My Alpha Era Began with Gongjindan Chapter 42

I am Moon Yeonghwa, a man of willpower… If I think something needs to be done, I do it even if I’m told not to. That’s what it means to be an adult.

To visit Jung Pureum’s school, I first checked his schedule. It would be awkward if I went there secretly and ran into him. Fortunately, Jung Pureum provided me with his timetable without any suspicion.

They say freshmen can’t register for courses freely, and just by looking at it, his schedule was packed. So that’s why all the midterms were practical exams. With training hours this long, there’s no way he’d have enough time to study.

And yet he finds time between this killer schedule to visit my clinic. I was genuinely worried about Jung Pureum. Shouldn’t I at least give him acupuncture every time he comes?

I decided to visit the school during one of the empty slots in Jung Pureum’s timetable. I’m still in my twenties, so even though I graduated from college a while ago, I should still pass for a student.

My behavior of leaving the clinic earlier than usual drew suspicious looks from not only Kim Miyoung but also Nam Jungyoon, but I had no intention of changing my mind.

The school Jung Pureum attends is a fairly prestigious university. I heard it’s well-regarded in the sports field. Thanks to that, the campus is spacious and the faculty is said to be impressive.

But then why are the students who go to such a place all blockheads?

I pressed my forehead, thinking of Jung Pureum’s unknown seniors. Universities should do personality tests or interviews when admitting students.

I found the physical education campus easily since I’d been there before. I also wore a mask properly, like someone who was sick. With half my face covered, even if I ran into Jung Pureum by chance, he probably wouldn’t recognize me right away.

I carefully entered the PE building like a secret agent on an undercover operation. The time was five in the evening. In about an hour, most daytime university lectures would be over.

Yet there were still quite a few students on campus. They all had sizable builds—clearly PE majors just by looking at them. Are there only practical majors here? What about sports theory or something?

I walked along, checking every corner while blending in among the big guys so as not to stand out. From all directions came familiar curses about professors and laments about their majors. Now this felt more like a real university.

“Hey, I heard there’s one candidate for the national swimming team this time.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I heard a freshman is going.”

“What a surprise. Is there that little talent?”

“The rest will probably be called up from high school.”

While snooping around and eavesdropping on others’ conversations, I picked up this tidbit. It was several times more useful than gossip about professors.

What do you mean no talent? Jung Pureum is the talent.

The only national team candidate. I was so proud of Jung Pureum. If I were his real older brother, I’d call him out every day and buy him tons of food.

“But I heard he might not be able to compete either.”

“Why? Doping?”

“No. He has an omega lover.”

“He’s screwed.”

But my pride didn’t last long. Because students who clearly didn’t know Jung Pureum were spreading vague rumors as if they were fact.

I wanted to barge in right then and shout, “He doesn’t have an omega lover!” But I’d definitely get dragged out by security, so I had to stay still.

I kept my mouth tightly shut and walked past the students, who quickly moved on to another topic. From the general lecture halls to the basic physical training center was quite a distance.

Since most athletes are Alphas, the closer I got to the training center, the more I could feel pheromones. Other people’s pheromones mixed with sweat smelled a bit nauseating. I raised my arm and covered my nose. Even with the mask on, my nose hurt. …Ugh, I want to spray deodorant.

I tore open a herbal medicine packet I’d prepared in advance—one that suppresses heat cycles—and drank it. Being exposed to other Alphas’ pheromones for too long could only do harm. And they weren’t even refreshing pheromones like Jung Pureum’s.

I sucked down the herbal medicine while peeking around the training center like a suspicious person. I can’t help it. I’m a Korean medicine doctor, not a secret agent skilled in infiltration. They don’t teach you how to naturally infiltrate other universities in medical school.

Still, the disaster of getting caught and dragged away immediately didn’t happen. There weren’t many people in the basic training center, and unlike the general lecture hall side, there weren’t many students wandering around here either.

Fortunately or unfortunately, Jung Pureum was nowhere to be seen. I’d deliberately checked his schedule and visited during a time to avoid him, but since there were no familiar faces, I had no interest at all in the other students running around with passion.

Not all PE majors are as handsome as Jung Pureum, I see. What a lamentable fact. I thought a strong physique would naturally come with good looks.

Still, since I couldn’t tell which of them bullied Jung Pureum, I observed the students quite intently. I’m no physiognomy expert, but they all looked a bit mean-spirited. Maybe I was just seeing them through tinted glasses.

“Excuse me, what are you doing?”

However, my observation didn’t last long. I’d been peeking around carelessly, so it was a miracle I hadn’t been caught earlier.

I stiffened and turned around. A student who clearly looked like a senior was striding toward me.

“You don’t seem to be from our department. Are you looking for someone?”

“…Ah, yes.”

“Who? If they’re here, I’ll call them for you.”

Fortunately, the student approaching me didn’t seem like a completely unreasonable type. His attitude was quite friendly.

“They’re not here, it seems. I think we missed each other… I’ll just be going.”

But I couldn’t be swayed by that friendly attitude and blurt out Jung Pureum’s name. The only person I knew here was Jung Pureum, and I couldn’t just admit that when I’d come secretly.

As I started to move away, the friendly student looked at me with a suspicious face. Of course I looked suspicious. Wearing a mask on my face and holding herbal medicine in one hand. Even if I were in his shoes, I would have reported me.

“Who are you looking for?”

But instead of reporting me, the student persistently tried to be helpful. Stop asking! If I don’t answer, I’ll look even more suspicious!

“…Freshman Jung Pureum.”

I had no choice but to answer. Repeated questions tire out a Korean medicine doctor. I said I’d find him myself a couple of times, but for some reason, the student wouldn’t give up his helpfulness.

Are college students these days really this interested in others? Amazing. The future of Korea is still bright, I see.

“Ah, Jung Pureum.”

“…”

“He probably doesn’t have training today.”

Of course. I’d deliberately checked Jung Pureum’s schedule before coming—it’d be a problem if he were here.

“Thanks for letting me know. Well then, I’ll be—”

“Hold on.”

The student grabbed me again just as I was about to quickly express my thanks and slip away. Enough with the kindness! Stop the attention! I felt like shaking off his grip, but I decided to hold back for now.

“Are you family of Jung Pureum?”

“I’m not family, but…”

“Then, a lover?”

“Not that either.”

Cold sweat poured down my back. Outwardly I looked fine, but my back was already damp. Because being caught and interrogated like this was not part of my plan.

“You look like a lover, though.”

“Excuse me?”

“You came to the school before too. I saw you leaving with Jung Pureum.”

At that moment, stars sparkled in my head.

It was you! You’re the bastard who deliberately tattled to the coach that Jung Pureum has an omega lover! Some friendly student. As expected, the future of Korea is dark and gloomy.

I lightly slapped away the hand of the one holding me. Now that I knew he wasn’t a friendly student, there was no reason to stick around.

“You said you were looking for Jung Pureum, right?”

“I’ll find him myself.”

“I’ll call him for you.”

Now I finally understood why Jung Pureum had told me not to come. I thought, how dangerous could a school be, but this place was like a labyrinthine dungeon.

Running into a mid-boss right in front of the training center.

This was truly unexpected. I scowled at the Alpha pheromones being directed at me. Is this bastard crazy?

Of all people, I had to get caught by someone who clearly dislikes Jung Pureum. They say if you have bad luck, you’ll break your nose even falling backward—and that was exactly my situation.

Dragged by the bastard, I was taken to the student lounge area. I tried to escape several times, but the strength difference was too great. If I’d known this would happen, I should have worked out a bit.

A couple of other students showed interest in me, but this bastard introduced me as “Jung Pureum’s lover,” which made it hard to get away. I just mechanically repeated, “I’m not his lover.”

At this rate, I was really going to cause nothing but harm. I squeezed my eyes shut. This isn’t why I came to the school….

Just as Jung Pureum had stayed by my side when I was struggling with the Baek Wonhee incident, I wanted to be of some help to him. I’d infiltrated thinking I could at least memorize the faces of the seniors or the coach who bullied him.

But of all things, I had to get caught by the (presumed) mid-boss from the very start. Unbelievable. If I’d known this would happen, I should have used a fake name like Kim Minsoo or Lee Cheolsoo instead of Jung Pureum’s and slipped away. This is why poor improvisation only leads to regret.

“Stay here. I’ll call Jung Pureum.”

“I said forget it. Don’t call Pureum.”

“Why? Weren’t you looking for him?”

“I’ll meet him later on my own. Mind your own business.”

This bastard who claimed to be Jung Pureum’s senior was a man who didn’t know how to give up. Watching his smug face made my mood deteriorate exponentially. It was amazing that I’d momentarily thought he was friendly, even for a second.

Every time I resisted even a little, he released Alpha pheromones, making me feel so nauseated I thought I’d die. Taking that herbal medicine in advance was a stroke of foresight.

But when he saw that I didn’t pass out or pant even under his pheromones, for some reason this bastard asked me if I’d imprinted with Jung Pureum.

Are you crazy? I was so dumbfounded I just kept my mouth shut. Imprint, my ass. It’s the power of Korean medicine. One herbal decoction brings down a heat cycle better than Western suppressants.

Still, I couldn’t stop the nausea. I felt like vomiting all over that bastard’s back, but I held back because it would cause trouble for Jung Pureum. Just me being held here right now was already a loss for Jung Pureum.

Thinking about that made my head throb. This isn’t what I came for…. Things had gone completely wrong.