At the Academy (2)
Monday morning, the start of the week. Baek Ayoung had bid farewell to the Iron Blood Hospital staff on Sunday. And after a long time away, she finally clocked in at the infirmary. Returning to her quiet workplace from the noisy bustle of the hospital felt a little strange. Still, just sharing the same space as her darling had her humming a cheerful tune. Helping people at Iron Blood Hospital had been fulfilling, but Lee Ho-yeon was far more important, after all.
"Hmm~ Ah, maybe I should drop by the medical team?"
She wanted to announce her return, say hello, and ask a few things. After unpacking her things, Baek Ayoung headed straight for the medical team. It was right next door, so she got there in no time on foot. Stepping inside, she spotted the medical team members working with hollow, zombie-like eyes.
"...What are you all doing?"
It was only Monday morning—were they already that drained from pulling an all-nighter or something?
As Baek Ayoung wondered, the team member nearest the entrance slowly turned her head toward her. Her eyes flew wide as she muttered.
"S-Saintess... Finally..."
"What? Saintess?"
The team leader farther in heard and shot to her feet. Baek Ayoung flinched a bit at the sight of those bloodshot eyes. The leader marched over and bowed deeply to her.
"Thank you. Thank you so much for coming back. Saintess—no, Nurse Baek...!"
"...Pardon?"
Why is he acting like this? As Baek Ayoung stood there confused, the team leader continued.
"That damn director... no, upper management said since Baek Ayoung was joining the medical team, they'd ramp up the workload big time. But even after you left on your trip, they didn't cut it back... Sniff."
"..."
The medical teams at the association or the academy really had it rough. Still, they'd kept their promise not to exploit her image, so Baek Ayoung was reasonably content with the academy. She could stay close to Ho-yeon, after all.
"It's fine, Team Leader. I'm back now."
The overworked staff looked a little pitiful. She'd have to work hard starting today.
"Thank you. Thank you so much..."
Baek Ayoung gave the grateful team leader a small smile, then asked the question burning in her mind.
"The first-year mages have practical class right now, don't they? Did the medical team head out to support?"
She had Ho-yeon's schedule memorized. With the medical team so worn out, she could use that as an excuse to head to the site herself. It had been ages since she'd seen her darling in his cadet uniform.
"Pardon? Oh, no. They haven't gone today."
"...They have to have. Isn't medical support mandatory for practicals?"
From her research, every practical class had medical backup. That's why she'd been looking forward to it today...
"Well, strictly speaking, it's not mandatory. Sure, it's tradition—no professor skips it—but weirdly, none have shown up today. If an accident happens, it'll be on their heads."
"Professor Im Sol's handling that class, right?"
"Let me confirm... Yep. It's Professor Im Sol. Probably not a mistake on her part—she must be confident no accidents will happen. Or maybe she just doesn't want to reveal the lesson content."
No way. Im Sol's classes were straightforward: cadets cast spells, Im Sol evaluated. Wholesome stuff that could leak anywhere without issue.
"...Got it. I need to get to my duties anyway."
"Yes, please!"
Baek Ayoung slipped out of the medical team office. She caught a faint "We're free at last!" from inside but ignored it and headed back to the infirmary. Settling at her desk in the quiet room, she tilted her head.
'Sol? The girl who can't be bothered with anything but magic, handling accidents herself?'
Ridiculous. There had to be another reason. A simple oversight was most likely, but... Baek Ayoung had a different hunch.
'Maybe she knew I was coming back today and decided to block me.'
Im Sol was a prime rival contender, after all.
"Nah, no way."
Baek Ayoung slapped her cheeks lightly and shook her head. After grinding away in the field so long, her mind was getting too sharp. Her friend wouldn't pull something like that. Besides, now that she was back at the academy, chances to see her darling were endless.
"She'll drop by later. If not, I can just message her."
Shoving aside her disappointment, Baek Ayoung dove into the stack of backlog at the infirmary. To lighten the medical team's load.
Watching Lucy blast magic from afar, Im Sol turned to me and spoke up.
"Gotta teach even screwballs like her. Give it a shot—cast some magic."
Arms crossed, Im Sol eyed me with keen interest.
"Hmm..."
This'll surprise her. Last time I'd shown real magic in front of a crowd was the vice president's duel.
'But I've come a long way since then.'
I drew mana from my fingertip. Simplest form: an ice spear. Perfect for hitting targets. But the basics reveal true mastery best.
As the magic circle took shape, Im Sol's eyes narrowed. Same circle, different caster makes all the difference. Deployment speed first—no contest, I could outpace her. Mana purity next. Mana Resonance let me pull only the cleanest stuff. Pure, vibrant blue mana traced the array flawlessly.
Perfection as expected, and the finale: core formulas. Her domain alone so far... but with her watching, she'd spot the value.
"Huh...?"
Sure enough, Im Sol clocked the anomaly. Mana flooding the core: honed the spear's tip razor-sharp, amplified the chill. Boosted flight speed, penetration power.
Staring at the layered formulas, Im Sol let out a dry chuckle.
"...My disciple's grown up."
"Thanks, Professor."
Her reaction fired me up.
Crack—crunch— The spear solidified before my outstretched hand and rocketed toward the target.
Kagang! It pulverized the target in a deafening crash. Satisfaction welled up. Nice one.
"Whoa, Lee Ho-yeon's insane."
"Right? But for a genius mage, he seems kinda... ordinary?"
The cadets in back had zeroed in, pouring out gasps of awe.
Im Sol whipped toward the second voice. The "ordinary" culprit.
Her furrowed brow screamed irritation.
"H-Hiiik. Practice. Gotta practice."
"What kinda bullshit is th..."
"Professor, easy. Normal cadets won't get the nuance."
I cut off her curse. No one here would unpack those intricacies.
Im Sol caught my drift and met my gaze.
"...Doping?"
"You know better."
"Fair. Haa... seriously impressive."
A competitive glint sparked; she flashed a fierce grin.
"Gotta step it up. Fine, I admit—you're stronger than I was at twenty."
"Appreciate it. You've leveled up tons in eight years too, Professor."
"...True. Solo research is my jam. And drop the age talk."
She seemed pleased with my mana realm progress. Strong disciple reflects well on the master, I suppose.
"No nitpicks... If I had to, you overpumped the mana to show off? Target's all you needed to shatter."
"Hehe, guilty."
Wanted to dazzle her, yeah. But with my reserves these days, it barely registered. Body's stockpiling way more now.
"Solid work. Oh, Magic Expo this week—your call on timing."
"Expo? I'm good anytime."
"Today then? Right after class."
"Uh..."
Bad call. Lucy and Lumi insisted.
"Not today. Tomorrow?"
"Gonna see Ayoung?"
"Nah. Prior commitment."
Lunch with Baek Ayoung. Her big academy return—couldn't miss.
"Hmmm, tomorrow it is."
"Cool. Free after tomorrow's class."
"Nope. Research after."
Im Sol shook her head firmly.
"...You picked tomorrow. Now what?"
"Morning run—quick in and out."
"Morning's classes."
"Ditch 'em."
"Professor saying that?"
She's no prof. Delegating grading? Sketch from the start. No morning class? Research then. Expo after academy, done.
"Attendance maxed anyway. Fuss? Professor perks. Field trip excuse."
"...Genius."
Capable women rule. Hate power from others—love it from yourself.
Lunch with the Lucy-Lumi twins done, I mentioned my plans.
"Ehhh? Where to?"
Lucy latched onto my arm, shaking it. Good to see her peppy post-morning.
"Nurse Baek. Meds to grab."
"Ah... Explains the frequent infirmary runs, Ho-yeon."
"Yeah. Treatment stuff."
Sorry look their way.
"Eh, unavoidable. Go on."
"Afternoon class, Ho-yeon."
"Yep, catch you later."
They headed to class; I stepped out.
'Somehow I'm the patient now.'
Since Baek Ayoung's posting, no cadet hit the infirmary like me—misunderstandings abounded. Ellis even figured I had some congenital mana defect.
Easiest alibi. Long as Baek Ayoung kept mum.
Lunch break sign on the infirmary, ignored—pushed the door.
Lobby: resting staff spotted me; the baby-faced guy bolted over.
"Sorry! Lunch is our break..."
"Hey! Hey!"
"Y-Yes?"
Senior staff called him back.
"Let him through. Nurse Baek's personal case. Sessions run long—usually during breaks."
"Ah, s-sorry!"
He bowed; I gave an awkward grin.
"No worries. Rest up."
'Baek Ayoung prepped 'em.'
Makes sense—simplest cover.
"So when does Nurse Baek rest?"
"Beats me. That's why she's amazing."
Overhearing the praise, her rep was gold. My darling's the best.
Knocked on her office door.
Knock-knock—
"Who is it?"
"Nurse. It's me—Lee Ho-yeon."
"Ah, yeah. Come in."
Door swung open: there was Baek Ayoung, chilling in her work outfit. White blouse, black miniskirt. Black stockings too. Her standard getup. No wonder the guys lost it.
Click— Locked it tight.
"Seeing you here at the academy feels like forever."
"Darling... Missed you so much..."
Only post-lock did she rise and approach. Total one-eighty from her poised sit.
Poof— She hugged tight, nuzzling my chest. I smiled, stroking her hair.
"Missed you too. Love you, darling."
"Mmm... Love you."
Guilt tugged a bit—leaving the wife for baby daddy vibes—but still.