---

Outside the shelter, the sound of something breaking and explosions could still be heard.

Occasionally, the ground would shake, deepening the fear of the students inside the shelter.

“…Is it really safe to stay like this?”

“What? Should we run away or something?”

“What if they break into the shelter…?”

“Nonsense! There’s no place safer than the shelter inside the Academy right now.”

“More importantly, what exactly is the enemy?”

“Probably a villain, right?”

“Do you think other heroes would just sit back while a villain came all the way to the Academy? It’s definitely a monster.”

“Monsters get exterminated before they even get here, you idiot.”

As anxiety grew, arguments started breaking out among the students.

“Everyone, quiet.”

“…”

Finally, the instructors and dorm supervisors stepped in to calm the situation.

“The President and other instructors are dealing with the unidentified enemy. Just wait here for a bit, and the situation will be resolved soon.”

“We’re here to protect you, and the shelter is built to withstand even A-Class power. This is the safest place, so don’t worry.”

President Kim Bong-du is an S-Class hero.

If he’s involved, whether it’s Satan or a villain, he’ll handle it.

Even after hearing that the President and instructors were on the scene, the students still looked uneasy.

At times like this, someone with experience on the field stepping in and casually reassuring everyone would help, right?

“Don’t worry, outside there are just a few hundred skeletons wandering around.”

“Sk… skeletons?”

“Some magic flew by in the middle, but it was nothing.”

“Ma… magic?”

Huh…

Contrary to my expectations, the students’ agitation only grew.

“Magic? So mages are involved? Is it England?”

“Did the Clock Tower go crazy and attack us? Get a grip!”

“Skeletons! Are we talking about necromancy?”

“Is it… is it the Satan Church? I heard they use necromancy!”

“The Satan Church was exterminated by the Clock Tower a long time ago. Did you sleep through history class?”

“Then what is it! How do you explain the skeletons?!”

“…Maybe it’s a villain who awakened with necromancy abilities in the Magic Category.”

The words I blurted out to calm the students seemed to have thrown them into a panic instead.

Maybe keeping my mouth shut would’ve been the best approach.

I could feel the instructors glaring at me.

…

“Ha… Hayan, are you okay? You must be really shocked.”

Pretending to talk to Hayan, who hadn’t even opened her eyes yet, I awkwardly avoided their gazes.

“But… do you really believe what Gyeoul said? Isn’t she lying?”

“It’s obviously bluster!”

“Right! It doesn’t make sense that no one died in an attack with hundreds of skeletons and mages!”

Hayan and I are special admissions, basically the Academy’s designated loners.

Being much younger than the others, it’s not easy to get along with our peers.

The seniors seem to think differently, but since the entrance ceremony, the first-year students have been subtly ostracizing us.

So, except for Lee Chae-song and Lee Chae-rin, we don’t have any friends.

Kim Heum-soon and Kim Shin are a bit of special cases, and their positions are too odd to call them friends.

So, it’s understandable why the first-year male students are acting like this…

“What are you talking about! We experienced it ourselves! We survived thanks to Gyeoul!”

“If that’s a lie, how do you explain our injuries?!”

“Hey, are you guys disrespecting Gyeoul now?”

…?

The first-year female students stepped forward as if to defend me.

Unlike before, when they maintained complete indifference and only gossiped behind my back, they started standing up for me.

Why the sudden change?

“Don’t mess with Gyeoul and Hayan. If you ostracize them again, we won’t let it slide!”

“What are you talking about, you crazy bitches! You were the ones leading the ostracization!”

“Wha… what nonsense! You must still be out of it!”

Stop it, you crazy bitches…

“That’s enough! One more word and you’ll get demerits!”

“Stop it! Fighting even in a situation like this!”

Thankfully, just before things escalated, the dorm supervisors from both sides stepped in.

We almost ended up in a brawl between the guys and girls before even fighting the Satan Church.

“…There are patients here, so please keep it down.”

Though, the only “patient” is Hayan, who’s still unconscious.

The other female students have all recovered by drinking and spraying potions.

“Ugh… okay, Gyeoul, I’ll be quiet.”

As the female students quietly sat down, the male students grumbled and returned to their seats.

They seemed unable to understand the sudden change in the female students’ attitude.

Me too.

The female students’ attitude did a complete 180 in an instant.

Anyone watching would think I threatened them with a knife or something.

As the students quieted down, the dorm supervisors and instructors were having a serious conversation at the entrance.

I thought about getting closer to listen, but it felt awkward to push past the assistant instructors and guards standing there like a barrier.

Let the adults handle it.

I decided to stay by Hayan’s side.

‘She should wake up soon since I gave her a potion.’

I was gently stroking Hayan’s cheek while tending to her when…

“Um… excuse me…”

“…?”

Someone timidly approached me.

“Have you been well?”

“Huh?”

Don’t I know you…?

“Don’t you remember me?”

“No.”

“…You know, that incident.”

“…?”

Incident?

I had no idea what they were talking about.

Did I ever get involved with this person before?

Was it from elementary school?

Jo Se-hee? Or Starfield?

“…If calling it an incident makes you uncomfortable, should I call it a happening instead?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about… First, who are you?”

The male student looked shocked at my response.

“You… don’t remember me?”

“No. I don’t.”

Not just him, but the expressions of the other students around us became interesting.

What. Why.

Who is this guy? Do I have to know him?

“I’m Kim Shin… the one who got accused of sexual harassment in the cafeteria…”

“Ah! That peeping pervert?”

Hearing that, I finally remembered.

How could I forget that parasite-like face?

Back then, I was so angry I thought about burying him socially, but I decided to let it go.

Kim Shin is a 17-year-old, hot-blooded boy.

He didn’t actually touch me, and I couldn’t ruin a promising student’s future just because he saw my underwear.

I’m an adult, a life senior.

I decided to give him another chance with a broad mind.

So, I told him I wouldn’t sue and brushed it off.

I never expected him to approach me again.

“Peeping pervert… Let me say it again, that incident was a misunderstanding…”

Perverts talk too much.

If I didn’t sue and let it go, he should be bowing in gratitude every time he sees me.

Tsk tsk… Kids these days have no manners.

“Alright, I get it. I decided to let it go, so we’ll move on. So, what do you want?”

“Even if it was a misunderstanding, I thought I should apologize again…”

“Okay, apology accepted. Goodbye.”

“…”

Kim Shin hesitated for a moment before walking away with lingering steps.

Why is he like that?

I just went through an intense fight, and Hayan got hurt.

My nerves are on edge.

I have no intention of dealing with a peeping pervert in this state.

“Sigh…”

As I let out a sigh, the female students who had become my ardent fans approached.

“Kim Shin… if it were anyone else, we would’ve stepped in, but he’s a bit…”

“Right, Kim Shin is like that. Gyeoul, you should avoid dealing with him if you can.”

Doesn’t everyone feel the same about dealing with perverts?

“I’m fine.”

“Nothing else bothering you?”

You’re the ones bothering me.

“No, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me and rest.”

“…Alright, if you need anything, call us. We’ll help.”

“Okay.”

What I need is for you to treat me with the same indifference as before…

“Gyeoul…”

Then, Hayan regained consciousness.

“I had a dream where Ha-yul beat me up really bad…”

“…Out of nowhere?”

“She said I didn’t protect you properly and made me her sparring partner.”

“…Forget that kind of dream.”

“And she said you’re only safe by her side, so why did I bring you to the Academy, and she scolded me again.”

“…”

It felt like something that could actually happen if I got seriously hurt.

Was that some kind of prophetic dream?

But I came here because I wanted to, not because Hayan dragged me here.

“Don’t worry, if your sister comes, I’ll scold her.”

“…Really?”

“Yeah. I’ll protect you.”

“That’s cool, but Gyeoul, you’re weaker than me.”

This brat…

“…Who do you think carried you here after you got knocked out by magic?”

“Didn’t the instructors come and help?”

“Nope. It was me. I took down all the enemies and carried you here.”

“Lying is bad, C-Class Jeong Gyeoul.”

“…Try channeling some magic into my circuits.”

I didn’t think she’d actually do it.

I felt Hayan’s magic flowing into my body.

After thoroughly scanning my circuits, she frowned.

“Did… did you break the seal?”

“Yeah, if I didn’t, someone would’ve really died.”

“…I’m sorry, it’s all because of me.”

Hayan suddenly looked deflated.

That look is cute, but it can’t be good for her mentally.

“How is this your fault? It’s not your fault, or mine, or anyone’s. It was an unavoidable accident.”

“…”

“I didn’t break the seal because you got hurt.”

Actually, that’s true. If Hayan hadn’t gotten hurt, there would’ve been no reason to touch the seal.

“The other students were also reaching their limits. To protect them, I had no choice but to break the seal.”

“Liar.”

…How did she know?

I was trying to act all methodical.

She saw through my lie in an instant.

“No, no! I can’t lie!”

I couldn’t tell the truth.

I kept spouting white lies.

While I was trying to comfort her…

**BOOM—**

The sound was different from before.

It sounded like something exploded nearby.

At the same time, the entire shelter shook.

“What was that sound?”

“…Isn’t it the sound of fighting outside?”

“That’s way too close!”

**CRASH—**

“Ahhh!”

“Ah! It’s collapsing!”

“Calm down, everyone! It’s not collapsing!”

How intense is the fight to make that kind of noise?

The sounds of explosions, destruction, and collapse were getting closer.

Just in case, I approached the dorm supervisor.

“…Is the shelter really safe?”

“It’s designed to withstand A-Class attacks.”

“…What about S-Class?”

“The only bunker that can withstand S-Class attacks is the secret bunker used by the Blue House. I’m not sure if it can hold against Jeong Ha-yul if she really tries.”

So, does that mean Jeong Ha-yul could assassinate the President if she wanted to?

I need to make sure Jeong Ha-yul doesn’t go dark, just like Hayan.

Feels like I’ve become a national mental coach.

Anyway…

In movies and dramas, the places they say are absolutely impenetrable are always the first to get breached.

 

---