Chapter 44
Chapter 44
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: False Rumors (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Dabcheon Academy's first-ever first-year Guidance Department Chief, Jin Se-jeong.
In Dabcheon, where one's personal strength defined human worth, she had claimed the top spot among first-years through her own merit alone. Despite possessing power and caliber enough to dominate, she chose not to.
Instead, she pursued the righteous path, guiding those who strayed back to it—truly living up to the name of Guidance Chief.
Even with strength enough to crush an entire grade, she never used it for personal gain, employing it solely to maintain order. In just a month and a half, she had become a figure respected by most of Jincheon Class's cadets.
And that revered Jin Se-jeong was now
'What should I say first when we meet? That I've missed him so much? That not a single day has passed without thinking of him since we parted? Should I just be honest? Ah, um. That might be too direct. Or maybe poke fun at him lightly—ask why he's turned into such a vulgar-looking blond-tanned thug—and ease into it with a joke? I have so much I want to say. But when I actually see his face, I'll probably be too happy and just smile like an idiot. What if I look like a fool? I want to show Yang Woo-bin only my cool side. That's why I've been working so hard. Aah, this is complicated. Fine. I'll figure it out once we meet. Right after the promotion ceremony ends, I'll go find him. Once we're together, we can go back to being close like before, happy and super tight-knit. That's how Yang Woo-bin and I are. Inseparable childhood friends, the only ones for each other...!'
She was running reunion simulations in her head while watching Yang Woo-bin in the distance, cackling with glee as he savored his victory in the arena.
"Whoa, look at the Guidance Chief over there... She barely beat Choi In-gyu, that scrub, and now she's got that serious face."
"It's the Chief. In front of her, strong or weak doesn't matter—everyone's just a regular cadet. What a person."
"Haa... Can't help but respect her."
Of course, her inner girlish frenzy was confined to her thoughts, her expression maintaining its usual stoic poker face. The cadets who admired Jin Se-jeong couldn't even imagine what was on her mind; they simply nurtured their respect in silence.
In that moment—some dreaming of reunions, others gazing with admiration—a broadcast echoed through the speakers.
It was a call for the promotion match winner, Fuyuno Tsubaki.
"Ah."
Jin Se-jeong, lost in thoughts of Yang Woo-bin alone, snapped out of it at the name Fuyuno Tsubaki—which she'd momentarily forgotten—and turned toward her.
The winner's special spectator seats and the Guidance Department executives' seats were on the same level, both VIP areas. Jin Se-jeong quickly spotted her.
'Come to think of it, there's someone besides Yang Woo-bin who needs attention in a different way. That Fuyuno Tsubaki cadet... Coming from General Class and beating Han Yu-jin without a scratch? Suspicious no matter how I look at it. Definitely add her to the Guidance Department's watchlist.'
The flower field of lovestruck girlhood in her mind vanished. Jin Se-jeong's gaze on Fuyuno Tsubaki now carried the dutiful vigilance of a Guidance Chief.
Having been saved by Yang Woo-bin in the past, she'd vowed to live a cool, upright life worthy of him. She took pride in her role as Guidance Chief.
'I won't let some outsider suddenly disrupt the order I've barely established in Jincheon Class over the past month and a half.'
Thus, her wariness toward this powerful newcomer was only natural.
'I hope she's not up to anything... I'll keep an eye on her.'
Jin Se-jeong kept her eyes fixed on Fuyuno Tsubaki until she ascended to the arena.
"Huh?"
Then, she saw it: despite her princess-like delicate appearance, Fuyuno Tsubaki bounded onto the arena with puppyish light steps—and faced Yang Woo-bin.
They both smiled upon meeting each other's eyes. They seemed close already.
"What... are those two...?"
"Pardon? Chief, what did you say...?"
"No, nothing. Just talking to myself."
Seeing Yang Woo-bin chatting and laughing with another woman—no, a superhuman beauty with exceptional skill—made Jin Se-jeong unconsciously clench her fist.
Just moments ago, imagining her reunion with him had her heart floating lightly, her whole body warming with pleasant heat.
But now, watching him grin at Fuyuno Tsubaki made her heart sink with a thud.
"Oh? Yang Woo-bin's petting Fuyuno Tsubaki's head?"
Crunch.
"Wha?! He's petting her head—and not just gently, but ruffling her hair wildly with both hands like a dog—and Fuyuno Tsubaki's smiling brightly like she loves it?!"
Grind.
Even their mere smiling exchange had made her heart plummet. Seeing him vigorously tousle Fuyuno Tsubaki's ash-gray locks felt like her heart was freezing over.
Her jaw clenched involuntarily, teeth grinding; her fists trembled from how tightly she'd balled them.
"A guy doing that to a girl means they're pretty close... Chief, are they lovers? Maybe arranged by their families...?"
"Quiet."
"Pardon?"
"I said be quiet."
In her agitation, when a nearby Guidance executive spouted nonsense she didn't want to hear, Jin Se-jeong snapped at a subordinate for the first time since becoming Chief.
"Ah, s-sorry... I mean, apologies."
"...Hoo. No, it's fine. No need to apologize. I'm the one sorry for showing such disarray."
But Jin Se-jeong wasn't the type to be harsh with her people. Lee Hye-ryeong beside her had been a loyal, capable subordinate like a limb. She quickly regained composure and apologized.
"Um, Chief. Sorry to ask since I brought it up, but could we continue later?"
"Yes, of course. Chatting unrelated to the Principal's promotion ceremony would be rude."
Thus, they paused and focused on the ceremony led by Go Yeo-ryeong herself.
Go Yeo-ryeong's mana-infused voice filled the vast circular arena without a microphone—a telepathic transmission mastered by skilled superhumans.
Its perfect volume and clarity thrilled Jincheon Class cadets with a glimpse of her prowess.
"Felt it at the entrance ceremony, but wow. The Principal's on another level."
"Y-yeah, Chief. No wonder the Flying Dragon moniker... Sharing a character in her name feels like an honor..."
Jin Se-jeong and Lee Hye-ryeong shuddered at her power too.
So glad I came to Dabcheon. So much to learn, Jin Se-jeong thought—when an unmistakable telepathic message reached her ear alone.
"......Ah?"