episode_0034

The man who founded Cheongsong Academy and served as its first Dean, a position he’d held for over nine years, was named Yang Chan-ho. He was in his early thirties. His other moniker? The Hero. It must have been about ten years ago. An unprecedentedly colossal gate appeared in the Arctic Ocean. And from beyond it, a building-sized serpent emerged, causing gates around the world to collapse and monsters to rampage… People now called it the greatest catastrophe since the Great Upheaval, when the first gate appeared a hundred years ago. It was South Korea’s S-rank Awakener, Yang Chan-ho, who brought an end to that horrific period of calamity. He wielded a seemingly ridiculous ability, “the power to turn mops into holy swords,” using it to transform that colossal serpent, Jörmungandr, into Jör/mun/gandr, didn’t he? And for good measure, he split the Arctic Ocean in half. What more needed to be said? He was always the top contender when discussing the strongest Awakeners of the current generation. Not just in Korea, but globally. And such a man was now running an academy in Daejeon, South Korea. At first, there were many voices of concern. The establishment of an Awakener education institution, effective only in Awakener-advanced countries like the US or Europe. And by an individual, no less? He was told it wouldn’t be easy, and indeed, there were more than a few twists and turns. Well, ultimately, the achievements of his graduates proved him right. It would have been strange, anyway, if an academy founded by the world’s strongest Awakener and his network of connections failed to achieve results. As someone who had greatly benefited from that educational institution, I felt a personal admiration and respect for him…

“Alright. Come on in. So, Cheon Soyul and Lee Hyunjin?” “…Ah, yes.”

At that moment, my illusion was beginning to shatter. No, perhaps it had already fractured slightly. I’d heard quite a bit about the Dean’s office, said to be on the top floor of the academy’s main building. For instance, that the Hero’s legendary equipment was displayed on the walls… Or perhaps, rumors occasionally popped up that fragments of the famous Jörmungandr’s corpse might be decorating it like trophies? Since over 80% of the students admitted to this academy admired the nation’s Hero, it wasn’t strange for such rumors to circulate. It was just unfortunate that every single one of those conjectures and expectations turned out to be completely wrong. Guided by a staff member, I stepped through the door of the Dean’s office, and at the same time, failed to maintain my composure. I probably wasn’t alone; Cheon Soyul next to me likely had a similar reaction. The Hero’s secret lair, as we’d imagined? Or a feast of splendid and rare equipment? None of that was there. Instead, the room was occupied by a thirtysomething slacker, wearing a stretched-out white T-shirt, half-reclining in a chair with his legs propped on the desk. No, not a slacker, perhaps. He was, after all, the Dean of the academy…

‘This is confusing.’

I don’t know. Maybe I was just so flustered that I was having absurd thoughts. But wouldn’t anyone? Who would have thought that ‘the’ Hero’s abode would be this messy? Clothes strewn carelessly, empty drink cans rolling around, trash bags… It wasn’t an exaggeration; I genuinely thought a cheap rented room somewhere would be cleaner than this. At least they’d clean it, right? Ah, there was one thing that matched the students’ speculation. The guess that the Hero’s equipment would be stored in the Dean’s office on the top floor of the main building. With eyes that probably couldn’t hide my complicated feelings, I looked to the side. Indeed, the Hero’s weapons were there. That is, if those various mops inside the wooden compartment, shaped like a gun rack, could be considered the Hero’s weapons… I bit my lip, and as the Hero slowly got up and gestured us toward the sofa, I blurted out a remark.

“Do the staff not clean for you? Why is your room like this?”

At my words, not only Yang Chan-ho, who was about to prepare coffee, but also Cheon Soyul, who had been making an awkward face beside me, flinched and looked at me.

“Hey…!”

She jabbed my side with her elbow. She must have thought my tone was impolite. I scratched the back of my head awkwardly but didn’t bother correcting myself.

“You’re really…” Pfft!

Cheon Soyul stared up at me with a bewildered look, and Yang Chan-ho let out a light chuckle. His relaxed, calm eyes flickered between Cheon Soyul and me with a pleased expression.

“It’s a strength to be able to speak your mind, no matter who the other person is. Soyul, don’t scold him so much. I’m not the type to criticize a student’s way of speaking, unlike others.”

Cheon Soyul bowed her head slightly, as if apologizing on my behalf, and mumbled.

“…I apologize, Dean-nim. He’s just naturally a bit thoughtless when he speaks.”

“Well, I’m sorry to be the thoughtless type.”

I shrugged, and Yang Chan-ho chuckled heartily, holding his stomach as if something was incredibly funny, while Cheon Soyul glared at me as if she was about to lose her mind. Perhaps, given that she was raised in the Cheon family, this difference in reaction was natural. She must have heard many things about the Hero. It seemed she thought he was not someone to be treated carelessly as a student. From my perspective, though? Well, he just seemed to have an easygoing personality, the kind of person who would simply laugh off most of what I said. Of course, if I crossed the line, it would be a different story. He must have acted serious during the entrance ceremony and freshman welcoming party out of a need to maintain appearances in a public setting. Following his gesture, I sank onto the sofa obediently and raised my head. Then I lightly gestured to Cheon Soyul, who still had a dazed expression. Come here. Following my lead, Yang Chan-ho also grinned and gestured to the top student. Come here.

“…Oh, no…”

Cheon Soyul frowned for a moment, as if feeling dizzy. Then, resigned, she let out a silent sigh and sat down beside me. Yang Chan-ho and I turned our heads simultaneously, our gazes meeting. And we nodded lightly.

“He’s the type who lives life a bit tough.” “He does seem that way. You’ll have to take good care of him.” “Sigh, it’s a hassle, but what can I do? He’s my friend. I guess I’ll have to put up with it.” “Hmm, hmm, I’ll write in the 9th-year valedictorian’s record that she has a very good friend by her side.”

We chatted amicably, exchanging pleasantries that weren’t particularly meaningful. Sitting next to me, Cheon Soyul’s fists trembled in frustration. Whoa, careful there, you might hit someone.

“Alright, enough joking around.”

Just then, Yang Chan-ho clapped his hands, drawing our attention. I immediately straightened my posture, adopting a strict, solemn, and serious expression.

“Yes, Dean-nim. Please speak.” “Hmm.”

Yang Chan-ho smiled with satisfaction.

“Let’s get to the point. Are you curious why I called you two?”

He looked at Cheon Soyul and me in turn, the playfulness in his eyes somewhat subdued, and this time, both of us nodded silently. We had come because we were called, but it was true that we had no idea what the reason was. After all, we were just a class’s top student and second-place student. There shouldn’t have been a need for the Dean to call us personally, should there?

“Actually, it’s not just the two of you; I plan to call all the top students and second-place students from every year, one by one. You two just happened to be the first.”

That question was partially resolved by Yang Chan-ho’s next words. As I thought, rather than calling just Cheon Soyul and me, he was planning to summon all the top and second-place students from every year.

‘…But why us first, of all people?’

Another question arose the next moment. Not a first-year or a fourth-year, but the second-year’s top and second-place students were called first? Why?

“Um, why were we first…?”

As if a similar question had occurred to her, Cheon Soyul asked Yang Chan-ho. She, too, tilted her head with a puzzled expression. At that point, Yang Chan-ho rummaged through a stack of documents and handed something to us.

“Would you two mind taking a look at this first?”

Cheon Soyul and I exchanged a brief glance. Then, without a word, we both leaned our heads together and buried our faces in the document.

“Hmm?”

Perhaps he found our posture quite amusing? Yang Chan-ho’s eyes widened slightly for a moment, then he asked us with a meaningful smile.

“Are you two, by any chance, dating?”

Pause. Cheon Soyul and I both froze at the same time, then glanced at each other. And then, again, we both answered simultaneously.

“No, we’re not.” “We’re kinda seeing each other.”

The calm first answer was Cheon Soyul’s, and the casual second answer was mine. Startled and flustered, both of us exchanged glances again, trying to read each other’s intentions. I turned back to Yang Chan-ho and replied.

“She says we’re not.” “…Actually, we are kinda seeing each other.”

However, half a beat later, another voice, not mine, was added. This time, it was Cheon Soyul correcting herself. I turned toward her with a look of disbelief. What was she trying to do? Cheon Soyul buried her face, which had turned red. Even she seemed quite flustered, unsure of what she had just said.

Bwahahaha!

And Yang Chan-ho burst into the loudest laughter I’d heard from him today. Our Hero threw his head back, laughing so hard the Dean’s office seemed to shake. Wiping away a tear that had escaped, he grinned and glanced at us.

“Soyul, Hyunjin. You two are really fun. Your classmates must be lucky. Being close to you, it must be quite entertaining to watch.”

“…” “…”

We decided not to answer. The unspoken agreement between Cheon Soyul and me was to just bury our faces in the documents again.

“Uh…” “Huh?”

But that resolve was futile, as we soon had to speak again. The cause was none other than the document we’d received. The most noticeable title on the very first page.

[April Cheongsong Festival (靑松祭), All-Year Top & Second-Place Student Tournament Schedule]

…It contained none other than the academy’s grand (?) plan to gather the top and second-place students from first to fourth year—a total of eight people—to compete in one place. Wow. How exciting.

*****

“That’s basically it. Of course, none of these eight students are unimportant, but considering public interest, there aren’t many kids quite like you two…”

“So, in other words, you want the Disciple of the Archmage and the Disciple of the Ice Empress to duke it out? To determine who’s stronger in front of the public?”

“…Ahem. Why do you put it so disappointingly, Hyunjin? Anyway, only one of you will win and advance to the semifinals, so why not make the stage a bit bigger… right?”

According to Yang Chan-ho, the circumstances that led to this bothersome idea were as follows: The tournament for all-year top and second-place students was a pre-scheduled matter, but a discussion briefly arose in a meeting about two people who were particularly attracting attention in the second year. Of course, that referred to Cheon Soyul and me. The Disciple of the Ice Empress and the youngest daughter of Manroe. Since the Cheongsong Festival, a month away, was a national event, they wanted to use us for promotional purposes if possible.

…It was only then that Cheon Soyul and I understood why this Hero-nim had specifically called us first out of the eight. I looked up at Yang Chan-ho with disapproval and retorted.

“In the end, aren’t you just planning to make our match the main event? For promotional purposes, at the academy’s expense?”

“…”

The Hero was silent. Cheon Soyul’s and my eyes grew darker.

“Ah, no. Of course, what you said is right, but it won’t be bad for you two either, will it? Advertising fees will be separately allocated and deposited into your accounts, and, uh, your recognition will increase…!”

Yang Chan-ho spoke quickly, as if making excuses, but frankly, those things didn’t really benefit us. Money? Cheon Soyul came from a prestigious family, and I wasn’t exactly struggling financially either. What about recognition? That was also neither here nor there, as Cheon Soyul and I were already the two most famous people at Cheongsong Academy. Even if Cheon Soyul’s and my names appeared in the news or articles, it probably wouldn’t have a dramatic effect on our future.

“Well…” “Hmm.”

Naturally, our reactions were lukewarm, and Yang Chan-ho became more frantic. He briefly displayed hesitation on his face. Soon, a determined look reappeared in his eyes.

“Alright, let’s do this. If one of you reaches the finals of the tournament, I promise an item, even if I have to pay for it out of my own pocket. To Soyul, I’ll give the Thunder Return Pill, and to Hyunjin, I’ll hand over the Sky Clearing Oil–”

“Good. I’ll do it.” “Actually, from the moment I first heard it, it was a role I really wanted.”

And before Yang Chan-ho could finish speaking, Cheon Soyul and I accepted the deal. We expressed our active consent with bright expressions, and his face was tinged with a complex emotion that words could hardly describe.

“…Alright, thank you.”

Yang Chan-ho reluctantly nodded. He seemed to think he had lost out a bit himself, but it would be ridiculous to back out now. Cheon Soyul and I subtly gave each other a thumbs-up.

“Then we’ll be going now.”

But you never know. A Hero-nim might change his mind later. To prevent such a thing, I quickly got up from my seat. Cheon Soyul also quietly rose to follow me. We just clicked.

“Yes, go, go…”

Perhaps he didn’t even have the energy to see us off. Yang Chan-ho sadly waved his hand. Then, he paused. Suddenly wearing a peculiar expression, he covered his mouth as if he had forgotten something, then looked back at us.

“Hyunjin?”

And he called my name.

“Why don’t you stay behind for a bit for an interview?”

“…?”

Huh? No. Why just me?