Chapter 3. Jeil High School (1)
The 'traits' that appear as holograms are classified into three main categories.
First, there's the auto-activation type. Take the protagonist correction trait 'Intuition' from Birth of the Demon God, which has now evolved into A+ rank Instant Foresight. It activates automatically in necessary moments, like when I'm in danger during combat, without me even consciously triggering it. How should I put it? It's like someone whispering right in my ear. Hey, if you block it like that, you're gonna lose an arm, so handle it yourself. Since it evolved into Instant Foresight, it hasn't triggered yet, so I'm not entirely sure... but as an A+ rank, it must have improved significantly—I'm holding onto that expectation.
Second, the always-on type. This one applies directly to my abilities themselves, providing support in overall combat power, mana, physical aspects, and so on. The Black Heart I got as the final boss correction from Kill the Evil is S-rank, so I suspect it goes beyond that... but I haven't tested it properly yet, so it's hard to say for sure. Right now, it doesn't feel particularly great, and to me, it's just a burdensome 'mana-devouring hippo' with no noticeable effects. Still, it has to be an incredibly powerful trait. Of course it is—it's the final boss correction, after all.
Finally, the manual activation type. Among the three, this is the one closest to a skill. I can trigger it whenever I want and use it accordingly. Honestly, it's hard to distinguish from skills... but if it's relatively non-combat oriented, it's classified as a manual activation trait instead. Like the one I'm using right now, A-rank Peeping Eye.
Whether it's an item or a magical construct, as long as it's related to mana, I can analyze its fundamental principles, effects, weaknesses—everything—like a model answer key. Since the trait is A-rank, it shouldn't have much trouble peering into A-grade items or magic by those standards, and the construct the professor just showed is barely B-grade at best.
So, there's no way I could not notice it. But that's from my perspective. The professor, staring at me with wide-eyed shock, downed his iced Americano in one go.
Then, in a trembling voice, he asked, "Dojin, uh, is it okay to call you that? The interview's over—I’ve already made my decision."
"Of course. Go ahead, Professor."
"Hmm... Sorry if this is rude, but I heard you have trouble accumulating mana in your body. Was I mistaken?"
"No, that's correct."
That's the official story, at least. Even if I lacked motivation, I was a top prospect until I was fifteen. It's not strange that neglecting training would dull my innate mana sense to that extent. So the hologram suggested a clever ruse: pretend I'd completely lost my talent. Make it seem like my senses gradually dulled over time, and my total mana capacity decreased, so people would understand.
It even provided traits and skills to achieve that. Ones that could hide my true talent, undetectable by any precise examination.
The result was a resounding success. Now, I'm known to have less mana than even middle school students. No one but Seo Yeon-hee could guess the reason, so fooling them again was easy.
"Uncle... When I heard Chairman Yeom had passed, I realized I couldn't keep living like this. Not sure if it's just my imagination, but lately, my mana feels more responsive than before. And I read up on Magic Dynamics before coming to see you, Professor—studying again after so long, it's actually kind of fun."
I recited my prepared explanation, and the professor nodded knowingly.
"I see... The late Chairman Yeom seemed to care for you a lot. He even asked me to look after you as much as possible. Now that I've seen you, it looks like that wasn't even necessary. It's a shame he couldn't witness you like this."
The front part was exactly what I'd heard from Yeom Ui-jun. He said I didn't need to help with his personal research—just prepare teaching materials for the students' classes.
He probably thought he was taking care of me by setting it up that way... but it doesn't exactly move me. What caught my attention was the professor's offhand remark at the end.
'That wasn't even necessary.'
I could interpret exactly what that meant. This guy plans to work me to the bone...
With eyes like a snake eyeing prey and a voice laced with subtle heat, the professor proposed, "You already have a teaching certificate, Dojin. How about joining as my direct research professor instead of a TA?"
"Research professor...?"
"The title might sound grandiose, but don't worry. It's a contract position, so there are hardly any obligations. You'll get expanded class privileges and occasional help on my research. Still, the salary and status are incomparable to a regular TA."
"I'm grateful, but I'm concerned there might be some issues."
Let's be frank—is that even legal? It would suit my goals, but if it smells like nepotism, it'll backfire.
But the professor brushed it off. "No issues per regulations, so relax. We often have standout Jeil University grads in cases like this."
"Ah... I see."
All his persuasive chatter boils down to two sentences: Come to school since you're bored, check the situation, and if possible, handle the classes yourself. Oh, and be my research slave while you're at it. Something like that.
This is different from what Yeom Ui-jun told me. He said the professor hated anyone meddling in his research. On the flip side, it means Peeping Eye's effect was that impressive... Still, I felt a bit duped.
Mistaking my hesitation, the professor kept pushing. "I've actually met your parents a couple of times myself. Not up close, just from afar... They were amazing. It might sound childish, but they felt like the protagonists of this world."
I gave a wry smile and swallowed my inner thought. They were, literally.
"As their son, and seeing you've got your motivation back, I want to help. What do you think?"
"...I'll gladly accept."
I replied with a determined expression, and the professor beamed happily. This guy is way too pleased... Since it's a contract gig, once Kill the Evil Volume 1 wraps up and I don't need to stay at Jeil High anymore, I can bail with some excuse.
Easing my slight unease, I shook the professor's outstretched hand.
We'd scheduled early, so I was home before noon. As soon as I opened the door, there was Sea in the living room. Her hair was messily tied up cutely, like she'd just woken up. She was wearing something ambiguously between pajamas and day clothes, chopsticks poised over her ramen for the first bite.
I toddled over and gave her big puppy eyes. "Just one bite for me."
"..."
She tried ignoring me and readjusted her chopsticks, but I pleaded in an even more pitiful voice. "Can't you give your oppa just one bite?"
"...Eat it all."
Sea huffed primly and shot up from her seat. Watching her head to the kitchen to boil water, she was planning to make her own. One bite would've been fine—no need for that...
If it's her way of saying she won't even share a single chopstick of ramen with me, it stings... but eating someone else's freshly boiled ramen without lifting a finger is pretty satisfying, so I hummed a tune and sat at the table.
Looking closely at the ramen pot...
"...What the hell is this."
The broth was at Han River levels. So that's why she gave it away so readily... Kinda... really bitter.
I left the unsalvageable soup and tried fishing out noodles, but even they barely absorbed any flavor—tasted weird. Five minutes later, Sea finished boiling her fresh batch and started eating right in the kitchen. After barely finishing the noodles, I cleared my bowl and announced to her.
"Oppa got the job confirmed?"
"..."
"I was supposed to be a TA, but the professor took a liking to me. Starting as a research professor."
Sea asked just one thing. "When?"
"Paperwork will take a few days, but from Thursday's lecture, oppa will be in class with you."
"Sigh..."
Her exhale sounded like: Too soon—I wasn't ready.
I teased playfully. "Oppa'll be grading assignments and stuff, so you better impress. Oh, I won't give you extra points just for being my sister, but if you don't get something in class—"
"At school, treat me as a student, not your sister."
Don't act overly familiar, basically. But if that hurt me, my mental game's would've been dust long ago.
"Then at home, we're still oppa and sister, right?"
"..."
Sea said nothing, eating her ramen silently. Hers turned out perfect.
"Got some leftover cold rice—want half a bowl?"
"...No thanks."
The curt refusal ended the talk, but it was still the most we'd chatted lately. More overlap from the job should improve things. Slowly, step by step. No rush—just patience. Because I'm her oppa.
March 11th, Thursday, just before 1 p.m.
"Yawn..."
Lee Sea stifled a small yawn, and Yoo Hae-bin next to her asked, "You sleepy?"
"Kinda."
Sea brushed it off vaguely. She couldn't exactly say she'd tossed and turned all night, anxious about oppa joining class today. Her heart was pounding too—no way she'd admit that to anyone.
Then Hae-bin said girlishly, "I'm planning to sleep through the next one."
"Why?"
"Magic Dynamics next. I can't fathom how that professor gets paid."
Sea agreed completely. Magic Dynamics, a mandatory sophomore course. Brutally hard and brutally boring. More labs might help, but the prof had less enthusiasm than the students. He just recited the textbook and demoed only when absolutely necessary.
If she hadn't heard about Lee Dojin joining, she'd be plotting how to slack off undetected right now.
And at last, 1 p.m. hit, and the professor entered the lecture hall. He looked brighter than usual, sparking murmurs among the students.
"Who's that?"
"Damn, he's insanely hot..."
Most gawked and whispered at the young man following the professor.
Sea, of course, wasn't surprised. She saw that face at home every day.
...He is handsome.
His dazzling looks, rivaling his famous parents Lee Si-hyeok and Jeong Se-bin, combined their best features. The ones surprised for different reasons were Hae-bin beside her and Jin Yu-ri, who always claimed the front row like assigned seats.
"What the?"
"I'll explain soon."
Sea shot back curtly at Hae-bin's question, loud enough for them to hear.
The professor announced: This is the research professor assisting from today—get to know him. He handed the mic to the young man, who stepped forward with a gentle voice.
"I'm Lee Dojin. Nice to meet you all."