Chapter 12
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Cheon Da-eun's Landscape
-----------------------------------------------------------------
One week later.
Academy Vice Principal Wolfgang Kraus's office.
The heavy mahogany desk, neatly organized stacks of file folders, and portraits of past principals adorning the walls all spoke to the authority of this space.
The master of the office hadn't arrived yet, but one by one, the instructors in charge of the Straggler Special Management Program began filing into the room, which was thick with heavy tension.
The first to arrive was Instructor Park Minjun, his face unmistakably weary. He adjusted his glasses and let out a small sigh.
"Haah... another summons. What does that old man want this time?"
Instructor Park Minjun, who handled analysis and basic theory classes, deeply regretted being assigned to this Straggler Program.
The pay was meager, the workload was immense, and progress was glacially slow.
He figured endless overtime elsewhere would be preferable.
"I shouldn't have taken this job just for a little extra cash."
"Cash?"
Before his mutterings could fade, the door swung open again. In walked Instructor Seraphina, her pink long wavy hair cascading down and her crisp suit perfectly tailored.
She gave Park a brief nod of greeting and asked,
"Why the pitiful act?"
"Oh, Seraphina..."
"Where's the Vice Principal?"
"Hasn't arrived yet. A few minutes till the summons time."
"Hee~ Guess it's not that urgent then?"
"Urgent... What else besides those kids' issues?"
He shuddered at the thought of the hopeless stragglers he taught.
"What, the students not listening?"
"It's not that... Being responsible just doesn't suit me."
"Responsible?"
Seraphina blinked her eyes rapidly.
"Why feel responsible?"
"Huh?"
"If they die, they die, hehe. They're just stragglers anyway. Aren't you overthinking it?"
"......"
Seraphina flashed a bright smile, casually spouting words far too cruel for her pretty face.
"Why so serious, Instructor Park? Just leave 'em be—they'll die off or get weeded out on their own, hehe. Stragglers are useless in society anyway. Why stress ourselves out feeling responsible?"
Park Minjun paled in horror at her words. He couldn't fathom such talk from a fellow educator.
"S-Seraphina! Even so, that's too much...!"
"Too much? It's the truth. The weak get discarded—that's nature's way, isn't it? Don't get attached, Instructor Park. You'll only end up heartbroken."
Just as her icy words threatened to crush any lingering sentiment, the office door burst open with a booming voice.
"Wahahaha! Everyone's early!"
A massive man with broad shoulders, bulging muscles, and an aura of steel strode in. Swordsmanship Sect 7th Seat and the program's physical training and combat instructor, John Miller. He entered with his signature hearty laugh.
"Ahem! But why's the vibe so dead? Did the Vice Principal chew you out again, Instructor Park Minjun?"
John Miller clapped Park on the shoulder cluelessly.
Seraphina tsked softly at him, while Park gave an awkward smile and shake of his head.
"No, Instructor John. Just a bit tired."
"Tired? A young guy like you? Hunters need ironclad stamina and spirit as basics! Right, Instructor Seraphina?"
"...Yeah, sure."
Seraphina replied soullessly, fiddling with her nails.
"Grr! A real man needs these flared lats! Ripped abs! A chest like rock! Only then can you train body and mind in..."
Just as John Miller's muscle ode threatened to drone on, a soft voice cut him off.
"Instructor John, could you quiet down a moment? The others look weary."
Instructor Eleanor Vance entered gracefully. With a light gesture, a veil of transparent magic sealed John Miller's mouth.
He flapped his lips in panic but soon gave up and fell silent. Eleanor smiled gently.
"Just for now—don't be too upset. The Vice Principal will arrive soon."
Eleanor, an expert in mana overloads and healing magic, had a soft appearance but a firm edge. Park sighed in relief at her arrival, while Seraphina eyed her amusedly.
Right then, the final figure followed her in.
Swoosh—
A chill flowed in like cold air down the hall. Freezing Sect 3rd Seat and the program's chief instructor, Cheon Da-eun, made her appearance.
Her icy, flawless presence swept her gaze over each instructor in turn.
"...Everyone's early today."
Her low, calm voice carried an irrefutable weight. Cheon Da-eun walked to the room's center and stood beside Kraus's empty seat.
Asserting her position as chief instructor.
"The Vice Principal will arrive shortly. Let's review the status first. Report one by one."
Instructor Park Minjun went first, followed by the others.
"Ah, yes. My students... mostly follow instructions well. However, their basic stamina and mana control are severely lacking..."
"Ahem! They're keeping up with physical training! Sure, we've got a ways to go, but more are grinding through with grit! Focusing on basic strength and endurance!"
"My charges have some psychological instability, but counseling is stabilizing them gradually. Mana control training proceeds alongside, and a few show glimmers of talent. Consistent oversight needed."
The three instructors detailed which students showed promise and which were at risk.
After several minutes of reports, all eyes turned to Seraphina last. She paused her nail-fiddling, smiled sweetly, and spoke.
"My kids? Nothing special~ They're rolling along fine on their own. Still hopeless, hehe."
Cheon Da-eun's brow twitched faintly.
"Instructor Seraphina. Reports must be precise."
"Huh? It was precise. What more is there to say? They're getting booted from the Academy soon anyway—what else should I report, Chief Instructor?"
"Forgotten your duty as an educator?"
"Duty? Hmm. I think nurturing promising talent beats wasting time on the untalented. I didn't choose this gig like the others. You get me, right, Chief Instructor?"
Seraphina paused, leaning toward Cheon Da-eun with a meaningful smile.
"Makes sense... Just look at the one you're handling personally. Kang Ihyeon, was it? Records show 30 Rift breakthrough attempts. Wow~ Must be such a hassle."
She clapped mockingly in exaggerated awe.
"Unprecedented in Academy history, right? Defending the trashiest of the trash yourself—must be tough. I almost feel sorry for you."
The room's air froze instantly. John Miller fidgeted, Park swallowed hard, Eleanor's smile faded.
Cheon Da-eun said nothing.
Her face remained expressionless, but her clenched fist trembled faintly, and the air around her cooled subtly.
'Hmph, try defending that.'
Seraphina sneered inwardly.
She'd thrown the jab to irk Cheon Da-eun, fully expecting the ice queen to secretly agree about such a "trash" student.
Thirty failures—who wouldn't?
But defying expectations, Cheon Da-eun spoke in a cold, steady voice.
"Kang Ihyeon's Rift breakthrough record doesn't represent his full potential."
"Hah?"
Seraphina couldn't hide her surprise. She laughed incredulously.
"Potential? Thirty failures prove incompetence, not potential, Chief Instructor. Different in your world?"
"I recently checked his skills. Notable progress in crafting."
Surprise flickered across the other instructors' faces.
Cheon Da-eun defending a Straggler Program student—the worst record holder, no less! Her reputation for cold ruthlessness made it shocking.
Seraphina scoffed derisively.
"Crafting? That big a deal? Since when do you value potential over results, Instructor Cheon Da-eun?"
"Potential is just unrealized results. His recent work shows clear creativity and application unlike before. Dismissing him prematurely is foolish for an educator."
Seraphina smirked provocatively; Cheon Da-eun stared back icily.
The chill intensified; the others shifted uncomfortably.
Right then—
Clunk—
The door opened, revealing a kindly old man. White-haired with a warm smile: Academy Vice Principal Wolfgang Kraus. Hands on hips, he scanned the room with grandfatherly cheer.
"Heh heh heh, all early birds! What's with the chill? Someone poke our Chief Instructor Cheon?"
Kraus grinned slyly, eyeing the standoff. Cheon Da-eun averted her gaze and bowed slightly; Seraphina beamed innocently and bowed.
"Vice Principal~"
"Nothing to note, sir."
Kraus nodded without prying.
"Right, right. Sit comfortably, all. Sorry to keep an old man waiting."
He settled into his large chair and gestured to the instructors.
"Called you for one thing. The Straggler Program... specifically, the mock Rift breakthrough evaluation method. Let's discuss."
After the meeting ended and Kraus departed, the instructors trickled out.
Park Minjun chatted lightly with Eleanor as they headed down the hall first; John Miller bounded down the stairs with gusto.
Last out were Cheon Da-eun and Seraphina.
Seraphina smirked, pouting her red lips.
"Really surprised me, Instructor Cheon Da-eun. Didn't expect you'd defend him like that. That Kang Ihyeon must have something special."
Cheon Da-eun walked ahead without responding. Undeterred, Seraphina stuck close and pressed on.
"Hmm~ I'll watch that 'impressive' crafting closely. Wonder if he's worth the Chief Instructor's personal defense... how much he'll grow. Can't wait?"
Her sarcasm dripped obviously.
Cheon Da-eun didn't break stride.
"...Do as you please."
A short, cold reply.
Seraphina chuckled and overtook her. Her heels clicked sharply down the hall. At the corner, she glanced back over her shoulder.
"Pathetic, trying so hard when the outcome's obvious. Take care, Chief Instructor."
Once Seraphina vanished, Cheon Da-eun stopped. A faint sigh escaped—too quiet for any ears—laced with fatigue and worry. She pinched her brow, standing still in the hall.
Unlike the others, Cheon Da-eun handled only one student: Kang Ihyeon.
No special reason.
Simply, as chief instructor, she'd taken the overwhelming last place—the most shunned straggler.
Naturally, no attachment as Seraphina implied.
However.
Now, Cheon Da-eun was different.
Master Rapport Lv.4 (Active)
Enchantment Imprint Lv.5 (Active)
Sense of Taboo Lv.1 (Active)
Master Arousal Lv.1 (Active)
'He keeps getting under my skin...'
Once, her world had been dyed red.
Now, it was gradually staining with an intensely murky pink.