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August is the perfect month to die from the heat, and even in the morning, the discomfort index keeps rising.

With the lowest temperature exceeding 20 degrees and the insane humidity on top of that.

Having to go to work in this weather, it’s only natural to feel annoyed.

Of course, I can use magic, so I’m not affected, but I’m still annoyed.

Regular office workers would probably think I’m bragging, right?

The non-awakened ones commuting in this weather probably want to beat me to death.

Just as the weather is a natural phenomenon, my awakening is too, so why is it like this for me!

I feel like casting a spell on everyone I meet to raise the average temperature by 5 degrees.

Maybe it’s not the weather, but I’m just annoyed.

‘Am I crazy… No one said anything to me.’

This is all because of going to work.

As soon as I passed the academy’s main gate, I headed to the president’s office.

I’m not sure if it’s standard to start with a meeting in the president’s office or if it’s a parachute benefit, but I was told to come here anyway.

“You look well, didn’t lose sleep or anything, huh?”

“Lose sleep? Why?”

“You’re in a position to teach students, excitement and anticipation. That kind of thing?”

Excitement and anticipation? No way.

‘Maybe if I lost sleep out of frustration and resentment.’

I never thought I’d be ‘recruited’ as an instructor this quickly.

At least after this semester ends.

And after the winter break.

By the time the entrance ceremony starts next year.

When the cute freshmen come in.

I expected to naturally blend into the academy as a new instructor.

When has life ever gone my way?

This is also my fate and karma.

If I didn’t control my mind like this, a few people in charge would be kneeling in front of me by now.

I can’t create such a terrible situation.

“But… lunch is until 1:30 PM, and classes start at 1:30 PM. Why do I have to come so early?”

“…That’s your first question as an instructor, I never imagined. Didn’t you read the changed regulations? It’s on the academy’s homepage.”

“Regulations? I didn’t even know there were original ones, how would I know about the changes and go read them?”

“Ha, are you bragging? Are you bragging?”

It’s not that I’m being stubborn… I really haven’t seen such things.

I only found out today that the Hero Academy has a homepage.

The only regulations I know are from the booklet they gave out during my first enrollment, but there must have been many incidents at the academy.

Even if I was at the center of all those incidents, when would I have had the time to leisurely read regulations?

‘I might have gone into Summoner’s Rift instead.’

Anyway. So I don’t know about the changes before or after.

With innocent eyes, I looked at my master and sighed.

What, why, it’s possible not to know the regulations, you’re being so strict.

“Originally, during regular education hours, instructors didn’t have much to do. If you wanted lunch, you came before 12, otherwise, you just came in time for class.”

“Wow, that’s a sweet deal!”

“…Watch your language, you’re an instructor now.”

“Yes, I’m sorry.”

Honestly, I couldn’t help but think it was a sweet deal.

It seems my dream of coasting wasn’t entirely ruined.

Even if I can’t coast as an instructor, I don’t have to cook to eat.

Well, maybe just toasting with a torch?

Anyway, half of it is coasting…

“But that’s the past, we’ll check other things later. Let me explain why you have to come in at this time.”

“….”

After the appearance of the Satan Church, many regulations have changed.

First, during the regular education hours from 8 AM to 11:50 AM.

During that time, instructors are assigned to guard the building, and the rest are put on patrol.

They assign areas like the student council used to…

Then what’s the difference from being a student!

As an instructor, you’re supposed to boss students around. Boss the student council around. Find ways to coast a bit more.

Just teach classes casually and make assignments and exams hard, right!

Patrol… what a shocking answer.

“Why do such a thing? Last time I saw, there were many good things!”

Like seeing the Magic Power Detector in LA, our era is filled with cutting-edge technology.

Even in our country, it’s spread nationwide!

“…We relied too much on that. When the Satan Church infiltrated, committed murders inside, no one knew until they attacked.”

I had to shut my mouth at that.

Come to think of it, I heard a similar story in LA.

At Jeong Ha-yul’s remark to think about how we infiltrated, I shut my mouth just like now.

‘If you can reliably hide magic power, it’s useless.’

Of course, that skill has to be top-tier even among A-Class…

Strangely, everyone I’m involved with is top-tier A-Class, S-Class, or transcendent.

Since the security system keeps getting breached, they had no choice but to go back to analog.

Why now of all times! Why does it change just as I become an instructor!

It’s all because of the Satan Church.

I feel like storming the Association’s underground prison and smacking the cult leader.

“What are you most confident in?”

“Beating people up.”

I almost went dark from this absurd situation.

But thankfully, I got smacked on the back of the head and came to my senses.

After saying I’m good at everything and specialized in combat, my class was decided to be combat training.

But…

“This semester, start by auditing. As a teaching assistant.”

I argued again and got smacked on the back of the head again.

‘I can’t accept this.’

Being a teaching assistant means doing all the instructor’s errands, answering all the students’ questions, and being the first guinea pig in all practical sessions.

This is nothing short of an atrocious system.

Medieval nobles and their slaves.

Modern instructors and their teaching assistants.

There’s no difference.

“I’ll learn hard!”

And just like that, my dream of coasting disappeared.

Now… I’ll achieve it through my own efforts.

‘First, let’s somehow get through the auditing.’

After leaving the president’s office, I planned ahead.

Since I can follow the schedule of the class I was in…

‘I have to attend every class at least once this week.’

Next week, I’ll beg not to have to attend the auditing.

To do that…

Ding dong dang dong—

11:50 AM. The sound signaling the end of regular education classes.

Something more important than planning came up.

Anyway, I have to attend all classes this week.

‘I can plan slowly.’

When I hear this sound at this time, I head to the cafeteria.

Maybe this immense appetite inside me is due to being brainwashed by school meals since elementary school.

Even now as an instructor, it’s still there, so it must be some powerful mental ability.

Trapped in a prison called school, wearing prisoner clothes called uniforms, I must have been unable to withstand the mental brainwashing.

***

The faculty cafeteria.

The resonance of those five words was immense.

“This is life!”

My sudden outburst drew all eyes in the cafeteria.

“…Sorry.”

Already, a kid sitting in the faculty cafeteria was drawing attention, and now I became quite the celebrity.

They take money from students and enjoy all the perks themselves.

The discriminatory meal menus and tastes are the epitome of irrationality.

But I didn’t have the courage to clean up the corruption, so I had to compromise with the times.

‘It’s so delicious…’

If I had never tasted it, maybe.

But from the moment I tasted it, I became a slave to the academy.

The academy… it’s more impressive than I thought.

To bind a transcendent hero with just one meal!

I finished lunch with satisfaction comparable to my first time in the Prophet Ship’s cafeteria.

Monday’s first auditing.

Basic category class. A class divided by categories.

I always attended the super ability category, so this time I planned to attend the physical category.

The magic category has few students anyway, and when Hayan attended, it was more like self-study, so I didn’t feel the need to go.

“Hey, Jeong Gyeoul?”

“Why is she in the physical category class?”

“There’s a rumor she’s graduating early… Is she still taking classes?”

“Early graduation? What first-year graduates after one semester?”

“…She’s even prettier now.”

Since the president and instructors had already discussed it, Instructor Kim Ho-il, who teaches the physical category, acted as if my appearance was nothing unusual.

Rather, the students were in an uproar.

Among the eyes on me was Lee Chae-rin.

Just before class started, we made eye contact and smiled slightly, exchanging greetings.

‘You’re holding up well.’

Everyone has moments when they need comfort.

In Lee Chae-rin’s case, she built her own walls to face those moments alone.

I have no intention of comforting her now.

She’s already overcome some things, but I don’t think such comfort would be effective.

I thought not saying anything would be more comforting.

Of course, from Lee Chae-rin’s perspective, it might not be.

She might need someone to empathize with her situation, hug her, and cry with her.

Even if I know someone well, I can’t know everything about them.

So I’ll do it my way.

Treating Lee Chae-rin, who lost her sister, not as pitiful but as the usual mischievous Lee Chae-rin.

That was my way of comforting.

After a brief eye contact, I sat a bit away from the students.

 

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