Chapter 93
Class Allocation
[With this, we will conclude the entrance ceremony. New students, please move to your allocated classes today. A class orientation will be held at 11:30 a.m. Once again, this marks the end of the entrance ceremony….]
The entrance ceremony had ended.
Students were leaving the central hall to head to their assigned classes.
Yeo Haneul and I, who had been watching the ceremony from below the stage, also decided to move.
Then, people started coming towards us against the flow of the procession.
“Haneul! Gyunwoo! You did great at the new student oath! You seemed so relaxed and did well! I even took a picture!”
“That’s true. With so many people, even I would’ve been nervous, but you did it so calmly. It was impressive.”
“Both of you did well! Even from a distance, your determination was palpable!”
“Hey! Hey! Hey! When we told others that we’re your friends, their eyes changed, you know?”
“They were kind of envious of us, right? You seemed to gain some popularity.”
“But don’t feel pressured! If there are annoying people bothering you, we’ll block them for you!”
Go Eunbi, Lisa, Yonghaerang, the triplet siblings.
They approached us and chattered away.
In Eunbi’s case, she even pulled Haneul close and hugged him tightly.
“Kyaa! Haneul, you were so cool! I’ll show you the photos later! Do you know how beautiful you looked when you set the atmosphere by saying ‘oath’? It could be a profile picture! How about changing from the rabbit doll you bought last time to a picture of your face!? Huh!?”
“U-uh, Eunbi…! Let go for a moment and talk! Where are you touch… aah! Why are you touching there!?”
“Well, I’m happy to be born a girl.”
“G-Gyunwoo! Help me! Eunbi is…!”
“…But she’s not touching your ears or tail. She’s still respecting boundaries, it seems.”
“W-what are you doing now…! Why are you putting your hand inside my clothes!?”
Goeunbi, slightly shorter than Yeonhaneul, took advantage of their shared gender to boldly explore her body.
Yeonhaneul, whose ears shot up like a rabbit’s, was shocked by the intimacy and sent me a distress signal, but unfortunately, there was nothing I could do to help.
It seemed like Goeunbi’s actions weren’t malicious, but rather her way of expressing interest.
It was awkward to just pull her away.
And…
“Uh… It seems like she’s secretly enjoying it, even though she acts like that.”
From the perspective of my childhood friend of 5 years, Yeonhaneul didn’t seem entirely averse to it.
If she had truly made up her mind, pushing Goeunbi away would have been a piece of cake.
However, silently enduring it implied tacit approval.
As someone who majored in Yeonhaneul’s behavior psychology for 5 years, I speculated that she was simply feeling awkward and embarrassed, pulling me in because it was something new to her.
“They seem to get along well…”
Meanwhile, Lisa murmured as she watched Yeonhaneul and Goeunbi.
As a princess, she seemed envious of the two playing around without regard for their status.
“Go ask Eunbi to do it to you too. Say it’s good for Eunbi’s personality.”
“Um… No. Even if I did, that seems like it would be too much.”
“Then go and tease Haneul together.”
“…!”
“What? Why?”
“Are you a genius, by any chance?”
“…”
“I guess so. That should work then.”
Lisa said in an excited tone, as if struck by a brilliant idea.
With a mischievous grin, she approached the two.
“Hey! Is this how it’s done?”
“Lisa, you too…!”
“Try touching a bit lower from there! Haneul seems to like that.”
“I, I’ve never liked it…!”
“Oh, here? It seems like it.”
Yeonhaneul’s face twisted with betrayal.
But Goeunbi and Lisa continued to torment her without a care.
“Ky… Kyunwoo…”
“…”
As if calling out to me tenderly, as if I were her last hope, Yeonhaneul said my name.
Was she asking me to come and tease her too?
Sadly, Goeunbi and Lisa had already taken their places, leaving me no room to intervene.
I pretended not to hear.
“Haneul, I’m sorry. It seems inevitable for the game’s ending.”
I thought it might be a good thing if sacrificing Yeonhaneul made Goeunbi and Lisa’s relationship stronger.
I was grateful for her sacrifice.
On one hand, to never be a person who turns a blind eye to the things I’ve done, I kept my eyes on her.
“If you touch there, she must like it….”
To never forget Yeonha’s sacrifice.
I engraved it in my mind.
* * *
After the mischievous prank of Goeunbi and Lisa came to an end.
Yeonha, who had barely tidied up her disheveled clothes, glared at me as if blaming me.
“Why… didn’t you help?”
“….”
“I… asked for your help….”
“Are you okay?”
“You look okay?”
“….”
It was clear that it wasn’t me but Goeunbi and Lisa who played the prank.
Yeonha, who had considered me a bystander, expressed her anger towards me.
Although I felt unfairly treated, I just endured her tantrum to help her vent her feelings.
“Really… I’ll remember this. Just wait. Next time, even if you ask for help, I won’t help you.”
“Do you want strawberry milk?”
“….”
“There seems to be a vending machine outside, should I go get it?”
“I won’t feel better just by drinking that…. Where are you going!? Come back!”
I had remembered the vending machine location.
Before Yeonha could stop me, I quickly dashed outside.
I bought the strawberry milk and returned.
“Here, Haneul. I also brought a straw.”
“I don’t need it….”
Even though she said that.
Reluctantly, Yeonha accepted the strawberry milk when I insisted on inserting the straw.
Her rabbit ears perked up.
With the straw in her mouth, she made a strict expression.
“I’m forgiving you just this once. Got it?”
“Yeah, thanks for forgiving me.”
With quick thinking and delicious strawberry milk, I could calm Yeonha’s anger.
Soon, I turned to others and spoke.
“They say there’s a class orientation, let’s head to our class too.”
The central hall had become deserted in no time.
Since we couldn’t spend any more time there, we decided to find our class as well.
Each class was located in the main academic building.
Descending the central staircase, we found the nearby academic building.
It was time to part ways.
“Teacher Goeunbi.”
“Yes! Father Dogyeonwoo!”
“From now on, I entrust Haneul’s school commute to you.”
“Don’t worry, Father! I’ll take good care of Haneul by my side!”
Heading towards our assigned classes separately.
I playfully asked Goeunbi, who had her arm linked with Yeonhae, for a favor.
She responded to my jest.
From Noble mtl dot com
She humorously assured me with a soldier-like salute.
“Am I a kindergarten kid or something…”
“Then, Gyenwoo! See you later in the evening! Haneul, let’s go in quickly too!”
“Goeunbi, wait…! See you later!”
“Sure, see you later.”
Yeonhae, who was between us, couldn’t hide her uneasy expression.
Being led by Goeunbi, she went into her classroom.
Only then did I start moving my feet.
I headed towards Class 17 of the first year.
“Is this it?”
I checked the sign attached to the classroom door.
Upon opening it, I stepped inside.
“…”
The classroom with long desks arranged in rows.
Students were sitting wherever they pleased.
Most of them seemed unfamiliar with each other, sitting apart.
“Isn’t that Dogyeon? The transfer student.”
“Oh, he’s in the same class. That’s good. It’ll be an advantage during the class competition.”
“The new recruit of the elite Doga clan….”
“If I do well, I might be able to get close to him.”
“I should talk to him next time.”
As the students who had just sworn in as the representative of the new students, there was no way they wouldn’t recognize me.
As they saw me entering the classroom, murmurs could be heard.
The glances trying to confirm me from behind didn’t seem very welcoming.
Unlike during the entrance exam, now that we were not competitors but rather future colleagues to spend a year together, it was understandable.
I, too, did not avoid their gazes to familiarize myself with their faces.
‘By the way, where should I sit….’
I couldn’t keep standing there.
I scanned the surroundings to find a suitable spot.
There were plenty of empty seats if needed.
I decided to find a seat that I liked among them.
The moment my gaze stopped was then.
‘That person…’
At the front row of the classroom.
A striking red-haired female student sat alone at a long desk.
Even though I could only see the back of her head, I felt like I knew who she was.
I had seen her in an exam before, so she seemed familiar.
“So Minarin was in the same class as me.”
It was definitely Minarin from the Mado household.
Good.
It was an unexpected encounter.
I hadn’t planned to sit at the front, but I changed my mind.
I moved towards her.
“Can I sit next to you?”
“Sorry, there are plenty of seats… Huh?”
She seemed to warn me not to touch her.
Minarin rested her chin on her hand, looking upset.
As I started talking, she, who had been staring straight at me with a hint of anger, was about to say something.
Then she paused when she looked at my face.
“You…”
“We didn’t even properly greet each other when we saw each other during the last exam, right? Thanks for helping back then. If you hadn’t helped, I would have struggled.”
“Shingum Dog…?”
“That’s right. I’m Dogyeon from Shingum Do. I knew about you.”
“You can’t not know people from Shingum Do. I even enrolled as a top student this time. Isn’t it strange not to know? I’m Minarin. It seems like we’re in the same class now. I’ll rely on you for the next year.”
Minarin let out a small sigh.
While exchanging greetings with me, she didn’t seem particularly friendly.
‘Well, that’s understandable.’
At this stage of the game, she considered herself superior to anyone else.
She believed that everyone other than herself was inferior.
This mindset applied universally, without exception, even to those from the same prestigious family.
So, according to her standards, it was unsettling that I, whom she deemed inferior, initiated the conversation.
Minarin was that kind of character.
A character with a strong sense of superiority.
Her personality remained unchanged even after joining the Strong Star party.
The disposition she had formed since birth was not easily altered.
“Minarin”
― W-Who’s worried about someone like you! If you’re weaker than me, just quietly accept my protection!
In that manner.
Min Arin displayed a sense of superiority.
Knowing her personality, I calmly accepted it.
Meanwhile, she expressed dissatisfaction.
“But there are plenty of other seats available, so why do you have to sit here of all places?”
“Why? Can’t I sit here?”
“I want to study quietly, so could you please consider moving somewhere else? I’m only asking because you’re from the top-tier group. I’ve just shooed away others before.”
“Sorry, but I can’t, okay?”
“Why can’t you?”
“I want to study too.”
“… “
“It’s at the front, so the screen is visible, the teacher’s desk is right in front, it’s just perfect. It’s conducive to studying.”
…After speaking, I realized I wanted to move to a different seat.
But, of course, that wasn’t possible.
I didn’t show any signs of it.
Then, I provoked Min Arin.
“I have no intention of moving, so if you want to move, you can do it.”
“What? I sat here first, why…?”
“There’s no owner of the seat, it was empty from the beginning, right? At times like this, the uncomfortable one should move. I don’t mind sharing the seat with you, but it seems like you want to use it alone.”
“Argh…”
There was no reason for me to consider Min Arin’s objection when I wanted to sit in the empty seat.
She couldn’t respond properly.
Yet, she wasn’t the type to move to another seat either.
‘Especially now, Min Arin, who is bundled up with pride, must think that if she moves from her seat, she loses to me.’
In reality, Min Arin only frowned and didn’t attempt to get up from her seat.
Instead, she clutched the chair tightly, almost as if she was conscious of my words.
She suddenly muttered, “Fine, do as you wish. Just be quiet. Don’t disturb my studying. Got it?”
“Yeah, you’re the one who shouldn’t disturb.”
“Who are you to say that…?”
In the end, Min Arin couldn’t send me away, nor could she leave herself, so she reluctantly allowed me to sit beside her.
Satisfied with sitting next to her, I refrained from provoking her any further.
If I continued to provoke her, she might harbor ill feelings towards me.
Since we would spend a year together in the same class, it was only natural to gradually become closer.
Not long after that.
“It’s about time to start…”
It was time for the class orientation.
I awaited the teacher and assistant teacher whom I would spend the next year with.
I hoped to meet good people, even if they weren’t the instructors in the game.
Finally, the door to the classroom opened.
Creak, creak.
Two women entered.
I checked their faces and blinked blankly, especially at the one standing at the front.
“….”
Approaching the desk, she scanned the room and spoke.
She looked at me and pursed her lips.
She seemed pleased.
“Hello. I am Hong Ye-na, who will be in charge of all of you for the next year.”
The seven-colored witch, Hong Ye-na.
Luckily, she was our homeroom teacher.
* * *
Before the homeroom assignments were announced.
Hong Ye-na received a call from So Hye-ryul.
“Hello, Director.”
“Welcome, Instructor Hong Ye-na. I’m sorry to suddenly call you out while you must have been busy working.”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Come, have a seat.”
“Yes….”
“How do you feel about returning to your alma mater as an instructor? Have you gotten used to life at Geumgang Academy now?”
So Hye-ryul, who offered her a seat, asked in a sharp tone about her recent life.
Despite answering diligently, Hong Ye-na couldn’t shake off her suspicions.
‘Why did she summon me all of a sudden?’
It was an unexpected call.
So Hye-ryul must have had a reason other than just asking about her recent life.
Hong Ye-na covered her mouth with a teacup, trying to figure out her intentions.
During this, the conversation took an unexpected turn due to her.
It was too late when she realized.
“I bet Instructor Hong Ye-na must be delighted that her student has been admitted as valedictorian. Where did you find such a student? Personally, Yeon-hui is one of the students I have high expectations for this year.”
“Oh…. Director, if you have high expectations, Yeon-hui must be thrilled. I’ll talk to her next time….”
“And also, Do Yeon-woo.”
“….”
“I have high hopes for him personally. Maybe he’s the one I’m looking forward to the most among the students entering this year. Even more than the disciple of Tugwi.”
“….Is that so. Do Yeon-woo’s skills are quite extraordinary. It’s not unreasonable for you to have high expectations….”
“But it seems like you have some connection with Instructor Hong Ye-na, right? You taught Do Yeon-woo magic a few years ago, right?”
“I… was asked by the Chief Magician to give him some tutoring. It was mainly focused on basic elemental magic, so it’s hard to say I taught him….”
“It seems like Do Yeon-woo has a really good relationship with Instructor Hong Ye-na, considering he entrusted the Soul Stone of the Doll Fairy to you. Isn’t that right?”
“….”
Already having investigated thoroughly, there was no point in denying it.
So Hye-ryul smiled silently as she looked at Hong Ye-na.
Hong Ye-na had no choice but to smile back charmingly.
Internally cursing Do Gyun-woo.
“Why is he acting like this towards me?”
Although the reason why So Hye-ryul suddenly mentioned Do Gyun-woo’s name was unclear.
From the flow of the conversation, it seemed like she had called herself in relation to him.
Hong Ye-na had a bad feeling.
She had learned from years of experience that nothing good ever came from being involved with him.
Sure enough, her premonition was correct.
“So, after much consideration, I’ve decided to assign Hong Ye-na as Do Gyun-woo’s homeroom teacher.”
“Pardon?”
“I’ve decided to entrust Do Gyun-woo to Hong Ye-na as his teacher.”
“Pardon?”
“Even if you pretend not to hear, it’s futile, isn’t it?”
“….”
Hong Ye-na felt like she had misheard.
She hoped she had misheard.
But So Hye-ryul, indifferent, informed her of the decision.
“It was the best decision from my perspective.”
“Why… is that?”
“Because of the Doll Ghost.”
“….”
“I may control the information, but eventually, the Doll Ghost will get to know Do Gyun-woo. So, I judged that it would be best to have a trustworthy teacher around to protect Do Gyun-woo.”
“There are many more professional instructors to deal with Mine, I believe….”
“But isn’t Hong Ye-na the only one Do Gyun-woo trusts?”
“….”
Hong Ye-na couldn’t bring herself to argue.
She just couldn’t stand Do Gyun-woo.
She couldn’t understand why he was so unbearable.
“A type like Do Gyun-woo tends to attract various incidents, whether he wants to or not, based on my experience as an educator.”
“….”
But are you really entrusting me with that mess now?
Hong Ye-na bit her tongue instead of speaking out loud.
Whether So Hye-ryul read her emotions or not, she replied with a wry smile.
“It’s inevitable. Especially with a child like him, you need a trusted teacher to watch over and support him. That’s our role, isn’t it? Do Gyun-woo needs someone like Hong Ye-na, who he can trust to let him express himself freely.”
“Y-yes….”
“So, I’ll be counting on you for a year.”
And so.
Hong Ye-na found herself, out of all odds, becoming Do Gyun-woo’s homeroom teacher.
“This despicable guy….”