Ch.20Episode 5. The Special Class Image (End)

[Please refrain from conflicts with students.]

That was the message I received from the Association President a few evenings later.

That bastard. Did he really file a complaint?

Shit! This makes me part of the problem damaging Special Class’s image!

“Isn’t there any punishment for the student who stabbed me?”

[…You’re more childish than you look, aren’t you?]

“Even as a student, he’s at most five years younger than me. A grown adult pulling pranks. Would it be okay if I roughed him up a bit?”

[No, it would not.]

Damn it.

I’ll still find a way to trip him up later, one way or another.

[Let me repeat: please refrain from conflicts with students. You’re an instructor, aren’t you?]

“I’ll do my best, but if there are students harming the Special Class, I won’t hesitate to act.”

[…I’ve been wondering, why did you want to work at the Academy? Did you perhaps know the Special Class students from before?]

I did know them. From the novel I read.

“Would you believe me if I said I didn’t?”

[No.]

“I thought not.”

I preferred not to talk about it if possible.

There was no benefit in sharing my information with others, and I couldn’t predict what variables might arise.

Still, giving the Association President a hint should be fine.

Until his corruption, the Association President was someone who steadfastly observed justice.

“I’ve known for some time that the Academy’s Special Class students have exceptional talent. I’d also heard rumors that these kids with the potential to become strong heroes weren’t receiving proper education.”

[Is that so? The Academy tends to minimize outside contact. How did you obtain such information?]

“Don’t underestimate my intelligence network.”

[Still, saying they weren’t receiving proper education seems incorrect. The Academy always strives to provide the highest level of education. The Special Class students became problematic because they tried to violate educational policies and school rules.]

“That’s also true. Their actions are certainly outside the normal range. However, if those children are raised properly, they’ll become heroes representing South Korea in the future.”

If they become villains, they’re the type who could push South Korea into anarchy.

But if they become heroes, they could be South Korea’s guardians, whom no villain would dare challenge.

[Sure, that’s possible given their talent, but there’s no guarantee they won’t cause problems after becoming heroes. Their character development is still lacking.]

Character…

Looking at their behavior, they certainly lacked proper character. They were still childish and immature.

But what drove them to that point was none other than their ‘parents’ fault.

Except for Jung Iyeon who voluntarily entered the Special Class, all four students had environmental issues, but the biggest problem was their parents.

“I’ll fix their attitudes and conduct before they take the hero license exam. Don’t worry.”

[Do you think you can educate those unpredictable kids, Yujin? Even trained teachers find it difficult.]

“When it comes to the Special Class students, no one knows them better than I do.”

What they need right now is comfort and liberation.

I was confident I could provide that.

However, to fulfill that, they would need to reveal their personal histories first.

Blindly offering help could lead to complications and misunderstandings.

At the very least, I didn’t want my help to be seen as meddling.

“I will help those children grow into proper heroes.”

[I see. Then I look forward to it. I hope you’ll also get along with the other students someday.]

“That will never happen.”

[Excuse me?]

It’s about to begin.

The tarnishing of the already garbage image of the Special Class.

“At least not until all the students I’m in charge of graduate.”

* * *

“Yu Ari.”

“Ah… Instructor. Y-you came again today?”

She seemed to have grown somewhat accustomed to showing me her abilities, no longer expressing shyness or resistance like before.

She just quietly lowered her bangs.

“I have something I really want to tell you today.”

“S-something you want to tell me?”

She tilted her head curiously.

“But first. Ta-da! I brought a late-night snack, thought you might be hungry.”

For reference, the snack was tteokbokki. Still piping hot.

“…I’m n-not hungry.”

“It’s tteokbokki though.”

“Tteokbokki?”

A small spark of life appeared in her eyes.

That’s right. You can’t resist tteokbokki.

We sat on a bench at the corner of the training ground. I took out the tteokbokki from the bag and placed it between Yu Ari and myself.

“S-so, what kind of talk requires this b-bribe?”

“Bribe? Can’t an instructor give something to a student?”

“…Wouldn’t a-anyone be suspicious?”

“We’ve known each other for a month now, haven’t we?”

“With barely any c-conversation.”

“The important thing is that we know each other.”

“Is that so?”

She looked at me skeptically, but the aroma of the unsealed tteokbokki made her drop her guard.

“Oh? R-rosé tteokbokki?”

Did you think I wouldn’t know your taste?

She liked regular tteokbokki too, but she much preferred the rosé tteokbokki from a franchise known for its spiciness.

“Eat up.”

“I’ll e-enjoy it.”

I separated the wooden chopsticks and handed them to her, and she immediately started eating the orange-colored tteokbokki.

Slurp.

As I watched her eat, her lips gradually began to swell.

She started sweating from the spiciness and flapped her hood.

Loving spicy food yet not being able to handle it well was consistent in both the novel and reality.

“Here, banana milk.”

I didn’t forget to insert the straw for her.

“…Th-thank you.”

Her Adam’s apple moved constantly as she put her lips on the straw. She drank hurriedly to cool down the burning sensation.

“Whew. D-delicious.”

“I’m glad.”

“How did you know my p-preference to buy this?”

“Just a coincidence. I’m quite fond of rosé tteokbokki and banana milk too.”

“I see…”

In truth, I wasn’t particularly fond of spicy food.

I couldn’t understand why people would eat food that caused them pain.

“But why are you b-building up to something? What did you want to t-tell me?”

Watching her suck on the straw, I hesitated briefly before speaking softly.

“…There might be someone approaching you with impure intentions soon. If that happens, don’t try to fight them—run away.”

“What? What do you m-mean…?”

“Here. This is my number.”

I handed her a piece of paper. She took it, looking puzzled.

“Call me immediately if there’s a problem. I’ll come running.”

If Yu Ari tries to solve the problem alone, it will only escalate.

They will definitely try to trigger her trauma.

“I don’t understand w-what you’re talking about.”

“Even if you don’t understand, promise me. It will definitely help you.”

In the novel, Yu Ari’s downfall began when she “severed a classmate’s arm” due to Akcheon’s scheme.

Although Yu Ari’s actions were later recognized as self-defense, this incident branded her as a psychopath, causing her significant mental distress.

And it didn’t end there. Akcheon spread malice to the other Special Class students as well.

For example, destroying Bin Yooni’s desperate research. Or breaking and stealing the sword that Yeon Muhui cherished.

By provoking them in such ways, they turned them into “perpetrators.”

As the Special Class’s image completely collapsed and problems escalated, Akcheon slithered up like a snake and extended a hand to Yu Ari.

Yu Ari, mentally the weakest, took that hand.

With her life already ruined, she decided she might as well live as a villain.

That was the catalyst for the first Special Class student’s departure.

So I planned to act before that catalyst could even be provided.

“…You want me not to f-fight even if someone attacks me?”

“Yes. Call me instead.”

“Hmm… Okay. I don’t r-really like fighting anyway. I’ll do that.”

Despite her suspicions, she nodded readily. I smiled and pointed at the tteokbokki.

“Good girl. Finish your tteokbokki.”

“I’m… not good…”

Yu Ari mumbled while eating the tteokbokki.

“No. You are good. Only people who don’t really know you would say otherwise.”

“You don’t know me well either, Instructor.”

It was a cold, sharp response.

This wasn’t because I was being too friendly, but clearly stemmed from self-loathing about her past.

She knew that no one would stay close to her if they knew about her past.

But you know what?

I know all about that past.

I’m approaching you despite knowing everything. Because I know you’re not a bad person.

“Then would you tell me about yourself from now on?”

“…You’ll be d-disappointed if I tell you.”

“I won’t be disappointed.”

“Still… I d-don’t want to talk about it.”

“That’s fine. If you don’t want to talk, there’s nothing I can do. But I hope someday we can become close enough to share our secrets.”

“That probably… w-won’t happen… Even my parents abandoned me…”

She spoke as if talking to herself, then belatedly realized what she’d said and panicked. She waved her hands trying to recover, but only stumbled over her words more.

“Ah! Aah! I mean! Th-this is…! I mean…!”

“No need to panic.”

I grabbed her shoulder. Yu Ari looked up at me blankly.

“You did nothing wrong, and you never will. I’ll make sure of that.”

“What does that… C-come to think of it, you knew about my t-trauma, didn’t you?”

“Hmm. I’m not sure about that.”

I evaded the question, thinking it was too early to discuss that.

I removed my hand from her shoulder and smiled.

“Anyway, I’ll scold you when you do wrong, but I’ll never give up on you or abandon you. No matter what happens. So I hope you can trust and rely on me.”

Right now, I’m the only one who can help you.

Even if you’re suspicious now, someday you’ll reach for my hand.