Chapter 195

After finishing lunch, we sat blankly on the stairs of the school entrance on the first floor to kill the time until the fifth period while watching the rain.

The damp and fresh scent of soil allowed us to feel a touch of the countryside even in the middle of the city.

There was no need to explain that the organic compound geosmin produced by the decomposition of actinobacteria in the soil and the aerosols created during rain are responsible for the diffusion of the smell.

[Please, just stay quiet and enjoy it.]

Adella’s advice was valid.

Just noticing that the sound of raindrops hitting the vegetable garden and the asphalt was different made the children look sufficiently happy.

Cutting through the rhythmic sound of nature, artificial exhaust noises could be heard.

It was a sports car that looked distinctly flat compared to other cars.

The hood and bumper, which preserved the beauty of ovals and curves while giving an aggressive impression, and the alluring black paint captured the children’s attention. The enjoyment of the rain sounds had long since been forgotten.

The driver, who parked the car in a corner of the correction area, opened the door and stepped down hard onto the ground.

The stark white hair, contrasting with the black paint, was quite striking.

The owner of the ‘Bugatti Hamilton,’ of which there were only thirty in the country, was a person I had briefly met that morning.

“Hello, Principal!”

At the enthusiastic greeting of my friends, I nodded along.

“Hello, did you enjoy lunch?”

“Yes, it was delicious today!”

“We had pork loin pilaf for lunch!”

Despite the considerable age difference, the polite response came from none other than the principal of Seviron Academy, Mr. Gu Onyu.

She probably had lunch out somewhere. I didn’t care much for the pork loin pilaf.

Even in the torrential rain, she didn’t bother to take out an umbrella.

“Isn’t the sound of the rain nice?”

“Yes!”

“Be careful not to play in the rain and catch a cold. Okay?”

“Yes, Principal!”

When we arrived at the entrance, not a single drop of water clung to her voluminous hair.

Instead, we could see a very thin hydrophobic aura enveloping her entire body.

After finishing the brief greeting with the principal, I confirmed that the sound of her high heels was gradually fading, and Iharu spoke up first.

“Don’t you think the principal is really unique?”

She must be the top unique figure in the country.

Does a principal of an elementary school really bring a sports car to school?

I can assert that it’s nearly impossible to find a second person like her in Korea.

“Yeah, she’s a bit quirky…? Maybe?”

Ji Hye quietly offered her opinion, and the other kids nodded in agreement.

“I heard there are comic books in the principal’s office, like Naruto or One Piece…”

“Comic books? How do you know about that, Seori?”

“I just heard it as a rumor. Right, Nameya, you went to the principal’s office during the first period! Is it true that there are comic books packed on the bookshelf in the principal’s room?”

The eyes of my friends, including Han Seori, turned back to me.

“Well… there were some.”

“Wow, that’s super cool!”

“How was the principal? What did you talk about?”

“Is she really as quirky as the rumors say? Does she do strange things?”

A small inquiry session among the kids began, and I crossed my arms, pondering carefully.

“What did the principal feel like? Hmm…”

During the first period performance assessment, Manager Kim Yongseong had quietly called me over through the window and informed me that the principal was looking for me.

I couldn’t help but feel puzzled about why someone who should be an administrative officer of the foundation seemed to visit the elementary building more often than expected, but that wasn’t something for me to worry about.

Still, in my assessment, this is what Mr. Gu Onyu was like.

“She felt more like a fake than a quirky character. Just had that kind of feeling.”

* * *

The organizational structure of Seviron Academy is complicated. To understand it properly, we need to touch upon the nature of the foundation.

The think tank leading the politics and media of the country takes the concept a step further with the foundation.

True to the nature of Westerners who like to assign meaning, there was an elaborate abbreviation following the term ‘Functional Organization under,’ but it had a strong character of simply being a ‘foundation.’

The foundation is funded by global corporations and wealthy patrons, predominantly maintains a bipartisan character, and operates as a group that exerts influence for policymaking and technology monopolization worldwide.

Their biggest expenses are undoubtedly research and education costs, with the former going to research institutes and the latter to the academy in cash.

The operation of the academy varies by country, but in Korea, where government influence is strong, the autonomy of the academy itself is generally guaranteed.

However, a minimum audit institution was established, thus, an audit committee was formed for the Korean branch, and Kim Yongseong, the Planning and Coordination Director, was also an auditor appointed by the headquarters.

The principal is appointed by the education superintendent of the jurisdiction who receives a mandate from the president, just like in other schools.

However, this was merely a façade, and as the elementary and secondary education law implementation ordinance did not actually influence it, it could be considered to operate as a separate system.

As long as no big blunders were made, the foundation generally turned a blind eye, and the education office also didn’t make a significant fuss, meaning the position of ‘academy principal’ could wield almost unchecked power within this area.

“So that’s why the principal decorated the office this way? She must have brought everything from home?”

“Principals also have days when they don’t want to work. Reading secretly during work hours is the most fun, right? If there’s a comic book you like, feel free to borrow it.”

“I’m not really interested in places like this.”

I sipped the Earl Grey tea directly served by the principal and observed her shrewdly.

The overly cheerful smile she wore didn’t sit well with me.

I couldn’t read what thoughts were going through her mind.

“I thought you might like anime or sports cars, but I guess I misjudged you.”

In Gu Onyu’s display case, anime figures and toy sports cars were beautifully displayed.

“Why did you think that?”

“Geniuses are often quirky, right?”

“So you think of yourself as a genius?”

“Eeh, I can’t say I’m a genius! I just like it as a hobby! And cars are cool, anyone can see that! Anyway, it’s really nice to meet you!”

Once again, the principal offered to shake my hand.

When I looked at her face, I didn’t notice it much, but her hands were definitely full of wrinkles and calluses.

In that brief moment, I could also feel the external manifestation of her aura clearly.

Indeed, being an academy principal is not a position for just anyone.

Questions about whether the academy is worth attending and whether I’m getting along with my friends continued, but time felt ridiculously slow.

Drrrrrring—

Bang!

It was not the first time I had discreetly turned off a ringing phone, having done it many times.

“Did you know that you have become incredibly popular because of your students?”

“Oh, it certainly looks that way.”

“I think today, you might be the person receiving the most calls in the world. I’m blocking every one of them, but honestly… I’m considering changing my number.”

“Principal, if you’ll excuse me, could we get to the point?”

“Oh right, let me regain my mind! Here’s a document sent from the foundation… would you like to read it with me?”

From the Seviron Foundation?

The ordinary stack of papers that came out of the brown envelope looked unremarkable.

“It seems the foundation is eager to meet you, Nameya. This is an invitation to come to America, and I’m here to help if there are any unknown words in the middle.”

I slowly read through the document that extended over seven pages.

The purpose of the invitation was explicitly stated that they wanted me to verify a certification I had provided in person.

In addition to that, there were detailed plans prepared regarding living support, transportation, and passport issues, but I handed the paper back to her.

“I’m not thinking much about it—”

“I knew you’d say that!”

“…?”

Before I could finish my sentence, she took the document, tore it in half, and proceeded to shred it to pieces, tossing it all into the trash.

“If they want to see me, they need to come to Korea themselves. Don’t you think that’s fair?”

“Ah yes, that’s right.”

“Anyway, they’re a bunch of strange people. Oh, and lastly, was there something uncomfortable about coming to school today or anything you wish for at the academy, Nameya?”

“There are quite a few reporters at the academy. I’m aware that the academy grounds extended about 100 meters outside the front gate.”

“Uh-huh, what else?”

“I don’t seem to have any specific wishes; it seems you’ve been doing well enough.”

Indeed, for the past week, Seviron Academy had been thoroughly hiding my personal information.

I expressed my gratitude regarding that. In fact, it was becoming burdensome in itself.

“But why do they separate just Class A among the same grade?”

“That’s the foundation’s policy, Nameya.”

“So it can’t be decided autonomously?”

“Unfortunately not.”

After that, there was really nothing of importance.

Principal Gu Onyu had called me in just to deliver the official document from the Seviron Foundation.

She promised to take sufficient measures regarding people who disrupt the learning atmosphere.

“But are you really just enjoying it as a hobby?”

“What do you mean?”

“No, the car was nice. I’ll head back to class now.”

As I left the principal’s office, I swept my eyes over the display case one more time.

Indeed. For being comic books she had collected for several decades, they looked far too pristine.

While there was dust on them, they hadn’t borne any human fingerprints at all.

Not just one, but all of them.

She hadn’t read a single one of the books here.

* * *

“Wasn’t it just for collection?”

Haru interjected in the middle.

“For collection?”

“Yeah. My older sister also buys multiple cat goods at once. One to use, one as a spare, and one for display.”

“Thinking about it, that could be right.”

It appears that the wealthy have a different way of thinking.

I nodded in agreement with Iharu’s opinion.

“By the way, Nameya, when are you going to invite us to your birthday party?”

Seori, poking a bug with a twig, asked me.

“Birthday party?”

“I think she means birthday party…!”

“Oh.”

“Are you saying we’re not friends? Wow, if that’s true it’s such a disappointment, Nameya!”

Seori sprang up dramatically and placed her hands on her hips.

“Is your birthday coming soon…?”

“No way, Seoyuna, you didn’t know? Too bad, let’s exclude Yuna since it’s come to this!”

“Nooo! I’m Nameya’s best friend! Why didn’t you invite me, Nameya? Huh?”

After calming her down, Han Seori again prompted Yuna’s tear ducts.

“Do we really have to have a birthday party?”

“Huh?”

“A birthday is just a birthday. It’s enough to be celebrated verbally for me.”

“But it’s on a Sunday, so you won’t come to the academy!”

Wait, how do you know my birthday so accurately?

There must definitely be a spy in our class.

I should suspect Teacher Jacqueline as the leading suspect.

“Fine, if you want to come, feel free to drop by anytime. But don’t bring gifts. If you do, I won’t let you into my house.”

“Why! It’s your birthday; of course, you have to give a gift!”

Haru shouted, but this time, I had no intention of bending my opinion.

“If you don’t like that, then don’t come.”

“Okay, fine…”

“Hey, Iharu, calm down by looking at this.”

Seori patted Haru’s shoulder from behind.

“Huh? What is it… Aaaah!”

“Bug!”

“Get that away from me, Han Seori! I’m scared, so don’t do that…!”

“Hehehe.”

Oh, what a mess.

* * *

If there was one significant misunderstanding from Principal Gu Onyu, it was that one more person was getting bombarded with calls.

“Aaaaaah! I’m going to get a neurosis! Why! Why?! Why?!”

The man was experiencing hair loss at ten times the rate due to the incessant ringing of phones.

Delete, the main person responsible for Tast 1 and the Collapse War, and a founding member of Letterbox.

“Why do we never have a day without incidents occurring!”

He was still in his 30s, and his hair was precious. He had entered the stage of resignation.

“This isn’t good. Just release the video…”

“Pardon?”

“Release yesterday’s interview video on Vtube. Haaaa… If they want it so bad, I guess we should give it to them.”

“But the editing isn’t finished yet.”

“Oh, please, Ji Eun!”

Delete’s complexion turned pale to the point of being ghostly.

“There’s a way to cut that part and upload it! Why are you so useless at your job!”

“Oh! You mean the one with No Name…”

“Yes! I feel like I’m going to cry every time Ji Eun does this; it’s really annoying!”

With his fingers pressed against his temples, the man slumped into his office chair as a staff member handed him a tissue.

“Ugh, but please don’t cry.”

The expression of Delete looking at such an employee was priceless.

“Right!”

“So am I really going to post it? Is it okay to post it?”

“Stop talking and just post it quickly!”

“Eek!”

[(Letterbox) Total MVP Interview: No Name | 2051 Season 1 Tast & Collapse War]