Chapter 38 : The Beginning of the Field Trip

The fact that Iris had received a wish ticket from Principal Dragos was news even to me.

Of course, there was no way Instructor Han Seongryeong would have known either, so even as we left the principal’s office with the field trip plan approved, I felt dazed and confused.

“This might be the first time I’ve ever owed a student a debt like this.

Iris Lunai, you’re truly an extraordinary student in many ways.

It might be a bit lacking as a proper reward, but I’ll give you a wish ticket as well.

Of course, compared to Principal Dragos’s authority, the scope of wishes I can grant is extremely limited, but I’ll do my best within what I can do.”

“This was something I did of my own accord. But… if that’ll ease your mind, I’ll keep it in mind.”

“Well then, as they say, strike while the iron’s hot—we’ll be departing for Earth this evening.

Before we leave, make sure to pack everything you might need.

There’s a high chance we won’t be able to secure proper food, clothing, or shelter once we’re there.”

What Instructor Han Seongryeong meant was that we’d need to bring everything ourselves—from sleeping bags and spare underwear to food supplies.

So, I quickly got busy.

I didn’t know about the other students, but my financial situation wasn’t great, so I didn’t have any camping gear prepared at all.

Fortunately, I still had a bunch of Dallant silver coins left over from the bet I’d won against Anemoa Dallant last time, so I used them to buy one of those instant pop-up sleeping bags that fit into a backpack.

I also picked up things like nutrient pills and purification capsules that could turn contaminated water into drinkable water, then headed to the meeting point—only to find Iris carrying what looked, if I exaggerated just a little, like a small public bathroom on her back.

Apparently, it was full of supplies for the children struggling on Earth.

Well, she did run around just fine carrying me on her back during the school trip, so I figured she’d manage somehow.

“Is everyone here?

Looks like Park Minsoo’s running a bit late.

Your luggage looks heavy, so follow me to the hangar.

We’ll be boarding the PF-11, also known as the Dimensional Raptor.”

With only five of us including Instructor Han Seongryeong, there was no way we’d be using the massive Albatross aircraft.

Instead, we loaded our gear into the Dimensional Raptor—much smaller in size but boasting a sleek design—and took our seats just as Park Minsoo showed up, carrying a massive sniper rifle on his back.

“Sorry for being late, Instructor. I had some trouble calibrating my firearm in a hurry.”

“It’s fine. Just get on board.”

Once we were all seated, Instructor Han Seongryeong took the controls of the Dimensional Raptor herself and began navigating.

While the control room activated the Dimension Gate, she gave us a few warnings.

Apparently, compared to the Albatross, the dimensional travel with this craft caused much worse motion sickness, which brought the mood down—except for one person: the priestess named Marianne, who was bursting with energy.

Grinning brightly like she was heading off on a picnic, she looked pretty enough, but now that I took a closer look… she seemed just a little off in the head.

Well, it made sense—no sane person would willingly go to the Orange Belt region, even for missionary work.

Anyway, once Instructor Han Seongryeong finished communication with the control room, she immediately launched the Dimensional Raptor.

Just as she had warned, the shockwave felt like it was directly slamming into my semicircular canals, but after enduring so many headaches during my visits to the Hall of Ten Thousand Gods, I was able to handle it… more or less.

“Alright, we’ve arrived. You can unbuckle your seatbelts now.”

“Huh? Already?”

“This is normal for fixed-coordinate dimension gates, not random-coordinate ones. Nothing to be surprised about.”

She’d just taken us through a dimensional shift like it was a walk from the living room to the bathroom, and now Instructor Han got up casually and started arming herself like it was no big deal.

So we followed suit, grabbing our gear and stepping outside—only to find people waiting to greet us.

There was a general who looked like he was well into his years, and a young girl who resembled a younger version of Instructor Han herself.

“Unni, I missed you so much!”

“Hyeryeong, have you been doing well?”

Instructor Han, who had never once shown us anything like this before, smiled warmly and embraced her younger sister.

Watching them, Iris seemed to remember her own sister and wore a complicated expression.

But the tearful reunion between the sisters was short-lived, as the general—presumably Instructor Han’s father—cleared his throat and said:

“Ahem!

Right, I’ve heard the story.

You brought four students from Pantheon Academy here as part of a field study, yes?

I can’t just leave such promising future talents standing around like this.

I’ve booked an entire floor of the best hotel in Neo Seoul for you, so go there and settle in first.”

“Father, even if the students do, I didn’t come to Earth to enjoy a hotel vacation.

I heard the city’s first defense line has been breached.

Please just grant me a single squad from the special forces capable of using mana.

I’ll lead them myself and destroy the Demonic Gate.”

“Hey, there are a lot of eyes and ears around here.

What are you thinking, talking about that kind of thing in public?

Besides, calling it a ‘defense line’ is generous—it’s just a bunch of makeshift buildings set up by refugees from other cities.

Seongryeong, stop with the nonsense and just stay in the hotel with the students until the field study is over.

Do you know how many top officials beg me to send them to another dimension whenever they see you?

You’re making things difficult for me.”

General Han Moosung, who was indeed Instructor Han Seongryeong’s father, frowned deeply and flatly refused his daughter’s request.

As the commander responsible for the defense forces of Neo Seoul, Han Moosung was entangled in a web of political issues.

But even if it weren’t for politics, it would be no easy thing for a father to send his own daughter to the front lines—to the very heart of danger, the Demonic Gate.

“If you won’t support me, then I’ll go destroy the Demonic Gate alone.”

“What?

You’re going to act on your own, leaving your students behind—does that even make sens… No, fine.

Let’s just head to the hotel first.

We’ll talk again there.

The press is swarming outside like hornets, so don’t say a word and quietly get into the military vehicle.

Seriously, I don’t know who you got your stubbornness from.”

There’s no winning against your own child.

General Han Moosung took a step back and led us out of the hangar.

But somehow, word had already gotten out.

A swarm of reporters burst through the soldiers, wielding their microphones like bayonets and bombarding us with questions.

“General Han Moosung! Is it true that your daughter brought elite students from Pantheon Academy to personally suppress the Demonic Gate?”

“General Han Moosung, when can we expect countermeasures to be established regarding the breach of the city’s first line of defense?”

“General Han Moosung, there are rumors that a second-generation heir of the SG Group donated around 1 trillion won to the defense forces and received an application form for Pantheon Academy in return.

Would you care to comment?”

“Alright, alright, please make way. We’ll hold a press conference later, so step aside for now.”

Pantheon Academy had its own broadcasting club, and the students there would often collect academy news and distribute it in the form of a magazine.

However, unlike Korean reporters, they never obsessively stalked people or tried to uncover private or sensitive stories through aggressive questioning.

Because of that, Iris and the other students, likely overwhelmed by the cultural shock, boarded the military vehicle in a daze, half out of their minds.

I alone sat comfortably by the window, casually taking in the scenery of Neo Seoul—and was genuinely surprised by how peaceful it looked.

I had imagined a bleak scene with war orphans walking around with begging bowls, especially after hearing that the first defense line had been breached.

But instead, it looked even more prosperous than the Seoul I remembered.

Even the expressions of the passing citizens didn’t show any sense of crisis, which only made the disconnect more jarring.

It was then that Han Hyeryeong, who had boarded the vehicle with us, opened her mouth.

“Hello!

I’ve heard a lot about you from my sister.

You’re Iris Lunai, right?

Wow, when I first saw you, I thought an actual angel had descended or something.

You’re not even wearing makeup—how is your skin so clear and radiant?

And your hair, it seriously looks like golden thread!

Western blondes always look so fake in comparison.

Oh, right!

I heard there’s a real angel at Pantheon Academy.

Wasn’t she the school nurse?

What does she look like?

I seriously can’t imagine anyone prettier than you!”

“Ah, well… that is…”

“Hyeryeong, that’s enough. It’s morning in Korea, but it was evening at Pantheon Academy just ten minutes ago. Don’t bombard them with that kind of energy. Just guide them so they can rest properly when we get to the hotel.”

“Tch! Maybe it’s all routine for you since you live at the Academy, but to me, it’s a whole new world! Life on Earth is so boring. Dad’s always nagging me to stay home and not go anywhere. Seriously, I wish I’d been born with a Stigma too.”