Ch.42Episode 9. Parent-Teacher Conference (2)

“No messages today either?”

“Nope. Nothing.”

“I see.”

Her voice, which had been lively until yesterday, sank.

It was already the third day, and she seemed anxious about having no contact from her parents.

She seemed afraid.

Afraid they might not visit all week.

Afraid they might realize she wasn’t important to them.

“B-but they’ll contact you within a week, right?”

“…I suppose. But lately you’ve been coming to my room without hesitation?”

I put on my coat and changed the subject. I didn’t particularly want to see Gu Yeonhwa looking depressed.

“It’s the weekend today.”

She sits in the dining chair, swinging her feet.

“I should rest on weekends too.”

“Then why are you getting dressed?”

“…Today is when Jeong Iyeon’s parents are coming. So I need to prepare.”

“Then I guess you can’t be with the instructor today.”

“You could meet up with friends… Oh, sorry. You wouldn’t have any friends…”

“Wow… isn’t that going too far?!”

“No. I was reflexively going to suggest hanging out with friends. But then I remembered you don’t have any.”

“You’re definitely saying that on purpose! Aren’t you?!”

Gu Yeonhwa whimpers, waving her hands frantically.

“Quiet. I already apologized.”

“Wow! You’re being such a jerk!”

“Your vocabulary is what’s lacking. Anyway, go back to your room now.”

She follows me closely as I put on my shoes. She taps the toes of her flats against the ground and suddenly points at me.

“I’ll retreat for now, but next time you won’t get off so easily!”

“…That sounds like a line a third-rate villain would use while escaping.”

“I’m a hero!”

“A hero-in-training, to be precise.”

“You never back down from an argument! I’ll knock that arrogant attitude down a peg someday!”

She storms out before I can respond, flinging the door open. As soon as she steps into the hallway, Gu Yeonhwa freezes. She tilts her head, still holding the doorknob.

“Huh? G-Gu Yeonhwa, why are you coming out of there?”

“Senior Yu Ari, are you visiting the instructor’s room on this weekend?”

Yu Ari was standing in front of the door.

“Just… since it’s the we-weekend… I thought I might get some tr-training like last time?”

“I see. Unfortunately, the instructor has to meet Jeong Iyeon’s parents today!”

“R-really…?”

“Is my room your hangout spot now? Why is everyone gathering here?”

I pushed Gu Yeonhwa’s back to send her outside. I put on my shoes neatly using a shoehorn, then left the room. I didn’t forget to lock the door.

“Anyway, I can’t play with you two today, so enjoy your weekend on your own.”

I waved casually and quickened my pace. However, Gu Yeonhwa and Yu Ari stuck to my sides.

“We have to go out anyway. It’s not bad to go together, right?”

“…Do as you please.”

I had planned to handle some work in the faculty office before Jeong Iyeon’s parents arrived at the academy.

However, before we even reached the main building, Jeong Iyeon received a call that her parents had arrived at the academy.

“I need to head to the school gate. Rest well today and I’ll see you later.”

“Okay! I’ll let you off just for today!”

Just as I finished the call and was about to run to the gate, Yu Ari clung to me and whispered:

“Instructor.”

“Yes?”

“Um… c-could you sp-spare some time for m-me, just for one day?”

“…Sure.”

I nodded, immediately understanding her intention.

Yu Ari clearly expected her parents wouldn’t come, and wanted me to fill that role instead.

This worked in my favor. The more she depended on me, the more the role of her parents would be diluted.

And if she had someone to rely on, she would have no reason to take Akcheon’s hand. There was no reason to refuse.

“Instructor! Me too—”

“Not you.”

“Ah, why not!”

Because you’ll just barge into my room whenever you want anyway.

* * *

“Nice to meet you. I’m Jeong Woohyun.”

“I’m Yujin.”

I slightly bowed my head as I accepted the business card he naturally offered.

He was the deputy director of the Human Resources Department at the Hero Association. I took his hand as he extended it with a gentle smile.

“Just by holding your hand, I can tell. This spine-tingling power… seems comparable to S-rank.”

As soon as I heard Jeong Woohyun’s words, I recalled his power as described in the original story.

His power was “Scouter.”

The ability to instantly recognize the power of the person he observes. The story mentioned that physical contact allowed for more detailed assessment.

Come to think of it, there was a setting that Jeong Iyeon’s excellent dynamic vision was inherited from her father.

Of course, Jeong Iyeon didn’t have the power to instantly assess others’ abilities like Jeong Woohyun.

However, she did possess exceptionally sharp intuition, allowing her to read battle situations at a glance.

“You flatter me.”

As I replied, I noticed a white-haired woman who looked just like Jeong Iyeon staring at me.

She was the spitting image of Jeong Iyeon.

She looked so young she could pass as Iyeon’s twin sister.

If Jeong Iyeon wore makeup, she would look exactly like this woman. The only noticeable difference was that this woman had long hair.

“So this is the person? The one our Iyeon said was so amazing.”

“That’s right. Instructor Yujin is incredible!”

Jeong Iyeon pulled on my arm, standing beside me. Somehow we ended up arm in arm. I tried to pull away, but she was holding on so tightly I couldn’t break free.

“Hmm… Iyeon doesn’t follow many people like this.”

“N-no, it’s not like that.”

“I hear you’re extremely strong?”

“Just average…”

“If you want to receive gifts, you should make a good impression here! Hurry and say you’re strong!”

What’s this talk about gifts?

I was dumbfounded by Jeong Iyeon whispering loud enough for her parents to hear. If we weren’t in front of her parents, I would have flicked her forehead.

“Let’s have a match.”

“…Pardon?”

I blurted out in surprise at the sudden suggestion.

“We’ll substitute consultation with a sparring match.”

“What? But…”

“This isn’t an ordinary university. It’s an academy, right? A place where ability proves everything. Shouldn’t I know the instructor’s level before I can trust them with my child?”

You’re making such reasonable points that I have nothing to say in response.

But is this really okay?

A sparring match with a parent?

“Ooh! A match between Mom and Instructor Yujin! I really want to see this!”

Please. Stop fanning the flames from the sidelines. You’re giving me a headache.

“I’m Kang Sujin.”

She extends her hand to me. As I look at it hesitantly, she raises her eyebrows and wiggles her hand, urging me to shake it.

“You know my wife is an A-rank hero, right? You can go all out without holding back.”

“…I’m Yujin.”

I reluctantly took her hand.

“Heroes prove themselves through ability, right? Since you seem like you’ll take good care of Iyeon, I just need to verify your skills. If you’re stronger than me, I can entrust Iyeon to you with peace of mind.”

If you’re stronger than me.

That would terrify other instructors.

Do they think it’s easy to defeat an active A-rank hero?

“I might have come on a bit strong… But as you know, Yujin, this industry is rough. I hope you understand.”

“Ah, yes…”

“I need to record this on video!”

I sighed as I watched Jeong Iyeon giggling and taking out her phone.

I should deal with this instigator first.

* * *

“…Instructor?”

As soon as we arrived at the annex training hall, I saw Yeon Muhui. Other students were also training or sparring in the hall.

“You’re here today too?”

Seeing Muhui already drenched in sweat, it was clear she had been training since early morning.

“Yeah. But who are those people?”

Muhui wiped the sweat from her face with the back of her hand and asked, curious about Jeong Iyeon’s family following me.

“Ah… they’re Jeong Iyeon’s parents.”

“…I see.”

That was her only response. She quickly lost interest and looked away.

“Why are you here though?”

“To spar.”

“With whom?”

“Jeong Iyeon’s mother.”

“…With a parent?”

Her head tilted sideways.

“That’s how it turned out.”

That was truly the only way I could express it.

“I’ll be going now. Continue your training.”

“Okay.”

I patted Muhui’s shoulder and walked toward Jeong Iyeon.

“Who is that student?”

Jeong Woohyun asked, looking at Muhui.

“She’s one of the students in the special class I’m in charge of.”

“…She’s talented.”

Can he tell at a glance?

“With proper guidance, she’ll become a top-tier hero.”

“…I believe so.”

But now that we’ve come all the way to the annex training hall, is this really okay?

Am I going to be criticized for hitting a parent?

“Rather than using wooden weapons half-heartedly, a realistic sparring match would be better, right?”

Kang Sujin climbed onto the training platform and tied her long hair into a ponytail. I followed her, waving my hands in protest.

“No, there’s no need to make it that realistic…”

“To see an instructor’s capabilities, a life-or-death match is best. It shows how excellent you are in actual combat.”

White light erupted from Kang Sujin’s hand, forming a long black spear. Unlike Jeong Iyeon’s, the weapon she created didn’t emit light.

Naturally, her weapon creation method was different from Jeong Iyeon’s.

The name of Kang Sujin’s weapon creation skill was “Relic.”

“Now, would you please take up your weapon?”

She really doesn’t consider my position at all, making such troublesome demands so casually.

I don’t care anymore. I’m tired of constantly thinking about others’ reactions before acting.

Let them criticize me for sparring with a parent. They wouldn’t fire me over this, would they?

“Since we’re doing this, I’ll do it properly.”

Despite saying this, I decided to avoid using my lightning release if possible.

Unlike when I was only with hero candidates, facing an actual hero carried greater risk.

If the Association President knew about me and had once tried to capture me, there was no way high-ranking heroes wouldn’t have heard about me.

“Instructor, here’s a sword for you!”

Jeong Iyeon hands me a standard-issue sword. I could tell just from her voice how excited she was.

Do you realize you’re the reason for my headache?

“Well then, shall we begin?”

As soon as I grabbed the sword, she twirled her spear and took her stance.

“I hope your skills are as good as Iyeon claims.”

“I’ll count down!!”

Jeong Iyeon raised her hand high and said, “Ready~!” She looked back and forth between me and Kang Sujin, then lowered her hand.

“Begin!”