The Academy’s Deceased Ate It All

Yoon Seul-hye.

I heard stories about her everywhere, even if I didn’t want to listen.

If I put together those fragments of information, this is what I got.

She was a member of the Cultivation and a person who had been recognized for her ability since she was young. She had been active as a hero since middle school.

She was widely acknowledged for her ability as a supporter, and the people who received her support could forget their pain and exert several times more power than usual.

But the most distinctive feature was that she was also pursuing her activities as an idol.

Objectively speaking, she had a very pretty appearance.

No, not very, but extremely.

The reason why I didn’t show any reaction to her was simple.

“Why?”

“It’s nothing.”

When I glanced at her, Han Soo-young smiled slightly as if asking what was wrong.

When I looked at Jin Ye-seul, she was smiling subtly.

Yeah, the reason was simple.

Right now, next to me, Han Soo-young or Jin Ye-seul were sitting, and next to them was Choi Hyun-woo.

There were Lee Ye-eun, Lee Yu-na, Ivan Hunt, Cass Ryle, Ahn Do-hoon… and a little further, Jin Ye-jung or the young Nam Hyun-hwa, Belluna, and Alice Blessbeck.

Lidiana Esmeralda Lisnerger, Evangeline Roengrin of the Ten Greats, or Laura Hartman.

And now I couldn’t see her anymore, but Minerva who had taken human form.

Most of the people I had met or faced so far had such different appearances.

As a result, I lost most of my confidence in my own appearance, and my eyes became very high.

That’s why, when I saw Yoon Seul-hye, who I would have admired for being really pretty, I just thought, oh, she’s really pretty.

To sum up the story about Yoon Seul-hye, she was one of the idols of this era who had caught two rabbits, hero and idol, without losing them.

It was not uncommon for people who were heroes or hunters to also work in the entertainment industry, but few people were as successful in both fields as she was.

She had also been receiving the popularity and attention of the public before she became a member of the Cultivation, and she was in charge of the external promotion of the Association along with the Cultivation.

And judging by the voice and vocalization I heard earlier, she seemed to be good at singing.

In fact, even if she couldn’t sing, if there was a girl like that in the world who was an idol, I would have listened to her song once or twice.

But for me now, it was nothing but repulsive.

“…”

As I said earlier, she had been active as a hero since she was young.

She had no reason to come to this Orhe Academy, which was for cultivating heroes and hunters.

If I had to argue, she could have come for education or lectures, but she said she was temporarily taking classes with us in the same class as part of the linkage program between the Association and the Academy.

I couldn’t help but laugh at the forced sound.

It was only a few days ago that Choi Joon-hyung, a member of the Cultivation, came and was humiliated, and another member of the Cultivation also became a wreck and disappeared as if he was chased away.

I also vaguely knew that the Association had been trying to contact me without getting tired, but they had failed every time because of the Ten Greats and Lee Ye-eun.

They seemed to have tried to cleverly pull the public opinion to their side, but… Lately, I saw articles and evidence that refuted the Association’s claims, and it seemed that Lee Ye-eun had started to take action.

She also said that she would soon reveal something fatal to them, and when that time came, she would let me know and asked me to watch it on television.

In the meantime, she suddenly asked me if I hadn’t told her to be careful of the electromagnetic waves before, and she hung up the phone, mumbling.

…Maybe the electromagnetic wave thing was an excuse she said because she was afraid that I might see her describing me negatively and cutting me down on the broadcast.

“…”

They failed to mobilize public opinion, and they also failed to force me to go with them.

In the meantime, Yoon Seul-hye, a member of the Cultivation, came to this Academy, and in the same class as us…

[It’s so obvious that I wonder if there’s another way. This is… too shallow. It’s like a childish idea.]

I nodded slightly as if I agreed with Spangali’s words.

[If not, it’s a desperate measure that a nervous and cornered human would make.]

I leaned quietly on the wheelchair, listening to his strangely specific words.

“Then, Miss Yoon Seul-hye… Yes, you can sit over there.”

Fortunately, her seat was not near us.

But as she passed by, she looked at us consciously, and I thought, as expected.

[In my opinion… maybe she’s thinking of using you as a beauty account, what do you think? You seem to be naive and soft, and if someone pushes you hard, you’ll stutter…]

He chuckled as if he was amused, but then he spoke to me in a serious voice.

[But I trust you. You’re not the kind of person who would fall for temptation without restraint. Um, that’s right. But just in case, tell me if you feel like it. I’ll force you to regain your reason. No, there’s no need to say it. If I see any signs of that, I’ll step in right away.]

‘…What did you eat wrong?’

Spangali just repeated that he didn’t have to worry, that it would never happen, so he didn’t have to worry.

As he kept repeating that, I started to worry about his condition.

When it was about time, the professor who stood on the podium tidied up the documents he had been holding and said.

“Well, there’s nothing more to explain… For a while, the classes will be focused on theory as I had notified in advance. Also, the repair and purification work of the currently opened places has been completed perfectly, but if you find anything unusual, please tell me right away, and if you enter the restricted area, you will be penalized, so be careful…”

He recited the announcements in a dry voice and then looked around once.

“That’s it for today. Don’t just play around, and I recommend you to do some preview of the classes that will start from tomorrow.”

He nodded his head earnestly, as if he was pleading with me.

“It will be hard to catch up with the theory classes for a while.”

With that, he turned his body and left the room, as if he had nothing more to say.

At the same time, most of the students in the class headed towards where Yoon Seul-hye was sitting, as if they had been waiting.

“Wow.”

I uttered only one word as I saw that sight.

“She’s really popular.”

“Han Soo-young and I knew that too.”

Choi Hyun-woo glanced at her and turned his head, as if he was not interested.

“Where we lived was a bit… remote, right? But I heard the name Yoon Seul-hye often.”

“What, is she that amazing?”

He smiled awkwardly as I asked in surprise.

“I don’t know how strong she is, but she was definitely popular. Maybe it’s because she has a pretty face and a unique vibe, but there were a lot of people who liked her among the elders too.”

“Is she your ideal type? Like an idol.”

Jin Ye-seul threw a remark at him, and he chuckled.

Then he moved behind me, as if he wanted to leave.

“Not really? I admit she’s pretty, but… if you compare her to someone prettier, I’ve been with her for a long time.”

“Oh, what? Hyun-woo, you?”

Han Soo-young looked at Choi Hyun-woo with admiration.

“Is there anything you want to eat or have? Why are you saying such nice things to your sister today?”

“You’re teasing me again. Again.”

Choi Hyun-woo shook his head with a sigh.

Then Han Soo-young said with a still relaxed smile.

“Well, Hyun-woo is… Hyerin has marked him, so he won’t have any eyes for anyone else.”

As he mentioned the name of Lee Hyerin, Lee Myung-joon’s sister, Choi Hyun-woo’s face turned gloomy.

Jin Ye-seul opened her mouth as she looked at him.

“Then, what do you think of me?”

“Ye-seul, you’re also very pretty. Oh, right.”

Choi Hyun-woo took out a candy from his pocket and handed it to her, as if he had just remembered.

“Here, eat this. Throat candy.”

“Oh, my throat was ticklish.”

“Here, Ji-hyuk, you too.”

“Oh, thanks, man.”

Han Soo-young silently raised her palm and reached out to Choi Hyun-woo.

Then Choi Hyun-woo threw the last candy into his mouth and carefully placed the empty throat candy container on Han Soo-young’s palm.

“…Hyun-woo? There seems to be nothing in here.”

“Ah, I did that on purpose.”

Choi Hyun-woo answered with a smirk.

“That’s for you to use as an ashtray… Cough!”

There was a sound of something popping, and Choi Hyun-woo, who was standing behind me, fell to his knees.

Han Soo-young looked at me and said quietly.

“…I don’t smoke. You trust me, right, Ji-hyuk?”

I nodded quietly.

Han Soo-young looked at Choi Hyun-woo, who was groaning half-collapsed, and said.

“You try to make that joke again in front of Ji-hyuk. Then I’ll really not let you go.”

“I’m, I’m sorry…”

He gasped and nodded his head.

“Hey, Soo-young… But I’m not joking, I can’t breathe…”

“Then just die like that.”

Han Soo-young spat out coldly and came to my side and grabbed the wheelchair.

“Hey, Soo-young. This is heavy.”

“It’s okay. I’m strong.”

With that, she lifted me up with the wheelchair without difficulty.

And then she walked down the stairs and put me down.

Jin Ye-seul was already next to me, and Lee Yu-na was waiting at the entrance of the class.

Choi Hyun-woo was still sitting there.

“Let’s go.”

“Huh, what about Hyun-woo?”

“Hyun-woo? I don’t know who he is, but he just died.”

Han Soo-young answered Lee Yu-na’s question.

She nodded her head as if she understood and grabbed the wheelchair.

“…”

I felt a strong gaze and turned around.

There was still Yoon Seul-hye, surrounded by many students.

A sweet smell came from somewhere.

“Excuse me, can I interrupt you for a moment?”

Ivan’s class was not over yet, and I was waiting with the kids around.

A voice that made me feel refreshed just by listening came to my ears, and I turned my head. There was Yoon Seul-hye standing there.

Could she be approaching me so openly?

I was looking at her with curiosity when he asked.

“What’s up?”

Choi Hyun-woo, who stepped forward instead of Han Soo-young and Jin Ye-seul, who were clearly threatening and wary, asked. She smiled shyly and glanced at me.

“I’m sorry, but the person I need to see is over there…”

“So you’re asking what’s going on with Ji-hyuk, right?”

Jin Ye-seul asked coldly, as if she was shooting at her. Yoon Seul-hye looked flustered.

It was as if she didn’t know why they were so hostile to her.

“Uh, no… I just wanted to say hello to the people who will be in the same class as me, and… you look very hurt.”

She stammered and then laughed with a bright sound.

“Well, not to brag, but… I have the ability to boost your energy, and everyone who receives it says it works well.”

Their reaction to her words was not just sour, but almost sensitive.

It was because it had been only a few days since she had caused trouble with other members of the training.

I was also the same, feeling ridiculous at her attitude of coming over as if she knew nothing, even though she was a member of the training. But I changed my mind and reached out my hand.

“Ji-hyuk?”

“It’s okay.”

I answered Han Soo-young’s puzzled words and looked at Yoon Seul-hye.

“Then I’ll ask you a favor.”

“Yes, I’ll do my best!”

Yoon Seul-hye looked touched and gently grabbed my hand with both hands.

I felt her magic flow into my body.

I quietly called Svengali’s name.

[You don’t have to say it, I know what you mean.]

He would be able to see through the other person’s thoughts to some extent through the exchange and contact of magic.

As he did, he snorted and laughed incredulously.

[Look at this cute thing. She’s hiding something like this behind a mask that pretends to know nothing.]

I didn’t need to ask what he meant.

A notification window popped up in front of me.

And it was a warning notification.

[An unknown substance is seeping into your body!]

[Something unknown is seeping into your soul!]

[You have successfully resisted with poison resistance!]

[A mild hallucination symptom appears!]

[You fall into the abnormal state ‘poisoning’!]

[You escape from the abnormal state ‘poisoning’ with poison resistance!]

The contents were creepy to say the least.

Unknown substance, hallucination, poisoning.

I looked at Yoon Seul-hye, wondering if it was possible, but she was holding my hand with a serious expression, as if she was really trying.

Svengali spat out disdainfully.

[It makes me sick.]

He added sincerely, as if he hated it.

[Smell, sweat, voice, magic… She’s a woman who spews drugs from her whole body.]

Yoon Seul-hye.

Her ability was none other than creating drugs.

‘Beauty is terrible, but drugs?’

I felt a deeper disgust towards the association.