Ch.11Hospital Visit – 3

The more we talked, the more clearly I understood Soohyun Kim.

Her self-esteem was much lower than I had expected.

Most of her stories either began with “I can’t do that” or ended with “I wish I could do that too.”

Also, whenever I moved even slightly during our conversation, she would startle.

Perhaps she thought I was losing interest in her story and doing something else?

It was heartbreaking to see her constantly reading my reactions, to the point where I had to keep my body still.

‘At least she doesn’t seem to have a bad personality…’

I’ve heard that some people with inferiority complexes tend to look down on others and belittle them.

That’s supposedly how they try to resolve their feelings of inadequacy.

Fortunately, Soohyun didn’t seem that damaged.

Thinking back, I couldn’t recall her ever looking down on anyone at the Academy.

The only issue was that self-deprecating expressions kept slipping out.

I had a friend like her once.

He came from a poor family and everything he did went wrong, through no fault of his own.

Because of that, he suffered from severe inferiority complex for a while.

I heard it took him quite some time to overcome it.

By understanding himself, acknowledging others’ strengths, and setting goals.

He believed that someday he could become like those people, and that’s how he rebuilt his shattered self-esteem.

“Soohyun.”

Minseong Kang entered the room and called for Soohyun.

“Grandfather is feeling a bit thirsty. Could you go buy some water? Go with the people outside.”

There was already water in the hospital room, so why ask her to buy more?

The reason became clear from the look in Minseong Kang’s eyes as he glanced at me.

He wanted to talk to me alone, so he was sending his granddaughter out for a while.

Soohyun left, saying she’d be right back, leaving me alone with Minseong Kang.

“…”

A battle-hardened veteran with a presence similar to Hakjun Ma, yet somehow different.

I wondered what he wanted to say, feeling tense automatically.

“Now that I think about it, I’m late in thanking you.”

Minseong Kang approached and bowed his head to me.

There was a huge age gap between us, not to mention the vast difference in social status.

Yet he expressed his gratitude without the slightest hesitation.

It seems the title of “hero” isn’t earned by strength alone.

“Thank you. If it weren’t for you, I would have lost my only granddaughter. If that had happened, I would have gone mad.”

He truly was a grandfather who loved his granddaughter.

I had imagined an elderly man obsessed with authority, being the head of a powerful family.

But what I saw before me was just an ordinary grandfather grateful that someone had saved his granddaughter.

“And… I also want to apologize.”

“Pardon?”

“I heard you’re to return to the Academy as an examiner after your discharge?”

My superior who visited yesterday had mentioned that. That I should go straight to the Academy after being discharged.

But how did Minseong Kang know about this?

“Actually, I asked some acquaintances for a favor. To have you return to the Academy, as quietly as possible.”

“You did, Chairman? Why would you make such a request…?”

“Soohyun. My granddaughter. What do you think of her?”

Suddenly asking what I think of his granddaughter? What kind of answer is he looking for?

He’s definitely not asking about her appeal as a woman, right? Right?

“Um, I’m not sure I understand what you’re asking.”

“You were just talking with her. I thought you might have some honest impressions, especially since you have experience in assessment and have evaluated students, even if only for a day.”

Technically I observe characteristics, but that could be considered a kind of discernment.

After some hesitation and checking his expression, I decided to be honest.

“…Actually, Soohyun. I mean, Student Kim. She seems to have low self-esteem. And…”

“No need to make it complicated. Just be honest.”

“Ah. Well, that is… um… regarding herself… hmm…”

Wait a minute. Isn’t this too difficult a request?

How can I easily say “She’s suffering from an inferiority complex” in front of someone who adores his granddaughter?

What if the old man takes offense…

“She’s trapped in feelings of inferiority. That’s what you want to say, right?”

“Ah? Did you already know?”

In response to my question, Minseong Kang closed his eyes and nodded.

“In a family where everyone has outstanding talents, she alone hasn’t shown any particular excellence. No one ever criticized her for it. But it seems she herself felt terribly inadequate.”

“So Student Kim…”

“I thought perhaps if she went to the Academy, where there are peers her age, things might improve. But she continued to struggle even there.”

While not as extreme as in her family, the Academy is also full of geniuses.

Minseong Kang had hoped his granddaughter would grow by mingling with them and accepting her limitations.

But according to him, Soohyun failed to adapt and became increasingly timid.

“However, it seems meeting you has caused some change in her mindset.”

“Me?”

“A mere Silver-rank examiner. A truly ordinary ability user, much like Soohyun. Yet within that ordinariness, you’ve created your own uniqueness. I think she received significant inspiration from that.”

According to Minseong Kang, it was Soohyun who brought up the idea of visiting me in the hospital.

He said she had never volunteered her opinion before, but this time she expressed her own wishes for the first time.

Apparently, her family was quite surprised, though they didn’t show it.

“That’s when I sensed it. That you could help my granddaughter. So, I pulled some strings through my acquaintances to ensure you could continue as an Academy examiner.”

I see. I thought it was strange that I survived crossing the Elder with so little consequence.

With Minseong Kang’s connections in high government positions, it would have been entirely possible.

As I was nodding, Minseong Kang suddenly exclaimed with urgency.

“But don’t misunderstand! I absolutely did not ask them to discharge you so quickly. I only requested that you maintain your position as an Academy examiner after your discharge. Really!”

“Excuse me?”

“Didn’t Soohyun just mention it? How could they make you go back to work right after discharge without any rest? If she ever finds out the truth, please tell her this old man had nothing to do with it. I beg you. It wasn’t done with bad intentions!”

It was Minseong Kang’s desperate plea not to be hated by his granddaughter.

I nodded immediately, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Phew. Thank you. Really, thank you. Just imagining her asking why they did this makes my heart race.”

Watching him sigh with relief, I revised my definition of Minseong Kang.

From former war hero to severe granddaughter-doting old man. He probably wouldn’t deny it himself.

“Anyway, when you return to the Academy, please take good care of my granddaughter.”

“I’m worried you’re expecting too much. I’m just an examiner, not a professor.”

“I heard Soohyun is still at Bronze rank. If so, she’ll see you more often than any professor.”

That’s true. I’ve heard that perpetual Bronze-rank students are subject to academic probation.

It’s not about looking down on Bronze rank, but rather about showing a lack of passion for growth.

So Soohyun will eventually come for a Silver rank evaluation…

‘Wait, surely not. He couldn’t be asking me to…’

I’d like to think a war hero wouldn’t make such a request, but…

Given how obviously doting Minseong Kang is, he might very well do so.

Should I ask? No, what if he takes offense? Let’s drop it.

…No, what if that really is what he’s thinking? Shouldn’t I ask?

But what if I’m wrong? What if he says, “Did you really think I would make such a request?”

“Grandfather.”

Just as I was about to ask what exactly he was requesting,

the door opened and Soohyun returned with the water.

I missed my chance to ask the question.

“Here’s your water.”

“Yes, yes. Thank you. You’ve gone through so much trouble, my Soohyun.”

While Minseong Kang pretended to drink the water,

Soohyun approached me again, looking hesitant.

“What is it, Soohyun? Do you have something to say?”

“Um… you still have some time before discharge, Examiner.”

“Yes, I do. Why?”

“Can I… can I come visit you again tomorrow?”

She wants to visit again tomorrow? Even though the villains might still be targeting her?

We’ll see each other at the Academy in a few days anyway, so is there really a need…

“…Sure. Come if you want. I could use some company since I’m bored.”

Under Minseong Kang’s subtle gaze, I had no choice but to accept Soohyun’s proposal.

*

“I want to visit the examiner in the hospital.”

Minseong Kang and those around him were greatly surprised by Soohyun’s statement.

It was because the timid Soohyun had expressed her own opinion for the first time.

She felt embarrassed facing her family. She felt sorry for them.

She worried that she, a nobody, was being unreasonably stubborn.

But she really wanted to visit Seojin Baek, the person who had saved her.

She wanted to apologize, to thank him, to say those words without fail.

‘And also…’

I want to become like you, Examiner – ordinary yet special.

I’ve come to respect you so much. I wanted to tell you that too.

It was still vivid in her mind. From the way he subdued the boastful Junwoo Park in one go.

Then how he defeated one after another the students who had been subtly showing off their skills.

And finally, how he blocked the terrifying Elder and saved her.

He wasn’t naturally exceptional like her grandfather or family members.

Rather, he was ordinary. Just a mere examiner.

Yet Seojin Baek had found his own uniqueness within that ordinariness.

A feeling stronger and more intense than the inferiority complex that had always tormented her.

Was it admiration? Or something else? Whatever it was, Soohyun liked it.

It was the first time. The first time something so warm had touched her heart.