The First Lesson
The classroom interior was quite impressive. Even before I invested in it under the Yucheon Group's name, the National Hero Academy had already received massive national funding, making it a truly exceptional place. It was no wonder that hero candidates from around the world dreamed of attending here.
The classroom itself featured long, tiered desks arranged like a movie theater. With a thousand new students to manage at once, the scale of the room was extraordinary.
"Oh! If it isn't Cheon!"
Yee Eun-chae spotted me entering and greeted me with a bright smile. She had apparently saved the seat beside her in advance and patted it enthusiastically.
"I saved Cheon's seat! Come sit here!"
Next to the proudly beaming Yee Eun-chae sat two familiar faces: Arian Liberin and Yoo Eun-chae. Seeing the three of them gathered together felt oddly fitting.
They've grown closer faster than in the original story.
The reason was simple. After Arian and Yee Eun-chae received my guidance, they shared the experience and felt a sense of camaraderie. That bond had deepened rapidly through sparring, and Yoo Eun-chae had naturally joined them as well.
Out of the four most beautiful first-year students in the entire academy, three—excluding Lee Se-na—had already formed a group on the very first day of class. With me sitting beside them, it was inevitable that we'd draw attention.
"Good morning, Eun-chae. Thanks for saving my seat."
I offered Yee Eun-chae a gentle smile along with my thanks as I sat down. She beamed back at me.
"Oh~ Hearing Cheon say that makes me really happy! Still, it's only natural for a friend!"
Yee Eun-chae seemed to have a peculiar attachment to me as her first friend. It felt more like attachment to a new companion than romantic interest, but I knew it would gradually evolve.
"Seo Moon-jin, good morning."
Arian followed with a soft, smiling greeting.
"Yeah, good morning, Arian."
Just as I smiled back at her, Yoo Eun-chae spoke up nervously.
"Ah, hello. I'm Yoo Eun-chae. Do you... remember yesterday?"
I gave her a warm smile in return.
"Of course I remember. How could I forget someone as pretty as you?"
"Th-thank you..."
Yoo Eun-chae still seemed awkward around me, yet clearly pleased that I remembered her. She was trying to curry favor because she wanted something from me, but given her circumstances, I couldn't blame her. In fact, I intended to do everything I could to make her mine.
By the end of this year, I'll make Min-hye and all of you my women.
I would bring happiness and salvation to the heroines who had met tragic ends in the original story. Once I decided they were mine, ensuring they all reached a happy conclusion was my responsibility.
While making that vow, I also checked where Seo Moon-hyun and Lee Se-na were seated.
Five rows behind us.
I could feel their gazes on me, but there was no need to acknowledge them. Now wasn't the time to openly show hostility. I would bring Seo Moon-hyun down only after he had reached greater heights and tasted more success.
The events from the original story will help with that.
Some incidents I would resolve myself, while others I would leave for Seo Moon-hyun to handle as he had in the original.
Choi Jae-hoon.
Among the glances directed my way was one from Choi Jae-hoon, who had once received support from the Yucheon Group. Back then I had worn a mask and disguised myself, so he wouldn't recognize me as the interviewer, but he would surely feel uneasy knowing that the future head of the Yucheon Group—the company he hoped to join—was sitting right here.
Other students' eyes were also fixed on me.
[The heir to the Yucheon Group.]
[What's his connection to the Seo family?]
[He looks so much like Seo Moon-hyun... No, that can't be. All Seo family members have blue hair and blue eyes.]
[There's no way someone from the Seo family became the Yucheon Group's heir, right?]
They were curious and suspicious about the relationship between me, the Yucheon Group's heir, and Seo Moon-hyun, the Seo family's successor, but my status kept them from voicing any firm conclusions.
The front door creaked open, and a man stepped inside. He had sharp features, a ponytail, and—most notably—a prosthetic left arm. He ascended the podium and spoke.
"My name is Bang Soo-hwan. I'll be your instructor and professor for your very first class!"
At his words, every student turned serious. The combination of the world's top hero academy and the first lesson had sharpened their focus beyond normal levels.
"Since this is your first class, you must have high expectations. What will the National Hero Academy teach you? How to become stronger? That's what you're all thinking, isn't it?"
No one voiced agreement or disagreement. Everyone was simply listening attentively.
"Let me tell you this: you've all been carefully selected as promising candidates. You can definitely become stronger! In fact, I've heard some of you are already stronger than your age would suggest. But! That's not all. Do you know why?"
Again, silence. Bang Soo-hwan swept his gaze across the room before continuing.
"Because what you're pursuing isn't merely raw power—it's to become heroes! You enrolled at the National Hero Academy to protect people and safeguard the world as noble heroes! If anyone here only wants to flaunt their strength, enjoy wealth and fame, or grow stronger for personal pleasure, speak up now! If you're just going to become a thug instead of a hero, I'll expel you immediately to protect the academy's honor!"
He was truly passionate. I couldn't help but think so.
Well, uncontrolled power is a problem.
If mana awakeners ran wild without restraint, it would be a disaster for the world. The villains were living proof of that.
"A hero..."
Yee Eun-chae looked genuinely moved. She had always wanted to become a hero who helped others, so his words had clearly resonated with her dream.
"......"
Arian listened calmly, yet she nodded slightly as well. She pursued strength and enjoyed battle, but as the princess of the Liberin Kingdom, she also carried a deep sense of responsibility. She wanted to use her power to protect her people.
Yoo Eun-chae wants to rescue her mother and avenge her father.
Yet even she, kind at heart, hoped no more victims like herself would appear because of villains. She possessed a hero's mindset beyond her personal goals.
On the other hand, Seo Moon-hyun...
In the original story, he was revered as a hero among heroes, but I knew exactly what he truly thought. He was simply intoxicated by the image of himself performing noble deeds as a hero.
Well, I'm not exactly hero material either.
I could never become a selfless hero who sacrificed himself for others. Still, as long as I lived in this world, I would protect it and bring happiness to many. I had no desire to see the world destroyed or countless people suffer. That kind of ending simply wouldn't satisfy me.
"Now then, I'll show you the damage caused by dungeons and the monsters that emerged from them, as well as the heroes' accomplishments."
An image appeared behind Bang Soo-hwan, displaying horrific scenes. Some students who weren't used to such sights let out retching sounds at the sight of mangled corpses and monsters slaughtering people. However, most remained composed, having already hunted monsters before.
Starting the first class with visual impact is certainly effective.
The key point the footage emphasized was how heroes fought while protecting civilians—not just overpowering monsters, but ensuring ordinary people weren't harmed in the process. This theoretical lesson before practical training was meant to demonstrate exactly that.
Bang Soo-hwan's passionate lecture ended after fifty minutes.