Ch.122Episode 25. Course Registration (End)

“You know vacation ends in two weeks, right? I already told you that once vacation is over, I won’t be able to look after you like I did last semester.”

I addressed the Special Class students who were sprawled out as if they might collapse at any moment.

“Aah…”

A sigh escaped from among them.

Now that I had been assigned courses, it would be difficult to focus solely on the Special Class. While I wouldn’t have lectures every weekday, I anticipated a tight schedule since I’d need to supervise other classes in the afternoons.

“You should understand that now I’ll have to be like other instructors, teaching regular courses and unable to give you my full attention. And don’t you dare register for classes and then skip attendance. Until now, I’ve been checking attendance and adjusting lectures for both morning theory and afternoon practical sessions to accommodate you, but that’s over. Attend the classes you properly register for. Got it?”

No one answered. When I tried to make eye contact, they avoided my gaze by turning their heads or looking down. Jung Iyeon didn’t avoid my eyes, but she didn’t answer either.

This was proof they realized my teaching was far superior to what they’d get from other instructors.

While I was delighted by this, I could personally guarantee that the other instructors’ teachings weren’t useless at all.

After all, Jung Iyeon couldn’t have grown so much otherwise.

“If any of you skip classes or give attitude to professors or instructors, I’ll make you seriously regret it, so be prepared.”

I said this with a completely serious expression, all traces of humor gone. To ensure they wouldn’t get any funny ideas.

“Understand?”

“Yeeees…”

Though their response was weak, my warning should be enough to prevent any absences. My standing among the students wasn’t as precarious as when I first came to the Academy.

“Tomorrow’s registration day, right? Don’t forget and do it properly. Alright, that’s it for today. Go shower and return to your dorms.”

“Um~ Instructor…”

Just as I was about to turn away, Yu Ari hesitantly raised her hand.

“What?”

“I just wanted to confirm… What course will you be teaching, Instructor?”

“Skill Basics and Understanding.”

“I see.”

“You all already have the basics down, so there’s no need to take my course. It’s not mandatory anyway. But I won’t stop you if you want to attend.”

“What’s the class capacity?”

This time Jung Iyeon raised her hand.

“It’ll be 30 students. Enough for about two classes.”

“That’s a lot…”

I thought it was too many as well and had asked to reduce it to twenty, but my request was rejected. They said it was actually a small number compared to other courses.

Since I didn’t have detailed knowledge to offer students outside the Special Class anyway, I had reluctantly accepted the decision.

“Well then, everyone do your best with registration.”

With those final words, I left the training arena.

* * *

The next afternoon, on registration day.

An uninvited guest visited my dormitory.

“…What are you doing here?”

At my question, Bin Yuni’s lips twitched. She looked like she was trying to hold back a smile. With her pink hair swaying, she stood boldly and exclaimed:

“Hehe. Instructor! This!”

She held up a familiar orange-colored box, shouting. The top of the box read ‘DONUT.’ Apparently, she had bought donuts.

It was nice that she brought something tasty, but the timing seemed rather poor.

“Oh. Thanks, but what about course registration? Isn’t it happening soon?”

“I thought of that and brought my laptop too! I’m thoroughly prepared, right? Come on, praise me.”

She pulled a laptop out of her bag to show me. I was about to grab her nose as she stuck it up proudly, but I sighed instead.

“Far from praise, I’d rather tell you to leave right now.”

“I’ve always been a student who diligently follows your instructions. Even if I enter your room, there’s no way any problems could arise.”

She explained, extending her index finger.

“Other people will think we have a strange relationship just from seeing you enter my room.”

“Gasp! Could it be that you’re planning to pounce on me? That’s a different story then.”

Bin Yuni pretended to shield her chest with a start. She gave me a wary look, but her lips were twitching. I could clearly tell she was joking.

“Why would I pounce on you?”

“You never know. After all, you’re still a man…”

“Fine. Then goodbye. I’ll enjoy these donuts by myself.”

I quickly took the donut box from her and closed the door. If it had been one of the other girls, they might have stuck their foot in to block it, but Bin Yuni wasn’t a combat type.

She didn’t react until the door closed. As a result, she desperately pounded on the door and shouted belatedly.

“Aaaah! No!! My donuts that I bought with a discount coupon…!”

I was going to continue the joke, but a sudden male voice forced me to go out.

“Please keep it down!”

“Ah… I’m sorry.”

“Is it Instructor Yujin again?! Stop bringing in students! How many girlfriends are you going to cycle through?!”

“What? Girlfriends…? They’re all just students.”

This is ridiculous. Does he think I’m that frivolous?

“Anyway, please be quiet. You’re being a nuisance.”

“Yes…”

I had plenty to say but couldn’t actually voice it. He was right that we were being a nuisance.

I glared at Bin Yuni before reluctantly letting her in. She fidgeted nervously, watching my expression.

“…Are you angry?”

“Forget it. I’m also at fault for joking around.”

“That’s right. We both made the mistake of joking… Aaaah!”

I pinched the cheek of the shameless Bin Yuni. Seeing tears well up in her eyes as they followed my hand, I let go.

“Ow! That really hurt…!”

She rubbed her cheek, shedding a few tears.

“Sigh. You’ve become more well-behaved recently, but I was wrong to forget that you’re still a Special Class student.”

“Hmph. Are you proud? Because I’m in the Special Class?”

How is she already smiling when she was just making a tearful face moments ago? Did she have a potion in her mouth or something?

“Who are you to talk like that? Want a beating?”

“An instructor who threatens to beat a student! My goodness!”

“That’s rich coming from someone who sprayed drugs and caused a scene during her interview.”

“Hehe. Please think of it as my creative spirit wanting the world to recognize me.”

So in one word, you’re an attention-seeker?

Instead of giving her a knock on the head, I messed up her hair thoroughly before entering the room.

“Ugh. You’ve ruined my hair! Anyway, give me back the donuts. I’ll eat them alone. I’m upset now.”

She followed right behind me like a baby bird, talking. Who announces they’re upset themselves?

I placed the donut box on the table with a wry smile.

“Go ahead then.”

I turned on the television with a yawn, speaking indifferently. I sat in a dining chair, listening to the TV.

She looked troubled by my nonchalant response, not knowing what to do. She looked back and forth between me and the donut box.

“Um… Instructor?”

“What?”

“Let’s eat together. Here, it was just a joke… I’m not upset.”

She approached me with the donuts. She even removed the sealing tape and opened the box to show me the contents.

There were chocolate donuts, donuts sprinkled with white powder, and pink donuts that matched Bin Yuni’s hair. That one was probably strawberry flavored.

“You’re not upset?”

“No.”

“Then fine. Sit down and eat. I’m good.”

“No way. I bought these for you… I promised to buy you lots of delicious things.”

If I don’t eat, she’ll probably insist until the end. Looking at the box pushed so close to my face, I was about to grab the pink donut when her eyes wavered.

…So she wants this one?

I picked up the donut covered in white powder. I immediately took a bite. There was strawberry jam inside. So this was strawberry too?

“By the way, how is your mother?”

“Ah… huh?”

“I heard she had severe hallucinations due to drugs.”

She was about to take a big bite of her donut but closed her mouth and looked at me. Her cheerful face stiffened.

“Ah… Fortunately, she’s recovering well with status ailment potions. But since the drug my mom took wasn’t ordinary, there will be aftereffects. They say they don’t know yet what form those will take.”

“I see.”

“Still, I think it’s fortunate. At least she didn’t die.”

“…But she almost ruined your life. Aren’t you angry?”

It wasn’t really my place as a third party to say this, but I thought if Kim Soyang was going to make Bin Yuni suffer for life, it might be better if she died now.

“Me? I am, but… she’s my mom. Oh, I’m not saying I forgive her. It’s just that I can’t let her live like this forever. No matter how trashy she is, she’s family.”

Her statement was blunt, but her tone was full of concern.

Looking at her makes me think that family bonds aren’t something that can be easily severed.

“Now I’m planning to guide her to live a normal life with a job. In a few months, I’ll be financially free too. I’ll be able to support my mom. But if she doesn’t get her act together and gambles again, even I won’t tolerate it!”

After finishing her words, she exhaled deeply through her nose and took a big bite of her donut, almost stuffing it in her mouth. Her cheeks puffed up full of donut.

Worried she might choke, I took milk from the refrigerator, poured it into a cup, and placed it in front of her.

Bin Yuni bowed her head in gratitude and drank the milk.

“Mmm~! Sweet!”

She shouted exaggeratedly, her eyes sparkling as she ate, looking as if she was desperately trying to forget about the whole matter.

If she had forgiven her mother, I had no reason to further involve myself in Bin Yuni’s family affairs.

With this, Bin Yuni’s family situation could be considered resolved.

The Akcheon incident is also proceeding smoothly, and the other kids are doing well, so they’ll likely become good heroes in three years.

Let’s keep it this way.

I also took a big bite of my donut.

Afterward, we chatted for a while until it was time for course registration.

“Whew! I’m getting nervous!”

“What’s there to be nervous about?”

She placed her hand on the mouse after taking a deep breath.

“2 o’clock! Here we go!”

With her click, course registration began.

* * *

“Total disaster. Damn it!”

It’s quite refreshing to hear such harsh words from Bin Yuni’s mouth.

“Nooooo…!”

I inwardly chuckled as I watched her clutch her head in frustration.

Ah, you should experience failing at course registration at least once while in college. Indeed!