The School Nurse Arrives (2)
"You're not... getting up to anything weird out there, are you?"
Kim Jin-hyeok's question left me speechless.
Honestly, I had been getting up to some pretty weird stuff, so I had no real argument. But I couldn't exactly admit it either, so I played dumb.
"What are you talking about, Professor? Weird stuff?"
"Well, I overheard the Chancellor mention something in passing about 'that kid and women' or whatever. I'm just asking to be sure. I don't intend to pry into your private life, but you are a cadet in my class."
"..."
No way. He couldn't possibly know.
If he found out about my messy relationships with women... I'd be completely fucked.
Wait a second.
Thinking about it, I didn't actually need to worry. I'd been with a total of five women: Rumi, Lim Sol, Lucy, Baek A-young, and Liliana. Aside from Rumi, none of the others had ever been discovered.
With Lucy, the only time was when Felix hit her with that arousal spell. Nobody knew what happened that day except me and Liliana. I'd only ever been with Lim Sol inside her lab, so of course nobody found out. Baek A-young and I had done it outdoors a few times, but I'd never forgotten to put up a barrier, so we'd never been caught. Liliana only ever stayed inside the house — nobody even knew she existed.
That left Rumi, and honestly, there was a lot that could come out about her. Back when I didn't know any better, we'd gone to a motel twice, and just recently we'd gotten caught having sex in the club room because I let my guard down.
But the important thing was, even if someone investigated me, all they'd find was that Rumi and I were dating. Nothing suspicious. Bottom line: I had nothing to feel guilty about.
"Don't worry, Professor. I'm not that kind of guy. I don't like to brag, but I volunteer at an orphanage every week, and I see the Saint there quite often. We also got stranded together during the dungeon training terrorist attack, so we ended up becoming close. That's probably why she asked for me."
"Oh... you volunteer of your own accord? I knew you two got stranded together during the attack, but I didn't realize there was more to it. That would explain how you became friends. If I offended you with what I said, I apologize."
Yeah. That was the normal reaction.
I'd captured a Demon that infiltrated the academy, worked hard as a member of the student council's publicity department, saved Baek A-young during the dungeon rampage, brought glory to the academy as a rising star, and even volunteered every weekend of my own free will. Where else in the world would you find an ace like that?
"It's fine. Where is the Chancellor? Should I go to his office?"
"No. He's on his way here. I have to step out to prepare for class, so you two can talk here."
"Ah... understood."
"Everyone already knows you're a hard worker, so don't be nervous. Just tell him what you know."
"Yes, sir. Good luck with class."
After Kim Jin-hyeok left to prepare for the joint lesson, I let the tension drain from my body and relaxed.
Organizations were complicated by nature, but someone in the Chancellor's position could ignore most of that and do as he pleased. In fact, the Chancellor held more power than the Dean. Whether you measured it by his ability as a Hunter or by sheer authority, it was the same. Which meant I had no idea what he was going to say to me.
I prepared coffee for the Chancellor. Even a small gesture of courtesy was worth putting on. It was only instant mix coffee, but what mattered was the thought. I tore open the packet, dumped it into the cup, and waited without pouring the hot water.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Cadet Lee Ho-yeon, are you in there?"
"Yes, sir! I am!"
Now. I poured the hot water while keeping everything looking perfectly natural. This was how you served coffee like a man whose manners were second nature.
The Chancellor who opened the door and walked in had the appearance of a middle-aged man. He gave off a clean, easygoing impression, and the glasses made his vibe a little similar to Mun Su-rin's.
This man was definitely Su-rin's grandfather... and he was living proof that a powerful Hunter could ignore the aging process entirely.
"So you're Cadet Lee Ho-yeon. A pleasure."
Chancellor Mun Jae-cheol held out his hand. I accepted the handshake with both hands, respectfully.
Mun Jae-cheol sat down without so much as a glance at the coffee I had poured my soul into.
A little disappointing, honestly.
"Well then, Cadet Lee Ho-yeon... do you know what I'm about to say?"
"I have no idea, sir."
It was probably about Baek A-young. We volunteered together, and we'd been stranded together during the dungeon training. He was going to ask about her.
"I understand you have a personal connection with Hunter Baek A-young, the Saint. Is that correct?"
"Yes. I wouldn't call it a close relationship, but we maintain a reasonable acquaintance."
Playing it as a moderate friendship was the safest move. There was nothing to gain by claiming we were close.
"I see.... Yesterday, Hunter Baek A-young suddenly informed us that she wished to take a position at the academy. Had you heard anything about this from her beforehand?"
"No, sir. I only found out this morning from Professor Kim Jin-hyeok."
"Hmm...."
Mun Jae-cheol brought the coffee on the table to his lips.
"Not bad coffee for a cadet. However, there's something that bothers me."
"What would that be, sir?"
"Do you know what conditions Hunter Baek A-young demanded? She doesn't want money. All she wants is that we not use her image as the Saint for the academy's benefit — and that we give her a position where she can easily come into contact with the cadets."
"..."
I listened quietly, piecing the situation together.
"From the academy's perspective, there's no reason to refuse. The Association has already milled her Saint image for everything it's worth, and just feeding the press the fact that 'the Saint left the Association and came to the academy' — no extra embellishment needed — would be an enormous gain."
That made sense. Baek A-young's pretty face and her constant presence on the front lines tending to the wounded had burned the image of a Saint deep into the public consciousness. Not just the media — active Hunters themselves championed her, so even ordinary people had settled into the impression of, Ah, that woman is a Saint, and she's incredibly kind. The mere fact that someone like that had chosen the academy over the Association was a benefit the academy couldn't put a price on.
"But a position where she can easily contact the cadets... that gave me pause. From our standpoint, it's a situation we have no choice but to find suspicious."
"Yes, sir."
"Now, is the Association trying to poach our cadets? Baek A-young is far too valuable a card for that. Is she trying to take cadets and form her own guild? That's absurd. Which leaves only one possibility. There's a cadet among our students who has caught Baek A-young's interest...."
"..."
Scary.
I could feel it radiating off the Chancellor — a determination to dig up my secrets no matter what. So this was the kind of man who'd climbed all the way to Chancellor of the academy.
If I'd been an ordinary cadet, the setting of a professor's office, the situation itself, and the Chancellor's status and presence would have crushed me into spilling everything, true or not. But I was different. Clear Mind let me settle my emotions whenever I wanted, no matter the situation.
The academy's intelligence network figuring out in a single day that Baek A-young's target was me was a little frightening, but this was exactly the kind of moment that called for composure. My answer here was critical. What kind of answer was this old man looking for?
"I'm not a man without a conscience. If it's true that Hunter Baek A-young came to the academy because of you, I intend to reward you for it. So you don't need to lie."
He said that, but he'd clearly already figured out the truth.
If you asked the Hunters who'd rescued Baek A-young and me during the dungeon training terrorist attack, or the teachers who worked at the orphanage, you'd easily learn that Baek A-young and I were quite close. I could deny it strongly and slip out of this room for now, but that wouldn't solve the root of the problem. Baek A-young had already forced her way into the academy, and she was going to come looking for me regardless.
Would it be best to say we're dating?
If Baek A-young and I were a couple, everything would be resolved. People changed jobs to be near their lovers all the time.
I was about to say we were dating when I hesitated. If he'd investigated this thoroughly, he already knew about my relationship with Rumi. Which meant I couldn't say I was dating her. So how should I answer?
I thought it over, then opened my mouth.
"The truth is... the Saint has a one-sided crush on me, and she's been following me around."
Sorry, A-young.
"...What?"
At an answer he clearly hadn't seen coming, Mun Jae-cheol's eyes went round — the poker face he'd been holding while setting the mood completely shattered.
"So that's how it was... she developed feelings for you after the dungeon rampage and has been following you ever since...."
"Yes. Last weekend, when the student council went to volunteer at the orphanage, she said she'd found out in advance and followed us there too. You can confirm it with the orphanage director."
"Hah... give me a moment."
Mun Jae-cheol tapped his smartwatch and sent a message somewhere.
"It's true. I just confirmed it with the orphanage director."
"Yes, sir."
"Hmm. If you want protection, the academy can send Hunter Baek A-young away right now. What do you think?"
Oh ho. Willing to send the Saint packing for the sake of a single cadet. At least he had a conscience as Chancellor. Then again, he was Mun Su-rin's grandfather — he couldn't be a bad person.
"That won't be necessary. I'm still considering my relationship with the Saint myself."
I thought I'd answered reasonably well, but Mun Jae-cheol was staring a hole straight through my eyes.
"You really are different from the other cadets."
"It's nothing special."
Ah, crap. Had I acted too composed?
But better a flawlessly calm response than fumbling while trying to play an ordinary cadet. I was confident there hadn't been a better way to handle this.
"Nothing special, he says. You're on a completely different level from the ones who start trembling the moment they stand in front of me. With that kind of presence, I can understand why Su-rin is interested in you."
"...Excuse me?"
Had I heard that wrong? How did the Chancellor know Mun Su-rin was interested in me?
"However...."
Thump.
The Chancellor wasn't releasing any mana. And yet—
Dangerous situation detected.
"...Yes, sir."
The Chancellor was smiling, but it didn't look like a smile.
"You still won't bow your head all the way. I'll give you credit for the guts."
The Chancellor seemed to like me as a potential grandson-in-law, aside from the women. He sent me a good-natured smile. Honestly, I was too scared to even think of making excuses.
He didn't seem to be in a towering rage, which meant he didn't know I was actively making a move on her. Thank god.
"I'll send Su-rin your way next time. Thanks to you, we got the Saint under the academy's banner, so I ought to reward you properly."
The problem was, I hadn't even started trying to win Mun Su-rin over yet.
Would he still give me that cool reaction if I actually made a proper move on her? And what kind of reaction would I get if I told him I needed to date as many women as a squid has tentacles?
I have no idea....
The Chancellor finished the conversation and left the room. I couldn't skip class, so I sprinted to the auditorium where the joint lesson was being held.
Creeeak—
I opened the auditorium door to find the first-years and second-years gathered, receiving instruction from the professors. My eyes met Professor Kim Jin-hyeok's, who was standing in front of the first-years. I gave a slight bow and sat down next to Lucy.
"Oh? Lee Ho-yeon. You made it?"
"Yeah, yeah. Where's Rumi?"
"Bathroom. We just finished the lecture and it's time for sparring. You got here at the perfect moment."
"Oh... really?"
That explained why there were so few professors around — they were setting up sparring arenas in the back. With more than ten arenas going up, it looked like everyone was going to spar.
"All right, first-years, come this way. You'll be doing live sparring against the second-years."
A murmur ran through the crowd.
"Whoa, the second-years must be insanely strong, right?"
"But there aren't any famous people among the second-years. The first-year prospects could probably beat them no problem."
That was true. For the convenience of the game's plot, all the promising talents had been concentrated in the first year. The second-years were innocent victims, really.
"Man, what happened the year the first-years were born?"
"Beats me. Just luck, I guess."
I was grateful that the first-years hadn't been slapped with a label like "the Golden Generation." If I ever heard something like Lee Ho-yeon, the star of the Golden Generation, I think I'd actually want to die.
"So, how should we decide the order? Anyone want to try sparring against a second-year first?"
While Kim Jin-hyeok briefly went to help set up the arenas, the female professor in charge of Class B stepped onto the stage and asked the first-years. Unlike during regular class, the cadets seemed a little more interested this time. Opportunities to spar with upperclassmen weren't exactly common.
I shot my hand up high before anyone else could steal the first slot.