Ch.137Chapter 6. Classics Are Classics Because They Help Us in Modern Times (2)

Humans are animals that keep records.

Through records, we can learn the wisdom of our ancestors, understand past events, and gain significant help for the present and future.

After the Great Cataclysm of 2000.

The nature of many cultural contents changed.

Under the name of censorship, previously horrific and terrifying stories disappeared, with the justification that children needed to be given dreams and hope.

“Ymir. What kind of stories did you see when you were young?”

“Compared to the stories you teach us, they were all about protagonists overcoming adversity and defeating villains. Stories of heroes. No tragedies, only victories.”

“Right. Reality isn’t like that, but through stories, they’ve been indoctrinating ability users from a young age.”

That’s why the culture of this era is very different from my world’s culture.

To mention a few examples, NTR is treated as a societal sin that should never exist.

It might occasionally appear in the underground, but NTR could never appear in the mainstream.

Especially cases where the protagonist loses their girlfriend or boyfriend.

Since ability users can’t relate to the age of having wives or husbands, they don’t care much about those cases, but even in high school teen dramas, content involving cheating creates demons.

“There was a magical girl who had a boy she had a crush on. She became a magical girl to save him. But after she saved him, he ended up dating an ordinary girl who had been taking care of him all along. What do you think happened?”

“She turned evil, right?”

“Exactly. She turned completely evil.”

I had watched that as an animation in my original world.

While reading various novels, I heard that an animation featured a scriptwriter I liked, so I watched it, and not only did I follow it to completion, I even watched all the theatrical versions.

Human corruption, turning evil, the protagonist with an unbreakable steel mentality, self-sacrifice.

And love.

“In the end, she was dealt with by other magical girls. It was a great tragedy, but it beautifully portrayed a girl’s sacrifice.”

The stories of ancient sages contain many lessons for our lives, especially stories involving magic or supernatural abilities are particularly helpful in this era.

“But Ymir, you save people, but you’re not going to throw away your life or live like a machine that frantically moves around saving people 24 hours a day, right?”

“Of course not. I have my own life too.”

“So think about it. Must a hero always sacrifice themselves? Must they use everything for humanity just because they were born with abilities?”

“Are you saying this as Do Ji-hwan, or…?”

“I’m saying this as Ymir’s counselor. People around the world are important, but I don’t want to see Ymir getting hurt.”

“That’s touching. If it weren’t for this situation, I would have been really happy.”

Ymir pointed at the pile of novels and magazines in front of her.

“If only I didn’t have to read those and write reviews!!”

“Writing reports is normal for college students.”

“You’re not even my professor, so why are you making me write reports?”

“Because it helps with ability training.”

Imagination is the source of power for ability users.

Naturally, reading novels and internalizing impressions is the fastest path to becoming stronger in this world.

You ask if Ymir needs to get stronger when she’s already strong?

Yes.

If Ymir becomes overwhelmingly powerful enough to encompass everything else, she will become a great force for The Syndicate when facing demons in the future.

After all, demons are common enemies to both Ymir and The Syndicate.

“Oh, it’s time. Can I go pick her up?”

“Is it that time already?”

“Yes. I just got a text. She said I can come now. She’s ready. But…”

Just as Ymir was about to draw a circle on my wall, she turned to me and carefully spoke.

“Teacher. Are you really going to pretend until the end?”

“Yes.”

“I think if you revealed to Seolhee unnie that you’re a goblin, it wouldn’t cause such a huge problem. Aren’t you being stubbornly strange?”

“It’s not like that. In this matter, I shouldn’t be the first to reveal my identity.”

The situation has suddenly become like I’m playing with Baek Seol-hee, but everything lies in making Baek Seol-hee suspect my identity on her own.

“Do Ji-hwan is a goblin. When Baek Seol-hee starts to suspect, and when that suspicion becomes certainty, she’ll realize on her own. That nothing special changes just because Do Ji-hwan is a goblin.”

I am a villain.

“It’s not like I’m a terrible piece of trash or anything.”

“You’re not trash. You’re waste material.”

“You’re the one clinging to this waste material, Ymir.”

“To others you may be waste, but if I can take care of you and recycle you, then you’re recyclable waste.”

“What are you saying?”

Just because I’m a villain doesn’t mean Baek Seol-hee has to kill me or hold a grudge.

“Unless I killed someone in Baek Seol-hee’s family who became a demon, that would make things painfully complicated.”

“Is there such a story?”

“There’s one legendary masterpiece. Anyway, did I kill Baek Seol-hee’s family? Did I tear someone apart and kill them in front of Baek Seol-hee? Never happened.”

“What about the Red Scarf incident…?”

“That was the Korean government’s execution squad arbitrarily blowing up a demon’s head. Of course, I was trying to kill the demon too, but I was hesitating because Baek Seol-hee was blocking from behind.”

Should I kill immediately, or wait until Baek Seol-hee leaves?

While I was contemplating this, the execution squad’s ability users came and shattered Red Scarf’s head. I didn’t particularly cause conflict with Baek Seol-hee as a goblin to the extent that she would get angry and want to kill me.

“Someday Baek Seol-hee will ask me. If I’m that man. If I deceived her. I have prepared responses for when that time comes.”

“Then, shall we simulate it?”

Ymir stopped her spatial movement magic, approached me, and grabbed my collar.

“…How could you do this to me?”

Wow.

Look at that intensity.

She glares at me as if she’s about to shed tears of blood and devour me.

“Mir.”

“Don’t casually call my name. It’s disgusting.”

“Ymir.”

“I told you not to call me!”

Though her voice didn’t rise much, her expression and appeal alone were enough to suppress me.

“I, I…!”

As Ymir tried to continue acting, I approached her and grabbed her face.

“!!!”

Ymir’s eyes widened in surprise, and I just stared at her quietly.

“…….”

Ymir closed her eyes with an annoyed expression.

* * *

“Phew.”

Baek Seol-hee threw herself on the bed.

All preparations for the regional practicum starting next Monday were complete, and the rest just required following the schedule.

Baek Seol-hee’s placement had been decided.

Although she had to stay in the academy-assigned accommodation, given the location, there would certainly be plenty of opportunities.

Five days when Ymir would be away for practicum.

If she could have Do Ji-hwan to herself during that time.

Even though Ymir could teleport, wherever she might end up with her practicum teammates, Ymir would have to be mindful of others just like Baek Seol-hee.

Moreover, since her teammates’ scores were also at stake, if she didn’t want to reveal her identity, she would have to stay with the others at least during the day.

In the meantime, Baek Seol-hee…

“Why isn’t she coming yet…?”

While contemplating what to do next week, quite some time had passed since the text arrived, but Ymir hadn’t come.

Ymir needed to teleport to her room so that she could move to his room while holding Ymir’s hand, but Ymir wasn’t coming.

“I need to find a way too.”

She couldn’t depend on Ymir.

While she was discussing ability-related content with the academy’s old professors, Ymir would go to the library during free periods to hang out with Do Ji-hwan, or teleport to Do Ji-hwan’s quarters in the evening to have dinner together.

Although they had become close on Ulleungdo, and even though only a few days had passed since Ulleungdo, there are still lines that shouldn’t be crossed with people.

“Hah, really.”

What if she doesn’t come?

Could it be that she’s deliberately coming late because she wants to enjoy some extra time?

“…No, she’s probably just busy and can’t come.”

Baek Seol-hee decided to trust Ymir.

Would a hero who revealed her identity to save a demon break a promise just to gain some private time with Do Ji-hwan?

“…Rather than just urging her, it’s better to do something productive in that time.”

Baek Seol-hee carefully turned on her tablet.

And resumed watching a romance drama on an OTT service from where she had left off.

-Hey! You…!

-What about me! You…!

The male and female leads argue while getting soaked in the rain.

Their anger toward each other seemed genuine, not just acting.

“If they do this, they’ll slap-“

Smooch.

“……Really.”

Baek Seol-hee couldn’t understand.

“Does it make sense for a woman to suddenly kiss a man when emotions are so hurt…?”

Indeed, drama is drama.

“‘Shut up and kiss’ they say. Does that resolve anger? Hah, how infatuated with the man must she be. Tsk tsk.”

Baek Seol-hee could only scoff as she watched the two actors kissing.

“They’re not just kissing?”

Baek Seol-hee adjusted her position on the bed.

A moment later.

“Unnie, I’m here… are you watching porn?”

“It’s a 15+ drama. And why are your lips so glossy?”

“…….I just applied lip gloss a bit heavily. Let’s go.”

“You’re putting on makeup. Hmph, I understand wanting to look good. Yes, let’s go. Please take care of me.”

Baek Seol-hee headed to Do Ji-hwan’s house with Ymir who had appeared in her room.