Baek Seol-hee was a hero, but she was also currently a professor at the Academy.
The Academy’s undergraduate students were on sumr break, and without a seasonal sester, she had three options for her break.
One was to act as a hero.
She had spent about 15 weeks focusing on nurturing the next generation at the Academy, so until the second sester started, one of her activities was to work as a hero in Busan.
Another option was to teach at the Academy’s middle and high school levels.
Although she had taught adults well, there were many middle and high school students who also wanted her teachings.
From the perspective of using Baek Seol-hee’s ti, which was monopolized by university students, for middle and high school students, the middle and high schools wanted her to be a special lecturer.
The last option was to enjoy the break as the undergraduates do, literally to ‘enjoy’ the vacation.
Besides personal research, she could enjoy her ti until the start of the second sester at the Academy.
As a hero, she could always step up and use her abilities, so she could freely do things she couldn’t do during her 15 weeks as a professor.
There were various things to do.
She could binge-watch movies or dramas that she missed in the first and second quarters.
Or, she could dedicate herself to serving the country in other ways.
Or, she could be patriotic.
As she prepared for the undergraduates’ final exams, she eagerly awaited the vacation.
Having already declared her intentions to the governnt, Baek Seol-hee was very happy to spend about 2.5 months of sumr until the second sester started on September 1st with soone.
However, she received news that was like a bolt from the blue.
“Professor Baek Seol-hee. Please take care of the sumr sester.”
She was given a task that was not really a task.
“A sumr sester? Are you telling to create and run additional classes?”
“That’s correct.”
Baek Seol-hee, who had been called separately to the Director’s office, couldn’t believe the contents of the docunts handed over by the Director sitting in front of her.
“Are you saying that only selected students from the Academy will undergo special training? Did I hear that right?”
“You understood correctly, Professor Baek Seol-hee.”
“…Who are the selected students?”
“We will have to look at each one from now on. Haha.”
The Director laughed heartily.
“Vacation doesn’t just an a period of rest. ‘Vacation’ literally ans ‘putting down academics,’ but that’s only when you’re away from the field of learning. The cultivation of academics must continue, and those with abilities need to further cultivate their abilities.”
“…Are you saying this special training will take place on Jeju Island?”
“That’s correct. As a senior hero, we hope you will teach the juniors how to use their abilities more intensively.”
“Sigh.”
A sigh escaped her unconsciously.
Having already expressed her displeasure, Baek Seol-hee started showing her outright dislike without hiding it.
“Did you hear anything from the President?”
“The President?”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry, but I haven’t heard anything about Professor Baek Seol-hee yet.”
The School Director was startled at the ntion of the country’s President but could only be embarrassed.
“Is it absolutely necessary for to go?”
“We have sent a cooperation request docunt to the governnt and the Hero Association. Without Professor Baek Seol-hee, this sumr sester’s special classes will be in vain.”
“Will that really happen just because I’m not there?”
“Yes.”
“…….”
It was frustrating.
She felt suffocated.
Just saying ‘I won’t do it’ was not an option because the educational plan, which seed to have been written by the Director himself, was too ideal and exemplary.
So if she had to pick on another part….
“It’s not fair to go with only a select few instead of the entire Academy.”
“You’re saying it’s unfair and that it will create discord among students? That selecting students could create a sense of inequality?”
The Director ntioned the points Baek Seol-hee wanted to make herself.
As if he had already anticipated her objections or had heard them from soone, the Director imdiately countered.
“I understand. I’ve heard that since planning this. Even Professor Lisa La Lakshmi had sothing to say about it. Haha.”
“No matter how much I talk, it doesn’t work.”
Next to Baek Seol-hee, the relatively tan-skinned, beautiful Professor Lisa held the docunts in front of her.
“Ultimately, the Director wants to put all his efforts into this National Competition.”
“The National Competition is a battle of S-class heroes, isn’t it?”
“Yes, but if the number of S-class heroes increases before the National Competition, it changes the story, doesn’t it?”
“…Don’t tell .”
Baek Seol-hee scanned the Director’s eyes and read his thoughts.
“Are you trying to find cases like Yoon Iseon, who was A-class but rapidly grew into S-class?”
“Of course. If new S-class heroes like Iseon appear, the number of ability users who can participate in the National Competition will increase. This is for the national interest and an act of patriotism.”
“…….”
For the National Competition.
“More S-class heroes an more potential winners. Although Armored Taejo is the gatekeeper of the S-class, students like Yoon Iseon who can defeat him may erge. We must win. We hope that students from the Academy will achieve good results.”
Increasing the number of S-class heroes eligible to participate was an effort to increase the likelihood of winning, aning they wouldn’t hesitate to change the education process for the sake of Korea’s victory.
“Are you saying that even if it ans taking away the Academy undergraduates’ vacation and turning it into a training period, you want to cultivate ability users for the National Competition?”
“Of course. Not only I, but everyone wants this.”
“Who? The Director?”
“No. Soone even more significant.”
The Director pointed his index finger towards the ceiling.
“The people want this.”
“…….”
“The Director would want it too. Not only that, everyone, regardless of political affiliation, wants this. Winning the National Competition, or rather the World Cup, is a critical issue. If Korea does not win the World Cup held in Korea, it will cause severe problems.”
The Director pulled out one of the printed docunts and placed it in the center of the table.
“Currently, over 50 S-class heroes around the world have entered personal training to prepare for the National Competition. Among them, a significant number are expatriates from Korea.”
“Calling them expatriates…!”
“Those who have defected or changed nationality are not patriots, are they? Professor Baek. They betrayed you. They betrayed the country. I don’t think you are defending such people.”
“…Are you trying to argue with , Director?”
As Baek Seol-hee openly frowned, the Director montarily paused.
“That’s not the case. It’s just that if such people win….”
“Do you think I or Gwang Ik Gong can’t win?”
“That’s not it. Of course, you will win. You will take first and second place. But only the two of you achieving results won’t be enough.”
The Director continued with a voice full of fervor.
“From first to eighth, no, if there are 30 S-class heroes, from first to thirtieth. All should be Koreans lined up in order.”
“…….”
“The S-class ranking in Korea should be the global S-class ranking. And the number shouldn’t just be eight; it should increase. This way, Korea will achieve overwhelming results in international competitions!”
The Director’s eyes burned with passion.
“Help us make it so that not only the quarterfinals but also the round of 16 and the round of 32 are filled with the Korean flag fluttering.”
“…….”
Baek Seol-hee quietly closed her eyes.
…
…
And then.
Flash.
She opened her eyes.
When she opened her eyes, a familiar man and woman were clinging to the bed together.
“Oh, you’re here?”
“Welco, unnie.”
The two greeted her nonchalantly, but Baek Seol-hee imdiately controlled her doppelganger to pull the blanket covering them.
“Wow.”
Baek Seol-hee imdiately felt annoyed.
“While soone suddenly got annoyed, you two were patriotically cozy?”
“Want to join?”
“Should we move aside?”
“…….”
Baek Seol-hee felt a mont of irritation at Do Ji-hwan’s suggestion but soon felt better.
“I’m eting with the School Director. I’ll finish talking with him soon and co here.”
“Should I co pick you up?”
“I’ll text you when I arrive, so co to my room. I’m in the Director’s office now.”
“Did the Director say sothing upsetting?”
“He wants to create a sumr sester special training camp in Jeju Island for A-class and B-class heroes.”
Baek Seol-hee explained the situation through her doppelganger.
The two listened seriously to Baek Seol-hee’s words, deep in thought.
“Unni.”
“Yes, Mir.”
“How about living on Jeju Island for a month, matching the camp schedule?”
“……Will you co?”
“It seems like you can’t avoid it now. Teacher, what do you think?”
“Ulleungdo is better than Jeju Island, but… it can’t be helped.”
Do Ji-hwan shook his smartphone towards Baek Seol-hee.
“I’ll find a place to stay in Jeju Island for a month, so just agree for now. And we’ll discuss it in detail when you get back.”
“…Okay.”
Baek Seol-hee closed her eyes again.
And then, back to the Director’s office.
“Professor Baek Seol-hee…?”
“Fine. But, I have conditions.”
Baek Seol-hee flicked the paper with her finger.
“If I do this, I’ll take a leave of absence for the second sester.”
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