Ch.256251 – Projection

# Cephiron Academy Middle School Graduation Ceremony.

Children receiving bouquets from parents and friends are sharing memories, reflecting on their three years together.

Meanwhile, a boy and girl were strolling through the deserted garden behind the gymnasium.

The “garden” was actually just an empty field scheduled for construction, without a single flower in sight.

This was part of this year’s student council project, transforming unused land into a garden for students.

By next year, after the graduating third-year students who initiated the project have moved on, this place will likely be filled with lilac flowers.

“Wow, now the real hell begins! Welcome to hell! This place was already hellish, but I wonder how much harder it’ll be beyond those walls!”

Boarding was mandatory starting from high school.

Gu On-yu stretched widely as she reminisced about the past three years.

The graduation speech was ultimately assigned to Gu On-yu, who ranked first overall.

This was partly because Cheon Byong-ho’s practical skills grades had fallen significantly due to his accumulated defeats from repeatedly challenging Ham Cho-rong in both practice and actual competitions.

Cheon Byong-ho remained silent as usual.

Their relationship had always consisted of On-yu chattering away while he responded with indifference.

That distance between them never narrowed throughout their three years in middle school.

On-yu steeled herself and grabbed his hand.

“Stop for a moment.”

“?”

“Do you… have someone you like?”

“Why are you suddenly asking that?”

“Well, you know. You get so many confessions from seniors and even juniors, but you never accept any of them… Honestly, I’ve even wondered if you might like guys.”

On-yu said while twirling her hair nervously.

“What nonsense are you talking about now? On-yu, stop reading BL.”

“Hey! I don’t read that stuff! Those weren’t my books! My friend just asked me to hold them during room inspections!”

“Is that so?”

“Believe what you want… So really, is there someone you like?”

“I’m not telling you. But why do you ask?”

“Because… I like you…”

On-yu hung her head and closed her eyes.

She’d finally said it.

On-yu’s heart was beyond racing—it was about to explode.

Isn’t the guy supposed to confess first?

She had scraped together every ounce of courage she’d accumulated since birth and poured it into this moment.

‘Say something, anything!’

Maybe I shouldn’t have closed my eyes.

On-yu briefly regretted her decision.

Rustle-

“…?”

“…!”

But that moment passed quickly as she sensed someone else’s presence besides Cheon Byong-ho, forcing her to look up.

Just like in movies or anime, an interruption had to appear at this critical confession moment, making her burn with frustration.

The person who appeared before them was none other than Ham Cho-rong.

“My role is to be an example and help the next generation! I’d gladly risk my life with a smile for that! Isn’t that what makes being older cool? Wahaha! Congratulations on graduating, kids!”

Ham Cho-rong expressed her graduation sentiments in an eccentric way, quoting an animation character.

Contrary to expectations that Cheon Byong-ho would respond with a stern face, he smiled brightly and replied in the same manner.

“You are undoubtedly the child of prophecy. Right?”

“Oh, Byong-ho, you watched that scene too! I’ll leave everything else in your hands!”

On-yu was completely bewildered, having no idea what they were talking about.

But through Cheon Byong-ho’s genuine smile toward Ham Cho-rong, his deep dimples, and his crescent moon-shaped eyes, she could understand one thing clearly.

“By the way, On-yu, there’s something I haven’t told you yet.”

Whatever came out of Cheon Byong-ho’s mouth, it wouldn’t be the answer On-yu wanted.

“Actually, I’ve decided not to continue to high school here. So let’s pretend I didn’t hear what you just said.”

* * *

I finally understood why Principal Gu On-yu wanted to show me the middle school graduation album.

From the sports festival to combat practice sessions to school trips.

I could find numerous photos of Professor Cheon looking disheveled, as if he’d been rolling on the ground dozens of times.

It was hard to match these images with Professor Cheon’s usually composed demeanor.

“Isn’t it funny, Name? He left for a regular high school because he didn’t want to enter the dormitory. This guy even took the GED to get into university.”

From the moment Ham Cho-rong won the National Martial Arts Competition with help from Academy teachers, she no longer had reason to stay at the Academy.

Professor Cheon Kyu-jin also left the Academy following her, and Principal Gu On-yu said she only met them again years later when they became adults.

“Professor Cheon once told me that he had someone he considered marrying, but it wasn’t meant to be.”

“Yes.”

“Was it this person?”

“Well… I suppose so.”

The principal quietly nodded.

“When I heard that Professor Cheon suddenly had a daughter, I was really surprised. I was also curious about how you two became connected.”

“So you recognized me at the entrance ceremony.”

“Yes, that’s when I first saw you. Name, Professor Cheon is truly a pitiful person. He’s lived receiving all kinds of love, but ultimately lost everything he loved. So I hope you understand that when he said those things, it was because he cares deeply for you. Isn’t that level of concern normal between family members?”

“Family… I’m not sure…”

My head throbbed momentarily.

It’s not like I don’t know about Ham Cho-rong.

The PDs and writers on “Genius Discovery” mentioned her so often that I looked her up frequently.

If she was Professor Cheon’s fiancée…

The ending was certainly tragic.

‘Air Algeria Flight 8318 Bombing Incident.’

In 2024, the year the Fifth Middle East War ended with the collapse of Republican Mage ideology, about a week before Christmas, the incident occurred.

The defeated Libyan side planted a bomb in the cargo hold that exploded and crashed Ham Cho-rong’s aircraft at an altitude of 10,000 meters over the mana-scarce Sahara Desert.

Meticulously, they discovered her parents’ home address through a broadcast program she appeared in, and used this to blackmail her into taking that specific flight.

All 189 passengers died.

But unlike what was publicly known, there must have been a pregnant woman aboard.

So the death toll would be 190, including the unborn baby.

“Whose image is Professor Cheon projecting onto me?”

* * *

[You’re on a plane now? I thought you hadn’t finished your work in Africa?]

[Something urgent came up in Korea!]

[What could be so urgent?]

[Um… my parents seem to be unwell. I think I need to go see them quickly, hehe…]

[Just for that? Or should I go take care of them instead?]

[No no no no! Really, there’s no need! You must be tired from your work in America, so rest well and treat me to lots of delicious food when we meet! I want something sweet like crepes or patbingsu.]

[You don’t like sweet things.]

[I might not like them, but our baby probably does.]

[What?]

[Ah! I was going to keep it a secret! Can’t help it now. I got two lines, Byong-ho! Kyaa, I said it!]

It was a nightmare.

A nightmare that had tormented Cheon Kyu-jin for 27 long years.

Even before the waves of time, his nightmare remained intact.

According to Teacher Baek Bonggon, he was still trapped in the past, unable to escape.

5:30 AM.

An awkward time to try going back to sleep.

He went to the kitchen and quenched his thirst with cold water.

“Haah…”

He shifted his steps slightly to the side.

Name’s room door next to the living room was wide open, and there was no human warmth to be found there.

For three days now, she hadn’t come home.

She had spent two whole nights at the Academy.

What on earth was Principal Gu On-yu doing instead of persuading her?

If there was still no contact today, Professor Cheon planned to go to the Academy himself to bring Name home.

But he had no idea how to start the conversation with Name.

‘Should I apologize first? Or should I scold her more firmly?’

Everything was clumsy, and raising a child was new to him, making each day increasingly perplexing.

Then he received a message from Principal Gu On-yu.

[Gu On-yu: (Sent a photo.)]

[Gu On-yu: Name sleeping ♡]

[Gu On-yu: Look at those squishy cheeks, stretchy like mozzarella! ♡♡♡]

Professor Cheon’s index finger moved involuntarily to check the message.

[Gu On-yu: Oh, you’re checking right away? What’s this old man doing up so creepily at dawn?]

[Cheon Kyu-jin: How’s Name?]

[Gu On-yu: How could you mistreat such an angel? She’s too cute, can I just keep her?]

[Cheon Kyu-jin: Stop talking nonsense.]

[Cheon Kyu-jin: Send her home today.]

[Gu On-yu: What are you talking about? You should come here.]

[Gu On-yu: Today is the parent observation day. Aren’t you coming? Name will be so sad…]

[Cheon Kyu-jin: How am I supposed to know when I can’t receive the school newsletter in this situation?]

[Gu On-yu: lol Everyone uses apps for that now. You’re showing your age.]

Parent observation day would be an event where parents of elementary school students attend.

Most would be in their 30s, all young enough to be Professor Cheon’s children.

It was questionable whether Name would even appreciate having a lone 50-year-old man among all those young people.

[Gu On-yu: What are you saying? These days even grandparents come.]

[Gu On-yu: Oh right lol Name told me something really interesting, doesn’t she tell you?]

[Cheon Kyu-jin: What is it.]

[Gu On-yu: Name got a confession from a classmate.]

‘Name did?’

His grip on the phone tightened.

Professor Cheon Kyu-jin suddenly had a compelling reason to attend the parent observation day.

[Gu On-yu: Feeling crushed, aren’t you?]