Doubt and Assault
A teacher with a kind, approachable face was staring at me.
He was a teacher from the Hero Department and simultaneously an active hero, Bumblebee, operating in Area 3.
His real name was Bespairo. While Lionel, with his lion king moniker, was popular for his serious demeanor and gentlemanly behavior that matched his name, Bumblebee was the opposite: kind and gentle to everyone, making him a popular teacher.
“Even an examinee who hasn't had their Academy admission confirmed yet being here in this position is strange, isn't it?”
Since I wasn't in the scene where I was running around with a mask on, Bumblebee harbored suspicion towards me being here.
Was I exposed?
[Ahhh...! What should I do? If this continues, I'll end up on the experiment table...! They'll preserve me in formalin...!]
Shan, wait, calm down a little. I don't know anything yet.
I forced my pounding heart to calm down and decided to listen to what the guy had to say first.
“The fact that you interfered with Baba Yaga's reunion illusion and that an examinee like you has the power to subdue Hunter Emily is something I can't understand.”
Bumblebee, the teacher who was kind-hearted to everyone and popular with students, was an unusual person who clashed with players at every turn.
And his true identity was the boss of the early Academy chapter and a spy planted by an opposing faction.
The faction he was spying for was random each time, so I had to be careful with that point when dealing with him as the boss.
It was inevitable that I'd deal with him after admission anyway, but I couldn't figure out why he was picking a fight with me right now.
“Rather, isn't it more likely that you're a spy for the villain side that's been active in the underworld, and that you contacted Cheon Geomhwa for the purpose of exchanging information?”
Bumblebee's sudden remark, which made other teachers and active heroes participating in the meeting look at me with different eyes, surprised everyone.
[Tiss, what kind of nonsense is this guy saying?]
Yeah... He's completely stepping in the wrong direction?
I was startled.
I thought he was going to accuse me of something big, but it turned out to be nothing.
So.
“Huh? Me?”
I tilted my head and answered with a bright, innocent face and voice as if I knew nothing.
[Whoa, so cute... Hah! Huff!]
Hehe.
Watching the teacher and me, Baba Yaga laughed heartily, completely forgetting her dignity.
“Baba Yaga?”
“Oh dear, I almost died laughing. If that fluffy guy was really a spy, he wouldn't have done such foolish things that would have caught my eye during the 1st exam. If he had any brain or common sense in his head, he wouldn't have done it. Where am I wrong?”
Ah, the biggest black history of the admission exam was going to be mentioned again.
[Eh? Tiss's biggest black history isn't method villain acting?]
Shh.
Please, don't bring that up again.
“If doubting is the only reason, it would be faster to count how many kids in the teachers here haven't been called gifted or geniuses in school. All of them would be suspects?”
Good.
Even if that was an absurd accusation, if I tried to explain, it would be quite troublesome.
In fact, the only person who had any connection here was Emily.
I thought there was no one among the Management Bureau hunters and heroes affiliated with Baba Yaga who was on my side, but Baba Yaga, who had come to suspect me after seeing the mess I made, was going to defend me.
The small grudge I had against Baba Yaga for rolling around like a dog in training until now melted away like snow.
“I also think it's baseless talk. I even witnessed you trying to save another examinee and being threatened with death by Cheon Geomhwa, then being kidnapped.”
“L-Lionel teacher?”
Bumblebee, thinking Lionel would naturally side with him, looked quite taken aback.
“Outstanding talent, a spirit of sacrifice for others, and courage. If we're discussing Tiss examinee, it's not about suspecting her but about how to reward her for her merits that would be the correct thing to do.”
[Oh, the big cat was going to side with us?]
People like that strict type, once they become allies, are reliable.
Lionel's testimony, who had directly pursued Cheon Geomhwa, changed the atmosphere instantly.
Although he was principled and rigid, his words carried a lot of weight as the lion king, who was the most diligent, serious, and self-sacrificing without any complaints.
“I'm just suggesting we clear this up for the sake of the Academy's stability. Terrorists and spies are something that happen every entrance ceremony, right?”
For the safety of everyone.
Bumblebee pulled out the best shield he could use at any time.
Shan, if you have time, dig into the back of that guy, Bumblebee.
[Yeah...! Leave it to me.]
I'll entrust you with it.
Asking Shan to investigate the back was because I had a strong conviction that Bumblebee's tackling me wasn't the only reason he was spewing those words.
No matter how I looked at it, it seemed like he was trying to prevent my admission.
It might be related to New Order, Evergarden, or even other Abaddon's descendants.
“No need to worry. This old lady has already finished the inspection.”
Baba Yaga declared that there was no possibility of me being a spy.
“Any more comments?”
“It's good that the atmosphere is cleared thanks to someone's doubts. Still, is there anything else to say, little one?”
“...No.”
Fluffy, Modubu, and little one.
I knew it was based on likability, but I had no idea what principle Baba Yaga used for choosing titles.
Bumblebee teacher was clearly hostile towards me.
He was still eyeing me while pretending not to.
To suspect a perfect superhuman beautiful girl examinee like me, excluding my height, Bumblebee, after you enter the Academy, you're done for.
“Then let's move on to the next topic. We'll discuss the rewards again when we talk about the salutatorian and valedictorian.”
Without needing to mention Emily, the discussion about me was quickly wrapped up.
The other teachers and active heroes seemed to accept it.
“Understood. Then, next is...”
And at that moment.
Boom!
“What's going on?”
“Is it an attack?”
A loud noise came from the entrance.
“Everyone, stay quiet. Wait in place. A report will come soon.”
Following Baba Yaga's words, everyone stopped and sat back in their seats.
Creak.
After a while, a supervisor entered the meeting room.
“Excuse me. I have something to report.”
“What's the commotion?”
“No. Two examinees are causing a small disturbance, saying they want to enter the meeting room right now.”
“What? Are they examinees who were caught in Gear?”
“Not quite. The ones causing the disturbance are the two who gathered the examinees in the 2nd exam. They're resisting aggressively, demanding to return one examinee.”
“Those two...?”
Lionel and Baba Yaga both stood up and headed to the window.
Who were those two that the teachers were talking seriously?
“Hoo?”
Baba Yaga, who had been looking out the window, turned her head and looked at me.
“T-Tiss, what's the matter?”
“Fluffy, it seems your old connection has come looking for you. You should do your hair up in a flower bun or something.”
“Eh...?”
Baba Yaga had a smile on her face thicker than when she was laughing earlier, like a child who found a favorite toy.
Bam!
“I'll suspend the meeting for now. I'll go report on those two brats myself.”
With those words, Baba Yaga jumped out the window.
.
.
.
Even after successfully completing the 2nd exam, Siu and Sia didn't get to meet Tiss.
“Brother, did you find Tiss unnie?”
“No... I searched everywhere but couldn't find her.”
“Dorothy? Did you get any contact from Tiss unnie?”
“No... None yet.”
“Where are they all? They should all be here. Did they get hurt...?”
I had been roaming the abandoned city to take down villains, but I couldn't find any trace of Tiss.
I heard that some who were seriously injured were urgently transported to medical facilities.
Perhaps they couldn't contact us because they were in a critical situation right now.
When the flow of events reached there, the two siblings were on the verge of going crazy.
Ding!
“Eh?”
Siu and Sia hurriedly gathered around Dorothy in response to her startled reaction.
“What's wrong?”
“Tiss unnie left a message.”
“Eh, let me see it quickly.”
“Sia, calm down. Your phone will break.”
“S-Sorry.”
“It's okay. Here, look.”
Dorothy handed her phone to Siu.
[To Dorothy]
[I'm safe. I'm with Lionel supervisor. If you see this message, stick close to Siu and Sia. They're my old friends, so you can trust them. Please pass on my regards to both of them. We'll meet in a bit.]
After reading the message, Siu and Sia looked at each other.
“Brother, did you see it? Did you? I wasn't imagining it, right? Right?”
“Eh, I definitely saw it. Really... it's Tiss.”
Sia laughed brightly, relieved that she hadn't imagined it.
“Really... really Tiss unnie?”
Siu and Sia were skeptical about Dorothy knowing Tiss.
They hadn't seen her face, only heard from Dorothy's description, and the appearance was so different from what they knew.
While they were burning with jealousy because they couldn't find common ground between their memories of Tiss and Dorothy, the message from Dorothy clearly said that Tiss already knew them.
“It's definitely Tiss unnie! Dorothy!”
“Yes! I'll call her!”
[The other party's phone is off...]
“Ah.”
“It's okay. She'll come here soon.”
“Let's wait a little longer.”
After showing the message history to the two, Dorothy immediately called Tiss, but there was no answer.
“All examinees, please gather at the Grand Auditorium where the 0th exam was held.”
Following the supervisors who were guiding the examinees, they moved to the Grand Auditorium with the announcement broadcast.
“When are they going to let us go!”
“How long do we have to stay here?”
“Currently, an investigation is underway regarding this incident, so please wait a little longer. As supplies come, we'll provide medical supplies and food.”
In the place where the examinees who had become refugees overnight were gathered, Siu and Sia waited.
Waiting and waiting.
Because they thought Tiss would come to this auditorium where everyone was when the situation was resolved.
But Tiss's figure wasn't visible anywhere in the temporary auditorium.
“Dorothy, I'm sorry for asking again... Did you get any contact from Tiss?”
“Since that message, I haven't been able to contact her. I'm worried if she's hurt or not.”
Even if I tried to call, Tiss, who was being investigated by the Academy and pulled into the meeting, couldn't receive their calls.
Finally, their patience ran out, despite being in the same space and not being able to see each other's faces.
“Brother... I can't hold on anymore.”
“Yeah, me too. At least you have to tell us what happened.”
“Let's move. I can't stay like this. Dorothy, wait a moment. We'll bring Tiss unnie.”
“Eh? Sia unnie, wait a sec.”
Despite Dorothy's protest, they stood up.
And without hesitation, they walked towards the supervisor guarding the door to the Academy.