Chapter 6: Commonalities

I quickly composed my expression.
Acting like nothing happened.
I stood up slowly from the bench.

“…You’re here. Let’s go.”

I spoke, trying to stay calm.
Then turned and started walking.
Toward the Academy’s training facilities.

“…”

Seo Ieung followed silently behind me.

An awkward silence.
The air felt chilly.
Like I’d been caught watching porn.

‘She won’t spread rumors, right?’

I don’t know much about Seo Ieung.
But she doesn’t seem like the gossiping type.
She feels far from that kind of person.

Anyway.
Please, just forget what you saw.
Treat it as no big deal and don’t mention it.

I prayed silently.

“You know how to smile. That’s unexpected.”

Seo Ieung smirked, one corner of her mouth lifting.

Of course.
No way she’d let it slide…

I’d be curious too.
Seeing a guy who’s been stone-faced suddenly giggling like an idiot.

Did I look weak?
Like a total loser?
Is my Academy life doomed now?

As worries swirled in my head.

“You like animals, huh?”

Seo Ieung spoke again.
Not in her usual sharp tone.
But a much softer one.

My guard lowered slightly, and I gave a small nod.

“Really? No wonder you looked so happy.”

Her reaction wasn’t what I expected.
I thought she’d say something like, “Pretending to be cool, but you’re just a loser.”
Good thing she didn’t.

“I like animals too.”

Seo Ieung suddenly opened up.
Did finding common ground make her feel closer?
I don’t know why.

“What’s your favorite animal?”

Was this the same girl who stared boredly out the window during question time?

I answered anyway.

“All of them.”
“All?”

“Cute animals, I love them all.”
“There’s gotta be one you like best.”

“I don’t discriminate.”
“Discriminate? Come on… Fine, different question. If you could only keep one animal, what would you pick?”

Picking just one out of so many animals?
What a cruel question.

I racked my brain.
It wasn’t easy.
All cute animals are equal to me.

‘If I say I don’t discriminate again, she’ll get mad.’

With a heavy heart.
I chose one.

“If I had to pick, a cat.”

The one I was just petting.

“Hmm… A cat… Okay.”

What’s okay about it?
Muttering something unclear, Seo Ieung nodded slightly.

Then she asked again.

“Oh, do you have any pets at home?”
“Nope.”

“Why? Parents against it?”
“Nope.”

“What’s nope now?”
“Parents.”

“…S-Sorry.”

Seo Ieung apologized, flustered.
Then kept talking nonstop.
All about animals.

This was torture.
What’s wrong with her?

I desperately missed the silent Seo Ieung from before.

Twenty minutes passed.
The training facility was pretty far.
So we were still walking.

And.
Seo Ieung was still talking to me.
I’m losing it.

“Hey, can I ask one more thing?”

Am I getting used to her?
She’s mixing in personal questions now, beyond animals.

No way.
I wanted to shut her down firmly.
But like a loser, I nodded.

“I know it’s rude to ask, but… I’ve been dying to know.”

Judging by her buildup.
This was going to be a bold question.

“Do you, like, prefer guys?”

Ruder than I imagined.
What kind of question is that?
Why would I like guys?
I was speechless.

I just struggle with girls.
I’m a perfectly normal heterosexual.
I don’t like guys at all.

“I don’t.”
“Really? My bad, then. Sorry if that upset you.”

She apologized.
Then explained why she asked.

“It’s just, you don’t seem just uninterested in girls… How do I put it? It feels like you hate them. That’s the vibe I got, so I wondered if you might like guys.”

Listening to her.
I could see why she’d think that.
I brought this misunderstanding on myself.

“So, you don’t like guys… But you do hate girls, right?”

A tricky question.
I’m heterosexual, but ironically, I do have some resentment toward women.

Except for women who don’t look rational at all.

Plain women make me uncomfortable.
Beautiful ones trigger my trauma.

Though, if they’re on a screen, it’s fine.
I can watch adult videos no problem.

It’s only in reality.
When I face them in person, that I feel fear.

‘Calling that hating women feels off. It’s not like I don’t feel attraction to them.’

Hating yet liking them.
Love and hate.
A love-hate relationship, I guess.

As I was about to answer.

“No, you don’t have to say. Your reaction says it all—you definitely hate girls.”

Seo Ieung jumped to her own conclusion.
Why ask if you’re just going to assume?

“No need to feel bad that I figured it out. I don’t care. I’m used to guys not liking me.”

I missed my chance to respond.
The opportunity to clarify slipped away.

Seo Ieung stared off into the distance.
Then, hesitating, she asked another question.

“But, do you hate female animals too?”
“No.”

I answered instantly.
Who cares about an animal’s gender? That’s crazy.

Anyway.
I wanted to stop talking.
My stomach was starting to churn.

“I see. Oh, I forgot to ask—have you been to a cat café?”

Please, just stop.

We reached the training facility.
A place called the Illusion Dungeon.

The guide explained.
Here, you can experience a virtual dungeon.

“See those square booths? They’re enchanted with illusion magic. Enter, and you’re transported to a virtual dungeon.”

The guide continued kindly.
As expected, she was a beautiful girl too.

“The official name is Dungeon Experience Booth, with difficulties from A to F.”
“Can we try it now?”

Seo Ieung asked the guide.

“Of course. But today, only F-rank booths are available.”
“Why? I want to try an A-rank one.”
“To prevent eager freshmen from tackling high-difficulty dungeons, getting discouraged, and dropping out.”
“…”

Seo Ieung frowned, visibly annoyed.
She must’ve realized the comment was aimed at her.

The guide continued, unfazed.

“It’s a virtual dungeon, so you can’t die or feel pain. Some ask to try higher ranks anyway, and that’s valid. But virtual or not, fear is real. One bad experience can mess with your Hunter career or make you give up entirely.”

I agreed with the guide.
Everything she said made sense.
Trauma isn’t something you overcome easily.

Seo Ieung seemed to disagree.

“F-rank’s too boring…”
“Have you been in a real dungeon, Ieung?”

“I’ve gone with my parents. Up to C-rank.”
“Oh, so you’re experienced.”

The guide nodded.
Seo Ieung’s eyes lit up with expectation.

“Do experienced people get to try higher ranks?”
“Nope, rules are rules. D-rank and above are for class sessions.”

“What? I want to use them freely.”
“You can with a professor’s permit, but those are hard to get.”

Seo Ieung clicked her tongue quietly.
We decided to try an F-rank dungeon.
It’d be a waste to come all this way and not try.

Seo Ieung and I picked one of the many F-rank booths and stood in front.

“Before you enter, remember: the goal isn’t to defeat anything. It’s about getting used to dungeons. Focus on building the courage to face monsters without fear.”

It felt like she was talking to me.
I’d mentioned earlier I’d never been in a dungeon.

“Good luck.”

I grabbed the booth’s handle.
And turned it.

Click. Click.

Huh? Why won’t it open?
As I stared at the handle, Seo Ieung gave me an exasperated look.

“What are you doing? Trying to get in for free? Pay first.”

Oh, right.
The Academy’s tuition is cheap, but most facilities cost money.
I forgot for a moment.

‘I’m definitely paying this time.’

I spotted the payment machine by the booth.

Cash or card accepted.
The fee was listed next to it.

100,000 won per person.

‘…This Academy’s gone money-crazy.’

I cursed inwardly at the price.
But what can you do?
Nothing’s free in this world.
Sighing, I reached for my wallet with trembling hands.

“100,000 won for an F-rank dungeon? What a ripoff… Hey, I’ll just pay the 200,000 for both of us.”

I saw Seo Ieung hold her card to the machine.

Smack!
Startled, I quickly swatted her hand away.

“What the—?”

I let her pay for lunch, but not this.
Thanks to my trauma, I hate when girls pay for me, food or otherwise.
Dutch pay is fine, though.

As Seo Ieung looked at me, confused.

[Entry fee for two processed!]

I hurriedly paid with my card.
How dare she try to pay first.
Triggering my trauma like that.