Ch.109Chapter 5. Spring Days at the Academy (3)

“In this era of low birth rates and aging population, isn’t getting married and having children true ‘patriotism’ that will brighten the future of our country? Heh heh.”

It wasn’t a group I particularly liked, but those were the words of the Haeguneul Group chairman.

“Getting married, having children, living a happy life, and building a strong and prosperous nation to pass down the Great Korean Empire… ahem, an economic powerhouse to our descendants—that is the practical patriotism we can achieve.”

The Haeguneul chairman said it.

Marriage and childbirth are patriotism, he claimed.

“Cut the bullshit! You only care about increasing the number of consumers!”

“How could you say that? If I had such base intentions, would I be practicing patriotism like this now?”

“What… did you say…?”

“After my wife passed away, I took a new wife to become a patriot. Let me introduce you to my wife, an A-rank ability user who just came of age this year…”

“No, this is insane!”

Starting with the Haeguneul chairman, people began proving their dedication to the country through patriotism.

Of course, there was some controversy about whether marrying a woman who had just turned 20 and calling it patriotism constituted true love.

“Hey, which is more valuable—the Haeguneul chairman or an A-rank ability user?”

“Isn’t the Haeguneul chairman more valuable? He’s the head of our country’s top corporation.”

“The A-rank ability user is more valuable. Why would she marry such an old geezer? If it were me, I’d marry the chairman’s son or grandson.”

Amid the controversy and jokes about who was more valuable, people gradually became passionate about patriotism.

“Let’s have ability users and be patriotic!”

“What if they’re not ability users?”

“…Hey! Don’t talk like that! Do you buy lottery tickets expecting to get losing ones? You buy them thinking you’ll win!”

People turned away from the dark side of the patriotic fervor, but the stronger the light, the deeper the shadow.

“Everyone! Congratulations! The Haeguneul chairman’s first child has been identified as an ability user! The estimated magical power is… a C-rank!”

“Wake up, Haeguneul chairman! Bring in women and impreg—mmph!!”

“Well, there was a brief disturbance. Anyway, this is a national celebration! To commemorate the birth of an ability user, Haeguneul is holding a 47% discount event on Space Notebooks…”

The mass media never pointed their camera lenses at the lowest places in society.

They only showed the bright side.

Having seen the dark side of society while living as a villain, I couldn’t carelessly use the word “patriotism.”

However, if it meant obtaining the golden sun that could illuminate even that darkness for myself and our Syndicate, then I would engage in that patriotism.

“You’re already here?”

“Of course.”

As soon as I returned home, Ymir was waiting for me in front of the faculty residence, wearing a hat and mask pulled down tight.

Her clothing was a suspicious trench coat that covered her skin completely.

I don’t know where she got such clothes, but I could roughly guess what she was wearing underneath.

“Where are you coming from today?”

“A woman’s house.”

“Wow, who were you meeting this time?”

“A woman I know. Want to come inside first?”

“Yes.”

She says yes.

Look at this audacity—I openly tell her I’m seeing multiple women, and she still confidently says she’ll come in.

It’s incredibly awkward, but I decided to adapt again, thinking this must be the assertiveness of women from Western cultures.

There’s nothing to be uncomfortable about.

I’ve been badly burned before, but Ymir is relatively mild in comparison.

“Dinner?”

“Have you eaten?”

“There’s nothing to cook inside.”

“Then let’s order something. What kind of people are we?”

“That’s different, isn’t it? You’re not Korean.”

I briefly searched for a delivery app on my smartphone.

“If I get married and acquire citizenship, I’ll be Korean, and if I graduate from Sejong Academy, I get a free pass on the citizenship review, you know?”

“Yeah, yeah.”

I opened the door to welcome Ymir.

She took off only her shoes and scurried into the room still clutching her coat, and I locked the door.

“So why did you come today?”

“Exercise!”

“Why do you want to exercise here instead of at the dormitory or training room?”

“Because I can’t do it elsewhere due to people watching.”

“And it’s okay here?”

“Yes!”

Ymir took off her trench coat.

Sure enough, her outfit was exactly as she had sent in the photo—a black tank top and white leggings.

“You’re going to exercise in that?”

“Don’t you think it’s appropriate attire for home training? And it’s also suitable for this.”

Ymir turned on the TV mounted on the wall and the set-top box, played what seemed like a pre-prepared yoga video on V-Tube, and began following along.

“Huff.”

“Why do yoga when you’re an ability user?”

“Even ability users need to build stamina and flexibility, you know?”

“……”

I agree.

I’ve confirmed it several times through the system—strength and endurance tend to develop relatively more slowly.

“Teacher, do you dislike exercise?”

“I wouldn’t say I dislike it. But I don’t go out of my way to build my body.”

“Really? Can I touch it once?”

“Where?”

She was always touching me when I was the Goblin, and now she’s trying to touch me as Do Ji-hwan too.

“Are you a pervert?”

“I learned it’s okay if it’s with you, Teacher.”

“That’s nonsense.”

“Everyone in the community was saying it.”

“Saying what?”

“That it’s time for patriotism, so hurry up and be patriotic.”

“……”

I considered kicking away Ymir’s leg as she stretched it up high, but I decided against it since I’d obviously be subdued if I tried.

“Teacher, ta-da. It’s the I-challenge. It’s out of fashion, but what do you think? Flexible, right?”

“Put your leg down.”

“Why? Can you do this, Teacher?”

“Why would a man do that?”

“I just wanted to see it once. I thought you’d be really flexible.”

“Me?”

“Yes. I thought you could do things like this too.”

Ymir manipulated the remote to play another video, then placed both legs on the floor with her back to me.

“Doji Rider, roundhouse kick.”

She played the official video of “Snow White vs. Goblin” released by the Hero Association, then extended three fingers to the side.

“Three, two, one.”

Counting down while folding her fingers one by one, Ymir performed a back kick that traced a crescent.

“Ta-da!”

A perfect landing.

Watching her perfectly imitate the Patriotic Side Cutter, I once again thought that I shouldn’t use techniques carelessly.

‘Look at her. She’s already making it her own.’

I show her one technique, and she immediately makes it her own.

With just a slight variation, she could probably even do a double hit or a downward strike.

‘She doesn’t just steal demon techniques. She just has a natural talent for handling ability powers.’

Her physical abilities are already outstanding, and with the addition of magical power support, she’s the perfect superhuman.

I’m slightly worried she might start throwing Golden Magistrate Cutters, claiming to purify demons.

“Amazing. Cool. Excellent. I couldn’t even attempt to copy that.”

“Oh, come on. It was so cool… I mean, it is cool.”

“How can you ask someone with an injured arm to do something like that?”

“But you can still move your legs, right?”

“Let’s drop it.”

I went outside at the alarm from my Taegeuk Watch.

Ymir tilted her head briefly, but as soon as she realized I was heading toward the entrance, she quickly hid behind the wall.

“Delivery!”

“Thank you….”

Outside the front door was a delivery rider…

“Excuse me?”

“Yes?”

“That suit… what is it?”

“Oh, this? It’s part of an event we’re running. The world’s spiciest and most delicious tteokbokki—I’m the Shinjeon Rider.”

Outside stood a man in a suit wearing a helmet similar to the Doji Rider’s, holding a plastic bag.

“Uh, thank you for your hard work. Please be careful on your way.”

“Yes. Enjoy your meal.”

The Shinjeon Rider left.

I closed the front door again and placed the plastic bag on the kitchen table.

“I ordered tteokbokki.”

“…Why tteokbokki of all things?”

“You like it, don’t you?”

“……”

Ymir glared at me suspiciously.

Her eyes seemed to be demanding, ‘How did you know I like tteokbokki? Did you investigate me?’

“Why tteokbokki? And without even asking me.”

“Because I like it.”

“You could have at least asked for my opinion. Do you think I’m the kind of woman who’s satisfied with just tteokbokki?”

“Yes.”

“…Tch.”

Ymir stopped the video and headed to the kitchen.

“I’ll get the bowls… wow, you even have these?”

“Of course. Can you bring the chopsticks from over there?”

When I took out the jade-colored bowls typically seen in snack shops, Ymir chuckled and surveyed the table.

“Even though it’s delivery, it feels like we’re at a real snack shop.”

“Should we go to a snack shop next time?”

“I’d like to, but I’m worried someone might cause trouble if I go out to eat with you, Teacher.”

“……”

That had actually happened.

When I went to a restaurant with Ymir, Lilith attacked, and when I met Yoon Yi-seon at a restaurant, a patent-infringing rider appeared and caused chaos.

I haven’t been to a restaurant since then.

Afraid of another incident, I’ve been eating packed lunches and home-cooked meals.

Or eating soup at the Tavern Owner’s place.

“The rice cakes… Hey. Did you investigate me?”

“No.”

“Then why are all the rice cakes exactly the size I like, and all the fried foods exactly to my taste?”

“Just a coincidence, maybe?”

As if I wouldn’t know when the protagonist was always going out for tteokbokki with the heroines in the original work.

I know not just her fried food preferences, but whether she prefers rice or wheat cakes, what size of rice cakes she likes, and even whether she prefers soupy or thick sauce.

“Tteokbokki….”

Ymir looked at the red sauce smeared on the side of the white rice cakes, then narrowed her eyes at me and smiled with her eyes.

“I guess the first time has to be tteokbokki…?”