Ch.255250 – Mutation

A meticulously straight-cut bangs, as if measured with a ruler.

The sideburns that stuck out well below the ears and the overall shaggy hair created what was commonly known as a “bowl cut” style.

“Wow…”

“This was actually trendy back in the day.”

“They say fashion comes and goes, but I don’t think I’ve seen this hairstyle even recently.”

“Hahaha! What about this one? Doesn’t the professor look even more hideous here?”

“Hey, calling it ‘hideous’ is a bit harsh…”

While the denim-on-denim boom briefly flashed in the early 2030s, bowl cuts have never actually come into fashion to this day.

That’s why Professor Cheon Kyu-jin’s elementary school graduation photo from 2007 came across as quite shocking.

Looking closely, you could find traces of his current appearance here and there.

Especially his prominent brow ridge and sharp eyes, unusual for a Korean.

Despite his somewhat eccentric hairstyle, considering the era, he had handsome features that would likely have been quite popular with girls. He was also taller than the other children.

I had expected to see a mischievous childhood image, but it seems Professor Cheon was destined to become a professor from birth.

“No way, he was such a jerk back then.”

“A jerk?”

“He knew he was good-looking and constantly showed off in front of us.”

“That’s hard to imagine. And yet he’s always telling me to be more humble.”

Talk about hypocrisy. Is this some kind of self-hatred?

According to Principal Gu On-yu, Professor Cheon ruled over the Academy’s elementary division like a king.

With outstanding academic performance, he won over all the teachers to his side. When there was a class he didn’t want to attend, he would openly put his head down and sleep, or skip class to play soccer with middle school seniors.

Despite this, he was also popular among friends, earning him the title of being absolutely unrivaled in heaven and earth.

The graduation album listed various activities conducted in the elementary division.

Career exploration, sports day, academy competitions, school festivals, field trips, and so on.

“Actually, the elementary album isn’t that interesting. The real deal is this—’Middle School’! What do you think, NoName? Aren’t you curious?”

The principal, who seemed determined to embarrass Professor Cheon, quickly closed the elementary album.

If we had turned just one more page, we would have seen the class photo with Principal Gu… I pretended not to notice as I could guess the reason.

[I attended Cephiron Academy through middle school. But it didn’t really suit me, so I left the academy and graduated from a regular high school.]

When Professor Cheon first recommended the academy to me, he mentioned that he had completed middle school there before transferring to a regular high school.

Cheon Byong-ho, valedictorian of Cephiron Academy’s elementary division.

His face flashed by one last time on the final page of the album.

*tap*

“Principal, why didn’t Professor Cheon continue to the academy’s high school?”

I looked up at her.

Since Principal Gu On-yu was looking down at me, our faces were upside down to each other.

She wiped the smile from her lips as she opened the album.

“Because he became a fool.”

* * *

Gu On-yu, Student Council President of Cephiron Academy’s middle school division, and Cheon Byong-ho, Vice President.

All eight national academies praised the 1995-born students as the true golden generation, but what made Cephiron Academy stand out was the presence of Gu On-yu and Cheon Byong-ho.

For their contribution in leading the victory against the northern Altair Academy, they were selected as the only candidates and elected with 98.1% approval as soon as they became third-year students.

With mature physiques and outstanding appearances that seemed beyond middle school age, whenever they appeared in a photo, cheers erupted from everywhere as if watching a real-time high-teen romance movie.

Because of this, rumors spread that the student council room was actually their secret dating spot—on a spring day in April.

The grade director of Cephiron Academy visited the student council room to deliver important news.

“A transfer student will be coming around 4 PM, so please show them around after class. You’re both not busy today, right?”

“A transfer student? Our school accepts transfers?”

“Well… I didn’t know either, but apparently so? They’re coming as a third-year middle schooler like you two. They’re small but not someone to be taken lightly, so don’t bully them, okay? And you two! I’ve been hearing rumors about you dating. I’m keeping my eyes wide open, so don’t get any funny ideas! Got it?”

“Teacher! We’re not like that!”

“What’s the transfer student’s name?”

“It’s a name you both probably know. But this kid is kind of…”

The grade director looked around cautiously, then leaned in very close to the middle school students and whispered.

“A complete and utter weirdo.”

* * *

Even in the same world, there seem to be people who live in completely different realms.

Most friends used to say that about Gu On-yu herself and Cheon Byong-ho.

Gu On-yu had always denied it, but now she felt she had to agree with that opinion.

Especially regarding this cute girl with a hime cut and pink lace ribbons dangling all over her hair.

No matter how many times she called the girl’s name, there was no response—just a gaping mouth.

Her eyes were completely unfocused.

Her mind seemed to have departed to another dimension entirely.

“Ham Cho-rong.”

“…”

“Ham Cho-rong! Ham Cho-rong Ham Cho-rong Ham Cho-rong Ham Cho-rong!”

“?”

“I called your name, why aren’t you answering…!”

“I already did earlier. Do I have to do it again?”

“When did you answer! This is so frustrating!”

Gu On-yu couldn’t believe it.

‘How on earth is this person supposed to be a genius?’

But her credentials on television were superhuman.

Four years ago, at just 11 years old, Ham Cho-rong completed a double major in Theoretical Resonance Studies and Philosophy at Seyeon University in just 16 months.

Two years ago, she developed a Korean standard ‘B++’ grade innate magic, and last year, she made it to the semifinals of the National Martial Arts Competition by turning all her fearsome seniors into pancakes.

While they were exchanging basic magic with Altair Academy middle schoolers, she had proven her strength in an official national competition.

In other words, among those under 18, she was an overwhelming powerhouse ranking in the top four in Korea.

A human mutation.

Pale drool leaked from the corner of her mouth.

“Hrrp? Slurp.”

“This must be a dream… it has to be a dream…! Arrrgh!”

While Gu On-yu was pulling her hair and denying reality, Cheon Byong-ho approached the girl and asked a question.

“What… were you looking at?”

Her eyes weren’t unfocused after all.

Her pupils showed small but consistent movements.

“Sky, cloud shapes, sunlight.”

“Is she just stupid?”

“Right to light. That building violates construction law. 5 million won fine.”

“Huh?”

“Chair direction, backpack, chocolate, Polaroid photo, stockings, you like this boy? His name is… Gu On-yu. You are… Cheon Byong-ho.”

Ham Cho-rong had figured out each student’s name from the name tag on the desk pencil case and the vest hanging on the coat rack in the corner of the student council room.

A genius has deep contemplation.

It took time for her brain to process the overwhelming amount of information.

In an instant, not only had she analyzed the entire small student council room, but she had also exposed Gu On-yu’s feelings that she had kept secret from Cheon Byong-ho.

“Hey! We just met, can’t you shut your mouth?”

Gu On-yu reached out to cover the girl’s mouth as she chattered non-stop.

That’s when it happened.

Gu On-yu had the illusion that cherry blossom petals were floating all around the world.

Small leaves created a vortex that wrapped around her arm.

The moment Gu On-yu’s fingertips touched Ham Cho-rong’s cheek, the vortex exploded.

“Huh?”

Her body spun counterclockwise and flew to the other side of the student council room.

“Kyaaaaaaah!”

“Hey! Gu On-yu!”

“Huh?”

Cheon Byong-ho quickly got up and rushed to her, while Ham Cho-rong, who had just been blinking, finally realized her mistake.

Fortunately, a pile of empty boxes prepared for the sports day cushioned the impact.

Gu On-yu managed to get up, clutching her hip and waist area.

“What are you? Are you trying to kill me?”

“No, I’m really sorry, On-yu.”

“Sorry doesn’t cut it!”

“Then do you want to fight me?”

“W-what?”

That pink aura flickered again from her right hand.

Gu On-yu suddenly remembered what the grade director had said.

‘A complete and utter weirdo…’

Her clear eyes were still sparkling brightly.

That was their first meeting with Ham Cho-rong.

* * *

“No way…”

“Definitely…”

They were speechless after watching Ham Cho-rong’s practice match with the grade director in the gymnasium.

When asked why she had crawled back to the academy despite having earned a university degree, her answer was even more outrageous.

[Because my parents told me to. My goal this year is to win the National Martial Arts Competition.]

Just how greedy were her parents?

Her parents had defined Ham Cho-rong’s semifinal elimination as a “blemish on her life.”

That was obviously absurd.

Many students prepared for that competition from the moment they entered high school.

To participate in such a competition with only a few months of preparation, achieve a semifinal result, and still not be satisfied—demanding victory instead.

Gu On-yu and Cheon Byong-ho couldn’t shake the feeling that this was child abuse.

“Have you seen Ham Cho-rong on variety shows?”

“Yes.”

“Then you must have seen her parents too.”

“With the gold necklaces.”

“Right. The people wearing those weird leopard-print coats.”

When they were younger, they just thought she was born into a luxurious family, but as they grew older, they could see the reality.

Her parents were nouveau riche.

And even that money was likely earned through Ham Cho-rong.

The fact that both parents were non-mages and day laborers was even more shocking.

Ham Cho-rong truly deserved the title of “mutation.”

“I’m going to go fight her once.”

“What? Cheon Byong-ho, are you crazy? You’ll really get hurt!”

“I’m curious. Where does that kind of power come from.”

Ham Cho-rong never did anything moderately.

There aren’t many people in the country who would fight desperately as if being chased by a robber when told to practice like it’s the real thing.

The problem was that Cheon Byong-ho was also that type of person.

“Well… be careful… don’t get hurt.”

Gu On-yu would come to regret not stopping Cheon Byong-ho that day,

And Cheon Byong-ho, feeling the humiliation of his first overwhelming defeat, would continue to challenge Ham Cho-rong.