Ch.254249 – Conflict

“Did you think raising a child was easy? It was hard enough raising Se-min alone.”

“But Father, while I understand your feelings, I can’t help but think that’s actually detrimental to forming attachments with your children.”

Professor Cheon Kyu-jin had been pacing around the living room with his hands behind his back for a good 10 minutes now.

‘Is letting NoName be free really what’s best for her?’

He despised the word “constraint” more than anything in the world.

There was nothing more horrifying than forcibly molding a child’s life to fit others’ values.

That’s why Professor Cheon always prioritized NoName’s opinions and believed a guardian’s role was simply to quietly support their child from behind to prevent them from falling.

But this time, the video NoName uploaded was far beyond what Professor Cheon could handle.

Click-

NoName, just discharged from the hospital, changed into indoor clothes and came out to the living room.

It couldn’t have taken 10 minutes just to unpack and change clothes.

The complexity of her feelings was evident in her expression.

“NoName, could you come here for a moment?”

“… Didn’t we finish that conversation in the car?”

NoName squinted one eye, openly expressing her displeasure.

On the way home, Professor Cheon had asked NoName to take down the video she uploaded.

For half an hour, their positions remained irreconcilable.

NoName had logically explained her intentions behind uploading the video, but this time Professor Cheon couldn’t back down.

This was about NoName’s safety.

“I’d like you to take down the video, even now.”

“I won’t. I told you already. It wasn’t uploaded impulsively—I filmed it after careful consideration.”

Professor Cheon pressed his temple as if he had a headache.

Had NoName always been this stubborn?

‘There was that one time. When she challenged her final exam results.’

But that was because her rationality was in overdrive due to mana withdrawal symptoms. NoName showing such intense emotions in normal circumstances was unprecedented.

Perhaps his persuasion wasn’t sufficient and wasn’t getting through to the child.

Professor Cheon slowly explained the situation to NoName again.

“I’m not saying what you’re saying is wrong. I’m sure you had your reasons. But not everyone is as smart as you, NoName. Why do ski athletes wear safety equipment? Because they might fall and get hurt?”

“…”

“It’s because beginners might crash into them. There’s a limit to how much I can protect you. You need to be careful too, right?”

“I don’t really know what skiing is.”

“Sigh…”

NoName deliberately pretended not to understand and turned her head away sharply.

Professor Cheon held his head in his hands as the conversation returned to square one.

Walpurgis is a terrorist organization of fanatics.

He understood her desire for revenge, but NoName was still young and vulnerable.

Professor Cheon was frustrated that the child kept forgetting she was someone who needed protection and continued to escalate matters beyond control.

“NoName.”

At his lowered voice, NoName flinched and looked up at him.

She apparently hadn’t expected Professor Cheon to take such a hard line.

“Yes.”

“Delete the video.”

“No.”

“Am I asking too much of you right now?”

“No…”

“This is much more serious than you think. Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

“I know very well—”

Buzz-

Professor Cheon’s phone, placed on the living room table, vibrated.

NoName glanced at it to check the caller.

[Congressman Bae Seong-jun]

Until now, Professor Cheon had been responsible for handling all contacts regarding NoName.

It’s unimaginable how many calls must have been exchanged recently.

Feeling guilty, NoName’s resolve weakened a bit.

Professor Cheon flipped the phone over to end the call and continued lecturing NoName.

“The world isn’t a game, NoName. You only have one life.”

“I know that much. I’m not stupid.”

“Can you take responsibility for those words? I heard soldiers guarding the borders have been on alert since yesterday. Why? Because nations must always prepare for contingencies. The world doesn’t always flow according to convenience. If, hypothetically, war breaks out and people blame you, could you accept that?”

“…”

“NoName, I wish you’d be a little more humble. There are so many people around you who recognize your abilities. There’s no need to create friction by involving others.”

“Professor, I’m not trying to create friction. Rather, since we don’t know what they’re plotting, I meant we should all be vigilant—”

“NoName! Wake up!”

Professor Cheon finally raised his voice and rebuked her firmly.

No matter what legitimate reasons NoName presented, Professor Cheon could only see it as obstinacy.

There were dozens of ways to appeal for collective vigilance that came to mind for Professor Cheon.

“Based on NoName’s very low scores, she tends to ignore pain unless it’s a serious illness.”

“The child reported experiencing depersonalization where she feels her thoughts aren’t her own, delusions of being controlled by someone, and occasional hallucinations and visions.”

The child genuinely seemed to be under the delusion that she was strong.

As if she were enjoying the status of being ranked #1 in a game.

Perhaps she’s intoxicated with a sense of power because she’s never experienced a painful defeat.

Though she’d gained a little weight on her skinny frame recently, NoName’s physique was still among the smallest at school.

Moreover, perhaps due to the influence of virtual reality games, her personality was surprisingly combative.

NoName’s intention in the video wasn’t like that at all.

‘Could she actually be harboring a desire for Walpurgis to really come find her?’

She needed to be thoroughly disciplined.

He couldn’t lose family for the same reason again.

“Don’t be mistaken, NoName. You’re only eight years old. An eight-year-old sick patient! Do you understand what I’m saying? In society, you’re still just a fragile child!”

A vivid blue aura seeped out from Professor Cheon.

As the aura, tinged with cold anger, spread and pressed down on NoName,

NoName likewise emitted her own golden aura, mercilessly evaporating Professor Cheon’s aura.

Her unwavering, resolute gaze clearly signified defiance.

“NoName, withdraw your aura.”

“You withdraw yours first, Professor Cheon.”

“Don’t make me say it twice. Put away your aura now.”

“I’m not weak. I know myself best, not you, Professor. Don’t judge me arbitrarily. We’ve only known each other for a year.”

NoName’s final statement was the trigger that made Professor Cheon explode.

The pure white aura created by Professor Cheon swirled violently like a blizzard.

The beautiful blue light from earlier was nowhere to be seen.

The golden energy froze solid in the storm.

NoName’s aura, having lost its light, scattered into the air and disappeared without a trace.

An alarm sounded in the apartment, and transparent liquid sprayed from the sprinklers on the living room ceiling.

Since neither clothes nor skin got wet, it must have been a substance close to mana form.

Instantly, the atmospheric mana concentration returned to normal.

NoName remained still, not blinking once, quietly grinding her teeth.

She looked at her school uniform sprawled on the sofa, grabbed the entire hanger, and ran to the entrance.

Cramming her feet into soft yellow shoes, she glanced back slightly.

“I’m going to school.”

At 2 PM, when others would already be heading home from school, NoName left the house.

* * *

How petty to try to compete with the amount of aura.

This makes me feel like I lost the battle of wills. I can’t hide my irritation.

I fully understand that Professor Cheon got angry out of concern.

But when he called me weak, I couldn’t suppress the emotions that were bubbling up.

In my previous life, I didn’t have any real friends.

Therefore, the achievements I made with sword and magic were the fruits of my lifelong efforts and my life companions.

Someone says it’s good that I can start over from the beginning?

If there’s an idiot who says such nonsense, I’d break into their house and immediately delete all their game accounts.

After the argument with Professor Cheon, nothing much happened.

I ran into some academy kids along the way and greeted them cheerfully as if nothing had happened.

I soothed my gloomy mood in the empty 2nd grade Class A classroom with Teacher Jacqueline Carroll, who hadn’t gone home yet.

She didn’t ask why I came to school.

Perhaps she had already guessed from my expression.

The academy was the perfect place for runaway children.

With lockers in the small classroom and even a cot with blankets and pillows, it was perfect.

I sat by the window where warm sunlight poured in like stars and endlessly admired the scenery outside the academy.

“I need to head home now… shouldn’t NoName go home too?”

“I’ll go after staying a bit longer.”

“Hmm… how about going to the principal’s office?”

I accepted her suggestion out of consideration for the homeroom teacher who needed to lock the classroom.

When I knocked on the principal’s door, Principal Gu On-yu welcomed me with a bright smile.

From there, I could tell she had already been contacted by Professor Cheon.

She offered me the small bedroom next to the principal’s office.

I enjoyed a small escape by going in and out of the principal’s office, binge-reading comics.

Eventually, even that became too much effort, so from the next day, I just sat on the floor of the principal’s office.

“Principal, why have you never read such interesting comics?”

Principal Gu On-yu’s hand paused briefly from her paperwork.

“Do you find them interesting, NoName?”

“Yes, there’s a reason they’re called masterpieces.”

“Which scene did you find most interesting while reading?”

That habit of answering a question with another question was something I personally really disliked, but since I didn’t expect an answer to my question either, I let it slide.

“Rather than a scene, there was a line that resonated with me. It said humans grow dark-hearted if they don’t talk to someone every day, even if it’s just idle chatter. And that humans naturally feel a sense of connection when talking to someone, making them grateful for being alive.”

“That’s really nice.”

“Yes.”

It might be a bit cringeworthy to enjoy at my age, but I could feel the unique charm of Japanese manga that inserts such heart-tickling lines.

“Principal, do you… think I’m not humble enough?”

“Why? Why wouldn’t NoName be humble?”

“Just that I seem to have heard such things often before.”

Lately, I could often find phrases like “chosen people mentality” or “showing off” in the hate comments on VTube.

Hearing similar advice even from Professor Cheon, who was closest to me, doubled the wound in my heart.

“Do your friends say that about you?”

“Not friends… I heard it from someone I know indirectly.”

Looking back on relationships in my previous life, this was always what held me back.

In the end, I never really became close with anyone.

Most were either blindly loyal to me like Luri, or disappointed and left like Cloud.

I heard the same from most noble ladies in social circles.

Back then, I dismissed it thinking people were just jealous and envious of my abilities, but lately I’ve started to think that might not be entirely true.

I can’t escape the cycle of superficial relationships.

Am I just a person with a glossy exterior after all?

Tap-

A sound breaking my contemplation.

Principal Gu On-yu pushed aside the stack of documents to one side of the desk and stood up.

The sound of her shoes clicked regularly.

She sat behind me, grabbed my shoulders, and made my body lean back.

Somehow I ended up lying with my head on her lap.

“2nd grade Class A student NoName.”

“Yes?”

“At times like this, you should just honestly say you’re lonely.”

“Loneliness… it feels a bit different, but maybe similar in the broader sense.”

“Is that so? I think they’re the same thing, but I’m not sure.”

I opened my mouth to explain it to her precisely, but then closed it again.

Principal Gu On-yu didn’t seem to want to hear such trivial talk from me.

Suddenly, she leaned forward and pulled out a thick book from the bottom shelf of the bookcase.

She dusted off the accumulated dust with her hand and showed it to me. It looked like an old book at first glance.

“Academy yearbook?”

“Doesn’t this look much more interesting? Professor Cheon Kyu-jin is in here too.”

“Wow!”

What a cheat key…!

I sparkled my eyes and nodded my head up and down enthusiastically.

The principal gave a meaningful smile and slowly turned the cover.

This confirmed that Professor Cheon Kyu-jin and Principal Gu On-yu were enemies in their youth.