episode_0242

Who would call him the captain’s teacher? This kind of self-praise had something in common with him.

Well, it’s not that hard to please someone to this extent…

“I heard that you broke all records when you entered Cradle.”

“Hmm.”

Haewolhwa nods her head proudly, like a student who has been praised for good grades.

“Youngest student admitted, shortest time to graduate, undefeated in ranking matches, and highest ever Rubin value observed in the body… ”

“This is the second time. In the past, a person with a four-digit Rubin value appeared.”

Haewolhwa lightly corrected me. She was talking about Yeon-i. It was also the reward she got after overcoming her particle hypersensitivity.

It was said that it was no different from having a spring that never runs dry. Most magicians have experienced the fear of particle exhaustion at least once, but this was not the case for Yeon-i.

The only person who can stand up to her is Yeon Min-ha, the greatest spirit master of all time who can freely command dozens of spirits.

“Well, maturity still has a long way to go… ”

The smile on his lips is a little charming. Only then does the principal seem to be his age. No, he still has a long way to go.

Suddenly, a question arises. Come to think of it, how old is this person? Even the parents of the captain call Haewolhwa “senior”…

“… ”

I quickly gave up on the idea. It was something I couldn’t ask anyway.

“Do you know? I haven’t had a single friend since I was a student.”

The principal’s voice sounded somewhat hazy. I didn’t know what to say in response, so I just listened in silence.

“Everyone looked at me with awe, not friendship. Well, that’s only natural. Since I entered school, I had no peers among my peers, and I was the one who could deal with more than ten professors at the same time without losing my breath.”

The principal was laughing, but there was an inexplicable loneliness in his voice. His appearance was also overly pitiful.

This person has been living the life of a lonely transcendent being since he was my age.

Of course, I was also very curious as to why he was telling me this now.

“Ordinary magicians can only operate particles purified through the well. However, I heard from Professor Shin that you have demonstrated an unidentified power that allows you to freely operate neutral particles in space. Is that really your power?”

“That’s right.”

“… You don’t know how lucky you are that your power is not in their hands.”

It was a smile brighter than the setting sun. The principal’s joy did not stop there.

“And I’m so happy, so happy that a wizard who can subdue me has finally appeared.”

“… ”

“The strongest of all time, this body praised as a guardian of the nation… Just by lifting one finger… Hoohoo… ”

The excitement and desire that she had not been able to hide were seeping out of her voice. Her reaction was a little strange.

Normally, people would feel a sense of crisis when their positions are threatened. However, the principal showed an excited sense of liberation.

… Maybe that means she was lonely. If she was revered by those around her since her days as an academy cadet, then there was no need to say anything more after that.

She spent decades standing alone in the highest places, not even entering into a marriage contract, which was a duty for a sorcerer of high birth.

It couldn’t have been otherwise. Who would dare to show such feelings to the most powerful wizard?

Only then did he begin to understand why the principal had been listing his past in such detail. It was no wonder that he was jumping for joy at the fact that a wizard who could surpass him had appeared.

Well, of course, that doesn’t mean I’ll ever have ill intentions or use force against the principal.

“I would never dare touch the principal’s body.”

“… ”

I said it with force, just in case. But I think it’s impossible for a person’s heart to be completely free of anxiety.

However, what flashed through the principal’s eyes was a clear disappointment. The human mind is indeed difficult. But it’s not like I can openly say something rude like, ‘I’ll definitely break the principal’…

The principal was puffing out his cheeks. Judging from his pouty lips, he seemed to have no intention of hiding his disappointment.

“Well, that’s enough of that story.”

She changed the subject, still grumbling.

“It is clear that your presence is a great strength to us. But that also worries me.”

“Why is that?”

“Being able to subdue me means, on the contrary, that you could become the greatest threat to the Republic.”

“Am I… talking?”

“Yeah.”

Didn’t you just say you trusted me? I’m dumbfounded by the sudden words.

“The Supreme Council, a coalition of powerful wizarding families, has been leading our republic for the past several decades. It may not be perfect, but it is also clear that they have run the country fairly well.”

The principal continued his explanation.

“Of course, it wasn’t always stable. The republic of these equals was always threatened by the appearance of a superman. And the first crisis was the appearance of this body.”

Then he nodded as if pointing at himself.

“From the moment I stepped foot into the cradle, everyone around me has been watching my every move. It can’t be helped. If I were to step forward and try to overthrow the country, who would dare stand in my way?”

“But the principal… ”

“Yeah. This body has no interest in such things.”

The principal shrugged his shoulders slightly.

“The only thing this body cares about is burying itself leisurely in the sofa in the greenhouse. In fact, it’s more like I forced myself into the position of principal. Oh, and besides that… ”

“… ?”

Suddenly, the principal locked eyes with me, closed his lips tightly, and avoided eye contact. Was he just looking at me? It seemed like he had some sort of purpose rather than something to say.

“Ahem. Let’s get back to what we were talking about.”

And the principal coughed in vain and tried to avoid the question.

“… And the second crisis was the rebellion a while ago. The one that Baek Il-yong started. ”

She held out two slender fingers.

“Even if he had the power of a single person, there is no one in this republic who can match his wits when it comes to thinking. In fact, his coup was on the verge of success. If I had died in the South, or if you had failed to stop him, he would have ascended to the throne.”

“But in the end, I stopped it… ”

“And the third one is you.”

Now the principal’s finger was pointed squarely at me.

“I… am I… talking…?”

“The backing of the five families of Black Lotus, and the overwhelming power that even the strongest magician can never handle. You are the magician who possesses both. Do I need to explain more here?”

“But I have no intention of doing that… ”

“There was a time when everyone thought that way. Even that greedy Baek Il-yong.”

“… ”

“In addition, I have the flower-playing group called Paecheon and Jeokhwa in my hands… ”

Her gaze became even more vivid. She looked exactly like a housewife nagging at her cheating husband.

He said that he also had that kind of feeling just by looking at the expression.

“You’re giving me such a headache.”

“… ”

“Don’t even think about evading it. I just saw with my own two eyes that you were having a hard time.”

It was a remark that seemed to have looked into my inner thoughts.

“Those kids are really impressive. How long has it been since I’ve seen a student dare to raise their eyes at me… ”

Haewolhwa laughed as if she found it funny.

“How can you not say that it is a blessing to have such children in your hands? Power is something that must be checked and checked again. But not only is it not enough to have armed forces, but you have also gained the support of three great families… ”

The principal shook his head as if he really had a headache. The worry itself was justified. I was already dragged into the middle of the whirlpool. Whether I wanted it or not.

“But I can’t kill you… I can’t lock you up in prison… Oh, in the basement of my house… ?”

But there is something she does not know. My fate is already running along a predetermined path. My life will one day fade away to ashes.

I don’t know when that time will be, but I can at least guarantee that the principal will outlive me.

You don’t know him, so you must be worrying about such useless things.

“And remember! Our Republic pursues absolute monogamy. This is to prevent indiscriminate marriage alliances. No matter what happens, you cannot have both at the same time…!”

“Don’t worry.”

So the answer was also simple. I spoke to the principal who was going crazy and lost in some kind of delusion.

“What the principal is worried about… will never happen.”

***

After parting ways with the principal, I walked to the training room in Building A. On days like today when my mind is complicated, the best thing to do is to work my body and let my thoughts melt away.

Yeon-i and Yeon-min were told that they would be punished for the whole night. I begged the principal, but he was unwavering on this one point.

The upperclassmen, who were supposed to be role models for others, got into an ugly fight over a junior, so it was a natural punishment.

But I don’t know why I’m being ignored. In this situation, I guess I’m in the victim position…

I entered the old, familiar training room. Today, I was planning to finish it until I passed out.

But the moment I opened the door to the training room.

-Kudangtang!

I tripped over someone’s foot and fell to the ground.

This is the fighting technique I taught you. Since I didn’t feel any hostility, I didn’t even think about preparing for it. It was also a gentle touch to begin with.

“Hey.”

Hook – A deep green scent lingers before your eyes. Beyond the flowing golden hair, there are two large eyes that resemble emeralds.

He climbed on top of me as I fell, keeping my body pressed against his while maintaining his subduing position.

And then Jin Ye-seo let out a murderous voice.

“Explain.”

I guess today… isn’t really my day.