The Angel Forming a Club (2)
In response to the student council member's utterly confident words, Refri had no choice but to reply:
"…Okay, got it."
And just like that, he had no choice but to accept the club application form as well.
"Haha, please submit it quickly."
The council member handed over the form and left immediately. Watching them go, Refri muttered to himself.
"This is a problem…."
In truth, he had restored this cathedral all by himself, so it was essentially like an item—unless they killed him, they couldn't take ownership away. Plus, with the professors' help…
'Given the professors' personalities… they'd probably hand down a super biased ruling in my favor.'
Then he wouldn't need a club; he could stay in the cathedral without issue. But…
'I can't do that. If I were graduating from the academy this year, maybe, but….'
But what would the other students think of a Refri like that? Ignoring the student council—the students' own governing body—and illegally holding onto the cathedral under professors' protection? They wouldn't see it in a good light, obviously. There'd be far more criticism than support. He'd end up as the isolated angel.
And if it went further… he might end up experiencing firsthand just how scary modern kids could be.
So, should he accept the student council's ruling like this? Get kicked out of the cathedral? Become the homeless angel Refri?
"No way. A club? Fine, I'll just make one."
Refri carefully read through the club application form. There were three requirements for a club application: first, three or more students to apply. Second, those students' achievements. Third, finding an adult to serve as the club's advisor.
The first seemed doable somehow. The second wasn't bad either. With the achievements Refri had piled up so far, the application would go through easily. The problem was the third.
"Finding an adult to advise the club."
It specified that this adult had to be someone hugely successful in society or a key figure in the superhuman world. Only then could they advise a club at Central Superhuman Academy.
"What kind of hellish logic is this…."
Unable to swear, Refri used "hell" like it was a curse. But there was an exception clause for the advisor requirement, for students without such connections.
"Central Superhuman Academy professors are also acceptable. However, one professor per club is the principle."
Park Jinho was the lead professor for the Otherworld Swordsmanship Club, Klein for the Investment Club, and Rusa for the Gardening Club.
"Rusa… Gardening Club…?"
It was an unbelievable combination. Refri kept reading the form.
'Even Professor Rebecca is advising a club.'
Refri sighed, thinking he might really end up as the homeless angel.
'Agh, if I can't wake up Soya in the morning, make her breakfast, dry her hair, clean for her… my Angel Power will take a huge hit!'
Refri's worries multiplied. Then he spotted a line.
Archery Department Professor Hexi—no club assigned.
Why was Hexi the only professor without a club? Refri thought he knew why.
"Professor Hexi…."
Hexi von Dausurin. One of the strongest from the Otherworld Empire, called the hero's comrades… and known as the "artificial hero," the pinnacle of modern magic engineering and theology.
'…She's extremely mentally unstable. She rampages sometimes.'
Refri recalled Hexi from his past life. Despite the heavy dark circles, they only added to her charm—a woman of striking beauty. But she bit her nails, had hysterical reactions often, and seemed deeply emotionally unstable.
Whenever she slipped up in public, Park Jinho would make excuses.
'It's a side effect of gaining the hero's power….'
How was the hero's power obtained to break a person like that? The boy from his past life had always wondered.
"That's not important right now. A club? Seriously?"
Refri thought while holding the application form.
"Hexi is the only option, huh."
Hexi had been scary in his past life. Due to side effects from the artificial hero procedure, she rampaged occasionally… with aftermath that could wipe out a small city if mishandled. Even Park Jinho and other professors had been seriously injured trying to stop her.
'Even multiple professors struggled against her rampages.'
But still… was he going to die? It was just asking once.
"It's just asking once… she won't rampage, right?"
Some people always say this before something bad happens. It's called a cliché. Refri left a note saying he'd eat dinner first and was going to meet Archery Professor Hexi, then stepped out of the cathedral.
* * *
The Archery Department was quiet today as always. Unlike the swordsmanship department always noisy with shouts, the martial arts department with sparring sounds, or the magic engineering department with debates… the archery department always maintained silence.
What archers and marksmen needed was silence, patience, and finally, resolve. All virtues far from clamor.
"What do you want for lunch today?"
"Shh, the professor's watching."
Of course, beyond those reasons, there was another explanation for the silence. The department's owner, Hexi, hated noise.
The archery students, who both feared and deeply respected her, always tried to stay quiet. It might seem harsh for kids who wanted to play, but no one complained.
Most archery students were nobles from the Otherworld Empire… and to them, the artificial hero Hexi was as good as the real thing.
In that silence, Hexi overlooked the archery department.
"Seocheon Yu family…."
Hexi muttered in a cold voice. She gazed at the medicine bottle handed to her by the Seocheon Yu family.
'With this medicine, you won't have to worry about rampages anymore.'
A servant from the Seocheon Yu family had once given her the bottle.
'Why should I trust and take this?'
'Oh, you don't have to believe it, of course. Feel free to throw it all away right now.'
The servant muttered as if it didn't matter if she refused.
'But if you reject this chance… we won't make the offer again.'
It sounded like a threat to anyone listening. But…
'Lady Hexi, I heard you lost many friends in your last rampage… are you really okay with that?'
'Ha. You….'
At that moment, the seizure hit. Hexi bit her lip, clutched her arm, and dropped to her knees.
'Are you sure you don't need this medicine?'
The Seocheon Yu servant handed a pill to the trembling Hexi. It was their special antipsychotic, reducing fear, anxiety, and maddening loneliness. For a regular superhuman—not professor-level—it would send them into critical condition immediately. Even survivors would suffer lifelong withdrawal. It clearly ravaged the body and shortened lifespan. And the withdrawal pain was said to be hellish depths.
People called that drug Narak.
'I….'
Hexi swallowed the pill.
* * *
"It's so quiet."
Refri looked around. Ivy-covered old concrete buildings—perfect cover for practice. Amid them stood the wooden archery department main building.
"Did they already go home?"
Other departments had crazy students training at night, but archery seemed to send everyone back to dorms on time… or so Refri mistakenly thought.
"If only the other departments were like this…."
As Refri approached the main building, three archery students grabbed his shoulder from behind.
"Who are you?"
A voice like a whisper. Refri tilted his head and whispered back.
"Hello. I'm Refri, a first-year…."
"State your business briefly."
"…I came to see Professor Hexi."
At Hexi's name, the students glanced at each other.
"Do you have an appointment?"
"No, it came up suddenly."
"What department?"
"Um… well…."
Refri had no choice but to tell the truth.
"It's my personal matter…."
"What? Personal matter? Calling the professor for personal reasons? Who do you think she is?"
"Quiet. First-year, the professor is busy. Don't push your personal issues."
It was hopeless after all. Refri gave up and turned.
"Understood."
"Wait."
A voice from ahead. Refri instantly recognized the owner: Archery Professor Hexi.
'…That's Hexi? She looks like a student at a glance.'
Despite being a professor, Hexi retained a delicate, youthful charm. Though her height matched Rusa's—Rusa sleek, Hexi gave a softer impression due to certain unavoidable curves… her body was thoroughly trained. No excess fat except where innate. Messy black hair? Fine. Heavy dark circles? Fine. Who would point out flaws in such a beauty?
Seeing her, Refri was speechless.
"What's your business…?"
"Y-yes."
Hexi's irritated tone. The students couldn't hide their shock.
"Th-the professor is speaking so kindly…."
"Has her condition improved a lot…?"
Some were moved to tears. Hexi spoke coldly.
"Get to the point."
"…Ah, I was wondering if you could advise my new club…."
Hearing that, Hexi smirked slightly.
"The professor smiled…."
The students nearly fainted at her smile.
"You came all this way for that nonsense?"
"Yes…."
At Hexi's annoyed tone, Refri shrank back.
'Scary….'
In truth, Hexi had every reason to be annoyed. It wasn't the absurd proposal from another department student that mattered… what was truly important was figuring out what was happening to her body.
'My angel power deficiency… it's easing a bit.'
Hexi couldn't comprehend the situation. Why was her body suddenly like this?
'H-how? I didn't take the drug, but my mind is clear. No, it's even better than when I do.'
Hexi was lost in the pure angel power she hadn't felt in ages. She didn't know where it came from, but…
Its source, Refri, muttered.
"Professor…."
"Go. Don't bother me."
Realizing she was dismissing him, Refri bowed slowly.
Even if she'd ignored him, manners mattered.
"See you next time."
He gave a ninety-degree bow and left the archery department.
"…What an idiot."
Hexi muttered loud enough for the boy to hear. She hadn't noticed he'd supplied her with angel power.
As Hexi sent Refri off and tried to reflect on herself…
Snap—
Snap—
Something snapped in her mind.
'Suddenly, why?'
Hexi collapsed. She gasped.
"Hah."
Anxiety and fear surged back. No—worse than before.
Hexi felt threads in her mind snapping one by one.
"Hah."
The artificial hero's greatest strength and fatal weakness: rampage was beginning.
'Suddenly? Why?'
A taste of angel power had awakened a greater thirst. And this thirst couldn't be quenched by mere drugs.
'Why….'
In her past life before reincarnation, Hexi's final rampage had wiped out one of the Demon King's Four Heavenly Kings and their subordinates.
If she rampaged properly inside the academy…
Hexi squeezed out a whisper amid ragged breaths.
"Run away."