Ch.136Chapter 6. Classics Are Classics Because They Help Us in Modern Times (1)

Saturday early morning.

In the chancellor’s office, which should have been empty, an elderly man with white hair was diligently scribbling with his pen since dawn, dressed in formal attire.

He squinted at the monitor screen in front of him, checking the contents and organizing data while taking notes with a ballpoint pen in his notebook.

The nameplate on the old man’s desk read “Sejong Education Institute Chancellor Kim Seok-dae.”

Although everyone called it Sejong Academy rather than its official name, Sejong Education Institute, Kim Seok-dae had been quietly working at his desk since dawn, reviewing his monitor.

“It’s done.”

The chancellor put down his pen and leaned back in his chair.

There had been an incident last night that almost complicated matters, but he was able to organize the planned schedule without major issues.

“Faculty, instructors, and student placements are complete. Now… I just need to wait for the day of the regional training.”

The biggest event in April, regional training.

Given the incidents that occurred every year, this year required even more careful attention.

How frequent were the accidents that happened last year?

Like when local thugs picked a fight with an ability user, resulting in one ability user knocking down 17 gang members.

Or when a drunk driver hit an ability user with his car, and upon seeing the ability user unharmed, called the insurance company claiming to be the victim, lying down on the road insisting he was 0% at fault and the ability user was 100%.

Or when two ability users fell in love, only to discover that one was already dating a normal person, who attempted self-harm out of shock and ended up in critical condition.

Countless accidents occur due to crowds gathering to see ability users who venture outside Sejong Island.

“I hope any accidents that happen are manageable.”

While they assign as many people as possible to prepare for such situations, the most important thing is caring for the mental well-being of ability users to prevent them from going berserk.

A moderate level of incidents is actually beneficial.

That way, ability users can see how many people have to work to clean up their messes, learning that “I shouldn’t cause trouble.”

The moment they physically experience why the Academy constantly warns them not to cause trouble outside, the concept becomes fixed in their minds.

When heroes cause accidents, civilians suffer damage, and many people experience hardship.

Therefore, heroes and ability users need to be careful with their actions to avoid causing harm to ordinary people.

“Without trials, there is no growth. What flower blooms without swaying in the wind?”

That is Kim Seok-dae’s principle and the background behind the Academy’s establishment.

“The problem is Platinum Sun.”

Multiple screens opened simultaneously in front of the monitor.

The golden armored knight, Solar Platina, who faced the demon Lilith.

Ermina Sternfeld, confined in a hospital, uncertain if her abilities could be restored, locked in a research facility.

The Golden Taoist who appeared during the Haftod and Sirmilla incident.

Considering all these factors, there was only one conclusion to reach.

“Platinum Sun is on Sejong Island.”

He couldn’t help but think so.

No, it would be strange not to think that way.

If he couldn’t make such deductions, he wouldn’t have risen to the position of Academy chancellor.

“The question is, in what form did he enter?”

This is where opinions differ among people.

Did he enter as a student with abilities?

Did he enter as a normal person without abilities?

Did he completely change his identity, disguising himself as an adult older than 25?

Everyone has different speculations, but the chancellor leans toward the “student theory.”

“…Even an ability user is just a 25-year-old kid at most. It’s not easy for someone like that to enter as an adult and hide their identity. The younger they are, the more they want to show off.”

The chancellor stood up with his mug.

“Whether they’re hiding their power, or finding it easier to conceal their identity, or making friends because they have none, or for whatever purpose, they’ve entered as a student. No one knows yet… but they will soon.”

The chancellor turned his gaze to the map hanging on the wall.

“If they’re going to step forward to purify and save demons, all we can do is prepare demons for them.”

The map showing the entire Korean peninsula below the DMZ had red pins stuck in various regions, and the chancellor took a sip of coffee from his mug with cold, sunken eyes.

“No matter how righteous a hero is, they’re still human. Arms bend inward, and when faced with a crisis involving their most precious person, they’ll reveal their identity.”

Clatter.

As the chancellor pushed the wall with the map aside, another space was revealed behind it.

“Inhale…. Exhale.”

The chancellor’s eyes fluttered as he smelled the scent of old books.

The sight might have given someone goosebumps, as he looked like an ability user sniffing mana powder, but the chancellor entered the space like someone entering heaven, licking his lips.

Inside the room.

The secret bookshelf displayed thick magazines, all in pristine condition. The volumes, as thick as college textbooks, were numbered from 1 to 12, or from 1996 to 2000.

“…I miss it.”

The chancellor pulled out one magazine.

Unlike the others, this one had some blood stains on it.

“To think I won’t see the conclusion of this story.”

The chancellor clutched the magazine with a bitter expression.

The cover featured large letters reading “Kwang Kwang,” along with a shojo manga character whose eyes took up 30% of her head, holding something like a whip while standing with her back to the moon.

“Of all things, the author passed away just when the mascot fairy was betraying the protagonist. Sigh.”

The chancellor’s sigh deepened.

“…Still, since I’ve finished my work, I deserve a reward.”

Thud.

The chancellor piled magazines on the table and reclined in his chair.

And the moment he opened the first page.

-Trials are the completion of humanity.

With this phrase imprinted, a story begins.

A story that might have been completed if not for the meteor.

But a story whose continuation can no longer be seen.

“What happened to the magical girl who was betrayed by her mascot?”

* * *

“Teacher, I feel like I’m going to die.”

“You won’t die.”

In the Sejong Island faculty residence.

My room was no longer just my space, and another person was spending more time there.

“Teacher, I can’t take anymore. My stomach feels like it’s going to burst.”

“I didn’t even give you that much. We’re just getting started.”

“What? But I’ve already gone through four of them.”

“Just four. Ymir. What time is it? It’s only 11:35. And now, the fifth one is ready.”

“N-no more…!”

Ymir reached out with trembling hands to stop me.

“At least give me time to digest…!”

“You asked for whatever I had. I’m just giving them to you as they’re prepared.”

“I didn’t want it to be like this!”

“It’s okay. You’ll get used to it. Now then….”

I pulled out another book for Ymir.

“Next is a story about a magical girl thief. It’s about a magical girl chosen by God who fights monsters sent by the Demon King alongside a small angel mascot. It’s also a very tragic story.”

“W-wait. What’s that? It looks… really old.”

“It’s a story that was serialized before we were even born. And… it was censored.”

I drew my hand across my throat.

“Dreams and hope for children. Always showing happiness, and even though the hero protagonist faces hardships, they shouldn’t suffer this much. Now, student Ymir. Today’s ‘Heroes Who Hide Their Identity Bundle’ part 4, the fourth story is about a magical girl.”

“Ugh…!”

Ymir glared at me, clenching her fists.

On the desk where she sat was a pile of books that I had borrowed from the second floor of the library, a “Collection of Classic Stories.”

“Listen carefully, Ymir. Even in an era before everyone could become a broadcaster, when hardly any phones had cameras, there were countless stories about heroes hiding their identities.”

“Can’t we just enjoy stories like the one we saw last time?”

“Which story?”

“The thief story! The righteous thief story!”

“Ah, that one.”

That was part 2 of the Heroes Who Hide Their Identity Bundle.

“But part 2 had protagonists with overly convenient settings. When did I show you that? I think it was before we went to Ulleungdo.”

“Why do you have all these depressing stories prepared right after we got back from Ulleungdo?”

“Because the five-day training starts the day after tomorrow.”

Ymir needs to be prepared.

“Big events like this are full of evil forces trying to reveal the protagonist’s identity.”

“C-couldn’t the Goblin be the protagonist?”

“What reason would the Goblin have to step forward? Ymir, who am I?”

“…A librarian.”

Ymir pouted.

“Tsk. If you were going to join the faculty, you should have become a teacher. Then we’d have a real teacher-student relationship instead of just a counselor.”

“We’re not that far apart in age. And that would be too troublesome. Would the students leave me alone?”

“You’re saying that because Seol-hee complimented your handsome face last time and now you’re confident, right?”

“Of course. More importantly, keep reading. We still have a lot to go through.”

Just as this world’s story has continued in ways I don’t know, the stories from my world are unknown to the people of this world.

“The stories I have are full of despair, frustration, and ‘heat’ rather than dreams and hope. What you might call misery porn.”

“Wow, that’s really accurate. Teacher, so what’s the fifth story about protagonists suffering misfortune, after the fourth one?”

“It’s a script I saw on the internet, the dark web. The kind of story that would make children cry and scream.”

In other words, a story from my world.

“It’s about an ordinary magical girl protagonist defeating monsters that threaten her.”

“What’s so special about that?”

“Want a spoiler?”

“…What is it?”

“If you’re ready to hear it.”

I took a moment to gather my breath.

…

…

…

“The protagonist’s senior magical girl gets her head cut off and dies in volume one. And that’s the end of volume one.”

Aaaah-

Aaah-