Chapter 59: Enrollment (3)

Name:Descent of the Demon Master Author:
Chapter 59: Enrollment (3)

“Everyone, welcome to Jaegyeong Uni's Business Management freshmen orientation!”

Kang Jin-Ho and Park Yu-Min stepped inside the auditorium just as that announcement came out of the loudspeakers.

Park Yu-Min grumbled unhappily, “We're late, you know.”

Kang Jin-Ho tutted, “I can see that.”

“We should've been here thirty minutes ago.”

“Yes, I know.”

“I told you to go the other way. How can you get lost inside the campus?”

“...Yes, I get it.”

"And what did you get!"

Kang Jin-Ho's shoulders slumped in defeat at Park Yu-Min's sharp glare.

They had managed to arrive at the campus on time. However, the real problem had started with locating the auditorium. It was like trying to navigate through a maze-like fortress. The deeper Kang Jin-Ho had gone into the campus, the twistier and more confusing the road network became. As a result, they had found themselves going around in circles for the last thirty minutes.

Only after Park Yu-Min repeatedly pleaded with him did Kang Jin-Ho listen to his friend and finally locate the correct path. That was the reason for their delay, but even then...! How could Park Yu-Min criticize his friend this much for getting lost this one time!

‘Park Yu-Min, you bastaaaaard!’

“Look, there's an empty spot over there. Let's go,” said Park Yu-Min while pointing at the back of the auditorium.

“Fine,” Kang Jin-Ho replied in a subdued voice.

Despite his displeasure, he couldn't say anything. He was well aware of his guilt, after all! He could only pout while silently following Park Yu-Min. But then, his phone rang to snap him out of his internal grumbling. He took it out and answered the call.

- Where are you two?!

“We've just arrived inside the auditorium.”

Kang Jin-Ho's reply prompted a girl in the audience to raise her hand and wave back at him.

“It's Se-Yeon,” said Park Yu-Min. He then made his way to Han Se-Yeon's position while trying not to inconvenience the already-seated people.

Han Se-Yeon welcomed them. “Here. I've reserved these seats for you two. Hurry and sit down.”

“Sorry for being late,” Park Yu-Min apologized to her.

“It's fine. I know it can't be your fault, Yu-Min. That idiot must've gotten lost again, didn't he?”

Park Yu-Min replied with a sheepish chuckle, “You're shockingly correct, but, uhm...”

"...Ahem." Kang Jin-Ho, with no excuses at hand, pretended as if he didn’t hear Han Se-Yeon.

“Shh! The orientation is about to begin.”

The auditorium was surprisingly packed, considering that this was only an orientation seminar for the freshmen joining the Business Management course and not the entire university. That was why it felt like far too many people were in attendance.

Park Yu-Min looked around and asked quietly, “Why are there so many people in Business Management?”

"This is normal, you know," said Han Se-Yeon. "It's a business-related major, after all. That's why the students will be split into several different classes. Wait, don't tell me, you didn't see the public notice "

"Wait, what? Students will be split into classes? B-but, that's not good..." Park Yu-Min's expression quickly became flustered. He decided to attend a university because of his belief in Kang Jin-Ho's promise, so it would be a massive problem if they got separated and couldn't attend the lectures together.

Han Se-Yeon quickly allayed his fears, however. “No need to fret, my dear boy. You and Jin-Ho are in the same class.”

“Oh, really?” Park Yu-Min's complexion brightened instantly. “What about you, though?”

“Unfortunately...” Han Se-Yeon sighed deeply.

“Are you assigned to a different class?”

She shook her head ruefully. "Nope. Same as you two."

"Huh What's unfortunate about that "

“You know why...”

“Uh...” Park Yu-Min began looking weirdly at Han Se-Yeon. “It's unfortunate for you because we're in the same class?”

Han Se-Yeon grinned mischievously. "I'm just kidding. It's a joke."

“Huh-uh. You might cause a big misunderstanding like that.”

Jaegyeong Uni's standard practice was to automatically assign classes for the first semester of all freshmen. If you were not happy about it, you could reapply and get reassigned to lectures on a different schedule. However, newbies rarely did that since this arrangement helped them get used to the campus life, even if this type of class arrangement would become more or less meaningless as the semester went on.

The orientation presentation wasn't anything special. It contained the usual suspects of explanations on lectures and other things to remember during your campus life.

“Well, everyone. Now, let's go outside and gather into our assigned groups!” The speaker energetically announced, prompting the freshmen to noisily get up and leave the auditorium. The senior students holding placards were waiting for them outside.

Kang Jin-Ho stood behind the senior holding up a placard that read 'Business Management Class C,’ which was his class. Once enough people had gathered around, the placard senior guided the freshmen toward an unoccupied section of the lawn. It was now time to chat with each other and introduce themselves when their turn came around.

Park Yu-Min trembled a little. “I, I'm kinda nervous.”

“How come?” Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head.

“Aren't you nervous, Jin-Ho?”

“Not at all.”

Park Yu-Min cleared his throat nervously a few times while waiting for his turn to come.

Booze soon reached the tables, and the power of alcohol soon loosened people up enough to make them relax and more talkative. Those with outgoing personalities even began table-hopping with their glasses in tow.

"Hmm..." Han Se-Yeon observing her surroundings suddenly shrugged.

“What's the matter?” Park Yu-Min asked her.

She replied in an unconcerned manner, “University isn't much, I guess.”

“You think so? It's all so weird for me, you know?”

"Nah, everything looks the same to me."

Kang Jin-Ho agreed with Han Se-Yeon's assessment. The scenes of idealized campuses as seen on TV were just that, fakes cooked up to make their dramas more interesting. In the end, universities were just like everywhere else populated by human beings. Nothing was special about them, and there was nothing to be surprised about here.

“Here, here, here! Juniors, allow me to pour you your next shots.” The senior wielding the placard earlier stopped by at Kang Jin-Ho's table next.

“Ah, yes. Thank you.” Han Se-Yeon politely offered her glass first.

“Your name was Han Se-Yeon, right?”

“Yes, senior.”

“My name is Gong Gil-Yeong. Nice to meet you.”

"Nice to meet you, too." Han Se-Yeon bowed slightly.

Gong Gil-Yeong leaned slightly closer to her. "Give me your phone for a sec."

“My... phone?”

“Yeah, your phone. Don't tell me, you don't have one?”

"No way," said Han Se-Yeon with a slightly cramped expression. She then presented her phone to Gong Gil-Yeong.

The senior saved his contact number on her phone and gave it back. "That's my number, so if you're not sure about something or want to know more about our campus, you can always call me, okay "

"Thank you." Han Se-Yeon bowed her head again.

Gong Gil-Yeong poured booze into the empty cups of Kang Jin-Ho and Park Yu-Min, then turned his attention back to Han Se-Yeon. He pressed forward a bottle of soju in her way. "How about another glass "

“I'm fine, actually. I'd like to take it slow, senior.”

“Hmm, that's no good. We'll be heading to another bar later to carry on the proud tradition of sharing the booze bowl, so I wonder, will you be able to survive with your low alcohol tolerance "

"The booze bowl, you say "

“Yup, we'll be sharing a booze bowl.”

Han Se-Yeon shook her head. “I'd like to opt out of that, senior.”

“You can't not drink it just because you don't feel like it, though. It's a tradition, after all.”

"...I see." Han Se-Yeon looked somewhat displeased, but she didn't voice it. It seemed more prudent to let it slide for now.

Gong Gil-Yeong lightly waved the soju bottle around. "Alright, so... One more glass, then "

“But, senior...” Han Se-Yeon tried to politely decline.

But Gong Gil-Yeong wasn't an easily-dissuaded type. "Uh-huh! Your senior is offering you a drink here, so just accept it."

Left with no choice, Han Se-Yeon wordlessly accepted the drink. She furrowed her brow while downing her cup brimming full of soju.

Gong Gil-Yeong grinned. "What's the matter? Too bitter "

"Yes, senior," Han Se-Yeon replied while covering her mouth.

“Then, have some snacks. Munching on snacks while drinking will solve your problem.”

"...I'll do that."

"Well, then! Time for another round! Downing three shots during a first meeting is the basic of all basics, after all!"

Han Se-Yeon became a little firmer with her refusal. "No, I'm fine, senior. I think I'll stop here for today."

“You've only had a couple of shots, though? Come on, just one more.”

“Senior, it's just that I'm not good with alcohol...”

“No, no, no. That won't do! You gotta get good with drinking to make lots of friends and get close to your seniors more easily. There, there~. Here's one more for you.”

"...Sigh." Han Se-Yeon sighed softly while pushing her cup forward. She wasn't sure if anyone she had met in her life so far was as pushy as this senior. However, with the occasion being what it was, she couldn't really lose her cool or keep refusing.

“There you go, one for Se-Yeon. And... Oh Why aren't you drinking, Yu-Min?”

Park Yu-Min hurriedly waved his hand. “A-ah, I can't hold down alcohol, senior, that's why.”

“Come on now. No one is good with booze from the get-go. You get better by drinking more, you see? Have one more.”

It was at this moment that Kang Jin-Ho finally broke his silence. "Senior, do you believe you're good at holding your booze "

“Mm ” Gong Gil-Yeong shifted his attention over to Kang Jin-Ho. “What's up?”

“How about we find out?” Kang Jin-Ho picked up the bottle and poured some booze into Gong Gil-Yeong's cup.

The university senior smirked at the sight of his full cup, then looked back at Kang Jin-Ho. “So, you want to challenge me in drinking, eh Is that it?”

1. A "booze bowl" is a large bowl meant for cold noodles but would be filled with soju. It's passed around by a group to be shared.