Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: There's No Such Thing as a Beastly Girl
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Was it because I showed such a vigorous and confident side on the first day of self-introductions, unlike the others?
No one treats me lightly, even though I'm smaller and more delicate-looking than kids my age.
Yep, you really have to make a strong first impression so people don't look down on you!
...But maybe I imprinted it a bit too strongly.
"I'm the only one without friends."
"...If you show off like that to the kids, of course they'll be scared."
Yuri, my one and only friend at Ulleung Elementary School and the big sister type.
Even after seeing my strong side with her own eyes—climbing mountains on all fours and punching through trees with my fingers—she still hangs out with me.
She's not scared at all.
This isn't my problem.
It's just that this year's first-graders are all cowards and weaklings.
During lunch break, I was crouched on the high bleachers in the playground—the stands—when my eyes happened to meet Yuri's as she was playing tag with her friends.
It's already been two weeks since my school life started.
The classmates laugh and have fun in their little groups, but the moment I approach, they freak out and slink away.
Jeongu, was it? I thought he'd be sturdy since he does taekwondo, but who knew he'd be the type to tear up and leak lemonade from down there whenever he sees me.
'Is that it? Tough on the outside but soft inside, like a crispy fried chicken with juicy meat?'
Tsk. How juicy is he on the inside that he leaks juices from below every time he sees me.
Even Pavlov's dog would bow down to that conditioned reflex.
"But I'm smaller than the other kids! If I hadn't shown how strong I am, they would've bullied me like crazy, right? Yuri, you pointed at me first too!"
"?? Pointed?"
"Pointing at someone with your finger while talking about them. That's super rude."
"!! I-I didn't know! That's unfair! I-I just thought Yuna was cute and pretty!"
Well, how would Yuri, who's just turned nine, know that pointing is rude?
The adults probably just chuckled and cooed over how adorable she was.
Still, you have to instill manners like this from a young age so she'll be loved even as she grows up, right?
"...Feeling lonely without friends?"
"??"
Yuri suddenly glances at my face and asks cautiously.
Huh? Lonely? Hmm, a little disappointing, but not really?
Honestly, my mental age hasn't regressed enough to happily play with these one-dimensional kids who only follow their instincts and feelings.
If anything, if I became friends with the class kids now, wouldn't I be the one babysitting them?
Even with my roe deer physique and beastly instincts, taking care of over 30 kids might drain me completely.
"Pfft~ If I really wanted to, making friends would be a piece of cake~! Even the teachers are totally smitten with my charm... Huh?"
Wait a sec. Thinking about it, that's true?
Do I really need to obsess over these little kids?
School life might be simple and easy mode, but it's still a mini society.
They say love your peers, but in social life, the ones you need to love, lick, and bow to the most are your superiors.
If you spread the cheeks of adults higher up—who have more power, experience, and savvy—and lick diligently, won't your future work life satisfaction shoot straight to paradise? That's a pro tip.
Pop!
"Eek! S-Surprise...!!"
"The staff room!"
"Huh?"
"I can just get friendly with the teachers!"
In this era's schools, the kings of the classroom are definitely the teachers.
Before they lose their authority like in the 2020s with 'Corporal punishment is bad discipline!! Screeech!!' and become untouchable pariahs, they're the muscle enforcing discipline and common sense for these kids!
If you're gonna make friends, go for the kings over the peasants.
If I become the king's right-hand girl, those foolish kids who ignore and avoid me will have to bow to me too!
"Yuri, what's your homeroom teacher's name?"
"Huh? W-Why our teacher?"
"Just curious!"
It's really nothing big.
Just a little surprise gift as thanks for showing me this new path!
Twenty minutes before lunch ends—a bit awkward timing, but not too late—so if I go stamp my face there now, it'll be perfect.
Bonus if I run into that Oh Young-seok teacher too!
Alright~ Time to go work some charm!!
"Haa."
'Is this really okay...'
For the past two weeks, every day coming to work felt like my heart would stop and I'd drop dead.
The model student I thought she was... This small, cute kid turning out to be a mob boss straight out of a movie, lording over the other kids.
I can't help but resent the parents a tiny... just a tiny bit, even though I don't know their faces.
How do you raise a kid to turn into such a terrifying monster?
But she doesn't actually beat the kids like a gangster; she just uses her presence... purely her intimidating aura, so I can't even say anything.
She doesn't say mean things or lay a hand on them either.
And her class attitude? Unlike the kids who space out or mess around, she listens attentively.
In the recent dictation test, while others got 60s or 70s, she aced it alone... And in math, she nails arithmetic instantly.
Even if I wanted to scold her, there's no reason... Minus the aura, she's a lovable model student!!
No, not that I want to scold her. Ugh... This is so tough.
Knock knock knock.
"Teacher~ Hellooo~"
"Huh? Oh, uh. Y-Yuna?"
I flinched!
That cute, energetic voice, with pronunciation and projection unbelievable for an eight-year-old. I force a smile while trembling, and Yuna trots right up to me.
Ugh, she really looks so pretty on the outside.
The prettiest kid in our class... no, the whole school.
"Is there anything I can help with?"
"Huh? H-Help?"
"Yeah! During art class before~ You looked like carrying the clay and stuff was super heavy. And the crayons and colored pencils too. If there's anything to move for PE later, let me help!"
"R-Really...?"
I was just worrying about getting the jump ropes from the PE storage—they're heavier than they look!
But is it okay to ask a student to do this? She's still so small; what if she gets hurt...
'...But Yuna might be fine?'
Out of curiosity after entrance ceremony, I tried snapping a chalk like Yuna did after school, but no matter how hard I tried, it wouldn't break—just white powder on my hands.
If Yuna, who's stronger than me, offers to help... Yeah. Should be okay?
"Th-Then, wanna go to the PE storage together?"
"Sure!"
Yuna beams and nods vigorously.
Her black hair sways gently, and even though she's mostly outside rather than in class, her fair face spreads into a smile, blowing away all my negative thoughts from moments ago.
Yeah. She's a good kid deep down. While others are busy playing among themselves, she's considerate and offers to help... So mature.
I took her smiling hand, left the staff room, headed to the PE storage, and figured if she grabbed a few jump ropes from the box, that'd be plenty...
"Hup!"
"??"
What. She's actually lifting it.
"Teacher! If there's more to carry, stack it on top!"
"R-Really? Then maybe grab one ball for dodgeball later in the spare time?"
"Sure!"
Wow. Watching Yuna effortlessly hoist a blue plastic box as big as herself with both hands, her steps light... I kinda get why the kids are scared of her.
Good thing I'm the teacher; if I were a classmate seeing her snap chalk and declare she won't even treat weaklings like people in her intro, even I'd be terrified and keep my head down.
Now I get what she said during self-intros: fragile kids might end up in the hospital if touched. Makes sense.
With that strength, if she roughed up the kids, I'd be visiting hospital beds instead of the classroom.
Be grateful this kid isn't violent.
Yeah. Think positive.
Other class teachers complain about kids fighting, or scolding someone for punching a friend yesterday—it's tough.
But in our class, kids stop fighting the moment Yuna approaches; they all shrink and behave. How great is that.
Class 3 is known among first-grade homeroom teachers as the blessed class full of peaceful, well-behaved kids.
....
"Huh? Teacher? Something to say?"
'Looking at it now, Yuna's the one keeping the kids in check?'
Realizing her crucial role that I missed in my fear, I couldn't take my eyes off this small, pretty Yuna—indispensable to Class 3.
"No. Just. Our Yuna is so kind and pretty."
"Hehe. Really? Teacher, you're super~ super~ pretty too! Pretty enough I'd call you big sis if we met outside!"
......Let's be good to Yuna.
From today, I resolved to trust only our Yuna and do my teacher life.
"Waaahhh!!"
"Hic... It hurts! Waaahhh!!"
"......"
And that resolve crumbled in less than a day.
On the playground, kids who tripped and fell, crying.
Boys and girls alike, covered in dirt, sobbing their hearts out, stood a small girl with straight black hair and hollow gray eyes...
"I've got a rough idea of your levels."
She continued in a low, sunken voice, holding a dodgeball in one hand.
"I'm bored to death."
I blacked out too.
How does she win 33 against 1?