Ch.193Episode 38. Someone to Rely On (4)

After seeing all the animals, we took the lift back down to the entrance. If I had known there was a lift, we could have taken it from the entrance and worked our way down from the top.

“It took longer than expected to see all the animals.”

“Well, we also took breaks and chatted about various things.”

The sun was already setting. By the time we reached the Academy, it would likely be dark.

“Where should we go now? I’m getting hungry.”

“Let’s head toward the Academy area.”

“We came all the way out here just to go back to the Academy already?”

“Why, feeling disappointed?”

“…What are you talking about?”

When I asked with a smirk, Binyun turned her head away with a prim response. Whenever she shows a glimpse of her emotions, I get this irresistible urge to tease her.

“Heh heh. I’m not planning to go into the Academy—I just know a few good restaurants in that area.”

I was also preparing for the possibility of spending the night with Binyun. Since going back to the dormitory together wouldn’t be appropriate for various reasons, we’d need to find a motel.

“Do you like dakgalbi by any chance?”

“…You mean dakgalbi with extra cheese topping?”

“Of course.”

“I absolutely love it!”

Her drowsy eyes suddenly opened wide. Binyun clapped her hands once and smiled brightly. She swallowed audibly, as if her mouth was already watering at the thought of dakgalbi.

“Great. Then let’s head that way.”

“Sounds good. Let’s hurry!”

“Didn’t you just criticize Koreans for being impatient and say something about sloths earlier?”

“Never mind that—hurry up! I’m hungry!”

When I tried to walk at a leisurely pace, she pulled my arm with both hands. I reluctantly matched her pace.

* * *

Although I said it was near the Academy, it wasn’t actually that close. The dakgalbi restaurant was too far to walk from the Academy.

We parked the car in a public parking lot and walked to the restaurant. Binyun followed me closely, looking around curiously.

“This is…”

As we entered the bustling area, the lively atmosphere became more pronounced. There were far more bars than restaurants, with crowds of men and women mingling about.

“I heard this area became a busy district after the Academy was established. Did you know that?”

“Ah, yes. I knew about it. But there are many more people than I expected.”

“Some of them are probably Academy students.”

While the Academy itself was well-equipped, similar to Seoul’s busy districts, the atmosphere that could be created with the limited number of Academy students was also limited.

“Isn’t that a problem?”

“Why?”

“What if someone recognizes you as an instructor… you know… it could cause a scandal.”

“Don’t worry about that. Besides, if it’s about you and me, it doesn’t really matter, does it?”

I whispered in her ear, leaning slightly against her shoulder. Binyun blushed and gave an exaggerated reaction, her shoulders jumping.

“Eep! D-don’t say weird things!”

Seemingly embarrassed, she hit my arm. I dodged her continuing punches and said:

“Let’s go. You’re hungry, right?”

“You’re really something else…”

Despite her light criticism, she followed me.

When we arrived at the dakgalbi restaurant, there was a line of people waiting. Binyun’s face fell as she slumped her shoulders.

“Ugh. Looks like we can’t eat right away. Is this what they call the prestige of a famous restaurant?”

“That’s why I made a reservation.”

“Oh… you did?”

“Yes. Even with a reservation, we might still have to wait for a table to open up, but we can get a number in advance.”

I pushed through the crowd, got our number, and came back out. I waved the number in front of Binyun with a grin.

“But… what if I had said I didn’t want dakgalbi?”

“Hmm? I would have figured something out then. Besides, everyone loves cheese dakgalbi, don’t they?”

“You’re surprisingly simple-minded, Instructor?”

“Is that a compliment?”

“I meant you’re foolish.”

“So not a compliment then.”

What a shame. I wanted to be complimented.

While we were exchanging jokes to pass the time, an employee came over and called out:

“Number 3, please come in!”

“That’s us. Let’s go.”

Just before entering, I told her:

“Oh, by the way.”

“Yes?”

“This is actually my first time coming here with you.”

“Y-you don’t need to tell me that!”

“Really?”

Despite her words, the corners of her mouth twitched, suggesting she was pleased. Pretending not to like it.

As soon as we sat down, we ordered dakgalbi with double cheese topping. After ordering drinks and finishing our order, Binyun said:

“Ordering like that is going to make me gain so much weight…”

“Are you worried about gaining weight? You need to eat more.”

Given Binyun’s personality, she probably hadn’t been eating properly, too absorbed in her research. That’s why I needed to make sure she ate well like this.

“But I feel like I’ve been gaining weight recently. My weight has increased a lot.”

When Binyun complained like she was lamenting her fate, I unconsciously glanced at her plump chest. I couldn’t bring myself to say it was because of her chest.

While food goes to other people’s stomachs, does it go to Binyun’s chest?

“What’s with that expression? You think I’ve gotten fat, don’t you?!”

Binyun bit her lower lip and pointed at me with a face full of shame. I shook my head in denial.

“…No, I don’t.”

“Then what is it?”

You want me to say it out loud?

I hesitated, watching her reaction, then said in a small voice:

“…I was thinking maybe your weight is higher because your chest is big.”

“Huh. So that’s what you were thinking?”

She let out a hollow laugh as if she found it absurd.

“…Pervert.”

“Shut up.”

And this from someone who usually says things like “You like it too, Instructor” when she’s teasing me.

“So men really do prefer bigger chests, huh?”

“That’s generally true, but I don’t particularly care.”

“Liar.”

“I like you because it’s you.”

Binyun’s eyes widened at my words.

She seemed flustered by my sudden confession, opening and closing her mouth without saying anything.

“That’s…”

“Excuse me.”

Just as Binyun was about to say something, an employee brought our dakgalbi. They stir-fried it appetizingly and then melted cheese in the center.

“Enjoy your meal.”

“Let’s eat.”

“Ah, yes.”

Though she responded to me, she hesitated with her chopsticks, seeming confused about whether my casual confession was a joke or not.

The truth is, I do like her.

“I ordered double cheese, so feel free to dip in as much as you want.”

“Okay.”

After that, I kept the atmosphere light with jokes and banter to prevent her from overthinking, and she eventually responded properly, allowing us to enjoy a pleasant dinner together.

* * *

“Yuni.”

“Yes?”

“Want to go for a drink?”

I asked as we were leaving after paying the bill.

“Hmm. Drinking sounds good, but… what about the car?”

“We could call a driver like last time… or we could rest before going back.”

A subtle hint.

Even if she has no experience with men, as a woman, she has an innate intuition. She probably understands what I’m implying.

“…Shall we go then?”

She doesn’t suggest calling a driver like before. Has she prepared herself to some extent?

That was something I could figure out gradually while drinking.

I took Binyun to a nearby pub. Since we had just eaten dakgalbi and hadn’t even digested it yet, I ordered some light dried fish as a snack, along with draft beer.

We toasted with our beer glasses and gulped down the refreshing drink. The glasses emptied in an instant.

“Ahh… that’s good.”

Bang!

Binyun slammed her glass down forcefully, wrinkling her face but smiling with satisfaction.

“Have you become a drinker now?”

“I get drunk very easily, you know.”

Is that something to proudly announce?

“If so, I’ll take good care of you when you’re drunk.”

“Hmm~ Where to?”

She asks with a teasing smile. I chuckled and put a piece of squid in my mouth.

“Well. Where indeed?”

“Aw. No fun.”

Perhaps because she downed 500 milliliters in one go, the alcohol seemed to hit her quickly, and her voice rose to a higher pitch.

Watching her chew on squid legs, I ordered more beer. The server brought the draft beer and left.

After gulping down her beer glass, she exhaled deeply and said quietly:

“By the way, Instructor.”

“Yes?”

“What will happen to the Special Class after we all graduate?”

At her question, I stared at my beer glass for a moment before picking it up.

“…The Special Class will probably be disbanded after you graduate.”

“What?”

Binyun held her glass with a dumbfounded expression. I drank my beer while watching her blink in confusion. I set my glass down silently.

“The Special Class was created to gather problem students separately, but now many people think of it as a class for talented students.”

Starting with Binyun’s potion-making abilities, one by one, they’ve shown remarkable combat prowess.

Especially after the recent certification exam, Yu Ari and Yeon Muhui have become what people call “promising talents.” Messages of expectation from the hero industry have already arrived for both of them.

In such a situation, could the Special Class still be described merely as a den of problem students?

Of course not.

“Even if new problem students emerge and the Special Class continues, I won’t be in charge of it anymore.”

From the beginning, my goal was to ensure they didn’t become villains, but graduated from the Academy and safely became heroes.

Naturally, once they graduate, I’ll have no reason to stay at the Academy.

“Then are you planning to take charge of A-Class now?”

“No. I’ll probably… quit being an instructor.”

“Oh. Then are you going to focus on hero activities? If so, I’ll support you with all my might!”

I smiled as she clenched her tiny fists.

Even if I maintain relationships with them, I won’t be engaging in hero activities. My role ends with bringing down Akcheon.

After that, I want to watch like a novel.

To see them living as heroes, not villains.

“That’s not it either.”

“Huh? Then what is it?”

“I’m planning to retire as a hero when you all graduate from the Academy.”

“What…?”

Binyun tilted her head momentarily, as if not understanding what I said. Then her eyes widened as she exclaimed:

“WHAAAAT?!”