The Beginning of Change (1)
Tomorrow, I'll finally be heading to the academy.
There's no need to worry. As I've said before, I don't need to attend the academy because I have nothing to learn there. All I have to do is protect Yuna from afar.
If there's any other reason, it's to find worthwhile 'leaves' and nurture them properly. Apart from that, there's no real reason for me to go to the academy.
More importantly, what I should be worrying about right now isn't the academy—it's my daughter, Hana.
Shlurp.
"Whoa, you ride the carriage better than I thought? Tastes good, ya. By the way, what were you coming for earlier?"
I'd come to find Imir. I was about to stop Nepera from serving me another cup of tea, but I ended up bringing the one I was riding instead and handed it to Imir, who slurped it down and let out an exaggerated sigh.
"Remember that girl with the impressive figure who came to see me that time?"
"Ah~ That one? Of course I remember. Why?"
"She's my daughter now."
Puuwuuuuw!!
At the word 'daughter,' Imir sprayed the tea he was drinking like a fountain right in front of Cheon Seong, soaking him completely.
"...You already knew. Why are you acting so shocked?"
"Cough, cough! Wait, it was real?! I thought you were either having a fake daughter or trying to hook her up with some girl."
At the mention of 'hooking up,' Seong glared at Imir with pure contempt and said nothing. Imir protested, offended by that look.
"Why would you ask that? What hooking up? Are you crazy? Hana's still in kindergarten. The age gap is about thirteen. What kind of hooking up is that?"
"Thirteen isn't that big of a difference."
"Unlike you, normal people get treated like thieves if the age gap is only five. Most people in the world aren't as old as you."
Imir suddenly stood up and yelled at Seong, who had just brought up the taboo word 'Yuna.'
"Damn it! I told you not to bring up age! And you don't even know exactly how old I am!!"
Swoosh.
Seong stood up, leaned in close, and whispered, "W-what are you—"
"— — —"
"Eh... eh? You, you really knew...?"
"Why? Want to tell me something else? You really are—"
Even though Seong had no intention of revealing the secret he was actually thinking, the fact that Imir could never stop him made him react instantly.
"G-maaaaaaaah! Fine! I'll stop messing around! Just please stop!!"
Imir, who had been caught off guard while trying to tease Seong, muttered that Seong was a madman, then asked in a sullen tone, "So, what's the problem?"
"Haa... Well, the thing is, it's about Hana."
Seong spilled out his worries to Imir, like a child complaining about his two boyfriends. Imir looked at him with a scornful gaze and said, "Why are you so obsessed? It's natural for a young child to be attached, isn't it?" But Seong already knew what Imir was thinking.
"I know that too, but even though I know I shouldn't, my mind keeps worrying about it..."
"Then just ask her out."
"...If I do, she might hate me."
Imir, who had been acting unusually, looked awkward and asked what he was worrying about. "If you like me, you won't hate me," he said. Seong's expression softened a little as he asked, "...Really?"
"Uh, don't act so sullen like usual. Just ask her out normally. It's like a dozer suddenly becoming cautious and calculating like a circuit designer?"
"Haha, guess I overthought it. Thanks for the advice."
Overcome by Imir's typical encouragement, Seong chuckled softly and thanked him before standing up.
He stretched his limbs and recalled the past for a moment before calling out, "Hey, Imir."
"What now, you bastard."
His words were rough, but the tone felt genuinely caring.
The only friend I could treat comfortably, like family, the only one I could be myself with. My only real friend in this world.
My only friend I absolutely must protect in this life.
"This time... I'll definitely protect her."
"What the hell is that nonsense?"
"No, just... never mind."
Naturally, you wouldn't know.
But... it's okay even if you don't.
It's fine. You don't need to know.
The Imir from before who helped me doesn't exist anymore.
You don't know about me, and you don't know the debt I owe you.
But at least, of all the people in this world who don't know me, only you know that I will never forget your efforts.
-I'm leaving first, brat. Come as late as you can.
So please... don't leave before me this time.
Don't leave me.
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The entrance ceremony had begun.
For others, it was a precious time to find rivals or allies within the academy. But for me, it was just another opportunity I didn't need.
The new students weren't particularly impressive to me, but there were a few that caught my eye.
The one sitting blankly, the loud red-haired girl, the ones glaring as if angry just for being looked at.
On the podium, the principal with snow-white hair like snowflakes spoke in a gentle voice, but unlike that, she babbled like a canary.
"All the cute students who have come into the embrace of Legna Academy, I sincerely welcome you all to the academy. At Regna Academy, the students—"
Her name is Eira, the principal and Snow Witch. To summarize her speech simply:
[The weather is really nice today.]
[This time, we've got excellent students, so I'm really happy.]
[The weather has gotten cold lately. Everyone, be careful of colds.]
Those who had trained their mana were immune to most diseases and minor ailments. As a wise woman like her, she wouldn't miss that. Even without it, her speech was mostly useless and empty platitudes.
The students entering the academy weren't just talented—they were exceptional geniuses. So they should have realized the principal's speech was pointless long ago. Yawns gradually started echoing from the audience.
'Haa... I wanted to talk to Hana right now.'
Because of Hana's 'boyfriend' incident lately, I've been avoiding talking to her.
Every time, I'd say they played with some guys and dodged the conversation.
Well, even if I wanted to talk, I couldn't because I was a fool who couldn't speak after getting advice from Imir and coming home.
The speech kept repeating the same script: formal words, pointless filler, formal words, pointless filler.
Some of the students who had been sparkling with excitement gradually started yawning more often.
But the moment their boredom was about to break, the highlight came—the representative declaration for the new students.
One boy and one girl who scored highest in the entrance exam.
"Korean new student representative. Seol Si-yun, Hae-sol."
As the principal's boring words ended—
Two boys and girls holding national flags rose from the center of the front row, divided by gender.
A pair of red and blue dragons embroidered on their cloaks fluttered with each step.
Seol Si-yun—current top, future strongest—moved with calm and coldness.
Hae-sol—current second place, a woman whose fate I don't know—emitted lightness and warmth.
They were the greatest prospects of Korea, representatives of all Korean geniuses, and the top and second of Legna Academy.
'Seol Si-yun is obvious, but that other one's unexpected.'
Seol Si-yun was expected to take first since he's one of the few who could compete with professors in the academy. But I didn't think Yoo Hwa-young would miss second place.
Both salutes ended shortly, and they stood to the sides of the principal.
At the same time, the principal spoke again.
"Lucinus. All come forward."
From what I know, Lucinus is the title given to elite students who received top grades at the academy.
After the declaration, dozens of students from the front row stood up and climbed onto the stage.
I saw Yuna and Yoo Hwa-young looking around for me, Dang Hwa-ran, and Cheon Yu-seong who was practically dying to see me.
Sorry to Yuna, but I couldn't afford to be noticed, so I erased my name in Lucinus through Imir and faked it with some random person.
Cheon Yu-seong's downward gaze didn't sit well with me, but I'd let it slide for now.
Multinational students holding flags of various countries. Grand background music played, and huge fireworks exploded on both sides.
The Lucinus students were chatting in front of the stage.
Except for that bastard Yu-seong...
It was really unpleasant to see Yu-seong acting clingy to Yuna, even though she had shown me during the exam that she was mine.
Yuna and Yoo Hwa-young kept sending signals, but the guy who couldn't even match Imir's kick was still pestering Yuna without realizing.
Four out of the five of us who took the third exam entered Lucinus.
All those connected to me were in that promising group.
"That's the special class group, right?"
"Yeah, they even call us after academy for extra evening training?"
"Really? Damn, I want some academy training too."
The students' eyes watching them held bright envy, but also dark jealousy and the desire to be like them.
I quietly closed my eyes amid those dirty and clean emotions.
I didn't have the luxury to care about any of this. My only luxury was protecting Yuna, and that was already my limit.
This was the beginning of the twisting of fate.
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The entrance ceremony ended, and I entered the assigned class—the first Korean class.
I sat in the corner by the left window, waiting. Soon, students from Korean Class 1 started coming in one by one.
Among them, I recognized many familiar faces, and some were watching me intently.
Yuna, Yoo Hwa-young, Seol Si-yun, Hae-sol, and others.
Even though it was called the special class, after academy it was just like after-school special lessons. Regular classes would be held here together.
At first, I thought they planned to gather only special students for a class, but they said language and national issues made it impossible.
For classes: morning would focus on subjects like English and math, afternoon would be chosen electives.
In reality, it was a mix of regular high school education and university.
'They mentioned festivals or MT, but—'
Honestly, I doubted I'd have time for that.
While I was lost in thought, I felt the familiar presence approaching from behind.
"Click click. The prickly sensation on my cheek." I turned around to see long fingers poking my lips firmly.
The wavy brown ponytail and sophisticated aura somehow matched the mischievous sparkle in those golden-brown eyes.
"Seong, you're in Class 1 too?"
"Welcome, Yuna. Looks like you're in Class 1 too."
"Yes. Good that we're in the same class."
Lee Yuna—my childhood friend and lover.
She dragged a chair next to me, rested her chin on it, and gazed at me lovingly.
"Hehe, I'm so happy we're in the same class."
Yuna smiled with a giggle.
I was happy too, but two girls were really annoying me.
"Even though others are watching, they make my skin crawl."
The one who said that to me first was Yoo Hwa-young telling me to stop. Or Cheon Yu-seong glaring at me from afar with furious eyes.
Two annoying girls.
"Ah, sorry Hwa-young. I'll stop from now on."
"No, it's okay, Yuna. It's not your fault. If there's a problem... it's this guy's."
Look at that. He's digging for every tiny issue.
Of course, Yuna was innocent. The only guilty one was Hwa-young, who had butted in without permission.
And that bastard Yu-seong—why was he trying to seize the chance to sit next to Yuna?
I made a rude face at him with my mouth as he took the opening, and his face visibly soured.
In the end, I gave up on Yuna's seat and felt a bit proud that the guy sitting in the front was so humiliated yet still acting this way.
"Attention!"
A cool, sturdy woman's voice filled the entire classroom.
The noisy atmosphere died instantly.
"I'm Ryu Se-rin, the homeroom teacher for Korean Class 1. If everything went as planned, it would have been Kim Cheol-sensei, but something came up, so I'll be teaching you all."
Her calm yet powerful voice accurately conveyed her intent, showing the dignity of the Sword Princess.
She stood in front of the podium and scanned the class.
Her gaze briefly met mine, then a small smile curved her lips.
"Today's class is a recreation. Prepare a self-introduction, one line at a time."
She emanated a strange power that drew everyone's attention with every word, then slowly climbed the stairs.
The rhythmic sound of her footsteps echoed like a metronome in the quiet classroom.
"As you all know, this class will be together for four years at the academy, so it's good to get to know each other. Fighting or bullying inside the class will be strictly punished. If you have any complaints, submit a sparring request to that student."
Ryu Se-rin's eyes briefly turned toward me.
"There are no penalties for sparring among students at the academy. But remember, it must be mutual agreement. Also, there must always be one faculty member accompanying the sparring. And—"
Ryu Se-rin's movement stopped beside me.
Then, in a very precise, matter-of-fact voice, she muttered, "Remember that intentionally using malice to kill or cripple an opponent in a spar is something the faculty will have to step in."
It was obviously aimed at me.
"Hey, didn't the teacher just say that to you?"
"I don't know."
"Don't play dumb. Tell me what it is."
I let out a sigh as I listened to Yoo Hwa-young's loud complaining and desperately waited for the academy bell to ring.
I wanted to see Hana.