The Path of an Educator
I'd done something utterly insane.
"Feeling better now?"
It felt like the thread of my reason had snapped with a sharp twang. Looking back, it wasn't even worth getting that angry over. But in the moment, I couldn't control myself.
"Yeah... thanks to you."
I glanced lightly around the room. The calendar showed a full day had passed already. Subjectively, it felt like I'd only been lying there for an hour or two.
"The doctor said you need more rest."
"I can't impose any longer."
"Your parents must be worried at home, so I should call them first. Got their number?"
"I don't have parents."
The professor flinched and nearly dropped his phone.
"Not just not at home—they're gone from this world."
I clarified upfront to avoid any misunderstanding. I threw off the blanket, folded it roughly to one side, and slipped on my shoes.
"At least give me your address, and I'll drive you."
"I don't have a home either."
What could I do? It was the truth.
"If you're insisting on taking me somewhere, Arabyeol Elementary School, please."
Now that I thought about it, I had no idea where this hospital even was—I'd almost wandered off blindly. I accepted the professor's kindness, and he silently handled the discharge paperwork without another word.
The professor's car was an old model straight out of a museum. No mana engine, no AI—no modern frills. But the interior was tastefully fitted with antique styling to suit his preferences.
"Where do you sleep if you don't have a home?"
"At a PC bang."
"Every night?"
"About half a year now."
"You got money?"
"Enough to cover the capsule fees."
The conversation lulled for a moment, so I added, "I'm not doing anything shady. Just earning from internet streaming."
Whenever will this run out? I'd been steadily chugging the mana potion I'd grabbed from the pharmacy between our words, but this 1.5-liter bottle showed no signs of emptying. As always, the withdrawal made it hard to taste while drinking, but the aftertaste was disgustingly chemical.
"Heading into second grade soon?"
"You saw my student ID. No big deal—it was just for the admission forms."
"Honestly, I was shocked. Never dreamed one of my top students would be a kid your age. How'd you learn magic?"
"Just followed what the teacher taught."
"That teacher needs to be locked up for child abuse."
He took my evasion in good humor with a light joke. Despite his curiosity, talking with him felt oddly comfortable.
"Does the school know you live at a PC bang?"
"They would've done something by now if they did."
"So you know exactly what kind of situation you're in."
"But I don't want to go back to the orphanage. I can't be bothered with the kids' petty pecking order games. And I need money for potions."
Believe it or not, I was living pretty systematically. Compared to last year, when I had to grind 20 games a day just to extend my lifespan by one more, this was a huge leap forward.
Cough, cough—ugh...
"Like crepes?"
"Crepes?"
"The ones at Dongdaemun are killer. Line's short today, so I was thinking of grabbing some. Want one, Nami?"
He pointed out the window at a street cart with a crepe photo on its sign.
"...Sure, thanks."
"Wait here. I'll get two, one for you."
Crepes... I'd tried one once in the Britannia Republic as a diplomatic envoy. Did women's bodies go crazy for sweets? I'd never cared for them before, but in my past life, I couldn't work without sugar cookies.
Professor Cheon Kyujin returned with massive crepes in both hands. I hurriedly took mine from the paper cup so the fillings wouldn't spill.
"This is different from the crepes I know."
Back then, we'd sliced them with fork and knife like steak.
"Street food, after all. Bet it's delicious. It's hot, so blow on it."
I pressed my lips to the chocolate-syrup-drizzled cream. Sweet and fluffy, it soothed my potion-tortured tongue. Strawberries inside? I took a small bite with the fruit and crepe.
"Good, right?"
"Yeah, delicious. Sweet and tasty."
"I stop there every time I head home. Good even as a dinner substitute when you're lazy."
I polished off the last bite, and familiar sights began filling the window.
"Arabyeol Elementary is a right turn."
"Oops, wrong way."
"You're bad at lying, Professor."
"What do you mean?"
"Why are we heading to the orphanage?"
I said it with full certainty. He'd never planned to drop me at the PC bang.
"That won't change my mind, though."
"It's not like that."
"Then what?"
"Nami, have you ever thought about..."
The professor trailed off abruptly. For the first time, the ever-composed man cleared his throat and clenched his fist.
"What if you were adopted by an old guy like me?"
"Pardon?"
"Not looking to play daddy or anything. Just... professor and student, like now. I just want you in a better environment. I'm rambling, huh? Sorry, not expressing it well."
"It's surprising. Never crossed my mind."
Me, adopted by someone. It'd mean they saw something they liked in me. Like the man who adopted Minwoo and Arin—he valued their effort and potential. He hid it well, but I caught him eyeing the other kids each visit.
Professor Cheon probably appreciated my precocious mind too. But wasn't I the same? How long had it been since I'd met someone I could talk magic with?
I pondered in silence until we reached the orphanage gate. The professor gripped the wheel, avoiding my eyes. He seemed tense too. His uneaten crepe had melted, the cream turning the batter soggy from the heat.
Whether sincere or not—what did it matter? People couldn't be judged on a few meetings. All I knew for sure was the sweet chocolate lingering on my tongue.
"Isn't an old man like you a bit too ancient to be called 'Dad,' Professor?"
* * *
The adoption went smoothly. Mrs. Park Younghee, who oversaw the orphanage, handled it all. Whether I vanished after leaving a note or got adopted by a gray-haired geezer out of nowhere, she always stayed nonchalant. What an odd woman.
"Oh, that detective Ma Beomil was asking where you went. And some male college student came looking too."
With that, she headed back to her office without a goodbye.
Professor Cheon Kyujin's home was farther out than expected. We took the city expressway south from Seoul. The night view from on high was stunning—drones zipping around without colliding, maintaining protective magic circles. Quite the novel sight.
"No family? Truly walking the path of an educator."
"Praise or insult?"
The late-fifties professor's house felt empty. About 40 pyeong, but with just one person, the loneliness hit double.
"No other luggage, right?"
"My uniform is all I have."
"Can't fathom how you've survived."
"If you think I'm dirty, that's rude... I keep a constant Clean spell up except when sleeping. Old-school magic, but nothing cleaner."
"From now on, save mana and shower daily instead."
"It's not that I hate bathing."
He had some wildly rude misconception about me.
"Here, your pajamas. Bathroom's next to your room—go wash up and get ready for bed."
"It's only 10."
"Early sleep for growth spurts."
Playing dirty with my height. I grudgingly took the clothes and toiletries and slunk to my room.
It had just a bed, dresser, wardrobe, and several massive mystery boxes. Probably a storage room before.
I showered quickly, dried my long hair with a heat-treatment spell—hairdryers took forever. The mirror showed my skeletal frame. Way too skinny. All thanks to mana addiction. Potions bloated the stomach, killing any hunger.
And what's this...?
He'd grabbed kids' pajamas from some store to fit me, but there were bunny ears on the ones by the pillow.