episode_0079

*****

When I went to the area where the kids were gathered to prepare for the experiential learning experience, there seemed to be some commotion. In addition to the kids I was originally supposed to see, students from other classes were also gathered here sparsely.

However, after talking with him a few times about whether he was going there to prepare, he quickly left.

“Teacher, please get better quickly.”

“It’s not empty words, it’s true! Teacher Park Jun-seok is so cold,”

“Ahaha. I’ll try my best.”

The reason was quickly apparent. Because I caught the eye of a person waving to his classmates who were leaving and saying hello.

“It’s Sia. For what reason?”

“Should I say Sister Sia?”

Oops. It’s been quite a while since I’ve seen him at school, so I made a mistake without realizing it.

Fortunately, it seemed like no one cared about the nickname since Sia passed it off as a joke while hitting Takbam.

“You said it would take a little longer to fully heal. You’re not sneaking out or something like that, are you?”

“Ayu~. Are you worried about your sister?”

It was true that I was worried that Sia, who had been judged to refrain from using magic, was out like this. But I didn’t mean to tell you to hold me tightly in your arms.

I was embarrassed to be held like a child in front of the kids, so I quickly got out. However, Sia’s expression, which had been smiling a moment ago, somehow changed as if she had been shot by a pigeon.

“Seonㅂ, no, Ami, you have that hair… .”

“Oh, this? Seoyoon did it for me.”

“Seoyoon? Kang Seo-yoon?”

Instead of answering, I nodded. He probably saw that the side of my hair was braided at the back of my head while he was hugging me.

After that, Seoyun often played with my hair. Even though I didn’t braid my hair as complicated as last time.

Actually, I don’t really like decorating my hair, but Seo-yoon would glare at me all day if I let my hair down, so for now I’m just leaving it alone.

Anyway, it wasn’t long until I had to wear the girls’ school uniform.

I was simply thinking that my friends had increased, but for some reason, Sia’s expression looked urgent. In the end, he even grabbed my shoulders and shook me.

“Are you okay, are you? You’re not being threatened or harassed, right?”

“This is too much, teacher. There’s no way I would do something like that.”

Before I could say anything, Seo-yoon came up next to me and opened her mouth in response to a slightly excessive reaction. Oh, I remember that corporate kids were absent from the experiential learning experience.

Seoyoon slightly raised her hand to her mouth and smiled politely. There is not even a trace of criticism or cold expression when talking to me. I would be grateful if you could be a little less coy about me too.

No matter what, you can’t spit on a smiling face. When the opponent came out like that, Sia also took a step back.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean it that way. Still, if you’re a friend, you know, right? Our ARMYs don’t like it when they dress up like that.”

“I’m not particularly close, so I’m not sure about that.”

“!?”

Seoyoon glanced down at me with cold eyes and answered like that. … I think I was the only one who thought we had become friends. I have to return the title in my heart to its original state.

“I thought it would be a bit of a waste to keep leaving it alone. Look, it’s much prettier, right?”

“But… .”

Sia looked down at my braids as if she were a little annoyed. Did you really want to touch it that much? If you had asked, I would have let you touch it. Next time, I’ll have to encourage Sia to try it too.

Meanwhile, I was a little concerned that Raon and Mari were nodding their heads enthusiastically next to me. Since they are pretty girls themselves, shouldn’t they just touch theirs?

“Because she’s wearing a skirt. Maybe it’s because he was a man, but there were a lot of gaps. I’m teaching you how to behave.”

“Ami wears pants on the inside anyway… !?!?”

Sia looked at my bare legs exposed under the skirt in horror. I think there’s a huge misunderstanding in my head, so I’ll explain the situation later.

“Amiga… , on the head… , skirt… .”

“Hey~? Sister Sia, I haven’t heard why you left the hospital yet?”

I brought Shia back to the main topic, as she looked embarrassed and looked as if her eyes would be rolling if it were a cartoon. I don’t know how it ended up being a topic of discussion about my outfit, but Sia’s physical condition is the priority right now.

“That’s okay to some extent now. Because I received assurances from the doctor that I could use magical power as long as it wasn’t too much trouble.”

“So, are you coming back as homeroom teacher again!?”

Bobbin asked with a very desperate look, but Sia shook her head. I was impressed by Bobbin, who looked like he had lost his country.

“Being a hero is a job that is usually overworked. It will still take another month or two to fully return.”

“That can’t be possible… .”

“Good. Just think of it as a vacation and rest comfortably.”

“But that’s also difficult. I was appointed as the lead teacher for experiential learning.”

Sia speaks with a bitter smile. Now that I think about it, if it was Jun-seok who came to replace Sia, there was no way he could leave Seoul.

And Cheonmyeong High School is currently in a difficult period of construction due to an accident that occurred during an exam. Even if he wasn’t in full condition, he couldn’t have let someone as talented as Sia play around.

Perhaps the reason Sia came to school was to handle related work.

“Then what about you, Seoyoon? Are you also an experiential learning shop?”

“No. I’m here to do business. A feeling like, ‘Students of Cheonmyeong High School, please use our company’s hero suit.’”

Although Kang Seo-yoon was a girl who seemed to have no connection with sales in her life, the way she spoke was quite angular. Well, in the grand scheme of things, this isn’t much different from being shy, so I guess I’m just accumulating experience points.

Come to think of it, no one on my team has a hero suit so far except me. In reality, it’s like I don’t exist.

It was an element that wasn’t in the original, so I didn’t think about it, but if I could strengthen my power, there was no reason to refuse. If Kang Seo-yoon, the daughter of a high-ranking person, goes there with him, there will be no need for him to be caught.

There may be various calculations, but it was a time when I was nodding my head to a proposal that I was thankful for in many ways.

[Senior, you can also get the suit from the Hero Association.]

Sia’s sudden communication magic. In fact, Sia herself was talking to Raon. Judging by the way he’s looking at me, I don’t think I heard wrong.

First, I had a brief conversation with Kang Seo-yoon and answered using communication magic. I was able to do this because I had a lot of free time.

[Then it doesn’t really matter if it’s over there, right? Or did something suspicious happen on TG’s side?]

The practical exam accident is currently under investigation. If something suspicious came from TG’s side, it was understandable that Sia would be wary.

However, Sia did not present any specific charges.

[It’s not like that in particular… .]

[So, the Association’s suit performs better than the TG’s?]

[That’s not it either. In fact, the performance may be better there. Because we are subcontractors.]

… ? Wouldn’t that be better then? I don’t know what the problem is.

It’s not like they’re worried that I’ll go over to the other side. No matter how much I do, I can’t be caught with just one or two pieces of clothing.

[Well, your body is special. Hero suits are usually custom-made, so they can be inspected, right? So don’t go there and come with me, okay?]

[iced coffee. That’s it. It’s okay, I don’t really need a new suit. It’s not me who’s going now, I’m going to cater to the other kids.]

This is not a metaphor; I was actually walking around the Northern Front with my bare body. Even though he was in good physical condition, he had a knack for it, so the help of a suit was not essential.

If the test is the problem, I don’t have to buy a suit.

[Is there anything else I should be careful about?]

[…] Other than that, there is nothing else. Have a nice shopping time. … Embankment elevation… .]

Sia said something behind me, but I couldn’t hear it clearly because the communication magic was cut off. If it were a real conversation, the communication magic problem was difficult to understand even with my enhanced senses.

Still, since it was cut off by Sia, there shouldn’t be a big problem. Because I would have said everything that needed to be said.

“Then let’s go.”

“Yes.”

After finishing the conversation with Kang Seo-yoon, which I was only half-listening to, I headed to the downtown area where there were shops with the kids.

***

hero suit. In the old world, it was a word referring to various flashy clothes worn by heroes.

But in this world, the meaning is a little different. A combat assistance suit that uses metal fibers that react to the soul to provide effects tailored to each awakened person. That’s the hero suit in this world.

“So you can’t get functions that have nothing to do with your abilities?”

“Not necessarily. It is possible by going through various bypass processes.”

The conversation between Raon and Kang Seo-yoon could be heard from one side. As this was the main business of the TG Group, Kang Seo-yoon had quite extensive knowledge. It was clear that not only I, but also the other kids were secretly listening to Kang Seo-yoon’s conversation.

The bypass process from earlier was, in a way, similar to a play on words. For example, let’s say a person with physical strength potential has a hero suit. Then, that person’s suit usually has functions such as strong strength or strength support.

However, a suit that has gone through a bypass process through magic interprets the strength assistance function as the suit itself having strength, allowing the suit to move. Of course, the efficiency is very low.

“Why not just give each suit a common weapon that uses magic power? Then our work will become easier.”

“Then the power will definitely be stronger.”

I smiled bitterly at Jeong Young’s words about his emphasis on efficiency. It is difficult to delve into it deeply because a variety of adult circumstances are involved.

First of all, the biggest reason is efficiency. A long-distance attack that emits magical power has little power unless it uses a specific spell. People who can produce enough power with something like that may have more power if they follow their own attack method.

So, unless you are someone who really has no means of attack or an auxiliary means such as magic bullets, it has little meaning. In the former case, there is no reason to mass produce it because the number is small, and in the latter case, magic bullets are more expensive and harder to make than bullets, so wouldn’t it be better to use a gun? It ends up being the same thing.

If we move on to adult circumstances, it is also because high-ranking people in the political world are shaking and wondering what might lead to a rebellion if mass-produced weapons are given to the awakened. Although it was also thanks to Changhyuk and the old man working hard to divert attention so that the truly dangerous actions of a high-ranking awakened person like me were not restricted.

Since I couldn’t say anything about the situation, I just agreed with Jeong Young’s argument for standardization of suits.

“I don’t know what. Then it’s not cool, right?”

“It’s better than being fancy and dying.”

“No. These days, it’s the era of self-promotion. Are you saying that you have to have personality in a suit for a company to hire you? You saw the Firebird commercial.”

Perhaps because they were closely related, the other kids were also expressing their own opinions. Perhaps because they were students who were motivated enough to go to the Northern Front, what everyone said made sense.

However, voices that would normally have joined in on this topic were not heard. I turned my head and looked for where Hwain was.

It didn’t take long to find it. Hwain was looking at unprocessed suits in the corner of the store.

A guy who could be called a hero otaku is doing something like that at a hero suit shop. Isn’t it like a cat being distracted by a fishmonger? I wondered what was going on, so I went closer and talked to him.

“… What are you doing?”

“Wow, surprise.”

Although he wasn’t hiding his presence in any way, Hwa-in was startled and looked back. At first glance, he must have been thinking about something alone.

“Aren’t there a lot of better things over there than here? These models seem to have been around for a while.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

If you look at him looking through old models, he looks like a kid who can’t seem to get what he wants. I’m sure I’m not doing this because I don’t have enough money.

Hero suits are expensive things. It is used by companies to recruit students. Although he is paid as a hero, it would be difficult for Hwa-in, who came from an orphanage, to buy it off.

However, all the kids who came here in the first place were not chosen by the company. Because companies did not want their prospects to go to the dangerous north. Naturally, most experiential students cannot buy a hero suit.

Nevertheless, the reason I came to the shop today is because they also rent hero suits. Renting a suit is much cheaper than buying it, as long as the suit is not completely destroyed, and there is also a subsidy from the school, so money will not prevent you from renting a suit.

Even as I was organizing my thoughts, Hwa-in hesitated without answering. I guess I’m just trying to gloss over it, but I don’t plan on buying a suit anyway, so I have plenty of time.

In the end, Hwain probably realized that I wasn’t going to back down, sighed and opened his mouth.

“… Don’t laugh?”

“I’ll listen and decide.”

“There is no effect even if I wear a suit.”

It turns out that Hwa-in had already been to the suit shop. It seems that there was an event where students entering the hero school could experience the suit.

The strategy of making students feel the performance of the suit and increase their motivation to purchase it did not work at all for Hwain. For Hwa-in, a suit was nothing more or less than just some sturdy clothes.

“It really bothered me at the time, but now it’s not over. Still, I feel like I’ll be asked why I don’t buy it if it’s over there. It’s a hassle to answer them all, isn’t it?”

“Hmm. That’s right.”

“It’s really okay. I feel like I’ve become quite strong these days even without the suit.”

“Huh, now you can clean your mouth?”

It seems like his confidence has definitely increased after he beat four students during the practical exam.

Still, in my opinion, he’s still a child. I felt ridiculous for daring to say that I had become stronger on such a topic, so I poked him in the side with my index finger.

“ugh. don’t Anyway, I have no intention of buying a suit. Also, Kwon Seong fought without a suit or something, right?”

Hwain spoke passionately about wanting to obtain true strength that does not depend on such tools.

It’s good that my confidence has increased, but I’m a little worried that it’s gone in a strange direction. No, maybe I’m trying to force my tension up to hide the fact that I’m depressed because of the suit.

First, let’s correct the misunderstanding here.

“Kwon Seong is not wearing a suit. I couldn’t wear it.”

“Huh? The suit was first developed when Kwon Seong was still active?”

“At that time, you must have been busy organizing the north, so you didn’t have time to test it?”

In fact, if I had something convenient like a suit, I would have bowed down and used it. Considering that Changhyuk didn’t bring up the topic, he probably didn’t have anything that could withstand my output at the time.

It is not good to neglect tools. We only refrain from using it because it is difficult to secure materials as freely as in the past, but modern science still has great power. The thing a hero going abroad needs to be most careful about is how to deal with guns.

Hwa-in’s expression was astonished as she was talking about such a valuable experience. When I raised my index finger in the spirit of an old man, Hwa-in protested by covering his side.

“How can you say that you know what Kwon Seong thinks?”

“Huh? That’s it… .”

Oh, I have nothing to answer.

I am Kwon Seong? Dismissed. I know Kwon Seong well. By what means? Dismissed. Many other excuses came to mind, but none of them made sense.

“… Anyway, check again first! Do you know anything? Will it happen this time?”

“Okay, okay, don’t push!”

Finally, with nothing left to say, I forced Hwa-in’s back into the examination room. The painter resisted, but when he mobilized magical power, it was as good as nothing.

I’m not doing this without thinking. Unlike the painters of the past, the painters of today know how to use their power.

So wouldn’t the suit have a meaningful effect now? Something like strengthening the flame.

When I told him about that speculation, Hwain’s expression became tense as he entered the prosecutor’s office. After all, he must have been concerned about the fact that he couldn’t use the suit’s functions.

“… But can you please go out?”

“Huh? why? It doesn’t matter what the result is because I already know.”

Hwa-in sighed heavily and took off his jacket and put it in the clothes basket. Hwain’s upper body, naturally trained while swinging a sword, was revealed. Hmm, hmm.

“It looks like you are still practicing basic swordsmanship. Don’t you want to try a little more back weight? The power of the sword will increase.”

“Don’t look at me too closely, it’s a bit… .”

“How about it, men.”

This opportunity to check Hwain’s training level is priceless. Because I can’t go into the men’s locker room or shower room. There are limits to judging based solely on the muscles revealed through clothing.

As Hwain’s body was being analyzed so calmly, Hwain freaked out and ran into the testing machine. If the kid is that shy, I don’t know how he’ll handle the events with the heroines later.

When Fine operated the button, the machine rotated around Fine and began scanning Fine’s body. As I was wondering if they were measuring muscle density or something like that, the test ended quickly.

“How was it?”

“The test paper just came out and I am looking at it.”

There was a long list of various things written in English on the test paper. If you look at the manual on the wall, it says that you can find out what abilities it has by looking at the bottom, so let’s see.

No matching magic pattern… ?

“As expected, it’s a disaster.”

Haha, the highlight had disappeared from Hwa-in’s eyes as she let out a dry laugh.

This is strange. Awareness of potential is a pretty big factor, so I thought there would definitely be some change.

Still, results are results. Although it wasn’t my intention, it’s true that I have opened Hwa-in’s old wounds one more time, so let’s apologize properly.

“I’m sorry, it’s because of me… .”

“It’s okay. It’s all thanks to you that I became this strong. Sometimes it doesn’t work out right.”

On the contrary, Hwa-in laughed, saying that it was strange that he guessed like a ghost every time. That’s too much of an assessment for me because I was just saying what I knew.

Still, I feel so sorry for Hwain to not do anything like this. Is there something I can do? … ah!

“Okay, then take off your pants for a moment.”

“Why is the conversation going that way!?”

“I will train you to the point where you don’t need a suit.”

If you can’t use a suit, why not become stronger than you are wearing the suit? It’s a perfect theory.

“It’s okay, you can evolve into a muscle macho in an instant.”

“I don’t plan on getting so upset!”

“What do you think? It’s not worn out. If I could just show you the perfect training menu──”

“Ami Kim.”

wickedness. Kang Seo-yoon’s chillingly cold voice came from the other side of the closed door. Hwain and I simultaneously froze in an upright, immobile posture.

“Other people may soon be using the examination room, so please come out quickly. And if you want to strip a man, why not do it somewhere else?”

“Wait! no! You must be wrong!”

“I guess so. I know it well?”

If you leave it alone, there might be another rumor. I bowed my head to Hwa-in and left the examination room to catch up with Kang Seo-yoon’s retreating presence.

I somehow managed to resolve the misunderstanding… . While explaining, I had to become Kang Seo-yoon’s puppet again, so I guess it’s fifty paces.

Let’s consider ourselves fortunate that the shopping ended more moderately than the last time.

*****