* * *The first class on Friday at Lord Howe’s always took place at the sa location—A massive circular classroom resembling an ancient Greek theater.It was a place imbued with the founder’s desire for all students, be it Mages or Superhumans, to gather in one place at least once a week.The sight of students filling the room to the brim was one of Lord Howe’s distinctive traditions. However, beyond this unique appearance, the class itself was nothing out of the ordinary.The subject taught was a common one, such as ‘Life and Ethics, Superhumans and Society’.Although so students and staff proposed that it would be better to get rid of such an inefficient tradition, Yeomyeong’s impression was different.…It’s not as bad as I thought.Let alone attending a normal school; he had rarely been in the sa place with peers of his age.Sitting among the students, looking down at the podium, he felt…Sothing strange.It was a different feeling from when he was under the spotlight back at the airport or dormitory.Was this the reason the Foreman kept nagging him to attend a proper school instead of simply answering the GED?Although it was impossible for him to find the real answer now, sohow, it seed that was what the Foreman ant.As Yeomyeong was lost in his thoughts, the front door of the classroom opened, and a woman wearing a neat suit walked in.With each click of her heels echoing throughout the room, the students’ chatter gradually died.Like the rest of the students, Yeomyeong’s attention was focused on the teacher at that mont.“She’s Miss Gemini, the Ethics teacher.”A sudden explanation about her ca from beside him.Turning to his side, he saw a gloomy-looking boy with his chin resting on the desk.Baonic Lerac.Yeomyeong’s dorm roommate. And despite his prestigious family background, he was living in a room that looked like a pigsty.“She graduated from MIT’s Departnt of Magic. While she is strict, she is also a good person. And as you can see, she’s also a well-known beauty in the academy.”“…”“Here’s sothing funny. Her fiancé’s na is Hoochie1…”He kept spewing out information without being asked, occasionally glancing at Yeomyeong to see his expression.It was as if trying to gauge whether Yeomyeong was already aware of this.Why was he behaving like this? When Yeomyeong tilted his head and t his gaze, the boy smiled awkwardly.“I just thought that you might be curious… Did I make you uncomfortable?”“No. Thanks for telling .”An awkward silence ensued. While Baonic seed to be mulling sothing over, Yeomyeong turned his head to the other side.There, he saw Seti pushing the Saintess’ forehead away with her finger while the Saintess kept trying to snuggle up to her, and… an elf hiding her ears with magic.He knew she had co to the academy while accompanied by the Holy Sword, but who would have imagined that she’d end up as Seti’s roommate?He didn’t know the reason she enrolled at Lord Howe’s, but hopefully, she wouldn’t get tangled up in his plans.As Yeomyeong’s brief thoughts passed, Seti glanced his way.Her blue eyes were beautiful as always.Still pushing the Saintess away, she quietly mouthed sothing.- Lunch, main building, at the back.Yeomyeong gave her a slight nod as a subtle exchange of glances passed between them.He then turned the other way, as if pretending not to know her, but there were many things he wanted to say.Although they had occasionally exchanged ssages while he was in Manchuria, because of Yeomyeong’s poor texting skills, they hardly had a proper conversation beyond any important matters.…I should tell her about the Golden Seal as well.Anticipating her reaction when she heard that he would be able to lift her ban, Yeomyeong turned his gaze toward the podium.- Well, good morning, Freshn.Miss Gemini had already opened her textbook and started with the lecture.
* * *Modern Superhumans and Social Ethics.
Miss Gemini’s class was interesting in its own way.From the content to the teaching style, nothing felt familiar, but that made it all the more evident that he was learning sothing new.- Most modern countries that have joined the UN have stricter standards for Superhumans when it cos to injuries and assault…- As per the international agreent established after the Miami terror incident, the use of martial arts in exceptional circumstances is…This was real academy education, far beyond what he had seen in the docuntaries.At so point, without realizing it, Yeomyeong found himself completely engrossed in the lesson. Then, as Miss Gemini turned her head, she t his gaze.Recognizing his face, she raised her eyebrows and, upon noticing his empty desk, spoke up.- Everyone, if there’s a student besides you without a textbook, please share yours.Among all the students present in this large classroom, the only students without textbooks were the Saintess and Yeomyeong, who had just arrived yesterday. Not calling them out explicitly was likely her way of showing consideration.Just as Baonic said, she seed like a good person.Anyway, Yeomyeong planned to share a textbook with Seti, who was sitting next to him.However, Seti was already sharing her textbook with the Saintess. Though it was more like she didn’t have a choice as the Saintess was clinging to Seti unilaterally.And seeing that she wasn’t in a state to share her textbook with him, Yeomyeong was about to ask Baonic.However, just as he was about to turn the other way, the girl sitting besides the Saintess stood up without making a sound and approached him.“Shall we share?”It was Miridith. The elven princess he t back in Incheon.Before Yeomyeong could respond, she had already walked past the Saintess and Seti and taken a seat beside him.It felt awkward to refuse her kindness, and more importantly, it seed like she had sothing to say to him, so Yeomyeong nodded.“I’d appreciate that.”“It’s just a textbook, no big deal.”The princess tucked her long blonde hair behind her ear and placed her textbook between the two of them.As Yeomyeong scanned the textbook, the elf princess picked up a pen and wrote sothing on the corner of the page.
[It’s been a while. How have you been?]
A short greeting written in cute handwriting. She handed the pen to him with a small smile.
[I’ve been well. How about you?]
Yeomyeong took the pen, wrote his response, and handed it back.
[So-so? By the way, do you know? Ri got a job as a staff mber. She works as a gardener on the central island.]
Ri? Oh, she must be talking about that silver-haired elf who was her escort.
Since he wasn’t particularly interested, Yeomyeong just nodded indifferently.
[I’m glad to hear that the both of you are adapting well to life on Earth.]
[Are we really adapting well? I’m not sure. The only person I can call a friend is Seti…]
Tapping the pen on the page for a mont, the princess quickly jotted down her next question after glancing at Yeomyeong’s face.
[Your na, Dung Beetle. Fake? Real?]
[Real.]
[Then your current na. Is it a fake?]
Without a mont’s hesitation, Yeomyeong wrote his reply.
[Cheon Yeomyeong, Dung Beetle. Both are my real nas.]
[That’s strange.]
[By my standards, Miridith is pretty strange as well.]
[I’m not Miridith right now, I’m Soe Miri.]
What? Yeomyeong’s hand froze as he was about to take the pen from her.
Could it be… did she think that ‘Soe’ was his family na and made up that nickna? Ignoring the ominous feeling, he replied.
[What kind of na is that?]
[Is it a strange na?]
[By Earth’s standards? Of course, it’s strange.]
[Stranger than ‘Dung Beetle’?]
Yeomyeong didn’t reply and instead twirled the pen around his fingers, unable to think of an appropriate response.
Of course, in his opinion, ‘Dung Beetle’ was a better na than ‘Soe Miri’ but anyway, that wasn’t the issue.Yeomyeong picked the pen again.
[I doubt you ca here just to ask how I’m doing. Do you need sothing from ?]
Reading his reply, Miridith… no, Soe Miri, nodded slightly.
[I know that you’re no longer a rcenary, but I’d like to make a request.]
[And if I refuse?]
[The reward is sothing you can’t refuse.]
A reward? Yeomyeong raised an eyebrow, and just as Soe Miri confidently reached into her pocket.
The atmosphere in the classroom shifted.A nacing change that anyone sensitive to mana could feel.Everyone in the classroom sensed it and turned their heads to look out the window at the sa ti.WHEEEEEENGGGGG!!A siren blared across the entire island.
* * *The Author, Baonic Lerac, bit his lip as soon as he heard the ergency siren blare.
While the other students tilted their heads in confusion, unsure of what was happening, he knew exactly what was happening outside.Why is the story progressing all of a sudden?The prologue hadn’t even taken place, and the issue in Manchuria was already resolved.But why is Chapter 1 still moving ahead as planned?He frantically racked his brain.According to the original story, the siren currently blaring marked the beginning of a terrorist attack orchestrated by spies from the Secret Society and the priest from the ‘Church’ who had managed to infiltrate the academy.The academy, still reeling from the tragedy described in the prologue, would be caught off guard by the sudden attack.And amidst the chaos, the Saintess, who foresaw the massacre, would team up with the protagonist to thwart the attack in the grand finale of Chapter 1.Could it be because the Saintess is at the academy?Baonic turned to look at the Saintess.Unlike everyone else who was staring out the window with serious expressions, she was nestled in Hong Seti’s arms, giggling foolishly.She looked nothing like the Saintess he knew, but regardless, she was still the Saintess.Now that Chapter 1 had begun… she would surely move as per the story’s course.According to the story… the first person the Saintess seeks out after her Foresight is the protagonist.Baonic swallowed nervously, waiting for the Saintess to action.- Everyone! This is not a drill! Please remain calm and proceed to the shelter in an orderly manner!As Miss Gemini guided the students to safety, and everyone in the classroom moved towards the ergency shelters, he continued waiting.However, let alone having a prophecy, the Saintess was simply held onto Seti’s hand and kept chattering about trivial matters.She spoke about which combinations of school uniforms looked the cutest, so costics she had seen on social dia, and popular restaurants on the north island…Ti passed as she wasted it on such nonsense.Only after the shelter doors were shut with the students inside did Baonic realize that sothing was terribly wrong.Could it be… that the protagonist isn’t here?1. This is probably inspired by the protagonist of a Korean web novel, Dragon Raja, written by Lee Yeongdo, one of the most famous fantasy novelists in South Korea. It was first published online on 3 October 1997 on a serial forum of an online service provider, Hitel.
The protagonist's na in that series is Hutch Nedval (also spelled as Hoochie Nedval) and he has a fiancée nad Gemini Sintharg.
Lee is quoted to have said that Hutch's na ca from the first and last syllables of Huanmu-chi (Korean: 후안무치, Hanja: 厚顔無恥) which literally ans "thick-skinned face no sha," or "acts brazen and feels no sha." ȓ
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