Ch.127Episode 27. Lecture (1)

She manipulated her phone a few times and brought up a photo on the screen.

The first photo she showed me was of me grabbing the back of someone’s neck who had collapsed in a dark place.

Since it was a dark space, normally only silhouettes should have been visible, but the sparks emanating from my entire body emitted enough light to make my face recognizable.

“But this is…”

Isn’t this from when I missed the camping trip?

I clearly remember missing the camping trip because I was busy catching someone who had tried to escape.

Was Jung Iyeon around at that time?

Come to think of it, I did see the light from Jung Iyeon using her “Sacred Object” skill. I thought it might be her, but was it really?

“Isn’t this where I caught those villains at the beginning of the semester?”

“Y-yes, it is.”

“Why were you there?”

“I… I wanted to s-see your heroics…?”

Fan enthusiasm.

Could this really be called fan enthusiasm?

I could understand if she wanted to see my heroics up close out of admiration.

But that place was an active crime scene. She could have been hurt or taken hostage if things had gone wrong.

“Why did you go to such a dangerous place?”

“I wanted to capture Jin oppa’s heroics with my own eyes.”

“Is that reason enough to go to a place like that? What if you had encountered villains and been taken hostage or gotten hurt?”

“That villain in the photo… I subdued him myself.”

So what, does she want praise for catching one small fry?

“Should I praise you for that?”

I said sternly with a frown. After seeing my expression, she hung her head low.

“…I’m sorry.”

After making excuses that fell on deaf ears, she finally admitted her mistake.

“I can’t stand to see my students get hurt before I become a hero. Stop sneaking to crime scenes and taking photos. Understand?”

“Yes… But, are you angry because I took photos or because I put myself in danger?”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

Heroes getting photographed like models or celebrities wasn’t uncommon.

Just before I went to Jeju Island, didn’t the media make a fuss when I took down a villain? I could understand and overlook this aspect to some extent.

But going to crime scenes to take photos was problematic.

“So oppa was saying that because you were worried about me… I’m h-happy.”

She twirled the ends of her white hair and blushed.

I was clearly scolding her, yet she was acting as if she’d received a confession. It was absurd.

“Sigh. What’s next? Show me.”

“Hmm. If oppa isn’t angry about me taking photos, I guess I shouldn’t hesitate.”

Jung Iyeon put her phone down on the desk and showed me the next photo.

“Isn’t this me arguing with that kid who was rude to Gu Yeonhwa? When did you take this?”

This one was even a video.

When I turned on the sound slightly, I couldn’t hear the conversation due to background noise. It was unavoidable in the crowded student cafeteria during lunch hour.

“I took it just in case. When I listened, he was saying really harsh things to Yeonhwa. You can’t hear well in the video because it’s too noisy…”

“Why did you record this?”

“I wanted to show it to your Special Class peers or seniors if they ever didn’t follow your words. To show them how our oppa cares for students, is full of justice, exemplary, admirable, and handsome!”

“…Shouldn’t you leave out the handsome part?”

She’s adding all sorts of unnecessary comments as if trying to prove that her video recording wasn’t wrong. I smiled bitterly as I watched the video.

“Fine. I’ll let this one slide since you had a decent reason.”

After that, there were photos of me sparring with Yeonhwa Ryong and the Special Class students.

“Why did you take this one?”

It was a photo of me drinking water due to thirst after helping train the kids.

The Special Class kids had improved a lot, so even I had to move around quite a bit when four of them attacked simultaneously. Though one-on-one, they still weren’t a match for me.

“Because you look cool.”

“I see. I understand your personal interest now.”

She’s being unnecessarily honest.

Not knowing the bitterness of society yet, she probably thinks honesty is always the best policy. But sometimes, one needs to be crafty.

“…Hey. Just how many photos did you take?”

I was trying to be understanding since she called herself a fan, but there seemed to be no end to the photos of me as I kept scrolling.

Among them was a photo where my abs were clearly visible as I wiped sweat from my face with my t-shirt. That one made me feel a bit embarrassed.

Scrolling further, there was even a video of me sparring with Jung Iyeon. It seemed she had set up her phone on a bench to record.

“I-I can’t help it. Oppa is just too cool…”

“At this rate, I bet you’ve printed my photos and hung them in your room.”

“I wouldn’t go that far. Though I almost did.”

“So you almost did…”

Since it means she likes me that much, I think it’s right to view it positively. It was because she had this fan-like admiration for me that we could easily close the distance between us like now.

Still, it’s excessive. She should take photos in moderation or at least ask first.

“If you’re going to take photos in the future, tell me beforehand. Don’t secretly take them like some pervert.”

“But candid shots are more natural. Look, in this selfie of us together, your smile is a bit stiff, but here, your smile is natural.”

That’s actually me giving a bitter smile because Gu Yeonhwa made a terrible joke.

“So you’re going to keep taking photos?”

“No, not necessarily… I’ll just take them occasionally. Not excessively.”

“Right. Not excessively. About 5 photos a week should be enough, right?”

“That’s not enough!”

“Are you planning to fill your gallery with my daily life?”

I grabbed her head firmly and pressed down on it. Jung Iyeon quickly tapped my hand, signaling her surrender.

“Oww…! I’m sorry…! I’m sorryyyy…!”

Defeated by my massage, she rubbed the pressed area with a tearful expression.

“But you’re not as angry as I expected?”

“Why? Did you want me to be?”

Her head shook vigorously from side to side. A firm rejection.

“Good. Show some restraint. I’ll let it slide if you keep it moderate.”

I truly hope she understood my words.

If the next time I check, the photos have multiplied like a virus, I’ll delete them all.

“By the way, oppa.”

“Yeah, what?”

“Is it okay if I share these on social media?”

Look at her pushing it further. Is she trying to find out what the limits of my tolerance are?

“What? You want your gallery wiped clean?”

“…I didn’t say anything.”

“Sure, sure.”

Today, I’ve firmly noted one more thing to be wary of.

Jung Iyeon, at risk of becoming a stalker… no, an obsessive fan.

* * *

The start of a new semester.

A phrase no college student ever wants to hear.

Time flew by quickly, and the second semester had begun. Today was the day students would attend my first lecture.

For reference, the lecture location was the annex training hall where I had trained the Special Class students.

I yawned, checking that there were about thirty minutes left until the start of the lecture.

As I was doing some light stretching to warm up, students began to enter the training hall one by one.

The first to arrive were the Special Class students. They had already changed into the academy’s athletic wear suitable for training.

“Instructor! Hello!”

“Hi.”

“Hello!”

“Ah, hello…”

The Special Class students bowed in greeting, led by Jung Iyeon. Only Yeon Muhui just waved his hand casually.

For someone who usually doesn’t even acknowledge greetings, a wave is quite something.

Soon after, students from other classes arrived.

“Good day, sir!”

“Hello~!”

Everyone enters with cheerful greetings.

30 students. Not a small number by any means.

Since all I had to teach them was the basic theory I had taught the Special Class and physical training to use their abilities, it didn’t matter how many there were.

“Wow, he’s really handsome…”

“I told you so.”

“The instructor’s body is insane.”

While receiving the students’ appearance evaluations, I said indifferently:

“If you’re here, start stretching in advance.”

I enjoyed teaching the Special Class kids because I had affection for them, but teaching unfamiliar students felt bothersome and frustrating.

As I spent time stretching, it soon became 2 o’clock sharp.

Time for the lecture to begin.

“I’ll now take attendance.”

I called out names one by one, familiarizing myself with their faces and classes.

Six from Class A. Ten from Class B. Seven from Class C. Three from Class D. Four from the Special Class.

Attendance check was quickly completed.

I put the attendance sheet down on the bench and approached the students who were sitting huddled together.

“First of all, as you all know, I’m Instructor Yu Jin. Nice to meet you all.”

“Nice to meet you too!”

Their enthusiastic, resounding response. I felt inwardly satisfied as I considered what to teach them.

“You’ve all probably seen the syllabus, but the syllabus is just for reference. I don’t actually plan to evaluate you according to it.”

Sighs emerge from among the students. Seeing their bewilderment, I continued:

“Right now, students of different levels are gathered here. So rather than adjusting the course to match either group’s standards, I’ve decided that individual instruction would be better.”

At the mention of individual instruction, the students’ expressions brightened. Their rapidly changing expressions, like stock prices, made me smile involuntarily.

“For that, I first need to see all of your capabilities.”

I dusted off my hands.

Crack!

Sparks burst forth in sync with my movement. The students flinched slightly at the sound of electricity.

“From now on, all of you come at me. Anyone who can take me down can leave right now. I’ll give them an A+ without question.”

At my words, a gleam appears in the students’ eyes.

Indeed, direct physical engagement was better than boring theory. They had studied enough during their school years.

“Come on, give it your all.”