episode_0017

Ye-in stood blankly, staring vacantly into the air.

Of course, his pants were still turning yellow.

Leaving behind the guy whose pupils had disappeared from his eyes, I returned home.

Who knew there’d be such a clean and perfect method?

I’ll have to make good use of it later.

Since I inflicted no physical harm, I had no intention of fulfilling any demands for compensation he might make later. I had merely looked at him, after all.

Everything he claimed would now become lies.

Go on, live the life of a pathological liar.

It’s funny—people who make others cry tears of blood never seem to imagine they’ll bleed themselves.

Time for you to reflect on why the concept of karma exists, Ahn Ye-in.

When I got home, my younger sister was leisurely scrolling through her phone.

“I’m back.”

“Oh? You’re early today.”

“How is 4 PM early, you brat?”

“Did something good happen? You’re grinning like an idiot.”

“Ah, just settled some bad blood from the past.”

“Huh? Bad blood?”

“Yeah, you know. That bitch, Ahn Ye-in.”

“Oh, that fucking bitch?”

My sister swore without hesitation. Good—that’s my sister for you.

The fact that she calls that fucking bitch a fucking bitch while standing up for me puts her in the top 0.1% of little sisters in Korea.

“What about her?”

“Ran into her today. Turns out she’s been happily coasting through college? After nearly ruining my life.”

“So you just… came back?”

“Would I be smiling like this if that was all?”

“Oh, right. I thought we were screwed back then. Watching her double down without any evidence made me want to grab her by the hair and rip it out.”

“Those were the days. Anyway, I gave that bitch a proper lesson.”

“How? Did you hit her or something?”

“Do I look insane? If I did that, she’d turn into minced meat. Not exaggerating—she’d literally become ground beef and die. I wanted to, but I found a better way.”

“What way?”

“Threatening… if you’d call it that? One of my abilities.”

“How is threatening an ability?”

Come to think of it, she’s never read any fantasy novels. This’ll be hard to explain.

“Think about it. If a tiger suddenly appeared in front of you, how’d you feel?”

“Scared?”

“Exactly. Maximizing that fear. So, uh… she’ll struggle with daily life from now on.”

“Whoa… you can do that?”

“Yeah. It’s convenient. Lets me retaliate without laying a hand on them. But I held back. If I hadn’t, she’d probably have died of a heart attack.”

“That’s cool… but kinda scary.”

“Relax, relax. I don’t wanna be a murderer. But since she nearly ruined my life, I just paid her back in kind.”

“No wonder you’re grinning. What about dinner?”

“Hadn’t thought about it… why?”

“I’ve got tutoring soon, so I was gonna grab something.”

“Let’s eat together, then. What do you want?”

“Chicken?”

“Sounds good.”

“Beer… is a no-go, so let’s just have Coke.”

“Zero for me.”

“Same.”

Friday arrived faster than expected. And speaking of Friday—you can’t have one without the semester opening meeting.

You might ask why a third-year would bother with orientation crap… but I promised the kids I’d go, so I figured I might as well.

Plus, my classmates had been talking in the group chat:

[Han Tae-hoon: Yo yo yo yo Yoon Seo-hyun, you ARE coming, right?]

[Yoon Seo-hyun: Yeah, I said I’d go. Why?]

[Han Tae-hoon: Nah, just the student council president keeps bugging me asking if you’re gonna show up.]

[Yoon Seo-hyun: Why the president?]

[Han Tae-hoon: Seems like she wants to get to know you.]

[Yu Han-gyeol: Honestly, half the department’s been itching to talk to you, lol.]

[Yoon Seo-hyun: Fr?]

[Yu Han-gyeol: Yeah. Word got around that you’re not some violent Variant who randomly hurts people, so it’s worse now.]

[Yoon Seo-hyun: ;; So what, I gotta put on a fire show now? Feels like I became popular overnight.]

[Heo Ji-hoon: Fire show? LOL can’t miss that. I’m in.]

[Jo Min-hyuk: This orientation might actually be fun for once, lol.]

[Han Tae-hoon: The guys who met you in the department lounge last time talked you up. Especially Nam Su-yeon—that girl’s a gossip.]

[Yoon Seo-hyun: Ooh, got it. Lol, fine.]

The meeting was at 6 PM.

All they do at these things is introduce department events.

This time, it’s probably just… academic field trips or something. That, plus the year-end event planned by the literary club run by the Korean Literature department.

Eh, they’ll just give a quick rundown and then head to a restaurant to get wasted.

University events always start formal but end with drinking.

Just in case, I texted my sister first.

[Yoon Seo-hyun: Hey]

[Yoon Seo-ah: What]

[Yoon Seo-hyun: Got orientation tonight, so I’ll be home late.]

[Yoon Seo-ah: K. Business school’s got one too, so same here.]

[Yoon Seo-hyun: Oh, yeah?]

[Yoon Seo-ah: Have fun, sis~]

[Yoon Seo-hyun: Lol okay.]

The meeting was in Humanities Building Room 104.

Still had some time to kill, but my classmates—with nothing better to do—were waiting for me in the department lounge.

Well… guess I’ll head there too.

When I opened the lounge door, it was packed. My vision instantly swam from the sheer crowd.

Damn, this overwhelming aura of popularity.

The creaking door drew all the eyes inside toward me.

“Oh, you’re here?”

“Hey, hi, sunbae!”

“Hi, hi. Han Tae-hoon, you too. Where’s everyone else?”

“Bathroom break.”

“Ah.”

“You’re early, though.”

“Had nothing else to do… figured I’d drop by and shoot the shit with you guys before the meeting.”

“Then say hi to these guys. Actually, isn’t this your first time seeing them in forever? Like, since freshman orientation?”

“Who?”

“Hello, sunbae-nim!”

“Ah, Nayeon hoobae. Hi.”

“Ahaha… long time no see.”

“Yeah. Feels like half a year.”

“It’s been longer.”

“Has it? Anyway.”

“Thanks for coming today. Lots of people were curious about you…”

“Really?”

“Yeah. And a bunch of ‘15ers wanted to get closer to you.”

Kim Na-yeon, the student council president from the year below me, smiled awkwardly at me.

We weren’t particularly close.

We first met when I was already halfway checked out from department life, and the last time I saw her was freshman orientation this semester.

Meaning we haven’t met in half a year. The awkwardness hangs thick in the air.

“Alright, since you look like you’re dying from awkwardness… let’s get closer during the meeting. Hey, Seo-hyun.”

“Yeah?”

“What you said in the group chat earlier—you meant it, right?”

“What are you on about now?”

“About the fire show.”

“Oh.”

“We can look forward to it?”

“Hey, I was just—”

“Wait, seriously!?”

A familiar voice cut in abruptly. Nam Su-yeon.

“I mean, it was just a joke…”

But judging by the underclassmen’s stares, they’re already hyped.

If I back out now, I’ll look like the bad guy.

“C’mon, just do it once.”

Heo Ji-hoon chimed in from the side. These bastards are dead set on this, huh?

Well, whatever. It’s not like I can’t. Not like it’s hard.

“Fine, alright, I’ll do it. My big mouth.”

“Nice!”

“Our department’s got dragons breathing fire!”

“Ji-hoon, Tae-hoon, you damn idiots, shut up.”

Kim Na-yeon burst out laughing at our antics.

“Ahaha! What is this?”

“Told you, Nayeon. This dude’s not scary at all.”

“I heard, but…”

“Wait, Nayeon hoobae, even you were scared of me?”

“Pretty sure everyone was back then. Even if they wanted to be friends, you were kinda intimidating.”

“True, true.”

“Was I that bad?”

“Ask ten random people on the street back then, and all ten would’ve been too scared to say hi.”

“Did I really look that threatening…?”

“Doesn’t matter now—ignore it. Anyway, I’m curious about the other hoobaes too. Bet wherever you are tonight will be the hottest spot.”

“Probably. Mind if I tag along?”

“Bring beer or fruit soju. I can’t get drunk anymore, so at least feed me.”

“Roger!”

“Oh, looks like it’s time. Let’s go, guys.”

“Yeah!”

As expected, the opening meeting ended up being all fluff.

The real highlight was the drinking party afterward.

And there, I found myself sweating under the barrage of curious underclassmen.

Seriously, why are they so obsessed with me?

I get it, but this is too much!

“Sunbae, are you seeing anyone?”

“No way. Until recently, I was a guy—how would I date a guy now?”

“Ah.”

“Any inconveniences since becoming a girl?”

“A ton. Hair got longer, so washing it’s a pain…?”

“What about makeup?”

“Don’t really wear any.”

“No way, that’s OP!”

The one interrogating me was none other than our student council president—Kim Na-yeon.

Drunk, her vibe completely shifted.

Kind of amusing, honestly.

Then, I felt someone slide onto the seat beside me. It was Shi-hyeon. Watching Na-yeon and me chat, she was smiling faintly.

“Oh, Shi-hyeon! Here to see noona? C’mon, take drink orders—pour me one too.”

Apparently popular even with the student council president, Shi-hyeon greeted Na-yeon cheerfully before taking a sip of her drink.

“Hi, unnie. You’re in a great mood today?”

“Of course! Our department’s legendary sunbae finally showed up after a million years!”

“So, sunbae-nim. Really no makeup? What a waste.”

“I never learned how.”

“Want me to teach you?”

“Uh… I just slap on moisturizer.”

“That’s such a pity! Just a little makeup and you’d be stunning.”

“That’s a bit…”

“Let’s try! Shi-hyeon, grab my pouch?”

“This one? Sure!”

Wait since when did this turn into a makeover session—