Ch.121Episode 25. Course Registration (1)

After capturing Paris, the biggest change was that Akcheon’s activities had completely stopped. The villains recently caught by the Association were not related to Akcheon. Most were individuals who had committed crimes impulsively due to dissatisfaction with their real-life situations.

Additionally, Lee Hyemin and other humans who had been used by Paris were also arrested.

According to information from Lee Hyemin, they had been regularly trading drugs and pharmaceuticals with Heukbangje. The Association was also gathering information related to drug distribution after hearing about this.

While a large amount of information about Akcheon had been passed to the Association, the locations of the executives remained unknown. They had to be satisfied with raiding several hideouts to arrest Akcheon members and thwarting the planned research facility in Shinan.

In any case, after the situation was safely resolved and I returned to the Academy, a disaster occurred—I had to work during the vacation.

Damn it. Being unable to rest freely just because I’m an instructor.

While I was handling paperwork in the faculty office after being caught by the student dean since morning…

“…Instructor Yu Jin!”

Bang!

Jung Iyeon boldly flung open the instructor’s office door.

Despite being in the special class, Jung Iyeon still maintained her honor student image, so her action startled the instructors who were working. Receiving the bewildered stares of the instructors, Jung Iyeon hurriedly bowed.

“Ah… I’m sorry! I came because I urgently needed to see Instructor Yu Jin!”

Jung Iyeon entered while awkwardly touching the back of her head after bowing repeatedly. Her face was filled with an almost unsettling excitement as she approached from a distance.

Coming to where I was sitting with quick steps, she whispered near my ear.

“Did you see it?! Did you see it?!”

Her voice was loaded with excitement.

“…See what.”

“This, of course.”

What she placed on my desk was a mobile phone.

A hero ranking app was displayed on the screen. She pressed the screen a few times, and a screen showing hero rankings with photos appeared.

And my name began to appear on the first screen.

[Rank 5 / S-Class / Yu Jin]

“…Is this for real.”

Wait, they made me 5th place just for catching Paris?

I understand that the ranking should be high since Paris was an S-class villain, but this seemed excessive.

For reference, right below me was Jung Iyeon’s mother, Kang Sujin. Above me were one S-class hero who wasn’t even mentioned in the story at rank 4, and Yeonhwaryong and Lee Bangsil at ranks 2 and 3 respectively.

The Ice Empress Ha Yuri was ranked 1st.

It’s fine for her to be first. She would have been undoubtedly the strongest in this world if Yu Jin hadn’t existed.

Not only could she achieve speeds similar to Yu Jin despite using ice, but she could also use wide-range skills capable of freezing an entire city.

In the novel, she was the only person who stood as Yu Jin’s equal opponent, but could I win against her now?

“Hehehe~! What did I tell you? I said Instructor Yu Jin would become a hero recognized by the world!”

“Shut up. I’m still only ranked 5th.”

“You’re starting to acknowledge it! Yes! ‘Still’! You’re only 5th for now!”

“Can’t you see the other instructors?”

I found her ridiculous as she clenched her fist and strongly emphasized her point.

“Ah!”

Jung Iyeon belatedly looked around. The instructors glanced at us briefly before focusing on their work.

“But the instructors seem surprisingly calm? Shouldn’t everyone be congratulating you when something like this happens?”

She tilted her head, puzzled by the instructors’ reactions.

“They already heard about it.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“Is this all you came to the faculty office to say? Hurry up and take this back.”

I turned off the phone screen and handed it to her. She took the phone with a disappointed look. I thought she would leave, but she changed the subject.

“I heard you caught Paris, an executive of the villain organization Akcheon, all by yourself. They say he can control people just by talking to them.”

“…I told you to go.”

“Do you know the story is already spreading among students? It was even on the morning news.”

She’s completely ignoring what I’m saying?

At this point, would it be justifiable to give her a knock on the head?

“Fine, let’s talk during afternoon training.”

“We don’t have time to talk like this during training! You start beating us up right after we finish stretching!”

“Of course, I need to teach you quickly so I can rest too. It’s vacation, isn’t it? Vacation.”

“That might apply to students, but instructors don’t get vacations, Instructor Yu Jin.”

What an unreasonable thing to say.

I let out a hollow laugh looking at the bold-speaking Jung Iyeon.

“…We can talk later.”

“No way. We need to talk like this, just the two of us. Honestly, it gets awkward when other students or seniors are around.”

“You’re not cautious with me?”

“You’re the person involved, so it’s fine.”

I stared strangely at Jung Iyeon, who had been spouting incredible things non-stop since entering the office less than five minutes ago.

“…What. Do you want my attention?”

“You’re stating the obvious. I’m your number one fan, aren’t I? I’d love to have you all to myself!”

What kind of metal plate does she have on her face? Titanium?

“Ah, right.”

“So how did you catch that S-class villain?”

She crouched in front of me, placed her hands on the table, and looked up like a puppy. The way her eyes sparkled made her look like she was begging for a treat.

“Just. Beat him up.”

“Hmm! So you’re that type, Instructor Yu Jin. The type who gives vague instructions like ‘Do it like this! Like that! Like so!'”

Jung Iyeon mockingly said while weakly gesturing in the air. In response, I smiled and pinched her cheek hard.

“Uuugh!”

“When have I ever taught like that? I’ve always given detailed reasons and directions. Want to die?”

“Threatening a student with death? That’s too much.”

This kid seems to be becoming more like the special class students.

…No, let me correct that. She’s already become one of them. What a rotten girl.

She stood up abruptly after rubbing her reddened cheek that I had pinched. Then, pointing her index finger like making a declaration, she said:

“Someday I’ll beat up S-class villains just like you, Instructor Yu Jin!”

Does she think S-class villains are common…?

In the first place, it would be better if S-class villains didn’t exist.

Each one is a threat to the nation, so there’s nothing good about their existence.

Fighting them is difficult, and the property damage and casualties that occur in the process of capturing them would be overwhelming.

Still, it would be good for building achievements. If you can win.

“Fine, now go.”

I shooed her away with a casual wave of my hand.

“You’re driving me away like a fly. Am I annoying you?”

“Yeah, you’re annoying.”

“Grr… Yet when you teach, you’re not just attentive but even sweet…!”

“…Were you always this talkative?”

“No. I’m only like this in front of you, Instructor.”

“Ah, is that so? Anyway, I’ll be there at one o’clock, so don’t worry and go.”

“Okay.”

Finally, she turns to leave. Watching her back as she was about to exit the office, I suddenly remembered something I had forgotten.

“…Ah, right.”

“Yes?”

She turned around to look at me. I glanced around briefly, then gestured for her to come closer. Jung Iyeon approached with quick steps, grinning happily again.

“Are you free this weekend?”

I whispered in Jung Iyeon’s ear.

“If Instructor Yu Jin calls, I should drop everything and go, of course.”

She lowered her voice too and nodded. She’s overreacting.

“Good, then let’s go to the aquarium this weekend.”

“What?”

“We promised, didn’t we?”

“Ah, right. You said we’d go on a date…”

“I don’t think I used the word ‘date’?”

I’m just trying to keep my promise.

“Really?”

“Do you want me to treat it like a date between lovers?”

“W-what?”

I teased her and then stepped back. Jung Iyeon stood frozen with a dumbfounded expression. Watching her blink several times, I patted her head.

“Just let me know when you’re free.”

“R-right. Ahem! Aquarium. Ah… Yes! Let’s go! Yes!”

“Why are you so flustered?”

“I’m not flustered!”

She cleared her throat a few times and replied with a serious face.

She’s lying. Her face is all red.

Her white hair and fair skin made even the slightest blush noticeable. Doesn’t she know that?

“Sure, sure. Let’s say you weren’t. Now go.”

I really wasn’t flustered.

Muttering that, she grumbled as she left the office.

I confirmed she had left and turned my head toward the monitor. A lecture plan was displayed on the monitor.

…I really feel like a professor now.

* * *

“Ughh…”

“Are you a zombie?”

“Have you ever seen such a pretty zombie?!”

Gu Yeonhwa shouted while sprawled on the floor. So she knows she’s pretty, huh.

“Quiet. You’re collapsing from just this much.”

She puffed her cheeks and pouted at my scolding, but didn’t voice any complaints.

I looked around. The other three were also collapsed in a miserable state.

They were taking a break while breathing heavily, but their expressions were pained. That’s because I had forbidden them from drinking potions.

“But I think they’ve definitely gotten stronger. The seniors, Iyeon, and Yeonhwa too.”

Bin Yuni, who was sitting on the bench leisurely drinking chocolate milk, said.

Bin Yuni no longer went to the laboratory.

Thanks to the clean results of her research on status effect potions, she was spending time at the Academy.

I heard the laboratory wanted to scout her, but she declined.

She said she still wanted to enjoy her Academy life.

“Even so, you shouldn’t be satisfied with this level.”

This level isn’t enough to win against villains.

Thanks to subduing Akcheon, we gained some time, but I had no intention of letting my guard down until everything was completely over.

“You’re too strict. You weren’t like this with me.”

“That’s because you always do your best through trial and error even without me saying anything.”

“That’s not true. I’m lazy too.”

“How can you be lazy when you’re doing what you love?”

“Hmm~ Not true~!”

For some reason, Bin Yuni smiled happily and swung her feet while sitting. Is she pleased that I acknowledged her hard work?

“Whatever you say.”

“How should I put it… Having something I truly love has made me a bit lazy.”

“Something you truly love?”

She spoke casually as if making small talk, but for some reason, I couldn’t just brush it off.

“Hehe. What do you think it is?”

“How would I know?”

I shrugged at Bin Yuni, who was smiling mischievously.

Just don’t say that what you love is me, okay?