The second sester ended, and the day of graduation arrived.
The day the cadets graduating this year, the last batch, would leave.
And... the day Seo Yujin would be inaugurated as the president of the association.
It was the day Seol Hayeon had been eagerly waiting for.
"Hoo..."
‘Has it really been this long?’
Although it was the day she had been waiting for,
now that it was truly approaching, she felt strangely unsettled.
In the now-empty chairman’s office, with all the luggage gone,
she ran her fingers over the naplate.
The naplate didn’t have her na, but another woman’s na written on it.
[From the day after tomorrow, you’ll take over as chairman.]
[What?! Senior, I’m just B-class, why ?]
[Because you’re the only one who won’t cause any problems. You’re smart.]
[But you could have given it to Seo Yujin! How brilliant he is!]
[The chairman can’t do the job of the president too. I know, I’ve tried.]
[Well, that’s true...]
[So, I’m counting on you.]
‘Sorry for asking you such a difficult favor at the end. I’m leaving the future of the cadets, the future of this country, in your hands.’
A smile appeared on Seol Hayeon’s lips.
Back at the beginning of the sester, Yujin’s junior, who had begged to be retired, was now a true educator who had fulfilled her duties as a professor until the very end.
If it were her, she would do well as chairman.
Unlike herself, who never quite fit in with the cadets,
she would surely lead them on the sa level.
Thinking that, she felt a warm sense of satisfaction.
‘The biggest problem is the association president, though...’
"Ha. I’m such a worrywart."
There was one more reason for her contentnt.
The last title left for her—the president of the Korean Awakened Association.
And that, too, would soon be passed on to Yujin.
The person she had acknowledged as the one who would lead the association forward.
Just thinking about it brought peace to her heart.
Now, she could truly retire without any worries.
"Seo Yujin, huh..."
‘That little guy, how did he grow so much in just one year?’
Once her worries subsided, mories from the past flooded back.
Back in the first sester. Yujin, who had caused a stir from the entrance exam.
As soon as she heard of his abilities, she had used every trick to recruit him.
‘Back then, I just thought he was a mischievous kid with potential.’
After that, her life had changed.
Haru and Seobaebom moved into the bleak dormitory.
The kids who called her "grandmother"—and who she, in turn, had begun to think of as grandchildren.
Gone were the days when she worked endlessly, falling asleep in loneliness.
‘Before I knew it, he started matching ...’
Her life in the chairman’s office had also changed.
Everyone there had been overwheld by her presence.
But now, there was a cadet who joked around with her.
Sotis even calling her "grandma" and teasing her.
Honestly, she enjoyed it.
When Yujin visited the chairman’s office, she would both worry and eagerly expect what kind of trouble he might cause.
The lonely hero she had been
was no longer lonely.
"Ha. That mischievous kid."
‘That’s why he ended up in a position like this. As president of the association.’
After her brief reflection,
Seol Hayeon took a badge from her pocket.
It was the badge that proved she was the association president.
With a flick of her wrist, she threw it behind her without even looking.
Clink.
"Chairman... Oh, why are you throwing it right after I get here?"
"You ca to take it, didn’t you?"
"Well, I would’ve preferred if you handed it to nicely. Geez."
Yujin grabbed the badge, grumbling.
But she didn’t pay much attention.
She knew he would take it without hesitation.
With him, the weight of the association presidency could be passed on without a problem.
"Do you think this is going to be an easy handover? I’m so fed up with it, I don’t even want to hold onto it anymore. You take it."
"Co on, it’s the last day. Can’t you at least give a word of encouragent?"
"Sorry. The only advice I can give you is to quit that job as soon as possible."
"...Well, that’s fair."
Though Yujin was a bit put off,
there was no avoiding it now.
The badge slipped into his pocket.
In that mont, he unofficially beca the president of the association, having received all the authority.
"So, are you really not going to have a retirent ceremony?"
"Not this again? I’ve heard it a hundred tis."
"The hundred and first ti. Our national hero is retiring, and we should invite people and at least throw so flowers."
Yujin finally got to the point.
Seol Hayeon had decided to disappear without a grand retirent ceremony.
He was determined to check her true feelings one last ti.
Of course, her stubbornness was not easily swayed.
"There’s nothing to do."
‘Foolish kid. If I make a grand exit, your inauguration will look small in comparison.’
She was the one about to leave.
On the other hand, he was the one who would be working for decades to co.
All the congratulations should be directed at him,
not for her pointless retirent ceremony, but for the inauguration of the successor who would lead the Awakened.
That was why she had decided to leave alone.
"Please don’t. Co on, Haru even practiced a song to congratulate . She prepared so cute dance moves with Hypnos-chan too."
"..."
‘Now I’m tempted to see that dance.’
Though she briefly considered it, this was inevitable.
A grandmother's love was instinctual.
"Fine. Nothing to do."
"Co on…"
"If you bring it up again, I’ll escape from here and co at you naked."
"Sorry! I was wrong, please don’t be angry."
"Heh, you brat."
Anyway, after fending off Yujin’s persistent questioning,
she began to gather her things.
A few bottles of precious ginseng liquor, and a few bath salts she particularly liked.
For a hero, it was a rather humble packing job.
Yujin chuckled.
"...So, what will you do after you retire?"
"I’ll go back to the countryside. I’ll live farming in a little garden."
"Want to spoil you? You’ll give it up after six months. You said yourself it doesn’t suit you."
"Heh. I think that might happen, but it’s my dream. I’ll at least try it."
A rather unremarkable conversation was had.
For a forr president and the current president of the association, the conversation was trivial.
But, that was exactly why Seol Hayeon found it so satisfying.
"If that’s the case, making liquor will be fun for you. It’ll sell like crazy, so brace yourself."
"Oh? Liquor? I hadn’t thought of that."
"Yeah. There’s a rumor that you’ll make a beauty wine by chewing the rice yourself, and the underground fan club will pay extra for it…"
"You idiot, are you seriously listening to this nonsense?"
"......"
‘It’s true. They’re selling it at one billion a bottle with premium prices.’
The third-round old man felt a bit aggrieved, but that was just how it was.
Seol Hayeon let it slide, knowing it was all part of their usual banter.
Then, as she was about to leave,
Click.
"I’ll carry that. I’ll escort you to the car."
"...Hmm?"
Just as she was about to pick up her things,
Yujin swiftly took them from her.
A brief mont of confusion crossed her face.
After all, she was S-Class, ranked 5th, and yet here he was, offering to carry her not-so-heavy bag.
This was the first ti she had experienced sothing like this since awakening.
"No, it’s fine."
"Please. Let send you off for your final journey."
"Nothing to do..."
"If you refuse, I’ll throw a tantrum. And I won’t hold back, just like with my master."
"...Damn it. Fine, follow ."
But that was short-lived.
She smiled warmly and agreed.
Though she had made this decision with her successor in mind,
she was still human.
After decades of struggling, it was a little lonely to leave without anyone seeing her off.
Ding.
[Skill 'Complete Hypnosis ' activated…]
"Yes. Let’s go. I’ll escort you."
——— Yujin’s eyes began to glow golden, but she had no idea.
"Heh. By the way, what about Paimon? How will we use her?"
"Huh? Oh, maybe as entertainnt when we’re bored?"
"Her temper’s a bit twisted, but she’s excellent at work. Don’t make her do anything silly, just have her do so paperwork."
"...You think she’s smart? Our Haru’s a hundred tis smarter."
"Trust . Thanks to her, my later years were peaceful."
Yujin and Seol Hayeon walked side by side.
They weren’t heading toward the parking lot…
——— but toward the opposite direction, toward the field where the entrance exam had been held.
"Ugh. So I didn’t need to steal the approval docunts after all. What a pointless effort."
"...What? Wait, huh?"
That’s when she felt sothing was off.
They were supposed to be heading to the parking lot, but now they were walking in the opposite direction.
Her surroundings seed blurry.
Her hearing felt muffled.
At that mont,
"Wait, hypnosis... when did you...?"
"When did you think I wasn’t using Complete Hypnosis?"
"What?"
"Just kidding, I’ve been using it since the day before yesterday. Just in case."
The golden glow in Yujin’s eyes.
She soon realized what that ant.
"And as for the hypnosis content…"
Snap.
"Wooaahhh!!!!"
"Seol Hayeon, Seol Hayeon!! Seol Hayeon!!!"
"I owe you so much, thank you!!!"
"Well, you’ll see for yourself."
"...!!!?"
When Yujin snapped his fingers, her senses returned to normal.
The once-empty field was now crowded.
The path she walked was filled with confetti.
Cheers rang out loudly in her ears.
People were gathered in the academy, celebrating her retirent.
"What... is this?"
"Look! Haru’s dancing with Hypnos-chan. Isn’t she cute? Aren’t you glad you saw this?"
"Well... yeah, but..."
Her beloved child, Seoharu, was there, wishing her happiness with a bright face.
"And..."
"Oh, Hayeon!! You’re really retiring!!"
"...Kang Bokja!? Didn’t you say you were going to the countryside?"
"You really did quit, so I rushed here!! Oh, you poor thing, you’ve worked so hard!!!"
"Eunmi, you too!?"
Forr colleagues from the sa class, who had disappeared after being unable to stand the public’s scorn,
were all gathered, warmly welcoming her.
"Not just them, your father-in-law... I an, the leader of the Cheonhwa Clan is here too."
"Soyeon and oh, Hayeong ca as well."
"I figured the politicians wouldn’t want to show up, so I kept them out."
"Oh, Suguru’s here. Make sure you shake his hand later."
Many Awakened people were there.
All the relationships she had built throughout her life.
Together, they all celebrated her future.
It was the "surprise gift" Yujin had prepared for her.
"Wait, Seo Yujin, you...?"
"If I neglect the path of a national hero, it’d be embarrassing as president of the association."
"You fool! If you do this, your inauguration ceremony will be ruined."
"Stop worrying about unnecessary things. Did the chairman have a flower palanquin for her inauguration?"
"Well, no, but..."
"Even so, look at all these people celebrating you. I’ll do the sa, so don’t worry about it."
Step, step.
"So..."
Yujin took a few steps back.
Spreading hypnosis throughout the area.
He sent a signal to everyone to do what they had promised.
Snap. All the people gathered at the academy saluted her.
"''''''Thank you for all your hard work!!!''''''"
Countless voices overlapped and echoed.
It resonated in her heart.
The retirent ceremony she had avoided, thinking it would be too awkward,
now rang out in her heart.
As a national hero and forr president who had led the Awakened for so long,
she responded to the outpouring of love, just as everyone had hoped.
Reviews
All reviews (0)