Hero Academy (4-10)
“Whoa… Watch of Legend?”
Go Choong-shin furrowed his brow and tilted his head at the sudden mention of the game name.
A few seconds of that head-tilting.
After a long pause, he finally gave a curt reply.
“Yeah, I know it. It’s too famous not to…”
Even people who’d never seen a VR device in their lives knew Watch of Legend.
Claiming ignorance would just make you look like a weirdo.
I watched him with a sly inner smirk and kept the conversation going.
“Played it before?”
“Uh… well…”
He looked conflicted.
Admitting he had would mean confessing to owning expensive gear as an average guy, but denying it would bruise his pride too much.
I tossed him an easy out.
“I figured you must’ve since you were close with Instructor Yoon Ji-ah.”
“Ah! Y-yeah, I have. I had a machine for a bit back then…”
“So you must’ve grinded some ranks too?”
“Uh…”
Conflict again.
I’d brought up the game out of nowhere, then ranks—he was on guard now, sensing some ulterior motive.
But I already knew how to draw out the answer he wanted to give.
“Kinda feels like you’d be stuck low-rank… Bronze maybe?”
“No! D-Diamond!”
Hook, line, and sinker.
No one likes their skills being underestimated, but for Go Choong-shin, it was a trigger he couldn’t ignore.
Perfectionist to the core.
What good’s perfectionism without the talent to back it up?
Not talking about his possession ability.
Perfectionism shines for the talented, but for average folks like him, it’s poison that drags them down.
Take how he still hadn’t slept with Yoon Ji-ah yet.
Obsessed with overcoming his premature issues for that “perfect first time.”
Thanks to that, I got mine.
I let out a gleeful inner chuckle and said to him,
“Then help me out a bit.”
“…Pardon?”
Go Choong-shin nearly choked.
…
…
I watched the cadets’ monotonous training with an inner laugh.
Laid the bait perfectly—he’s hooked good.
What I’d asked for was to play the game together.
Go Choong-shin’s face soured instantly; he clearly wanted to refuse.
He started fumbling for an escape, sputtering excuses.
“I-I don’t have a machine right now!”
“No problem. We can rent some this time. I’ll let you grab one first.”
“B-but I used to play ages ago, my skills are rusty now…”
“You said you hit Diamond, right? Just carry me casually.”
“St-still…”
“What? Don’t wanna play with me?”
“N-no, it’s not that.”
“Cool, we’re set then! Thanks!”
I said that and bolted from the security division without waiting for his reply.
No excuses about no gear or rusty skills gonna fly.
Armonia: For someone with a perfectionist disposition, his thinking is surprisingly simple—makes him easy to manage. Lucky for us.
Heh heh… now he’ll be my punching bag even on his days off.
I didn’t even want to game. Just wanted to turn his rest days into hell.
Harass him nonstop, grind down his sanity—no breaks, ever.
And there’s something even more important…
I stealthily activated my smart watch to check messages.
Not many people texted me.
Yet there were a ton.
All from one sender.
I smirked at Yoon Ji-ah’s message, thinking,
She’s insanely attuned to others’ moods.
Armonia: Yoon Ji-ah… Her skills are impressive, but her confidence and self-esteem are shockingly low. Fascinating.
Embassy alum, Hoe-gwa division, Church-affiliated instructor.
And here she was, texting me all hesitant.
No wonder she dates a loser like Go Choong-shin.
Even after we hooked up, she texted but never called first.
Worried I might find her annoying.
But after the tower visit, with no contact or face-time, her anxiety kicked in—texts started flooding.
I replied just enough to ease her back into security.
Now, typing a response.
Most exchanges went like that.
She initiates, I respond casually, then I end it.
Keeping her oscillating between anxiety and relief, shaking her psyche steady.
Armonia: Planning to keep Yoon Ji-ah close?
Hmm…
Yoon Ji-ah wasn’t tied to our current mission.
Sonya filled a similar role but actually helped with school life—huge mission boost.
Yoon offered little of that.
But I kept tending her because…
She’ll prove useful.
Her looks and submissiveness appealed, sure, but crucially, her position wasn’t dismissible.
Church ties, embassy Hoe-gwa instructor, healer.
And…
On the surface, she’s Go Choong-shin’s girl. To fully expose that bug’s guts, she’s essential.
Armonia: Understood.
Armonia: ?
And… she’s key for tormenting that little bug. Heh heh…
Armonia: …
That was the real prize.
The guy who tried to kill me, kept spying to dig up my secrets.
Killing him outright? Too merciful.
I’d make him so wronged even hell rejects him.
I was grinning, plotting Go Choong-shin’s roast, when—
“Break!”
Cho Seo-hyun’s shout halted the sparring cadets; they sheathed weapons and caught their breath.
Sweaty and spent, they took their rest.
Cho Seo-hyun wove through them leisurely toward me.
She approached and spoke.
“Body holding up okay?”
“Pardon?”
Out of left field, but this was our first talk today.
I’d hit security first thing after waking, handled business, met the principal—ate breakfast solo.
The meeting dragged, so I joined class late…
“Sorry for being late to class.”
“Couldn’t help it. It’s fine. But… body okay?”
“…? Yeah, no issues.”
“Heh… Good.”
Cho Seo-hyun flashed a meaningful smile, glancing up coyly.
I got it.
She wanted to weave in last night’s private fun subtly.
The thrill of sneaking personal chat in public? Surprisingly addictive.
She’d never tried it before—hence the extra savor.
Her vibe sparked my mischief; I lowered my voice.
“Woke up this morning feeling so empty—shocked me.”
“Haha… Did your body pillow vanish? Ha…”
She caught on instantly, glancing around nervously for eavesdroppers.
She started it, but panicked hardest.
I smirked and continued.
“Yeah, gone in a flash. But… next time, don’t vanish so suddenly.”
“Y-yeah.”
Cho Seo-hyun scratched her head, face flushing, then stood quietly by me the whole break.
…
…
Ma-gwa class rolled on as usual—boringly so.
And “usual” wasn’t ideal here.
End of class, Seo Ji-eun bowed apologetically.
“Sorry. I’m making things harder for you needlessly…”
“Don’t sweat it. It’s our job.”
Seong Sua comforted and encouraged the bowing girl.
We’d pushed to observe again, but hadn’t nailed a class plan for her yet.
She dreaded risks—to herself, classmates, even us.
She’d mustered courage to return, but anxiety swallowed it anew.
Seo Ji-eun apologized to us and prepped to head home.
“Thanks for your hard work today.”
“See you tomorrow.”
Greeting Seong Sua first.
Then…
“…Thanks for your hard work today.”
“Yeah, get home safe.”
She shot me an odd look before leaving.
Worth waiting a bit more.
Armonia: With so little info, no need to rush.
Seo Ji-eun had witnessed my Disassembly up close.
Her resolve to return likely stemmed from hoping to glimpse its secrets.
Patient so far, but she’d approach first eventually.
Staring through the gate after her, Seong Sua smiled bitterly beside me.
“Wanna help her somehow… Feels bad.”
“Least something useful before graduation.”
We chatted about Seo Ji-eun, noticing time had flown.
Golden sunset—Seong Sua looked up, surprised.
“Oh, already evening? Instructor Seong Su-ho, dinner together?”
“Ah, sorry. Pretty booked this week…”
“Oh… I see.”
Seong Sua pouted, head drooping.
I wanted to dine with her, but shelved it and apologized.
“Sorry. Backlog of work—week’s slammed.”
“Ah… Um, busy this weekend too?”
We had plans—set just yesterday.
But I played dumb, murmuring,
“Yeah, weekend’s packed too.”
“Oh… Did I schedule pointlessly…”
To her crestfallen pout, I smiled.
“Got plans with you—how could I not make time?”
“Ah! Haha…”
Seong Sua laughed awkwardly, scratching her cheek with a finger, beaming shyly—rare for her.
She hurried out first.
“I’ll head off then. Don’t overdo it, Instructor Seong Su-ho!”
“Yeah, you too—take care.”
She looked busier than me; smile came naturally.
Good she buys the simple stuff.
No real busyness.
Principal chat done, security wrapped.
Yet lying to Seong Sua, holding back meets? All for anticipation.
Armonia: Her reactions suggest she’s really looking forward to it.
Gotta deliver big to match that hype.
Seong Sua would stew in expectation sans meets.
But unmet hype deflates like a sad balloon.
Like a hyped masterpiece turning trash…
Alright, keep her simmering… Now for this side?
I slowly activated my smart watch, typing a message.