Ch.52Episode 10. Comforting the Loners (4)

“Want to have lunch?”

I approached Gu Yeonhwa, who was contemplating in front of the student cafeteria kiosk. She perked up when she spotted me. She also seemed relieved.

“Ah, Instructor! Hehe, indeed I am! I wonder if there’s some kind of drug in this cafeteria’s food because I simply can’t quit it!”

“No, then you shouldn’t eat it….”

“But did you also come here for a meal, Instructor?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re quite late again today.”

As usual, I was late because I had prepared a lunchbox for Yeon Muhui and given her some advice.

“When you come late, there are fewer people.”

“Oho. To think you’d have the same thought as me. Impressive. It won’t take long for you to reach the level of the great Gu Yeonhwa.”

Shouldn’t you be the one adjusting to me?

“Speaking of which, you seem to be making poor progress in building your stamina. When will you catch up to my physical strength?”

“Ugh…! That’s because you’re too strong, Instructor! Of course, as an instructor, you should be stronger than your students!”

“How unusual for you to counter with logic.”

“I’ve always been logical!”

“Bullshit.”

Having never heard anything more absurd in all my conversations with Gu Yeonhwa, a curse slipped out.

“Bullshit, you say!”

“Ah, sorry. It came out reflexively.”

“How mean. Really!”

She snorted and jabbed at the kiosk screen.

“What are you going to eat?”

“Hmm. Today I’m craving something spicy. I’m thinking of having tteokbokki.”

“Oho. Then can I make a recommendation?”

“Hehehe. You’ve come to the right person! I’ve tried every menu item in this cafeteria! I know exactly what tickles the taste buds!”

Could you say that a bit more quietly?

I glanced around nervously, worried that the kitchen staff might have heard Yeonhwa’s comment.

“Is that so.”

“Yes. Would you like to choose by category? You can select from rice dishes, noodles, or soups, and also by Korean, Japanese, or Western cuisine.”

“Today I feel like having soup.”

At my words, she immediately switched to that page and scanned the menu.

“Then a stew or hot pot would be good. For stews, both doenjang jjigae and sundubu jjigae are nice. The seasoning is good, and they have a subtle spiciness that’s excellent. For hot pots, gomtang or samgyetang would be best. For hot pots, ask for some pepper to add—it makes them taste even better!”

Gu Yeonhwa swallowed her saliva and gave a thumbs up.

“Ah, but absolutely avoid the kimchi jjigae. They use slightly sour kimchi here, so the kimchi jjigae is salty. If you ask whether it’s tasty or not, it is tasty, but… it’s ambiguous, you know?”

She sounded just like a food critic.

Seeing her with her hand on her chin, looking glumly at the kiosk, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“How do you know all this?”

“Oh, that’s because someday when my mom comes to the academy…”

She stopped abruptly after starting to speak excitedly. Her expression gradually hardened. Her fingers curled as she operated the kiosk.

“If mom makes time to come, I don’t want to give her even the slightest disappointment…”

She murmured with her head bowed. Her long blonde hair fell forward, covering her face.

Shortly after, she raised her head again, smiling with her gums showing.

To me, it looked incredibly forced. It seemed like she was trying to convince herself that she was fine.

“It’s just fun finding delicious food! I’m going to eat every dish in this world before I die!”

“…I see. Then today, let me treat you.”

“Huh? Why?”

“For wearing your uniform properly.”

“But that’s something we’re supposed to do anyway, right?”

“Knowing you should wear it but not doing so is even worse, you brat.”

“Oww!”

I rubbed my fist on her head as I spoke. Yeonhwa’s neck retracted.

“If you don’t like it, just think of it as payment for your recommendation.”

“B-but it might not suit your taste, Instructor.”

Yeonhwa said, stroking her head.

“That’s fine.”

It’s just an excuse anyway.

“Hmm~ Are you trying to win me over with kindness and then seduce me with your handsome face? That won’t work~!”

“That’s not what I’m thinking. Just take the food and don’t give me a headache.”

“When have I ever given you a headache, Instructor?”

Look at this shamelessness.

Watching her shrug her shoulders and make a provocative gesture, I felt an overwhelming urge to give her a knock on the head.

“Sigh. Fine, just pick what you want to eat.”

I pressed the button for gomtang as she recommended.

Being a student cafeteria, it was about 2,000 won cheaper than regular restaurants.

“Can I really choose anything?”

“Yes.”

Despite her brazen attitude, the fact that she double-checked showed she had some consideration and wasn’t completely lacking in character.

“Then I’ll go for rose tteokbokki with fried food and kimbap!!”

Having regained her high-pitched tone, she energetically pressed the kiosk screen.

“…You eat a lot, don’t you? Don’t you gain weight?”

“What an insensitive question! Talking about a woman gaining weight! Being handsome doesn’t excuse everything, you know?”

“What will you do if I don’t apologize? You’re the one getting a free meal, aren’t you?”

“Ugh… I have no choice! I’ll put it in my stomach first. Then I’ll tell you to go to hell!”

…No. She definitely has character issues.

* * *

“Mmmmm~ Delicious! The kimbap is good too! Above all, this rose tteokbokki…! The spicy yet sweet taste is so good! Not to mention the crispiness of the fried food! I feel like cracking open a bottle of soju right now!”

“…You drink alcohol too?”

Since she’s twenty, it wouldn’t be a problem if she drank, but imagining Gu Yeonhwa opening a bottle of soju felt strange. Is it because she looks so young?

“What about you, Instructor? I bet you could easily down a bottle or two of soju?”

“I drink my fair share… but not that much.”

Personally, I don’t particularly like alcohol either.

“Hehe! So there’s something where Instructor falls behind me!”

“There’s nothing good about drinking a lot.”

I said as I ate my gomtang.

The seasoning was indeed good, making it tasty. There was also plenty of meat, adding to the enjoyment of chewing.

Following her advice, I added a bit of pepper, and it became the most delicious gomtang I’d ever had.

It’s no wonder that only restaurants with unique menus not found in the student cafeteria are allowed into the academy. With this level of competitiveness, they wouldn’t be satisfied with being just an ordinary restaurant.

“How is it? Delicious, right?!”

“Yes. It’s delicious.”

“See? Would you like to try some of mine? I’ll share it with you specially.”

Without waiting for my answer, she scooped some tteokbokki, kimbap, and fried food onto an empty plate and passed it to me.

“I’m going to enjoy my meal, so please enjoy yours too, Instructor.”

“Alright. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

We paused our conversation to focus on eating.

As I put the tteokbokki in my mouth, I looked at Gu Yeonhwa’s face.

She was smiling absently, fully savoring the taste. Fortunately, it didn’t look like an act. But it was only because she was currently distracted by the food or by me that she seemed okay.

When she’s alone in the dormitory, she’ll surely be overwhelmed with loneliness and sadness.

I’d like to intervene in her family matters, but it’s not that simple. Unlike Yeon Muhui or Bin Yun, Gu Yeonhwa isn’t hostile toward her parents.

If I step in carelessly, I might be seen as meddling.

So the only thing I could do now was to not leave Gu Yeonhwa alone.

“Hey, Yeonhwa.”

“Yes?”

“If it’s not too much trouble, maybe your dormitory—”

“Instructor Yujin.”

As I was about to speak to Yeonhwa, other students approached our table. Several students looked down at me.

“Yes, that’s me. What’s the matter?”

“Do you have time after school?”

“…I asked what the matter is.”

“Ah… I want to receive guidance from Instructor Yujin—”

“No.”

I expressed my refusal before the student whose name I didn’t know could finish speaking.

Ever since the newspaper reported that I had defeated Yeonhwaryong and related news circulated online, many students had asked me for guidance, but I refused them all.

It’s already challenging to take care of the five students I have.

Even though things have stabilized somewhat, I don’t have the luxury to pay attention to students who aren’t even extras.

“I have nothing to discuss regarding guidance, so please leave.”

“But…!”

“In the first place, you already have assigned instructors, so asking me for guidance is disrespectful to them. If you want guidance from me, at least understand that courtesy first.”

Don’t create unnecessary conflicts between instructors.

Instructors are also former heroes. They’re people who take pride in their abilities. What would happen if someone said they wanted guidance from another instructor instead of them?

Needless to say, they would resent me.

I strongly dislike conflicts with others.

While villains can be dealt with by simply beating them up, I didn’t want to build up uncomfortable feelings with people I work with in the same space.

“B-but by that logic, isn’t the special class even more disrespectful? They don’t attend classes properly, have uniform violations, and are just a bunch of troublemakers who do whatever they want. Apart from having some ability, they’re not really…”

“Hey.”

I stood up and glared at the nameless student.

“Do you think you’re at a level where you can look down on the special class? You’d get thrashed in a match.”

“S-skill and courtesy are separate matters, aren’t they?”

A pathetic excuse.

This student, who judged that he couldn’t win without even fighting, had no confidence in himself.

In such cases, even if they become heroes, they won’t rise to the top. They’ll just be superficial.

“Don’t misunderstand. If you want to be a hero, skill is always the top priority. Even without courtesy, if you have strength, people will trust and follow you.”

“That’s…”

“The very reason you came seeking guidance is because I have skill, isn’t it? Who would seek guidance in courtesy? I think it’s enough to just know how to flatter appropriately. Don’t you agree?”

None of the students who had approached me could utter a word.

Not denying it was as good as affirming that they thought the same way.

“And you, I don’t intend to criticize you for elevating yourself, but don’t try to make yourself look better by putting others down.”

Except in special situations, there’s nothing as pathetic as revealing your own inferiority complex.

Even if you’re not superior to others, what’s truly cool is believing in yourself and moving forward steadfastly. That’s what being a hero is about.

“That’s all I have to say. Go back.”

Always getting on my nerves.

In the end, the students left, grumbling without even being able to refute me. As I sat back down, the noisy atmosphere subsided somewhat.

“Instructor.”

“What?”

Seems like she was moved by my words.

Yes, I think highly of the special class.

“I not only have good skills but also good character.”

“…”

I was dumbfounded by Gu Yeonhwa’s words. It was absurd coming from her of all people.

“Sigh. Just eat your food.”

“What’s with that sigh!”

I ignored the indignant Gu Yeonhwa and gulped down my gomtang.