Chapter 8: Wow, this is really great

Seoul Supernatural Ability Academy.

The way to the special autonomous district where the academy is located is very clear and convenient for students enrolled in the academy.

There is a shuttle bus that travels all over Seoul, and a subway line dedicated exclusively to the academy.

There’s no worry of any outsiders interfering, as only those with a student ID and a pass can board, so only academy staff and students are allowed.

Since a shuttle bus also runs near my apartment, I was able to board the bus quickly while waiting and eating a sandwich I bought at the convenience store.

Well, there was a small issue, though.

“Is that the…”

“Wow, why hasn’t this rumor spread earlier?”

“Maybe everyone went blind because it’s so dazzling.”

“Oh, that makes sense.”

It was great up until I scanned my student ID and sat down, but for some reason, it felt like everyone on the bus was glancing at me from time to time.

We had never met before, so why did it feel like they were all looking at me with some sort of affection…?

What is this? Is it a disease or some new form of bullying in this reverse world?

‘Goddess, what’s going on here?’

I wanted to ask the goddess for her opinion for the first time in a while, but…

[······.]

Since I last saw a message from her, about how she was frustrated when she left the convenience store, she had been silent.

Well, sometimes she disappears for a while in that world, too.

Maybe she went to the bathroom.

Anyway, putting the missing goddess aside, I immediately looked at the situation on the bus.

‘It doesn’t seem like it’s just my imagination that everyone is looking at me.’

As a hero who has reached a high level, it’s easy to tell whether someone is looking at me or not.

They were definitely glancing over here!

This is not a misunderstanding!

[The goddess is shouting curses at you.]

Well, it’s not unusual for the goddess to disappear and come back only to start cursing at me.

This wasn’t a big deal.

What really caught my attention was the nature of the glances everyone was throwing at me.

In the past, I was revered as a hero and later as a god of destruction, so I was used to being looked at with awe and reverence.

‘They looked at me with those eyes, as if seeing something great and lofty.’

The experience of being raised from human to half-god.

It wasn’t unpleasant; on the contrary, it was an exhilarating feeling as a mere existence.

But creating equals is difficult, which is why I returned to the modern world.

Though people here did throw glances at me, the emotion reflected in their eyes was different.

When I was active as a hero, I mainly felt worship, reverence, admiration, respect, and occasionally fear and resentment.

But here, I could sense curiosity, fondness, and even, to be specific, lingering desire.

They were curious about me.

In many different ways.

Based on what I had watched in the past few months, according to Shin Yoo-seong’s big data, they were looking at me with romantic curiosity and affection.

[······?!]

[The goddess asks if you knew that.]

‘You must have known, right?’

It’s only natural that when there’s a pretty part-timer at a cafe or PC room back in middle or high school, you’d sneak glances at them.

Well…

After I had that thought when I first went to school, I started looking at myself in the bathroom mirror every morning, and I concluded that my face wasn’t that bad.

Which means, there’s demand.

Just like my combat ability, under the assumption that romantic desires between men and women have somewhat reversed, I now find myself a decently okay existence just as I am.

Especially in a school for supernatural abilities where there are hardly any male students, I could even feel like the protagonist of a harem-type story.

[The goddess looks at you with a shocked expression.]

[She asks if you really acted like this knowing all of this.]

No, what do you mean “acted like this”?

I thought I lived my life with no shame as a former hero.

I didn’t even have time to make mistakes because I was busy cooped up at home.

[She says that this part doesn’t sit well with her.]

[(0_0)]

The goddess is displeased by the smallest things.

“Well, market research is necessary, isn’t it? Also, the route I’ve decided to pursue… should I say? The location is already set to be the academy.”

I wasn’t into going out into the city, shouting, “Hey, look at me!” just to attract attention.

I’m already receiving too much attention from there, so simply enjoying the attention here doesn’t really excite me.

It’s nice being popular, but what I truly crave is romance.

‘Pure love is good, and harem love is good too.’

After all, I’m a golden retriever type, so I’m just in it for all of it.

I just want everyone I like to like me back, it’s a very honest desire.

Therefore, I planned to devote myself to the academy and school life.

‘For now, being a model student? A good student image would be ideal.’

I’m not the type to play the role of the bully or the golden boy.

I had no intention of playing such a role.

Logically, I wanted to experience a normal college life while also trying out some romance.

That’s the mindset I’ve set for this world, a modest goal.

[The goddess sighs, muttering that she thinks she raised the wrong hero.]

“Why me?”

[She says the part-time worker at the convenience store is pitiful.]

No, I mean, why?”

It’s a thought I always have, but damn it, my tastes never matched those of the goddess.

A train chugs along the iron tracks above a blue river, and in the distance, an island is visible.

Seoul Portrait Academy.

A special autonomous district and an island-based, unique academy city built exclusively for this academy.

Being a cradle where talented individuals from around the world gather, the academy is highly watched by governments, corporations, and even villain organizations. 

However, there’s no need to worry about espionage or terrorism from the outside.

Click.

The train just crossed the trigger point.

In an instant, a magical wave scanned the train and its passengers, and she gazed out the window.

Bright, dark, and colorful.

In a moment, the scenery outside the train blurred between day and night, dawn and dusk, as they overlapped on the river.

It felt as though space and time were intertwined in a complex and multi-dimensional way.

It was always an amazing sight.

Professor Aris Severus, a professor of combat studies and magic, looked at the scene with a neutral expression, comparing her magical knowledge with the unusual phenomena occurring before her.

Even though it had been built by grand mages and other powerful wizards, it was astonishing to see such a powerful barrier stretching across the entire island.

Some might have thought, “Tch, a barrier,” but to a wizard like her, who understood the principles, it was an awe-inspiring sight.

Most of the students didn’t even notice that the train had passed through the barrier, it was so discreet.

Since it was an educational institution and not a military facility, it was nice that it wasn’t noisy.

It allowed students to enjoy their freedom and rights while attending the academy.

The academy’s environment was diverse and beautifully designed in line with its educational philosophy.

There were modern buildings and streets, but there were also streets that resembled quaint medieval villages with markets, plazas, and fountains.

There were even training facilities built in the style of Eastern academies for students practicing close combat. The dormitories were built to reflect four distinct seasonal themes and forms.

Though some criticized it as unnecessary spending for a small group, there were enough expectations to make the academy sustainable.

After all, graduates who became A-rank Hunters or prominent figures would contribute funds or return as educators, allowing the academy to recover those expenses.

The tuition fees were quite high, after all.

Anyway, since so many talented people gathered here, Professor Aris Severus also looked at the students with anticipation each year.

Despite her dislike of troublesome tasks, she always volunteered to handle the placement exams and level test for the most promising department—combat magic.

She had high hopes for the new students entering the academy each year.

Not only A-rank Hunters, but also potential graduate students and special experiment subjects, these new students were seeds that could grow into something extraordinary.

‘I have to do my best so they don’t get discouraged.’

This year, especially, felt different from previous ones.

As always, the heirs of prestigious families and magic tower families were exceptional, but there were also dark horses emerging unexpectedly.

Strictly speaking, some of these talents were from completely different backgrounds, but they caught her attention nonetheless.

The village plaza, where various foods, desserts, and magical items were sold, had a bulletin board.

[Combat Studies 1st Class Placement Exam]

Aris Severus stopped in front of the bulletin board and stared at the report card posted there.

“Oh.”

This year was certainly more interesting than usual.

[The goddess’s eyes widen in surprise.]

[She looks around, flustered, at the hero.]

It was the first day of school, excluding the entrance ceremony.

Despite the day having the potential to be a big event, she was casually joking with the goddess because she thought she could afford to do so.

Even if I look a bit handsome and impressive, I’m just a student at the academy, right?

There’s no reason for me to stand out with my skills. I haven’t even seen my entrance exam scores, which are barely above the cutoff line, and the level test I took at the entrance ceremony was adequate against a group of goblins.

It’s not like I’m at the level where I’d need to show off by defeating goblins with full force.

So, I decided to take a casual look around the campus, treating it like a reconnaissance mission.

“Wow, the real deal is amazing.”

“Should I just smash my phone? The camera lens was terrible.”

“Does he have skill to match that appearance?”

Something felt off about the atmosphere.

The exact reason became clear after seeing the level test scores posted around the campus.

“Huh?”

Wait a minute.

[Combat Studies 1st Class Placement Exam]

[1. Shin Yuseong]

Wait, is that me?