Chapter 45

As Yu Hye-won led her followers ahead, Song Do-yoon deliberately slowed his pace and distanced himself from them.

Professor Han, though nearsighted, could still make out shapes and outlines ahead.

Thus, upon noticing the growing distance between himself and Hye-won, Han quickened his steps, but Do-yoon firmly grabbed his arm.

“What’s the rush?”

“I’m afraid I’m drifting too far from Hye-won…”

“Do we have a reason to stick closely to Hye-won? Aren’t we all heading to the infirmary anyway?”

“That’s true…”

In the end, Han had no choice but to match Do-yoon’s slow pace.

With his characteristic cold gaze fixed forward, Do-yoon asked:

“Are you close to Hye-won?”

“I consider myself to be. We meet often as Guidance Students under Professor Hyun… Though I’m not sure how Hye-won feels about it.”

“So you’re friends?”

“Friends?”

Han hesitated to answer, having guessed the odd nature of Do-yoon’s inquiry.

Do-yoon is Hye-won’s right-hand person, ever present and attentive to even the smallest of her needs, akin to a secretary.

To Do-yoon, the intrusion of a Guidance Student from a lower class must have been deeply unsettling, perhaps even offensive.

Thus, Han couldn’t bring himself to claim Hye-won as a friend, not wanting to provoke Do-yoon further.

Moreover, Han wasn’t entirely sure Hye-won regarded him as such.

“Uh… I guess…”

Han responded with a forced smile, steering clear of the awkward question.

Do-yoon did not pursue it, instead blatantly staring at Han’s impressive bust that the uniform could not fully conceal.

“Did you use that?”

“Huh? Use what?”

“Your chest. Did you use it to bewitch our innocent Hye-won, you harlot?”

In Do-yoon’s prejudiced mind, Han was a ruthless temptress manipulating Hye-won.

Caught off-guard by the sudden verbal assault, Han’s mind went blank.

This was precisely why he had been cautious with words, yet Do-yoon’s aim was to shatter Han’s composure.

“Answer me.”

“Ho… What are you… saying…”

“Thinking you’re part of the upper class just because you somehow became a peer Guidance Student with Professor Hyun’s word.”

Do-yoon, watching Han stutter, added:

“A villain who picks fights with heroes beyond their station always fails. You get that?”

“…”

“Do you see how you match that description? Acting without knowing your place.”

While maintaining an armlock, Do-yoon’s verbal barrage continued.

“This is your only warning. Don’t interfere between us.”

Faced with Han’s silence, Do-yoon tightened her grip.

“Do you understand?”

“I don’t know… I haven’t interfered with anything, nor have I tempted Hye-won. You’re misunderstanding.”

Then Do-yoon pulled Han closer and whispered in her ear:

“Hye-won kissed your cheek, stroked your face… You thought I didn’t know?”

“That…”

“How did it feel?”

“Wh…at?”

“How did Hye-won’s lips feel? Her hands? Want to share the experience? I’ve never felt such.”

Han hesitated to describe it as warm or gentle, sensing Do-yoon’s jealousy.

Han thought to himself: Do-yoon is… insane.

“Are you confused? Can’t follow the questions because you’re a dunce? Alternatively, how did you ensnare Hye-won’s soul?”

“But Do-yoon, I…”

“Be quiet. Never flirt with her again.”

At that moment, Hye-won turned around and called:

“Hurry up! What are you doing? You’re slowing down!”

“Yes! Sorry! Min-ha said she couldn’t see well, so we adjusted our pace!”

Do-yoon waved happily and then coolly warned:

“If you keep causing trouble, Academy life will become difficult for you. You might not even graduate.”

“Alright… Sorry…”

Han answered weakly, knowing his current impaired vision made it unwise to provoke Do-yoon.

“Good. That’s obedient.”

Pleased with Han’s submission, Do-yoon dragged her along briskly.

—

Even upon leaving the optometrist’s office, Han remained silent, deeply affected by the harsh words he’d heard for the first time in his life.

He had no intentions of confronting or retaliating against Do-yoon.

His mental fortitude simply wasn’t strong enough.

“Hey, Tub.”

Hye-won called out.

She had recently settled on calling Han simply “Tub,” tired of alternating between insults like “Milk桶 (bucket)” and “Dunce桶.”

“Uh…?”

“Why are you standing around so dumbly?”

“No, it’s nothing. I’m just dazzled now that I can see again.”

“Hmph.”

Hye-won shook her head in disdain, then added:

“There’s a meeting today, so come straight to the Research Building after the lecture. Don’t be late.”

“Okay…”

Song Do-yoon addressed Hye-won with a smile:

“Hye-won, how about we head straight to the Super Strength training grounds?”

“That sounds more efficient.”

Then, with an outwardly kind tone to Han, Do-yoon asked:

“What should we do? You’ll have to head to the lecture hall alone. You know the way, right?”

The lecture hall in question was clearly in view, making this yet another insult Han, now shaken, could not counter.

After a pause, Hye-won raised her hand:

“Go on. See you later.”

“Yes…”

Once Hye-won and her group had left, Han too turned back and slowly made his way to the lecture hall.

Having never caused anyone grievance nor been insulted in life, Han felt the earlier verbal attack to be extraordinarily violent.

Like most people under immense psychological stress, he momentarily lost his capacity for reason.

And when reason falters, tears often follow.

Han removed his glasses and wiped the tears flowing down his cheeks with the back of his hand.

—

“Although you awakened your Aura, mastering it requires another set of skills. Especially in your case, Min-ha, your Aura is particularly solid and heavy…”

“Uh…?”

Min-ha, it seems, wasn’t paying attention at all.

Normally, he should have been nodding enthusiastically with sparkling eyes, diligently taking notes.

He had long awaited the awakening of Aura, and instruction in its subtle control should have been fascinating to him. Why wasn’t he engaging?

“Is something wrong?”

“No, I’m fine.”

As Min-ha slightly bowed his head, Hye-won, standing nearby with linked arms, furrowed her eyebrows slightly.

“Did you hit your head during Flight class and suffer some kind of aftereffect?”

“No, Hye-won. I’m really okay.”

Min-ha tried a weak smile but quickly reverted to a gloomy expression.

Though Min-ha frequently appeared slightly dispirited, today it was noticeably intense.

Could it be related to the earlier Flight lesson?

“Min-ha student, allow me to clarify to avoid a repeat of today’s incident.”

“I understand. Sorry.”

“Good. Let’s illustrate it this way. Min-ha’s Aura is akin to a large dump truck. It can demolish almost anything with sheer force, but driving it proves quite tricky. Therefore, one must be even more cautious, but…”

Yet again, Min-ha’s eyes were vacant, fixed on the conference table.

Hye-won, unable to bear it any longer, reached out to pinch Min-ha’s arm.

“Ouch!”

“Snap out of it!”

Min-ha woke from his daze, glancing between Hye-won and me.

“Ah…”

“It’s alright. No need to apologize. You seem to have something you can’t talk about with either me or Hye-won. Since our time is up for today, we’ll stop here.”

“I understand…”

Min-ha readily accepted my suggestion, standing up from his chair with a heavy demeanor.

“I’m sorry, Professor. Sorry, Hye-won…”

“Stop it. What’s gotten into you? Is something actually troubling you?”

Hye-won pressed, but Min-ha just shook his head with an uncomfortable smile.

“Hye-won student. Do not press the issue. If there’s something to share, Min-ha will when ready. If not, it may be something truly private for him.”

“Hmm.”

Hye-won crossed her arms and cast a suspicious glance at Min-ha.

Though unlikely to elicit a response, she kept staring.

“Everyone, off you go. Focus on Physical Training. Min-ha student, let’s continue with Aura control in our next meeting.”

“Thank you.”

I accompanied Min-ha and Hye-won as they exited into the hallway.

Min-ha trailed behind Hye-won, his shoulders slumped.

What has occurred?

Without an explanation, it’s impossible to know.

He’ll tell us eventually, I assume.

If he chooses not to, it must be a deeply personal matter.

Incidentally…

The information I received from Professor Jin earlier today was quite astonishing.

It turns out the explosion at the Flight practice field was caused by Min-ha.

An unintentional mishap resulting from an awakened Aura unmastered.

Min-ha’s Aura is unusually heavy.

This heaviness signifies formidable intrinsic power but also makes it harder to control.

Senior Han Taewoo’s Aura was exactly like that.

His signature technique involved crashing like a falling comet surrounded by that high-intensity Aura.

The seemingly simple method of targeting still requires some basic control—enough to set a trajectory and destination, at least. As it stood, Min-ha was no more than a runaway dump truck without brakes.

How should one handle a young individual so weak in mental fortitude…

Perhaps employing the method newcomers are subjected to at Sikrito…

Though far from desirable, it may be unavoidable…

—

Upon reaching a view of the Dormitory, Hye-won abruptly stopped and turned.

She then reached beneath Min-ha’s waist and grabbed the hem of her skirt.

“Mommy!”

With Hye-won lifting the skirt, Min-ha screamed in fright.