Chapter 47

Professor Han was at a loss to understand what I meant and blinked large eyes.

“Excuuuse me… What did you say…?”

“I said, let’s beat that student Song Do-yoon.”

“But… we don’t have any proof that it was him yet…”

“True, we don’t have proof that Song Do-yoon did it, but we also don’t have proof that he didn’t.”

I smiled gently.

“Isn’t it a bit of a stretch to consider the two bird incidents in Min-ha’s room and the empty room as coincidences?”

“But how could Do-yoon avoid the CCTV and throw a bird into the window?”

“It might not have been thrown.”

At my words, Han Min-ha tilted his head genuinely puzzled.

Looking down at him covered in a blanket with his large dark eyes, he reminded me of a cowed kitten.

“Heroes possess many abilities and traits. Among them are abilities like telekinesis, or the ability to tame animals. Although it isn’t the formal stage for cultivating personal traits yet, if Song Do-yoon were to have such an ability, it’s a very plausible occurrence.”

“Is that so…?”

“Song Do-yoon is in the upper class, so even if not for the aforementioned abilities, they certainly have the capability to orchestrate events overnight. If not, there’s nothing we can do, but based on what we see now, there’s no other real explanation.”

“Hmm… but still, without definitive proof…”

Han Min-ha showed some signs of frustration, but I chuckled instead of pressing.

“Do we absolutely need the definitive proof?”

“There’s nothing else unless we make accusations without basis.”

“No. It’s not about making false accusations. Haven’t you already got something to settle with Song Do-yoon, Min-ha?”

I referred to the verbal abuse Han had hurled at Min-ha.

Anybody with proper reasoning would know you don’t go around calling people ‘whore’ without cause.

“You shouldn’t sit still and take that kind of talk, Min-ha student. Even if you’re not affected emotionally, you must make a show of anger. If you don’t establish clear boundaries, you’ll continue to be targeted. And Min-ha is in a state where normal study is difficult due to the shock, right? In such times, you must seek revenge.”

“Revenge…”

“Whether or not Song Do-yoon actually released the bird is irrelevant now. We already have a good reason to retaliate against Song Do-yoon. Of course, if it wasn’t Song Do-yoon but someone else, we’ll think again. But the most likely candidates are still Song Do-yoon, or someone who received instructions from them.”

My words sounded a bit extreme and aggressive, and Han Min-ha didn’t answer immediately.

“You don’t have to answer right away. But think carefully about what I said. We cannot guarantee such incidents will not happen again.”

“Understood…”

Standing up from my chair, I looked down at the bowed Han Min-ha.

“You will surely regret it later. You’ll be ashamed of your past self who took such insults quietly.”

“Yes…”

“Then, see you later.”

…

As I left the duty room, Assistant Bae approached me.

“Professor! Did you talk to Min-ha?”

“I did. The impact seems to have been severe.”

“Of course, with such incidents happening twice… But what could it be?”

“Not sure. I couldn’t figure it out either. Min-ha isn’t the kind of person who harbors grudges against others. Though unlikely, it could just be a series of coincidences.”

I decided to keep the conflict with Song Do-yoon private, at least for now.

Rumors would bring no good, and it’s always best to keep information to a minimum when strategizing against an enemy.

Just between me and Han Min-ha.

Yu Hye-won, well…

From what I understand so far, Song Do-yoon is someone who acts as her right-hand among her followers.

Although Yu Hye-won occasionally fusses over Min-ha, I still don’t know who she favors more between Song Do-yoon and Min-ha.

In such a situation, dragging Yu Hye-won in rashly could lead to unexpected side effects.

Though perhaps it’s better this way.

The current Min-ha is no match for the upper-class Song Do-yoon.

Min-ha needs to learn how to properly control their aura and might also use revenge against Song Do-yoon as motivation.

The revenge I speak of here is physical retaliation.

Mental battles, underhanded tactics, and politics are not something someone like Min-ha can handle.

This is a Hero Academy.

All the curricula is aimed at maximizing a student’s combat power so they can graduate at the highest possible level.

For a hero who fights deadly villains, nothing else but combat power matters.

A hero who lacks sufficient combat strength, no matter how flashy their performance, will inevitably die at some point.

And the same goes for any hero-producing academy.

Had Min-ha been an excellent student with strong combat power, Song Do-yoon might not have dared to utter such harsh words.

Although I am strongly against it, we have witnessed too many heroes defect and become villains after being trained strong.

Nonetheless, Min-ha’s revenge must naturally follow the principle of physical dominance.

Using this incident as a starting point, I intend to completely reform Min-ha before the summer vacation.

And that’s why I recommended taking revenge.

And also…

To become a Hero, one must also learn how to step on others.

Without such backbone, nobody can ascend to the S-rank.

Anyway… it seems like a love triangle among female students…

And it’s a rare case where one person is misunderstanding the other two…

Just as I was about to leave the dormitory and head for the research building, someone called out from behind.

“Professor!”

I turned around and Han Min-ha was running towards me.

“Min-ha student.”

“Professor! Excuse me… About what you said earlier…”

Standing in front of me, Min-ha spoke with a somewhat agitated voice.

“I’ve thought about it. Can I really do it…?”

“Of course. I wouldn’t have even suggested it if I thought you couldn’t.”

“Then…”

As Min-ha stopped speaking hesitantly, I completed what was coming next.

“I’ll help you get revenge. For what was done to you. And alongside that, I’ll help you learn how to properly control your aura as well.”

“Thank you…”

Saying this while bowing, Min-ha received a smile from me.

“Let’s see who will find the academy life tough.”

…

From that day on, I immediately began Min-ha’s special training.

There are two reasons why I’m rushing Min-ha’s training.

First, the semester-end evaluation is coming up soon.

A good score is essential for Min-ha to move up to the higher class in the next semester.

Unlike regular high schools, the academy reassesses the rankings each semester and adjusts class placements accordingly.

There are two chances per year.

If we miss this bus, Min-ha will have to stay in the lower class for another semester, widening the gap with the higher classes.

Thus, the target is to achieve excellent results in the upcoming semester-end evaluation, which requires precise control of the aura.

The second reason is the one-week summer vacation after the semester-end evaluation.

It is said that a gentleman’s revenge is not untimely, even if delayed for ten years, but Min-ha isn’t a gentleman.

Revenge requires timing, and if the timing is missed, the meaning fades.

Especially given the current dynamics between Min-ha and Song Do-yoon, waiting until after the summer vacation is not appropriate.

The justification may weaken, and emotions could dull.

Therefore, now is the sharpest moment, when shoulders have just brushed and it’s time to turn around and land a blow.

For this reason, I immediately led Min-ha and Yu Hye-won to the long-range combat and interception training ground.

As the name suggests, this is where one trains to kill distant enemies using aura.

For instance, ‘Death Rays,’ the special skill of Min-ha’s mother, Seo Ji-a.

True to its name, the firing range boasts an impressive scale.

It dwarfs the large material-training field I visited last time.

The range has targets of various distances and heights, all moved and controlled automatically.

Long-range shooting requires immense concentration.

Thus, there is nothing better than shooting practice to help Min-ha, who must learn to control their aura.

“Professor. It seems like this study meeting revolves too much around her, doesn’t it?”

Yu Hye-won, arms crossed, muttered bitterly.

“Min-ha student lacks in many areas, so it’s natural to help. Honestly speaking, don’t you already have the top position in the semester-end evaluation locked down, Hye-won?”

“Hmph.”

Although she scoffed, Yu Hye-won didn’t say anything further, seemingly acknowledging the point.

“Alright, Min-ha student. Today we’ll do some practice with long-distance aiming using aura. Shooting requires high concentration. Along with that, you must carefully manage your aura. You should use just enough aura to take down the target at the desired distance. If you use too much, not only might you miss it entirely, but you could also cause civilian casualties.”

“Understood.”

“Then, let Hye-won student show us an example.”

Caught off guard, Yu Hye-won looked at me with skepticism.

“Me?”

“I didn’t mean me but you. You know some shooting, right? Go ahead and show us.”

“Hmm. Alright.”

Yu Hye-won walked forward to the firing line. Then, standing diagonally, she extended her thumb and index finger like a gun.

“Bang, bang.”

As she mimicked recoil, golden aura like bullets shot from her fingertips.

DING! BAM! BAM! BAM!DING! BAM! BAM! BAM!DING! BAM! BAM! BAM!DING! BAM! BAM! BAM!

The alarm sounds of successful hits kept blaring from the speakers.

Truly an incredible talent that could debut right away in the field without any issue…

Yu Hye-won’s abilities are startling even to a professor like me.

…

“Did you see that, Min-ha student? Now, come up to the firing line. Let’s try it together.”

Placing Min-ha at the firing line and standing behind, I pointed out a target.

“How about hitting that target? It’s not difficult. Just gather the aura at your fingertips and shoot. The form doesn’t matter; it could be a bullet or a ray.”

Min-ha carefully mimicked the stance Yu Hye-won had taken before.

Ah… it’s a funny stance, but whatever for now.

“Feel the aura… think about gathering aura around your hand and focusing it onto your fingertips. Not all the aura in your body, just the aura around your hands. Feel it?”

“Yes…”

“Good. Just doing this much already counts as half success. Now focus that aura into something like a small bean and shoot it. Don’t worry about missing. The method to control part of the aura… cough!”

The wave of aura bursting from Min-ha’s body knocked me back quite hard.

If Yu Hye-won hadn’t stepped in at the right moment, I might have embarrassingly fallen down in front of the students.

“Hey, you stupid kid! What do you think you’re doing!”

“Mom! Professor! Sorry!!”

Min-ha was flailing, not knowing what to do.

“It’s alright… with practice, it’ll improve…”

Can we make any progress today?

Still, the aura’s power is truly immense.

It felt like I had been hit by a dump truck head-on.

Shocking enough to break one or two bones on a normal person.

Worthy daughter of Han Ta-woo and Seo Ji-a indeed.

Brushing off my clothes and standing up, I approached Min-ha again.

“Let’s try again. This time, be more careful… right… cough!”

“Hey!! Han Min-ha!!”

“Sorry, sorry!!”

“Haha… it’s fine… really…”

…

DING!

Finally, a welcome sound resonated from the shooting range’s speakers.

Min-ha’s irregularly shaped aura shot forward and grazed the designated target before hitting the one behind it.

“Professor…! Did it! I made it…!”

“Made what?! Didn’t you hit the wrong place? Ugh… really…”

Han Min-ha happily jumped around whereas Yu Hye-won scowled.

“Great work. Although the designated target wasn’t hit properly, you’ve got the fundamentals down. Let’s now progress to a more advanced level.”

I opened a box I brought with me and pulled out the items prepared inside.

These are training tools used for new recruits at the Sikrito. Though extremely crude and primitive, they’re undeniably effective.

As I pulled stuff out of the box, Yu Hye-won smirked.

“Professor, are you planning some kind of street performance?”

“These are all necessary items for training.”

…