Chapter 111

“Ne?!”

The students cried out simultaneously. All except Song Do-yoon.

Yu Hye-won and Han Min-ha demonstrated contrasting attitudes.

Yu Hye-won let out a derisive snort, crossing her arms with an expression of disbelief, while Han Min-ha looked at me with wide, frightened eyes like a rabbit.

“EEEEK, so… you mean we have to defeat Professor by the end of this semester?”

“That’s right.”

“Uh… why?”

Han Min-ha repeated the question, scratching her cheek with her finger, looking like an idiot.

“I’m sure all of you know the idiom ‘youth surpasses elders.”

“Huh! I know that one!”

Han Min-ha shouted, raising her hand enthusiastically.

“It means a student overpowers their teacher and eventually kills them, taking their place!”

“Ugh… What a dimwit.”

Yu Hye-won who heard this sighed heavily, shaking her head.

“It’s roughly the same meaning, Student Min-ha. However, the student doesn’t kill the teacher. They simply surpass them.”

“Ah, so if we defeat the professor, does that mean we’ll become outstanding?”

“More or less.”

“Hmm, I see… But we’re just students. How could we possibly defeat Professor?”

“That’s why I called it difficult training.”

As Han Min-ha fell silent in thought, Yu Hye-won asked.

“Any chance it’s one-on-one?”

“No, it’s not that cruel. You three will attack me simultaneously.”

“Oh? Why so much confidence?”

“Confidence, perhaps. Anyway, use the cooperative combat techniques you learned all last semester. Imagine me as a villain and knock me down. If you succeed by some miracle, it might lead to early graduation.”

Upon hearing this, Song Do-yoon, who had been casually looking elsewhere just moments ago, turned his head sharply.

“You mean, if we defeat Professor, we can graduate early?”

“Not necessarily guaranteed, but it gets you the minimum qualifications to be considered for review. Of course, you still need to score in various other areas to pass that review.”

“Does early graduation mean we can immediately become heroes?”

Of course. Song Do-yoon must need money and wants to open a personal office or become a sidekick as soon as possible.

“There’s no difference between early graduation and normal graduation. You can jump right into the field.”

Upon hearing my response, the faintest hint of anticipation flitted across Song Do-yoon’s face.

Great. Song Do-yoon’s competitiveness is ignited.

While it might not burn fiercely enough to be visible, fire—whether it dances wildly or flickers quietly—is hot regardless.

“Hmm, how about this?”

Yu Hye-won suggested something.

“If we three manage to defeat Professor by the end of this semester, let’s each have one wish granted.”

“Mom!”

Suddenly, Han Min-ha screamed, clutching her chest and curling up her body.

“EEEK, you really will grant our wishes?”

“Yes, I suppose so.”

“Huh!”

Han Min-ha’s face turned bright red as if it would burst, and she covered her mouth, unsure of what to do, stomping her feet.

Though I don’t know what it is, it seems she imagined some ridiculous wish.

Judging by her reaction, figuring out exactly what her wish is may be a normal fear one has in this situation.

Still, at least Yu Hye-won and Han Min-ha’s competitiveness is successfully ignited.

Anyway, the chances of these kids defeating me before they graduate are next to zero.

But even if they can’t defeat me, the process of trying will be extremely effective.

“Shall we begin immediately, Professor? Though honestly, I feel like I could handle it alone.”

Yu Hye-won smirked, starting to loosen her shoulders.

“Professor only knows how to hide inside a defensive barrier, right? If that’s the case, this should be easy.”

“Is that so? Then I’ll go change into my suit. Let’s go.”

“Are you sure you won’t complain later?”

“Of course not. Think about your wish while you wait.”

“EEP!? It’s going to come true immediately?!”

“Stop being weird, you baby!”

Yu Hye-won snapped at Han Min-ha before heading to the changing room, where Song Do-yoon asked.

“Professor, um… Is early graduation compatible with regular employment afterward?”

“Yes, it is. It’s even considered a plus. It proves your competence.”

“Then, sorry to ask, but roughly how much could I expect to earn monthly as a common sidekick, aiming for quick employment?”

“I see… Well, I lack firsthand knowledge, being unacquainted with the sidekick career path, but roughly speaking…”

Considering the current industry rates while factoring in the minimum wage, I calculated and informed Song Do-yoon, whose eyes grew wide.

“Is… Is it really that much?”

Actually, that amount isn’t so surprising.

It’s merely slightly more than what average first-year employees at regular jobs make.

But from Song Do-yoon’s perspective, that money could feel like a lot.

“That’s the starting salary. It increases with seniority.”

“If I open a private office, can I earn more than that?”

“It’s true that you potentially can. However, a private office is essentially a business, so it comes without a floor or a ceiling. Some offices earn income beyond imagination, while others don’t manage to earn as much as sidekicks with more experience. The income at a private office depends entirely on the main hero’s business skills. Networking with the Management Bureau is important, and you need the ability to secure commissions.”

“Then it seems the mere high rank won’t ensure anything.”

“Exactly. If you prioritize steady income, even though slightly lower, becoming a Management Bureau-affiliated hero is a better choice. Since they are treated as quasi-public servants, there is less prestige, but fixed income is guaranteed, and if you prove your worth, you can climb to higher positions within the bureau. Also, even if you later leave to start your own office, connections made while working there will be beneficial.”

“In that case, between sidekicks and the Management Bureau, which would you recommend?”

“Sidekicks offer varied experiences depending on the main hero. Therefore, if you want truly secure choices, I recommend the Management Bureau.”

Song Do-yoon slowly nodded, mulling over my words.

At that moment, Han Min-ha, who had been listening from the side, interjected.

“Professor! What is a ‘so-ba-so’? Is that a technical term used on the field?”

“Oh, it means office by office. Like ‘varies from case to case,’ similar to your term ‘depends on the situation.'”

“Eh? You know slang like that?”

Han Min-ha’s eyes widened in surprise.

“I may have aged a bit, but I’m not yet ancient, Student Min-ha.”

“Hehe, you’re right! Professor doesn’t look a day over forty to me. You’re incredibly handsome and really cool…”

Han Min-ha, who looked as if she were intoxicated, smiled widely, drawing a small click of the tongue from Song Do-yoon.

“While we’re on the topic, Student Min-ha, have you thought about your career after graduation?”

“Huh? Me? That’s something Professor should tell me.”

“Of course, as your homeroom teacher, I’ll help with career planning, but…?”

“Professor prefers dual-income or single-income?”

Her unexpected question surprised me momentarily as I answered.

“Why? Well… dual-income is better when newlywed, and single-income might be preferable once there’s a child?”

“Hooh? Isn’t it usually the opposite? With a child, money needs grow, making dual-income preferable.”

“It’s fine if one can earn enough by themselves to support everyone. It might be better for the wife to focus on child-rearing at home.”

“Ahah, that’s what I thought… Hmm… Really…?”

Han Min-ha, giggling shyly, rubbed her belly.

“Exhausting…”

Seeing this, Song Do-yoon eventually sighed deeply and shook her head.

“So, Student Min-ha, have you thought about your career path after graduation?”

“I… I think I should attend a cooking school first.”

“Huh?”

“Cooking school!”

“Why cooking school all of a sudden…?”

“Because I should at least know how to make basic side dishes and stews.”

What are you talking about?

Was my mental barrier malfunctioning? Confusion overwhelmed me as my words stumbled.

Are children’s erratic actions causing my mental barrier to break down?

Glancing at Song Do-yoon standing behind, but she looked back and avoided my gaze as if telling me to figure it out myself.

Let me take a rough guess about this.

Han Min-ha asked me about the ideal wife, and is planning his career path accordingly after graduation?

Is she planning to marry me?

No, if that’s the case, what about our plan to reach S-class?

“Student Min-ha, I’m curious about this—about the S-class you mentioned last year…?”

“Are we ready?”

At that moment, Yu Hye-won walked out of the changing room in a perfectly fitted suit, flaunting her sleek figure.

“Are you looking at me?”

Even though I only looked at her face, Yu Hye-won smiled seductively, swaying her hips as if assuming I’d lecherously scanned her entire body.

“Shall we start? Are all your wishes decided?”

“Of course!”

Han Min-ha clenched her fists and shouted.

“Professor, it’s really annoying asking for hospital bills later on. Can we agree no hard feelings?”

“Haha, sounds like what I wanted to say myself.”

“Alright, let’s begin.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Yu Hye-won unleashed her aura explosively.

Momentarily enveloped in golden aura, with her hair flying upwards, Yu Hye-won exuded a savage energy.

With that intensity, regular active sidekicks wouldn’t stand a chance.

Following Yu Hye-won, Han Min-ha and Song Do-yoon started raising their respective auras.

The impression was striking as the thick purple and navy blue auras surged upward, stirring winds.

Particularly Han Min-ha, her heavy aura caused pebbles and crumbs from the ground she stood on to tremble.

“Professor, why don’t you go put on a suit? What do you plan to do in that outfit?”

Yu Hye-won grinned wickedly, encased in wildly dancing auras.

She shook her head while looking down at my formal attire with a coat.

“Just like this. No time to fetch a suit.”

“Professor, don’t say you’ll regret it?”

“No second thoughts. Let’s start.”

All three students rushed towards me simultaneously.

* * * * *

“Ohhh, ow, ow. Hye-won… can you give me a hand…?”

“Don’t… it’s heavy! Don’t cling to me…!”

“Come here, Min-ha… I’ll help you…?”

The three students heading towards the infirmary drew murmurs from other students and faculty.

Not without reason—with their suits soiled, their hair mussed, and their faces full of cuts and bruises, they were a sight to see.

“Hye-won… there’s no way we’ll achieve our wish…?”

“Wait and see. I’ll take you down for sure next time.”

“Probably we’ll drop out before then…?”

“Agreed with Min-ha.”

“Shut up!”

Yu Hye-won gritted her teeth.

They’ve never experienced such a humiliating defeat.

They didn’t even know what happened—blinding flashes, BOOM, BOOM again, CRASH, all in the blink of an eye.

Crazy human… C-class hero known only for defense… was that really him fighting back?!

“Hye-won… hurry… I need to use the restroom…”

As Han Min-ha dragged her toward the infirmary, Yu Hye-won’s mind turned over what they could possibly do to win next time.