Chapter 382: Amusement Parks are Irresistible (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 382: Amusement Parks are Irresistible (1)
After putting in a tremendous amount of effort yesterday to turn around our pouting Princess Luna’s mood, I was fortunately able to earn her forgiveness.
How did I get forgiven, you ask?
“I’m going to the amusement park with Han-hee and Luna this weekend. Anyone want to come along?”
How else? I slipped her a few bribes and promised to treat her like royalty.
As long as she isn’t truly enraged, promising to go out and play on the weekend is usually enough to earn forgiveness from most kids.
She’s still a child, after all.
I felt a bit bad for pushing an excessive amount of work onto our Chairperson, but it was about time everyone had some psychological rest.
Except for Cheon Yu-hak, who probably needs to adjust to his new arm, I expected almost everyone to participate.
And just as I thought, everyone boisterously declared their intention to join.
“Me! Me! I’m going!”
Ga-eul, of course.
“We’ll go too.”
Lilac and Lee Yu-na naturally said they would come.
“O-ho-ho-ho! It seems Miss Luna really wants to go, so I can’t possibly miss out.”
Aisha, who isn’t even in our class, also expressed her desire to join, much like Ga-eul.
“Hmm, an amusement park with my junior. That’s a very tempting proposal.”
“Right, So-hyun. Shall we see how well our disciple can escort us?”
Two people who weren’t even in the same grade, let alone the same class, also declared their participation.
…That’s strange. This is definitely homeroom right now. Why are these people in a first-year classroom?
Honestly, I thought it was getting a bit too noisy.
Since it felt like we hadn’t been to school in a while, a professor would usually scold us for planning a trip, but funnily enough, the professors who were supposed to be admonishing us were in the exact same state.
“Well, the weather has turned a bit chilly, so everyone make sure to bundle up.”
“Haha, Cathy, why worry about that? Once we start having fun, we’ll get hot in no time!”
They were very actively planning their trip to the amusement park.
But seriously, even if it’s a bit late to ask, why is Professor Park A-ram here during homeroom?
The other kids in the class could have complained, but for some reason, instead of questioning it, they were looking at us as if they were witnessing a long-lost, nostalgic scene.
…Is the Academy really okay like this?
There was one part that differed from my expectations, though.
“An amusement park. I see. It will be the perfect place for rehabilitation therapy without overdoing it.”
The fact that Cheon Yu-hak and Ju Ri-ra said they would come too.
No, Yu-hak, your excuse is pathetic. Just say you want to play. What do you mean, ‘rehabilitation therapy’?
“Mmm, I’ll have to prepare various things by the weekend.”
Finally, seeing Rose place a cup of honey water on my desk with a bright smile, it truly felt like I had returned to my daily life after a long time.
* * *
Now, returning to daily life was one thing, but Academy life couldn’t be the same as before.
To be honest, it was quite noisy, and I was already at a level where I couldn’t function normally within the framework of being a cadet.
To explain the former first, being able to read people’s minds was quite dizzying.
Because I couldn’t control it perfectly, even when I tried my best not to look, the thoughts of those who entered my field of vision would catch my eye, and it wasn’t exactly a pleasant feeling.
It would be nice if human hearts were always pure, but of course, that’s not how it works.
During combat class, there were plenty of bastards looking at Professor Cathy with impure eyes, and even when watching people chatting and playing during lunch, their inner thoughts often contradicted their actions.
“Wow, really? That’s so cool…!”
‘Why is she making such a big deal out of something so trivial? Boring.’
“Right, call me whenever you need anything. Rely on your senior.”
“Yes, hyung.”
‘What a show-off. Who asked for help? I can do it on my own.’
“…Don’t you think Professor Cathy has gotten prettier lately?”
“Seriously. She’s become somewhat more… voluptuous than before.”
‘I want to be strangled by Professor Cathy’s thighs until I pass out…’
‘I want to run to her right after she finishes exercising and die with my face buried in her gym clothes…’
…I could see all sorts of unpleasant and annoying inner thoughts like these, but since they hadn’t actually done anything, it was awkward to call them out.
And even if they weren’t unpleasant, there were parts that were problematic.
Information about who likes whom or who is dating whom was delivered relentlessly, making me feel guilty as if I were invading their privacy.
The only saving grace was that there were cases where the inner thoughts and outward appearance matched perfectly.
“So-hyun! Let’s eat lunch together!”
‘Hehe, I’m going to sit next to So-hyun!’
Our Ga-eul was a prime example of being completely transparent.
How did a girl like this ever try to pull off the ‘delinquent’ concept at the start of the semester? It was truly a mystery.
The people around me tended to have matching insides and outsides, so I could spend time with them comfortably.
Ah, of course, that didn’t apply to everyone.
“Oh my, So-hyun and Ga-eul are having lunch now too?”
“Oh, are you having lunch now, Professor?”
“Yes, as it happens, I was planning to eat at the cafeteria today.”
Our Cathy Noona approached with a smiling face, but I had come to realize—both in today’s combat class and now—that she had much more provocative thoughts than I expected.
‘…Did I rub my chest against him too openly during class earlier? Still, he didn’t seem to hate it.’
‘But we haven’t been able to do anything lately, and we won’t be able to if we go to the amusement park this weekend.’
‘Should I just go for it instead of subtly tempting him? But what if So-hyun gets terrified of me?’
‘He even eats prettily. I want to kiss him and take him away right now. What time is So-hyun’s next class?’
‘What should I say? Do you want to come over for ramen? So-hyun likes omurice more than ramen, so should I ask him to come see my cat? Isn’t there a way to seduce him that sounds more sophisticated…?’
These were the thoughts that flashed through her mind in the short time she was talking to Ga-eul.
For the record, Ga-eul was thinking, ‘Hehe, it’s the Professor.’
“It’s okay if I join you, right?”
“Oh, Noona?”
And the Noona who had been standing behind Cathy also took a seat near us.
“Yes, yes. Please sit, Unnie.”
“Thanks, Ga-eul.”
Ga-eul still seemed a bit scared of Noona, but at the same time, she seemed to want to get closer, so she told her to sit. Honestly, I was a bit surprised.
I didn’t expect her habit of avoiding me lately to be fixed in just one day.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
‘Making my heart flutter.’
“I’m not with the Association anymore, and I’ll soon be stripped of my position as an Academy Inspector, so there aren’t many chances left to eat together like this.”
‘So I should look at your face for as long as possible before I regret it.’
She hadn’t defined it clearly, but it seemed Noona had made up her mind to close the distance between us again in her own way.
“It’s because I’m happy. It’s been a really long time since I’ve had a meal with you, Noona.”
‘…What? Is he flirting? He has no idea how much I’m holding back, yet he smiles like that? This boy says the boldest things to family. I might just tell him to take responsibility for me.’
‘What, is he flirting? Na-hyun is fine, but I want to explain the situation to everyone first so they aren’t shocked.’
‘Is So-hyun finally determined to seduce Unnie too? Look at that smile. Is he a fox or what?’
Wait, this is strange.
I only expressed friendliness, so why are everyone’s imaginations leaping so far?
What was even scarier was that their faces looked no different than usual.
No, seriously, have they all been looking at me like that this whole time…?
That’s a bit much.
…Well, this is the kind of thing I mean when I say the noise is a problem.
And as for the fact that I had surpassed the level of a cadet, it went beyond just physical aspects.
“Haha! Our honor student Kang So-hyun! Let’s see if you can solve this problem too!”
‘Hmm, honestly, this is a high-difficulty mana manipulation problem that isn’t at a cadet’s level, but if he can’t solve it, I’ll use it as an excuse to call him in for supplementary lessons, saying he needs help.’
…What on earth is our Little Witch thinking during class?
‘Kuhu, I’ll have him stay at the Academy until evening, and while he’s moping because he can’t solve it, I’ll gently comfort him, show him my adult tolerance, and slowly close the distance. Even I think this is a genius idea!’
“Now! Answer quickly! Can Kang So-hyun solve this difficult… I mean, this basic common-sense mana studies problem!?”
‘Now, get ready, Kang So-hyun…! Understanding this problem will actually be very helpful, so I don’t even feel guilty as a professor! The moment you say you don’t know, I’ll pounce…!’
“It’s a formula regarding the qualitative transformation of mana, isn’t it? It’s a type of formula that unifies various types of energy that show subtle differences even though they are all called mana, and increases efficiency. Primarily, it’s a formula to respond to sudden changes, but in my opinion, by applying this, you could make it even better…”
As I provided a detailed explanation and even created and demonstrated an application sample using mana, the Professor, who initially had a shocked expression, eventually lost herself and began taking notes on the calculation formulas and explanations I was showing.
Though I stopped and erased it since class was about to end.
She clung to me, begging me to wait just a moment, but well, that’s not my concern, is it?
“Then, since I believe I’ve answered the question correctly, I’ll be going.”
“Wait! Just a moment! Please! The rest! Tell me the rest! Kang So-hyun! I’m sorry I tried to play tricks on you! If it ends like this, I might go crazy…!”
“Wouldn’t it be more fun to research the rest yourself from that point on?”
“Ah, I suppose that’s true…? Are you a genius, Kang So-hyun? Today’s class is over! From now on, I’m going to focus on organizing this mana formula more cleanly…!”
…In this way, because Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils allowed me to see through to the essence, I could naturally solve almost any problem as long as an answer existed.
Mmm, of course, the purpose of the Academy isn’t purely for ability improvement, but honestly, it’s at a point where attending classes feels like a bit of a waste of time.
“Maybe I should just offer to be a professor instead.”
I laughed at my own words.
If I said that to the others, they’d probably tell me to stop talking nonsense.
* * *
“…Cadet Kang So-hyun. Don’t you think you’re being a bit much?”
“Uh, um. I’m sorry.”
Two days later, having been summoned to the Chairperson’s office, I couldn’t help but apologize.
Where had the usual intellectual and sophisticated Chairperson gone? Instead, a ghost with dark circles, drenched in fatigue, stood before me.
“From reporters to heroes, and even pressure from the Association. Once your identity was revealed, it became a total mess.”
“Ah, I saw that too. When a reporter asked if you were trying to subtly privatize the Academy, you said no, and then added that the organization you’re actually going to privatize starts now. That was really cool.”
“Didn’t you tell me to do it, Cadet Kang So-hyun! I didn’t want to do something so conspicuous…! I only did it because it was in the script!”
…For someone who didn’t want to do it, she did it quite impressively.
“Anyway, I heard some very shocking news. You make me do all this hard work, and yet you’re going to an amusement park?”
Uh, um. Honestly, I thought she might feel a bit left out, but I didn’t expect her to glare at me so openly.
“I’m sorry. I was a bit thoughtless.”
“Yes, it seems my feelings have reached you.”
‘I want to play too.’
‘It might be unseemly, but I’ve never been to an amusement park even once.’
‘There’s no law saying an old elf can’t go to an amusement park.’
…Wait? I can see this right now? You weren’t telling me to restrain myself?
The Chairperson’s thoughts were sometimes visible and sometimes not, so why did they have to show up now?
Don’t tell me this is the timing where I’m supposed to ask her to come along?
I didn’t invite her because she looked tired and I thought it might be rude, but…
“…If it’s alright with you, Chairperson, would you like to come with us?”
“Hmm, I have my duties as Chairperson, and there’s also the work you assigned me, so I think it will be difficult to find the time.”
‘If I say yes right away, it’ll be too obvious that I was waiting, so I’ll refuse just once.’
Ah, that was close.
It wasn’t as bad as the Diary incident, but I almost burst out laughing.
It’s really rude to say this, but why are the Academy professors all so cute…?
“I see. I suppose I spoke out of turn.”
“Huh? What?”
She probably expected me to ask at least twice out of politeness, but seeing the Chairperson’s reaction, I felt a bit mischievous.
“I’ll have to tell Luna that we should cancel the plans out of consideration for the Chairperson.”
“N-No! Cadet Kang So-hyun, that’s not it…!”
Unfortunately, the Chairperson, who looked flustered for a moment, seemed to realize something was wrong immediately.
“There’s no way you would easily cancel a promise you made to someone, especially one made to Miss Luna whom you cherish so much. Are you teasing me right now?”
I gave the Chairperson a bright smile.
The Chairperson smiled back.
“Shall we go together?”
“I’m not going.”
Ah, she’s pouting.