# Chapter 8
After the writing utensil incident, Changsu and I became close enough to have small conversations during the next break period. As it turns out, Changsu was the top student in our school. Oh, that’s more impressive than being an Iljinhoe Apex! But he seemed to think being the Apex was more amazing.
“I still can’t believe it… that I’m talking to you…”
“Why?”
“Well… you’re our school’s hero. Devil’s Apex. Haejin, our school can hold its head high because of you.”
“Ahaha…”
Hmm. No, that’s not right.
Heroes must all be dead if someone like me is being treated as one. Seeing Changsu speaking like that with a face full of admiration, I could only laugh awkwardly. Even an honor student who ranks first in the school accepts Iljinhoe as normal in this filthy world!
“And it’s also amazing that I can speak so casually with you.”
“Huh?”
What’s that supposed to mean? What’s wrong with someone in the same grade speaking casually!
“I don’t know everything, but I heard that in Iljinhoe, regardless of whether you’re the same age or older, everyone must use formal speech with the Apex!”
“Really?”
“That’s why Shin Amin and Park Hanseo from the classes next to ours use formal speech with you. Well, Shin Amin hardly speaks at all, but anyway. Jung Ion from the class next door seems to speak casually to you, but he definitely uses formal speech when there’s official business. It’s really impressive.”
“…Fuck.”
“Huh?”
“No, nothing.”
I smiled brightly. I saw Changsu tilting his head in confusion, but I ignored it. Anyway, this fucking reality… I thought it was strange that Park Hanseo used formal speech despite being in the same grade, but to think there was such a childish and ridiculous rule. Argh. At this point, I’m starting to wonder if I’m the abnormal one.
“Um, excuse me…”
“…?”
While I was casually resting my chin on my hand, having meaningless conversations with Changsu—which, damn it, were mostly about Iljinhoe—someone approached hesitantly and called me in a small voice. When I turned my head, a mountain-sized guy was standing in front of my desk.
“G-Gu Haejin Apex!”
Though I extremely disliked the title he used, I stayed still as he tremblingly placed a piece of paper that looked like it would tear any second and a pen gently in front of me.
What kind of situation is this?
“P-please give me your autograph!!”
Hahaha. Hahahahahaha.
……
Ah, my blood pressure.
My arm, which had been lazily supporting my chin, twitched.
Autograph? Autoooograph?? Do you think I’m an idol, you little shit! Sigh… calm down, Gu Haejin. You’re an adult, right? How deep your composure and how broad your mind is as an adult. Right?
“Autograph…?”
“Yes! My name is Choi Jihyun. Getting your autograph is my wish!”
Don’t say that while blushing like a shy girl, you crazy bastard. It’s scary. I really wanted to flip everything over, but on the other hand, thinking that he’s just an extra who has to blush in front of another boy his age, I felt a surge of immense mercy. Right. What did you do wrong? It’s the author who should be beaten.
“Yeah, I’ll do it. Where? Here?”
“Yes! Please write ‘To Jihyun!'”
“…Sure.”
“Please give me one too!”
“Apex, I request one as well!!”
Led by Choi Jihyun, suddenly others who had been watching from behind rushed forward with papers, asking for my autograph. Mom, what the fuck? In an instant, my desk was surrounded by huge guys. Eek… what’s going on? Why are they acting like this?
I genuinely got scared for a moment. With their expectant, burdensome faces, each holding out paper and shouting “Sign here please!” loudly, I wanted to run away. I wanted to run away desperately!
“You truly are the Thousand-Year Prince.”
“It’s an honor, Apex. I’m also part of Devil.”
“Thank you! Thank you so much!”
“Ahhh! I love you!!”
In the end, my break time had fucking turned into a fan signing session for my classmates who were apparently Gu Haejin followers. All I did was write my name, but they kept thanking me as if it was some amazing autograph. Spewing forbidden words that might give me neurosis and giving unwanted compliments… Who just said they love me?! I’ll really crush them!
“Doesn’t Gu Haejin Apex seem different somehow?”
“Yeah! He wouldn’t have even considered doing this before.”
“Considered? We would have been trampled half to death before we could even ask!”
“Right? But today alone, he’s smiled several times, his tone is gentle, and he’s giving autographs… Ugh. I have no regrets even if I die now.”
Still, all this bullshit seemed to have helped somewhat. Such conversations overheard from my classmates, some of whom were Iljinhoe members and some who weren’t, gave me the feeling that I was getting a little closer to my goal of becoming a normal Gu Haejin.
If I keep being friendly like this, won’t my rotten image be diluted to some extent? Then someday I could resign as Apex, naturally leave Iljinhoe, cut off the novel’s Gu Haejin at the roots, and calmly prepare for employment! Hahahaha… fuck. This is painful.
“Haejin, are you okay?”
“Of course. Um… Changsu.”
“Yeah?”
“Let’s go eat lunch together.”
After giving autographs to about 30 people in a row without properly resting, it was already lunchtime. My precious lunchtime… I’m not going to lose this too! At my suggestion, Changsu looked surprised and widened his eyes.
“L-lunch? The Devil officials will be here soon… Aren’t you going to eat with Jung Ion and Park Hanseo?”
Ah, right. Those guys.
Until now, I had forgotten about the trio since they’re in different classes. Hmm. That won’t do. If I eat with the trio, all my efforts so far might be wasted. Even though I’m the Apex, if I eat with Jung Ion and Park Hanseo, I might revert to being the feared Devil Apex who’s difficult and scary to approach, making all the autographs and effort meaningless.
I made my decision. Ignore them.
“Don’t need them. Let’s go, Changsu.”
“Huh? Huuuh??”
I quickly ran down to the cafeteria, dragging along the stupidly sitting Changsu. The goal is to finish quickly before the trio arrives.
The moment I arrived at the cafeteria, as expected, the atmosphere instantly sank as cold as the Siberian plains. Oh, damn it. I’m not some kind of monster, why do these bastards all freeze and stop what they’re doing when they see me? I’m so nice!
Fortunately, since we came down right after the bell, there weren’t many students yet, so we quickly got our food and sat down. As I sat facing Changsu to eat, another moment of silence fell. Even I could tell, focused on eating with my head down.
Park Hanseo, Shin Amin, and Jung Ion.
The trio had arrived.
Glancing up, I saw them standing at the cafeteria entrance as if forming a battle line. The surrounding students were frozen stiff, unable to move, trembling like aspen leaves in tension. Those inconsiderate bastards. If they came to eat, just eat quickly and leave. What are they doing over there?
Changsu must have read the atmosphere too, as he looked alternately between them and me with an anxious face. He looks like he might get indigestion. Don’t worry. Don’t worry. I’m the Apex, so what? I cleanly ignored them and continued eating.
“Senior Gu Haejin-!!”
“Gu Haejin!”
The trio must have spotted me as they shouted loudly and ran towards me. They had urgent-looking faces. Despite this, I continued sitting calmly, peeling the orange that came as dessert.
“We were wondering where you went, but you just came early for lunch?”
“So?”
“Well, you already knew, right?”
Jung Ion said something out of nowhere. What’s he talking about now? As I narrowed my brows in confusion, Park Hanseo, mistaking it for a serious expression, urgently continued.
“Apex. We have a serious problem. Outside, the Choigang Ap-!”
That’s when it happened.
“Gu Haejin, you son of a bitch!! Come out right now!!”
A voice that sounded like it was going to tear through the air echoed loudly through an amplifier beyond the cafeteria.
……
“To think he’d misinterpret it and barge into Devil’s headquarters without warning.”
Jung Ion muttered lowly.
No way, right?
This randomly? Without any fucking plausibility?
“The Warrior of Blood Fragrance, Choigang Apex Oh Eundo has arrived!!”
What the actual hell.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
