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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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For a while, the administration office and the faculty were busy dividing the new students into classes.
The classes were divided based on the basic evaluation results.
They couldn’t teach everyone uniformly without considering their skill levels.
Those who excelled needed to be pushed further, and those who struggled needed to be brought up to speed.
Han Min-ha was placed in a lower-level class.
I hadn’t expected much, so I wasn’t disappointed.
After the classes were determined, teaching assistants were assigned.
Teaching assistants were essentially homeroom teachers, guiding the students in all aspects of their academy life.
Although they were called assistants, they were all renowned scholars in their respective fields, but they were simply lacking the talent to become heroes.
One couldn’t become an academy staff member without significant qualifications.
Just then, the department head entered, sat at the head of the conference table, and greeted everyone with forced cheerfulness.
“Good evening, everyone!”
The professors, unsure how to react to the absurd greeting, exchanged glances.
I immediately understood the situation.
The department head had probably pulled an all-nighter working on class assignments, and since he hadn’t slept, he was making a ridiculous joke about it being evening for him, not morning.
Of course, the all-nighter was likely an exaggeration.
What a preposterous joke.
Professor Heo Tae-hyun, who had been with the department head for quite some time, and specialized in information gathering and operations, spoke up.
“Hahaha. Oh, Department Head. Did you stay up all night?”
“As expected, only Professor Heo understands me.”
Professor Heo Tae-hyun explained the department head’s joke to the other professors.
Finally, the professors forced out awkward laughter, offering perfunctory greetings like, “Good evening, Department Head,” and “You’ve worked hard.”
Professor Heo Tae-hyun made eye contact with me and winked, his expression saying, “You already understood, didn’t you?”
As expected of someone specializing in information gathering and operations, he was incredibly perceptive.
That’s why professor Heo was popular.
He was easygoing, perceptive, a good storyteller, considerate of others, and had no unpleasant qualities.
Moreover, he was the only one who could offer constructive criticism to the department head with a smile.
For some reason, he was still an associate professor, even though he had enough experience to be a full professor.
I had thought the meeting would be ruined by the unforgivable joke, but thankfully, Professor Heo had salvaged the situation.
The department head, thinking his joke had landed well, was in high spirits, and the meeting proceeded relatively smoothly.
Today’s meeting was about the assigned classes, teaching assistants, and the upcoming student assignments.
There wasn’t anything significant; just that now that the classes were formed, teaching should be more systematic and tailored to the students’ levels.
And that we should observe the students in preparation for the student assignments.
As the meeting ended, the department head clapped enthusiastically and said,
“Let’s do our best today, everyone. Prepare for the chant!”
“Yah…!” “Yat…”
The professors unenthusiastically raised their fists.
Only Professor Heo Tae-hyun shouted, “Eyah!” with gusto.
“Begin!”
“Wonderful…! Powerful…! Successful…!”
“All together!”
“Ful Ful Ful!”
As we raised our fists three times, then three more times quickly, for a total of six times, I thought,
This was insane.
A meeting of renowned current and former hero professors.
Ordinary people probably imagined us engaging in profound discussions every morning about how to effectively educate aspiring heroes who would shape the future.
But the reality was “Ful Ful Ful.”
“Good work! Let’s get up!”
Professor Heo Tae-hyun shouted as the chant ended.
He always did that at the end of meetings, bringing them to a definitive close.
If he didn’t, the department head would linger and continue chatting.
“Good work!”
At Professor Heo’s cue, the professors sprang from their chairs and fled the faculty room.
So, the actual chant of our faculty was “Good work! Let’s get up.”
Just as I was getting up, the department head called me.
“Professor Kyo, stay behind for a moment.”
“Yes, Department Head.”
I sat back down, and the department head pointed to the seat diagonally across from him.
“Come closer. Do you not want to talk to me?”
“No, sir. I’m coming.”
As I moved to the indicated seat, the department head waited for the other professors to leave before speaking.
“How are you feeling these days?”
“I’m doing alright, thanks to your concern.”
“Concern, you say. Anyway, are you not taking on a student this year either?”
“I’m not sure yet.”
I was actually considering Han Min-ha, but I couldn’t speak carelessly without knowing the department head’s intentions.
“I heard you exchanged names with Yoo Hee-won at the entrance ceremony.”
“It wasn’t exactly an exchange of names, but we did talk briefly.”
“What did you talk about?”
“She asked if I was a professor, and I said yes. That was it.”
Seemingly unconvinced, the department head frowned and scratched his chin.
“Hmm. Is that so? That’s not what I heard from the chairman and the dean.”
“What did they say?”
“They said you discussed her student assignment, didn’t they?”
I could roughly guess the situation.
Yoo Hee-won must have talked about me to her father.
Had she already chosen me?
“I don’t recall having such a conversation.”
“Is that so? Anyway… about student assignments…”
“Are you trying to tell me to take Yoo Hee-won?”
“What? When did I say that?”
“Weren’t those your intentions?”
“No, no. Student assignments are based on mutual agreement. It’s not something a department head can just dictate.”
However, the department head continued subtly,
“But… Yoo Hee-won placed first in the basic evaluation. You know, right? The top student in the basic evaluation usually graduates at the top of their class and starts at B-Rank.”
“I’m aware.”
“Wouldn’t it be a great opportunity and experience to guide such a student? I’ve been a professor for thirty years, but I’m quite envious.”
“Then how about you become her advisor, Department Head?”
“W-what…?”
The department head stammered in surprise.
“Wouldn’t it look better if you, the Department Head, personally took charge of her, rather than an unpopular professor like me? Considering Yoo Hee-won’s abilities and background, a department head would be much more suitable than an associate professor.”
“I-is that so…?”
“Yes. The chairman is very invested in his daughter’s education, so if he discovers that her advisor is just an associate professor with a lung disease who does nothing but cough…”
I intentionally trailed off, and the department head’s eyes darted around nervously.
“That’s true. You’re right, Professor Kyo.”
“There’s no problem with it according to the regulations, so why don’t you take charge yourself? I’m sure the chairman and the dean would approve. They’d see it as a dedicated department head going above and beyond for a student’s education.”
“Hmm…”
“I’d be relieved of the burden of such a responsibility, you’d have the opportunity to teach an excellent student before retirement, Yoo Hee-won would benefit from your guidance more than mine, the dean could impress the chairman, and the chairman would be pleased that a department head is teaching his daughter. Everyone wins.”
The department head fell silent, lost in thought.
He must be struggling to suppress his growing desire.
It was originally just a simple matter of assigning me as her advisor and receiving praise, but now it had become an opportunity to gain the attention and trust of an influential figure.
Furthermore, it would increase his favorability with me.
Being Yoo Hee-won’s advisor was a coveted position.
She was guaranteed to excel academically, it offered a connection with the chairman, and it was a perfect position as long as one could handle her personality.
Not only was I refusing such a position, but I was also offering it to my superior.
Of course, this was only possible because our department head was a traditionalist with a thirst for recognition.
A more astute department head would have seen through my intentions.
“For now…”
After a long pause, the department head finally spoke.
“For now, I’ll talk to the dean. I’ll tell him your opinion and that it would be beneficial for the academy if I personally mentored Yoo Hee-won.”
“Please do. I’m sure the dean will be very impressed.”
“Is that so? Do you think he will?”
Instead of answering, I gave a faint smile.
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Just as I was leaving the research building for a lecture, someone called out to me.
“Hey, Hyun Kyo!”
I turned around to see Professor Heo Tae-hyun waving from the smoking area, a cigarette in his hand.
I shook my head, miming smoking with my fingers, and Professor Heo chuckled, stubbed out his cigarette, and waved his hand to disperse the smoke.
“Better now?”
“Yes.”
“What were you talking about with the department head? Was he spouting nonsense again?”
I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I should tell him.
Professor Heo Tae-hyun specialized in information gathering and operations.
If he wanted to, it wouldn’t be difficult for him to find out what the department head and I had discussed.
Fortunately, he was on good terms with me; if he were an enemy, he would be a considerable nuisance.
It was better to just tell him.
“It was about student assignments.”
“Student assignments? Why? Ah, I get it. He wants you to take Yoo Hee-won, right?”
“You already knew.”
“No, I didn’t. But there’s nothing else to talk about, is there?”
As expected of someone who had worked in intelligence for a long time, he could deduce the situation from small clues.
“So, did you agree to take her?”
“No. It’s too much of a burden, so I suggested that the department head become her advisor directly…”
“HAHAHAHAHA!”
Professor Heo burst into laughter before I could even finish my sentence.
It didn’t seem that funny, but he was wiping away tears, slapping my shoulder, and making a fuss.
“Hyun Kyo, you’re something else.”
“Is it funny?”
“You sly dog. You did that on purpose to mess with the department head, didn’t you?”
“Not really. I genuinely don’t want to take Yoo Hee-won as my student.”
“Come on, she specifically chose you. What parent would be happy if the old department head suddenly showed up with his bald head, and declared he would personally mentor their child?”
“That’s true, but I really don’t want to be Yoo Hee-won’s advisor.”
“I understand. Being in the spotlight is nice, but if the spotlight is too intense, you’ll get burned.”
Professor Heo chuckled at his own joke and waved me off.
“Go now. It’s almost time for your lecture.”
“I’ll get going, Professor Heo.”
“Alright.”
The spring morning air was still chilly, and if I stayed outside too long, I might have another coughing fit.
I hurried to the lecture hall and went up to the classroom.
Coincidentally, my first class today was with the advanced class, which included Yoo Hee-won.
As I arrived at the classroom and prepared for the lecture, the students began to arrive one by one.
“Hello, Professor.” “Good morning.”
“Professor Kyo, hello?”
Yoo Hee-won entered with a smile.
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