Ch.26Chapter 1. Heroes Are Those Who Overcome Unreasonableness (3)

Monday.

The library is closed, so it’s my day off, and I could just stay home and rest while reading the books I’ve borrowed.

But I deliberately put on a suit and came to the Academy’s main building.

Not to tour the Academy, but to check on my “target.”

Murmurs and chatter.

Many people in similar uniforms are heading toward the auditorium.

The auditorium, which can accommodate over 2,000 people, is where major events at the Academy are held, and today it’s where the “entrance ceremony” will take place.

Normally, it would just be an ordinary entrance ceremony, but this year will be quite different from previous ones.

“Will that person appear when they introduce the instructors today?”

“Ahh. Snow White… To think she’s coming as an instructor this year. I’m so happy.”

“To be able to attend lectures by an S-class, the strongest ice-type ability user at that. Whew, I made the right decision to postpone graduation for a year…!”

Everyone attending the entrance ceremony and those who came to watch are extremely interested in one woman’s presence.

Baek Seol-hee.

Snow White.

Waaaaaah!

Just by taking her seat inside the auditorium with other faculty members, dressed in a formal suit, she’s receiving cheers from many people.

‘She seems uncomfortable.’

Baek Seol-hee nodded lightly in response to the people before quietly settling into her chair.

While she must be used to receiving cheers as a hero, it seems quite awkward for her to receive them as a “teacher.”

‘Oh.’

A familiar face steps onto the stage.

“Ah, before we begin the entrance ceremony…”

Student Council President Yoon Yi-seon took the microphone and began speaking.

Usually, even for an entrance ceremony, a faculty member would typically serve as the MC, but I suppose they assigned this official event to the student council president because of her outstanding abilities.

“The order of the entrance ceremony will be…”

While Yoon Yi-seon was explaining the order of the ceremony, a text message arrived on my smartphone.

[Hey.]

[Ji-hwan.]

[Please help me.]

“…?”

It’s Baek Seol-hee.

Of all people, Baek Seol-hee is asking me for help.

“Ah, are you available to talk?”

I immediately called Baek Seol-hee, but the call was quickly rejected.

“What’s going on?”

A single message: I can’t take calls right now.

Suspecting she might be texting secretly, I immediately sent a message.

[Are you texting without others knowing?]

[I’m texting without others knowing, so please communicate by text.]

“Ah.”

Our messages crossed.

My message was received the moment I sent it, and the same probably happened for Baek Seol-hee.

[What’s the matter?]

[They’re asking me to give a congratulatory speech.]

[A speech?]

I looked up.

“The order of the entrance ceremony is as follows…”

There was no mention of Baek Seol-hee’s speech in the order Yoon Yi-seon was announcing.

The fact that she’s talking about a speech now probably means someone casually suggested on the spot, “Why doesn’t Snow White give a speech?”

‘That’s troublesome.’

Even when running for class president, one would prepare a speech for at least a few minutes, but asking someone to suddenly give a speech at a large-scale event like an entrance ceremony, especially one being broadcast live with reporters from media outlets present, is absurd.

But [Snow White] has to do it.

[The Chancellor suddenly asked me to do it TT]

[Wasn’t it scheduled?]

[Not at all.]

“Hmm…”

For Baek Seol-hee, this must be beyond awkward—it must be maddening.

Baek Seol-hee doesn’t often engage in public activities for a hero—except for being invited as a figurehead at official government events—and she’s not someone who speaks well in front of people.

As a result, improvising a speech on the spot is practically impossible for her.

While she may have S-class talent in her ability, in other areas, she develops skills through effort.

In other words, speeches or congratulatory addresses are not easy for her.

[Do you know any good phrases I could use for a speech? Even something simple would help.]

“Well, this is something.”

To think I’d be coaching Baek Seol-hee on her speech.

‘What should I do?’

I could just ignore her and say I don’t know, or stall for time by saying I’ll look into it.

If Baek Seol-hee messes up her speech, people will surely mock and insult her, which would naturally increase her disillusionment with others.

I could use that opportunity to infiltrate and corrupt Baek Seol-hee into becoming a member of the Syndicate.

But.

‘My empathy level is really troublesome at times like this.’

I can’t bear to see it.

I can’t bear to see Baek Seol-hee humiliated during her speech.

When watching movies or dramas, I’m the type who can’t stand seeing the protagonist or characters in embarrassing situations.

Baek Seol-hee being ridiculed for messing up a speech would be no different from me being caught naked after my transformation wears off and receiving jeers from people.

And since Baek Seol-hee has asked for my help, since a woman has asked for my assistance, and since I can provide that help, I can’t just ignore it.

“She’ll probably buy me a meal or something to thank me.”

Or perhaps, when my identity is revealed later, she might think, ‘Do Ji-hwan helped me with my speech.’

Such goodwill could stack up, and eventually, when I’m caught by Snow White, it might help me survive or save my life.

So.

[I’ll send you a simple outline by text.]

I gripped my smartphone and began typing rapidly.

* * *

A little while later.

As the entrance ceremony was reaching its final stages.

“…With that, I would like to conclude the entrance ceremony, but.”

The Chancellor gestured slightly behind him.

“On behalf of those newly joining our faculty this year, one person simply must say a few words to you new students. Now, Snow White. Would you come up and say something?”

The students and observers, who had been waiting for the Chancellor’s boring speech to end, turned all their attention to Snow White sitting on the stage.

“…Yes.”

As Baek Seol-hee rose from her seat, camera shutters began to click rapidly.

Like a celebrity at a press conference, everyone began to scrutinize Baek Seol-hee.

“New students.”

Baek Seol-hee glanced at her Taegeuk Watch, then began speaking in a low voice.

“What do you think heroes fight against?”

The new students tilted their heads at the welcome speech that began with a question.

“Villains who abuse their abilities? Those who let their powers run wild? Evil organizations hiding around the world? Or perhaps, as some people claim, extraterrestrial or otherworldly beings that might someday visit Earth? Everyone will have different thoughts. I would like to say this.”

Silence fell over the entire auditorium.

“Heroes are those who fight against ‘unreasonableness.'”

Unreasonableness.

Everyone tilted their heads at this unfamiliar term, which was completely different from what had been mentioned before and from what they expected.

“As you live as ability users from now on, you will face many choices and trials. There will be moments when pursuing justice makes you ill, and moments when you make impulsive judgments out of momentary greed. Each time, the world will present you with unreasonable experiences in various ways.”

For instance.

Like playing Super Mar*o, running toward a goal post, hitting your head on an invisible block, falling into a hole, and dying.

I used the term “unreasonableness” because this is a formal occasion, but to put it in two simple words—

‘No job involves getting screwed over as much as being a hero.’

Getting screwed over.

Those who aspire to become heroes endure much mental suffering, and the world doesn’t just give them ordinary trials.

And sometimes these trials manifest in ways that are incomprehensible by the common sense of heroes or ordinary people.

Things like malicious comments, incitement, manipulation.

All kinds of malice that can’t be expressed in just a few sentences are directed at heroes, and heroes must stand against them.

“You will face many walls of unreasonableness in the future. Will you break through those walls, or will you avoid them? Or will you move the wall aside, pass through, and then put it back in its original place? That’s up to you. Based on what you learn and master here at Sejong Academy, you will make your choices. Will you conform to unreasonableness, compromise with it, or fight against it?”

Sejong Island is where ability users can most easily increase their magical power.

Sejong Academy is a place that “educates” ability users on what role they should play in society with their abilities.

“In an era where superpowers have become reality, Sejong Academy will provide you with all the learning you need to navigate this age. Of course, that includes superpowers, magical power, and abilities.”

I told her to say:

“No matter what kind of person you become after graduating from here.”

Baek Seol-hee composed herself and smiled faintly.

“I believe that you will overcome any unreasonableness that stands in your way. Based on everything you learn here at Sejong Academy, I hope you will carry your world forward into the future with your own strength.”

I couldn’t help but smile at Baek Seol-hee’s words.

‘She plagiarized me.’

What I said while eating after watching a movie came out of Baek Seol-hee’s mouth, slightly reworked.

‘Not bad.’

The future.

Yes, the future.

To ensure that this world doesn’t perish from something like a meteor.

I will fight against all unreasonableness that tries to destroy this world, using all the power I possess.

“Thank you.”

Waaaaaaaaah!

The entrance ceremony ended.

A new year at the Academy has begun.