Hero Academy (4-2)
I finished writing up the entire duty roster and stepped out of the Security Division office, grinning to myself.
'Heh heh... Should be fun seeing his face when he shows up for work tomorrow.'
It was like staring at a bear that had no choice but to stumble into a hunter's trap.
No matter how easy the catch, there was an indescribable satisfaction in landing a bear.
'Might as well swing by later and check out how he looks clocking in for the evening shift.'
The roster wouldn't go public until tomorrow, but I could still hassle him if we crossed paths today.
Armonia: Where to next?
'Where else...'
I stretched as I left the Security Division building, glancing up at the sun high in the midday sky.
'Time to pay the principal a visit and settle this.'
"I heard about it from Yeriel. You have my sincere thanks for all your hard work."
"Thank you, sir."
When I went to the principal's office to discuss the incident, he was already fully briefed on the details.
And as I laid it all out, the two people he paid the most attention to were Yeriel and Seong Sua.
They had both reported my actions in the most positive light possible.
Especially the part about Seo Ji-eun—that had clearly impressed him the most.
"I haven't spoken to Cadet Seo Ji-eun directly since she went straight home, but I understand she's safe entirely thanks to Instructor Seong Su-ho."
"Not at all. Without Instructor Seong Sua and Yeriel, it would've been meaningless."
"Hahaha. It's heartening to see you all looking out for each other."
Yeriel and Seong Sua had probably hyped each other up just like they had me.
After all, no one was dumber than someone who bragged solely about themselves.
Thanks to them, I'd earned the principal's trust, making it that much easier to achieve my goal.
I glanced at him subtly before speaking up.
"In that case, for the security guards who were dispatched this time..."
"We're planning to pay them performance bonuses for now."
The money issue was already handled without me even bringing it up.
The embassy ran on massive donations from all sorts of organizations.
It had made the news—if word got out that the guards caught in it weren't even paid properly, it'd be a PR nightmare.
No point in stirring up gossip over cash.
"But that's it. The academy's hands are tied beyond that."
"Sir... what if we tried this?"
"...?"
I pitched the benefit I'd come up with for the guards.
The principal listened with interest at first, but his expression gradually hardened, ending in clear discomfort.
"It's not a bad idea, but..."
"I recall the embassy has plenty of spare equipment lying around. If you could..."
"VR headgear, huh..."
My proposal? VR headgear for the guards.
Top-of-the-line units worth 500 million won each.
The embassy had a bunch, but ironically, they were gathering dust in storage.
Because they were reserved exclusively for official instructors.
And those instructors had zero reason to use the embassy's gear.
They could buy their own without batting an eye—no one wanted secondhand hand-me-downs.
So those headsets were just sad machines waiting to break down unused.
"I know it's presumptuous, but if they're not being used, why not expand access a bit?"
"Hm... You're right, but it's not that simple."
Lending them out wasn't the issue.
What came after was.
Even official cadets and assistant instructors couldn't borrow them.
Handing them to security guards only? Backlash was guaranteed.
I spoke firmly to the pondering principal.
"Of course, you can exclude me from this."
"Pardon?"
He gave me a puzzled look.
He probably figured I'd leverage the guards' hardship for my own gain.
But I had no need for that.
'I already have one. No point pushing for more.'
With the headset Seong Sua had already given me, there was no reason to play nice with the incoming security manager.
And since my request showed no personal greed, he'd be more likely to approve.
"I'm just temporarily filling in as manager. I should be excluded by default. And the main reason I'm asking is for the embassy's security."
Even with decent pay, the guards on the front lines would always have gripes.
Especially after the massive losses from the recent attack—deaths, disappearances.
Their rank might be below assistant instructors or cadets, but their job's importance wasn't.
"If the assistants might complain, feel free to throw my name under the bus."
If word got out that I—the manager—had pushed for it, they wouldn't dare kick up a fuss.
Excluding me would shut them up too.
The principal stroked his chin beard with a massive hand, then nodded.
"Understood."
"Thank you, sir."
But approval didn't mean instant rollout.
New procedures meant thorough prep to avoid issues.
"I'll notify you once we've ironed it out this week."
"Appreciate it."
I bowed to the principal and headed back to my dorm.
As I strolled lightly toward the dormitory, Armonia chimed in.
Armonia: Smoother than expected. I'm impressed.
'Yeah, probably because those headsets are just rotting away unused.'
Truth be told, I'd braced for rejection.
But Yeriel and Seong Sua had vouched for my dungeon heroics, and the principal valued that.
Otherwise, no way he'd greenlight something this pushy.
And I wasn't doing it for the guards, anyway.
Armonia: If the principal approves, complaints against you from the guards will drop sharply.
'To silence one voice, you need the majority on your side.'
It was all to isolate Go Choong-shin.
No matter how well I treated the others—fair schedules, flexible days off—it wouldn't matter if a buddy got screwed.
They'd side with their closest ally.
But massive perks from upper management?
Humans were selfish creatures.
The bigger the personal upside, the easier it'd be to look the other way, even at blatant injustice.
'Here's hoping it pans out.'
I headed to the dorm with high hopes.
After a brief rest in my long-neglected dorm room, I headed back to the Security Division.
Primary goal: Spot Go Choong-shin.
Secondary: Spread some rumors.
'Not set in stone yet, but preemptive hype will build expectations.'
Guards were mostly young—prime candidates for VR obsession.
Word of free rentals? Motivation through the roof.
Armonia: But why leak it early? If it falls through, won't that backfire?
'Fair point. Could get messy if it gets canned later.'
She was right—my proposal could still flop.
But the reason for spilling now was simple.
'Roster drops tomorrow anyway. Might as well use it as a distraction while it lasts.'
Show the schedule first, and Go Choong-shin might rally pointless camaraderie.
So, preemptive strike it was.
When I arrived, the evening shift guards were just clocking in.
They all eyed me with clear displeasure.
And Go Choong-shin took the cake.
"How've you been?"
"Ah... yes. Doing well, sir."
He flinched at my greeting, then forced a smile through trembling cheekbones.
"Heard about the incident. Tough break."
"That's the job."
I nodded arrogantly, gathered the fresh arrivals, and tied the incident to a plea for diligent duty.
But the more I hammered it, the sourer their faces grew.
Once that was done, I cut to the chase.
"Performance bonuses are coming for everyone who pulled through this."
Dull expressions brightened at "bonuses."
No one hated money.
"And..."
"...?"
"Play your cards right, and VR headgear rentals might open up for you all."
"!?"
They buzzed to neighbors, half-getting it, half-not.
Jackpot.
'Perfect. Just as I thought—they're all drooling over VR.'
"Quiet."
I hushed the murmurs and explained everything.
How I'd pitched it straight to the principal, gotten a positive nod.
New process meant delays, but he'd push hard.
Even if issues arose, I'd make it happen.
Translation?
'Piss me off, and you get nothing.'
They beamed silently, hanging on my every word—no squeaks from a mouse.
Practically itching to chatter excitedly, but careful not to irk me.
'Poor souls... VR must be that good.'
I wrapped up and addressed them.
"Not official yet, so keep it in-house—no spilling outside Security."
"Yes, sir!"
They erupted in cheers, then chattered wildly.
Expectations skyrocketed—except for one outsider.
Go Choong-shin sulked, lips pursed.
Made sense. For him, VR rentals weren't a perk.
'He already has one. Probably wanted vacation days instead.'
But I deliberately skipped leave talk.
I knew exactly what he wanted—and hated.
Tomorrow would be the real fun.
'Wonder what face he'll make at the roster. Heh heh heh...'
Armonia: ....
Savoring his rotten expression, I left the office in high spirits.
The sun was gone by the time I left, leaving only dark skies to greet me.
'Later than I thought. Hope the cafeteria isn't closed.'
I hurried over, worried.
But it was packed—weekend crowds.
And there, at the entrance...
"..."
"..."
Cho Seo-hyun and Seong Sua stood quietly by the main doors.
Unaware of me yet, they glanced at each other awkwardly, staring off at distant mountains.
'...Should I skip eating?'
Armonia: Dodging them now might spark bigger misunderstandings.
She had a point—blindly avoiding them because they were together could escalate things.
Things with Cho Seo-hyun had progressed deeply, but Seong Sua? I hadn't even peeled off a single layer.
Sure, we'd cuddled in VR and slept...
But I still hadn't properly groped her chest.
She'd hugged sleeping me and masturbated, but...
Compared to my usual progress with women, this route was a mess.
Still, Seong Sua was my primary target.
Hooking up with Cho Seo-hyun first hadn't changed that.
If she blabbed in my absence, Seong Sua might be gone for good.
Armonia: Seo-hyun won't go blabbing recklessly.
True—she wasn't the loose-lips type.
Spreading our fling could wreck her academy life too.
Mutual ruin.
'Gotta wrap this up before year's end.'
Steeled, I approached slowly.
They spotted me, smiled, and turned—
Then the smiles vanished, faces shifting to shock.
'Huh? What's that about? They weren't waiting for me?'
Armonia: They were happy to see you just moments ago.
'Then what...?'
Right then, the bustling cafeteria fell deathly silent.
In the absurd quiet, slow heel clicks echoed from behind me.
Click... click... click...
They stopped right at my back with a final click.
I scanned the room and turned slowly.
Everyone stared—not at me, but behind me.
There stood a man in my view.
Expressionless—no, utterly emotionless eyes gazed down at me.
Armonia: This is him, Su-ho.
I knew instantly who he was.
Armonia: This is Cho Kang-hyeon.