"Ah, Mr. Jang and Mr. Kim. It's nice to meet you. I'm Dohyeon Ma, a professor at Nest."
Coming into the office, Do-Hyeok expected to meet a strong, or at least unique, insect-human.
But instead, it was just a man, Do-Hyeok didn't know why he knew this. It seemed like he had a certain feeling when he met other insect-humans, like some kind of gut feeling.
"Thank you for bringing Mr. Jang here, Huijin."
He said to Huijin, who responded with a light nod.
"Im glad you came, Mr. Jang. I've heard many things about you through our reports"
Professor Ma spoke to Suchan then slowly directed his attention to Do-Hyeok.
"And you, Mr. Kim. You were quite hard to track down."
'What does that mean?'
Something about Professor Ma seemed off, but Do-Hyeok paid it no mind, right now information was the priority.
"Let's get right into it then. Mr. Kim, Mr. Jang."
As Professor Ma began to speak, he picked up a remote from his desk.
"Im going to show you…"
Using the remote the massive screen to their right lit up.
"...How you can become a normal human again."
"?!"
Suchan had a look of shock on his face. He was going to show the two how to be a human again this easily?
Do-Hyeok on the other hand was a little sceptical. There's no way it's that easy.
"We'll begin by viewing this video clip."
'That's it? Just like that?'
"The following footage is from the graduation ceremony of our university."
The screen changed and showed a scene,
[...And that concludes the speech from this year's valedictorian.]
The screen showed what you would expect from a university graduation ceremony. Everyone wearing their robes and celebrating their achievements of the past few years there.
Except, of course, they were all insect-humans.
[And now…]
The scene changed slightly, now standing on the stage was what seemed to be a teacher handing the valedictorian their diploma.
But this valedictorian had the head of a fly!
[We will begin the final segment of today's ceremony…]
[...By presenting our top graduate with the promise of Cinderella]
'Cinderella… I think there was something like that in the 'breeders feed training' folder I read a month ago. Something about it being a hinderence…'
The professor in the video handed the valedictorian a glass of a liquid that looked a little like champagne.
The valedictorian took a sip of this drink with its fly like face and soon after, something happened…
[Smash-!]
The valedictorian began swaying, the 'cinderella' smashed to the ground, this fly-like creature began to stumble.
Then a glow began to appear, almost emanating around them.
The fur and insect skin began to disappear.
"?!"
Soon the fly vanished completely, leaving a beautiful woman standing there, tears in her eyes.
"She changed! That thing that she drank just now… What was it?!"
Suchan projected in a shocked voice. Directing his question to professor ma who responded unhurried.
"Something we stumbled upon during our research of jungle juice. We applied the same principle of jungle juice against itself. We were able to decompose the insect DNA in the infected human body. Which means…"
Professor Ma pulled out a vial from behind his back.
"...this solution can restore humans to their original state. We call it Cinderella."
'i see… did they do it by RNA interference maybe? That would cause a strand separation to the person's DNA…'
Do-Hyeok was deep in thought, while it may come as a surprise, despite being an ex-gambling addict, he also studied almost every field you could think of at least once. This includes a small amount of biology and entomology. He also applied to universities for those subjects a while back as well, of course he was rejected.
"A solution… to turn back to normal?!"
Suchan asked faster than he expected.
"It's exactly what I wanted! Please give me a–!"
"I'm afraid I cannot do that."
Professor Ma cut him off abruptly.
"W-why not?!"
"Cinderella isn't easy to make. It's a condensed, extract compound, made from jungle juice itself, which means the supply is limited."
Professor Ma began to explain calmly.
'It makes sense. If they could mass produce it, there would probably be way less insect-humans than what I saw earlier if any at all.'
Do-Hyeok thought objectively, if it was that easy, it'd be in his hands already.
Professor Ma continued,
"While it is unfortunate, it is also impossible for us to restore everyone."
Suchan's jaw clenched, he expected something like this but the truth was harsher than he hoped it would be.
"But if you are willing to do whatever it takes to acquire this solution…"
Professor Ma took his eyes off the two of them and looked back at the screen which also gained the attention of Do-Hyeok and Suchan.
The girl, previously a fly, was waving with a large smile on her face, holding a graduation bouquet.
"...Enroll in our school, and graduate at the top of your department."
"...!"
Professor Ma turned back to look at the two.
"It is our policy to provide only the best and brightest students of this school with Cinderella, as was the case in the video I just showed you."
"What will it be?"
The two were a little startled by the information but then Do-Hyeok asked a question.
"Will this cost me anything?"
"Enrolling at our university is free, Mr. Kim. However, not everyone is chosen for class registration as the spaces are limited."
"Then what else is there to consider?"
'I get to learn more about these new abilities AND FINALLY have a normal college life, well somewhat normal. Isn't this a win-win?'
Do-Hyeok began to get excited, he finally, after years of being rejected, had a chance right in front of him. And he wouldn't let it go.
"me too sir. I'm prepared."
Suchan chimed in.
"Alright then, Huijin, would you mind taking them to class registrations?"
"Not at all sir. I need to do mine as well anyway."
"Good."
And so, Do-Hyeok and Suchan followed Huijin out of the office.
—
Nest lecture building, a few hours later.
Do-Hyeok and Suchan were talking. About what? The electives.
A few hours before this, Huijin told them their requirements were made for them and all they needed to do was pick one of the three electives she wrote down in the notebook she handed them.
So now, they had options.
Summary of electives!!
[PRACTICAL COMBAT FOR INSECTS]
-Professor Jun Ji
Tips: No one got an A last semester. No group assignments.
[STUDY OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED HUMANS]
-Professor Hwanyeong Yu
Tips: Grades on curve. Requires extensive expert knowledge. Lots of experiments.
[UNDERSTANDING NEST PROTECTION]
-Professor Dohyeon Ma
Tips: mostly individual assignments. Absolute grading system. Most popular course. No group assignments. More than half the class got A's last semester.
"So which one are you thinking of taking Suchan?"
"Hmm… Professor Ma's course seems like the best one for me. What about you Do-Hyeok?"
"Practical combat for insects."
A cold sweat rolled down Suchan's cheek when he heard this.
"Professor Ji's course? Are you sure? It says here that no one got an A last semester…"
"Yup, positive. It's the most hands on course with our insect abilities. I'm more curious as to what I can do with these things than rotting in a classroom all day."
'Huh, I guess that makes sense to an extent.'
The two continued talking for a while until…
WHAM-!
Two students flew across the courtyard, exchanging blows left and right.
…well, exchanging is being generous.
It was a complete one sided beatdown.
"I told you to stay out of my Goddamn way, you little piece of shit!"
The voice sounded familiar to Do-Hyeok, Then he got a better look.
Delicate silver hair with cyan highlights and a face that screamed 'delinquent'.
It was Dohwa!
'But why the hell is she beating up the guy…'
"You're the one that just suddenly jumped at me, you bitch!"
'...Ah.'
The two kept brawling, Suchan said something about some people never learning until a third voice came into the conversation.
"You'll get used to it soon enough."
A streak of pink flashed by Do-Hyeok and Suchan. Then suddenly, Huijin appeared between the boy and Dohwa.
FWISH~
They were flung like ragdolls by Huijin, as if they were toys.
Then both hit the ground with a large thud.
The boy began to get up first,
"Damn it… who the hell is it now…"
"Seriously, what am I gonna do with you two?"
"The class president…?!"
'So she was the president? Respect.'
After that thought, led by a little concern, Do-Hyeok walked up to Dohwa.
"What the hell are you doing…"
Dohwa sat up, a little disoriented.
"Ugh, Who the hell… oh, wassup antboy."
"Wassup, my ass."
Seeing she was fine, Do-Hyeok was less concerned and more confused.
'What's this girl made of, adamantium?'
"Are you here for class registration?"
He was momentarily taken out of his thoughts by the sudden question.
"Yup, you too?"
"Obviously, which elective are you taking?"
"Practical combat for insects maybe."
"Hey, same!"
'...and all of a sudden this elective is less appealing than I thought it would be.'
Do-Hyeok helped Dohwa off the ground and the two decided to make their way to the registration room.
—
It looked like any ordinary classroom, a bunch of laptops with the registration form on each desk.
Do-Hyeok and Dohwa sat down.
Or well, Do-Hyeok did.
Dohwa decided to spin in her chair like it was a particle accelerator.
'I…How is she even spinning that fast?
…
I can't even be mad, that's impressive.'
Soon the room was filled with students. One at every desk ready to fill out the registration form.
Ten minutes until registration.
—
Knock, Knock!
The door to Professor Ma's office opened up.
"Ah, welcome."
The old man from Do-Hyeok's earlier encounter appeared.
"Professor ji."
"so, I hear we have new transfer students?"
"Oh! That would be Jang Suchan and Kim Do-Hyeok. I heard you ran into them earlier, what did you think? Do you think they'll make it? It's their first time doing registration, after all."
Professor Ji thought back,
'I'm only here to get rid of these useless things'
'...huh? Sorry, do you mean me sir?'
One was too fixated on getting rid of his wings and the other seemed too absent minded to even think straight.
Professor Ji snickered,
"Not a chance."
—
END OF CHAPTER
A/N: Action finally on the way.
Also
WAKE UP!!! ITS THE FIRST OF DA MONTH!!!🗣🗣🗣🐄🐄🐄