The Desire to Become Stronger
"Good morning, Jin, Arian." Yoo Eun-chae greeted the two with a brighter tone than usual. She, too, was genuinely glad to see them, just like Yee Eun-chae.
"Did you enjoy breakfast?" Seo Moon-jin asked, looking between himself and Yoo Eun-chae. Yee Eun-chae smiled and replied, "Mm, I ate well! Thanks to you, Jin, every meal has been satisfying lately. But this morning felt a little empty without you and Arian."
Yee Eun-chae spoke her feelings honestly. The breakfast itself had been excellent because of Seo Moon-jin, yet eating without him and Arian Liberin left her with a hollow feeling.
"Breakfast might be difficult for a while. I'm eating with Min-hye."
"Mm, I thought as much." Yee Eun-chae didn't press Arian Liberin about why she was joining him for breakfast. Just two days ago, her friend had nearly been dragged away by villains and offered as a living sacrifice. She had no desire to dredge up those painful memories. Even after two days, the fact that Arian was still sticking close to Seo Moon-jin suggested she had been far more shaken than she let on.
"Still, we'll have lunch together, so don't worry."
"Mm! I'll look forward to it!" Yee Eun-chae nodded and beamed brightly.
* * *
I sat between Arian Liberin and Yee Eun-chae as I had the day before, with Yoo Eun-chae taking the seat beside her. Once settled, I recalled what had happened in the cafeteria that morning. I hadn't witnessed it directly, but I had extended my senses just in case and confirmed the details.
'Seo Moon-hyun is spiraling further than I expected.'
Seo Moon-hyun had lived a life of unbroken success. Everything had gone smoothly for him until now. In the original story, he had entered as the top student, drawing everyone's attention with talent that clearly outclassed the rest. That sense of ease had hidden his true nature even from Arian Liberin. More precisely, Arian, unaware of Terenity's true identity, had been cornered and rescued by him, leading her to rely on him without ever seeing through his facade.
Yee Eun-chae and Yoo Eun-chae were no different. Even Seo Moon-min-hye hadn't known about her eldest brother Seo Moon-jin until their reunion after he became a villain. With Seo Moon-hyun, she had been close enough to feel like a doting younger sister with a touch of brother complex.
But here at the academy, Seo Moon-hyun had been pushed into second place because of my presence. Unable to build relationships with the heroines, his impatience had driven him to reckless actions, exposing the ugly core that the original story had kept hidden.
'I need to raise him higher before I drop him.'
Even now, Seo Moon-hyun sat in a lofty position. I intended to let him believe he possessed everything before yanking it all away. I had disliked entering as second rather than first, yet I never imagined a single top-student title would make him reveal his inferiority complex so openly and clumsily.
This morning, without me around, he had approached Yee Eun-chae and Yoo Eun-chae only to be met with open disgust.
'In the original, they grew close easily. Here, he won't even manage a shred of friendship.'
Still, an event would soon arrive that would let Seo Moon-hyun believe he had reached the very top. According to the original plot, he shouldn't have been able to participate, but now that he was the top student, the process of bringing him down would proceed without issue.
More important right now was Yee Eun-chae.
"Jin, I'm really looking forward to what you'll teach me starting today. I'm so excited I feel like I won't be able to focus in class. It's a bit troubling."
Yee Eun-chae, seated beside me, wore a slightly troubled expression. She was clearly anticipating the training I would begin with her today. The lessons I planned would undoubtedly accelerate her growth, yet the fact that she held such high expectations without any prior experience showed just how deeply she trusted me.
'I need to make her trust me even more.'
Arian Liberin and Seo Moon-min-hye were already mine. Now it was time to make Yee Eun-chae mine as well. Once she became my woman, she would receive a fitting reward.
"Still, focus on class. Everything comes down to experience. What I'm going to teach will make everyone stronger, but varied experiences are important too."
My words were not false. I could strengthen their combat power, but experience mattered just as much. The theory classes we attended in this very classroom and the countless real-world encounters we would face were all valuable assets.
'I'm training my own experience as well.'
Through game synchronization, I had suddenly awakened overwhelming power, yet even if my body had naturally adapted to handling it, a lack of real combat experience was unavoidable. That was why I created countless simulated scenarios through image training, accumulating indirect battle experience by living through them.
Learning about the achievements and paths of active heroes in theory class was equally important for every student. While it wouldn't make them grow as quickly as my methods, the things taught at the National Hero Academy were undeniably useful.
"Mm! I understand! Following in the footsteps of active heroes is important too, so I'll approach it with a serious heart."
Yee Eun-chae nodded with a reflective expression. She wasn't only seeking personal strength; as someone who wished to become a hero, she was reflecting on her previous focus on individual power and reaffirming the mindset of a true hero.
'She must be quite annoyed with Seo Moon-hyun.'
Yee Eun-chae's reaction stemmed from her refusal to keep losing to Seo Moon-hyun's constant irritating behavior.
"That's the spirit."
I decided to support this mindset of hers. Even after becoming my woman, she would still be able to become a hero who saved people.
'I'll help her too, of course.'
If my woman wished for something, I would do everything in my power to assist. I would do my utmost to ensure the happiness of those who became mine. That was the principle I had set for myself.
'Today's theory class will probably involve observing past incidents as if we were there in person.'
Yee Eun-chae possessed a desire to grow stronger. Anyone would want to become stronger. But her reason was fundamentally for the sake of others. She wanted enough power to protect her friend—me—from Seo Moon-hyun's hostility, and to shield Arian Liberin and Yoo Eun-chae from his rudeness. Beyond that, like her choice to walk the path of a hero, she wanted to grow strong so she could help those who needed her strength.
It was no coincidence that she had the most righteous personality among the heroines.
'Her sense of justice is the strongest.'
Arian Liberin valued national interests. Yoo Eun-chae wanted to rescue her mother and seek revenge. Lee Se-na wished to heal others rather than fight evil directly. Even compared to them, Yee Eun-chae's sense of justice always stood at the forefront.
While I was thinking this, several students entered the classroom for the lesson. Among them were Seo Moon-hyun and Lee Se-na. Lee Se-na looked troubled because of what Seo Moon-hyun had done that morning, yet when her eyes met Yee Eun-chae's and Yoo Eun-chae's, she lowered her head slightly, silently conveying another apology.
[Hyun has been acting strange lately. Haah… I'm really sorry to Eun-chae and Hyun-ah too.]
Lee Se-na was mentally suffering, apologizing on Seo Moon-hyun's behalf for wrongs she hadn't committed. Yee Eun-chae and Yoo Eun-chae knew she was blameless and didn't blame her, yet she continued to struggle because of her childhood friend.
'In the original, she was eventually abandoned anyway.'
Even in the original story, she had been the heroine most devoted to Seo Moon-hyun for the longest time, but her ending was the worst. Meanwhile, Seo Moon-hyun coldly rejected every other man who showed interest in her. At first it seemed like he was simply guarding his woman, but even after learning of her feelings, he cast her aside and ended up with Kang Mi-hyun alone.
After miraculously defeating Terenity thanks to attribute advantage, Seo Moon-hyun married Kang Mi-hyun, abandoned all the other heroines, and left them to live out their days as lonely spinsters who could only think of him. Meanwhile, endless glorification was poured over Kang Mi-hyun's countless evil deeds.
Creaaak!
While I was thinking this, the professor in charge of today's class finally entered. It wasn't Professor Bang Soo-hwan, but another professor who looked like an elderly gentleman in a formal suit. In truth, he was closer to a lecturer than an instructor.
"Good to see you all. Starting this week, I'll be teaching you for a while. My name is Park Kyu-sik."
Professor Park Kyu-sik's theory class began, and I quietly focused on the lesson content. Until this evening, I would simply spend the day devoted to my studies.