Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: 06. The Children's Guardian
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A gentle breeze brushed past my hair as I sat by the window. I'd pinned up my half-tied hair with a hairpin, but I fiddled with it anyway, wondering if it was secure. Once I was satisfied, I turned back to my book.
Romance novels were a nice change—sweet and enjoyable. Well, sweet to the point of nausea, but still fun. But man, so cringey. And yet I found it entertaining? I guess I'm a weirdo. Not always, of course.
"What're you reading that's so funny?"
Inha approached me while I was quietly immersed in my book. Today, she'd braided her hair and wore a white short-sleeved shirt with a black pleated skirt. Inha always looked pretty, no matter what. I smiled and answered.
"A romance novel. It's at a hilarious part right now."
"Romance? Didn't you say you weren't into those?"
"Yeah, because they're so cringey."
Sometimes they're embarrassing to even look at. My past-life romance wasn't exactly sweet either. A bit intense, maybe? No, it was sweet in its own way. But writing it as a novel? Yeah... That saying must be true: other people's affairs are affairs, but your own are romance.
"Cringey? What's that mean?"
"Um... like, the lovey-dovey stuff is so intense it's hard to watch?"
"Hmm."
Mid-June, and I'd finally switched to summer uniform the day before yesterday. I'd never liked short clothes even in my past life, so I rarely wore them outside. Plus, here you could wear winter uniforms in summer if you wanted, so I'd stuck with spring/fall ones. But now long sleeves were too hot. So this morning, I'd committed to summer uniform—though I draped a thin summer cardigan over my shoulders as a compromise.
Summer uniform was the same design as winter, just shorter and lighter. I kinda liked it. The skirt length still bugged me a bit, but with shorts underneath, it was fine. And hey, we're still elementary kids, so who cares if someone peeks...
"You reading again?"
Hansu, sipping apple juice from a carton with a straw, called out. He surprisingly loved sweets. I nodded.
"Yeah."
"What's so great about books anyway..."
"They're fun."
I said with a slight smile. Hansu widened his eyes for a second, then turned away. Inha frowned at him. Then Minhee, sitting in the front, spun around and thrust her student ID at me with a question.
"Oh, Eunha! Um, where was it? You know the bulletin board about student council stuff?"
"Look it up yourself."
"Sorry~."
Minhee giggled at Hansu's jab. I chuckled softly and told her where to find it. Ever since she'd asked me about the map first, she always came to me for student ID questions. Because of that, the other kids—especially Class I kids who knew each other's skills from mobile classes—all asked me about theirs.
Minhee found the student council board and grinned wide. She scrolled through it excitedly.
"Yes! Sports day in ten days~."
"You like that?"
"Hansu doesn't? Hyunho's super pumped."
"That guy's all about it. I'm not—too much hassle."
I got that. Honestly, it sounded like a pain to me too.
This school's sports day was huge since magic was allowed. Elementary, middle, and high all together. No idea how massive it'd be.
Lower elementary had limited spells, so they'd be fine, but middle and high? Yikes. I thought of the student council president I'd met recently. She seemed swamped too—more scary than exciting. Yeah.
But my skepticism about this timing had another reason: our first exam here was a week after sports day. Vacation came soon after, so not terrible, but a magic school's first exam? Still nerve-wracking.
Our school only had two exams a year—one per semester. Practical was top secret, apparently. But if you slipped up during sports day? Total disaster.
Most magic events were middle/high, but still... uneasy.
Sports day also invited outsiders, but only via student invitations—max five per kid.
I hid a smile behind my book. Hassle or not, anxiety or not, if we're doing it, we'll do it right. That's my motto.
"But we haven't even split into teams properly? Teacher said after school, so we're sticking around."
"Well, I'd prefer teaming with Eunha."
I blinked in surprise. Prickly Hansu said that? Huh? What's up with him? Inha eyed him with a subtle frown, and he explained curtly.
"She'd be convenient."
"Oh, yeah! Eunha knows everything!"
"Exactly."
"......"
I scratched my cheek awkwardly. Compared to you guys, sure. I'd basically started a step ahead. With past-life memories from the 21st century, I picked things up faster and knew more. Naturally. Though this world's culture threw me off sometimes. Still, it felt nice.
Then Inha slid in front of me, blocking Hansu's gaze, her face dead serious.
"I'd rather team with you instead of Hansu."
"Ah! Me too—I wanna team with Inha and Eunha!"
"You? Stay away from Eunha!"
"What? Eunha and Inha teaming up is obvious!"
"No way!"
Inha and Hansu bickered, Minhee jumping in. I rested my chin on my hand, watching the kids squabble fondly.
Inha and Hansu didn't get along. Not hate, just playful spats. Their antics were kinda cute, and I smiled faintly. But yeah, I'd love to team with Inha. Tough with everyone, though.
"Hey! You guys fighting again? For you troublemakers, ta-da! I got croquettes! Want some?"
"Yes!!"
"Croquettes in this heat..."
Minhee snatched Hyunho's offer. Inha and I took ours too. Hansu grumbled but grabbed his share. Hot croquettes in summer? Not bad. I nibbled mine—curry, my favorite. Score!
"Here, Siha's too."
"Ah, thanks."
Siha, next to Minhee, watching us like I was, took hers from Hyunho. Nice guy. He had a three-years-younger sister he looked after when Mom was busy—Minhee mentioned it, since she visited his place a lot despite the distance.
"When's teacher coming?"
"Ten minutes till lunch ends."
"Aw~ Wish we could split teams and go home quick."
I agreed, listening to Minhee and Hyunho.
Then Siha spoke up curiously.
"You guys seem weirdly close. Same class in leveled lessons?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
"Similar skills?"
Siha knew Minhee's magic as childhood friends, so she gauged ours too... But we got "secrecy indoctrination" twice weekly. So Siha never pried. We knew she'd never tell anyway, so we nodded vaguely. Though,
"I'm not close to these guys?"
"You look close."
"Not!!"
...Hansu said that. But our bickering kept us tight. Shared solitude-like bond. Relieving to have peers with similar talent.
Yet it tormented me sometimes.
'Talent, talent.'
Truth is, I was the odd one out. My magic and mana were highest now. Basic spells this semester? I'd mastered them ages ago.
But I was fundamentally different. These kids built magic from raw talent since day one. Me? Adult thinking, free mindset, lucky head start.
So geniuses now, but soon I'd be exposed. Not genius—average, prodigy by chance. I knew best.
Some say luck is skill. My memories, subspace? Luck as talent maybe. But talent's talent. Skill gaps show fast. I'd be the square peg eventually.
Innate talent lasts; luck and experience fade into time. I'd end up ordinary mage, while these kids shone strong and cool.
That hurt... They admired me—highest mana, freest magic. Scared to disappoint them someday, friendship aside.
I tried ignoring it, but it stabbed sometimes. Eyes downcast, chin on hand.
"Eunha has it rough."
"...? Me...?"
Lost in thought, I pointed at myself in surprise. Siha nodded, patting my shoulder. Rough? What?
"Stuck mediating as their guardian."
"......"
A weird feeling hit me.
I mostly let them fight—verbal, so harmless. If magic, barrier up. Not around people, though.
Week one here, we submitted intros with honest magic skills—on lie-detecting paper. All to the chairman, no leaks. So they knew my sub-magic: barriers, text. I trained openly in Class I. They only cast in safe spots, so I barriered freely.
But Siha didn't know. Hence the odd vibe.
Without magic, what did I do? Answer questions, watch quietly? Stop Inha sometimes? Mostly read... But to others, I looked overworked? Guardian treatment?
"Yeah, we ignore Hansu and Inha fights 'cause Eunha's there."
"Sometimes she stops them."
"Sometimes jumps in."
I made a subtle face hearing Minhee and Hyunho.
'Eh? Is that it? Uh...?'
Bell rang as I puzzled. Teacher entered in neat suit, tapping papers on podium, scanning us.
"Teams: three—blue, white, red."
"......"
"No class favoritism—fair split. Not guaranteed same team. Practice: 1-3 hours daily, teams only. No spying, got it?"
She winked. Ugh, hope practices are lax.
I glanced at Inha. Please same team. Fair how? 1/3 odds... If by skill, our five probably split. By grade or overall? Luck anyway.
I relaxed. Regret if not, but inevitable. Same team despite odds? Thrilled. I watched teacher quietly.
"And this is... team assignments!"
Papers scattered, dissolving into colored letters midair. Grid—no borders, one horizontal, two vertical lines—for blue, white, red. Our numbers/names floated.
"Where? Where?"
"I'm blue!"
"Red!"
"Me too!"
"White!"
Class buzzed. Tense, I scanned number order.
"I'm white... Eunha?"
"...Hold on."
Inha found hers quick—lower number. I scrolled down, found mine, beamed.
"Me too—white!"
"Awesome!"
"Yeah!"
Inha held up her palm, grinning goddess-like. I high-fived. Minhee and Siha approached, eyes wide.
"Huh? You two same team? Lucky! Which?"
"White."
"Ugh... different from me. I'm red, Siha's white. She's with you two! Jealous~."
Minhee pouted. Siha shyly happy.
"Really same team. Oh, Hyunho and Hansu?"
Checking again, I answered.
"Hyunho blue, Hansu red."
"Eek, Hansu same as me?! Prefer you two over grumpy Hansu~. But Hyunho's solo."
Yeah. Inha and I nodded. She glanced silently at distant Hansu, then back to grid.
"Practice starts tomorrow! Dismissed after this!"
I grabbed my bag. Inha shouldered hers, standing.
"Oh, Inha, gonna return this book first."
"Sure? Nothing after?"
"Nope. Return and home."
She nodded. We said bye to friends, left classroom.
Only we could teleport via student ID—no one else in class. So warp to shopping district, walk rest. Better than skill hassle.
"Oh? Eunha, Inha."
En route to warp, bumped into council pres—Eunhee Sister, tired-looking.
"Long time no see. Wait, wasn't it last week?"
Her presence drew stares. Famous: high school pres, top 3 mage in school! Yeah. 2nd VP, 1st some guy senior.
"Hi."
"......"
Eunhee's eyes lit at Inha's silent bow.
"Wow, Inha's always gorgeous! Hair looks so soft and pretty! Braids suit you too!"
"...Thank you."
True. I nodded along. She laughed at me.
"Oh, right—perfect timing. Here."
She dug in pocket, pulled small spray can.
"This! Must-have for Inha."
"......?"
Inha tilted head at it. Me too, puzzled.
"Magic potion—strong stuff. For creeps. Perverts everywhere lately. Inha, be careful... Oh, you too, Eunha—double careful!"
Inha paused. Made sense.
Definitely useful. Inha's cuteness drew pervs—with me too. We'd sneaked magic to evade, attack, or call help.
Perfect for her—tons of admirers, all genders.
"...Thank you."
Inha bowed gratefully. Eunhee smiled warmly. Then asked,
"Where you headed?"
"Shopping district."
"Shopping district?"
"Returning library book."
"Ah? School's safe even for pretty Inha. But rare high mages perving—always beware. Even our strongest's a shotacon. Not gay, though."
School's top was like that? Awkward.
"Not pedo either—just hates bratty girls, loves cute boys. Weird, right? Kids are adorable! Joo Je-hyeon's tastes suck... Oh, wait."
Mid-rant, she recalled.
"Heard his sister's your grade one. Joo Minhee?"
Eyes wide. School top and our class talent Minhee... siblings.
Talent hereditary? Me aside, Inha too, Hansu's mom top 500 world, Hyunho's bro...
Wow, really genetic?
Inha nodded beside me.
"Ah. Minhee's a friend."
"Whoa, really? Makes sense—same grade~."
Eunhee nodded.
"He's shotacon siscon too. That face... wastes it sometimes. Annoying guy. You kids might not get this."
"......"
"......?"
No—in just Inha. I got it all.
Inha puzzled at Eunhee. Blank to others, but I saw: clueless. Me? Shotacon, lolicon, pedo, siscon—all known. Reincarnator vs mature kid difference? Probably...
"Deadpan to girls, melts for cute boys—suspicious. Sis bragging endless. Why's he next pres? Skill's infuriatingly good. Hansu, Hyunho... close to his sis lately, agonizing 'cause cute. Not them?"
"......"
I nodded, lips sealed. If Joo Je-hyeon heavy shotacon, pity Siha, Hansu, Hyunho. Siha friends with Minhee forever... but overkill?
We reached warp chatting. Split ways, waved goodbye boarding. Inha pocketed spray. Bustling district soon.
Inha asked suddenly.
"But Eunha... what'd she mean? Shotacon, siscon, pedo?"
"......"
I screamed internally.
'Eunhee Sister──!!'