Chapter 48

Each time I took something out, Yoo Hye-won and Professor Han’s expressions grew increasingly odd.

The reason for this was that the items I laid out for the purpose of training in the use of aura seemed absurd—things like trumpets and Bluetooth speakers.

“Professor… what exactly are you doing?”

Unable to endure it any longer, Yoo Hye-won snapped irritably.

“Are you kidding?”

“No. These are the things I used to train with during my rookie hero days. They may look strange, but they are methods that have proven effective.”

“So, how exactly do you plan to train this milksop with these scraps?”

“Well, naturally, with Hye-won student’s help.”

I handed the small toy trumpet to Yoo Hye-won.

“And this.”

“Aaah! No way!!”

“Mom! Help!!”

At the sight of the small snake dangling from my hand, both Yoo Hye-won and Professor Han screamed and fled.

***

A noisy racket filled the otherwise tranquil shooting range.

Yoo Hye-won blew the tiny toy trumpet with all her strength next to Professor Han while I hooked the speaker to my phone and amplified sounds of loud explosions.

These were the very sounds from the battle footage of heroes revealed by the media.

What might seem like a foolish and meaningless method to an onlooker is actually a process every newcomer in Sikrito must endure.

It’s an exercise to prepare rookies to fight no matter the extreme circumstances. Though seemingly trivial, it aids in honing mental concentration.

I once went through the same process.

In Sikrito, far more intense stress is applied. During the initial assessment, they use VR devices to simulate brutal scenes of gore—bodies exploding, severed limbs flying, blood everywhere.

Even someone who frequently consumes violent films would cringe at the sight of these recordings, all taken from the actual heinous acts of villains.

The eerie and terrifying emotions induced by these recordings are overwhelming, often leaving even top-tier rookies unable to eat properly for days after their first exposure.

Even the agents chosen for Sikrito experience the same impact.

Could these kids really graduate and face off against such villains?

And how would they handle the unedited reality of the battlefield hidden from the public?

Ah, my thoughts are drifting in the wrong direction again.

With a snake draped around her neck, Professor Han was aiming at the target, her face pale.

The tiny Burmese python, barely a meter long, blinked its glossy black eyes, rested its head on Professor Han’s shoulder, and flicked its tongue.

I borrowed it in a hurry from the biological research lab within the academy. Though its presence and peculiar texture repulsed Professor Han, it was actually a very docile creature with minimal aggression.

“Is this…going to be effective?”

“Trust me. I’ve done this training myself. Student Min-ha’s time is running out. We have the semester-end evaluation soon, and furthermore…”

I leaned closer to whisper so Yoo Hye-won wouldn’t hear.

“Before summer vacation, we need to teach Student Song Do-yoon, right?”

“Yes…”

Han hesitated but nodded.

Then, feeling the snake scales touch her neck, she flinched and stretched her neck out, trying to distance herself from the snake.

“Alright, let’s give it a proper shot. You’ve seen I-race before, right?”

“Ah, yes. I often see it on the news.”

“Your mother specialized in I-race.”

At my words, Han widened her eyes and looked at me in surprise.

“Mom…?”

“Specifically, intercepting multiple targets simultaneously using guided beams—a skill akin to pouring indiscriminate bombardments with precision missiles.”

“Aaah…”

“If you’ve inherited her abilities, Min-ha student, you can surely do it. You don’t need to use I-race right away, but if you can get close to it, you’ll pass the threshold of the intricate use of auras, our goal.”

“Ah… understood…! I’ll try…!”

Han nodded firmly with a resolute look on her face.

Good, mentioning her parents certainly changed her attitude.

Prove me right, Han Min-ha.

“Let’s start.”

“Understood!”

***

There were countless mistakes.

Sometimes failing completely, other times overestimating the strength and blowing away the targets altogether.

Yoo Hye-won continued blowing the trumpet, then switched tactics, whispering crude insults into Han Min-ha’s ear.

It was language I didn’t even want to hear.

But Han Min-ha didn’t give up.

Despite her occasional faltering, she kept sending out auras, relentlessly striving to achieve I-race or something akin to it.

Indeed, the power to move people transcends time—mentioning one’s late parents always strikes a chord.

A few hours later.

As the sun gradually set and dyed the sky red…

“Eh?! Yeah! Wow!”

At the moment the target finally fell over completely, Yoo Hye-won, who had been sitting exhausted, jumped up, wildly pointing at the fallen target.

“It fell! It fell! Professor, it fell!”

“Indeed, good job, Min-ha student.”

Han Min-ha let out a long, heavy sigh.

“Haa…”

“Let’s try a few more times since we’re at it.”

“Yes… understood.”

Han Min-ha, whose arms trembled from holding them up for hours, managed to aim weakly at the target.

A very thin, purplish beam shot out from the tip of her finger in a straight line, striking the target.

DING!

A sound signifying a successful hit emanated from the speaker, causing the target to fall backward.

DING! BEEP! BEEP!

While some missed, Han Min-ha did manage to hit several targets, teetering on the edge.

“Very good. Excellent.”

“Yes… thank you…”

Though the power was laughably weak, that wasn’t the point here. The ability to delicately manifest such an explosive aura was crucial.

Today’s objectives have been met.

It was almost the end of the semester before Han Min-ha finally stepped into the world of aura.

She had incredible endurance to get this far.

Since she’s already achieved this, the journey begins now.

Moving into higher classes, her revenge against Song Do-yoon—all this is now possible.

“Professor… Can you do something about the snake now?”

I smiled and carefully removed the snake drooping around Han’s neck.

The snake, tired from being on Han this long, limply fell into my hands.

I’ll certainly hear some complaints when I return it to the research lab.

“Good job, Hye-won student. Let’s clean up and go.”

“Thanks, Hye-won. It’s because of you.”

In response to our gratitude, Yoo Hye-won turned her head away with an irritated expression.

It’s her way of showing her feelings in her own manner—adorable really.

“Let’s go. Great work everyone.”

“Professor, you’re buying dinner.”

Hye-won suddenly demanded with a smug expression.

An outing…

Not bad for a day like today.

“Anything but braised pork belly.”

“Hey, milksop! What do you feel like eating?”

“I want a bowl of ramen from that place we went to last time after dealing with the unconscious villain.”

When Min-ha mentioned the small kimbap shop, Hye-won nodded in agreement.

I smiled while holding the box of items.

“Good. Let’s go.”

Bathed in the setting sun, the three of us left the shooting range side by side.

While walking to the parking lot, Yoo Hye-won kept talking to Han Min-ha about her marksmanship, and Min-ha, smiling foolishly, listened attentively.

“Professor! What are you doing? Hurry and open the car door!”

Yoo Hye-won yelled from her spot at the car door.

“It’s not right to demand that I open the door when I’m carrying items. At a time like this, one should help carry…”

“I’ll take it. Let me.”

Han Min-ha took the box from my hands.

“Ah, I’m hungry. Let’s eat, I need a new phone, and I’m busy, busy.”

“Seems like Student Hye-won sees me more as a taxi driver than an academic advisor.”

“Hehehe… Caught me.”

Black-haired, bespectacled weirdo—

The daughter of a couple who were once my teammates and only friends.

Spoiled golden child with blonde hair and sharp blue eyes.

The daughter of the person who made me an academy professor when I lost my memory.

Web novels would be criticized if written this way.

Lack of logic, convenience-driven development, forced emotional beats, and predictable twists.

Much like the awful stories Senior Han Tae-woo used to write so enthusiastically.

This is why I feel a deep sense of responsibility to these children.

Just as their parents helped me, I must teach these kids with all my heart.

I have the duty to ensure they survive after graduating into the hellish world they’ll face.

To keep them sane in the chaotic battlefield and to help them retire with all limbs intact after hard work.

To mold them into people who can withstand any situation without breaking.

As the academic advisor of the academy, this is all I can do for my students.

***

Since then, I continued special training with Yoo Hye-won and Han Min-ha in various training grounds around the academy.

The semester-end evaluation was fast approaching.

Han Min-ha was curious about how she’d possibly get revenge on Song Do-yoon.

The answer lies within the final evaluation.

“So…you’re asking me to…stand in front of the entire student body…to do this?”

“That’s correct.”

“Eh…Am I really supposed to…challenge Song Do-yoon to a public duel…?”