---

Early dawn.

A corpse was discovered on the outskirts of the walking trail behind Building C of the Hero Academy.

It was a place that couldn’t be found unless you thoroughly searched the trail carved through the forest.

Last night, a report came in that a student hadn’t returned to the dormitory, so the security team and instructors, who were in charge of the academy’s security, searched all night and barely found it.

However, the corpse was in a mummified state, making it impossible to identify who it was just by looking at it.

The security team rummaged through the corpse’s belongings and confirmed the identity.

“We’ve confirmed the ID. It’s first-year student Kim Jun-myeong.”

“What’s the cause of death?”

“We’ll need a proper autopsy from the National Forensic Service, but judging by the lack of residual magic power, it seems his life force was drained as all the magic power in his body was exhausted.”

“…So it’s not a natural phenomenon. Well, the state of the body itself isn’t natural either.”

After confirming the identity through the ID in the wallet, they immediately contacted the police.

Not long after, the violent crimes unit and the forensic team arrived at the academy.

Inside the police line, investigative processes that you’d only see in dramas or movies were taking place.

For heroes who had experience working on-site, this was a familiar sight, but for the Awakened Ones who had been in the teaching profession from the start, this was their first time experiencing something like this.

Cooperation with the police was established.

Cooperation between the police and heroes had been a natural thing for a long time.

Even in this case, there was no significant objection to the heroes stepping in.

Heroes who had received their Hero Certification from the Association were granted investigative authority, making this possible.

Detective Cheon Joo-yeop, who had been asking the security team about the circumstances of the discovery of the body and other details, requested the summoning of the group that usually hung out with Kim Jun-myeong for witness interviews.

Around 7 a.m., before the first class had even started.

The academy gathered the students in Building A for a smooth investigation.

One instructor and Detective Cheon Joo-yeop also arrived on time.

Classroom A-1.

It was where Jeong Gyeoul and Lee Ha-yoon took classes from Choi Ye-na.

“I heard the students were close with Kim Jun-myeong.”

“Well, yes, but… did Jun-myeong get into some kind of accident?”

“Damn… I thought something was off about him.”

“…To be precise, he was in an accident. Kim Jun-myeong has passed away.”

“What? Jun-myeong?”

The students were shocked by the news of his death.

The instructor comforted the students, and the detective gave them enough time to process their emotions.

Not long after, the students calmed down.

True to their aspirations of becoming heroes, they set aside their grief and faced reality.

One student asked the detective.

“But… the fact that you’re here investigating us, does that mean Jun-myeong was murdered?”

“…That’s correct.”

The mention of a murder case was enough to cool the students’ heads.

“If we can help catch the culprit, we’ll do anything.”

“You’ll need our alibis, right?”

“We’ll also tell you about Jun-myeong’s movements yesterday.”

Detective Cheon Joo-yeop couldn’t help but be surprised.

It was hard to believe they were students who had just lost a friend.

‘Even if they’re aspiring heroes, they’re still only 17….’

Thanks to the students, the investigation proceeded smoothly, and the students were sent back.

After that, the investigation continued by meeting with the instructor who conducted the afternoon classes and even the dormitory supervisor.

They also relayed the information to the detectives who had come with them.

“You heard strange sounds from the same location?”

“What about the students’ alibis?”

“They’re solid. We’ve confirmed through the instructor and the dormitory supervisor. It’s confirmed that Kim Jun-myeong was in the dormitory until 12.”

“So he left without anyone knowing after 12 and suddenly died?”

“That’s right. It was hard to estimate the time of death because his body was mummified, but we’ve got a rough idea.”

From the time he left the dormitory at midnight to the time the body was discovered at 4 a.m.

The incident of Kim Jun-myeong turning into a mummy on the walking trail happened within just four hours.

We’ll need detailed results from the National Forensic Service, but until then, that’s the estimated time of death.

One of the instructors assisting in the investigation chimed in.

“In this case, almost all the students have solid alibis. The dormitory curfew is until midnight.”

“Then could you provide us with a list of students who weren’t in the dormitory last night?”

“Yes, if we request cooperation from the dormitory supervisor, we’ll get the list right away.”

The instructor headed to the dormitory to get the list, and the detectives exchanged words.

“It’s definitely easier when we can cooperate with insiders. No dragging things out, and we get the materials quickly.”

“When you meet heroes outside, they all act like they’re kings, but the atmosphere here is different.”

“Enough chit-chat, let’s find the culprit quickly.”

“Yes!”

***

It’s been incredibly noisy since morning.

I couldn’t sleep.

Checking the time on my phone by my bedside, it’s 7:12 a.m.

“Ugh…”

I could’ve slept for 20 more minutes!

What on earth is going on to make it this noisy?

Focusing magic in my ears to listen, it seems there’s a murder case, and detectives are roaming around investigating.

“A murder case?”

“Huh? A murder case?”

Lee Chae-song, who was tidying up the bed and cleaning the room, was startled.

“I can hear the dormitory supervisor and someone who seems to be a detective arguing. They need to investigate because of the murder case, but they’re being blocked from entering the girls’ dormitory.”

That makes sense.

The laundry drying rack in the hallway is draped with stockings and underwear, and sometimes female students move between rooms in their underwear.

If a male detective barged in, it would definitely cause quite a commotion.

“A murder case at the Hero Academy… That’s unprecedented.”

“Really…?”

The dormitory supervisor’s response is at AI level, so I thought there might be a manual for such situations… but apparently, it’s the first time.

Of all times, this happens right after I enrolled…

At this rate, I wouldn’t be surprised if I’m called the Destroyer King Jeong Gyeoul.

Suddenly, Lee Chae-song’s eyes widened, and she frantically searched for her phone.

“…Chae-rin! Is Chae-rin okay?”

Who am I?

Jeong Gyeoul, the protector of Lee Ha-yoon.

As soon as I heard about the murder case, I sensed the magic in that room.

Two calm magic powers were felt, as if they were asleep.

“I checked that room first, both Ha-yoon and Chae-rin’s sister were sleeping soundly.”

“…That’s a relief, but they’re still asleep?”

Lee Chae-song seems to be out of sync too.

She seems more surprised that the two girls are still asleep than the murder case itself.

Honestly, I’m not too concerned about the murder case itself.

This isn’t Lee Chae-song’s or my fault.

It’s the world that’s messed up.

After calling Ha-yoon to wake her up, I went into the bathroom to shower.

Lee Chae-song seemed to be already prepared, even wearing her school uniform, so she was at ease.

Following what Jeong Ha-yul taught me, I wrapped my hair in a towel and came out wearing only underwear.

I slathered on some all-in-one lotion I bought from Gufang and put on my school uniform.

Of course, I didn’t forget to put on my underwear.

I was confused about whether to put on stockings or underwear first, but with Lee Chae-song’s help, I learned that stockings go on first.

Ready!

Looking at the time, it’s 7:32.

See, I could’ve slept for 20 more minutes.

It takes less than 5 minutes to get to Classroom A-1.

If I leave at 55, it’s just right, but now I have 23 minutes to spare.

“If you don’t dry your hair, it’s not good for your scalp.”

“Isn’t natural air the best? I think I heard that somewhere.”

“…That’s only when it dries naturally all the way to the scalp. Gyeoul has a lot of hair, and it’s long, so it won’t dry easily. It’s better to at least dry the scalp.”

After finishing her words, Lee Chae-song sat me down at her desk and plugged in the hair dryer.

She was a great roommate.

After getting ready, we headed to Lee Chae-rin and Lee Ha-yoon’s room.

Knock knock—

“Come in!”

Ha-yoon’s lovely voice was heard as always.

As soon as we opened the door, we were greeted by an incredible scene.

They were bustling around, panting.

The desk and floor were cluttered with curling irons, hair dryers, and all sorts of cosmetics.

To borrow a mother’s expression, it was a pigsty.

What’s with those clothes?

Even though they have to wear school uniforms, there were clothes spread out on the bed.

I later found out that those clothes weren’t laid out to be worn but were clothes they had worn and not hung back up.

I was a bit surprised.

But Lee Chae-song’s expression was serious.

“Chae-rin… the state of your room…”

“Oh, sis! Scold me later! It’s urgent!”

Current time: 7:47.

They need to be ready by 55 at the latest, but Ha-yoon was drying her hair, and Lee Chae-song hadn’t even washed up yet.

It was clear they had just woken up.

While Ha-yoon dried her hair and put on her uniform, Lee Chae-song washed her face, brushed her teeth, and washed her bangs.

She hurriedly dried her bangs, curled them, and used a dry shampoo, a magical item, to fix the sides and back of her hair.

And then she put on her uniform at an incredible speed.

All that took just 6 minutes.

That’s…

A 17-year-old high school girl who’s adapted to school life.

For Ha-yoon and me, who didn’t have middle school life, it was something unimaginable.

Yeah, it’s like… performance art.

 

---