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Chapter: 6
“Hak Seolhwa. Don’t start something.”
Yuna spoke sharply, never one to tolerate anything when it came to Hadam.
In an instant, all eyes in the room focused on the two of them.
Normally, Hadam might have felt grateful, but right now, all he wanted was to disappear.
His watch, set to silent, kept vibrating relentlessly.
“Can’t you be quiet? What kind of manners are those in front of a teacher! Both of you, as punishment, you’ll be on duty for the entire month of March.”
Ung Yaksan shouted fearsomely. The classroom instantly fell silent.
Even the protagonists of the argument just wore annoyed expressions, saying nothing further.
Hadam lowered his head deeply, fidgeting with his innocent-looking watch.
His heart rate, which had shot up to 120, was dropping far slower than it had risen.
Ung Yaksan glanced around the classroom, now as silent as a mouse, and spoke again.
“One last announcement. From this week, we’ll begin career counseling. Starting tomorrow, after class, come down to the faculty office in order by student number. See you at the homeroom session. That’s all.”
With that, Ung Yaksan trudged out of the classroom, seemingly tired.
The previously quiet classroom erupted back into noise immediately.
Most of the students glanced sideways at Lee Gyeol, but the main topic of conversation was career counseling.
Since adulthood meant officially leaving school entirely, career paths were the top concern for students.
Everyone, that is—except Hadam.
Hadam had no time to think about dreams.
If existing simply as a normal human being could be called a dream, then that was his.
His only real option was attending Suin University, operated by the Kumsu Academy Foundation, but he didn’t particularly want to go.
The university was full of beastmen and, like Taegum Elementary through High School, was located deep in the mountains.
Even when teachers asked seriously about his future, knowing his situation, Hadam always gave vague answers.
Thinking that this time would be the same brought an immediate wave of stress.
“Phew.”
“Why the sigh?”
Hadam turned his head.
Lee Gyeol smiled smoothly and spoke casually.
“Do you hate helping me that much?”
“No, it’s not that.”
Hadam hurriedly replied, realizing he might have been misunderstood.
“Beasts tend to be unstable. Like you.”
Could he perhaps be having similar worries as me?
Suddenly, Hadam wondered. Maybe he’d get a chance to ask if they became closer.
For now, though, with the homeroom teacher’s instructions, it was best to navigate school life first—
“But you said you turn into a rabbit, right?”
Lee Gyeol suddenly asked.
Hadam frowned.
Had word of me reached even the annex?
A childhood memory flashed suddenly.
“Hey, turn into a rabbit!”
“Can I touch your ears?”
“How do you change? Does your clothes change too?”
“Let’s watch until he becomes a rabbit.”
Ah, that relentless curiosity.
“Why does it matter whether I turn into a rabbit or not? Mind your own business. I’ll never turn into a rabbit.”
He snapped sharply, knowing it revealed his defensive feelings, but that trivial question irritated him.
Biting his lip, Hadam turned his gaze to his desk.
He heard a soft, amused chuckle.
Right, they’d think he overreacted.
School life was something he had to adapt to on his own.
It was absolutely the worst.
Hadam grumbled silently to calm himself.
“You really hate becoming a rabbit, huh?”
“I said no.”
He contorted his face as much as he could while replying.
At this point, there was no need to try to get along.
“Why? It’s cute.”
“…What?”
What on earth was he saying?
Hadam froze, looking at Lee Gyeol without realizing it.
Their eyes met—his gaze was unexpectedly serious.
“I think it’d be nice. Tigers are just scary.”
“That’s not really something you can just call cute…”
Hadam had no idea how to respond.
Before he could, the bell for class rang perfectly on time.
Hadam felt more relieved than ever as he pulled out his textbook.
Lee Gyeol peered at Hadam’s textbook on the desk and asked,
“What class is fifth period?”
Hadam found it odd, since the subject was written clearly on the cover, but answered diligently.
“English.”
“Are you good at English?”
“I’m not bad.”
“I’m good.”
Hadam unfolded the crisp cover of the new textbook but paused mid-motion.
Looking at Lee Gyeol with a bewildered expression, Lee Gyeol was smiling lightly.
…Is messing with people his hobby?
Ah, just ignore him.
But Lee Gyeol didn’t back down despite Hadam’s indifferent reaction.
During class, a crumpled piece of paper fell onto Hadam’s desk.
Unfolding it revealed messy handwriting:
[Need an eraser.]
Hadam thought it was pathetic that a student didn’t carry proper supplies, but handed over the eraser without showing it.
Lee Gyeol smiled in thanks.
Soon after, someone tapped Hadam’s left shoulder.
The only person in that direction who could do that during class was Lee Gyeol.
A quick glance confirmed Lee Gyeol was silently mouthing something:
‘Lead. Some lead.’
…Right, maybe he just ran out of the last mechanical pencil lead.
Hadam decided to be understanding.
Handing over the lead, Lee Gyeol once again lifted the corners of his mouth in a bright smile.
Hadam was momentarily confused whether it was good that he smiled so often.
“Alright, class ends here for today. Make sure to do your homework.”
As Hadam jotted down the English teacher’s assignment, Lee Gyeol stretched dramatically.
“Wow, sitting through class again makes my whole body itch, doesn’t it?”
“Not really.”
Hadam, finishing his notes, immediately turned away from Lee Gyeol.
Byeol Yunseong was walking toward him from the front.
He didn’t want to accidentally meet eyes with Yunseong.
Fortunately, at almost the same time, Yuna approached Hadam’s desk. He quickly spoke to her.
“I didn’t get a chance to thank you earlier. You didn’t have to, but thanks.”
“What’s there to thank me for? Hak Seolhwa just rubs people the wrong way.”
“Still… I’ll take over morning duty for you. You just worry about break time.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Keep up the Miracle Morning.”
“Awesome. You won’t refuse?”
“Of course not.”
Through Yuna’s excited voice, Hadam overheard a conversation between Yunseong and Lee Gyeol.
“I’m the temporary class president, Byeol Yunseong. If it’s about the dorm, tell me. And I heard you don’t have PE clothes—is that right?”
“Yeah.”
“Get them at Sangmaegwan.”
“Where’s Sangmaegwan?”
Lee Gyeol’s question made the classroom fall silent for a moment.
Everyone was eavesdropping, pretending not to.
Hadam quietly turned his head.
Yunseong calmly explained:
“As soon as you exit the school gate, you can see it. Most school supplies are sold there.”
Lee Gyeol nodded faintly.
Meanwhile, a few friendly students approached him, asking curious questions.
“No way, you really didn’t know about Sangmaegwan?”
“Then how did you manage school supplies so far? Did the teachers do everything? Are beasts really that special?”
“Tell us about Taebaekgwan. Are the kids there all human like us?”
“But you’re really a tiger beastman, right? ‘Do’ only had that one?”
The classroom fell silent again.
Lee Gyeol, who had been smiling easily before, now had a completely cold expression.
“That’s right. So if you don’t want your skin torn, be careful.”
The atmosphere turned icy.
Some students even nervously checked their ears, wondering if they misheard.
Lee Gyeol scanned the classroom, eyeing each student carefully.
His gaze was so sharp that Hadam felt a chill at the back of his neck.
Was he hiding this scary aura all along? Could anyone even hide something like that at will?
Finally, Lee Gyeol spoke.
“Just kidding. Why are you all so scared?”
He burst out laughing at the end, but no one followed.
“Ah! I’m tired! I’m gonna nap.”
He didn’t care about the silence at all.
Lee Gyeol rested his face on his arms atop the desk, and the hesitant students quietly dispersed.
Yunseong also let out a short sigh and returned to his seat.
“He’s not normal either.”
Yuna whispered quietly.
“…Seems like it.”
Hadam agreed softly. He’d been feeling the same since earlier.
“Better not get too involved. Especially you. What if you get eaten by mistake?”
“Hey! At least say something…!”
Hadam panicked and covered Yuna’s mouth.
There was no way he was asleep.
Anyway, both of them clearly didn’t care about anyone else.
“Just kidding.”
Yuna smiled.
Hadam had sighed more than usual today.
After that, Lee Gyeol stopped talking to Hadam.
He quietly attended both sixth and seventh period.
He couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
Those questions from earlier were no different from what he had experienced as a child.
Curious, discriminatory attitudes toward those different from them, with not an ounce of consideration.
Lee Gyeol must have noticed the nuance too.
Hadam’s feelings… might have been hurt a little.
He glanced sideways at Lee Gyeol.
His closed mouth and stiff eyes made him look emotionless.
He had smiled just a moment ago.
That expressionless face now felt unfamiliar.
