory. Well, for the delivery person, that is.

“Coming out as a nerd?”

“What’s the big deal? I’m confident enough to proudly call myself an otaku anywhere.”

“That’s nothing to brag about.”

I looked down at the drawer she had proudly opened.

Seeing famous works from the world I used to live in right here made me feel nostalgic.

“I enjoyed reading this.”

“Oh~ You know One-Punch Man?!”

Gu Yeonhwa’s tension shot up. Her eyes sparkled as she talked, probably thinking she’d discovered a shared hobby.

“Ah, yeah. It’s fun.”

“Hooh! So you were a closet otaku all along?!”

“No, I wouldn’t go that far…”

“Wow~ You don’t look the type.”

Gu Yeonhwa patted my back while giggling with a sly voice. Is she picking a fight right now?

“…Then what do I look like?”

“Well… I thought you’d be the type to think it’s better to chase women in real life than be satisfied with anime.”

“Just how much of a trash person am I in your head…”

“I never said you were trash, Instructor.”

“That’s basically what you meant.”

I crouched down to look at what books she had while continuing to speak.

“Let me tell you in advance. I don’t do that kind of thing. I’m not even capable of it.”

“Then why are you so nice to special students, including me?”

She sat down beside me and asked.

Her blue eyes watched me intently. I could feel her determination not to miss even my slightest reaction.