episode_0006

Inside the faculty office.

Numerous teachers are busy with their work.

Among them, a young female teacher in navy caught the eye.

“Hey, Miss Hong. What are you up to?”

“Just looking at some materials and entrance evaluation data from the middle school students.”

“Wow, working hard from the first day, huh?”

Class 3 homeroom teacher, Park Hanna, casually approached Hong Daye and handed her a sweet canned coffee.

For Hong Daye, who often lacked sugar and caffeine, canned coffee was a good energy drink(?).

“Go ahead and drink it, Miss Hong.”

“Thank you. I was feeling a bit tired anyway.”

“Oh, are you losing sleep because of the new school year?”

“No, it’s because of my liver.”

Hong Daye chuckled and replied with a nonchalant expression, taking a sip of the coffee.

Park Hanna wanted to tease her by saying, “Oh, is it because of your liver? Are you joking?” but she didn’t want to make a joke about Hong Daye, who had liver damage due to a past incident.

So she swallowed the words that were about to come out of her mouth.

“Oh, by the way, Miss Hong, Miss Hong.”

Something came to Park Hanna’s mind, and a light bulb lit up above her head.

“And Miss Hong, did you do that to the kids? That thing?”

“That thing?”

“Yeah, you know, emitting that intimidating aura to scare the kids.”

“I didn’t intend to scare them.”

Not intending to scare them?

If Park Hanna were a student, she would have been petrified.

Maybe she would have even cracked Hong Daye’s pumpkin seeds with the other kids from the class?

“Oh, Miss Hong’s aura is enough to make even the high-rankers shiver.”

“If they get scared that easily, they should give up being heroes. They won’t be able to handle it in real combat anyway.”

“Miss Hong, you’re really strict, really.”

As if she’s not from a high-ranking family.

“But still, it’s not good to intimidate the kids too much. It’s a sensitive time for them, you know?”

“The trainees are not just ordinary kids, they are aspiring heroes. We can’t just treat them like kids forever.”

“Oh, come on~ That’s why the kids don’t even come to see you on Teacher’s Day. Let me see. How popular are you with the students?”

Park Hanna boasted proudly with her nose in the air.

Unfortunately, she was quite popular.

Especially due to her young age and puppy-like appearance.

“Miss Hong, don’t always act like you’re annoyed with a dead look on your face. Try to spruce up a bit. Your beauty shouldn’t go to waste.”

“Yes.”

She’s sharp.

She might end up becoming an old maid at this rate.

I’m a little~ worried as a colleague.

“By the way, how are the students in Class 1? They were making a fuss about being the golden generation, right?”

“They’re not bad. There are a few students that I’m concerned about.”

“Really? Well, there’s the heir of the SL Group, the son of the Black Shadow Clan, and also… Oh, and the little miss from the Gaon Nuri Clan. Wow, the talent pool is definitely impressive.”

They were rumored to be geniuses from the start.

They might grow up to be the heroes responsible for the next generation.

Perhaps we’ll see them on television as sturdy pillars of South Korea in a few years. As a teacher, Park Hanna felt a sense of fulfillment in such things.

“But why are you so interested in him? Let me see… Huh? Who is this, Lee Jinhyuk?”

“I’m just a little concerned.”

Lee Jinhyuk, Lee Jinhyuk, Lee Jinhyuk…

No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t recall the face.

Park Hanna looked somewhat puzzled. If Miss Hong is concerned, then he must have been quite famous even before enrolling, right? Strange.

“Is that a name I’ve never heard before?”

“It’s possible. It’s a student who barely passed the Union exam.”

“Really?”

Park Hanna blinked her eyes.

No. Why bother looking into someone like that?

Especially when there’s so much to do at the start of a new semester.

“Hmm? Additional acceptance? Wow… they really bombed the practical assessment. How did they pass? Oh, I see, they aced the written exam? It’s quite unbalanced.”

Park Hanna sighed as she glanced through the materials Hong Daye was looking at.

Indeed, Jinhyuk’s theoretical scores were excellent.

That’s why it’s even more regrettable.

“From middle school, his theoretical scores… Wow? His written score is amazing. It seems like he’s highly evaluated for his tactical advisor skills. Well, it’s a shame he lacks the qualities of a hero.”

It would have been better if he had gone into a regular career and enjoyed a smooth life instead of striving to become a hero out of nowhere.

Seeing students who lack talent trying hard to become heroes makes a teacher’s eyes well up with tears.

Because they know that it’s pointless for those without talent to put in effort.

Jinhyuk clearly seemed to lack the talent to be a hero.

“It doesn’t seem like an issue that Hong Teacher needs to worry about.”

It might be better for Hong Daye to focus on students like Ishiwoon, Kang Daehan, and Yooseolhyun instead of that student.

“Is there a reason why you’re paying special attention to this student?”

“It’s him.”

Hong Daye paused for a moment before continuing.

“Even when I exerted pressure, he remained unfazed.”

“Him?”

Oh my.

That’s quite surprising.

Even if Hong Daye had been lenient, the student’s level wasn’t bearable.

It’s common for an ordinary person to tremble like they’re facing a tiger alone in the mountains at night.

But a student like Jinhyuk endured Hong Daye’s pressure.

‘Oh? Could it be?’

However, after looking at Jinhyuk’s physical ability test data, Hong Daye seemed to understand with a relieved expression.

Ah, right. That’s it.

His physical abilities were a mess, indeed.

“Maybe he’s just not sensitive enough to detect Hong Teacher’s pressure? Sometimes there are students like that here at the Union.”

Occasionally… very rarely, there are students who can’t sense things like pressure.

Of course, considering the average level of the Union, it was quite puzzling, but it’s not uncommon for a pebble to get caught in a sieve meant for selecting gems.

“That’s true.”

Hong Daye also nodded in agreement.

Although this place is considered the best academy in South Korea, not all students are top students. There are also incoming students like Jinhyuk, who excel in written exams and luckily get accepted in various ways.

“But the reason I’m concerned about him isn’t just because of that.”

“What else is it then?”

As she subtly asked the question, Hong Daye scratched her chin and replied.

“He was too casual.”

“What?”

Too casual?

What does that mean?

Ah, could she be referring to when he emitted his aura?

If that’s the case, it’s a bit doubtful. Even if he couldn’t sense the aura, other students would have gasped for breath and collapsed.

If they were suddenly faced with such a situation without any warning, even the bravest would be taken aback.

“Maybe he’s too relaxed or should I say, too nonchalant. It’s as if he’s familiar with such situations.”

“Could it be something he’s heard somewhere? Like at Hong Teacher’s inauguration ceremony.”

“Well, that could be the case, but…”

Hong Daye pondered over the incident that had just occurred.

“…It seemed like there was a judging gaze, as if evaluating something.”

It was a comment not only on other students but also on Hong Daye herself.

That gaze really bothers me.

“I don’t know. The more I think about it, the more suspicious it feels. These kinds of people always have something hidden.”

“Oh! Is that what they call intuition? Well, Hong Ssam’s instincts are trustworthy. Oh, right, right. Now that you mention it, I remember that guy from two years ago.”

“….”

“The one who caused a scandal two years ago and dropped out of school on his own.”

“Well, regardless, I just want to keep an eye on him.”

To see if he’s a similar case to the one from two years ago or not.

***

11:50 AM.

Abnormal Studies class is in session.

If it was boring, it was a boring theory class.

“Decades ago. After the sudden appearance of monsters, some of humanity began to manifest abnormalities.”

Abnormal abilities.

Commonly known as superpowers.

Abnormal abilities that transcend common sense and laws have brought hope and fear to many people.

“Due to individuals who break the boundaries between reality and fantasy with their own ideals and unknown monstrous beings, humanity has long been in a state of confusion.”

The early days of abnormal manifestation must have been a mess.

Many people lost their lives.

“Among the chaos, some individuals with abnormalities managed to defeat monsters and protect people with their own powers, eventually becoming the origin of heroes.”

“Jinhyuk.”

“However, there are also individuals who are fascinated by their strong powers and act recklessly. Those who have been tainted by malice… mentally unstable individuals. Yes, villains.”

The dynamic relationship between monsters, heroes, and villains.

It’s something I’ve been taught since elementary school.

Today, maybe because it’s the first day, or maybe because it’s important, they mentioned it again. It was enough to make my ears ring.

“Abnormal abilities are a double-edged sword. The more you use them, the stronger you become, but it also wears down your mind. If your mind deteriorates, you become more susceptible to madness and malice. So always be careful and cautious.”

It’s, how should I put it.

A troublesome setting.

Using abnormal abilities makes you stronger, but at the same time, it wears down your mind. The probability of being tainted by malice increases.

Quite a few heroes end up becoming villains.

Of course, it doesn’t matter to me because I haven’t manifested any abnormal abilities.

I’m a non-abnormal, me.

“You all are aspiring heroes who will be responsible for Korea in the future. So…”

“Jinhyuk, Jinhyuk.”

She pokes my cheek.

What is Jinsuyeon doing?

“Why?”

“I’m bored.”

“Aren’t you paying attention in class?”

“We’ve been hearing this stuff since a long time ago. It’s boring~ I’m bored~.”

Stop poking me with your pen while yawning.

“Ah, theory classes are boring~. I wish we could have outdoor classes soon.”

“Your note-taking scores were a mess in middle school anyway.”

“It doesn’t matter because the practical scores have a much higher weight than the note-taking scores.”

As someone with high note-taking scores, it was quite disappointing in many ways.

“Don’t ask me to borrow your notes later, okay?”

“What? That’s mean.”

“You guys are mean too.”

Suddenly, the instructor spoke up towards us.

Oh no, we were too loud. We got caught doing something else.

“Very nice. Are you two already dating on the first day? Love is in the air.”

No, don’t say that.

Look over there.

Ishiwoon is staring at us with a strange look in his eyes.

“Well, it’s the first day today, so I’ll let it slide. But there’s no way I’ll allow it next time, got it?”

“Yes.”

“Alright then, that’s it for today. Enjoy your lunch, and see you next time.”

Is it already lunchtime?

As the lecture ended, students began to make their way towards the cafeteria. Some stayed in the classroom and chatted loudly.

“Well, then, former boyfriend Jinhyuk? Shall we go have lunch together in private?”

“Alright. Go with the others. I’m going to the convenience store.”

I declined Jin Soyeon’s invitation.

I couldn’t stick around with her more than necessary.

Even though we officially (?) broke up, being too close could lead to misunderstandings in various ways.

Also, if I kept hanging around, it would be difficult for Lee Siwoon to approach comfortably.

Jin Soyeon and Lee Siwoon needed to get closer than they are now.

That way, things would be easier in the future.

“Well then.”

“Oh, wait.”

With those words, I got up from my seat.

I slowly made my way to the bathroom.

I had some business to take care of before going to the convenience store.

But.

“……”

Lee Siwoon had followed me in without me noticing.

“Oh, Siwoon.”

I tried to act like I didn’t know.

“This is the instructors’ restroom.”

“……”

“Well, I came in without permission too.”

“……”

No response to my casual remark.

He just stared at me in silence.

I sighed inwardly.

Alright.

Since it’s come to this, I should just be straightforward.

It’s probably better to say it clearly and leave.

“Do you like Soyeon?”

A sudden blow.

Lee Siwoon’s shoulders twitched slightly.

It seemed a bit awkward coming from someone who used to be her boyfriend.

“Well, Soyeon is pretty. It’s natural to like her.”

I nodded as if I understood.

“Then try getting along with Soyeon.”

“Is that okay?”

A question with multiple meanings.

I raised an eyebrow unexpectedly.

I teased him a bit. Just to see how he would react.

“What?”

“Is it okay if I approach Soyeon?”

Of course it’s okay.

I would actually like it if you approached her.

“Sure. Of course. Oh, am I being a bit too concerned?”

“You two were close. You still are.”

Lee Siwoon seemed to know what he was thinking.

I shrugged as if it was nothing.

“Soyeon and I have a familial relationship. We dated but didn’t feel it romantically. That’s why we broke up.”

“……”

“So don’t worry too much.”

“……”

I’m not a rival.

Please don’t try to compete with me.

There are plenty of others who will.

“Or… you could help Soyeon and me get along better.”

“It’s okay.”

“Oh, really?”

I clicked my tongue and felt a bit annoyed.

Did I go too far?

“Anyway, I’ll go first.”

I waved my hand casually and walked towards the exit.

I hope that was somewhat okay.

I wish Lee Siwoon would be more proactive… Huh? What’s that sound?

Tap, tap, tap.

I heard hurried footsteps moving away from the bathroom entrance.

Wait, was someone standing near the entrance?