Ch.101Episode 21. Issue (2)

“Instructor. Why, why did you call for me?”

Yoo Ari stuttered as she entered through the door I had opened for her.

She’s improved a lot since before, but it seems she hasn’t completely fixed her stutter yet.

“You’re here? Take this.”

Sitting on the bed, I rummaged through the drawer and pulled out a stack of student cafeteria coupons to hand to her.

Yoo Ari, who had naturally taken off her shoes and entered the room as if it were her own home, accepted them with a bewildered look.

“These are… student cafeteria coupons? So many of them…?”

It was enough to last a year if she only ate cheap meals. If she went for expensive options like set menus that required two coupons each, it would probably last about half a year.

Anyway, I could always refill them when they ran out.

“You must be running out of money by now. Take those.”

Honestly, I wanted to just give her a card and tell her to use it as needed. But that approach would only burden Yoo Ari, who was already indebted to me.

I couldn’t treat others like I was giving allowance to a parent or child.

“H-how, how did you know?”

“I know everything about you.”

“Hmm~ Does, does that mean you’re interested in me?”

Yoo Ari made a nasal sound, seemingly pleased with my response. I chuckled at her voice filled with expectation.

“Interest? I’ve been interested since we first met. When I grabbed your wrist, I felt like you were my destined partner.”

“D-destined par—! Uh, um… R-really? Th-that… I, I see…”

What was she imagining that made her face flush so red? Were you thinking about marriage, perhaps?

“I’ll, I’ll do my best…”

I found it amusing watching her react so dramatically to my words. Suddenly coming to her senses, Yoo Ari spoke with a somewhat urgent voice.

“But… I, I don’t need this many. This is enough to last me a whole year.”

“I bought this many on purpose. If I gave you money, you’d feel burdened.”

“This is already b-burdensome, you know? It’s not just ten coupons. It’s hundreds.”

“Then just take ten. I’ll refill them whenever you run out.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? It’s the same thing.”

She sat down next to me on the bed with a wry smile.

Oh my, now she’s casually sitting on the bed?

Is it that once you’ve slept together once, the second time comes easy?

“…Instructor, I… Before I just s-said okay, but I still have two years left before becoming a hero… I don’t think I can keep relying on you like this until then. I’ll just get a part-time job.”

“No.”

That can’t happen.

I will not only thoroughly exploit their emotions but also provide material favors to keep them from slipping out of my grasp.

My plan must not be disrupted.

“I, I think I need to do this. If you spoil someone too much, they develop bad habits. Think of it that way.”

“Then occasionally cook and make side dishes for me. That’ll do. Everything you made before was delicious.”

“R-really?”

Yoo Ari made a small nasal sound at my compliment and wiggled her toes.

“Yes.”

“Th-then… Then… Did you… f-fall for it?”

Her sly question was quite coquettish. She rolled her black eyes sideways, glancing at my expression.

What’s her intention with this question?

Is she asking if I’ve fallen for her? Or if I’ve fallen for her cooking?

It was probably the former, but I had no intention of playing along with her intentions.

“Yes. I have.”

“R-really?”

“…For the taste of your food, that is.”

“…That’s mean.”

When I clarified the ambiguous subject, she puffed her cheeks slightly. She furrowed her eyebrows and stared at the floor sullenly.

She must have really been expecting something.

“Hehe. Do I seem that way?”

“If it’s you, Instructor, you should have noticed what answer I wanted—”

“Confessions are forbidden. That’s the promise you made.”

I said, placing my thumb on Yoo Ari’s lips.

“Ugh…”

She looked at me with surprised eyes. Her pupils spun around as if flustered by the sudden physical contact.

“Or do you want to cancel it now?”

After removing my thumb, I asked, and she shook her head.

“I… don’t want that.”

“Really?”

It seemed Yoo Ari disliked seeing me dating others more than creating opportunities to date me herself. What a greedy one.

“Then be satisfied with this.”

I smiled as I pressed my lips against the thumb that had touched her lips.

“Haaa…”

Such subtle gestures can be more exciting and erotic than explicit sex.

Yoo Ari couldn’t lift her head. Through the black hair that fell like scattered petals onto the bed as she lowered her head, I could see her bright red ears.

Her fidgeting and restlessness was amusing—she was fun to tease, though in a different way than Gu Yeonhwa.

“Hahaha! This is really fun.”

“D-don’t tease me!”

“Alright.”

Yoo Ari grabbed my arm tightly as she shouted with her eyes tightly shut.

If I went any further, her emotions would burst like a flood and she’d likely shed tears. In fact, her eyes were already slightly moist.

“Are you angry?”

“I’m n-not angry. But if you k-keep doing that, I might pounce on you…!”

Yoo Ari glared at me with a frown, her chest heaving from excitement. I stroked her head to calm her down.

“I got it. I got it.”

“Don’t treat me like a child…!”

“I said I got it. Anyway, use those coupons without worrying. I prepared them for you.”

She still looked sullen as she opened her mouth.

“…Instructor.”

“Yes?”

“You’re treating the other girls this way too, right?”

“Well… something similar, I guess?”

In terms of intensity, Yoo Ari was probably at the highest level.

Yeon Muhui and Gu Yeonhwa became flustered and didn’t know what to do when I approached them aggressively a few times. If I teased them at Yoo Ari’s level, they would probably launch confession attacks.

As for Bin Yoon and Jeong Iyeon, I’ve joked around with them but haven’t spent much personal time with them.

“If, if someone confesses to you, you’ll reject them. Right?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll keep my promise.”

“G-good.”

She seemed displeased about being teased so much, but she appeared satisfied that I had clearly stated what needed to be said.

“Um, since I’m already here. Can I stay a little longer?”

“Sure.”

I readily agreed.

* * *

“You, stay at the academy until I return tomorrow. It’s a vacation.”

That’s what I said as I went to the research institute to help Bin Yoon with her commute home, as usual. Her face turned ashen in real-time.

It was right to restrict her from going to the research institute to protect her while I was away. I had already informed the chancellor to keep her under the academy’s protection until I returned from my business trip.

“Instructor, you’re really arbitrary. Stopping an ongoing experiment and sending me on vacation. It’s completely inconsiderate.”

“…If I had any consideration to begin with, I wouldn’t be carrying you home every day, would I?”

“That’s true! You’re somewhat crazy.”

“Want me to hit you?”

This kid keeps getting cheeky. You know, if I hadn’t changed your path, you would have become a mad scientist.

I clicked my tongue as I watched her protect her head with both hands. I crouched down in front of her.

“Anyway, get on.”

“Instructor, are you angry? Should I let you hit me once?”

She asked as she climbed onto my back. As always, I felt pressure on my back.

…Has her chest gotten bigger? Or am I imagining it?

“If I hit you, you’d get a bump the size of a mountain.”

“Wouldn’t my skull break and kill me before a bump that big could form?”

“Can’t even make a joke?”

“Hmph~ I’ll allow it. Since it’s my inconsiderate instructor, I’ll make a special exception.”

Because I can trust you, Instructor.

Bin Yoon naturally wrapped her arms around my neck as she continued.

“Good. Stay still.”

When the status abnormality recovery potion successfully enters the market, I’ll give you a gift too.

* * *

The day of my business trip to Jeju Island.

I asked the Association President if I needed a passport to go to Jeju Island, only to be laughed at—a moment that would be recorded in my personal history of embarrassments.

Damn. I should have searched online.

“Well then, shall we go?”

I completed the check-in for the flight to Jeju Island at Gimpo Airport. For reference, I had a business class seat.

Just as I was about to board the plane through the bridge…

BOOM!

A thunderous roar shook the sky, followed by vibrations in the ground.

Through the bridge’s glass, I saw something massive appear on the airport runway.

A huge figure that I had to look up at even from the bridge.

It seemed to be about 7 or 8 meters tall.

“UAAAH!!”

When it roared, cracks formed in the nearby airport windows.

Security personnel quickly responded to the sudden appearance of the villain. They tried to subdue the giant using their abilities, but were indiscriminately pushed back by its swinging fists.

Its size alone made its punches through the air sufficiently threatening.

When the villain’s fist struck the ground, a powerful shockwave spread, causing nearby planes to slightly lift off the ground, and leaving a massive crater.

At this rate, it would destroy the plane I was supposed to board.

I sighed and went down the stairs attached to the side of the bridge.

‘Isn’t it about time to build up some achievements?’

Suddenly, his words came to mind.

If this was the Association President’s intention, I’d have to admit it was successful.

“Sir, it’s dangerous to go down there!”

A flight attendant tried to stop me. I took out my hero license from my wallet and showed it to her.

“A hero…?”

“Stay there. I’ll be back soon.”

After descending the stairs, I walked toward the giant while releasing electric current, then kicked off the ground.

By the time I heard the crackling sound of sparks, I was already in front of the villain’s face with my fist clenched.

The villain couldn’t even react to my leap that closed the distance of dozens of meters in an instant.

“Hey. Do you want to die?”

CRACK!

When I struck his face, he flew toward the empty runway, unable to withstand the blow despite his size. He didn’t get up after taking that single hit. He couldn’t even properly play the role of an extra villain.

The villain’s body, which had been enormous, gradually shrank until it was about the same height as me.

…He’s not dead, right?

As I was dusting off my hands and about to return to the bridge, I noticed people behind the airport’s glass windows filming me with their phones.

At that moment, I instinctively realized:

After my sparring match with Yeonhwaryong, I had created yet another issue.