Chapter 42
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: The Culprit is Here.
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It was still early.
With all my college morning classes skipped, heading to school in the morning felt unfamiliar after so long.
On the way to the high school.
Walking alongside students in uniforms heading to school made everything feel strange.
And with Hana unnie, no less.
"Jinwoo, you seem a bit tense."
I felt like a student teacher in disguise.
I'd asked how they could assign a student teacher on the last day, but according to Lee Seoyeon, a teacher had left midway through their practicum, so they'd slotted me in as a replacement.
It seemed a bit half-baked, but whether Yuksong's influence reached here too, Hana unnie didn't suspect a thing.
She poked my side.
"Don't be nervous. The kids here are all nice."
'That's why I'm here—to see the faces of those "nice" kids.'
She smiled innocently, oblivious to what was being done to her.
I had to find the culprit, no matter what.
We arrived at the teachers' lounge, and I introduced myself.
I'd thought they'd find it odd for a one-day practicum teacher, but apparently it happened often enough that no one batted an eye.
The air in the lounge was still suffocating, even for adults.
Then a tall man approached and spoke to me.
"You're from the same school as Ms. Hana?"
The man was tall and handsome.
His gentle expression suggested a kind personality.
"Just for today, but nice to meet you. Ms. Hana was so excited that her junior from school was coming. You two must be close?"
"Ah, yeah, well. I've known her since my freshman year."
"I see. I'm a student teacher too. Ask me if you don't know something. Call me 'hyung' or just Mr. Kim."
Mr. Kim smiled warmly.
Why would he come to an all-boys school?
He must have been incredibly popular with girls.
Beep-beep-beep.
The school bell rang after ages.
Everyone headed to class.
The subject was English.
"Teacher Lee Jinwoo, just follow me."
My supervising teacher was an older, dignified man.
"Since you're only here for a day, no need to worry. Just observe the class and hang out."
"Yes, thank you, sir."
The high school class felt peaceful but boring after so long.
How had I endured three years of this?
Aside from class time, I spent the whole morning watching unnie, but nothing seemed off.
Except for the students who came to her during breaks, as she'd said.
"Jinwoo, why are you looking around so much today?"
Lunchtime.
Unnie asked while we ate the cafeteria food.
"Ah, just a bit nervous."
Unnie picked up some side dish with her chopsticks and placed it on my spoon, smiling.
"Don't be tense. Half the day's already gone."
"Yeah, thanks, unnie."
To do something so depraved to someone this sweet.
Mr. Kim, watching from the side, chimed in.
"You two look really close. Like siblings."
"Haha, yeah. Jinwoo's like my little brother."
Unlike my worries, the school felt peaceful.
A warm, friendly atmosphere.
I hoped it would stay that way.
"Unnie, nothing happened yesterday?"
"Huh? What?"
"That white liquid you mentioned before..."
"Oh, it was on my bag again yesterday."
As expected.
She'd been hit again yesterday.
Which meant the perp wouldn't let today slide.
"Something leaking from the ceiling?"
"What's up, Ms. Hana? More weird liquid?"
Mr. Kim joined the conversation.
He probably knew the school vibe better than I did.
I might need an ally.
Just then, Mr. Kim whispered to me.
"Mr. Jinwoo, smoke? If you're done eating, let's grab one outside."
The school was non-smoking, so Mr. Kim and I went outside the gate.
The smoking area in a secluded corner already had other teachers puffing away.
I felt uneasy leaving unnie, but she was with the other teachers, so it should be fine.
"Mr. Jinwoo, that thing you were talking about with Ms. Hana earlier... there's something weird about it."
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
"It's awkward to say, but... it might be semen."
As expected.
Maybe because we're both guys, he clocked it right away.
"It's a stretch, but it's only happening to Ms. Hana, and in an all-boys school, it makes you think the worst."
"Nah, no way."
I played dumb and kept listening to Mr. Kim.
"Actually, I suspected it from the first time I saw it, but I didn't want to meddle or suspect the students."
"So you're sure it's semen?"
"Not certain. Just suspicious. But since you and Ms. Hana seem close, I figured I should tell you."
"Hmm. But a student doing that? No way."
"I hope not. But there's one kid who's a bit suspicious."
Mr. Kim glanced around, then lowered his voice.
"You know the female teachers use a separate bathroom building, right?"
"Yeah."
This all-boys school had no women's restrooms in the main building.
There was a staff one on the first floor, but it wasn't used much. The female teachers all used the ones by the auditorium.
"In class 3, there's a kid named Hyunsu who follows Ms. Hana around a lot."
"Well, the whole school follows her."
"Haha, true. But his vibe is creepy, and last time, I saw him by the auditorium bathrooms with his hand in his pocket."
"His hand? Why?"
"It was moving like he was fiddling with himself down there."
"Really? You sure?"
"Yeah, I saw it clearly, but suspecting a student feels wrong."
"Any distinguishing features?"
"Thick glasses frames, buzzed hair. School's lax on length as long as no dye, so he stands out."
"Easy to spot then."
"But doesn't Ms. Hana have a boyfriend? Maybe we shouldn't gossip—ask him for help?"
No.
If he was helpful, she'd have called him already.
"Still, it's only been on unnie's stuff so far, so probably nothing big today. We'll just keep watch."
I wasn't around before.
Today, I'd stick by unnie until we went home. What could happen?
And Mr. Kim seemed willing to help.
"Whew. Glad I could vent to someone. It was bugging me alone."
"Thanks for telling me. But Mr. Kim, why this school? You'd be swarmed at a girls' high school."
"It's my alma mater. Graduated from here."
"Oh! You went here?"
"Yeah, and my old mentor's still here. The English teacher we sat in on—she was my homeroom in senior year."
I see.
Watching him, Mr. Kim really suited being a teacher.
"Mr. Jinwoo, we've only known each other a day, but I feel comfortable with you. Wanna hang out outside too?"
"Ah, sure... Yeah! Sounds good, Mr. Kim."
"Haha, outside, just call me bro. Cool?"
I used to struggle with people.
Thanks to Sperm Pay, maybe?
I'm gaining confidence in relationships.
"Bell's about to ring. Let's head back."
"Yeah."
Mr. Kim and I returned to the staff lounge.
Afternoon schedule.
Practicum was done.
After classes ended, we had to say goodbye to students, and there was a dinner later, so everyone was chatting in the lounge.
Hana unnie was talking with Mr. Kim.
I felt awkward alone.
'Might as well smoke.'
Smoking alone by the gate, I spotted a student wandering the halls.
Looking around suspiciously.
'Classes are on. Where's he going alone?'
Buzzed hair, thick glasses.
That must be Hyunsu.
'Suspicious, but no proof. Day's almost over safely anyway.'
Too bad I couldn't catch him in the act, but unnie safe was enough.
The culprit?
Lee Seoyeon would analyze the semen and find him.
Today successful if unnie's fine.
I headed back to the lounge.
Unnie was gone.
"Excuse me, where's Hana unnie—Ms. Hana?"
"She said she was going to the bathroom a bit ago."
......Damn it.
Can't let guard down till the end!
"Argh!!"
I bolted from the lounge.
Ran toward where I'd seen Hyunsu.
'Last time, bathroom?'
If bathroom, he could shoot from over the stall while she sat.
I dashed down the stairs, praying I wasn't late.
Short-haired boy ahead.
'Hyunsu!'
I caught my breath and tailed carefully.
Hyunsu looked around, then crept to the first floor.
'Just staff bathrooms there.'
Bathroom it was.
I hurried.
Hyunsu stopped at staff bathrooms but entered the women's, not men's.
"Hyunsu!"
I charged into the women's room.
Startled Hyunsu.
No one else inside.
"Uh... what, teacher?"
"......Why are you in the staff bathroom? The women's?"
"Gotta poop. Staff ones are clean."
......Wrong guy.
"Th-then why women's, not men's?"
"Female teachers all use auditorium ones anyway. Sis! I'm urgent! Move!"
Bang!
False alarm.
So unnie just went to the bathroom?
Better check auditorium too.
Weeeng! Weeeng!
Phone rang.
Lee Seoyeon.
"Hello."
-Jinwoo! Analysis done! We were wrong! Not a student. Semen owner is mid-20s male!
Mid-20s.
All teachers here were older.
-Probably 25 or 26! Anyone come to mind?
......Mr. Kim!
Come to think, when I looked for unnie in lounge, Mr. Kim was gone too.
'They were talking!'
I started frantically searching the school grounds.