Chapter 28

Since Professor Han wasn’t answering my calls, I eventually gave up trying to reach her and went into my next lecture.

It wasn’t until near the end of my schedule that I finally received a call from Professor Han.

[I apologize, Professor… I missed your call.]

“It’s fine. You must have been busy. Do you have a moment to talk?”

At this, Professor Han seemed a bit hesitant.

[Uh… right now…? Erm…]

“Is something the matter? I checked your schedule and it appears you don’t have any more lectures today.”

After a long pause, Professor Han finally responded.

[I’ll head to the research room now.]

“Alright.”

Hm. Is something wrong?

Her schedule should be clear. She doesn’t seem to have much of a social life, so I expected her to be at the dormitory when I suggested we talk, yet why does she seem so uneasy?

Maybe she’s just dealing with something typical for her age.

With that thought, I organized what I wanted to discuss with Professor Han before heading back to the research room.

***

After ending the call, Professor Han estimated the time until Yu Hye-won’s class would be over.

If she were to head to the research room and return before then, she might make it in time…

Consultations between an academic advisor and their guidance student are quite common and not at all unusual.

Still, Professor Han felt that it would be best if Yu Hye-won didn’t catch wind of their one-on-one meeting.

So far, they’d maintained a trio setup for their meetings, and Yu Hye-won had shown no significant complaints.

While it’s unclear what the professors know, it’s well-known among the students that Yu Hye-won has a particular personality.

For her to not actively exclude Han Min-ha is an exceptional circumstance.

Knowing this, Professor Han decided to visit the research room without drawing attention.

As Han Min-ha hurried down the hallway, she encountered one of her classmates exiting the restroom.

“Where are you off to?”

It was Song Do-yoon, another student in Yu Hye-won’s class and the unofficial second-in-command of her follower group.

Why did I have to run into her of all people?

Class should still be ongoing… Is she just taking a quick restroom break?

“Erm…? Just… somewhere for a bit…”

“Where exactly?”

“Back to the dormitory… My classes are done, so I’m changing into my PE uniform…”

Song Do-yoon gave her a once-over before casually replying.

“You know we’re supposed to meet for PE training later, right? Have you told the supervisory assistant?”

“Yeah, I told her. I’ll be there on time.”

“Alright then, go ahead.”

With a nod of her head, Song Do-yoon allowed Han Min-ha to pass.

Though their “friendship” had just begun half a day prior, Han Min-ha knew all too well about Song Do-yoon.

Quiet on the outside, but scheming and cunning underneath—like a hundred lurking vipers.

For this reason, Han Min-ha had no desire to get closer to Song Do-yoon, knowing full well that someone with her introverted nature would end up being used by someone like her.

Even though Song Do-yoon occasionally got bullied for being bookish and not having much going for her besides her figure, Han Min-ha wasn’t someone who lacked situational awareness.

Upon stepping out of the lecture hall, Min-ha glanced out the window.

No one seemed to be watching her.

Still cautious, she pretended to head toward the dormitory before discreetly changing direction and making her way to the research building.

Unbeknownst to her, Song Do-yoon, leaning against the wall near the window, observed her every move with a compact mirror.

***

As I was brewing coffee, a knock came on the research room door.

“Professor, this is Min-ha. May I come in?”

“Please do. The door’s open.”

The door opened, and Han Min-ha entered.

“Please, take a seat. I’ve just finished brewing the coffee. Is coffee alright with you?”

“It’s fine.”

Taking my seat at the round table, I watched as Min-ha cautiously sipped her coffee before asking,

“How have things been lately?”

“Thanks to the help you provided, things have been improving. Hye-won has also been supportive.”

“Hye-won, the student? In what way is she helping?”

Han Min-ha hesitated, her eyes darting around behind her glasses, before replying.

“Uh… how to put it… Hye-won introduced me to some friends.”

“Haha. Becoming friends isn’t like receiving knighthood. Could you elaborate?”

Han Min-ha recounted the incident from this morning.

Apparently, Yu Hye-won, claiming to help her settle into academy life, had included her in her circle.

Including her in the follower group, no less.

I had simply hoped that Yu Hye-won would give Han Min-ha the occasional word and create a good impression for her with the other students.

True to form, Yu Hye-won’s solution was as Yu Hye-won-like as it could get.

Handling everything strictly from her own perspective—a rather extreme form of egocentrism.

Though the followers may be mere hangers-on, individually, they are quite skilled.

Most of the top ranked students are a part of that group and represent the kind of talent our Graford Academy aims to cultivate.

Would Han Min-ha truly be able to hold her own in that group?

For now, with Yu Hye-won around, others might act like they accept Min-ha, but inwardly, they might harbor disdainful thoughts like, ‘How can someone like her be our peer?’

Regardless, it’s fortunate that Yu Hye-won is following through on my request, albeit in her own way, believing it to be the best possible method.

“Good. Take advantage of this opportunity to make lots of friends. If academy life becomes enjoyable, your grades will naturally improve too.”

“Understood.”

“But today, I didn’t call you here to assess your social relationships.”

Min-ha remained quiet, waiting for me to continue.

“I have a question for you, Han Min-ha.”

“Yes.”

“Firstly, the reason for your poor grades is because you can’t effectively use Aura, correct? You are aware of that, right?”

“I know…”

“At this academy, all the practical subjects require the use of Aura. No matter how well you do in theory, if you can’t use Aura, you can’t become a Hero; at best, you’d end up in an administrative role at the Organization.”

Not that Min-ha’s theoretical grades are high either, but now isn’t the time to bring that up.

“However, Min-ha’s Aura is quite solid and of high purity. This is true for all the offspring of heroes, but the issue is that it’s overly heavy, requiring a great deal of effort to wield. Most students overcome this thanks to their innate talents. Without such talent, it would be near impossible to even enter the academy.”

“Yes…”

“Your admission to the academy means your talents have already been verified. Normally, you should already be able to use Aura. Based on the purity of your Aura, you should have advanced to the upper class a long time ago. Yet…”

Leaving my sentence hanging, I observed Min-ha lower her head as if she were guilty of some great offense.

“I’m not criticizing you. This isn’t a scolding, so please lift your head.”

As Min-ha looked up and met my eyes, I offered her a smile.

“What I want to know is this: why Min-ha can’t utilize her Aura. As I mentioned earlier, objectively, Min-ha should be able to wield Aura. The inability to do so suggests a subjective problem—some obstacle within Min-ha’s consciousness that I’m unaware of, something blocking the use of Aura. Do you understand?”

“I understand.”

“Could it be related to your parents’ disappearance?”

Her eyes wavered at that moment, a detail I didn’t miss.

“Could it be that the shock of your hero parents disappearing simultaneously has led you to subconsciously reject the path of a hero?”

Min-ha remained silent.

“I apologize for bringing this up, but it’s my duty to uncover the reason so that Min-ha can use Aura. Understanding it is necessary for you to graduate normally and become a hero.”

Min-ha kept her mouth shut, and I quietly sipped my coffee as I waited.

After a long while, Min-ha finally spoke.

“Yes.”

So that’s it.

Min-ha was unable to utilize her Aura due to her parents’ disappearance—or perhaps their deaths.

If the visions I’ve seen are accurate, Min-ha’s parents must have come from a very harmonious family.

To lose both in an instant, especially with no explanation from the Organization, must have been devastating.

For young Min-ha, left alone without grandparents, the Organization’s survivor pension was her only support.

Admission to the academy was practically forced upon her due to the Organization’s recommendation.

Can someone so young truly walk the same path her parents did, knowing the risks involved?

It’ll likely be difficult.

Still, Min-ha must walk that path.

Becoming a Hero is Min-ha’s best option since she possesses no other talents besides that of a hero.

Leaving the academy now to attend a regular high school would only lead her to a life without direction.

Moreover…

Since the vision I saw at the document storage, I’ve felt a strong sense of responsibility toward Min-ha.

Even if her past was crafted arbitrarily by the author, the weight of that responsibility remains.

Looking at Min-ha briefly, I spoke up.

“Min-ha’s parents were part of the Sikrito unit. Sikrito is a secret branch of the Organization, tasked with covert missions.”

“Sikrito…?”

“You probably haven’t heard of it before. It’s a group of heroes who carry out secret missions.”

Min-ha’s eyes widened, clearly hearing this for the first time.

“You must be curious how I know about such an organization or why I know your parents were part of it.”

Min-ha slowly nodded.

“I worked alongside Min-ha’s parents.

***

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