Chapter 19: Exam Student Jeong Yua

I took a deep breath.

As always, the smell of the CSAT lingered deeply.
(TL Note: CSAT stands for College Scholastic Ability Test, the standardized college entrance exam in South Korea. It’s a massive, high-stakes national event.)

Alright, shall I go in now?

I held onto my bag and started walking into the test center.

I could feel a lot of stares from my surroundings, but I ignored them.

Because I couldn’t miss this super fun event just because I was burdened by the gazes around me.

Anyway, after that, I alternately checked my test admission ticket and the guide sheet with the location of the test room.

The guide sheet was fixed too high, so it was hard to see well.

But I managed to figure out that my assigned test room was classroom 1-7.

Hmm, it’s nice that it’s not far.

I entered the test room through the hallway.

Inside the test room, a few high school girls were already sitting.

Wait, high school girls…?

Ah, I had turned into a girl.

It was a scene I had never seen before, so I was briefly flustered, but I was able to figure out the reason quickly.

Hmm, it’s my first time taking the CSAT among high school girls.

“Wow…”

I thought I heard a sound of admiration from somewhere, but I ignored this too.

Because I felt like I wouldn’t be able to take the test properly if I reacted to every little thing.

I came here today to get a report card for community flexing, not to get attention.

Actually, I do have some thoughts of using it as material for my broadcast…

Anyway, I have to get a good score.

Beep-beep

Oops, I was spacing out and it’s already time for the preliminary bell.

I stared at the proctors who were entering the classroom along with the bell.

…As expected, the proctors looked at me with puzzled expressions.

“Um…”

Right, they’ll probably ask a question like, ‘Why are you here?’.

I showed something to the proctor who approached me.

It was my ID card, one of the few means I had to prove I was an adult.

“Ah… I’m sorry.”

Fortunately, the proctor didn’t ask any more questions and returned to the teacher’s desk.

It seems she was convinced by the ID card alone.

Beep-beep

The test starts in ten minutes.

I calm my mind by rolling the computer-readable pen and mechanical pencil I received from the proctor in my hand.

Phew… let’s get a grip.

Perhaps because it’s the first test I’m taking after my body changed, my heart feels like it’s pounding more than usual.

Well, if things go wrong, I can just use my ability at full power.

Beep-beep

The main bell rings.

In other words, it means I can start solving the problems.

Flip

I carefully turned the cover of the Korean language test paper.

[To not forget is not that it is not a disease…]

Ugh, it’s better to just use my ability at full power.

The problem that was as easy as eating cake before my body changed is now completely incomprehensible.

It’s the unavoidable limit of a baby’s intelligence.

Ability ON!

As I activated my ability, the incomprehensible characters quickly entered my head.

Ugh… my head is throbbing a little, but I have to endure it.

I solved all the problems as quickly as possible.

A record of 9 minutes and 12 seconds.

You could say that at this rate, I might as well have just guessed.

But it’s a time frame that comes from quickly reading only the parts that need to be read and solving them, through big data accumulated over many years.

Of course, the condition of having a genius brain must be attached.

Even I couldn’t have dreamed of it without my ability.

Anyway, since I’ve solved it all, what’s left to do is rest.

I have to recover my throbbing head now so I can use my ability in the next period.

Beep-beep

Math time came before I knew it.

Hmm, this year’s CSAT is a hellishly difficult one, even among difficult CSATs.

It was a fact I naturally realized while solving the problems through my ability.

I mean, there were four problems that made me think, ‘The correct answer rate for this will probably be only 3%’.

Hmph, but it’s no match for me.

For the genius Dr. Jung, a problem like this is nothing…!

It felt good to regain my pride after a long time.

Beep-beep

Time’s up.

Sighs can be heard from all over.

It seems everyone couldn’t solve the problems properly.

…It’s not my business, though.

I turned my attention off and took out my lunch box.

The menu is the representative food of a real man, spicy stir-fried pork.

It’s a frozen meal made by a company I’ve never seen before, but I bought it out of curiosity.

“Sniff sniff…”

First, the smell passes.

Along with the fluffy rice, I put a chopstick-full of spicy stir-fried pork into my mouth.

“Om nyam nyam…”

A moderately sweet and savory taste, and the spiciness is…

“Hic…!”

What? This is incredibly spicy?

It feels like my tongue is on fire!

“Sseup ha… sseup ha…”

I’m gonna die… if I eat more, I’ll die!

I put the water bottle to my mouth and started to cool my tongue.

After some time, the pain on my tongue subsided.

Phew, I really almost died.

As the pain subsides, my worries, on the contrary, start to grow.

Because a situation has arisen where I have to endure without eating lunch until 4:30.

Do I really have to eat just plain rice?

As I was pondering such things, someone called me from behind.

“E-excuse me…”

When I turned my head, a girl was fidgeting and trying to say something.

“Do you… want to eat this? I brought too much, so I have some left over.”

She handed me a container with bulgogi in it.

“Why are you giving this to me…?”

“Because it looks like you can’t eat that…”

She said, pointing to the spicy stir-fried pork I had brought.

Is she… giving this to me because she felt sorry for me when I had a fit after eating the spicy stir-fried pork earlier?

I wracked my brain and calculated all sorts of possibilities.

No matter how much I thought about it, there seemed to be no other reason.

“Okay, I’ll… eat it well.”

It’s a bit awkward to refuse in this situation.

I didn’t have any side dishes to eat anyway, so this is actually better.

I started eating rice with the bulgogi she gave me.

For the record, the bulgogi tasted like it was touched by a mother’s hand.

“Hehe, I’m full.”

A moderate feeling of satiety.

I stood up from my seat with a good-natured smile.

Then I spoke to the girl who had shared her bulgogi with me.

“Um… what’s your name?”

“My name is Park Gaeun.”

“Okay, Gaeun, thank you for sharing the side dish. I enjoyed it.”

“No, it’s nothing, I had leftovers anyway.”

Gaeun answered with a smile.

“Since it has come to this, if you have nothing to do, do you want to go outside with me? You have to take a short walk after eating so you don’t get sleepy.”

“Really? Then let’s do that.”

I took Gaeun and went out of the classroom to start our walk.

“But… how old are you? You don’t look like a high school student…?”

She asked me with sparkling eyes.

“Me? 22.”

“Huh?”

An expression of not understanding.

Right, I’ve experienced this situation many times.

I immediately took out my ID card from my inner pocket and showed it to her.

Seeing that, Gaeun was surprised and made a strange sound.

“U-uh… eh?”

…She’s going to go crazy at this rate.

Thinking I shouldn’t leave her like this any longer, I make up a lie.

As expected, it’s the genetic disorder-related excuse I use publicly.

“Ah, I see. Should I call you… unni?”

“Do as you feel comfortable.”

We finished our walk, making small talk here and there.

All that’s left now is English, Korean History, and the science subjects.

I was scared thinking my head would explode from overusing my ability later.

But I steeled my resolve, thinking I should get a high-quality report card for flexing.

All the tests were over.

At the same time, the pain that had been raging in my head also ended.

It was a pain I never want to experience again…

Anyway, it’s over, so I should stop caring.

I packed my things and started to leave the classroom.

And next to me was Gaeun, who I had become close with in that short time.

“I think I bombed it, what should I do? Did you do well, unni?”

“Well, so-so.”

Actually, that’s a deception.

Even without grading it, my report card will be filled with 1st grades, as always.

“Hing… unni, can you give me your number? Let’s have a meal together sometime later.”

Hmm, it’s my first time being asked for my number by a high school girl.

I grinned and typed my number into her phone.

“Take care, and let’s see each other sometime later.”

“Yes, you take care too, unni.”

We waved goodbye at the school gate.

…I should go home now.

Thinking about the first joint broadcast I’ll have later this evening, I returned home safely.

Oh, just as I came home, it’s broadcast time.

As soon as I entered the house, I turned on the computer and prepared for the broadcast.

Then, I entered the Discord room where all the Wonderland members were gathered.

“I’m here.”

[“Oh, Yua’s here?”]

It seems I made it right on time, neither early nor late.

[“Go and do the opening greeting.”]

“Okay.”

As soon as I entered the voice chat, we started the broadcast.

[Joint broadcast, yum]
[Are you here? Are you here? Are you here? Are you here?]
[Hah, my life is ruined today, so I should at least watch this]

The viewers started to come in slowly.

Looking at the chat window, there seemed to be quite a few high school seniors and repeat test-takers.

As expected, the law of ‘collective panic ensues after one difficult CSAT’ always holds true.

I grasped the atmosphere of the chat window appropriately and then opened my mouth.

“Hello, everyone. It was the CSAT today, how have you all been?”

[You f*cking b*tch!]
ㄴ[This user has been temporarily blocked.]
[On my way to the Han River ㅇㅇ]
[Are you trying to pick a fight?]

Oh dear, I guess I shouldn’t have said that last part.

The chat window went beyond burning up and a riot broke out.

In this case, I have to quickly throw in another topic to change the subject.

“Ah right, I also took the CSAT today… this year’s CSAT was a bit difficult.”

[?]
[Wait, you really took the CSAT?]
[Legend legend legend~]
[Is Naru becoming Wonderland’s 2nd highly educated member?]

Alright, the atmosphere has subsided to some extent.

[Thank you for your 1,000 won donation, ‘AppleFriend’-nim!]
[Why did you take the CSAT?]

“Ah, I usually take the CSAT as a kind of annual event. Don’t you think it’s fun to go to the test center and feel the test atmosphere?”

[Madness for real]
[Is this for real? lol]
[Crazy b*tch lol]
[Repeat test-taker Naru;;]
[How did your preliminary grading go?]

“My preliminary grading? I haven’t done it yet… shall we do just one subject before the joint broadcast?”

[Thank you for your 2,000 won donation, ‘TrueNataDog’-nim!]
[Go go go go go go go go go]

Saying that, I brought up a roulette wheel.

A roulette wheel for the purpose of deciding which subject to grade.

[Language & Media / Calculus / English / Korean History / Chemistry II / Physics II]

[That choice of subjects is so manly lol]
[Legendary lol]
[Let’s go with math~]

“Alright, then I’ll spin it.”

The fast-spinning roulette wheel.

After touching this subject and that subject, the needle finally landed on one subject.

[Korean History]

[Ah, so boring]
[Boo, rigged probability, get out]
[It might actually be super fun?]

The subject that was chosen was Korean History.

A subject that test-takers don’t study much.

[Will we see traitor Naru?]
[Gasp]
[Is Red Naru making a comeback?]

But it’s also a subject that contains a considerable amount of abyss-like elements.

Of course, in the past, it wouldn’t have been a problem because I would have gotten them all right…

But this time, after getting the 1st grade cut, I didn’t use my ability on the last page because of a headache and just guessed…!

I’m… not going to the abyss today, am I…?