Ch.40Episode 8. Parent Visit (End)

[“Is it true? What about Yoon? Is Yoon alright?”]

I called Bin Yoon’s mother next.

She urgently asked questions, seemingly unaware of the assassination incident at the academy. I barely managed to suppress a bitter laugh at her reaction.

This reaction was proof that she had no real concern for Bin Yoon.

It was disgusting how she pretended to care now, while clearly knowing her daughter attended the academy.

“…She’s doing well.”

[Is that so? That’s a relief.]

A relief…

Does she really think that? Or is she just afraid of losing her source of income?

[By the way… does the academy allow parents to visit?]

“…Yes, it does.”

[Then would it be alright if I came too? I’d like to see my daughter’s face after so long.]

Feeling a bit self-conscious, are you?

Of course you would. What nerve do you have to meet Bin Yoon?

Talking to her while knowing all the facts made me feel nothing but revulsion.

“It would be fine.”

If Bin Yoon had even a little affection for her parents, meeting them might be good.

However, if she said she didn’t want to meet them because they were a burden, I would mercilessly send them away.

I’d have to ask Bin Yoon about this later.

[Then I’ll come visit.]

“When are you planning to come?”

[April 25th seems like it would be too crowded, so I’ll come on the 26th.]

“Understood.”

I ended the call and made a note of it.

Next, I called Jung Iyeon’s father.

As soon as he answered, I introduced myself and explained the situation.

Her father already knew everything about the current situation at the academy. He said he’d heard about it on the news, and Jung Iyeon had told him as well.

This was indeed the atmosphere of a normal family. It was nice to see such harmony.

[But… Instructor, I’ve heard that the special class has many problem students. Is it really okay? Will my daughter be in danger or… anything like that?]

“There are stories that the special class is a collection of problem children, but these kids are just twisted due to their individual circumstances. I can guarantee that they don’t have bad characters.”

[Is that so?]

Saying they don’t have bad characters when they’re already twisted was mere sophistry. But that was all I could say.

“As their instructor, I intend to do my utmost to help the students grow properly, so I hope you can rest assured.”

If I had known the identities of the Akcheon executives from the beginning, I would have cut them all down before extending a hand to them.

It was because I couldn’t do that that I had to enter the academy.

[I see. Your voice exudes confidence, which is somehow reassuring.]

“Thank you.”

[Then would it be alright if I visited on the weekend? It’s difficult for me to make time on weekdays due to work.]

“Of course.”

I know that Jung Iyeon’s father works in an office at the Association, and her mother is an A-rank hero.

“So, would that be Saturday or Sunday?”

[I’ll visit on Saturday, the 29th.]

“Understood.”

[Then, thank you for your hard work today. Please take good care of my child.]

“Yes.”

Like rain in a drought, as they say.

It warmed my heart. This is what real parents are like.

The author is too much. Past traumas don’t always have to be so extreme.

Feeling a sense of calm, I called Gu Yeonhwa’s mother next. The call connected shortly.

[Hello?]

It was a slightly awkward Korean pronunciation.

I introduced myself just as I had to the other parents.

[Ah, I know. What happened at the academy.]

“I see. Then you must also know that the academy is temporarily opening for parent visits. I wanted to ask when you might visit—”

[Ah, that’s fine.]

“…Pardon?”

For a moment, thinking I had misheard, I unconsciously asked again.

[Is there a problem with Gu Yeonhwa?]

I inadvertently gripped the phone tightly at her stiff, businesslike tone.

I could understand calling her daughter by her full name with surname. But there was a coldness in her voice as if she were referring to a stranger.

“No, that’s not it…”

[Then that’s all. I don’t have time to visit. Please take care of her.]

“No, but Yeonhwa would like to see you—”

[…That child is already an adult. She’ll manage on her own. I’ll leave her in your care.]

Click. The call ended abruptly.

Though I was the one who had made the call, I felt like I’d just been given a one-sided notification.

Looking at the darkened phone screen, I bit my lower lip and muttered.

“Huh… fuck.”

I had really hoped for even the slightest deviation from the original work.

When what I had only read about and imagined became reality, it felt painful, like a knot forming in my heart.

I don’t know how to tell Gu Yeonhwa.

When she learns that her mother isn’t coming, she’ll surely cry all day. Then the next day, she’ll smile and act as if nothing happened.

She’ll deliberately ignore the fact that the more she hopes, the more her heart rots away.

This is why relationships shouldn’t be one-sided.

The one who gets hurt is always the one who cares.

“Haah.”

This isn’t something I can fix.

No matter how much kindness I show Gu Yeonhwa, I can’t replace her parents.

That’s how significant parents were to Gu Yeonhwa.

Despite being treated almost like she was abandoned, she continued to love her parents until the end. Hoping that someday they would look at her.

That’s probably why she turned to Akcheon when she heard that her mother had been killed by a hero.

Though in reality, it was a lie told by Akcheon.

I stared blankly at Gu Yeonhwa’s name before making my final call to Yu Ari’s parents.

However, as soon as they heard my self-introduction, they told me not to call again and hung up.

And so, the parent contacts ended in the worst possible way.

* * *

Knock knock knock.

I knocked on the laboratory door. Considering whether to use a lockpicking skill on the locked door again today, I decided to wait quietly.

After waiting for a few seconds, the door slid open.

“Ah, Instructor.”

“Are you busy?”

“No, it’s fine. What brings you here? Oh, perhaps! Did you come to taste a potion?! If so, I’ve got just the thing prepared! Come on in!”

“No. I’m not drinking anything. That’s not why I came.”

I firmly told her as she made a fuss trying to solicit customers. I walked past her into the laboratory.

“But you drank the acceleration potion before, didn’t you?”

Bin Yoon closed the door and followed me.

“That’s because I thought it was safe to drink. If you want me to drink something, make a proper potion.”

“Aw~ But that’s no fun.”

“Do you want to see people collapse with stomach cramps?”

“Don’t worry. I always have recovery potions ready!”

She pulled out a red recovery potion from her chest and showed it to me, telling me not to worry.

“Isn’t it more malicious to feed someone something knowing it will make them sick?”

“Hehe. Don’t worry. I always test it on mice first and observe their reactions. Besides, I have to say things like this to get a proper reaction from you.”

“My reaction?”

“When I see your reaction, it feels like I can tell which potions are successful. Were you actually a potion maker yourself?!”

She spins around once and points at me.

At a glance, she seems to be acting frivolously, but her eyes remain serious, watching me intently without smiling.

Is she observing my reaction even now?

“…It’s nothing like that. I’ll drink it if I think it’s safe. It’s just intuition. Besides, you wouldn’t give me something that’s truly dangerous to drink, right?”

“Ah… Ahaha… I, I didn’t expect you to think so highly of me.”

Bin Yoon laughed awkwardly while touching the back of her head.

She seemed embarrassed, as if my words were unexpected.

“Anyway… I came to ask you something.”

“What is it?”

“Your parents… no, I contacted your mother.”

She paused as she was about to put the recovery potion in her white coat’s inner pocket. Slowly raising her head, she looked at me with anxious eyes.

“S-so? Did my parents say anything? Like, about achievements… or, um… n-needing money or something…”

“She just said she wanted to see her daughter after a long time, and that she’s coming on the 26th.”

“I-I see. Hmm. Yes, well… I understand.”

Bin Yoon forced a smile as she put the potion in her pocket. I spoke quietly to her, seeing her confusion.

“…If meeting your parents makes you uncomfortable, you don’t have to.”

“Pardon?”

I’d probably get an earful for handling it this way, but my top priority was the special class students.

There was no point in making her do something she disliked.

“Well, you could at least see their faces. But you don’t need to have an uncomfortable conversation. I’ll cut it short for you.”

“…Wouldn’t you normally ask why someone has issues with their parents first?”

“Is it okay for me to ask?”

“No.”

What is it…

“…You seem to be considerate as if you know my situation, Instructor. Come to think of it, you told me about copyright issues.”

Her white eyeballs rolled around before facing me directly. It was a gesture asking me to answer the question she had posed.

“…You’re not little kids anymore. You’re adults. You should handle things yourselves. Besides, how could I not notice when you’re making such an ‘I’m uncomfortable’ face? And I don’t want to ask about things people don’t want to reveal. You can tell me those stories only when you need my help.”

“…Somehow, it feels like you’re desperately trying to make us comfortable. Recently, even Senior Yu Ari and Senior Yeon Muhui have started to follow you well, haven’t they?”

Desperately?

That might not be wrong.

“That happened naturally as I helped with their training.”

“No teacher or instructor has ever done that.”

“If I didn’t have the ability, I would have ended up the same way.”

“No. I think you would have led those seniors well even without power.”

She turned around and rummaged through the cluttered research table, then tossed a tube containing a red liquid at me. I caught it reflexively.

“What’s this?”

“That potion, I made it when I was in high school.”

In high school? Could it be…

“It’s probably useless since its effect is minimal compared to currently developed potions, but… I’ll give it to you. I can’t make it anyway since I don’t have the copyright.”

She speaks casually, as if giving away an ex-lover’s belongings. As if she no longer has any attachment.

“Coincidentally… I also lost my copyright, just like that alchemist you mentioned. Because of my parents.”

“…”

“That’s why I’m very uncomfortable with my parents.”

She carefully expressed her feelings.

Since she’s gone this far, I should help her avoid them.

“I understand. I’ll handle it for you.”

“Thank you.”

She was smiling with the corners of her lips turned up, but her eyes were filled with bitterness.

A week later, the parent visits began.