Chapter 67

Are we meeting now? I don’t know you at all. Who might you be?

“Who are you?”

“Didn’t you briefly teach new recruits at Sikrito?”

There was such a time.

When the position for new recruit education suddenly became vacant, I had to step in and teach temporarily.

“That was when I received education from you. It left such a deep impression on me that I haven’t forgotten, and here I meet you now.”

“Ah, is that so? Since it was a temporary position, I can’t remember every student. I apologize.”

“That’s fine. Thanks to you, I could smoothly conduct my lecture today.”

As I was wondering what they meant, it suddenly dawned on me.

The lecture materials this hero brought were based on ones I had created when I was a temporary instructor, with only slight design changes.

“Come to think of it, you’ve been teaching at the Academy?”

“Yes. Well, somehow it ended up like that. Though it’s been quite a while since I taught as an instructor, seeing that you’re still managing well at Sikrito, I feel a belated sense of fulfillment.”

At my words, the hero smiled and glanced behind them.

The male hero who came with them, holding a laptop under his arm, smiled at me.

“Hello, Instructor. I also received education from you alongside my friend here.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“Though we’d love to chat more, we must return immediately. If there’s a chance, I’ll visit you again.”

“Sure. Do that.”

“My codename is TrickyMist, and his is Masharats. Be sure to remember us.”

The male hero informed me of both his and the female hero’s codenames.

“I’ll remember.”

The heroes bid me farewell, walked past, and exited the seminar room.

What an interesting turn of events.

I was deep in delusions, believing I’d lost all my memories and been trapped in some odd novel, yet it seems other people clearly remember me.

“Professor? What are you doing? Let’s quickly go grab something refreshing to drink.”

Professor Jin approached me and subtly looped her arm through mine.

“Sure, I’ll treat you.”

“Hehe, that’s great. Professor Yu! Professor is buying us coffee!”

From nearby, Professor Hyeon walked over smoothly.

“Thank you, Professor Hyun. I’ll enjoy it.”

“Wha? I didn’t call you, Professor Hyeon?”

“Who cares? Good things are good things, right? Isn’t that so?”

I chuckled and nodded.

“Let’s include Professor Hyeon as well.”

“You’re quite amusing, really.”

* * * * *

Yu Hye-won, Han Min-ha, and I enjoyed coffee at our usual campus café and exchanged the kinds of conversations professors might have.

We also talked about our students.

“Do you know about Song Do-yoon?”

Professor Yu began.

“Yes. Isn’t that the student from the upper class who completely fell to Min-ha during the last evaluation?”

“Seems like he might drop out.”

At this, Professor Jin was surprised and quickly asked,

“Why? Why would he drop out? Isn’t he performing well academically? Wasn’t he consistently in the upper class?”

“Yes, but the reason for dropping out isn’t solely academics.”

“Then what could it be? Oh, I see.”

Professor Jin punched her palm lightly as if everything had clicked into place.

“Isn’t it because the Zero Team class recently fell apart, and he hasn’t been able to adapt well? He always used to trail after Hye-won, but now they’ve been separated. Also, everyone witnessed him lose to Min-ha, who is in a lower class. Isn’t that the reason?”

“That’s correct. It seems that’s likely the case.”

“Poor Do-yoon…”

Though Professor Jin looked distressed, I didn’t feel any particular emotion.

I’ve already learned everything about Song Do-yoon through Han Min-ha.

A scheming, unapproachable child with extremely strong jealousy, envy, and possessiveness.

Additionally, his social skills are lacking. If not for his self-appointed role as Hye-won’s right-hand person, he probably wouldn’t have secured a solid place within the class.

The reason he chased after Hye-won like a shadow wasn’t solely because of any romantic interest but likely because he relied on Hye-won to adapt to the academy.

Now separated from Hye-won, this period must surely feel desolate for him.

“Uncertain as it is, this might end up being how things play out. I’ve held multiple interviews with him, but he hasn’t uttered a single word.”

“Hmm. Is there no other way? It would be a waste for Do-yoon to drop out with his grades.”

“Perhaps we should let him switch teams.”

At this, Professor Hyeon, who had been silently observing, suddenly interjected,

“Wouldn’t that change be futile?”

“Why? Why wouldn’t it work?”

“If changing teams could solve the issue, these problems wouldn’t have surfaced in the first place. Given his personality, wherever he goes, things would remain the same.”

Professor Hyeon was correct. Song Do-yoon’s problem is not the team but himself.

If he doesn’t change, he risks staying stagnant until graduation.

Furthermore, losing to Min-ha was a devastating blow for him.

Until last semester, Min-ha had been at the bottom, failing every subject and close to dropping out.

Ultimately, though, it might be the sequence toward dropping out.

Even so, this matter doesn’t concern me.

However, a few days later, it turned out it concerned me quite closely.

“What did you say, Student Han Min-ha?”

“Do-yoon wants to join our team. How does that sound to you, Professor?”

Han Min-ha glanced at me cautiously, her toes rubbing together nervously.

I didn’t answer right away but turned to Hye-won instead.

Hye-won, arms crossed, wore a very amused smile.

“Did Song Do-yoon personally request this of you?”

“Not exactly a request… More like a plea would be fitting.”

“Plea? Are you joking? You’re more likely to debut as an S-Ranked Hero immediately.”

“No, I’m serious! He said it’s like grasping at the last straw before he drops out.”

As Han Min-ha fidgeted, Hye-won giggled.

“Wow, are you really that gullible? Doesn’t it seem suspicious? Like he’s trying to take advantage of you once he’s inside the team. He’s likely seeking revenge from the Human Combat Ability Evaluation.”

“What kind of revenge?”

“Anything hard? All he has to do is fire an I-race at the back of your head during the cooperative combat training and it’s over.”

“Wha.. That’s murder! And Do-yoon, he’s sincere. He truly is.”

While Han Min-ha defended, Hye-won leaned closer, whispering something into her ear.

Hye-won’s smile gradually faded, her face contorting.

“What? Did he really say that? Huh, if that’s true, it seems genuine.”

“Exactly. You should understand too. This is more about whether our team can accept new members, right? But what’s the point if the head teacher doesn’t know?”

I intervened, causing Han Min-ha to slightly blush and hesitate.

“Well, it just feels a bit embarrassing to tell you directly….”

“I’ll explain then.”

Pushing Han Min-ha aside, Hye-won spoke.

So, what transpired?

* * * * *

After finishing dinner at the campus cafeteria, Hye-won and Min-ha returned to the dormitory together.

This semester, the supervisory assistants are enforcing team-based movement even after classes end.

Hye-won didn’t harbor specific complaints about this.

In the early guidance sessions, Professor Hyun had asked Hye-won to help Min-ha, and out of respect for Professor Hyun, she obliged willingly.

Min-ha was the only student at the academy who didn’t flatter her because of her powerful background but still treated her naturally.

The ease of not questioning if their interactions were genuine was refreshing to Hye-won.

Min-ha, too, enjoyed Hye-won’s company.

Because Hye-won was her only friend at the academy, hehe.

Their rooms were located at the end of the dormitory corridor, facing each other, due to the team-based room reassignments.

As they were about to part ways at their respective room doors, Min-ha hesitantly called out to Hye-won.

“Hye-won, do you want to hang out in my room?”

“I’m tired.”

Hye-won immediately rejected Min-ha’s offer.

She had an important agenda waiting in her room—sorting the photos she had secretly taken of Professor Hyun today.

“Huh… Okay. See you tomorrow then.”

Dejected by the rejection, Min-ha bade farewell and entered her room.

I had snacks and downloaded movies ready to spend time with Hye-won today.

There’s no helping it. I’ll just have to watch them alone.

Just as she changed into something more comfortable and lay down on the bed, a knock came at the door.

Could it be Hye-won?

Hehe. So Hye-won has finally decided to play with me.

Filled with joy, Min-ha quickly ran to and opened the door, only to stumble back a few steps in surprise.

Song Do-yoon was staring at Min-ha with a fixed gaze.

“Uh, a..hello… Do-yoon.”

“Can we talk?”

“Talk…?”

Min-ha couldn’t fathom what Song Do-yoon would want to discuss.

It must likely pertain to the Human Combat Ability Evaluation.

But Min-ha had no desire to talk about that.

Still, Min-ha’s nature didn’t allow her to refuse easily.

“Sure… where?”

“It’ll just be a moment. Could we talk in your room?”

“A, er….”

Min-ha stepped aside, and Song Do-yoon slowly entered the room.