Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Teacher and Child
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The day before the second-grade closing ceremony—the last day of class for Class I. My friends clung to the teacher, practically sobbing.
“Waaah!! I don’t wanna go up to third grade!! Teacher, stay our teacher forever!!”
Class I was just a leveled class for the lower grades of elementary school, after all. Today was the last day we’d learn from Teacher Min and Teacher Junhwi.
Minhee, feeling heartbroken about it, clung to Teacher Junhwi, tears and snot streaming down her face. I felt my nose start to tingle as I looked at them, too.
Of course, even if they wouldn’t be our homeroom teachers anymore once we moved up a grade, we wouldn’t lose touch forever as long as we were at the same school. For some reason, it felt strange. I’d changed a lot since reincarnating here. I wasn’t the type to get sentimental over something as natural as parting ways...
Teacher Junhwi gently stroked Minhee’s head as she hung onto him.
“You kids. Crying like it’s graduation day or something. Not that many students even cry at actual graduations these days.”
“But... but...”
It wasn’t just Minhee. Hyunho was shedding big teardrops nonstop, too. Yeah, those two were the most sentimental out of all of us. But even Hansu and Inha looked incredibly bummed as they stared at the teachers. Hansu’s eyes were red like he was on the verge of tears.
Naturally, I felt bummed, too. Teacher Junhwi was just saying that—he was obviously attached to us. Both teachers looked heartbroken; it was plain to see.
“Aigoo, you kids. At least it makes me a little happy that you’re crying.”
Teacher Min said that as he pulled us into a group hug. Hansu, uncharacteristically, didn’t resist and just accepted it. Oh, Hansu just sniffled.
“Crybaby?”
“I’m not crying!!”
Hansu yelled at Inha’s question. Teacher Min muttered something about cute kids while hugging us and patted each of our heads.
“Hey, you gotta let the kids go. What’re you gonna do holding onto them? We have to part ways eventually...”
“Waaah!! Sniff...! Teaaacher...”
“Ah, alright. Don’t cry too much. We’ll meet again in the upper grades anyway. Me and that guy Yumin handle magic theory and practice for the upper elementary grades.”
Only after hearing that did Minhee finally stop crying a bit.
“Sniff... Really?”
“Yeah. And if you wanna see us, just come visit.”
Teacher Min giggled and whispered in our ears.
“That guy over there? He’s bummed, too. So you gotta come visit often.”
“Sniff.”
“Yumin!”
“Got it, got it.”
Teacher Min released his arms from around us at Teacher Junhwi’s voice, looked up, and smiled. Before fully letting go, he smiled warmly and patted my head. My nose tingled again. We’d really grown attached...
“It’s good for you kids, too. Starting next year, you’ll get dedicated teachers.”
Teacher Min said that, glancing back at Teacher Junhwi for a moment. Teacher Junhwi gave a slight snort. I looked up at them both with slightly anxious eyes.
“Usually, it’s upper elementary or middle school when you get group classes... Be grateful. You kids’ll get one-on-one lessons from top-notch teachers for all three years of upper elementary.”
Teacher Min comforted us warmly. It was exciting, sure, but still... parting from our teachers felt really sad. I finally started sniffling, and Teacher Junhwi laughed helplessly.
“Got it? Stay healthy.”
“...Teaaacheeer!!!”
Minhee and Hyunho burst into tears again.
Spring returned, and we moved up to third grade. The biggest change for us third graders was class assignments. Last year, I’d ended up separated from everyone, but this time, we were back in classes with our friends. Well, not all together like in first grade.
Me, Inha, and Hyunho were in Class 3; Minhee and Hansu in Class 2; Sihwa in Class 1. We were split across three classes this time, with only Sihwa separated alone.
It bummed us out, but only for a moment. Sihwa was a bit shy but good at fitting in with friends. Plus, her friends weren’t just us. She seemed a little disappointed at first about being separated, but she soon greeted her new classmates warmly.
Well, our whole grade added up to fewer than a hundred kids. Even with a few transfers this year, it was still under a hundred. So whether we changed classes or not, we pretty much knew everyone anyway.
Hansu checked the assignments and ended up worrying about himself.
“Argh, seriously!! Why am I stuck in the same class as this girl alone?!”
“What?! Hey, what’s wrong with me?”
Minhee poked Hansu playfully. At that, me, Hyunho, and Inha exchanged subtle looks. Minhee often teased Hansu, putting him in awkward spots. Despite her innocent, bright face, she knew how to wrap people around her finger. Yep, definitely Je-hyeon oppa’s little sister.
“And today, you threw me under the bus with those girls bugging you about Je-hyeon hyung...”
“You’ve got a pretty good look yourself, Hansu! I figured they’d shut up if I sicced you on them!”
“Argh!”
If Inha was Hansu’s natural predator, Minhee was his predator in a whole other way. Hansu just couldn’t handle her.
I took a fresh look at Hansu’s face after Minhee’s comment. Yeah, fair enough. Hansu didn’t stand out much yet because he was still a kid, but he definitely had great looks. I’d bet anything he’d grow up even handsomer than Je-hyeon oppa. Of course, Inha had been eye-catchingly stunning since she was little, but girls like her were super rare.
I couldn’t help but marvel. Wow, seriously... Hadn’t I been feasting my eyes on hotties and beauties nonstop since reincarnating here? Inha’s whole family was gorgeous, and so were Eunhee unnie, Seonghu oppa, Je-hyeon oppa—all top-tier looks. Hansu, too, and while I wasn’t sure about Minhee or Hyunho yet, Minhee being Je-hyeon oppa’s sister was half the battle right there. Plus, Teacher Yumin was a total hunk...
Man, reincarnating here meant serious eye candy. Lost in that thought, I rustled in my pocket and pulled out some club activity flyers. I’d just reached in absentmindedly, and they caught on my hand.
‘Oh, right...’
I’d forgotten about them for a sec. I unfolded the flyers. Inha sidled up next to me.
“That club stuff?”
“Yeah. Had it in my pocket.”
Now in third grade, Inha was wearing the uniform properly, just like she’d said she would. They say fashion’s all about the face, but Inha made even the uniform look dazzling. Sometimes I wondered if we were even wearing the same one. She brushed her long, swishing hair behind her ear and leaned in close.
“Picked one yet?”
“Nah, not yet. Gonna think a bit more. They all sound fun.”
Club activities. They were pretty much the only elective for elementary kids. Most were like regular clubs—same lessons, same departments. The main difference? They started in third grade elementary.
Because a lot of clubs involved magic. Not suitable for lower elementary kids who struggled even with basic spells.
Oh, it’s not all magic clubs, though. There were plenty of normal ones. But yeah, clubs started in third grade. Once you picked one, you stuck with it for a year. Usually elementary with elementary, middle with middle. Though I heard a few mixed elementary-middle clubs existed. Middle school clubs often tied into extracurriculars, and high school had extracurriculars but no clubs—the schedule was packed enough.
Anyway, clubs were one of the things I was hyped for in third grade. Hansu, who’d been bickering with Minhee, overheard and turned.
“What, clubs? You still haven’t decided? I already picked and turned mine in.”
“Yeah? What’d you go with?”
“Gardening Club.”
“...”
I shut my mouth with a subtle expression, hesitating.
Uh, um... How to put it. For magic... it fits perfectly... but personality-wise... somehow... No, but he’s a tsundere type, yeah, surprisingly...?
I finally got it when I read the description in the flyer.
『The Gardening Club grows plants (including magical ones) and cultivates them. Perfect for anyone who wants to create all sorts of magical plants!』
Oh, aaah... Sounds super fun! My eyes sparkled as I said,
“That sounds fun. And it suits you, Hansu.”
“Right?”
He grinned happily at my words. Meanwhile, Inha, reading the same description, just snorted. Hansu got mad at her, but hey, it didn’t seem like a mean snort to me.
“I already picked one, too! Swimming Club! They teach swimming! And our school pool has all those weird gadgets!”
“I decided, too! There’s a Shooting Club here. I’m joining that.”
I looked kinda overwhelmed. Wow, our school really has every club imaginable. Sihwa tilted her head at Minhee’s words.
“But Shooting Club does it with middle school seniors, right? Oh, Swimming Club too?”
“Yeah, apparently.”
“Right! Swimming Club’s with middle schoolers, too.”
Shooting Club... sounded fun. I sank back into thought. Everything sounded fun. Inha turned to Sihwa.
“What about you, Sihwa? Decided?”
“Huh? Yeah. Just the Reading Club.”
“Hmm...”
Watching my friends pick theirs one by one left me a bit flustered. Gotta decide by tomorrow, but how? I asked Inha next.
“What about you, Inha? Picked?”
“Nope. Planning to go wherever Eunha goes.”
“Just pick what you like. It’s only two hours a week.”
“I wanna do it together.”
“She thinks she’s a chick or something...”
“...”
Inha shot Hansu a glare for his grumbling. At it again with the sniping. I watched, chuckled, and scanned the flyer again.
Well, whatever the reason, just pick what you wanna do. It’s not a one-time chance. You can switch clubs next year.
I skimmed the list, pondering. So many I wanted to try. Hansu’s pick, Minhee’s—both fun. I loved reading books, and as a former word addict, researching spell magic sounded great. Maybe a bit boring, though.
Recalling past club experiences: literature club, comics club, reading club, cross-stitch, beading. All fun in their way. Reading, clumsily drawing comics, stitching, linking beads into accessories...
‘Accessories...’
Mid-thought, I glanced at Inha. I remembered the first time I gave her a gift. Sure, we’d exchanged birthday presents and stuff since, but that initial satisfaction was unforgettable.
Plus, linking beads or tying ends to make accessories was one of my hobbies. Beads especially—no fancy handiwork needed; just follow the pattern. Accessories were one area where my clumsy hands didn’t fail too badly. For reference, my hands were cursed in a few fields, the absolute worst being pottery—anything clay-related. Even playdough cracked under my touch. The kids in art class were amazed at my skills...
Looking back now, the necklace I made Inha had some sloppy spots. I scanned the flyer. ‘Accessory Making’... There it was, perfect. I hadn’t expected it, so I was surprised for a sec.
Nearby were cross-stitch and knitting clubs. I quickly checked the blank next to Accessory Making with my finger. Mana-tinted color marked the paper like ink. I folded it back up.
“What? Didn’t you just check something?”
“Huh? Yeah. Picked a club.”
“Which one?”
Everyone turned to me with interest. I smiled lightly.
“Accessory Making Club.”
“Whoa, girly...”
“Sounds kinda hard.”
“Inha, you gonna manage?”
“I’ll see.”
Oh right, I picked without much thought for Inha. Felt bad for a sec, but nah. Clubs weren’t that serious. Then Hansu looked at me seriously.
“But with your handiwork... you sure you can do it?”
“...”
Everyone looked at me. I pouted and glared at Hansu. That was the first time I got mad at the little punk.
“What’s that supposed to mean? I’ll figure it out just fine!”
I got annoyed and turned away sharply. Hansu panicked at my sulkiness—obvious, since I’d hardly ever gotten mad at them before. Everyone else freaked out, too. Even Inha, who bickered with Hansu nonstop.
“Hmph!”
I spun around and teleported home, leaving my friends behind.
Later, I heard they were totally thrown and spent ages debating what to do. But it was pointless worry. I wasn’t the type to hold a petty grudge long. By the next day, I was back to normal—hell, I’d forgotten all about it while reading at home...
Of course, petty sulks don’t last. When I’m truly mad, even I hold it a while.
The kids were baffled seeing me chat normally the next day but soon relaxed. They picked up the club talk where it left off.
Clubs were every Wednesday. Third grade added some class periods—fifth and one sixth. Clubs took the last two periods of Wednesday’s fourth slot, the only one that week.
With me and Inha checking Accessory Making, everyone’s clubs were set: Hansu in Gardening, Hyunho in Swimming, Sihwa in Reading, Minhee in Shooting, me and Inha in Accessory Making. First month was trial, and you could switch if it didn’t fit.
“But Inha, if Accessory Making doesn’t work, try a club you like then. Doing what you enjoy matters.”
“Doing it with you is what I enjoy.”
“No, trying everything’s important. Especially finding what fits you. Being apart two hours a week won’t kill us. Find something fun. Oh, Accessory Making’s not bad, though.”
I beamed. Inha thought a moment, then nodded. Got it.
Clubs started next week, though. We’d only been in the new term a week.
That first week, I thoroughly read the new textbooks. Well, not all—too boring. Language, music... and magic theory!
Obviously dove into magic theory, especially formations. Spell and attribute magic had new stuff that piqued interest. But formations were tough for me, even the basics.
Convert attributes to characters, arrange logically, draw mana flow in circle form. Formations base on circles but include triangles, squares, stars—tons of shapes. Third grade covered under ten, but the textbook explained basics in depth; couldn’t skim.
‘This is why you gotta read books!’
Any magic needs understanding first. Foundation. Even unique magic. Hallucination to me? Dreams. Characters? Stories. Barriers? Worlds. That’s mine.
Spell and formation magic systematize existing magic. They demand logic. Like with spell textbook, formation one made me think: stock up on elementary-level books, understand or not.
Only then can you grasp and cast formations. Advanced? Create them.
‘If magic literacy’s low, you draw manually—but I don’t need to. Total blessing.’
Plus, formation and spell magic base on ‘characters’. Lately, I’d wondered: convert them to my text magic? But need total grasp of each formation or spell. Rewrite as text sentences!
My text thrives on ‘imagination’. Sure, naming a magic with a character works without full overhaul. But experience taught me that’s superficial. Hence digging into formations.
But as said: self-study has limits. I knew; Teachers Junhwi and Min said it, too.
I devoured formation basics books, textbooks included. Speed-reading glasses let me blaze through twenty a day—still more unknown than known.
Imagined formations via diagrams fine for casting. But text conversion? Always missing something. ‘Character (name)’ worked; ‘sentence (description)’ almost always glitched. I wanted both. By week’s end, frustrated and pissed.
“Eunha, you’ve been buried in books during breaks. What’s up?”
“Studying... Told you, practicing converting formations to text...”
Head throbbed from cramming. Felt like stuffing junk knowledge in my brain. Lots learned, all shallow. I sighed.
Asked Auntie Seona—no equal in magic prowess—or Uncle Jeongmin’s vast scholarly knowledge. But neither explained well. Auntie Seona half intuition; Uncle Jeongmin too complex. Still, they spotted issues in my sentences easily, saving me. Got a few formations to sentences thanks to them.
But that was their help. Zero solo successes. Sigh. Guess I gotta study long-term like them.
Self-study limits, especially early—need guidance, course-correction. No one for me now.
‘Visit Teachers Junhwi or Min...? Nah, that’d be a bother...’
Pondering their faces, Hyunho, who’d heard me, looked exasperated.