ALL NOVEL Chapter 4.1
Today was finally the day of my first lecture! And since it started at 9 a.m., I woke up early like an eager early bird.
After getting ready, I slipped on my shoes by the door and checked KakaoTalk.
Messages from my parents, Na Min-seo, Choi Uma, Coupang, Lotte Delivery… A long list of unread messages, but at the very top was a fresh notification from the 23rd batch Visual Design group chat. A hot-off-the-press announcement had just been posted!
[Gyun Nari: Today, we’ll be voting for the class president and vice president! Everyone, please stay seated after the lecture ends, woof!]
“…Woof?”
Was that… the TA? Why on earth are they talking like this…?
Bewildered, I sent a screenshot to Na Min-seo, who replied almost immediately.
[Na Min-seo: LOL, fluffy puppy talk is adorable.]
[Na Min-seo: (sent an image)]
[Me: LMAO, legendary.]
Na Min-seo responded with a screenshot of his own department’s group chat. After seeing that, I realized our TA’s “cute puppy” speech wasn’t all that bad. Actually, the TA really is cute.
<22nd Batch Kim (Class President): Please follow these rules!>
Greet your seniors first when you see them.
Don’t wear AirPods on campus.
Memorize the faces and names of all seniors in each batch.
Celebrate seniors’ birthdays every month.
Do not disclose any internal matters of the department to outsiders.
Honestly, our group chat seemed like paradise in comparison.
[Me: Why are you guys celebrating your seniors’ birthdays? LOL.]
[Na Min-seo: IDK, maybe their moms don’t celebrate for them.]
[Me: That’s a savage comeback, LOL.]
There’s nothing like starting the morning by laughing at my friend’s misfortune. I felt great! Let’s keep this energy up and head out—!
“J-Ji-hyuk…! Are you still mad…?”
“Wow, I can’t even enjoy a single moment of peace.”
“Huh? W-what do you mean by that…?”
As usual, the moment I stepped out of my room, I bumped into Choi Uma. What’s with the timing? Did she really wait until I left to come out?
I didn’t respond and walked straight to the elevator. Choi Uma hesitated, fidgeting awkwardly as she tried to read my expression.
“Ah, so you’re still upset…?”
“I told you, I’m not mad! So stop coming to find me!”
“O-okay… I’m sorry….”
“Seriously.”
Haahhh. I let out an exasperated sigh, and Uma blinked her pink eyes innocently, stealing glances at me.
…Wait a second.
“Why do you always stutter when you talk?”
“Oh… um? Th-that… well, it’s because… um….”
She looked like she had a story to tell. I’d assumed it was just nerves because of her heat cycle, but maybe not?
“When I was younger… I, I was almost… assaulted… because I’m a rabbit beastman….”
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I’m really, really sorry.”
“N-no! It’s not Joo Ji-hyuk’s fault! Why are you apologizing…?”
“Joo Ji-hyuk, you absolute trash. Asking something like that—just drop out already!”
“Don’t d-drop out…!”
I’d only asked out of curiosity, but of course, I had to hit the most sensitive topic. Joo Ji-hyuk, you idiot.
That said, wouldn’t someone with that kind of trauma be more cautious and wary around others? She’d been threatened with assault, yet she openly… did that in the classroom? Maybe the instincts of a beastman really are something else.
‘Not being able to make rational decisions because of instincts? That’s kind of sad.’
I felt a twinge of pity for Choi Uma. Lost in that thought, we arrived at the lecture hall when she spoke up.
“Y-you don’t have to feel bad about asking me that.”
“No, I do. I feel like a jerk.”
“I-it’s really okay. I’m not even human to begin with….”
“Really? Then I won’t feel bad about it.”
I’d been feeling guilty for dredging up her painful past, but knowing the would-be assailant wasn’t human somehow made it feel less heavy.
“Ahaha.”
Out of nowhere, Choi Uma started laughing. I wasn’t even trying to be funny—where was the joke?
Even as we walked into the lecture hall, she kept giggling to herself and then naturally sat next to me.
‘Wait, what?!’
It was so seamless that I couldn’t even stop her. Was she planning to sit next to me forever?!
While I was caught off guard, the lecture hall gradually filled up. A quick glance around showed that most people seemed to have grouped up with beastmen of similar types. Among them, one group stood out: the feline beastmen. Naturally beautiful and elegant, they were impossible to miss.
Among them, the most stunning one caught my eye.
‘Is that Momyammi?’
Sitting at the very front of the class, surrounded by other feline beastmen, Momyammi’s silhouette alone screamed “pedigree.” Her fluffy tail was especially striking—I couldn’t help but want to touch it.
‘That tail looks like it’d shed fur all over the place if it brushed against me.’
Wait… tail?
I glanced at Choi Uma out of curiosity. Staring at her lower back, I couldn’t help but wonder.
“W-why are you looking at me like that, Ji-hyuk?” she asked, her face flushing bright red.
“Where’s your tail?”
“H-huh? Oh, um… my tail’s small, so it’s hard to see….”
“Got it.”
That made sense. The rabbits I’d raised as a kid had short, round tails that kind of looked like rice cakes. I remembered how fascinating it was to watch them, and how pulling on one would make it extend.
While reminiscing about my childhood, I noticed Choi Uma fidgeting with the hem of her skirt.
“D-do you want to see it?”
“See what?”
“M-my tail….”
And just like that, she began cautiously lifting her already short skirt.
‘If you’re showing your tail, why are you lifting the front?!’
Also, I never even said I wanted to see it!
Sunlight streaming through the window glinted off her thighs, making them gleam. My eyes were glued to her shapely legs. Damn it! What spell did you cast on me, Choi Uma?!
The problem wasn’t just my eyes anymore. My lower half began to react. Calm down, Junior! This is a lecture hall, not your stage to shine!