Chapter 69: Hero Academy Shenanigans
The grand auditorium of the Hero Academy.
This was the same place where the entrance ceremony had been held, and now all the hero candidates and member candidates had gathered.
The vast space was packed tight, a sea of people overflowing every seat.
Fortunately, there were no strict seating arrangements, so Han Siu was able to sit together with his party members like Elaine and Hildear, as well as three friendly heroes.
Baek Hye-yeon, who had already awakened her mana and shown promise with her sword, had formed her own party of sorts. But Hwang Sa-yeon and Ash hadn't awakened their mana yet and had performed poorly from the start, so no one had gathered around them.
"Hildear. Elaine."
"Yes, Han Siu."
"You're asking if we know anything, right?"
It was a perfectly on-brand response from both of them.
"We haven't heard the details either, but apparently some important guest is coming."
"From the circumstances, it's most likely someone from the Glazer Empire."
"An important guest from the Glazer Empire..."
Han Siu glanced around at the other party members and heroes. But they were just as clueless about the specifics.
If anything, they were more surprised that Elaine had picked up on that info. They all lived in the same space, yet they had no recollection of hearing anything like it.
"The Glazer Empire has more than just one or two big shots."
Han Siu grumbled about the annoying assembly.
Just off the top of his head, there were plenty of candidates for such a guest.
The Glazer imperial family had grown corrupt and incompetent in many ways, but that didn't mean centuries of accumulated power vanished overnight. The empire was still massive, upholding its status as the continent's strongest nation.
There were over ten direct imperial family members alone, and including collaterals, the number approached a hundred. Part of it was due to looser regulations that included imperial consorts and such under the law, but even so, that was just the royals.
Adding nobles and high officials made the pool of potential VIPs far too large.
"Ugh, sorry, Han Siu... I could only find out this much..."
Elaine looked dejected at Han Siu's musing.
"Huh? Nah, no. I was just talking big. This is already impressive enough. And at this point in the term, whoever's coming can't be that big a deal anyway."
He said that, but anyone who could summon the entire academy like this was no ordinary figure.
Considering graduation was less than a month away, the odds were high this event was specifically for someone who couldn't make it to the ceremony. And unfortunately, this was an event that hadn't existed in his first timeline.
Who the hell could it be... Huh?
Han Siu's seat was up front.
Not because he'd chosen it, but because the academy staff had shoved all the top performers there.
Most of the high-scorers guaranteed to graduate were clustered in the front rows. Han Siu figured it was standard political maneuvering.
No matter how steadfast and neutral Director Priscilla Elbton was when it came to power, she still had to play the game sometimes. After all, her appointment had been heavily influenced by Glazer.
And for candidates from other kingdoms, it was a definite boon. Networking with high-ranking officials from the continent's superpower could only help.
That was why Han Siu had sat without complaint—and why he immediately recognized the face of the woman who appeared right in front of him.
"No way..."
"Han Siu, that's..."
As the director introduced her, the woman spoke up.
"Nice to meet you all. I'm Han So-young, an SS-grade hero from the Glazer Empire. I'm currently retired but preparing for a comeback."
The beautiful widow with long black hair naturally swept her gaze across the auditorium, spotted Han Siu, and secretly winked at him.
The crowd mistook it as a wink for them and erupted in fervent cheers that shook the hall.
"......?"
Han Siu turned at the hot cries from behind, looking utterly baffled.
He could understand the male candidates getting excited—a stunning woman flashing a fresh smile and a wink. But the women? Why were they cheering like that over Han So-young's wink?
Hildear cleared up the mystery.
"Most of the member candidates here are women thirty or younger. And they've grown up hearing all about heroes' feats and prestige. An SS-grade hero... well, she's way more popular than most heroes from their own countries, at least."
"Ah, got it... You too, Hildear?"
"Eek...! W-Well... yes..."
Her cheeks flushed bright red as she shyly admitted it.
Han Siu suddenly thought he might need to get her an autograph later.
Well, yeah. Men don't become heroes or stars or anything unless they're top talent... So naturally, they idolize female heroes like her.
Hildear's explanation made sense, but this still felt over the top. She wasn't even from their country, and she'd been retired for a while now. There were three active SS-grade heroes—did they get this kind of reception too?
"Does it seem weird that she's too popular?"
"Elaine."
"It's warranted. To you, Han Siu, it might not seem like much until recently... hehe. But Han So-young is especially beloved. No rough edges, kind personality, and she treats fans and civilians nicely too."
"I see..."
Thinking of Adlen and the others, Han Siu found himself nodding along.
He was about to thank Hildear and Elaine for the info when he glanced forward and froze.
Han So-young stood on the auditorium stage, a benevolent smile on her face, saying nothing.
As if waiting for the rowdy atmosphere to settle. People gradually realized and fell silent, until the hall was deathly quiet. It had taken her just two minutes after her greeting.
"Hehe. I'm flattered by this warm welcome for a mere retired hero—I don't know where to put myself."
Han So-young murmured softly.
Scattered voices rose from below: "Not at all!" "You're beautiful, sis!"
"Thank you. I'd have loved to see you all at graduation, but I've been swamped with comeback prep lately. And this way, in the middle of the term, I get to meet everyone."
The mood in the auditorium grew heavy.
Only a select few would get to participate as graduation protagonists. The same went for those handling the event. The rest were either aiming for next time or giving up.
"But remember, becoming a hero isn't everything. You're all adults, so you know this, but talent exists in many forms."
From there, Han So-young continued with heartwarming conversation.
She shared practical tips on hero life and life as an otherworlder—thirty minutes of truly valuable stories and advice. It was like the first hero class all over again; everyone hung on her every word.
But that didn't last. Not from the audience's side, but the speaker's.
"Well, I think that's enough nice talk. Time for the harsh stuff, right?"
"......?"
A question mark floated in everyone's mind.
She swept the hall once more with a beaming smile and dropped the bomb.
"This class is abysmal."
The words crushed the entire auditorium under an immense pressure.
"Ugh...?!"
"Kyaaah...!!"
"Guh! W-What is...?"
An invisible, massive weight bore down on every hero and member candidate. They realized it was mana-based.
Han So-young smirked slyly. It didn't suit her at first glance, but on a beauty like her, even that looked stunning. To those enduring the mana pressure with their whole bodies, though, it was terrifying.
"Wh-What? What's happening?"
Her pressure spared no male hero—not even Han Siu—but some were fine.
Those not in combat roles or who had already given up on becoming heroes. Astonishingly, Han So-young was selectively targeting them, distinguishing perfectly. Han Siu, who had nearly buckled but held on, was impressed inwardly.
As expected of So-young-mama...
The fine control was one thing, but pinpointing hero and member candidates like that required prior intel on each one.
"Hmm, not bad—some of you are holding up decently. Good thing. I'd have been really disappointed otherwise."
The pressure vanished cleanly with her words, filling the hall with collective gasps.
Her precise calibration meant no one fainted or got hurt. Amid the chaos, those who sensed it shivered at her absurd skill. She didn't seem like someone retired for years.
"Think it's unfair, me pulling this out of nowhere? Reality is unfair. A routine mission can turn deadly in an instant. Hero work is glamorous, but it's a chain of deadly risks."
Han So-young wanted them to live long lives.
Even if they quit in frustration from the harshness, it was better than dying after throwing their lives away.
They were all dragged from their homes, after all. Even without a burning desire to return, wasn't surviving through setbacks better than dying pathetically in a foreign land?
If they crumble from just this... better to quit early.
"...Yeah, something like that."
Han Siu read her thoughts perfectly.
After months of endless intimacy and talks, he knew her well. Complex emotions were beyond him, but this much was easy.
"...Han Siu."
He turned at the voice calling him.
Baek Hye-yeon.
She stared at Han So-young with blazing eyes. Intense enough to be mistaken for a glare. And that fire was mostly one emotion.
Rivalry.
"Hye-yeon?"
A strange tension flowed between them, ever since they'd learned they were the same age and dropped formalities.
"You said you know her well, right?"
"Huh? Well, yeah...?"
"Introduce me."
"......"
"No one's ever made my heart pound like this before."
Baek Hye-yeon's heart thundered.
Had she ever craved a fight this badly? Not even the instructors stirred her like this. Her eyes kept chasing So-young, mesmerized.
Her posture. Her hands.
It was obvious.
Han So-young was a swordswoman.
SS-grade heroes are among the continent's elite...
That meant she was top-tier even among swordsmen.
"What's the price?"
"...Huh? P-Price?"
Hye-yeon's eyes, burning with rivalry and desire, widened in confusion.
"This is all my connections... Can't just hand out intros for free."
"Ugh... You're such a jerk..."
"Not much to ask. Same as before. Naturalize to Palania."
"Naturalize... Hmm..."
Han Siu had subtly pitched naturalization to her multiple times, and surprisingly, she'd refused. But this time, she couldn't brush it off easily. No, she was deeply shaken.
"If you want, I'll even set up a spar with So-young m—er, Hero So-young."
"A sp-spar?!"
"Feeling generous! Special guidance from an SS-grade hero!"
"Guidance!! ...I'll do it! I'll naturalize!"
At her answer, Han Siu thought to himself.
Connections really are everything in life.