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The ground cracked, buildings crumbled, and flowers and trees were torn apart.

Four days had passed since that day, which was nothing short of chaos.

The Hero Academy, which I thought would still be under repair, looked no different from before the incident.

No, it seemed even better than before.

“Wow, it looks even prettier now.”

“Right? They must have spent a fortune on it.”

Hayan and Chaerin were genuinely amazed by the academy’s restored and improved appearance, but…

I couldn’t help but be shocked.

‘…Is that even possible in just four days?’

I’ve heard that workers in our country are fast, but this was beyond imagination.

I thought the four-day break was to give the shaken students time to recover, not to complete the repairs.

…

“So they planned to finish the repairs in four days…”

I couldn’t help but wonder how many laborers had been sacrificed to make this happen.

“What’s wrong, Gyeoul?”

“I feel bad for the people.”

“What are you suddenly talking about?”

There are some things you don’t need to know…

I brushed off Hayan’s question and headed to the dormitory.

Perhaps to catch students breaking curfew, the dorm supervisor was standing by the entrance.

“Lee Hayan, Jeong Gyeoul, Lee Chaesong, Lee Chaerin. You’re the last ones.”

“Hello!”

We came in a bit leisurely, but thanks to Hayan and Chaerin, who were observing the academy’s changed appearance like a game of spot-the-difference, we almost ended up late.

“One minute late.”

“Ugh!”

No, we weren’t almost late—we were late.

“We entered the academy a while ago. We were just looking around at the changed academy…”

“It’s fine, I won’t give you penalty points. I owe you, after all. I should use the little authority I have as a dorm supervisor for times like this.”

“What do you mean…?”

“Right, I’ll overlook minor tardiness like this from now on.”

The dorm supervisor, like a magpie repaying a favor, explained the privileges he could grant.

For example, outing and overnight stay permissions.

There are restrictions on leaving the academy except on weekends, but he would lift those restrictions.

‘This is it!’

It was almost as if all the hardship we went through was for this.

I was nervous that the dorm supervisor might wipe his mouth when I entered and exited the bathroom.

“But… if you only give us these privileges, won’t the other students complain?”

“Students from other dorms will probably pester their dorm supervisors. But that’s none of my business. Using the authority I have isn’t a violation.”

I see.

Abandoning colleagues? The dorm supervisor has no teamwork; he’s an individualist.

Of course, since that individualism benefits me, I had no problem with it.

“But our dorm has a problem too, right? The kids will pester you.”

“Do you really think so?”

“…?”

The dorm supervisor smiled meaningfully.

I realized why he was acting like that the very next day.

Starting today, I would meet Choi Ye-na again.

Hayan and Chaerin still seemed to be asleep, while Chaesong had already finished all her preparations.

I quickly got ready and went out to wake the sleepers.

But…

As soon as I opened the door, a female student grabbed me.

“Gyeoul! Do you need help with your bags?”

“I don’t have any bags…”

Why would I carry something heavy around?

All my books and stationery are in the classroom.

Not that I’ll use them anyway.

“…No bags? Should I carry you then?”

“…What kind of nonsense is that? Just go to class.”

“Okay, call me if you need help!”

“…What’s going on?”

I looked at Chaesong, wondering what was happening.

But she probably didn’t know either.

We looked at each other, shrugged, and kept walking.

“Gyeoul, hi! Want a drink?”

“…?”

A female student with a familiar face placed two drinks in my hands before I could answer.

“…There’s one for you too. I’m sorry about last time.”

“…Th-thank you?”

“I’ll enjoy it. I don’t know what’s going on, but…”

I realized where I’d seen her before.

She seemed to be one of the group that had been bullying Chaesong when I first met her.

It was late, but since she apologized, she wasn’t a complete trash.

I took the drinks and headed upstairs.

“Gyeoul, hi!”

“You look pretty today!”

“Did you sleep well?”

“Here, eat this!”

When I arrived at Hayan and Chaerin’s room, an enormous amount of snacks and drinks were floating around me.

It’s good that snacks automatically replenish, but…

Having to carry them around is a different story.

Not just one or two, but dozens.

Even if they’re light, carrying this many at once isn’t as easy as it seems.

I could feel my magic power being drained in real-time.

If I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have let that female student who offered to carry my bags go so easily.

If I were still C-Class, my body would probably be shaking by now.

“How about we just take a few and leave the rest in the room?”

“That’s a good idea. By the way, when are you going to stop using formal speech?”

“…Ah, it’s harder than I thought to drop formalities.”

Even though we’ve spent the night together… well, they didn’t sleep, but still.

Even after spending the night together in the same house, Chaesong’s formal speech didn’t change easily.

“…I’m not forcing you, so just do what’s comfortable.”

“Okay, got it.”

When I opened the door and went in, Hayan and Chaerin were, as expected, still asleep.

There were two beds, but only one side was occupied.

I still can’t understand the psychology of girls who want to stick together everywhere.

I still don’t get why Hayan tries to follow me to the bathroom.

“Hayan, Chaerin unnie. Wake up.”

“Ugh, five more minutes…”

Five minutes, my foot.

Even if they wake up now, it’ll be tight.

“Ahhh!”

“What, what’s this!”

I put down all the snacks I was carrying on the desk and lifted both girls up.

I placed them both in the bathroom and kindly turned on the water for them.

“Hurry up and wash.”

“…You’re violent.”

Even in her half-asleep state, Hayan glared at me.

If you’re upset, wake up earlier.

I closed the bathroom door and turned around.

Socks and underwear were scattered everywhere.

Leftover snacks and crumbs from last night.

“What a mess… it’s like a pigsty.”

The ones making the mess and the ones cleaning up are different people.

Chaesong, already used to this sight, started cleaning.

I helped clean while thinking about reporting Hayan’s lifestyle to Hayun unnie.

Hayan and Chaerin quickly washed up, changed into their uniforms, and finished preparing for school in exactly five minutes.

A new record, surpassing the previous six-minute record.

“…That’s fast.”

It takes me about three minutes just to brush my teeth, but those two…

They finished everything before we even finished cleaning.

“Do the rest yourself.”

“Yes, mom.”

They answer well.

It’s obvious that a similar scene will unfold tomorrow, but I decided to let it slide.

“But what’s with all these snacks?”

“I don’t know… the dorm people are acting weird.”

***

On the way to the cafeteria after morning classes.

Similar situations kept happening.

Female students offering to carry my bags.

Female students handing out snacks.

Those who usually didn’t even greet me were suddenly going crazy.

The trigger must have been the Apostle attack incident.

‘Is this what the dorm supervisor meant…?’

The sudden change in the female students’ attitudes was quite burdensome, but…

I wasn’t so morally bankrupt as to push them away.

Since I couldn’t avoid it, I decided to enjoy it.

But…

“Wow, you eat a lot. Can I sit next to you?”

“You’re Hayan, right? Nice to meet you. My dad is in the Taebaek Guild. Do you know him?”

“What are you doing after class today? Can we spar?”

As the female students’ attitudes changed, the male students started clinging too.

“…Get lost!”

They say even dogs don’t bother you while you’re eating, but with every spoonful, questions flew at me.

How dare they disturb the sacred mealtime.

Somehow, I ended up accepting the female students but pushing away the male students.

But I’m not being sexist.

‘You’re the ones being bad for bothering me while I eat.’

Hayan was eating without a care, but Chaesong and Chaerin seemed uncomfortable with the male students’ attention.

“Pretty flowers have thorns. You’re exactly like that.”

Ugh.

Even though I was shoving more food in, I almost spat it out.

I looked to see who would say such a cheesy line, and it was a greasy-looking guy staring at me.

Wink-

When our eyes met, he even winked at me.

I was proud of myself for not hitting him.

“…I said get lost. If you bother me while I’m eating, I’ll beat you up.”

When I growled, they finally started to leave.

“What, I was just trying to be friendly.”

“He’s more rude than I thought.”

“Be quiet, or you’ll get hit.”

“He’s just a C-Class. I can beat him.”

“…Not him, I mean the Demon King.”

“…That’s a bit.”

I let most of the male students leave, but…

‘Jeong Myeong-hoon’

I made sure to remember that guy’s name tag.

The greasy guy who winked at me.

The guy who will probably be the star of my nightmares tonight.

I need to remember his name so I can legally beat him twice as hard later.

It’s only been a few hours since I became popular.

I’m already getting tired.

I don’t like this kind of popularity…

My appetite dropped.

“…I lost my appetite.”

“Isn’t that normal? You’ve already eaten ten servings.”

…

I wish you’d keep those thoughts to yourself.

If anyone hears, they’ll really think I’m a pig.

 

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