Episode 227. At the Academy (2)

Monday morning, the start of the week.

On Sunday, Baek Ahyoung finished saying goodbye to the people at Ironblood Hospital.

And after a long time, she went to work at the infirmary.

Being in a noisy place like a hospital and returning to a quiet workplace definitely felt strange.

Still, just by being in the same space as Oppa, Baek Ahyoung started humming.

Helping people at Ironblood Hospital was good, but after all, Lee Hoyeon is more important.

“Heh heh. Ah, maybe I should go see the medical team?”

To inform the medical team members of her return and say hello.

And there was something to ask.

Baek Ahyoung immediately went to find the medical team after unpacking her things.

Since it was the building right next door, she could get there quickly by walking.

And upon entering, Baek Ahyoung discovered the medical team members working with hollow eyes, like zombies.

“…What are you all doing?”

It’s Monday morning now, but to have such hollow eyes, did they pull an all-nighter?

Just as Baek Ahyoung was wondering.

One medical team member, the closest to the entrance, slowly turned their head towards Baek Ahyoung.

And then, widening their eyes, they muttered.

“S-Saintess. Finally….”

“What? Saintess?”

And then the medical team leader, who was further inside, jumped up upon hearing that sound.

Seeing the leader’s bloodshot eyes, Baek Ahyoung flinched slightly.

He strode over and bowed deeply to Baek Ahyoung.

“Thank you. Thank you so much for returning. Saintess, no, Infirmary Teacher…!”

“…Yes?”

Why on earth was this person acting like this?

As Baek Ahyoung was flustered, the leader continued speaking.

“That damn chairman… no, the higher-ups said Ms. Baek Ahyoung would be joining the medical team and massively increased the workload, but even though Ms. Baek Ahyoung was on a business trip, they didn’t reduce it… sob.”

“….”

Whether it’s the Association or the Academy, the medical team must have it tough.

Still, since they were keeping the promise that she wouldn’t use her image, Baek Ahyoung was satisfied with the Academy in her own way.

Because she could be close to Lee Hoyeon.

“It’s okay. Team Leader. I’m here now.”

Still, the people being overworked are a bit pitiful.

Starting today, I should work hard.

“Thank you. Thank you…”

Baek Ahyoung smiled slightly at the thankful leader, then asked the question she wanted to ask.

“Right now, the first-year mages are having practical skills class, right? Did the medical team go out for support?”

She already knew Lee Hoyeon’s schedule like the back of her hand.

Baek Ahyoung planned to go to the site, using the excuse that she’d help out instead since the medical team was tired.

Since it’s been a while since she saw Oppa wearing the cadet uniform.

“Yes? Ah, no. They didn’t come today.”

“…There’s no way they didn’t come. Isn’t medical team support mandatory during practical skills class?”

According to Baek Ahyoung’s research, there was medical team support for every practical skills class.

That’s why she had expected it today too….

“Well, to be precise, it’s not mandatory. Of course, it’s like a custom, so no professor skips it… but strangely, they didn’t come in today. If an accident happens because of this, you’ll have to take responsibility for everything.”

“The professor in charge of that class is Professor Im Sol, right?”

“Let me check for a moment…. Ah, yes. That’s correct. Seeing as it’s Professor Im Sol, it probably wasn’t a mistake; perhaps they’re confident that no accident will happen. Maybe they don’t want to reveal the class content.”

That’s impossible.

Professor Im Sol’s class is just where students cast magic and Professor Im Sol evaluates them; it’s a very simple class.

Even if it were leaked anywhere, there would be no problem at all. It’s a wholesome class.

“…Alright. For now, I also have to go attend to my duties.”

“Yes, yes. Please do.”

Baek Ahyoung left the medical team’s area.

From inside, sounds like ‘Finally, freedom-!’ could be heard, but ignoring them, she returned to the infirmary.

Sitting at her work desk inside the quiet infirmary, Baek Ahyoung tilted her head.

‘Sol-i? A kid who finds everything bothersome except magic planned to handle it herself if an accident happened?’

That’s ridiculous.

There must be another reason.

The most likely reason would be a mistake… but Baek Ahyoung had another thought.

‘Could it be that knowing she was returning today, she was trying to keep her in check?’

Professor Im Sol was a highly likely candidate for a rival.

“Nah, no way.”

Baek Ahyoung lightly slapped her own cheeks and shook her head vigorously.

After working hard on-site for the first time in a while, her mind seemed to have become sharp.

Professor Im Sol, her friend, wouldn’t do that.

“He’ll probably come visit later. If he doesn’t, I can just contact him.”

Baek Ahyoung began to tackle the piled-up work in the infirmary, leaving her disappointment behind.

To lessen the burden on the struggling medical team.

*

Watching Lucy blast magic left and right from afar, Professor Im Sol looked at me and opened her mouth.

“Even for a disciple like this, I have to teach. Show me your magic.”

Professor Im Sol, with her arms crossed, watched me looking intrigued.

“Hmm….”

She’ll probably be quite surprised.

The last time I properly showed my magic in front of others was during the sparring match with the Vice President.

‘But compared to then, I’ve improved a lot.’

I drew out mana from my fingers.

The form was the most basic: an ice spear.

A form of magic easy to stick into a target.

However, the more basic the magic, the more proficiency is revealed.

As the magic circle neared completion, Professor Im Sol frowned.

Even the same magic circle changes depending on who uses it.

First, the speed of formation.

No need to mention it. I’m confident I can deploy magic faster than Professor Im Sol.

And the quality of mana.

Using [Mana Sensitivity], I can draw out only pure mana.

Without a single impurity, the blue and clean mana drew the magic circle.

The magic circle’s perfection was naturally flawless, and the last part was the core incantation.

Still, it’s a field only Professor Im Sol knows… but since Professor Im Sol is here, she’ll surely recognize its true value.

“Hmm…?”

As expected, Professor Im Sol realized something strange.

Mana filling the core incantation.

The spear’s tip sharpened keenly, and the cold intensified.

The flying speed increased, and the penetration power increased.

Seeing the magic circle, where countless incantations overlapped, Professor Im Sol let out a hollow laugh.

“…My disciple. You’ve grown a lot.”

“Thank you, Professor.”

Seeing Professor Im Sol’s reaction, I felt energized.

Kkadeuk- Kkadeuk-

From my outstretched hand, the firmly frozen ice spear shot towards the target.

Kagagagag!

Seeing the target shattered with a tremendous noise, I felt satisfied.

For this level, I made it quite well.

• Wow, Lee Hoyeon is crazy.

• Right? But for a genius mage, isn’t he quite ordinary?

From the back there, the students too focused this way and poured out admiration.

Professor Im Sol quickly turned her head towards where the second voice came from.

It was a student who said, “Isn’t he quite ordinary for a genius mage?”

Professor Im Sol’s furrowed brow seemed like an expression of displeasure.

• H-Hieek. Practice. I need to practice.

“What kind of bullshit is that….”

“Professor. Hold on. A regular student might not understand, you know.”

I covered Professor Im Sol’s mouth, who was about to spout profanity.

A mage who could perceive all the subtleties contained in this magic couldn’t possibly be here.

Fortunately, Professor Im Sol understood the meaning behind my words and met my eyes.

“…Did you dope or something?”

“You know that’s not true, so why ask?”

“That’s true. Sigh… You’re truly amazing.”

Professor Im Sol seemed to feel competitive spirit and wore a combative smile.

“I need to try harder. I admit it. You’re definitely stronger than I was at 20.”

“Thank you. But Professor, you’ve also improved much more over the past 8 years, haven’t you?”

“…That’s true. My style was research done alone. It suited me. And don’t mention my age.”

Professor Im Sol seemed satisfied with my increased mana level.

If the disciple gets stronger, she’s happy too. That must be it.

“There’s nothing to point out… If I had to nitpick, perhaps using too much mana just to show me? You just needed to break the target.”

“Heh heh, that’s true.”

Actually, I wanted to impress her, so I did use a lot of mana.

But lately, my mana has increased so much that this much barely makes a dent.

Unlike in the past, the mana accumulating in my body has also increased.

“You did well. Ah, speaking of which, what do you want to do about the magic expo this week? I can arrange it according to the schedule you want.”

“The magic expo? As for me, I’m fine with any time.”

“Then how about today? After class, we can go right away.”

“Uh….”

I can’t today.

Lucy and Lumi insisted I come.

“Today is a bit difficult. How about tomorrow?”

“Why, are you trying to go see Ahyoung?”

“No. I have another appointment.”

Baek Ahyoung planned to meet her at lunch.

It’s the Infirmary Teacher’s return day to the Academy, I can’t miss it.

“Hmm, then let’s do tomorrow.”

“Yes, yes. After class tomorrow, it’s fine.”

Tomorrow, since I have no schedule, I can make plans.

“No. After class, I have research to do.”

Professor Im Sol firmly shook her head.

“…You said tomorrow, Professor. Then what should we do?”

“Just go quickly in the morning.”

“What? I have Academy classes in the morning.”

“Skip the morning classes.”

“Is that something a professor should say?”

No matter how I think about it, this person isn’t a professor.

Making a student grade assignments didn’t make sense from the start.

No, and besides, if there’s nothing to do during morning class time, you could just do research then.

Couldn’t we just go to the magic expo with me after the Academy day ends?

“You’ve already met all your attendance requirements anyway. And if you’re really worried, you can use your professor’s authority. We’ll just call it a field trip or something.”

“…That sounds good?”

As expected, a capable woman is the best.

Seeing others use power is annoying, but when it becomes me, it’s a good thing.

*

After having lunch with the Lucy-Lumi twins, I said I had somewhere to go.

“Ehh? Where?”

Lucy grabbed my arm and shook it back and forth.

It was a relief that she seemed more energetic than this morning.

“To see the Infirmary Teacher. I have medicine to pick up.”

“Ah… So there was a reason Mr. Hoyeon goes to the infirmary often.”

“Yeah. I have something being treated.”

I looked at Lucy and Lumi and put on an apologetic expression.

“Well, if it’s something like that, it can’t be helped. Go ahead.”

“See you later in the afternoon class, Mr. Hoyeon.”

“Yep, yep. See you later.”

Lucy and Lumi went back to the classroom, and I stepped outside for a moment.

‘Somehow, I ended up being the one receiving treatment.’

After Baek Ahyoung was appointed as the Infirmary Teacher, no student visited as often as I did, so there were quite a few students who misunderstood.

Even Alice misunderstood because of that, thinking I had a congenital mana disorder.

Well, this is the easiest way to get by. As long as Baek Ahyoung keeps the secret, it should be fine.

A ‘Lunch Break’ sign was posted at the infirmary, but I ignored it and opened the door.

As I entered the lobby, the staff members resting on the sofa noticed me, and one man, who seemed to be the youngest, ran over.

“I’m sorry. It’s lunchtime, so it’s break time….”

“Hey! Hey!”

“Yes, sir?”

At the same time, a staff member sitting in the back called out to the male staff member approaching me.

“Just let him go. He’s a patient personally managed by the Infirmary Teacher. Since it takes a long time, he usually visits during break time.”

“Ah, ah… I apologize!”

The youngest staff member bowed his head and apologized to me, and I gave an awkward smile.

“It’s alright. Please rest comfortably.”

‘Baek Ahyoung also told them that here.’

Indeed, that would be the most convenient.

• Then, when does the Infirmary Teacher rest?

• I don’t know either. That’s why she’s amazing.

Hearing the praise for Baek Ahyoung among the staff, indeed her reputation seems good.

My Oppa is the best, the best.

I went to the office where Baek Ahyoung would be and knocked.

Knock knock-

“Who is it?”

“Teacher. It’s me. Lee Hoyeon.”

“Ah, yes. Come in.”

As I pushed the door open with a click, I could see Baek Ahyoung wearing her familiar work uniform and resting.

A white blouse, a black miniskirt. Even black stockings.

This is Baek Ahyoung’s work attire.

Dressed like that, how could the men receiving treatment not go crazy?

Click-

I closed the door tightly and locked it securely.

“It feels like it’s been ages since I’ve seen you at the Academy.”

“Oppa… I missed you….”

Only after the door was locked did Baek Ahyoung get up from her seat and come towards me.

Her composed sitting posture was the complete opposite of this.

Poook-

Seeing Baek Ahyoung hugging me and burying her face in my chest, I smiled and stroked her head.

“I missed you too. I love you. Oppa.”

“Mmm… me too.”

Leaving Oppa and becoming a father felt a little guilty.