episode_0112

In a spacious room that was luxurious but not too excessive and harmoniously blended Eastern and Western styles, there was a man standing in a rather striking outfit.

Since it is winter, the sun sets quickly, and if we take it by the average person’s standard, this may be the time to slowly set the mood, and it may also be the time when there is an opportunity to lead this mood and approach your lover.

The man was standing in front of the mirror and checking his attire.

At first glance, the man looks young, but he also has a complex appearance that makes him look older than expected.

He was wearing a thick, stiff black sweatshirt that looked like he had just put it on, and was looking into a large full-length mirror that rivaled his height.

Behind it, suit-style clothes were strewn about as if something had been stripped of their skin, and the size of them was incredibly large.

Clothes that were so large that they looked as if they did not belong to a human were not of a typical style that made you grab your chin and wonder who the owner was.

Who wouldn’t be surprised to see a men’s suit top with a shoulder width comparable to the waist of most people?

“Hmm.”

I was looking in the mirror.

The man reflected on the other side of the mirror is imitating me, giving me a somewhat condescending feel.

Now that the celebratory banquet was over and there was no need to maintain an awkward appearance, I polymorphed back into my human form and changed into the prepared clothes.

And I narrowed my eyes when I saw someone behind me reflected in the mirror.

“… .”

He just narrowed his eyes and said nothing.

However, the person behind me apologized first, as if he felt something, perhaps because he saw my expression reflected in the mirror.

“I’m sorry, Professor, for suddenly coming to you without saying a word while you were resting.”

“Yes. What’s going on? Now that I think about it, they haven’t given you a room yet? hmm. I’ll call a Taesung official.”

“Oh, no, Professor. That’s not it… Are you going to sleep here today?”

I listened to her and nodded a few times instead of answering.

The original plan was to just show up at Jang Yeon-ho’s inauguration ceremony as chairman, but somehow things ended up like this.

When Yoon Sia saw me nodding, her face became a little urgent for some reason.

“Aren’t you done with your schedule? Professor, can’t we just go back today?”

“Ah, now that I think about it, I didn’t tell you that the schedule had changed. I’m sorry, I just happened to get caught up in the atmosphere. You might have felt uncomfortable in this atmosphere.”

“Professor… .”

Now that I think about it, coming to a place that is crowded with people like this and where a lot of attention is focused on her is probably not something she likes.

It could have been seriously uncomfortable for her. Of course, I wouldn’t have wanted to stay in a place like that forever.

Feeling a little sorry for not being considerate of her, I approached her to pat her head.

Suddenly she grabs my hand and pulls me towards her.

“Professor, there is a place I want to go. Can we go together today? Oh, that’s right, I’ve been wanting to try that turkey dish at the academy’s shopping district. Professor, would you like to go with us?”

“… Hmm?”

“Oh, aren’t you hungry? So how about going to the Han River to commemorate this trip? Looking on the internet, I heard that the Han River has frozen over due to the severe cold and that something similar to an ice festival is being held. There, someone made a statue of the professor out of ice, and it is said to be very famous.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, but it was so sudden.”

what. She suddenly seems so urgent. If I were to be self-objective, I think she was quite insensitive, but her condition seemed strange enough that even I could sense it.

For some reason, that feeling is so sharp that it makes me flinch and stop every time she squeezes my hand and pulls it towards her.

Although her Mana talent is very low, she has also developed this ability and has been able to control her Mana for a long time.

But anyway, basically, her special ability, Dragon Flower, is a constant-occurring ability, and according to the characteristics of that ability, waves of mana come out from her at all times.

Even though she is not at the level of talking about her movements all the way to distant places like in the past, you can still feel her unique magic wave when you are this close.

And since that wave had an uneasy feel to it, I asked her about it.

“Sia, what’s going on? You seem a little uneasy for some reason. If you find it difficult to be in crowded places, I will talk to you and make it possible for you to rest well without meeting people.”

“Professor… .”

“Ah, I see. You can go back to the academy. Come to think of it, since you are a guest, it wouldn’t be rude if you went back. I’ll call the school and call a car for you. Would you do that?”

“… Ugh, I’m a professor. Why on earth… .”

When I took out my cell phone from my pocket to contact the academy, she made a small groaning sound and suddenly raised her voice in protest and lightly grabbed my hand to stop me.

She bites her lip and sighs in protest, and her voice sounds like she’s really frustrated somewhere, and it feels like she’s accusing you of being too stuffy. Is it an illusion?

Of course, those words never came out of her mouth, it was just that the air around her changed.

As she, who had been keeping her head down, raised her head and stared at me, the atmosphere in the room changed.

This sense, which had become sensitive and sensitive to the abnormal phenomenon that had continued from before, seemed to have caught the atmosphere, but I don’t know why, but the atmosphere was a little scary.

Suddenly she tightened her grip on my wrist a little.

“… professor. What do you think of her?”

“That kid?”

“I’m talking about this girl from a wealthy family who invited the professor.”

I was a little taken aback by her sudden question and looked at her.

Her interrogation seemed to be something I didn’t like.

They didn’t even call her by her name, Jang A-hyeon, and just called her the daughter of a chaebol family. It seemed like the two had a very strained relationship.

Even so, I couldn’t figure out why this kid was asking such a question.

As far as I know, the two do not have much contact or overlap in their areas.

If we were to look for a connection, it would be that Yoon Si-ah’s mistake was discovered by Jang A-hyun’s group during the LA Gate incident, when the ring bridge first appeared.

Well, maybe it was a little humiliating for the woman in front of me, but actually, now I think it’s a meaningless story.

At least, in my short thinking, it was difficult to guess why Yoon Shia should be so openly uncomfortable with Jang A-hyeon.

“What do you think? That child is my student. He is a precious child with talent and will do great things in the future.”

“… .”

“Of course, it’s the same for you too. Don’t you know? You too─”

“─Then.”

Suddenly she cut me off and opened her mouth.

“That woman and me. Who is more important to you?”

It felt like I was being pressed.

It was an interrogation that felt like hitting something hard with great force and pushing it inside.

“… What?”

It was an incomprehensible development, so the only thing I could do was frown and say one question.

“Please answer, Professor.”

I frowned, feeling a little offended by the excessive questioning, but her gaze did not change.

Rather, as if teasing me for making such an expression, it was only for a moment that she ran towards me in a straight line.

“No, what does that mean now? Why are you saying that now?”

Without realizing it, I took a slight step back.

It felt like she was running madly towards me.

The child in front of me was looking at me, but her eyes seemed to be looking beyond me rather than at me.

As if he was trying to figure out what I was thinking or trying to find out my true feelings, he just looked at me with an expression that looked like he was about to cry.

“Do you like that kid?”

“… That’s it.”

I sighed softly in an absurd voice.

Now that I think about it, I think it’s really funny.

I thought that after she became deeply involved with me, she was keeping the women around her in check.

‘Huh. ‘Have I gotten sick again?’

If it had been a normal person, I would have at least gotten angry and scolded her, but since she was suffering from a mental illness before, I couldn’t get angry, so I just let out a dry sigh.

But anyway, since I have decided to take her with me, I cannot allow this kind of infidelity to continue to happen.

But how on earth do you explain the situation to her?

“Of course she is precious as a student. I value and like all of the students at the Academy. Let’s stop talking about this now. Because what you think will never happen.”

“Then I will change the question, Professor.”

After listening to my stereotypical answer, she slowly opened her mouth this time with a blank expression.

Before I could even think about her question, the sound of her words reached my ears.

“… Do you love that child?”

“Stop!”

At that moment, I truly regretted having brought her.

Of course, it is true that her symptoms have improved to some extent, but it still seemed like it was too much to bring her to a place with so many people.

So far, from the perspective of the child named Yoon Sia, it seems that my being friendly with a child of the same sex, named Jang A-hyeon, is a relationship that cannot be made public due to her interests.

Basically, hunters refer to people who fight. Whether it is a monster or someone else, combat is something that cannot be left out of being a hunter.

Therefore, in order to lead that battle, we must, of course, narrow the distance between our minds to some extent.

Because it’s not something you can truly learn from someone you really dislike, especially martial arts.

Teacher and disciple are related and grow together.

“I don’t love you. And what kind of nonsense is that? From the beginning, that child was only my disciple. I have absolutely no ill will towards that child.”

“… .”

“Sia. Of course you can worry. I understand that you might feel anxious if the person you care about is being intimate with another woman. But this is not like that. This is a relationship that is absolutely necessary for the future final battle. Of course, it is not a sweet romantic feeling like love or anything.”

“Is that so?”

She accepted my words in a dry voice with a somewhat sad expression on her face.

And the words that came out of her mouth.

“It seemed like the girl had feelings for the professor.”

“… What?”

It was enough to turn my mind blank.

“That kid likes the professor.”

“No, wait, what on earth are you talking about?”

When ” says he likes something, it’s not just a like. It means something beyond that.”

“Huh.”

At the shocking words that came out of her mouth, I closed my eyes and stroked my forehead.

Before I knew it, my hands were soaked with sweat, and as I felt the damp texture, I let out a laugh without even realizing it.

“No, no, no. It’s nonsense. stop. I know you’re anxious, but there’s no need to lie to me like this. It’s not realistic at all.”

“Is that so? So, are you sure that the professor has no feelings for her at all? I understand, professor. Then I will handle it.”

“… Process?”

For a moment, I felt something creepy and looked at her. She smiled, slowly removed her hand from my wrist, crossed her arms, and nodded.

I’m just looking at her with an attitude that seems like she’s made a grand decision.

Although she was the first to make the shocking statement, I was the first to react after hearing what she said.

If it weren’t just me or anyone else in the room, the reaction would have been the same.

“What do you mean? no way… You?”

“Oh, no, it’s not what you think. It’s just, um. I’m just saying it a little strongly. It may be a little coercive, but it won’t cause serious harm to the woman. The worst level is a level that breaks limbs?”

“… ?”

A cold wind was blowing, and sweat was pouring down like rain, unbecoming of this season when white snow blesses the world.

The clothes I had just worn were soaked with cold sweat and I was chewing my lip.

“Professor. I can do anything the professor likes.”

“… .”

“If the professor loves that girl, I would feel very sad, but I can still accept it. Because it was chosen by my beloved professor. But the opposite is not true.”

She smiled faintly and sighed heavily. That sigh pressed down on my heart like a weight.

“The professor doesn’t even like that kid, but the fact that she’s clinging to him is a distraction to the professor, so he can’t just leave her like that. Such stray cats must be struck down strongly. So please leave it to me.”

Then she smiled brightly, as if she were soaked in sunlight.

*

“Northmund. Lady Ahyeon asks to see you. Would you mind?”

“… Jang Ah-hyun?”

“Yes, if you are tired, I will tell you so.”

“No, palanquin. Guide me.”

As I was sitting on the bed in a daze, dumbfounded by the shocking statement, I suddenly heard a knock on the door.

When I heard that sound, I woke up from my thoughts and opened the door, and there was a middle-aged man dressed in neat clothes who looked like he was the butler of this mansion.

“Then come this way.”

When I nodded at him, he bowed politely and began to guide me as if to follow him.

As I listened to the sound of the two people’s shoes echoing through Taeseong’s mansion, I began to recall what had just happened.

I had just calmed down the woman who kept making problematic comments and sent her away when this middle-aged butler called me.

First of all, I promised to resolve it first.

Then, the opportunity to meet Jang A-hyeon came, so I expressed my approval without delay.

I felt a little mentally drained today because I heard all the shocking remarks I’ve heard over the past few years, but it was something that had to be addressed at least once.

‘He said he would handle it himself. Huh.’

It was a remark typical of her.

It seemed like I was no longer concerned about whether I would be able to escape safely even after harming Taeseong’s famous daughter in the heart of Taeseong.

Even if he succeeds in escaping, he will have to live as a fugitive for the rest of his life. She was declared to be a villain or something, so everyone around the world would be targeting her.

Why does she act like that is normal? Did you say that?

And I also remember something else she said.

Did I make excuses like this using gibberish?

“No. There is no reason for Jang Ah-hyun to like me. You know that we have never had any more personal time than a teacher-student relationship.”

“Yes.”

“And to begin with, I am not the kind of person who deserves love. Being openly honest means being rude. Why would you like someone like me?”

“And what?”

“Besides, I’m not good-looking. This polymorph appearance isn’t something you can’t look at, but isn’t it really handsome?”

“So?”

“Huh… .”

I don’t know. At that time, time was gradually becoming out of sync.

Uncharacteristically, I rambled on and seemed to be getting further and further away from the original topic and purpose of what I was trying to say.

Stop at the beginning! The figure that had been urging her had disappeared, and now he was in a panic, like a king trembling before checkmate, surrounded by numerous pawns and knights.

Naturally, it was she, Yun Shia, who controlled the other horse.

“Professor, you need to realize how high your position is now.”

She keeps moving her phone one space at a time, putting pressure on me.

“Just by being in that position, I am already admired by countless people. You know, right? Even if you go outside, the streets are full of dragon-shaped patterns. The professor’s symbol is embedded in countless chocolates and snacks that children eat. You don’t have a personal relationship with the professor? It has no meaning at all.”

“Uh… .”

“In itself, the professor is already a symbol of justice. He is someone who attracts admiration just by himself. Don’t you know that there are already a lot of girls who are professors at the academy who write fanfiction and make fun of their professors with their stickers? Did the professor have a close personal relationship with those kids?”

I wanted to tear up all that dirty stuff. Suddenly, I saw her shaking and clenching her fists.

As I was swallowing hard, she glared at me, then sighed and opened her mouth again.

“And your appearance? The professor just looks so cool on his own, right? But I don’t think this will give you an acceptable answer, so I’ll tell you.”

“… .”

“Please think about the story I told you earlier. appearance? That doesn’t mean anything. Rather, there are more good-looking third-rate idols who will be disbanded after their first or second album that appears on music programs than among top-tier idols. Do you know why? Looks are not necessarily a prerequisite for popularity, Professor.”

“No, isn’t that the case with me? .”

“Ha… I can’t say anything because I know that the professor really thinks that way, not just to be pretentious. But it’s also true that it’s a little frustrating. The difference between admiration and affection is just a sheet of paper.”

Her vague gaze looking at me still prickles my heart.

My shock was so great because I heard her outright tell me, to put it bluntly, not to criticize me.

It is said that a blackout occurs when the pleasure exceeds the limit, but it was shocking that the blackout occurred only from pure shock without any such pleasure.

It’s literally a series of shocks.

Yoon Si-ah, who usually does not speak for long and only sticks to short and concise sentences, spoke long words as if she was vomiting resentment, so that image still remained in a corner of my mind, poking other memories.

It is probably true that my character was greatly broken today.

Should we feel fortunate that she is the only one who knows that fact?

If someone else had seen this scene, wouldn’t they have denied reality and tried to erase their memories, saying that the world’s hero couldn’t be such an idiot?

“… Arrived, Mr. Northmund.”

“Ah, ah. Okay, thank you for the guidance.”

I was distracted by other thoughts when I suddenly heard the voice of a middle-aged butler announcing that I had reached my destination, and ended up being a little startled.

Seeing this, the butler opened his eyes a little puzzled, but like a professional, he quickly returned to his original expression, lowered his head, and walked backwards out of the room.

“Are you here, Professor? I’m sorry for calling you while you were resting.”

She smiles slightly and nods.

As she bent down, she tucks her unique, soft-looking brown bob that sticks out in front, behind her ear, and smiles.

“… Does not matter. It’s like this.”

For some reason, I felt uneasy.

Now that I think about it, I get the feeling that brushing one’s hair openly like that might be a signal to appeal to the opposite sex.

‘shit. ‘I guess it was right after I heard that.’

I don’t know if it’s nonsense or if it’s true, but since I heard that just now, I’m starting to pay attention to her every move.

I awkwardly greeted her as I watched her glossy short hair brush her cute cheek.