Vol 1 Ch 6

Before entering the study, Kim Jinkyung buried his nose in his shoulder and checked the smell. He had been worried ever since he heard that Mok Seongha was sensitive to smells.

 

“Hey.”

 

Kim Jinkyung was startled and turned around at the sudden voice from behind. The unique low voice made him feel as if cold metal was piercing his skin just by hearing it up close.

 

“What are you doing?”

 

He asked, already standing behind him.

 

“Oh, hello. I was about to go in.”

 

Mok Seongha reached out from behind and opened the door. He entered the room first and sat in his chair. Then he gestured to the chair opposite him with his chin.

 

“Sit.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Kim Jinkyung sat down and laid out the textbooks he had prepared one by one.

 

“I’ve prepared the textbooks, and if you don’t have any particular books in mind, I think it would be good to proceed in this order.”

 

Mok Seongha glanced over the textbooks and nodded.

 

“Then let’s start with this book today.”

 

Kim Jinkyung took out another copy of the same book and handed it to Mok Seongha.

 

“Why did you buy two copies of the same book?”

 

“Oh, this is the textbook I’ll be using, and this is the textbook you’ll be using. We usually use the same book.”

 

Kim Jinkyung took out a marker from his pencil case and wrote Mok Seongha’s name on it. Mok Seongha stared at the neat handwriting and asked.

 

“How much is the book?”

 

“It’s nothing. It’s not much.”

 

“It’s not much money, so why are you paying for it?”

 

Startled by his questioning tone, Kim Jinkyung reflexively raised his arms defensively and quickly replied.

 

“I always give the first textbook as a gift to my students!”

 

“Your students?”

 

Mok Seongha asked back. Should he use a different word?

 

“Ah, I mean, the person I’m tutoring….”

 

“Just say student.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Kim Jinkyung replied, feeling intimidated.

 

“Then are you a teacher?”

 

“More like a learning assistant….”

 

“Say teacher.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

Kim Jinkyung took out a pencil from his pencil case.

 

“Then shall we start the lesson?”

 

Mok Seongha nodded. Kim Jinkyung calmly began to explain.

 

Unexpectedly, the tutoring went smoothly. He received an envelope without fail after each tutoring session, and Mok Seongha unexpectedly did his homework diligently. After deciding on a title, Mok Seongha even occasionally called Kim Jinkyung ‘teacher.’

 

Nevertheless, Kim Jinkyung did his best to get fired as soon as possible. Of course, he couldn’t even dream of using cologne after being forcibly bathed once, he naturally didn’t even try to act impolitely, and he didn’t dare to think of forcibly touching his stomach or making loud noises. Of course, he had set the ringtone to the maximum volume, but it was a useless trick since there was no one to contact him.

 

In the end, the most unpleasant thing he could do was just ‘give him chocolate.’ But Mok Seongha threw the chocolate away every time, saying he didn’t eat it.

 

That day, Kim Jinkyung, who was picking out chocolate at the convenience store before going to tutoring, suddenly wondered, do I really need to buy chocolate?

 

If I just proceed with the class like this without any major incidents….

 

“I’m crazy.”

 

Kim Jinkyung shook his head. He had briefly forgotten the scene he had seen that day. How could he forget that?

 

Kim Jinkyung recalled the large beast that had approached him in the pond. The sleek black fur, the sharp teeth, and the bright red mouth.

 

Goosebumps ran all over his body. Kim Jinkyung quickly grabbed a large chocolate bar. He shoved the chocolate into his bag and left the convenience store, walking when suddenly a drop of water fell on his head.

 

“Oh….”

 

The raindrops became thicker as he looked up to check. Kim Jinkyung hugged his bag to keep the books and prints inside from getting wet and ran. It was too far to go back to the convenience store to buy an umbrella. Before long, he arrived in front of the gate, shook the water off his clothes, and rang the bell.

 

He heard the sound of the intercom turning on. He shook off the raindrops without saying anything, as the door would open as soon as they confirmed his face. However, the sound of the door opening did not come even after a long time.

 

Did they accidentally forget to press the button?

 

Kim Jinkyung rang the bell again. The intercom turned on.

 

「I’m sorry. I’ll open the door for you.」

 

The door opened after Secretary Kang’s urgent voice. Kim Jinkyung ran across the garden. Then he suddenly remembered the special clause in the contract he had signed on the first day.

 

‘Tutoring will be canceled on rainy days. However, the tutoring fee will be paid.’

 

Why did they put in such a clause? Even with the disadvantageous condition of paying the fee….

 

…Could it be.

 

“You’re here. Come quickly.”

 

“Ah, yes. Um….”

 

Secretary Kang, who had never done that before, ran to the front door and grabbed Kim Jinkyung’s wrist.

 

“Did you take your medicine?”

 

“What medicine?”

 

“I heard you have allergies. Here, this.”

 

Secretary Kang shoved a small pill into Kim Jinkyung’s mouth and handed him a bottle of water.

 

“Wait a minute!”

 

“Swallow it.”

 

Kim Jinkyung swallowed the pill for now.

 

“Excuse me, I have something to ask you….”

 

“We’re late.”

 

Secretary Kang’s clothes, saying that, were torn and covered in fur. Kim Jinkyung urgently stopped him.

 

“No, wait a minute. About canceling tutoring on rainy days. That….”

 

“That clause has been deleted.”

 

As Secretary Kang said, that clause, which was absolutely disadvantageous to the student, had been deleted since that day.

 

“Excuse me, then could that be….”

 

“Yes. It’s there.”

 

Secretary Kang opened the door to the study where they always had lessons. Kim Jinkyung’s eyes widened.

 

As expected, there was a large thing there.

 

“…Does it understand what I’m saying?”

 

Kim Jinkyung asked in a trembling voice.

 

“Yes. Just think of it as the same person with fur.”

 

“D-does it bite?”

 

“It doesn’t bite. As long as you don’t provoke it.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“Then, have a good lesson.”

 

Secretary Kang pushed Kim Jinkyung into the room and closed the door. Then he heard the sound of the door locking. Kim Jinkyung grabbed the doorknob with both hands and turned it this way and that, but it was no use.

 

These heartless people had locked him in with a large beast. He heard a dull thud behind him. Kim Jinkyung slowly, very slowly, turned his head.

 

The black panther, sprawled out on the sofa, was hitting the sofa with its tail, showing its displeasure.

 

“H-hello…. Long time no see…. …First, no, second time meeting you.”

 

Kim Jinkyung didn’t even know what he was saying. What he had seen in the pond that day was neither a hallucination nor a delusion caused by drugs.

 

It was real. A large black panther was sitting there instead of Mok Seongha, staring at Kim Jinkyung while thumping its thick tail.

 

“Um, is it possible to have class today…?”

 

It seemed that on rainy days, the man turned into a black panther. That’s why there was such a special clause before he knew his true identity.

 

The black panther raised its tail and tapped the floor. It seemed like an indication that it was possible. Kim Jinkyung carefully pulled out a chair and sat down. The black panther sauntered over and climbed onto the opposite chair.

 

He was terrified enough to make all the hairs on his body stand on end, but Kim Jinkyung barely managed to hold it in.

 

I can’t see it, I can’t see it. The sharp teeth, the claws visible between the fur, the red mouth, I can’t see anything.

 

“Then, um, did you do all the homework I gave you last week?”

 

The black panther slid the printouts on the table with its front paw. It was a large front paw. Kim Jinkyung deliberately turned his gaze elsewhere.

 

It’s a big cat. It’s not cute, but it’s a scary, black, and big cat attending class.

 

Kim Jinkyung chanted a mantra of mental victory and graded the homework. The number of wrong answers had decreased compared to before, but it was still far from enough.

 

Kim Jinkyung explained the wrong problems and wrote the same problems on a practice paper and handed it over.

 

“Try this again….”

 

The black panther stared at Kim Jinkyung.

 

“…Haha. I guess you can’t solve the problems.”

 

It was a front paw that seemed impossible to hold a pencil with. But the black panther didn’t care and bit the pen and brought it to its front paw. But it was an impossible mission from the start. Kim Jinkyung flinched every time the pen rolled near its front paw.

 

The black panther growled lowly, annoyed. Kim Jinkyung quickly bent over.

 

“I’ll pick it up for you….”

 

It was then. The black panther, who was as annoyed as it could be, swung its front paw wildly, and Kim Jinkyung’s hand passed right in front of it. It was a momentary thing. Sharp claws tore the flesh. Blood splattered on the textbook.

 

Kim Jinkyung covered his hand with his other hand. The black panther’s eyes widened. Kim Jinkyung had never raised an animal, but he felt like he knew what that expression meant.

 

The black panther is flustered.

 

“It’s okay.”

 

Kim Jinkyung quickly got up from his seat. Then the black panther grabbed Kim Jinkyung’s clothes.

 

“……!”

 

Kim Jinkyung was surprised and froze in place. Then the black panther immediately opened its mouth and let him go. It looked like it had something to say.

 

“I know it was an accident. It’s because I suddenly reached out my hand.”

 

The black panther didn’t say anything. Of course, it couldn’t speak in the first place.

 

“I’ll disinfect it and come right back. Wait here.”

 

Kim Jinkyung forced a smile and came out of the room. Secretary Kang was waiting outside the door, with some semblance of conscience left.

 

“I’ll get the first aid kit.”

 

Only after Secretary Kang disappeared did Kim Jinkyung scream inwardly and slump down in his seat. He wanted to cry. He was scared. He wanted to run away.

 

I can’t do it. Teach a panther? It has teeth and claws, how can I do this? It should have only one of them. It has both, how can I teach it?

 

“Teacher.”

 

Kim Jinkyung heard Secretary Kang’s voice from above. Kim Jinkyung didn’t raise his head and held out his injured hand. He disinfected it without asking anything and bandaged it.

 

“What’s that?”

 

Kim Jinkyung was horrified and asked, looking at the syringe in Secretary Kang’s hand.

 

“A tetanus shot. You don’t need a rabies shot. Young Master doesn’t go outside.”

 

“Are you going to give me the shot yourself?”

 

“Then would you like to give it to yourself?”

 

“No, it’s not that, but….”

 

Before he could say anything, Secretary Kang stuck the needle into Kim Jinkyung’s arm.

 

“Ugh.”

 

“Okay, it’s over. Press down on the opposite arm for 2 minutes.”

 

Tears welled up in Kim Jinkyung’s eyes. He really wanted to cry.

 

“It’s not serious enough to go to the hospital, but would you like to go to the hospital?”

 

It was a really unlucky concern. Kim Jinkyung shook his head.

 

“If you can’t teach today, you can leave as is. I’ll give you the lesson fee.”

 

It was a tempting offer, but he couldn’t do it in good conscience. Kim Jinkyung got up from his seat.

 

“No. I can do it. It’s just a scratch.”

 

“Okay, then.”

 

Secretary Kang didn’t offer twice. What a heartless person.

 

Kim Jinkyung walked back to the front of the door. He took a breath. His heart was pounding, but he opened the door with the most peaceful face he could muster.

 

“……!”

 

Kim Jinkyung was startled by the black fur ball that had come to the front of the door and stepped back with a gasp. The black panther was so close that its nose almost touched the door.

 

“Why are you here….”

 

The black panther glanced at Kim Jinkyung’s hand and went back to its place.

 

…Was it worried and waiting here?

 

Kim Jinkyung glanced at the black panther. Their eyes met. The black panther bared its teeth. Kim Jinkyung quickly ran and sat down.

 

“Then I’ll start the class again. It’ll be hard for you to solve problems, so today I’ll focus on explaining the wrong problems and move on to the next chapter.”

 

The black panther’s tail tapped the chair. Kim Jinkyung slowly resumed today’s class. Fortunately, the black panther didn’t move from its seat until the end of the class.

 

“Then that’s all for today’s class. I’ll skip the homework for now and focus on the concepts.”

 

The black panther’s tail tapped the chair twice.

 

“You can do the homework?”

 

One tap of the tail.

 

“You can…. Yes. Then I’ll give it to you.”

 

Kim Jinkyung took out the printouts he had prepared. Then the chocolate he had bought and put in his bag fell to the floor. Kim Jinkyung quickly picked up the chocolate and shoved it into his bag. The black panther looked at Kim Jinkyung with a puzzled expression.

 

“Ahahaha.”

 

Kim Jinkyung smiled awkwardly.

 

He knew that the black panther in front of him was not an ordinary animal, but there was a chance that it might eat the chocolate. He couldn’t bring himself to do such a despicable thing to an animal.

 

“Then I’ll be going now. Make sure to do your homework.”

 

The black panther stared blankly at Kim Jinkyung as he fled out the door.