The Principal's Piercing Gaze
I looked at Hong Yuhwa as the reward was announced. She stared back at me with a complicated expression. There was a hint of resentment, but it was overshadowed by a stronger sense of resignation.
"That alchemy looks familiar. Did the Master teach you?"
The Master was a famous figure in alchemy circles. He always said poison and medicine were separated by a mere hair's breadth, which must be why Hong Yuhwa phrased it that way.
"No, I taught myself."
"……Self-taught?"
It was true. In the game, you could get recipes, but they were always missing one or two ingredients, so I struggled like hell to figure them out. There were alchemists selling potions, but among the early community regulars, I was the only one.
And that period lasted, "about five years?"
"Five years? Just five?"
Hong Yuhwa's eyebrow twitched. Her eyes screamed disbelief. But she soon closed them, her expression returning to its usual haughty demeanor. Though her gaze burned fiercely.
"Just five years of study for that level of skill? That performance earlier didn't look like something from a mere five years."
Professor Song Rahee asked, her tone full of curiosity. The alchemy professor beside her just sparkled at me with wide eyes, like someone who'd stumbled upon treasure on the street.
"By any chance, does student Lee Seoha have any intention of donating potions?"
"Donating?"
There it was. A special system at Korea Hero School.
"We should explain first."
"Oh, you don't know! Let me explain specially. The donation system is only for those with exceptional talent in alchemy or blacksmithing. In simple terms, Korea Hero School provides unlimited materials, and the student supplies a set amount of potions."
On top of that, you got a whopping 2 million won monthly, and if you wanted to pursue academics later, you could work under a professor.
"What do you think? Want to give it a try?"
Her beaming smile was downright infuriating.
"Let me think about it a bit."
I brushed her off once. That would make her antsy.
"In my view, student Lee Seoha has the makings of a true alchemy prodigy. I'd love to work together……."
The alchemy professor said, subtly showing off her cleavage. It was quite impressive. Any average student might fall for it, but I just smiled faintly.
"Then, could you provide a private room I can use alone?"
"……Alone?"
The alchemy professor hesitated for a moment. I knew exactly what this professor was up to. She treated graduate students like slaves, pressured them with her authority to hand over rare materials or recipes they'd found, and only promoted them after they forked over recipes worth billions. She had her own talents to survive this long, but she'd fall for a demon's recipe and side with them. Then, pretending to be best friends, she'd frame the jealous Professor Song Rahee in a scandal and drag her down too—a true villain.
She's probably thinking of stealing my recipes.
To her, morality was no different from roadside trash.
No wonder she'd forced one of her graduate students to steal the Shadow Serpent scales I'd given them.
"Yes. I can't focus if other people are watching."
At my words, Professor Song Rahee's expression turned odd—like, you just brewed in front of a crowd full of staring eyes.
"Then I'll talk to the school about it. You're exceptionally talented, student Lee Seoha, so you should get your own private room. And if there are materials you want, the school can provide them too. Of course, nothing too expensive."
"Thanks then."
The alchemy professor's eyes lit up at my response.
"By any chance, have you considered becoming a graduate student? You'd make an excellent one."
"No thanks."
"Oh my, so firm."
She was really crossing the line. Her nature was already no different from a villain's.
I checked my uniform in the mirror. I'd swapped out my usual hoodie. Black slacks, white dress shirt, white vest. The blue necktie stood out.
Handsome.
Even with just the slightest tweaks from character creation customization, the build and face were satisfying.
-Not bad. And Master, the back of your pants is folded.
At the Black Heaven Demon Sword's advice, I smoothed out the hem.
"Ready?"
Instructor Seo Wooju's heavy voice. I nodded that I was.
"Not yet!"
"Me too, just a bit……."
Erhil Merhen and Kim Ara were fussing with their hair for some reason. There was only one reason for this.
We had to meet the principal of Korea Hero School. Though called the principal, her power rivaled Paewang's, so she rarely stayed on campus. Most of the time, she was at the "Boundary," blocking invasions from monsters and demons.
"By the way, how much is the prize money?"
Kim Ara asked while fixing her hair. Though raised in luxury, to live freely away from Paewang's influence, she'd brought a certain amount of artifacts and precious metals.
"Ten million won each. And one item usable at school per student."
"What kind of item……?"
"Around C-grade. You can sell it outside too. Items from the vice principal carry a premium, so sell high if you're selling."
"Is it okay to encourage that?"
"It's the principal's philosophy, so no worries. Students with family debts do it often. Poverty eats away at a person. But being born poor isn't a sin."
However.
Instructor Seo Wooju added gravely.
"But the moment you squander that money, let your grades drop, or touch crime, you'll learn how terrifying the principal is."
"Then I'm fine~."
Erhil said with a bright smile. Instructor Seo Wooju chuckled at her cheekiness.
"Hurry and get ready. If we're too late, the principal might leave."
"Eek, ready~."
"Me too!"
Erhil and Kim Ara bounced out. Erhil had added more volume to her hair, and Kim Ara had swept the bangs covering her eye to the side, securing them with a hairpin.
"Oh, Kim Ara, you look stunning~. I thought you were a beauty even with your hair covering half your face."
"You too."
"Ahem. Let's go then."
Instructor Seo Wooju cleared his throat to cut off the girls' chatter and led the way. We followed.
"But is it okay for me to accept this?"
"Yeah. Lee Seoha did everything."
"Just call me Seoha casually. I couldn't have caught it without you two."
Kim Ara and Erhil gave me strange looks at my words.
"Eastern culture praises humility and modesty, but too much comes off as arrogance. Funny, right?"
"Ahem."
They clearly didn't buy it. Well, the power of the Black Realm had exceeded their imaginations.
"We're here."
Instructor Seo Wooju stopped before an ornate, massive door. Known for his steadfast, cool demeanor—earning him the moniker Iron Lion—he now looked unusually tense.
"Don't be too nervous, everyone. The great and mighty principal is merciful. As long as you're not a demon or villain."
His voice trembled. You're the most nervous one here.
Creak.
As Instructor Seo Wooju took one more step, the door opened on its own. Inside sat a woman, legs crossed over the armrest of her chair. Radiant golden hair. Violet eyes that seemed to pierce all things. Black suit topped with a pure white coat. In a world where even power inflation reached epic scales, one of the strongest absolutes whose might never faded.
Seo Yebin.
That absolute rested her chin on her hand as she regarded us.
"Instructor Seo Wooju and students Lee Seoha, Erhil Merhen, and Kim Ara offer our greetings."
Instructor Seo Wooju bowed tensely. We followed suit, dipping our heads.
Lifting my gaze, I met Seo Yebin's violet eyes. Something inhuman seemed to peer into me.
"Interesting."
She smiled faintly. Instructor Seo Wooju froze.
"I was just going to give you ordinary things, but I've changed my mind. Instructor Seo Wooju. Call the vice principal."
"The vice principal?"
"Yes."
At Seo Yebin's word, Instructor Seo Wooju nodded and hurried off.
"Paewang's child, right?"
Seo Yebin looked at Kim Ara.
"Talent's already showing. Paewang hadn't awakened his bloodline at your age. You might surpass him in less than ten years."
"Th-thank you."
Erhil's eyes widened at her words.
"And you……you don't need advice."
"……Can you see it?"
Erhil asked stiffly. An out-of-nowhere question, but it referred to the soul residing within her.
A transcendent who'd ruled one world for a thousand years.
"A woman like me couldn't miss it. And don't trust it too much. Souls seek vessels to fulfill their unachieved 'regrets.' If you think it won't fulfill them, getting devoured is common."
"……I know."
Seo Yebin subtly warned of the risk that Melani—the transcendent—might take over her body.
"And……."
Her violet eyes turned to me.
"You're truly fascinating."
Her eyes curved into crescents.