episode_0029

Late at night, just before dawn.

Returning to my studio apartment and checking the midterm schedule first thing, my initial words were precisely this.

“Well, this is screwed.”

An unbelievable, rather undesirable sight on the laptop screen.

Even after rubbing my eyes, thinking I might have seen it wrong, the notice written by the professor remained unchanged.

“…Wasn’t the midterm period supposed to start the week after next? Why is it set for next week?”

Feeling perplexed, I calmly read through the notice, which explained that due to personal reasons of the professor, the exam date would be moved up a bit.

I did wonder if that was allowed, but I didn’t have the courage to complain about it either.

With a sense of unease, I lowered my head and quietly turned my gaze towards the calendar.

Only three days left until the exam.

The only fortunate aspect was that there was a weekend without having to work at the cocktail bar…

“This won’t be easy.”

The issue lay in the volume of materials.

The major subject was none other than “Dendrology.”

As expected from a subject requiring the memorization of numerous tree characteristics, the amount of material was brutally extensive.

…Not to mention the recorded lecture lengths that could drive one insane.

Since it was an online exam due to remote learning, shouldn’t I use the excellent cheat key called Chat GPT?

If I could use that, I wouldn’t have uttered the phrase “this is screwed,” right?

It was stated in the notice by the professor.

As it’s a memorization-based subject, the exam for “Dendrology” will be taken offline.

Since the dendrology practical exam follows immediately after, make sure to prepare thoroughly.

There were no loopholes in the notice.

Whether it was targeting me or not, the notice demanded that nocturnal students come alone in the evening, damn it.

“…Should I prepare some instant noodles in advance?”

Letting out a sigh and checking the clock, it was almost time to head to dreamland.

Still, before going to bed, should I have tried to estimate the amount I needed to memorize by bravely opening one set of materials?

“…”

Confirming the page number displayed at the top of the PDF file as 221, I simply closed my laptop, convincing myself that I must have misread 21 due to fatigue.

Yes, it must have been 21. Yeah.

In a daze.

I just closed my eyes tightly.

—–

The blazing Friday swiftly passed, and before I knew it, the dull Saturday afternoon arrived.

Perhaps due to the heavily clouded sky, I could enjoy a refreshing feeling and wake up quite early.

“It’s been a while since I’ve experienced a daytime like this.”

Although it was drizzling lightly, honestly, the evening sky around 7 o’clock didn’t look much different from the starry night sky. The crucial point is the mood, isn’t it?

While momentarily enjoying the sound of raindrops hitting the window frame, I first checked the state of the plant specimens scattered on the floor.

“Oh, they dried quite well even without a dryer. Once the midterm exams are over, I can finish up and submit them right away, right?”

Unlike last time when over half of them had rotted, the plant specimens were drying smoothly.

Just as I was momentarily smiling, thinking that one assignment was almost done, the thought of the 221-page PDF file I saw on Thursday crossed my mind.

“When am I going to finish all of that, seriously?”

The happiness quickly faded away.

And it’s not just about finishing that.

There seemed to be three or four similar ones; how am I supposed to go through all of them in just two days?

“It’s frustrating that I can’t find any old exam papers.”

Should I have lived more like an insider even if it was tough?

I briefly regretted it, but then I realized that this connection would break again once this semester ends.

Deciding to push forward steadfastly like a cow, I slowly began to examine the lecture materials.

“There’s so much repetitive content, really.”

Perhaps turning into a vampire had made me less patient, as I grew tired around halfway through reading and gave up.

When reading a novel, I can focus for up to 30,000 characters within 3 hours, so why does it take over 10 minutes to read 1,000 characters of lecture materials?

“Should I take a short break?”

Continuing to study without rest seems unreasonable no matter how much I think about it.

Deciding to take just a 10-minute break, I started scrolling through social media… and then this happened.

“…Didn’t you say you were studying? How come you look the same as an hour ago?”

“Oh…!”

I thought I only glanced at it briefly, but when I snapped out of it, an hour had already passed.

“What the…”

I only looked at it for 5 or 10 minutes, so why did it feel like a time loop?

Looking at Jaehyuk with a bewildered expression, he seemed to sigh as if asking me why I was questioning him, shaking his head slightly.

“Just go to work, man. You said you needed to study, yet you skipped work on the weekend. If that’s the case, you might as well just work on weekends too.”

“…I’m seriously considering that. Something’s wrong; did your brain freeze after coming back from the military?”

“If you’re incompetent and even stupid in addition, that’s a big problem in itself.”

“Are you done talking?!”

If someone heard, they’d think I was a vampire locked up at home just sucking blood!

How capable am I…!

About to retort confidently, I realized I had absolutely no strong points to argue.

Listening, it’s actually true?

I’ve been here for over a month, and that guy has never been helpful once, has he?

After spilling rice all over during our first meeting, he was picking up each grain.

Always complaining about smelling like garlic.

Lately, he’s been going crazy learning cocktails.

Uh.

Hmm.

Apart from occasionally healing me in bat form, he’s really worse than a cat?!

Wait, does that mean I’m being treated worse than a pet now? How far do I have to fall before my patience snaps, vampire!

Feeling a deep sense of defeat, I chewed my lips thoughtfully, and as I stared outside, lost in thought, he suddenly asked me a question.

“By the way, how do you commute on rainy days like this? Rain is technically ‘flowing water,’ after all.”

“As long as it doesn’t touch my skin, it’s fine. So when I worked at a dishwasher job for a while, doing dishes wasn’t a problem.”

“So there are other weaknesses besides that… quite a lot, actually.”

“You’re teasing me now, right?”

Baring my fangs fiercely, he avoided my gaze and quickly fled to the entrance.

“Oh, it’s almost time to go to work. Well then, see you later? Study hard while I’m gone.”

“I was planning to do that even without you saying it. Just wait and see when you come back today.”

“Hmph, you’re one scary dude for saying ‘wait and see.’”

Knowing all too well that there’s nothing I can do, he teased me until the end before leaving the room.

Glancing briefly at the closed front door, I sighed and sat back down in front of my laptop.

“Yeah, what can I do for you.”

Even if I can’t help, I shouldn’t cause trouble.

While I could cause trouble for Jaehyuk by getting into an accident, wouldn’t that be repaying kindness with enmity?

“Yoon Jaehyuk, you really are lucky.”

After researching information about vampires and even checking overseas news.

There truly was no vampire as noble and kind as him.

Now that the vulgarity has disappeared, it’s more appropriate to describe him as ladylike rather than noble.

Anyway, unlike me, most others showed signs of terrible character or were consumed by teenage angst.

“Lord of Blood, Bloodsucker… Ugh, isn’t it embarrassing.”

Please, if you’re looking for kin, don’t come to Korea.

If we ever meet, I’ll probably cringe.

“…Hey, surely he won’t come.”

Surrounded by three sides of the sea (flowing water).

With everyone obsessed with garlic.

In an environment akin to hell, with exaggerated embellishments, red neon signs in 100-meter intervals.

“Where is that foolish vampire who dares lift its foot?”

I let out a bitter laugh and resumed reading my lecture notes.

—–

“…Master, do you really have to go?”

Inside a building shrouded in pitch-black darkness,

A pale-faced old man in formal attire blocked the path of a girl dressed elegantly.

“Why do you insist on venturing into hell yourself? That realm is far too harsh for you to tread.”

Gazing at my master with a stern expression, the old man slowly began to recall memories from before I became a vampire.

A country where garlic is a staple seasoning.

A land where if something lacks flavor, people search for minced garlic.

And if that’s not enough, they even chew whole cloves of it, a nation seemingly obsessed with the mere mention of ‘a bit of garlic,’ which translates to ten pages or roughly a pinch in their deranged world.

It was indeed a place my master wanted to visit to meet her kin, a land filled with such madness.

What could possibly drive her to seek an encounter there?

Recalling the recent struggles of the girl due to garlic, the old man once again started persuading my master.

“A few days ago, you struggled after biting someone who had eaten garlic, didn’t you? Korea is a country inhabited solely by such individuals. Please, reconsider your choice.”

“…Master? Can’t you at least make your lies sound plausible? Are you trying to tell me that every citizen of that country enjoys such torturous delights as a garlic masochist? Do I look like a fool in your eyes?”

“It may be hard to believe, but surprisingly, it’s the truth…”

“Enough. Help me get ready quickly. Oh, and you know the Master has to come along too, right? It’s a vassal’s duty to accompany their ruler.”

“…”

No, if you’re going to hell, go alone.

Why drag me along, you foolish woman?

Disgusting curses rose to my lips, but the old man couldn’t defy her wishes.

Having already been bound as a slave named “family” due to being bitten by the girl.

“♩♬”

Watching the girl disappear into the bedroom humming a tune, the old man sighed softly with regret.

Ah, if only I had consumed more garlic regularly.