Chapter 75 – GOY 75

#75

The ​first ​step: ​being ​trivial ​and ​annoying.

「I’m at the ​convenience ​store, ​and ​I ​can’t decide between tuna ​mayo ​and Jeonju bibimbap.」

Joo ​Seung-hyuk had told ​me ​to ​report ​my ​every ​move. However, if ​I ​were ​to mindlessly mention ​things this trivial, he ​would lose ​interest in ​me instantly.

「Don’t ​eat that; ​eat ​something ​proper.」

「But I want ​a triangle ​kimbap~」

To that, I attached ​a cute emoticon designed ​to be irritating.

No matter ​how good-natured ​a ​person is, this is the kind ​of useless content that ​makes ​one ​think, ​’So ​what?’

「Want to eat ​together?」

「Is that ​okay?」

The ​second step: making ​spelling ​mistakes. [Read on Read BL Novels]If I [unauthorized copy]got everything ​wrong, it ​might ​seem strange, so ​I ​made ​a ​mistake ​about once ​every ​ten sentences.

「You’re ​at the West Wing, right? I’ll head ​there, so wait ​for me.」

The reply ​came immediately. He must ​have noticed ​the spelling error, ​but ​so far, there ​was no particular ​reaction. But ​like ​a drizzle ​soaking ​through clothes, ​his ​affection would ​gradually ​fade.

However, ​I couldn’t rest ​easy ​with just ​this. ​Even ​while ​eating, I relentlessly employed the final method.

“Seung-hyuk-ah, did you know the capital of Canada is Ottawa? I thought it was Toronto until now.”

They say that when a partner shows a lack of general knowledge, it’s a huge turn-off.

Honestly, I didn’t really like judging people based on common knowledge. I couldn’t understand the criteria for why some pieces of information are classified as ‘common sense’ while others are ‘optional,’ and I didn’t like how people were labeled as ignorant or educated based on that.

But since the majority of people dislike it, I decided to follow suit.

Besides, I figured an Obsessive Madman would be particularly sensitive to such things.

Especially since Joo Seung-hyuk seemed to think of me as an intellectual type, his disappointment would be doubled every time I showed this side of myself.

“Do you want to go to Canada during break?”

“Huh?”

“Let’s go to both Toronto and Ottawa.”

This isn’t how it’s supposed to go….

“…W-well, that sounds good, but isn’t Canada beautiful in the winter?”

“Then let’s go during winter break.”

“Mm-hmm….”

“I’m looking forward to it. I hope break comes quickly.”

Joo Seung-hyuk smiled brightly.

He didn’t seem to care in the slightest that I didn’t know the capital of Canada.

Is this actually working? It must be….

---

I thought it wouldn’t show immediately, but that he would gradually grow tired of me.

「I bought a black ballpoint pen and a pink highlighter at the stationery store.」

「Good job. Do you need anything else?」

「Nope. I’m going to the library. But [unauthorized copy]I’m debating whether to borrow Read on Read BL Novelsthree books or five.」

「Why?」

「I feel like five books might be too heavy.」

「Borrow as many as you want. I’ll carry them for you.」

But after more than fifteen days, the effect was zero….

Joo Seung-hyuk never once got angry, even when I reported trivial nonsense. Moreover, he never pointed out my spelling mistakes.

「No. You’re in training. And it takes time to pick out books.」

「Then I’ll wait.」

「Okay.」

Could it be that Joo Seung-hyuk is actually okay with it…?

Does he like me regardless of whether I contact him annoyingly, make spelling mistakes, or lack common sense…? Could he actually love me?

No, that’s impossible….

[Does Seung-hyuk Seonbae love me?]

In the original story, Joo Seung-hyuk answered Kim Joon’s question like this:

[Love? As if I’d ever do something like that.]

He had said it with a cynical sneer.

Joo Seung-hyuk does not love Kim Joon until the very, very end. Because Kim Joon was so heartbroken, he sometimes acted like he liked him out of annoyance, but it wasn’t sincere.

Due to his unfortunate childhood, he couldn’t believe in the emotion of love.

Therefore, he wouldn’t feel such deep emotions for a relationship that started with a one-night stand.

I borrowed the books and stepped out of the library.

「I’m outside the library. I’m going back to the dorm after borrowing the books. So focus on your traini—」

“Hyung.”

As I was writing the message, I heard Joo Seung-hyuk’s voice.

“Seung-hyuk-ah….”

“Give me the books.”

He took the books from my hand.

“How are you here already? You’re in training.”

“It’s fine,” Joo Seung-hyuk said indifferently, looking at the books.

“The Romance of the Three Kingdoms.”

“Yeah. I watched a Chinese movie yesterday. You know, where Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei become sworn brothers under a paulownia tree. Seeing that made me want to read the novel.”

“…….”

Joo Seung-hyuk’s expression stiffened.

“Hyung, that’s not it.”

“Really?”

Is he a fan of the Three Kingdoms? Is that why he can’t tolerate me getting the Peach Garden Oath wrong? Or has he finally reached his limit of patience?

Either way, the effect appeared after fifteen days.

I hoped he would explode right now and dump me.

I looked at Joo Seung-hyuk with great anticipation.

“Yes. It’s not a paulownia tree, but a peach tree, just like you.”

Joo Seung-hyuk kissed my cheek. In that moment, I realized.

This operation is a failure. Even if I’m not acting and my general knowledge is truly a mess, Joo Seung-hyuk will not lose interest in me.

‘Why on earth can’t I be dumped! What’s the difference between me and the original Lee Yeon-soo! The face, the rank, the trait—everything is the same!’

“Seung-hyuk-ah….”

“Yes.”

“Does it really not bother you?”

“What does?”

“Is it okay if I’m stupid and ignorant?”

I asked in a state of desperation. Was Joo Seung-hyuk truly unfazed?

“It doesn’t matter.”

His answer was incredibly plain.

“I didn’t even know about making promises with pinky fingers. Did you think I was ignorant back then, Hyung?”

“No….”

“It’s the same for me. I like Lee Yeon-soo regardless of what kind of person he is. As long as he doesn’t leave me.”

Joo Seung-hyuk gripped my hand tightly.

Looking into his eyes, which were as innocent as a child’s, I felt like a very wicked person for trying to leave him.

Joo Seung-hyuk pulled my waist closer and pressed his lips against mine. It was a sweet kiss that could never be given to someone you’ve lost feelings for.

And so, my plan to be dumped by Joo Seung-hyuk ended in complete failure.

Chapter 6

It was mid-June. It felt like the new semester had just started, but the final exam period was already approaching.

In just over four months, the original story had changed completely.

Not to mention me and Joo Seung-hyuk, the main stolen contentseme and [stolen content]main uke now snarled unauthorized copyat each other whenever their eyes met.

It definitely wasn’t love-hate; it was simply annoyance, contempt, and disdain. It seemed they loathed each other more as days passed.

I no longer expected the two of them to get involved. I had tried to get dumped by Joo Seung-hyuk regardless of the original plot, but in the end, I failed miserably.

Far from being dumped by the Obsessive Madman, the pressure to get married was only intensifying.

I was already distressed enough, but another problem cropped up.

‘I have no money.’

Having been forbidden by Joo Seung-hyuk from doing Guiding part-time jobs, I had been living off my savings.

But that was now running dry. I had one more savings account, but since it only had three months left until maturity, it was a waste to break it now.

Of course, on my finger was a ring worth two buildings, and in my bank account was over 100 million won. I also had a black card with a limit I couldn’t even guess.

But all of that belonged to Joo Seung-hyuk. I couldn’t use it carelessly.

Sighing, I looked at the lavish food laid out before me. Anyone else would find it absurd that someone worrying about money would come to such an expensive restaurant.

Joo Seung-hyuk had stepped out of the room after receiving a call from Chairman Joo. Since our first time, I had always been stuck to Joo Seung-hyuk, but I think this was the first time Chairman Joo had contacted him.

He’s taking quite a while…. I wonder what important conversation they’re having?

The food is going to get cold. But it felt wrong to eat alone.

Should I look for another part-time job besides Guiding…? Maybe there’s a job Joo Seung-hyuk would actually approve of.

When I opened the internet browser on my phone, a main headline caught my eye.

[Park Geon-woo Conquers Akar Gate! Returning to Korea!]

‘Hyung is coming back already?’

Surprised, I clicked the article.

Ability Users in Korea were required to enter the Esper Academy upon reaching adulthood. However, there was one way to avoid enrollment.

That was by being deployed abroad.

Not every country in the world had countermeasures prepared for gates.

The poorest nations lacked the resources to treat High-ranking Ability Users well. Because of this, most High-ranking Ability Users from poor countries naturalized in other nations. Consequently, even if a High-rank gate appeared in a poor country, there was no one to stop it, and Gate Breaks would occur.

Once a gate opened, the damage spread quickly to the surrounding areas, often affecting neighboring countries.

After the S-class Gate Break incident in Africa, this stolen contentbecame a global [visit our site]issue, and the World Ability User Association decided to dispatch Ability Users to the poorest countries or areas where Gate Breaks were severe.

Since South Korea was also a member state of the World Ability User Association, it dispatched a set number of Ability Users every year.

If an adult Ability User went on deployment, that period was recognized as having completed classes, allowing them to avoid entering the Esper Academy.

There had been constant criticism that the Esper Academy’s curriculum was tailored for mid-ranking Ability Users and was not helpful for High-ranks.

Some High-ranking students grumbled that it would be better to go on deployment and learn combat training than to attend school. However, almost no one actually volunteered for deployment.

Going on deployment meant living in harsh terrains where even drinking water comfortably was difficult. Even if the government paid a salary, it was a meager amount compared to the hardship.

Of course, there were those who went to harsh lands prepared for everything, but even the most mission-driven people avoided Africa.

Africa was a land of death teeming with monsters, and countless Ability Users lost their lives there.

Not only in our country but also abroad, Africa was avoided to such an extent that, as a last resort, Ability Users who had committed crimes were sent there instead of being imprisoned.

Yet, Park Geon-woo volunteered to be deployed to Africa.

He gave up the guaranteed future, comfortable life, and immense wealth of an S-Class Esper.

And by performing brilliantly, he emerged as a global hero. His achievements were reported daily in South Korea.

He finally conquered the Akar Gate.

The Akar Gate was particularly significant as it was the starting point of the ‘Africa Gate Break’ crisis.

I knew Park Geon-woo would conquer the Akar Gate because it was in the original story. But I didn’t expect it to be this fast.

Normally, he would have conquered the Akar Gate in August, rested abroad for about a month, and then returned in the second semester, when the original story truly begins.

But he’s coming back already? The timing of the conquest might be a bit early, but why is he returning without even resting?