The Devil of the In-Seoul Class at the Retake Academy

“...We were just doing wrestling training. We didn’t do anything strange. Not at all.”

“...Hmm.”

Lee Seon-hee widened her eyes and scanned the mat and its surroundings. As a Transcendent of the Deity Realm, her perception went far beyond mere strength and mana. The elevation of one’s realm awakened the mind, granting insight to notice minute details invisible to those of lower realms and deduce the truth from them. That ability manifested once again.

After observing the study materials on the mat, their postures, and the nature of the pressure, Lee Seon-hee realized her words were true.

‘Judging by the male’s reaction, the only one harboring romantic interest is the woman.’

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Lee Seon-hee felt relieved. Yet a new question immediately surfaced.

‘Why is the man undergoing that kind of training?’

‘If a man feels threatened, he could simply hire female bodyguards.’

‘Of course, it’s possible to guess that Yoo Ji-tae harbors reservations toward women,’

‘but if he wants to protect himself by growing stronger, wouldn’t there be better methods?’

Lee Seon-hee pondered deeply before finally asking Yoo Ji-tae why he was training that way, unable to find the answer on her own.

Yoo Ji-tae avoided her gaze and fidgeted awkwardly.

‘What an adorable and naive young man.’

Just as she thought that, an unbelievable statement reached her ears.

“...I want to get into Korea University. That’s why I’m also saving money.”

She did not ask why he wasn’t using the special admissions track available to men. Instead, she covered her mouth and stared at him blankly. What surfaced in her mind was her husband from his youth—Han Sang-jin.

His mother had been a truly wicked woman. She was nothing more than a worthless female who had merely provided an egg for pregnancy. She played the role of a good mother in front of secretaries and investigators, yet at home she treated Han Sang-jin with indifference. Later, she even scammed several wealthy mages and Transcendents by promising to make him their official wife, borrowing money under the guise of a dowry. When that profligate mother died leaving behind hundreds of billions in debt, Han Sang-jin had been only seventeen.

While the creditors gathered at the funeral hall to discuss matters, he had declared:

“Money? I just have to pay it all back, don’t I? Then all those marriage promises my mother made on her own will become null and void. So shut up and wait! Even if I have to sell my body, I’ll pay it back with interest!”

Lee Seon-hee still remembered that Han Sang-jin who had screamed those words. She had fallen for that sight she happened to witness while spectating and had devoted her entire life to him.

In this era, expecting anything from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠men was a shameful thing. Yet humans could never stop evaluating one another. Cruelly, the emotion called love was born from preferences. Among those preferences, what women especially desired from men was autonomy and willpower—the autonomy to cast aside others’ pity and grit one’s teeth to live on, and the strong will to face cruel reality without averting one’s eyes.

In Lee Seon-hee’s eyes, Yoo Ji-tae was the very image of a commendable young man who refused others’ help and tried to live by his own strength.

‘...How can he be this lovable and endearing...?’

Yoo Ji-tae felt a chilling gaze and averted his eyes.

‘Whoa. Creepy.’

His hands trembled unconsciously, and he clasped them tightly together to suppress his shaking body. A smile bloomed across Lee Seon-hee’s lips.

‘Now I understand why Ah-rang likes him.... How...’

It was a joy bordering on shock. Women liked strong men, but such men were plentiful. Among them existed rare men who drove women even crazier—externally strong but internally fragile types. These men displayed strength on the outside yet secretly hid away to cry and suffer. In that precarious state where strength and weakness coexisted, women felt an urge to embrace them at the mere sight, to dye them in their own colors. Just like the young Han Sang-jin who had trembled and wept in the waiting room of the empty funeral hall after the creditors left, and just like the young man Yoo Ji-tae before her eyes, who trembled while voicing his dream and avoiding her gaze.

“I am Lee Seon-hee, Lee Ah-rang’s grandmother. You can just call me Grandma, or—ah, no. Would you like to have some tea together first?”

There was no existence that could drive a woman crazier than this.

The sense of width was relative. To me, a six-and-a-half-pyeong room felt quite spacious. Having obtained freedom and personal space I had never enjoyed during my childhood and adolescence without even a room of my own, I was truly happy. It was the size of the freedom I had obtained for the first time. That was the value I projected onto the number six and a half pyeong. So naturally, it felt spacious. The less one had, the more one should cherish what they held.

“Y-you-you-you live in a place like this...?!”

However, to Lee Seon-hee, who had grown up wealthy her entire life, this studio apartment must have looked utterly dreadful. Newspapers plastered on the walls. An old refrigerator. An outdated boiler. A sink covered in limescale and slightly rusted.

“Good heavens!!!”

Like a mother from an old melodramatic drama, Lee Seon-hee collapsed onto the floor of my studio. She seemed to be sobbing a little. Unable to recover from the mental shock of my room’s scenery, Lee Seon-hee kept muttering.

“In a place like this... you’ve been living? In a place like this?!”

She was on the verge of wailing. After muttering like that for a while, Lee Seon-hee finally regained her composure and sat before me. The maids—who might have been bodyguards or attendants—and Lee Se-rin were waiting outside because Lee Seon-hee had said she wanted to speak with me alone.

Lee Seon-hee took out a handkerchief and wiped her tears.

“Ugh. In a place like this... a garbage dump... you’ve been living all this time...? What do I do.... Sniff....”

She was pitying me. Extending a hand to sympathize with others was the right thing to do. At least Lee Seon-hee was showing goodwill toward me. So normally, expressing gratitude would be appropriate here, but I found her attitude unpleasant.

‘A garbage dump.’

The freedom I had finally grasped. My own castle that I had barely obtained. The home I had painstakingly built with these hands. To this woman, it only looked like trash. Well, anyone other than her would probably think the same. Anyone who saw this house would call it trash. Still, to me, it was a precious home. It was inevitable that such an evaluation would make me feel repulsed.

“...So what is your business?”

“...Ah. I thought you must have been struggling a lot because of what happened recently with Ji-eun, and I came to check if you’re getting along well with Ah-rang.”

“Then wouldn’t it be enough to ask Ah-rang?”

“But hearing it directly from the person involved is the most accurate.”

“...We’re getting along fine. We contact each other occasionally too.”

“I see.”

My answer did not seem to satisfy Lee Seon-hee. She placed several gift bags on the table and slowly got to the main point.

“Would you allow me to help you?”

“With what?”

“You said you’re going to university, right? Don’t worry. I can find you the best private tutors. And the environment is important for studying. It would be better to throw away a place like this. Instead, I’ll get you a nice officetel, and—ah. You’ll also need someone to handle the housework. I should assign you a proper maid as well. I don’t know what other women might think, but I find it truly commendable when a man studies properly at university.”

“...Commendable?”

“Of course it is. To live diligently despite having that kind of past—it’s truly commendable.”

That kind of past. Lee Seon-hee continued speaking with delight.

“Coincidentally, our Ah-rang is also planning to enter Korea University this year. Ah-rang may not have much else, but she has talent, and her personality is truly proactive. If she finds out you’re also going to university, she’ll be so happy. And since you’re the same age, there’s no need to even check compatibility.”

Lee Seon-hee clapped her hands.

“Ah. Right. How about living together starting now? You don’t have to feel burdened. You don’t have to worry about the entrance exams either. I’ll carefully select elixirs, magic, and private tutoring for you, so getting into Korea University within this year won’t be an impossible task. Mm-hmm.”

Lee Seon-hee nodded.

“What do you think? While living together, you could take wedding photos, go on family trips together next year, and attend social gatherings together in front of others. It would be so enjoyable.”

“...No. I’m not really interested in that.”

“What? You don’t have to refuse. I swear on the name of Taeguk Singun that I’ll make you happy. You don’t even need to lift a finger. From now on, I’ll plan everything for you. You just have to follow along.”

“...What kind of plan?”

“Why, marriage, of course. You’ll date our Ah-rang, have a wedding, have children and raise them. I’ll even suggest names for your grandchildren.”

A chill ran down my spine. Of course, the life Lee Seon-hee proposed seemed quite comfortable. But I had no desire to live a life like a breeding stallion. While thinking of a rejection line, I suddenly recalled that there had been no mention of Lee Se-rin in the conversation just now. Did that mean even if I got together with Ah-rang, such relationships would be acknowledged? Surprisingly generous.

“Then would it be okay for me to stay close with women like Lee Se-rin or Han Ye-jin?”

“...Who are they?”

“One is the woman from earlier, and the other is a woman I know.”

Lee Seon-hee gave a small laugh.

“Those kinds of women—I’ll take care of them quickly.”

“...What?”

Take care of them?

“Ah. I don’t mean kill them. I just mean wrap things up nicely. If I throw them some money, they’ll leave on their own. Usually, women of lower realms approach thinking they can somehow handle a man.”

“.......”

“They talk about dying for you with their mouths, but if you throw them two or three hundred million, they’ll thank you and leave. In the first place, all women are beasts. From now on, I’ll take care of all those insects, so you just need to take good care of Ah-rang.”

“Insects?”

“That’s me speaking nicely. They’re the type who approach thinking they can do something because it seems like a man can’t refuse easily. Most women are that vulgar.”

“I don’t think so.”

Lee Seon-hee smiled as if looking at a cute child, resting her chin on her hand.

“That’s because you’re innocent, so you think that way. That woman earlier is obviously the type who would thank me and leave on her own if I just hand her an envelope of money.”

I didn’t know exactly what kind of women Lee Seon-hee had met in the past. But I had built quite good relationships with both Lee Se-rin and Han Ye-jin.

“Lee Seon-hee-ssi, you came here after hearing that I’m preparing for university, right?”

Besides, wasn’t she the same—coming here thinking she could try something because it seemed like I couldn’t refuse?

“Doesn’t that mean there’s a different original purpose for coming here?”

Lee Seon-hee couldn’t continue speaking. I tried to open my mouth several times but closed it. I chose my words carefully. It wasn’t good to carelessly provoke a Transcendent of the Deity Realm. Nevertheless, the words naturally poured out from within.

“I almost married Lee Ji-eun-ssi. But since that didn’t work out, next is Lee Ah-rang?”

Lee Seon-hee was one of Han Sang-jin’s three official wives. And the three official wives competed with each other. To Lee Seon-hee, Lee Ji-eun’s marriage had been a big event—a source of pride to show her husband that she was the superior wife. That was why Lee Seon-hee had been even more obsessed with that marriage than Lee Ji-eun herself. She had even published articles proclaiming him the son-in-law of the Samjin family. But that marriage had fallen through. Lee Seon-hee’s second daughter, Lee Ji-eun, had been imprisoned. Her eldest daughter, Lee Ji-an, had gone missing. The only child left to her was her granddaughter, Lee Ah-rang.

“You said it was support or whatever, but in the end, you just wanted to save face, didn’t you? Praising me as admirable for going to university while your real intention is for me to marry our child and get her pregnant.”

Lee Seon-hee wore a dumbfounded expression. Then, in a trembling voice, she continued.

“No. That’s not it. I was only trying to provide support with pure intentions. I thought such things should be discussed between young people themselves.”

“Ah. Is that so.”

“Th-that’s right! I came because of what happened last time, and purely because I wanted to do something for you as an apology. I had no intention of forcing a match—”

“Then what if I only receive the support and don’t marry Lee Ah-rang?”

“Huh?”

Lee Seon-hee stopped speaking upon hearing my words. Then, as if realizing her mistake—

“Ah.”

She let out that short exclamation. When one’s true intentions were laid bare, a person felt shame. Lee Seon-hee lowered her gaze and covered her face with her collar.

“If that’s the intention behind the support, then I want to refuse.”

Silence followed.

“...You said you’re going to university?”

Then Lee Seon-hee’s eyes changed.

“How are you planning to get in?”

As if asking what I knew, she took out her phone and showed me a video.

“This is last year’s final entrant to Korea University.”

In the video, there were two women. They stood on a massive square training ground. At the signal, the two women facing each other charged forward rapidly. With each step they took, the stone floor of the arena cracked. Even as they threw punches, they hooked the opponent’s leg with their lower foot, and at one point, lightning erupted near one woman’s shoulder. The current flowing along her skin transformed her entire arm into a sword of lightning. Then she swung her arm like a whip and unleashed a merciless lightning slash. The opposing woman stood in place and crossed both arms to withstand that slash. While the woman whose attack was blocked was flustered, the first woman extended both hands forward and sent her opponent flying backward.

They were incredibly skilled. Lee Seon-hee continued speaking.

“The winner of this match had stamina, strength, and mana all in the high 8s, if I remember correctly. But looking at you, you’re not even at 3 yet, are you?”

“There are only 70 days left. Do you think you can do it? No. You absolutely can’t.”

“It’s impossible for you to get into university on your own.”

“With your current level, you absolutely can’t pass the general admissions. No—with your documents, you’ll be rejected outright. Korea University also looks very closely at school records.”

“Korea University is a place where even kids who have been studying and preparing since they were six years old get rejected. Unless you have an Awakening Mark. For an ordinary ability user like you, it’s impossible.”

Lee Seon-hee resembled Lee Ji-eun. No—Lee Ji-eun’s traits must have come from Lee Seon-hee. My hands trembled and cold sweat ran down. Lee Seon-hee took my hand. My unstable emotions forcibly calmed, as if locked inside a coffin. Was that some kind of magic? Lee Seon-hee averted her gaze and remained silent for a few seconds before returning to normal. Lee Seon-hee, who had been forcing a smile, opened her mouth.

“......I’m sorry. I’ve tried to fix this part my whole life, but it doesn’t get fixed well. I’m sorry.”

Her voice trembled. Seeing tears even welling up in her eyes, she was sincere. As if feeling guilty, Lee Seon-hee tightly clutched her chest with her other hand. But the words she spoke remained unchanged.

“Still, it will be very difficult alone. University entrance exams aren’t something you can do by yourself. I want to help you with those parts from the side. My desire to help is genuine.”

‘Help.’

I wanted to live without relying on others’ help. This house was my home that I had built with my own strength. That restaurant too had been operated by my own power. Yet for university entrance exams alone, I couldn’t do it with my own strength and had to borrow others’ power?

“I promise. If you become Ah-rang’s partner, you can do whatever you want.”

“I’m already working hard in my own way.”

“It’s good to see you putting in effort. But if you’re going to challenge it alone, it would be better to give up. It’s not because you’re lacking, but because the situation and conditions are like that.”

Well. There was probably no mistake in those words. She possessed the knowledge to foresee my failure ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and the power to overturn that failure. But if I followed Lee Seon-hee’s proposal here, it felt like I would be controlled for the rest of my life.

“...I can do it. I have ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my own plan.”

“...Is that so?”

Even if it seemed like nothing much, I had my own life, and even in this kind of life, I had lived doing my best. The corner of Lee Seon-hee’s lips curved into an arc. As if she had seen something truly amusing—and as if she was becoming obsessed—a chill ran down my spine.

“Then how about we make a bet?”

“...A bet?”

“If Ah-rang achieves a higher score than you on the Korea University exam, marry Ah-rang. Instead, if you win, you don’t have to marry Ah-rang. And you said you didn’t want support... Hmm.... How about receiving a company? I’ll give you one of the subsidiary companies.”

“...What?”

Lee Seon-hee smiled.

“Oh? No confidence? You said you could do it. If you win, I’ll even prostrate myself and apologize or whatever you want.”

Somehow, her eyes looked frightening. Lee Seon-hee leaned forward. A captivating perfume scent wafted over, and her flawless face and features filled my vision. Her eyes, framed by long lashes, seemed to slowly swallow me whole. If I didn’t accept here, she would continue like this. It didn’t seem like she would back down. And strangely, my mood calmed, making me want to agree.

...I had Hephaestus, after all. It would work out somehow.

“......Yes. I understand.”

“What a good child. Don’t worry. I’ll let you grow up happily in my embrace for the rest of your life.”

When Lee Seon-hee removed her hand, I belatedly lost tension and lost consciousness.

*****

When I woke up, it was dusk. As I opened my eyes while asleep, someone was looking down at me.

“It’s okay. It’s okay. Everything’s okay now.”

Lee Se-rin was giving me a lap pillow. In that state, she stroked my head and repeated that it was okay.

“Were you doing this the whole time?”

“Ah. Yes....”

Lee Se-rin scratched her head awkwardly. When I got up and looked at the table, there was a letter.

The handwriting was very refined. It was probably written by Lee Seon-hee. As I read through it, apologies continued to be written. I skimmed over those parts. The main point began from the second page. The details of the match I had impulsively accepted were added. It stated that she would handle the documents necessary for the Korea University entrance exam herself. There was no need to worry about the interview either. Additionally, there was a request that if Lee Ah-rang won, I not take other official wives. Of course, an excuse was tacked on that this was not a demand. In other words, the following match regarding the Korea University entrance exam was established.

I continued reading.

There were many. I searched for the academy names. They were all famous academies. Why was she helping me? I wondered if it was a trap, but I didn’t think she was that bad of a person. Then I understood. This woman thought that even if she did this much for me, she wouldn’t lose. She was confident in the match.

At the end, there was this sentence.

If I called the academy from here and registered, I would be accepting Lee Seon-hee’s match. I called the academy. I said I wanted to go to the academy with Taeguk Singun’s recommendation. That I wanted to get into Korea University. Then this answer came back.

“Our academy is divided into three classes. The In-Seoul Class, the Prestigious University Class, and the Korea University Special Class. To register for the Korea University Special Class, you must first be promoted from the Prestigious University Class. To register for the Prestigious University Class, you must undergo a level test at our academy. If your stamina, strength, and mana are all below 5 in the level test, we can only accept registration for the In-Seoul Class. I will schedule the level test date for you. Would tomorrow be okay?”

“...What is the level test?”