Ch.179Episode 36. New Year (1)

“Is it okay to just come in like this?”

“You’re the ones who came in on your own.”

“No, Senior Yoo Ari, you also came in on your own.”

“I’m different. The instructor gave me permission to enter his room anytime. That means I can come in whenever I want.”

“…Does it work that way?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Anyway, don’t complain when you’ve already come in yourself.”

I could hear whispering around me while I was sleeping. Their voices were too loud to ignore, so I had no choice but to wake up.

How shameless of these kids to barge in and make such a racket…

Eventually, I slightly opened my eyes due to their murmuring. I could see all the special class students bickering in my room since morning. Every single one of them.

Despite everything, they seem to get along well.

“…What are you all doing?”

“Oh! Good morning!”

Koo Yeonhwa greeted me cheerfully as I had just woken up.

“The sun hasn’t risen yet, but it’s still a good morning on the first day of the new year.”

Jung Iyeon said while opening the window. I rubbed my eyes and reached for my phone on the bedside table.

It was 4 AM.

“…How did you get in? The dorm supervisor wouldn’t let you in at 4 AM.”

“She just told us to go in?”

“Maybe we’re trusted?”

“As expected of the special class! Even the dorm supervisor trusts us!”

The special class being trusted by the dorm supervisor? Has the world turned upside down? Or is the supervisor just not doing her job?

I sighed while running my fingers through my messy hair.

“By the way, it’s been a while since all five of us gathered together!”

“Because we don’t have any reason to meet during the break. Unless we happen to run into each other.”

“This is all because the instructor told us not to use the training hall.”

“It’s been a week already, right? Aren’t you just being lazy?”

“No, I’m not. Do you know how busy I am?”

Koo Yeonhwa said firmly while crossing her arms. Yeah, right, busy. She probably just spent all night watching anime.

“Hurry up and get ready. The sun will rise soon.”

“No matter how winter it is, the sun doesn’t rise at 4 AM…”

I checked the time on my phone at Yeon Muhui’s urging.

We had plenty of time since we planned to watch the sunrise from Buramsan Mountain near the academy.

“Shouldn’t we secure a good spot?”

“Fine, fine. Let’s go.”

Unable to resist her momentum, I reluctantly got out of bed. Suddenly, neatly folded clothes appeared before me.

“Here are clothes to change into, Instructor.”

“Ah… yes. Thank you.”

I naturally reached out to take the clothes from Yoo Ari but then hesitated. I belatedly realized that Yoo Ari wasn’t the only one here.

I glanced around from the corner of my eye. Everyone was staring at the clothes with strange looks.

“You seem very natural at this? Giving him clothes to change into.”

Yeon Muhui said with a hint of sarcasm. Yoo Ari responded with a smile that reached her eyes.

“…Because we’ve done this often. Unlike certain uninvited guests who suddenly showed up.”

“What?”

The two of them engaged in a subtle battle of nerves.

“Stop fighting.”

When I stepped in to mediate, Yeon Muhui and Yoo Ari turned away from each other. Jung Iyeon, who had somehow appeared beside me, whispered in my ear.

“Do they look like they won’t fight? When you’re openly two-timing?”

“You…”

“Hehe. Just kidding.”

Jung Iyeon was giggling as if she had expected this. Come to think of it, she’s also being strung along, but she doesn’t seem bothered?

…No, that can’t be true.

Deep down, she probably wishes I would only look at her. She’s just holding back to avoid disrupting the atmosphere.

“Fighting from the start of the new year. This year will bring great fortune.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at Koo Yeonhwa’s random comment.

“You mean great misfortune. And it’s not ‘great fortune’ but ‘great luck.'”

“The worst is ‘great misfortune.’ Why ‘great luck’? I really don’t understand!”

“Let’s not show off our ignorance.”

“Who are you calling ignorant? I have the power to cover the world in darkness. Yes! I am a being who will be called a calamity by people! I’m the greatest talent who will become South Korea’s strongest hero! Therefore, I’m far from being ignorant.”

A hero shouldn’t be called a calamity…

How should I put it? She’s still the same.

Koo Yeonhwa was still Koo Yeonhwa. She seemed to be in a completely different genre from everyone else.

“You won’t become the strongest.”

I said as I walked to the bathroom.

“What?”

“Because I’m here. If you want to be the strongest… beat me first, then talk.”

“Grrr! I can’t argue with that!”

I caught a glimpse of Bin Yooni while looking at Koo Yeonhwa’s frowning face. She was watching Koo Yeonhwa with an awkward smile. She still seemed to have a lot on her mind.

In times like these, it’s better to observe quietly rather than push.

* * *

“Hooo… it’s cold! I think I’m breathing out too much steam!”

“Koo Yeonhwa, you’re noisy.”

I don’t know why she’s so excited since morning, but Koo Yeonhwa won’t stop talking. It’s cold enough that her mouth should be frozen.

The others seemed tired from waking up early, either yawning or rubbing their eyes.

“It’s cold despite all these people. Winter is terrifying!”

As Koo Yeonhwa said, there were quite a few people at the mountain peak. It had snowed overnight and accumulated quite a bit, but no one seemed to mind. In fact, more people seemed to be enjoying the atmosphere.

Anyway, we pushed through the crowd and secured a spot.

“Mountains are really cold.”

Jung Iyeon shivered and subtly moved closer to me. She was quickly blocked by Yoo Ari though.

Look at that pout.

“What changes when we see the sunrise?”

Bin Yooni, who was looking at the ridge on the opposite side, asked with her head tilted.

“Hmm. Our mindset?”

There wasn’t much meaning in attaching great significance to the first sunrise of the new year. It was obvious that any resolution would falter in less than a month.

It was enough to simply make a personal commitment to live diligently this year too.

“Mindset…”

We chatted while stamping our feet to keep warm until the sun began to rise.

The pitch-black sky gradually turned navy blue. Colors began to appear one by one in a world where nothing had been visible before.

Around the time an orange glow started to appear beyond the distant ridge, we could see a sphere emitting intense light.

“The sun is rising!!”

At that shout, everyone’s attention turned toward the ridge. After a brief moment of exclamations, everyone fell silent as if struck by a solemn atmosphere.

Everyone’s thoughts might be different, but one thing would be the same.

‘May we have a good year ahead.’

“Phew…”

I took a deep breath and gazed at the rising sun.

One year.

That’s how long it had been since I was possessed into this world.

Perhaps it was because the things I had accomplished during that time flashed before my eyes like a kaleidoscope, but I felt strangely reflective.

I remember when I was first possessed, I was so afraid that I couldn’t think straight for a week. I was also scared when I first fought villains.

It doesn’t bother me now, but looking back, it seems like I’ve adapted well to this world.

If Yujin’s power hadn’t been absolute, I would have struggled quite a bit to get this far. Maybe I wouldn’t have made it at all.

Now I have two years left.

Once I graduate all the special class kids and turn them into proper heroes, that will be the end. I’ll be able to safely step down from my instructor position. Of course, I’ll have to crush Akcheon before that.

I glanced at them. They were standing in a row beside me, gazing at the sunrise. Even Koo Yeonhwa, who had been chattering loudly, maintained the silence.

I don’t know what they’re thinking, but somehow I feel like their thoughts might be similar to mine.

They’ve changed a lot.

Some problems have been resolved, and some remain unsolved, but the girls who have been with me have all made progress, big or small.

I just need to keep doing the same this year. If they can’t do it, I’ll guide them.

That’s why I’m here.

* * *

As the sun rose higher, people around us began to talk one by one. Amidst the quickly growing noise, only the girls remained silent.

“Are you still making wishes?”

“Huh? Were we supposed to make wishes?”

“Like with shooting stars?!”

“No. Some people strengthen their resolve, while others make wishes.”

“I see.”

After all, hoping to achieve something this year isn’t much different from making a wish.

“Muhui, Ari.”

I placed my hands on their shoulders.

“Let’s pass the license exam on the first try this year.”

“Yes. I’ll definitely pass.”

“Yes. I will.”

I was planning to get advice from Ha Yuri or Lee Bangsil regarding the license exam studies, and I would study too. I needed at least some knowledge to help them when they encountered problems.

“Good.”

After patting their shoulders, I pointed to the remaining first-year students and said:

“I’ll work you hard this year too, just like last year.”

“Eek! We have to go through that training for another year?”

“When you become heroes, you’ll have it even tougher. It’s good to get used to it now.”

“Ugh… I don’t want to…!”

I chuckled at their whining.

This year will probably be much busier than last year. There are more things to pay attention to now.

Still, I feel a sense of fulfillment. The feeling that what I’ve been doing hasn’t been wrong.

After each of us strengthened our resolve, we came down from the mountain.

“By the way, what should we eat? Since we’re all together, let’s eat something delicious before going back.”

“Hmm. Since it’s morning, should we go for some light street food?”

At my suggestion, Koo Yeonhwa immediately brightened up and raised her hand.

“Oh, street food! I want kimbap.”

“I want tteokbokki. I want to dip kimbap in tteokbokki sauce!”

“I’d… like rabokki…”

“I think I’ll have cheese ramen.”

“Alright. Everyone order what you want. I’ll buy anything.”

“Oh! Really?”

“Yes.”

Eat well and heartily.

That way, I won’t feel guilty when I work you hard.