Ch.BONUSAfterword

“To efficiently handle data, you must learn optimization methods…”

Classes, assignments. And exams.

The time of trials and tribulations that every college student in South Korea must go through. Among them, the Database Design class, boasting the most terrifying faculty, was recording the highest attendance rate ever.

An attendance rate exceeding 200 percent.

This was because it included not only the students officially enrolled in the lecture but also those who had separately applied to audit the class.

Instead of focusing on the professor, who mistakenly believed it was due to his excellent teaching skills, the students kept glancing at someone sitting in the front row.

“Olivia.”

“What now?”

“Hehe. You’re having a good time. Everyone’s staring at you.”

Aria spoke with her characteristic mischievous expression.

“Good thing you didn’t bring Kiel. If you had, such an interesting situation wouldn’t have occurred.”

“…Could you please shut up?”

“It’s your fault for assuming this wouldn’t happen with looks like yours. Or perhaps you enjoy such attention? My, you have a naughtier side than I thought. I wonder what Melina would think of this.”

“Aria. Please.”

“If I were you, I’d sit in the very back row or wear a hood. Of course, you’d still attract attention, but less than now.”

It’s not like she hadn’t tried.

She’d tried dyeing her hair and wearing contacts, but this appearance simply couldn’t be concealed. What could she do when everything just reverted to its original color no matter what she tried?

“That’s all for today’s class. Submit your assignments by Thursday this week, and Lee Sung-ah, please stay behind.”

Olivia, or rather, Lee Sung-ah, furrowed her brow. She still couldn’t get used to the name “Lee Sung-ah.”

Her original name was “Lee Sungwoon.” At least until she fell into Lactea.

But the moment she returned to reality with her past life colleagues, her life as “Lee Sungwoon” was completely overturned.

It wasn’t that she changed from male to female, but rather that she had been female from the beginning.

That’s why her name had changed too.

In a way, it was fortunate. If it had been the former case, she wouldn’t have been able to attend university normally like now.

“Sung-ah. I really liked the assignment you submitted this time. Would you consider learning under me-“

“Ah, no. I’m fine, thank you.”

As if she’d volunteer for slave labor. Olivia hastily waved her hands and brushed off the professor’s hand that was offering the slave position.

“Is that the end of classes for today?”

“No. I have to go volunteer at 2 o’clock.”

“Volunteer?”

“It’s for credits. To get one credit, you need to complete 24 hours per semester.”

Considering that this garbage professor’s class, which spits out two assignments per week, was worth 3 credits, this was definitely a sweet credit opportunity that couldn’t be missed.

“Hmm. You’re living diligently.”

“I don’t want to have my personal information exposed like others who do livestreams.”

“Hm?”

“…It’s a thing.”

Unless she was short on money, there was no reason to consider it at all.

Even attending university was to broaden her range of experiences, not to get a job at a major corporation.

“Then I should head back first.”

“That’s unusual.”

Given how she usually stuck to her like glue, it was understandable for Olivia to react this way.

“I have a group project to do. We’re meeting at a cafe nearby.”

“What class is it for?”

“Introduction to Political Science, I believe. It would be a decent class if not for the professor’s political bias.”

“Are your group members okay?”

“They remind me of the ministers of the empire.”

While she was trying to interpret what that meant, Aria spoke up.

“It means they’re as incompetent as parasites, just consuming food.”

“…”

“It’s truly disappointing that all three of my group members are flirtatious men. They pretend to work hard trying to seduce me somehow, but they can’t fool me with that level of effort. Hehehe…”

“…”

Olivia kept her mouth shut.

*****

“…”

I think I made the wrong choice.

Surely the library shelving volunteer work I had in mind would have been a sweet gig where I’d occasionally put books back in their places and have the leisure to read books in my spare time.

That’s definitely what it should have been, so why is it so noisy?

“Kyaaaaa!”

“Dinosaur! Dinosaur! Robot! Robot!”

“Mom! There’s a new comic book!”

Not realizing it was a children’s library turned out to be such a huge mistake.

“Big sister! Big sister! Can you find this book for me?”

“I was first! Me too! Find one for me too!”

“This book too!”

“Waaaaaah!”

You little devils. Why are you asking me to find books you won’t even read?

After being exploited by these little demons for several hours.

“Are you here to volunteer?”

A calm voice that was hard to believe came from a child reached her ears.

When she just heard the voice, she thought it was the librarian, but it turned out to be a little girl about the same height as the children who had just passed by.

Adorable brown hair. Eyes full of the bright energy unique to children.

She was the owner of a cute appearance that was healing just to look at.

“What’s your name, big sister?”

Her polite way of speaking, among other things, really appealed to me, who had lived for thousands of years across past and present lives.

“I’m Olivi-, I mean, I’m Sung-ah.”

“How old are you, Sung-ah unnie?”

“How old do I look?”

“Umm… a high school student?”

I realized why the expression “cute enough to die for” exists. A cute child being polite is a lethal weapon in itself.

“I’m a college student. I’m twenty-three.”

“Hmm, twenty-three. Twenty-three means… ten twice and three more…”

Even the way she fidgets with her fingers is cute.

“How old is our little lady?”

“I’m five years old.”

The way she proudly held up five fingers was truly violent. Enough to unconsciously clutch at my heart.

Olivia chatted with the little girl for a while. After following her around for a few minutes to help shelve books, it was almost time for the library to close.

“Please return your name tag and scan the QR code to register your volunteer end time.”

“Excuse me, but…”

“Yes?”

“There’s still a little girl upstairs, and I don’t see her parents. Have you seen them?”

“…Ah, are you talking about the brown-haired girl?”

Was she well-known?

“Yes.”

“She lives nearby and often comes alone.”

“Ah, I see.”

If that’s the case.

Just as Olivia was feeling relieved, she heard footsteps from the stairs. The little girl who had been healing her mind for the past hour was coming down, moving her short legs.

“Are you leaving now?”

“Yes.”

She wanted to talk more, but what could she do? She had already fulfilled her volunteer quota for this semester. Even if she applied to volunteer again, there was no guarantee they would meet.

“Goodbye.”

“You take care too.”

A bow at almost 90 degrees. She was a child who gave smiles until the very end.

Or so she thought as they were about to exit the main entrance together.

Suddenly, a strange sense of déjà vu washed over her.

Familiar, yet something that shouldn’t be felt at this moment.

“…What’s your name?”

“My name?”

“Yes.”

Brown eyes looked at her, forming an arc.

“I was wondering when you’d ask.”

Her whole body flinched for a moment.

With a boldness uncharacteristic of a child, Olivia stared at her as if entranced.

“What do you think it is?”

“…”

When Olivia hesitated to answer, she approached with her hands behind her back.

After staring into Olivia’s eyes for a long time, she slowly began to speak.

“Unnie.”

Her Adam’s apple bobbed.

“It’s okay to call you unnie, right?”

“You…”

“There’s no one here to say anything. It’s not like I’m the Saintess.”

She says this with a bright smile.

Just like the day they first met.

Then she comes closer and hugs her.

A warm breeze passed by them.

As if celebrating their long-awaited reunion.

Gently and warmly.