Forged Alliances and the Principal's Gift
In the past, I'd seen a post like this on the community forums.
I couldn't believe it when I first saw that post either. An alliance between those three? No way that could happen in reality.
I'd tried everything myself right from the start—bombs, stealing and detonating nukes, you name it—but those three never allied. And yet...
"We'll contact you separately from our side later."
"I'll be waiting."
Choi Seonho and the consigliere shook hands. Were these really the groups that had been glaring daggers at each other on exam day, ready to tear one another apart?
I never imagined it would actually happen.
"...Looks like the talk went well?"
Only after the adults finished did Choi Yeon speak up beside me in the now-empty parking lot. My brain still couldn't process it; I just stood there dazed.
"Yeah, it did... but my head still can't wrap around it."
"...Really? Your dad and my grandpa—they seemed to get along great."
"For real?"
Those two who sparked like fireworks at the entrance ceremony actually seemed friendly? Well, there's that saying about enemies becoming friends after fighting, so it wasn't totally incomprehensible...
"Tricky."
"...Yeah. Tricky."
For now... the immediate crisis was averted, and since things wrapped up nicely, we should head back to the academy.
When Choi Yeon and I returned to the academy, the students who'd gathered on the field were gone—most of the chaos seemed sorted.
"They all went home?"
"Doubt they sent everyone home right away."
Checking my messages just in case, I saw one from Youngje in the club group chat.
"Looks like they're all in their homerooms. We should head there too."
"Homeroom?"
She tilted her head. I didn't get why they'd gather students in classrooms amid all this either... but what could we do? We were academy students.
"...Let's split to our homerooms for now. If there's anything to say, I'll message you later."
"You have my number?"
"Didn't we exchange them before?"
"Oh. Right."
Something I'd noticed since starting City of Seoul... she had this airheaded side. Probably part of her charm, explaining her popularity.
"See you later, then."
"Yeah. Later."
We parted for our classes. Arriving at Class 1-A...
"There you are, the academy's hero. Han Yujin."
Ji Suhyun smiled at me.
"...What's with that? You're making me uneasy."
"You little shit... Ever try being the instructor? How do you think it feels hearing a student went AWOL from the academy?"
"Oh."
That explained it. Yeah, I'd worry too. Sorry about that. But there were bigger priorities—a necessary sacrifice.
"Anyway, I heard from the others what went down inside. You, Familia, and Choi Yeon took down the ringleaders and cleared the dungeon?"
Word traveled fast. It wasn't wrong, so I nodded.
"Yes. Did you catch the villains?"
"Thanks to you. They're in restraints in the academy's internal jail for now—handing them to the Association when they arrive."
"...Good to hear."
They'd end up back in Niflheim anyway, but in stricter sectors than before.
"And... now that things are settled, we gotta do what needs doing."
"Pardon?"
What needed doing? Before I could figure it out, Ji Suhyun bowed to me.
"Thank you."
"...Pardon?"
Her sudden gratitude short-circuited my brain for a second. She continued.
"We resolved this without fatalities, thanks to you. Can't speak for the whole academy, but as 1-A's homeroom teacher, thank you."
Chairs scraped behind her.
"Vice prez. Thanks."
"Thanks."
"All thanks to you. Thank you."
Looking back, the class expressed their thanks. ...This was embarrassing.
Fortunately, Ji Suhyun straightened up quickly, grinning.
"You're blushing."
"...You knew and did it anyway."
"Be grateful it ends here. You have no idea how shocked I was hearing you went 1-on-1 with Miner."
...Gotta hand it to him. He really knows how to get stronger, right? Something like that.
"Your face looks weird."
"...Just your imagination."
Damn, her intuition was sharp as ever.
"Anyway, the whole class thanks you. And... the president wants to thank you personally."
"The president?"
She nodded.
"You took first in the 'Class Ranking Matches,' and the others say you were key in resolving this. He wants to meet you now."
...Right, winners got a special gift from the president.
"Right now?"
"He said pass it on when you get back. No point loitering here anyway—government order keeps students in classrooms for post-terror procedures and investigations."
...That explained why no one went home. Better to meet the president than waste time in class.
"Straight to his office?"
"Yeah. I'll let him know, so take your time."
"Got it."
I bowed to Ji Suhyun and headed out. The academy halls were still chaotic from the terror aftermath, but I'd memorized the path to the president's office in the game—no trouble finding it.
At the door, I knocked naturally.
"Han Yujin, Class 1-A."
A deep, resonant voice replied from inside.
A new entry has been added to Character Compendium!
Opening the door revealed a kindly smiling old man. This was Seoul Hero Academy's president.
He looked gentle, but looks were deceiving. Mu-eum (Silent)—the name meant those hit by his arrows died without a sound. He'd killed over a hundred Awakeners with those hands; monsters were beyond counting.
"First time meeting like this, Han Yujin. I'm Heo Seokgi."
He knew my true identity, naturally.
"Pleasure, sir. Han Yujin."
I closed the door and bowed. He chuckled heartily, standing.
"Haha, have a seat. You know why I called you?"
"Yes. Winning the Class Ranking Matches... and stopping the terror, I heard."
He smiled and nodded.
"Correct. Those are reasons, yes. Allow me a formal thank you. Truly grateful for protecting our academy, Yujin."
He bowed as if it were obvious.
"...Just did what needed doing."
"Humble too. Makes me proud as president."
His warm smile eased me, but something felt off—tension gripped me. This was Korea's Mu-eum (Silent).
Still, one thing nagged, so I ventured carefully.
"You said those were some reasons... is there more?"
"Yes. You're the son of my old friend."
...Dad again?
"You know my father?"
"Among older heroes, fewer don't know him. Met recently about your enrollment too."
Apparently, he'd advised Dad on my enrollment, enabling my alias.
"Can't repay that debt fully, but glad to return the favor this way. Lately, I've owed him more, though."
With that, he continued.
"As thanks and repayment, I prepared a gift."
"...A gift?"
He nodded.
"Yes. Especially now."
Black mist rose from his fingertips, coalescing in his palm into a shape.
"Top student in 'Class Ranking Matches' gets an elixir suited to them... but it felt insufficient. So, this instead."
He placed a plain black box on the table.
"...This is."
"Open it."
I touched it slowly, lifting the lid. Inside lay sleek obsidian shoes.
"...These?"
"Black Fog. My old shoes."
Jackpot.