Ch.68Episode 14. Power Loss (2)

“……There seem to be too many ears listening here. Let’s move somewhere else.”

I said as I closed the attendance book.

The expressions of the girls who noticed that Heerak had come to see me changed rapidly. Their gazes, alternating between her and me, gradually filled with questions.

Well, it’s understandable they’d be surprised. An S-class hero suddenly visiting the special class.

Despite her youthful appearance, Heerak is one of the powerhouses in the hero industry.

Even people with no interest in heroes couldn’t help but know about Heerak. To the point where quite a few people would think of her just by seeing mint color. After all, mint-colored hair is her trademark.

“Ah…! Instructor!”

Jung Iyeon, who was looking at Heerak standing at the classroom door, quickly stood up and raised her hand.

“Yes?”

“Is that person ‘Lee Bangsil’?!”

“That’s right.”

Hero name: Heerak. Real name: Lee Bangsil.

The name Heerak (meaning “joy and pleasure”) was given to her because people at the association were impressed by how she always laughed as if feeling pleasure whenever subduing villains.

In common terms, she lives up to her nickname.

However, her way of laughing is so vulgar that I know quite a few villains hold grudges against her.

Not that holding grudges would help them against her.

“Ooh! Ms. Lee Bangsil—!”

“Hey. White hair.”

“White hair…?”

Jung Iyeon looked around in confusion, checking the hair colors of people in the classroom. Eventually, she pointed at herself.

“Ah… me?”

“Who else has white hair here besides you? Stupid.”

“Eh… I’m not stupid…”

“Don’t call me like that, you weakling. Want me to crush you?”

“Ehhh…”

Despite Iyeon’s timid objection to the one-sided criticism, she was ignored.

For reference, by Lee Bangsil’s standards, anyone weaker than her was a weakling, and those stronger than her were addressed normally by name.

“Anyway… Hey. Yujin.”

…Hey?

For a moment, I thought I’d misheard.

While I was doubting my ears, she stepped into the classroom. She approached the teacher’s desk boldly and looked up at me.

“Did you just call me ‘hey’?”

“Yeah. Who else would I be talking to?”

Tsk. This arrogant mint girl is speaking informally to me from our first meeting? Where did those polite words from earlier go?

I should spar with her right now, completely overwhelm her, and give her exactly one hundred knocks on the head. That would teach her thoroughly.

They say education is best learned through the body, after all.

“Do you know how busy I am?”

“I know, which is why I asked you to contact me. To adjust the timing.”

“I’ve made time to come here, and you don’t even thank me. You’re too arrogant, weakling.”

“I defeated S-class hero Yeonhwaryong in a duel, just so you know.”

“Must have been a fluke.”

“It wasn’t.”

“I don’t believe anything I haven’t seen with my own eyes.”

“How arrogant of you.”

“What?”

Her already fierce eyes narrowed further, making her look like a cute yet sharp predator.

If I had to give an example, perhaps like a lynx.

“I’m joking.”

“If you don’t like it, let’s have a match. No need for long talks.”

“…No thanks. What’s the point of dueling someone as busy as you?”

Part of me wanted to clearly show who was superior. But if I were to defeat her, my name would be on the front page of newspapers again.

I didn’t want that.

I had no doubt I could beat her, but I had zero interest in flaunting it.

“An instructor who teaches students but avoids fighting… Aren’t you disqualified as an educator?”

Not knowing my thoughts, she sneered and shook her head. The way her shoulders twitched was quite irritating, but I decided to endure it for now.

However.

“You. You’re going too far.”

Just because I was enduring it didn’t mean others would.

Yeon Muhee boldly approached Lee Bangsil.

“There’s no way the instructor is disqualified as an educator.”

The moment she got angry on my behalf, I was touched.

I never expected that Yeon Muhee, of all people, would defend me.

And when Muhee ignited the situation, the other students also showed their displeasure toward Lee Bangsil.

That scene felt unfamiliar yet incredibly warm to me.

“Ha. You are? How old are you to speak informally to me?”

Look who’s talking.

“I’ll prove that the instructor isn’t disqualified as an educator. Follow me.”

“Stop.”

It was an obvious match.

I appreciated Muhee’s spirit, but she wasn’t yet at a level to defeat Lee Bangsil.

Unless she had a skill like Yeonhwaryong’s that could cut through space itself, there was no way to defeat her.

“I appreciate your anger, but it’s too early.”

“Then will you beat her up, instructor?”

…Beat her up? What kind of expression is that?

I smiled awkwardly while checking Lee Bangsil’s reaction to Muhee’s rash statement.

“Why are you grinning?”

Seems like she’s lost interest.

Usually, people appreciate my morning smiles. Or was that just the cafeteria ladies? Damn it.

* * *

“Was it difficult coming all the way here?”

“Of course it was! Do you know how many people cling to me asking for autographs?”

Ah, so that’s the reason…

After buying her favorite mint chocolate ice cream, her voice softened considerably, as if her mood had improved.

“Of course, among those fans, there are also people who pick fights saying mint chocolate tastes terrible. I’d like to grab them and send them to space.”

“Aren’t those anti-fans rather than fans?”

I scooped a spoonful of mint chocolate from the paper container and put it in my mouth.

The toothpaste-like freshness made me chuckle involuntarily. It felt like not just my mouth but my head was being cleaned.

…What taste am I supposed to enjoy here?

“Is that so? If they’re anti-fans, maybe it’s okay to throw them beyond space.”

“No, it’s not…”

“You’re so strict. So, what did you call me for?”

Lee Bangsil points at me with her pink plastic spoon.

“…You’ve probably already heard from the Association President, but I’m trying to capture Akcheon. I’ve found their hideout. I’d like you to set up a barrier so the villains can’t escape from there.”

“You called me just for a barrier? Weren’t you going to ask me to wipe them all out?”

“Complete elimination would be good, but this time I want to send a warning to Akcheon’s executives.”

“A warning? Isn’t killing them as they come out a warning? What unnecessary thing are you trying to do?”

She frowns as if frustrated.

“That won’t completely eradicate Akcheon.”

If I had known all of Akcheon’s hideouts when I first came to this world, I wouldn’t even be having this dilemma. I would have simply gone to each one and destroyed them all.

But that was impossible even for someone like me who had read the novel, which was frustrating.

“It’s just within the small land of South Korea. This isn’t America.”

She speaks nonchalantly with the plastic spoon in her mouth.

I wish I could have such a relaxed attitude, but I couldn’t feel at ease until Akcheon’s seeds were completely dried up.

“Well, anyway, I understand. If you want me to set up a barrier, I’ll do it specially for you. But buy me ten more of these?”

What is this, extortion? And she’s already getting paid by the Association President.

But as someone asking for a favor, I had no right to refuse. I reluctantly nodded.

“When are you starting?”

“Lee Bangsil—”

“Call me Heerak.”

“…”

I think Lee Bangsil sounds cuter. Is it just me?

“We’ll start tonight.”

Tonight was the perfect timing.

I learned that they only go to the hideout in the photo when all members of the camping group gather.

And when the entire organization moves, there’s a high probability of meeting higher-ups.

The reason is usually to “report” on the information collected so far or the current situation.

“Are you available?”

“Better to finish it now that I’m here. Why drag it out?”

She sure has a lot to say with each sentence.

“Good. Then I’ll contact you. Please wait at this address tonight.”

I wrote the address on a Post-it note and handed it to her. I added my contact information too, since she might ignore unknown numbers.

As she quickly ate her mint chocolate while looking down at the Post-it, she said:

“By the way, how did you know I’m a space distorter? Most people just think I’m a telekinetic. Are you perhaps…”

As she paused, I swallowed hard.

I was retracing our conversation to see if I had inadvertently revealed information when she pointed at me with a smile full of superiority, as if she’d caught my weakness.

“—my fan?”

“…Pardon?”

“Most people, whether civilians or heroes, don’t even know if I’ve set up barriers. You must have pretty good intuition?”

“Well… I suppose so.”

Her misunderstanding was a bit annoying, but I had to endure until the operation was over. It would be troublesome for me if I irritated her and she did something unpredictable.

“Ah~ if you’re really a fan, you should have said so earlier. You’re just not proactive enough. Are you cosplaying as a loner with that face? I know loner guys are popular, but I don’t like them.”

“Ahaha…”

I barely transformed the curse that almost escaped into laughter.

“But I can’t forgive a weakling hero being my fan.”

“…Says the person who considers everyone weaker than herself a weakling.”

“So you don’t want my autograph?”

“Just handle the job well.”

“Do you really not want it?”

Why does she keep testing me?

Even if I got your autograph, it would end up in the trash within a day.

“Well, give me one then.”

“Hmm~ I don’t want to.”

This damn woman…