Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Mom's a Real Beast
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"…Do I really have to go?"
"Of course~! You'll be going to the same school as Yuri, right?"
"What a hassle……."
My age. UwU, eight years old.
Ugh! It's so infuriating. Me, having to go to school at this age just to learn addition and subtraction!!
'Honestly, elementary-level stuff is something I could ace on a qualification exam and still have time left over.'
Even though my body is that of an eight-year-old toddler, the knowledge in my head belongs to a self-proclaimed elite who graduated from a provincial national university with a 4.1 GPA.
An elite who played all they wanted, covered living expenses with on-campus jobs, and paid tuition with academic scholarships!!
A super-elite who only had a 10 million won loan from a scholarship foundation for living expenses and paid it all back in just half a year after getting a job!!
And now, someone like me has to go to school for basic addition and subtraction.
Aaaah…….
"It's so boring… I wanna die……."
Thwack!!
"Ow!!"
A perfect hit to the crown of my head from Mom's soft, squishy knuckle-fist!!
Maybe the reason my scalp is so tough is because Mom's been pounding on it like this, toughening it up.
"Honestly…… Yuna. You don't want to go to school?"
"Mm."
To be honest, I do wonder if school is even necessary.
Right now, if someone took the qualification exam, people would look at them like, 'Did the kid do something wrong? Or is there something wrong with them that they can't go to school?' But by the time I hit my twenties, it'll be the ultimate cost-effective route.
Super fast, efficient, and convenient—the perfect high-value option that skyrockets in popularity among MZ generations who prioritize max efficiency over graduating school.
That said, it's not like I hate the idea…
I just don't feel the need and it's a hassle, but there are experiences you can only have at school.
Plus, this is my second life—maybe high school life round two will be even more fun than the first.
"I don't hate it."
"Right? I want to see Yuna make lots of friends and do great in her studies."
……?
'Wait. Studies?'
What pops into your head first when you think studies? Tests! Right, there are tests.
The tests from my school days in my past life—exciting but something I truly hated.
But now?
As Han Yuna, the genius roe deer who's mastered arithmetic?!
"Mom. Then promise me just one thing!"
"Huh? Sure. What promise?"
"If I study su~per well and get first place in the class, grant me one wish!"
This is totally… a lucky break!
Every test, I get a wish ticket. Twice a year, I can make a wish.
Suddenly, I want to go to school.
I wanted to sling on my bookbag, hum a tune, and dash to school for my first day… but Mom said it'd draw too much attention, and at least on the first day, I should learn to take the bus.
Hng. Buses are convenient, but the intervals are way too long.
Still, luck was on my side today—the bus doors opened right as I reached the stop, letting me arrive at elementary school smoothly.
Ulleung Elementary School.
The name makes you wonder… but in this island village, it's one of the few elementaries—and arguably the most impressive.
Not even using a district name, just the whole island's name. Compared to other schools, it feels way more prestigious and awesome.
Like how universities in Seoul might boast fancy names and reputations, but there's that saying about anything below Seoul National University being trash?
I got off in front of the school gate, shouldered my bookbag, and stepped inside with light, bouncy steps to check out my school for this life…….
"Whoa."
This is totally that classic old-school elementary vibe, straight out of the past.
No colorful 2024 buildings—just plain white-painted main and annex buildings, simple and rugged.
The obligatory Admiral Yi Sun-sin statue you find at every school.
A playground covered in gravel and sand, jungle gym, slide, pull-up bars, and soccer goals at both ends.
Still, it's huge.
Living as Han Yuna, it's my first time seeing such a massive building, so I let out a short gasp of admiration as I headed deeper inside. More and more kids like me, new enrollees, were wandering around holding their parents' hands.
At first, Mom was all, 'Honey, should I come with you? Are you sure you'll be okay?' super worried, but who am I? A seasoned veteran newbie who's already done elementary once!
I have to show her I can not just survive this brutal school life without her—I can dominate it!
I pulled out the admission schedule notice from my pocket and skimmed it… Hmm. Gotta gather in the auditorium by 10.
The info board at the main entrance showed the auditorium on the fourth floor.
Climbing the stairs to the fourth… Oh. This must be it.
Floors one through three had classrooms, staff rooms, bathrooms, etc., lined along corridors on both sides. But the fourth had a corridor only on the right, with bathrooms and a computer lab.
On the left, two big doors that looked like the auditorium entrance, with what seemed to be teachers sitting out front.
"Is this the auditorium?"
"Oh my. Yes, it is~ What's your name, sweetie? Where are your parents?"
"Han Yuna! I came alone today!"
"……?"
They say first impressions are everything.
The entrance ceremony is my stage to show the teachers and future classmates who I really am.
Heh heh. Time to plant an image no one would expect from a normal first-grader.
'……What is this?'
"Hi! I'm Han Yuna! Anyone who wants to be my friend… uh, let me see~ Teacher! Can I borrow some chalk?"
"Sure, go ahead."
A unique kid who came to the entrance ceremony alone.
The other kids were fidgeting nervously, eyeing each other amid the awkward excitement of school, but this one kid was totally chill, making the corner of my mouth twitch up.
I'd spotted her first at the auditorium doors and worried.
All the others came holding their parents' hands, but Yuna was solo.
Was her home life rough?
What if she felt left out seeing the other kids?
Am I getting a problem child right off the bat as my first homeroom class?
Trembling with all sorts of worries, I couldn't take my eyes off the poised, pretty, and refined Yuna.
But then she smiled brightly, chatted effortlessly with the boy next to her, and they hit it off right away… I breathed a sigh of relief inside.
Phew. How could this be a problem child?
Yeah. Her parents didn't come? They must trust Yuna enough to let her come alone.
Her behavior, speech, and vocabulary—hard to believe she's eight.
The other kids mumble their names shyly, glancing at me and their classmates, then scurry back to their seats.
But Yuna beams, speaks loudly and clearly with perfect pronunciation.
Her voice cuts through the awkward air like a refresher, so I nod and hand her a fresh piece of chalk…….
Crack.
"?"
'…What the heck?'
"Anyone who wants to be my friend has to at least do this much! Got it?!"
What am I even watching? Huh?
Can chalk just crumble to powder in your hand like that?
Fresh white chalk shattering into pieces and dust from her small, pale hand.
And the classroom atmosphere turning icy in an instant.
I'd seen college guys split them in half for fun, but crushing one barehanded? Never.
"Huh? No answer? Why's it so quiet? Kids! Give me a clap too~ Yeah? Clap."
"Eek!"
"M-Mommy……."
'Ah.'
Now I get it. Why Yuna came to the entrance ceremony alone.
Her parents trust her.
'They trust there are no kids who could mess with her, so they let her come alone.'
Even as an adult, if I had to fight Yuna, I'd be scared first.
Her face is smiling, her voice lively, but maybe it's just me—the word 'clap' at the end felt heavy.
"Y-Yuna? The kids are scared, so don't do stuff like that, okay~? Got it?"
"?? Huh? Really? But… if they're too fragile, I might poke them and send them to the hospital……."
What kind of talk is that, Yuna?
Utterly baffled, sweating bullets inside, I somehow got her to sit down… but the boy next to her is trembling, just peeking at her.
Oh no, this won't do. Can't ruin the atmosphere on the first day!!
"Hey, friend! Why are you so far~? Caught a cold? You look pale."
"N-N-No……. I-I'm f-fine……."
Should I intervene or not?
Jeongu, the pale-faced boy next to her—eight years old, already learning to read the mood of someone way above him.
Yuna drapes an arm over Jeongu's shoulder, pulls him close, genuinely worried—checks his forehead with the back of her hand, pulls a handkerchief from her pants pocket to wipe his sweat.
"Your name… right, Jeongu? Jeongu! Your friend Yuna here ha~tes liars! Super hates them! Now! Spill everything that's bothering you honestly!"
Yuna, who'd be honest after that?
Saying that to a scared kid worried about backlash…….
"Y-You're scary!! Stay away! Waaah!!"
Oh no. This is bad.
And it's only the first day.
My first homeroom gig… something's gone terribly wrong. I can feel it.