episode_0010

As several major courses transitioned to pre-recorded lectures, my life became remarkably more abundant compared to before.

Well, waking up around lunchtime was still a struggle, but it was much better than getting up at 8:30 in the morning for the first class.

It was practically like being told to wake up at 2:30 in the morning to attend classes.

Civil Engineering (O)

Conflict Resolution and Understanding (O)

Forest Management (O)

“This is the attendance sheet.”

Unlike Mondays, I happily smiled while looking at the attendance sheet with circles marked in every bracket.

Just being present in all classes, not even receiving all A+s, made me this happy.

I briefly wondered if my happiness bar had been set too low, but I shrugged it off soon after.

Well, finding joy in such trivial things isn’t that strange.

Honestly, things have gotten harsh since turning into a vampire.

A second outing was imminent.

Recalling the events from the first outing, I hesitated to go out again.

Neon signs of crosses everywhere I went.

People approaching, enchanted by my beauty, trying to confess their love.

And the nauseating smell of garlic that accompanied each encounter.

Though I felt like staying in, it was inevitable.

I couldn’t keep stealing Jaehyuk’s clothes, and I couldn’t avoid going out altogether.

Ding!

Wrapped in thick blankets, letting out a groan, an alert tone chimed in.

The current time was 6:30.

The sender of the message was probably Hyeun urging me to go shopping.

Unlocking my phone absentmindedly, there it was.

“I’m outside your place, when are you coming out?”

The message from the guy who had already arrived in front of my place.

“Coming out soon, wait for 3 minutes.”

Unless it’s a special occasion, men tend to throw on clothes hastily, apply some lotion, and head out.

After a quick preparation, I left my place, where a pure angel greeted me with a ‘Sure thing.’

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Just thought you were yourself.”

“Is that a compliment or an insult?”

“Heh, closer to a compliment.”

With a light exchange instead of formal greetings, we headed towards the subway station to go straight into the city.

On our way to the subway station, Hyeun looked at me with a pitiful expression and spoke up.

“Oh, I heard the news. You’re moving out of your place and living with Tuduri?”

“Yeah, I was thinking of going back home… but the conditions were good, so I changed my mind.”

“Oh… but I was there too, right? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I don’t want us to end up as roommates and accidentally catch feelings. Can you handle that headache from that jerk Halo for me? It’s really tough and might kill you.”

“Ah, sorry.”

As I raised an arrogant eyebrow, he seemed to realize something and put Halo in his bag.

Taking a moment to breathe as the pressure eased, Hyeun started speaking seriously.

“By the way, isn’t this exactly ‘that route’?”

“…What now?”

“Living together, ‘hey’ turning into ‘darling,’ and ‘darling’ becoming ‘honey’…”

“Honey is ridiculous. Didn’t I tell you to stop daydreaming? Wait, leaving aside angels, can they even think like that?”

“Sigh… Sigh… But every time I think about that, the sense of guilt is no joke…! And calling an angel vulgar, pfft… This is also a unique point of view…!”

“Please.”

This… an angel?

Devout believers witnessing this shabby sight might break down in tears.

Perhaps they’d lose faith, descending into corruption, starting to believe in demons.

“Could you please pretend not to know while we’re on the subway?”

Feeling embarrassed just by listening, I distanced myself, but the guy stuck close, grinning broadly.

Pretend not to know.

Just a bit.

—–

Arriving in the city with a clatter, our first order of business was to fill our hungry stomachs.

Didn’t they say even Geumgangsan (a famous mountain) is a postprandial sight?

With no appetite and a growling stomach, we ordered ice cream waffles from a dessert shop near the subway station.

As we walked towards the clothing store, munching on the ice cream waffles, Hyeun asked me with a curious face,

“But vampires are supposed to drink blood. Is it okay to keep eating other things instead?”

“…Well, I’m not sure either. I haven’t felt like I want to eat it yet.”

There is a faint thirst.

No matter what is consumed, the insatiable thirst remains.

The irritability of this creature is probably the eternal thirst for blood that vampires must endure.

Yes, what Hyeun said makes sense.

Vampires are called vampires because they are monsters that consume blood.

Although the name suggests they must drink blood…

“Well, don’t you sometimes feel like you don’t want to eat it? I’ve passed by people bleeding on weekends, but I never felt any impulse.”

Even if one is starving, there is no way to devour a venomous creature.

To a vampire, Koreans were exactly those kinds of beings.

Should I really eat that? The thirst somewhat subsided as the thought crossed my mind.

“It might be true that garlic juice flows through the veins of Koreans instead of blood.”

Recalling the strong scent of garlic that usually wafted over, I shook my head, and Hyeun chuckled and made another crude joke.

“So, does that mean to drink Korean blood, you have to get it from a kid? This is totally ‘One Shot’…!”

“You’re acting like a crazy woman… But that doesn’t seem possible either, right? Look over there.”

Passing by, I pointed at a barbecue restaurant where a child was being pointed at with my finger.

A child who looked about five years old, confidently wrapping up a leaf wrap with lettuce, chili, onion, garlic, and dipping sauce.

Observing that cute scene absentmindedly, the pure white angel suddenly started looking at me with a suspicious gaze.

“Why, what’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing.”

“No, why are you acting like that?”

“Just… I feel like I should treat you well.”

“…?”

As I shrugged with a puzzled look, he coughed a few times and quickly changed the subject.

“By the way, do you have a concept you want? Any concept would suit that body well, right?”

“What’s a concept?”

“…I’m an idiot. Can I just decorate it as I like?”

“Within acceptable limits. Of course, no skirts or dresses.”

It feels like cross-dressing, and above all, I’m the one paying.

Adding to my words, he licked his lips regretfully.

“Well, then a simple casual look should do. As for other concepts… It’s a shame, but we’ll have to wait for later.”

“I just saw you treating it like a giant dress-up doll.”

“Haha, it’s just for fun! How could I treat a precious friend like that?”

“You’re insane, seriously.”

Engrossed in conversation, we arrived at a clothing store without realizing it.

Passing by a smiling salesperson, we entered, greeted by countless clothes.

Wow, it’s already overwhelming.

How should I choose clothes here?

Should I just pick clothes that fit and are comfortable to wear?

Absentmindedly fiddling with the pants hanging nearby, a store employee approaches but hesitates.

The customer, an ethereal silver-haired woman with exotic features, seemed unsure of which language to speak.

…It’s a problem being a vampire. Always being treated as a foreigner?

I sighed and weakly spoke up.

“Since I’m a native Korean, please feel free to speak in Korean.”

“…Ah!”

The startled employee let out a gasp and finally came closer to fulfill her duties.

From a brief description of the clothing to skillfully stimulating the desire to purchase.

I thought it was fine and reached for the pants, but my actions were thwarted by Hye-eun.

“Stop right there, put that pants down for now.”

“Why?”

“There are plenty of other pretty clothes, why choose such plain pants? It only suits you because it’s you, honestly, it’s really not good!”

“I’m fine as long as it’s comfortable to wear, right? Look, it stretches really well!”

Isn’t it quite nice for casual outings?

Not trying to impress anyone, just going to the convenience store nearby, no need to dress up in fancy clothes.

As I stared in disbelief, he continued with a face that showed he wouldn’t listen.

“There’s a limit to dressing comfortably, Han Jiwoo. You wearing those pants is like a chubby man trying to wear a crop top.”

“…Is it that bad?”

“Yes, it really is. Bright colors suit you better than such plain clothes, or go for a stylish suit look altogether.”

Hye-eun confidently presented me with clothes of unknown origin and spoke assertively.

“Go check in the fitting room. You can see what suits you better in the mirror.”

In response, I chuckled wryly and pointed at one of the mirrors nearby.

“Do you know about that, Hye-eun?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t vampires not reflect in mirrors?”

My reflection in the mirror showed a transparent figure in casual attire.

The angelic figure with snowy white skin, pointing fingers, solemnly uttered.

“…Isn’t that too many drawbacks? Is daily life possible?”

Could daily life be possible?

I never expected to hear that question phrased in this manner.