“So, is this all you have to hand over to me, Teacher Baek Seon-woo?”
“That is correct.”
“... Is this really all?”
On the day I handed things over to the Seventh Elder, who had been newly appointed headmaster of the Academy after I had served as Acting Headmaster for a month, he looked over the materials I had left behind with an utterly dumbfounded expression.
“First, I have organized the events that occurred during the month I served as headmaster, as well as the matters raised at the faculty meetings. Headmaster Choi Hyeon-seok was dismissed so suddenly that he did not tell me anything separately, so it could not be helped.”
“It could not be helped... Well, the fact that the Academy was even maintained during that month-long vacancy is a miracle. I should first tour the Academy and slowly familiarize myself with it.”
“I think that would be best as well.”
“I will have much to do from now on. At least I know your face here at the Academy, so in a way, that is fortunate. Can you help me when I need it?”
“Well... Even without me, there are many teachers who would try to help you however they can just to curry favor with you, so I do not think you will have much difficulty here.”
“Hmm, is that so? I am tired of people flattering me to my face. In any case, I will summon you from time to time if I need anything.”
“Understood. If you need help, I will at least offer advice on what I know.”
“Advice to me... Interesting. I will look into the remaining handover matters further and fill in what is needed, so you may leave now.”
“Understood.”
THUD—!
After completing all the handover matters with the Seventh Elder, who had newly taken office as headmaster, I immediately opened the door and left the headmaster’s office. Once the door closed, he wore an expression as though he found the situation extremely interesting.
“Every time I see that bastard, there is something insolent in the way he speaks, yet somehow I do not dislike it. Life at the Academy is going to be rather fun from now on.”
***
After finishing the handover with the Seventh Elder, I was heading toward the Zero Class when someone called my name.
“Mr. Baek Seon-woo—! Mr. Baek Seon-woo—!”
“Who? !!! Ms. Seo Ha-yoon? What are you doing here all of a sudden? And why are you wearing what looks like a doctor’s coat? Did something happen?”
“Oh? It seems you did not know. As of today, I have been appointed as a teacher at Ares Academy.”
“Pardon? A teacher?”
At Seo Ha-yoon’s sudden declaration that she had come to the Academy as a teacher, I made a thoroughly bewildered expression. Yet, as though something good had happened to her, she kept chattering away with a bright face.
“Ares Academy made a request to our Abel Guild, and through my grandfather’s recommendation, I will be working as the school nurse.”
“Hey, a school nurse?”
“Yes. What do you think? Does this gown not suit me quite well?”
As Seo Ha-yoon spun around in place to show off the white coat she was wearing, I could only stare at her with a dumbfounded expression.
‘A school nurse out of nowhere... Did Guild Master Han Tae-seong bring Seo Ha-yoon here because of the many casualties caused by the school nurse’s absence during the last attack? No matter how I look at it, that seems to be the case.’
“Ms. Seo Ha-yoon, you are a member of Abel Guild, are you not? Ares Academy belongs to Helios. Is that all right?”
“I heard that my grandfather discussed it thoroughly with them. Besides, I think being here will be helpful to me too. And Ares Academy will give me a separate space if I work as the school nurse, as well as fully support my drug experiments, so the conditions are not bad for me.”
“While I was Acting Headmaster, I did see an official notice saying that a new school nurse would arrive, but I had no idea it would be you, Ms. Seo Ha-yoon. I thought it was strange that no name was listed. It seems it was a security matter.”
“The situation is still unstable internally, after all. In any case, let us both work hard! And I look forward to working with you, Mr. Baek Seon-woo. No, Teacher Baek Seon-woo!”
‘Was she always such a lively woman? She is completely different from the Seo Ha-yoon I knew in my past life. Perhaps her personality began to change after her grandfather died and the guild fell apart because of internal strife?’
For some time, Seo Ha-yoon continued showing off the white coat she was wearing in front of me, as though becoming the school nurse at Ares Academy had made her that happy.
***
‘The Seventh Elder has been appointed headmaster, and Seo Ha-yoon of Abel Guild has become the Academy’s school nurse... One thing is certain: they are now proceeding completely differently from the past I knew.’
“Teacher—!”
“...”
“Teach—!”
“...”
“Ah~! Teacher—!!!”
“Hm? What did you say?”
“Class is over.”
“Come to think of it, it is break time. Rest well for twenty minutes, then prepare for the next lesson.”
“Understood, Teacher.”
After telling the children to rest, I began walking toward the smoking area to have a cigarette.
‘There have been so many noisy matters lately that I must have been thinking too many needless thoughts. I should gather myself while smoking for a moment.’
***
“Phew... Shall I focus on class again now?”
After having a cigarette and collecting myself, I was heading back to the Zero Class children when...
“Hey—! Stop him—! If Baek Seon-woo finds out, we’re in big trouble—!”
“Calm down—! If you hit him any more here, there’ll really be a huge mess!”
‘Hm? What is that sound?’
“You crazy bastard! Bastards like you need a beating—!”
“Aaaah—! Aah—! A troublemaker is beating up another student! Oh, I am going to die!”
“What in the world is this commotion?”
“!!! B-Baek Seon-woo?! Teacher—! Well, that is...”
“I asked what you think you are doing. And why is an A-Class student here?”
The A-Class student lying on the floor, covered in blood, and the one punching him with his fists were Kim Yeong-su and Cha Jun-hyeon, respectively. Cha Jun-hyeon was one of the Zero Class students under my care, and one of the children who had challenged me on the first day of school and gotten a thorough beating.
“Well, Teacher—! That bastard... To Choi A-rin... That bastard—!”
“Cha Jun-hyeon. Calm down and explain.”
“Aaaah—! This prospective criminal beat someone! Teacher, you saw it, right? This troublemaker beat me! You can see the blood here, right? Is this not grounds for expulsion?”
“What in the world happened? You who watched this situation, explain it.”
“Well... We watched from a distance, so we don’t know the details, but Kim Yeong-su suddenly came to our class, approached Choi A-rin without warning, and said something to her. Then Cha Jun-hyeon, who happened to be nearby, suddenly got angry and began beating him like a madman.”
“Like a madman?”
“Yes. Cha Jun-hyeon suddenly lost his temper, rushed at Kim Yeong-su, and...”
Ding—!
[Skill – Third Eye]
◎ Kim Yeong-su (Mage – Curse Type / Awakened Grade: Advanced)
- Disposition: Red.
- Trait: He specializes in pinning the blame on others. Perhaps he is someone who needs the room of truth.
‘A bastard who specializes in pinning blame on others... And he is a Curse Type, too? It is obvious that Cha Jun-hyeon fell for that bastard’s trick. No, perhaps he originally targeted Choi A-rin, but Cha Jun-hyeon took the bait instead?’
Ding—!
[Skill – Third Eye]
◎ Cha Jun-hyeon (Fighter – Stone Type / Awakened Grade: Advanced)
Disposition: Faint blue. (He has begun to have a good influence.)
※ He may have a quick temper, but he is actually a kind kid~! Everyone will realize it once they spend time with him.
If the first person to discover the scene had witnessed it, it would have looked as though Cha Jun-hyeon had suddenly rushed in and beaten someone indiscriminately for no reason. But my eyes could never be deceived, and I felt that something was wrong with the current situation.
“Choi A-rin.”
“Yes.”
“You answer. What in the world happened here? Why did Cha Jun-hyeon behave like that?”
“Well, actually...”
Choi A-rin hesitated for a moment. Then she looked at me, pointed at the boy named Kim Yeong-su, and spoke.
“Cha Jun-hyeon did nothing wrong! This all happened because that bastard picked a fight with me first!”
“He picked a fight with you?”
“Yes—!”
“Explain in detail.”
I listened closely as Choi A-rin told me what had occurred between Cha Jun-hyeon and Kim Yeong-su.
***
Twenty minutes earlier.
“Hey—! Are you really going to the Zero Class?”
“Of course. I heard Choi A-rin returned to school, didn’t she? That insolent bitch—! She has neither skill nor money, yet she acts high and mighty and pretends to be so aloof. She has always gotten on my nerves. I was already planning to get even with that bitch for beating me, but then she suddenly stopped coming to school, so I couldn’t meet her and gave up. But I hear she has returned to that delinquent class? Shouldn’t I take this chance to get revenge and put her firmly in her place?”
“Hey—! Don’t do it. What will you do if Choi A-rin beats you up again instead?”
“That would be perfect for me. She’s a poor bitch who doesn’t even have money. Couldn’t I use that as an excuse to torment her?”
“You crazy bastard—! Ugh~ I don’t know. Do as you please.”
“I’ll torment her so thoroughly that she either quits the Academy herself or kneels before me and begs for forgiveness.”
“Kim Yeong-su. Why don’t you stop?”
“!!! Han Ji-hye. Who are you to interfere? Even if your father is the Guild Master of Helios, that doesn’t mean you can tell me what to do. My father is the Guild Master of a fairly large guild too!”
“The fact that both our fathers are Guild Masters has nothing to do with this conversation, does it? And honestly, it’s true that you fell behind Choi A-rin academically. Your skill is pathetic too.”
“P-pathetic! I’m an A-Class student, you know!”
“You’re not the only A-Class student, are you? And you got beaten because you were flaunting your wealth in front of her, telling her you would give her an allowance every month if she became your girlfriend, and harassing her. Now that Choi A-rin has returned to school, you’re simply thinking of retaliating because you feel bitter, aren’t you?”
“!!! W-what are you talking about—! Do I look like such a petty person?”
“I’m warning you. Don’t go to the Zero Class and cause trouble for no reason.”
“Cause trouble? Han Ji-hye, honestly, didn’t your grades rise after Choi A-rin disappeared?”
“What?”
“Honestly, it’s true that you fell behind her academically too, isn’t it?”
“Even so, this isn’t right—! And you’re only doing this to bully her.”
“Haa~ Enough—! I’ll take care of it myself, so Miss Helios Guild Master’s Daughter should stay here quietly.”
“The moment you go to the Zero Class, I’ll report you to the teacher in charge.”
“Do whatever you want—! Does a mere teacher have more power than I do? I don’t care, so if you’re really dissatisfied, go tell on me right now. Heh-heh.”
Kim Yeong-su ignored Han Ji-hye with a disdainful expression and began walking toward the Zero Class.
***
“... So Kim Yeong-su came to the Zero Class without warning and picked a fight with you, Choi A-rin?”
After sending all the other Zero Class students away and leaving behind only Kim Yeong-su, whose face had swollen from the beating; Cha Jun-hyeon, the assailant; and Choi A-rin, the cause of the situation, I questioned them again.
“Yes. He kept harassing me before, saying he would give me money if I became his girlfriend, so I hit him once.”
“His girlfriend? You hit him?”
“Yes, and since I stopped coming to school, things ended ambiguously between him and me. But now that I have returned, Kim Yeong-su approached me and picked a fight first.”
“What did he say to pick a fight?”
“He suddenly said he wanted compensation for the beating I gave him before and demanded that I pay him an absurd amount of money.”
“He demanded money? How much?”
“Fifty million won.”
“What? Fifty million?”
Since he had demanded an amount that anyone could see was absurd, I wore an incredulous expression as I looked at Kim Yeong-su. Yet he merely picked at his ear and stood with his weight on one leg, wearing an indifferent expression.
“Yes. So when I asked why I had to give him that money, Kim Yeong-su said that if I could not compensate him with money, I should play the role of his girlfriend at his side and serve him with my body instead. Cha Jun-hyeon, who was listening beside us, became angry and beat him.”
“Phew... I see.”
Once I had heard the entire story, I could not help letting out a deep sigh. I took a cigarette from my pocket, brought it to my lips, and lit it as I looked at the three children. Kim Yeong-su, still wearing an expression that showed he had no idea what he had done wrong, pointed out that I was smoking.
“Huh? Is an Academy teacher allowed to smoke in a classroom? That should be a fine, right? I can report this right now, can’t I?”
“A fine... Yes, perhaps it would not be bad to settle this with money, as you say.”
“Pardon?”
“Choi A-rin, Cha Jun-hyeon.”
“Yes?”
“Class is over, so you two may go home now.”
“G-go home?”
“Do not make me repeat myself.”
“!!! U-understood, Teacher. A-rin, let us go.”
Perhaps because he had been beaten by me before, Cha Jun-hyeon seemed to understand my meaning. He took A-rin’s hand and left through the classroom door. Kim Yeong-su, who watched them go, still had no idea what situation he was in and began making a fuss.
“What are you doing? Why did you send them away! What kind of teacher are you? Have you no common sense? Or are you going to compensate me in their place? Go after them and bring them before me right now!”
“You want me to bring them back? And I have no common sense? That is ridiculous. It seems you have forgotten that I was the one who put a hole through Ji Geon-hyeong’s head during the last attack. You have no common sense either, do you?”
“!!! A-are you threatening me, Teacher? Do you know who my father is?”
“Your father?”
“Yes, my father is the Guild Master of Hwarang Guild! You know Hwarang Guild, right? If you so much as lay a finger on me here, action will be taken immediately.”
“Haa... You are hopeless.”
Since I no longer wanted to hear that bastard’s bullshit, I blew out the cigarette smoke in my mouth, summoned a rifle in my right hand, and looked at him as I spoke.
“Historically, this has always been the answer for rehabilitating bastards like you.”
“W-wait a moment, Teacher—! You are not thinking of beating me with that, are you?”
“Bingo—!”
“!!! I-if you hit me, my father will...”
“Shut up. And now, here comes the hammer... Ah—! I do not have a hammer. I have a rifle, so here comes the buttstock, you bastard!”
“Aaaah—!”
I began swinging the buttstock mercilessly at him.