Chapter 64

The short break has ended, and this semester has begun.

Under normal circumstances, this semester would have started without any particular incidents, but this year’s opening season was quite chaotic.

Naturally, it was due to the revision of the educational system.

With everything turning upside down in just a week, the professors were baffled, so one could only imagine how bewildering it must have been for the students.

To make matters worse, the dormitory arrangements were also changed after school hours under the pretext of strengthening camaraderie, leading to massive confusion.

Therefore, instead of starting lectures immediately, the faculty decided to give the students a week’s time to adapt to the new system.

In fact, it was less of consideration and more of the Academy’s inability to handle the situation, so they had to take drastic measures.

During that week, not a single student or faculty member was idle.

Everyone was flustered, and to add to that, an barrage of complaints from parents flooded in, leaving the administrative office inundated with non-stop phone calls every day.

Administrative Director Chae was so exhausted that her face turned completely gray, and it was rumored that she had to receive intravenous nutritional supplements while continuing to work.

The professors were assigned to multiple teams, the number varying depending on the importance of their subjects.

As a result, Professors Yu and Jin were given a large number of teams to manage, and during that week, I could hardly even speak to them properly.

Their sharpness had increased to a level where it seemed like I’d get hit by their aura if I even made a wrong move.

It was indeed a chaotic period.

However, Yu Hye-won, Han Min-ha, and I somehow remained slightly detached and spent our time in a different atmosphere.

Since our existing guidance group members had simply moved forward, there wasn’t much else for us to do.

Because of this, while everyone else was in turmoil, we could afford to relax in the campus café with the air conditioning on, drinking coffee.

“What’s all this fuss about?”

While sipping her cold coffee through a straw, Yu Hye-won glanced out the window at the people hurrying under the scorching sun.

It was like a noble lord leisurely observing the busy peasants during the farming season.

“Heroes dying is something that happens all the time, yet they’re making a huge fuss about it.”

Yu Hye-won clicked her tongue and nudged Han Min-ha in the side.

“Isn’t that right?”

“Not really, Hye-won. Don’t you remember the explanation we heard during the opening ceremony? This doesn’t seem like a common event.”

At that, Yu Hye-won fixed Han Min-ha with a sharp glare.

“If you say so, then so be it.”

“Maybe… that could be the case.”

Han Min-ha quickly backed down under Yu Hye-won’s gaze.

There was a reason for this.

Not only is Yu Hye-won naturally strong-willed, but there’s this bracelet currently wrapped around Han Min-ha’s wrist.

It comes from a renowned brand that only enters high-end department stores.

The day after I urgently returned to the Academy, Yu Hye-won took Han Min-ha shopping, and apparently bought this bracelet.

With this expensive item on her arm, Han Min-ha couldn’t dare argue with Yu Hye-won.

As the saying goes, one mustn’t argue with someone they’ve fed.

Of course, this wasn’t Yu Hye-won’s deliberate intention; it’s simply how the friendship of a wealthy and dignified young lady is expressed.

While observing Han Min-ha’s bracelet, Yu Hye-won asked,

“How about you get one too, Professor?”

Then she showed off her own bracelet from the same brand but with a completely different design, and approximately the same price.

“No, thank you. It would only become a laughing matter if I wore something like that. And although this may sound old-fashioned, heroes generally do not wear jewelry.”

“Why not?”

Han Min-ha curiously asked with wide eyes.

“Because it might react dangerously to the aura’s vibrations. That’s why heroes only wear specialized suits during combat and don’t put anything on their bodies otherwise. Have you ever seen a hero with piercings?”

“Ah, that makes sense. I’ve never seen one.”

“That’s why.”

Han Min-ha nodded as if he’d just heard a fascinating story, though Yu Hye-won mumbled something about being a stick-in-the-mud and asked,

“Anyway, since we’re returning to the team system, what are we going to do with just two people?”

“What do you mean?”

“It seems like other students are grouped in teams of four or more, but we’re just me and this black-haired cow – only two of us. Unless the Education Department and the Organization were hit by a brain-killing beam, they wouldn’t have pulled such nonsense just two days before the semester started. Most likely, we’ll stay as a team even after graduation.”

Yu Hye-won’s observation was quite sharp.

This was also a prospect mentioned among the professors, hinting at the potential of formalizing the current freshman team system to counter the organization of villains.

Upon calling Legalmight shortly after the semester started, I learned that indeed, the hero offices were receiving calls from the Organization.

Suggestions for collaborations at certain locations or inquiries about temporary dispatches for stable revenue opportunities.

The atmosphere on the field and this revision of the education system were inevitably interconnected.

“I don’t know, but in my opinion, you two, the students Hye-won and Min-ha, would be better than five other students.”

“Excuse me? That sounds absurd. If we don’t have even half the strength of others, does this mean you’re pushing your guidance students into a death trap? I won’t stand for it.”

Yu Hye-won firmly declared as though she’d made up her mind.

“Professor, you should join too. That way, with three of us, we’ll have a good shot.”

“Hehe. Really.”

At this, Han Min-ha giggled.

“I’ll fight, and Professor, you support us. With that, even a mediocre villain would be no match.”

“Then what would I do?”

“You hang back and cheer on the sidelines. If you wore a cheerleader outfit, it might be a pretty sight.”

Then, Yu Hye-won poked Han Min-ha’s chest with her finger.

“Stop…”

Han Min-ha, glancing at my reaction, withdrew slightly.

“How did you grow so big anyway?”

“I don’t think I ate anything unusual.”

I know the reason behind this.

The Han Min-ha sitting in front of me looks exactly like his mother, Seo Ji-a.

Should Seo Ji-a be standing beside him, anyone might mistake them for twins or at least very identical siblings.

It’s all thanks to good genetics.

“Hey, isn’t that Song Do-yoon passing by?”

Yu Hye-won pointing out the window suddenly shifted the focus.

Under the blazing August sun, Song Do-yoon was walking somewhere, casting a solitary shadow.

The last time we’d seen him was just before the break when he was entirely in a cast, but it seemed he’d fully recovered in such a short time thanks to the incredible medical technology at the Academy.

“That guy doesn’t even sweat. It’s eerie.”

Yu Hye-won mumbled while drinking her coffee.

Han Min-ha sighed, placing his hand on his chest.

“Looks like he’s recovered. Thank goodness.”

“You’re the one who beat him up, yet you’re saying that. It’s funny.”

“Hehe…”

At that moment, Song Do-yoon paused, noticing us.

“Kyaaa! He saw us…!”

Startled, Han Min-ha hastily stood up, bolted behind me, and crouched down.

Song Do-yoon stared into the café where we were seated, and Yu Hye-won, with her legs crossed haughtily, stared back.

For a long time, Song Do-yoon stood like a ghost in the middle of the day, then eventually turned around and walked away.

“Hmph. That uncanny girl.”

Yu Hye-won said it as if it were no big deal, while Han Min-ha, who had become as flat as a chicken, peeked over my shoulder.

“He’s gone… Phew. If he looked like that, he’d be like Sadako with a short haircut. Scary.”

“Sadako? Doesn’t the student Min-ha mean that Sadako? That thing came out before Min-ha was born.”

Yu Hye-won tilted her head in confusion.

“What’s Sadako?”

“It’s a ghost from a Japanese horror movie that crawls out of a well and stands still to stare at you like that.”

“What? Never heard of it. If Professor knows it, it’s probably a forty-year-old movie.”

“Sorry, student Hye-won, but I haven’t aged that much.”

“True. The professor looks so young that people might think they’ve just graduated from the Academy and are now a veteran.”

While subtly placing her hands on my shoulders in defense, Han Min-ha quickly withdrew upon feeling Yu Hye-won’s icy gaze and returned to her seat.

“Still, with his character, I’m not sure if he can be part of a team.”

Yu Hye-won observed as Song Do-yoon walked away.

“It’s going to be insane, but it’s none of our business anymore.”

“H-hehe. Ours…”

Han Min-ha quietly whispered with a smile.

“Professor, who is he teaming up with?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t really paid attention to other teams.”

That was true. Jin had said before,

“I only care about the two of you.”

To a certain extent, it’s true.

Aside from properly teaching the students under my supervision, I have little interest in anything else.

Perhaps it’s due to my mental barrier that strongly defends or isolates my mind.

But the strange thing is, if it were applied similarly to the two students sitting in front of me, it doesn’t work that way.

I feel a strong sense of responsibility towards them.

A responsibility to ensure they graduate with excellent results, grow strong enough not to succumb pointlessly in the field.

If we call it affection, well, I’m not sure yet.

The two of them undoubtedly feel affection towards me, but I don’t quite understand it yet.

If we call it the bond between teacher and student, or something else…

At that time, during a movie night in Yu Hye-won’s underground home theater, both Han Min-ha and Yu Hye-won sat on either side of me, holding my hands.

Even though I’m shielded by my mental barrier, I’m not so dim-witted that I can’t objectively assess the situation.

I know their feelings towards me are different from the respect a student would show to a professor.

But I chose to pretend not to notice.

It’s wrong.

That’s the conclusion I’ve reached.

They are minors and my students whom I should teach and raise.

Fortunately, my mental barrier has been a great help in this regard.

“In any case, let’s do our best as a team of three from now on.”

“Understood.” “Yes, Professor!”

Both of my guidance students responded in their own ways.

However, it was only later that I learned that our team wasn’t just two people after all.