Chapter 176
Chapter 176
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 176
Chapter Title: Prodigy Dr. Yi Su-ryeon (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After the Dimensional Gate incident erupted.
The universities left in Seoul closed one after another.
There wasn't enough land, and not enough people.
In this era, there were no students willing to pay exorbitant tuition to attend.
Even the nation saw no reason to keep the universities running.
So, all universities in Seoul except the most essential ones went through closure procedures.
Of course, the prestigious Seoul National University survived intact.
And today, Su-ryeon was out on a day trip to that very Seoul National University.
"Hmm, so this is Seoul National University, where Korea's finest minds gather."
Su-ryeon stood with her arms crossed, gazing at the main gate of Seoul National University.
Her overly dramatic pose was both cute and a bit infuriating.
"Su-ryeon, you're still so arrogant even as you get older."
"It's not arrogance. Say I have a good sense of self-objectivity, Dad."
Su-ryeon shot back with a straight face.
"Fine, let's just head in already."
"Wait, Dad. Say I have a good sense of self-objectivity. Are you listening? Say it quick."
Chatter chatter—
Su-ryeon walked beside me toward the university building, sticking close.
Along the way, we encountered a middle-aged woman who was waiting for us.
'Must be the professor in charge of our tour.'
She wore glasses and practically screamed "I'm smart" from her appearance alone.
Su-ryeon and I approached her and greeted her.
"Hello, Professor. I'm Su-ryeon's dad, here for a day of observation. Please take good care of us."
I bowed politely, showing proper respect as a father.
Su-ryeon gave a slight nod beside me.
"Hi."
A quick tilt of the head.
It barely qualified as a greeting.
"Hey, Yi Su-ryeon! Can't you greet properly!?"
Su-ryeon straightened up and retorted.
"There's no reason to use formal speech just because she's a professor. I'll judge for myself with my own eyes."
Had her ego gotten too inflated lately?
She used to observe basic manners before, but today she was acting like manners were optional.
'The revival of Confucianism is urgently needed.'
Hoo—
I took a deep breath to properly scold Su-ryeon.
But the professor spoke first.
"Your daughter has quite the personality."
"No, I'm sorry—"
"Genius types often have personalities like that. No need to worry about it. I was the same way back in the day."
She smiled warmly.
It was the kind of smile that reminded me of a mother's.
"Shall we start the tour? I'll show you my lab first. Follow me."
"By the way, may I have your name?"
"I'm Lee Min-ju."
With that, she led the way ahead.
Su-ryeon muttered while eyeing Professor Lee Min-ju's back.
"…Hmm, still, she seems pretty smart for a human. High baseline intelligence."
She seemed somewhat satisfied.
"So, what about me, Su-ryeon?"
"Dad?"
"Yeah, how's my intelligence look to you?"
"Hmm."
Su-ryeon answered without mercy.
"Dumb Dad."
"What?"
"You're suited to being dumb."
Whoosh—
Su-ryeon said that and hurried after Professor Lee Min-ju.
With a tiny mutter.
"…which is fine."
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
For some reason, Su-ryeon's ears looked a bit red from behind.
***
We toured the university following Professor Lee Min-ju.
"This is my lab, and the students working over there are my grad students."
"Heh, hehehe… Physics is fun… I wanna physics-attack my head with a hammer…"
Something seemed off about his mental state.
Su-ryeon looked at the half-unhinged grad student and said coldly.
"Even in modern times, slavery still exists."
She had pierced right to the heart of grad student life.
We left the physics lab with Professor Lee Min-ju.
And decided to sit in on an actual lecture for a bit.
"…I don't wanna listen."
"You need to study, Dad. Come on."
"No way! I don't wanna study, Dad said!"
"…"
When I threw a tantrum.
Su-ryeon looked at me like I was a bug.
It hurt a little.
"…Fine. Let's listen to the lecture."
"Good. Let's sit in the back, Dad."
Su-ryeon and I took seats in the back of the lecture hall.
We waited for Professor Lee Min-ju's lecture to begin.
But.
"What's that? There's a kid here? Is the kid taking the class too?"
"Oh my, so cute! The guy next to her is handsome too!"
Maybe our combo was intriguing.
College students started gathering around us, showing interest.
"Kiddo, why are you here? Here for the lecture?"
"W-What… these people…"
"She's adorable! Looks like she'll be a total heartbreaker later!"
"G-Get away…"
Swish—
Was Su-ryeon embarrassed by the attention?
She timidly hid behind me.
'Guess Dad has to step up.'
Heh—
I kept Su-ryeon behind me and said confidently.
"If you want autographs, just ask me. I'll sign as many as you want."
"Who's this guy?"
"…"
Guy?
I could tolerate being called "guy."
I was a guy raising a kid, after all.
But what I couldn't tolerate was.
"You guys… really don't know who I am…?"
"Who are you, mister? Famous or something?"
"The way she's hiding is cute too!"
"…"
I wanted to reveal myself right there as A-rank Hero Lee Ha-jun, the first in Korea to close an S-Rank Dimensional Gate.
But seeing my daughter looking uncomfortable, I held back.
"Well, kids these days don't watch the news. Go prepare for class, you lot. My daughter's shy."
"…I'm not shy."
"You're stuck right behind me hiding."
At my words, the students exchanged glances and returned to their seats.
"Bye, kiddo!"
"…"
They waved at Su-ryeon.
Maybe because there was a kid at university, or Su-ryeon's looks were outstanding.
The students' attention stayed fixed on Su-ryeon.
"…Why isn't anyone paying attention to me?"
"Dad, want me to share some?"
"…No thanks."
It just made me feel more pathetic.
Dragons draw attention wherever they go, huh.
Still, it felt good that my daughter was getting the spotlight.
Creak—
As we waited for the lecture, the door opened.
Professor Lee Min-ju, who had just been guiding us, walked in.
She gave Su-ryeon a glance before starting the lecture.
"Here, acceleration works like this, and…"
Blah blah blah.
"Hmm, not bad with those equations. Humans do use their brains somewhat."
Various explanations.
"Uh-huh, I see."
Content I couldn't understand flew by.
As I nodded along pretending to get it.
"How about this problem? Yi Su-ryeon in the back there, come up and explain it?"
"Sure."
At Professor Lee Min-ju's words, Su-ryeon walked to the front.
With an utterly unimpressed expression, she said.
"This is super simple. Just make an object that drops electrical resistance to zero below a certain temperature."
Su-ryeon fiddled with the materials prepared on the podium.
"Combine this like so…"
Click clack—
Su-ryeon busily moved around.
The students, who had only seen her as cute, now had serious looks in their eyes.
'What? Why are they getting so intense watching Su-ryeon?'
To me, it just looked like assembling Legos.
Su-ryeon used the materials, torching them with a high-heat burner, freezing them with a rapid cooling device.
She made something without using mana as much as possible.
"Done."
And the result.
"Superconductor. Debut."
Woooong—
A object floating in midair without any interference or mana.
A superconductor.
It danced automatically on Su-ryeon's palm.
'I don't know what that is… but judging by the professor and students' reactions, it must be impressive…'
The professor and students were speechless.
They just gaped.
"C-Crazy…"
"How did that kid just… that groundbreaking invention…!"
"A superconductor has been invented…!!!"
Waaaaah—!!
Like a wave crashing all at once.
The professor and students applauded wildly, showering Su-ryeon with praise.
Su-ryeon just stood there.
"Hmm, about that level."
As if utterly unimpressed.
"Now I get it. Human level caps out right here."
Still.
Maybe Su-ryeon was secretly pleased by the human praise.
The corner of her mouth twitched up slightly.
"…"
Though for some reason she was glaring at me.
***
After the entire tour ended.
As the sun began to set.
Su-ryeon and I left the university building.
For some reason, Su-ryeon had accomplished something huge today.
"Ahh, university's finally over. As expected, studying isn't for me. I'm beat."
"…You need to study more, Dad. You didn't even understand what I was saying."
"Of course not. How would I know that stuff?"
"…Not satisfied."
Pout—
Maybe because I didn't understand her words.
Su-ryeon puffed her cheeks slightly in dissatisfaction.
"…You were the only one there who didn't get it."
Slightly sulky Su-ryeon.
"Excuse me!!"
Then a familiar voice called from behind Su-ryeon—one we'd heard a lot today.
It was Professor Lee Min-ju.
She rushed over and said to me.
"Su-ryeon's father! Please let her skip grades!! The new theory she showed today alone is paper-worthy!! It could change the world!! Tell us the superconductor ratios too, and for the sake of scientific progress, enroll your daughter in university right now!!"
Lee Min-ju bowed at a 90-degree angle, pleading for grade-skipping.
I felt a bit awkward.
"Even if I say let her skip grades, it doesn't really matter."
"Aren't you her parent? You can make it happen."
"My daughter's will is the most important to me."
Swish—
I turned to Su-ryeon and asked.
"Su-ryeon, what do you think about skipping grades?"
"Hmm."
Su-ryeon answered without much deliberation.
"Boring. I've already achieved my goal anyway. I gauged human levels. And praise from strangers I don't know isn't that great."
"You seemed to like it."
"…If it's not from you, it doesn't count, Dad. No backtalk."
Zap—
Su-ryeon glared at me, clearly annoyed.
Then whispered softly.
"…What's the point if Dad doesn't get it anyway. Your praise is better."
"Huh? What?"
"…Nothing. Let's go home, Dad."
Squeeze—
Su-ryeon grabbed my hand and led me home.
"Nooo!! Come back to science, student Yi Su-ryeon—no, Dr. Yi Su-ryeon!!"
Professor Lee Min-ju's despairing voice echoed from behind.
But Su-ryeon walked on without a backward glance, no lingering attachment.
"Make curry for dinner tonight, Dad."
"Think so?"
"Yeah, I want Dad's curry today. Not spicy, just the right flavor."
Su-ryeon and I left the setting sun over Seoul National University and headed home.
The grade-skipping idea was, of course, scrapped.
No matter how exceptional Su-ryeon's abilities, the child's own wishes came first.
And even if she wanted to skip grades, I would have stopped her.
'Kids are happiest growing up normally.'
All I wanted was for her to go to school and make lots of friends.
"Kekeke… When the class finds out the quiet kid demolished university… they'll freak out…"
"…"
Su-ryeon's secret project to hide her strength seemed successful too.
Overall, the tour had been quite satisfying.