Straight Back to Work After Discharge - 2
Normally, the walk to the Academy would have felt heavy. But today was different. No, from today onward, it would be different forever. Because at the Academy, Examiner Baek Seojin would be there. He'd said he'd return to work tomorrow right after being discharged. The benefactor who tried to save someone like me from that terrifying person. An ordinary man, yet someone completely different from me—someone truly special.
The moment was still vivid in my mind. The examiner stepping in front of the Elder, telling me to run. He wasn't a professor or a security guard—just a single examiner. A civil servant who could be considered even more ordinary than a student. Yet that man had thrown himself into danger for the sake of 'me,' someone who was nothing.
"Suhyun, could you take this with you when you go to the Academy tomorrow?"
"It's a fatigue recovery potion made from troll blood. Give it to Examiner Baek Seojin."
"Ahem. It's nothing special. I'm just looking out for you since you got hurt saving Suhyun!"
Even Grandfather was clearly concerned about the examiner. I didn't understand why he wanted me to pass along an apology while delivering the gift, but I didn't question it.
I arrived at the Academy a little earlier than usual. The examiner had looked good even in the hospital room, but I imagined he'd look even more impressive at work. I wanted to see him arrive. And my expectations weren't wrong.
It's the examiner. I could tell. The person walking over there was Examiner Baek Seojin. My body moved on reflex to run toward him, but I stopped myself with a light breath.
He knows who I am now. If the examiner finds me burdensome…
Visiting him in the hospital was one thing—I'd gone because he'd been injured because of me. But if I kept acting like this at the Academy, he might feel uncomfortable.
No. I don't want him to be troubled because of me.
I forced my quickening steps to slow. I held the gift Grandfather had prepared close to my chest. This way, it would look like I was just delivering a discharge present, right? That would make it less of a burden for him. Yes, this was enough. With this, even if I approached the examiner…
"Huh?"
He was gone. He'd clearly been walking through the main gate just moments ago. I looked around frantically, but there was no sign of him anywhere.
Where did he go? He was definitely there…
I'd come early just to see him. I'd prepared myself to greet him. I had to find him. Where had he gone? Had we crossed paths? Had he gone somewhere else?
It should be fine, right? It should be okay for me to look for him…
I worried he might find me bothersome or dislike my presence.
…No.
If it was the examiner who had welcomed me so warmly during his hospital visit, the same Baek Seojin who had saved me from the Elder, he wouldn't feel that way. Yes. Even someone as insignificant as me would surely be welcomed with a smile.
I decided to borrow the courage Grandfather always spoke of. Though my hands still trembled and worry gnawed at me, I gathered that courage and followed the examiner's trail.
I could faintly sense it. I knew where he had gone.
"Examiner Baek Seojin?"
How much time had passed? In a secluded corner of the Academy, I finally found him.
"Oh… Suhyun? What are you doing here…"
But standing beside the examiner was a blonde woman I'd never seen before.
Kim Suhyun appeared in a place I hadn't expected at all. I distinctly remembered there being almost no people around, and I hadn't felt anyone following me either. So how?
"Ah, um…"
Kim Suhyun's eyes darted around nervously. From her expression, it seemed she thought she'd interrupted something. Flustered, she turned to flee.
As expected, her inner issues had surfaced again. If I let her leave like this, it would only lead to unnecessary misunderstandings and further damage her self-esteem.
"Suhyun!"
I barely managed to catch her at the last possible moment.
"E-Examiner."
"You came at the right time, Suhyun. Actually, I got lost again. You saw it last time too, right? I nearly got hurt trying to find the training ground. I ended up in some strange place again and was asking for directions. And…"
I looked at Irina with pleading eyes. Honestly, I didn't have high hopes, but she was still an S-rank ability user. With her perceptiveness, I figured she'd help in some way.
"Oh. Someone came! You tell her! The right way!"
And true to her unpredictable nature, Irina launched into an impromptu act. Anyone watching would think she was a foreigner struggling with Korean. In reality, she spoke the language better than most Koreans—though she was Korean herself, just with Western features.
"Go now! We meet again! Next time!"
With those words, Irina turned away as if nothing had happened. After a few steps, she looked back at me.
"I want it! Still, your answer!"
Her eyes conveyed everything. She wanted an answer—a different kind of monster from the Elder. She was backing off for now, but there wouldn't be a second time.
"…Who was that?"
After Irina disappeared, Kim Suhyun asked in a slightly uneasy voice. Neither of us had recognized Irina immediately because the media always showed her with long hair in uniform. Right now, she wore casual clothes, her hair tied back, and glasses.
"Well, you see… She seemed to be someone visiting from abroad for an observation tour."
"An observation tour?"
I thought it was a reasonable excuse. Many people did visit other countries' academies. But Kim Suhyun tilted her head, looking doubtful.
"You were asking someone on an observation tour for directions?"
…Yeah. Even I had to admit it sounded pretty stupid.
"Ah… Ah! What's that in your hand?"
I quickly changed the subject. And it worked perfectly.
"This? It's a discharge gift for you, Examiner."
"A fatigue recovery potion? Wait. Is this made from troll blood?"
Troll blood was mostly used in recovery potions because of its regenerative properties. A fatigue recovery potion made from such a high-demand ingredient? Naturally, it was highly effective. Popular. And expensive. I hadn't expected her to bring so much as a gift. As expected of the chairman—generous to a fault.
"Yes. Grandfather insisted I deliver it."
"Chairman Kang Minsung? He wanted you to give something this valuable to me?"
"He also asked me to tell you he's sorry… Did something happen?"
Something had happened, all right. Her grandfather had made a guilty confession. The whole ridiculous situation of returning to work the day after discharge was because of him. Thinking about it, I understood why he'd sent something so expensive.
He sent something expensive and good, so I'd better keep my mouth shut.
It was clear just how much the chairman was walking on eggshells around Kim Suhyun. Someone from his side had already visited on the day of my discharge and slipped something into my arms, claiming it was a discharge gift from the chairman. When I checked later, the amount had made me gasp. And now this on top of it—he really wanted this kept secret.
Here I am wondering if those crazy people could squeeze out more, but…
I wasn't a villain or a troublemaker. I was just an ordinary person who knew when to be satisfied. Excessive greed only invited disaster. This much was enough to keep quiet about until the day I died.
"It was nothing. The chairman was just very grateful that you saved Suhyun."
"…I see."
I'd expected her to be happy. Or embarrassed, thinking her grandfather was doting on her too much. But Kim Suhyun was neither.
"Suhyun? What's wrong?"
"…I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what?"
"Unlike my cousins, I'm so pathetic that Grandfather has to keep worrying about me. He keeps taking care of me, and every time, I just feel more miserable."
There she went again. That almost reflexive self-deprecation in her thoughts, words, and actions. Exactly what Kang Minsung had described. Being surrounded by such outstanding people had made her shrink so much that she'd now completely bound and imprisoned herself.
This is pretty bad. It's bad now, but it'll get even worse later…
Suddenly, the information from the Third Eye about Kim Suhyun flashed through my mind. A genius trapped in inferiority. The trait fit her far too well right now.
Third Eye Activated.
All abilities are temporarily reduced. If she cannot escape her inferiority complex quickly, she may suffer permanent loss of her abilities. Improper awakening could lead to fatal consequences.
The temporary reduction in all abilities was understandable—she'd become psychologically fragile. The part about "improper awakening" probably referred to corruption or mental manipulation.
The biggest problem is the second part. Permanent ability loss if she can't overcome her inferiority.
Kim Suhyun was already walking a tightrope. If things continued this way, she'd barely scrape by at the Academy. Losing her abilities would mean expulsion, and then she'd be completely buried under that inferiority complex.
No. If that happens, she might end up walking the path to becoming the Red Witch again.
This concerned the lives of over five hundred thousand people and all the effort I'd put into surviving the Elder. Kim Suhyun needed to grow steadily at the Academy and become an excellent ability user. She had to break free from her inferiority complex and never waver, no matter what. Only then would the Red Witch, one of the worst villains, never appear.
If there really was a 'System,' a window like this might have appeared before my eyes right now:
Pay close attention so that Kim Suhyun does not become the Red Witch!