Ch.30Now, Our School (2)

There’s always a lower bottom.

Why didn’t I realize that fact?

Currently, Miss Hoshino and Carmilla are positioned on either side of me, now drawing their sword and gun respectively, ready for a proper confrontation.

Just as the classroom was about to explode into chaos.

Someone stepped between us and mediated the fight in an instant.

An S-class hero who, under the pretext of being a student teacher, would be working at Almighty Elementary School starting today.

Amid the children’s exclamations and the surprise of the two women on either side, I alone felt like I was dying inside.

“Hello, students. My name is Yoon Ha-eun~.”

“As you can see, she’s an S-class hero, but she’s agreed to be our student teacher for a while to help with your education. So everyone, please listen well to Teacher Yoon Ha-eun.”

“Yes, teacher!”

I’m screwed.

Just yesterday, a hero who failed to subjugate a monster suddenly shows up the next day as a student teacher?

This couldn’t be a coincidence.

She clearly secured a position as an educator to pursue me.

As I was sweating nervously.

Zing.

“…?”

What’s with that look?

Why does it feel like she’s staring specifically at me?

Her heart-shaped pupils were beating so intensely it was uncomfortable, so I moved my body slightly to the right, then to the left.

And then.

“Intently…”

“……”

The S-class hero’s gaze followed my movements.

She was staring at me so intensely that cold sweat was dripping down my forehead.

“Doesn’t that student teacher seem to be looking only at Jang-hoon?”

“Yeah… we should be cautious.”

So they’re the type to band together in the face of a powerful enemy, despite fighting just moments ago?

Yesterday’s enemy is today’s friend, as they say.

Miss Hoshino and Carmilla, who were exchanging blows just moments ago, had somehow united to act as shields protecting me.

It was truly… reassuring.

‘Well, at least they’re not fighting anymore… so that’s good, right?’

***

Yoon Ha-eun, who showed particular interest in me.

What was her purpose for coming here as a student teacher and participating in school lessons?

That thought lingered as lunchtime approached, yet all she had shown was her role as a dedicated educator.

“Oh my, you’re only eight years old and already learning about quadratic functions?”

“Yes! These are all questions from the entrance exam!”

“Still, it looks a bit difficult, so let me give you some tips.”

She moved up and down the tiered classroom, naturally communicating with the young students.

Indeed, despite her usually vulgar behavior, she was an S-class hero after all.

The children in the class seemed completely captivated by Yoon Ha-eun, who was kind, pretty, and smart, all within just a few hours.

Evidence of this was how the classroom atmosphere, which had been gloomy since enrollment, seemed to shine brightly for the first time today.

Except for two people.

The two female students sitting on either side of me.

Squeeze.

“Miss? Why are you suddenly holding my hand…?”

“If you have any difficult problems, just tell me. I’ll help you.”

“Ah, yes…”

Come to think of it, I momentarily forgot because of Yoon Ha-eun, but isn’t teaching quadratic functions to elementary school students who just enrolled a bit too much?

It was at a level that would make even South Korea’s notoriously intense education system pale in comparison.

This was like teaching middle school content to elementary school students from day one.

These problems were far too difficult for a mid-to-late 30s salaryman like me who had forgotten entrance exam math while focusing on work.

It was still difficult even with Miss kindly explaining beside me.

As I was groaning with effort.

Ding dong dang dong.

“Ah, it seems to be lunchtime, Miss.”

“Yeah, looks like it. I’ll help you with the rest after we eat.”

“Okay.”

The bell signaling lunchtime rang just in time.

Thanks to that, my overloaded brain could take a well-timed break.

“Jang-hoon. I packed a lot of food today to eat with you. May I continue to sit with you?”

“Yes, of course, Carmilla.”

“…! Thank you very much!”

Surprisingly, lunch at Almighty Elementary School wasn’t provided as school meals, but replaced with lunchboxes that students brought from home.

The reason couldn’t possibly be to reduce school operating costs… rather, it was because elementary school children’s digestive systems are very sensitive.

Each talented student at this prestigious, selective elementary school is precious.

So until the lower grades, they chose the lunchbox system with the intention of having children develop a taste for home-cooked meals rather than spicy outside food.

As a result, it was unfamiliar but also fun for me, who had only eaten school lunches throughout my school years.

‘There’s no way eating food could ever be boring anyway~.’

The lunchbox I brought was a balanced meal prepared by skilled chefs from the Okami family, carefully considering carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

Most kids my apparent age only like meat and generally dislike side dishes like vegetables or beans.

But from the perspective of a Korean in his mid-to-late 30s, multi-grain rice topped with fried eggs, various vegetables, and soy-braised beef was making my mouth water.

It was almost perfect except for the lack of gochujang (Korean red pepper paste).

But it seemed I was the only one who felt that way.

“Hey, Jang-hoon. What’s with these side dishes…?”

“Jang-hoon… are you being mistreated by the Okami family?”

“…Huh?”

Miss Hoshino and Carmilla on either side of me looked shocked.

“What is this?! Where’s the salmon steak or meat or meat or meat?!”

Oh dear, Miss.

If you like meat that much, your blood vessels will get clogged with saturated fat later.

“And why is the rice so black? Jang-hoon, are you so mistreated that you can’t even eat white rice?”

Carmilla.

White rice contains so much sugar; you need to eat multi-grain rice to avoid diabetes and live longer.

From my perspective, this was practically a perfect meal.

I guess it’s because they’re children.

I checked both of their meals as well, while they were worrying about mine.

First, Carmilla’s luxurious Italian-style lunchbox contained well-sautéed aglio e olio pasta and margherita pizza, matching its fancy appearance.

‘Did Rajellita make this herself?’

I did try some since she offered, but it was too salty, regardless of the taste.

Of course, both the pasta and pizza were excellent, but how should I put it? It felt too heavy to eat for lunch.

“You won’t gain strength eating just those weeds. Here, I’ll give you more. Please eat plenty.”

“Uh, okay…”

“Hey, I brought food for Jang-hoon too! Eat your own food!”

Not to be outdone, Miss Hoshino revealed her lunchbox.

Inside the impressive three-tiered lunchbox were lamb steak, beef steak, and soy-marinated stir-fried pork (all meat).

“Miss… where are the vegetables?”

“Come on, you need meat for strength! And I’m a fox, so I don’t need vegetables!”

Um… is that so?

I was about to comment on the excessive protein, but then I realized that Miss is an “animal-like human,” so maybe this is appropriate for her.

It was awkward to give advice, so I decided to stay quiet about her artery-clogging diet.

Still, isn’t this too heavy for lunch, even for a fox person?

Munch munch…

“Jang-hoon, your food seems too inadequate. From tomorrow, let’s pack the same as mine.”

“?! If you bring that much, we won’t be able to share, will we?”

“Then you can sit somewhere else starting tomorrow!”

“I refuse! We finally made up and became friends, why should I distance myself again?”

“Ugh… is pulling teeth what makes us friends?”

“If that’s the case, you pulled three of my teeth, didn’t you?!”

Clack clack.

This is strange.

Even at work, lunchtime was always the best part of the day.

Why is it that at school, which should be more comfortable than the workplace, the food doesn’t go down my throat so well?

It felt like sitting on a bed of thorns.

There’s a saying in Korea that even dogs aren’t disturbed while eating, but I guess in this different world, it’s complete chaos whether you’re eating or not.

And to make matters worse.

“Hello, kids?”

“””?!”””

A woman approached our table with her lunchbox.

She was, of course, Yoon Ha-eun, the student teacher of Class 1-A and S-class hero who had been watching me intently.

“I’d like to join you. May I sit here?”

The student teacher smiles kindly and asks the children directly.

It would be rude to refuse…

“”No?””

“?!”

“…!”

…or so I thought.

When were they fighting with forks and lamb in their hands? They’ve united again so quickly.

Miss Hoshino and Carmilla had become “one team” in the face of a formidable enemy.

The two of them stuck firmly to either side of me and clearly expressed their refusal to Yoon Ha-eun in a highly cautious tone.

“”There’s no more room.””

It was like witnessing the real-time collapse of teacher authority.

The way they drew a line across their necks as if threatening to kill her if she approached was no joke.

The murderous intent flowing from them was real.

Yoon Ha-eun, clearly not expecting such an outright rejection, had sweat dripping from her forehead in bewilderment.

“Ugh… did I do something wrong to you two?”

“Your very existence is wrong!”

“Your breasts are too big!”

“That’s right! You’re too early for Jang-hoon!”

Is that so?

I just think it’s nice eye candy…

“”You don’t like seeing her, right?””

“Yes…”

I should just agree that I dislike her for now.

So I nodded my head in agreement.

“Oh come on, let me join you~.”

As expected of an S-class hero with maxed-out social skills.

Yoon Ha-eun pretended to leave but somehow secured a seat in front of us.

And looking at the two princesses who were growling like territorial wild animals:

“I’ll tell you something interesting in exchange.”

“Something interesting…?”

“You’re both heroes, aren’t you? Right.”

“…!”

“So you did know about us.”

“Of course~. Carmilla, the youngest hero, and Princess Hoshino of the Okami family. I’m telling you this because it’s you two.”

Quickly changing the subject, she shared something truly chilling with all three of us.

“Recently, I’ve been chasing a humanoid monster wearing a crimson horned mask.”

“?!”

“A horned mask…”

“W-why are you mentioning that monster…?”

“Yeah. That monster, you know.”

Whispering.

“I think it’s here somewhere.”