Chapter 71

The next day, an emergency meeting was held at the school with Principal Lee Min-ho taking the lead. All administrative staff participated in this meeting.

“Exactly what is going on here? I hear that Rashid has received a contract offer.”

Precisely this morning, Principal Lee Min-ho received an anonymous tip-off. The source was Guild Master Ryu Jung-min of the Crescent Guild.

The content of the tip-off was as follows: Rashid Belkalem had received a recruitment offer from the Venus Guild, along with plans to leave the school.

“Are we just going to let our precious student go so easily?”

Lee Min-ho, known for his gentle demeanor, raised his voice with determination in his eyes today.

“Academic Affairs Director, where exactly have you been and what have you been doing up until now? Isn’t managing student records part of the Academic Affairs Division’s responsibility?”

“Th-that…”

The administrative staff couldn’t lift their heads. They merely hunched their shoulders, unable to offer any excuse in front of Lee Min-ho.

“And Student Affairs Director.”

“Y-yes sir!”

“Are you aware of Rashid’s family circumstances?”

Under the intense glare of Lee Min-ho, the Student Affairs Director froze. He managed to utter a weak response.

“Um… I received a general report…”

The feeble reply made Lee Min-ho slam his fist on the conference table.

Bang!

“So you’ve just been sitting there waiting for reports, haven’t you? Did you never think of going to investigate personally?”

“S-sorry…”

“Apologies are unnecessary. As soon as the meeting ends, contact the External Cooperation Department immediately. We need to find a sponsor for Rashid.”

“Y-yes sir!”

The meeting wasn’t over yet. Lee Min-ho turned his head to another side.

“Support Services Director, don’t we have faculty housing?”

“The faculty housing will be made available to Rashid immediately!”

The Support Services Director stood up and declared loudly that Rashid would be offered proper housing, not just a dormitory.

Note that faculty housing is typically reserved for teaching staff and is not available to regular students.

However, Rashid qualifies due to having dependents in his family.

“And one more thing, Rashid has a younger sister. Please introduce them to our on-campus daycare center when the time comes.”

“Understood!”

Measures were being swiftly implemented on Principal Lee Min-ho’s orders. This showed how dedicated he was to protecting his students.

Rashid, like Arna, is an exceptional Awakened. He’s the perfect subject to draw media attention. Didn’t he already prove this during the last physical evaluation, impressing many with his excellent performance?

We can’t let a student like this be poached by some guild.

“Ah, by the way, Planning Director.”

Lastly, Lee Min-ho called on the Planning Director.

“Could you invite a reporter from The One Daily?”

“Reporter? Why would we need a reporter…?”

The Planning Director looked confused, eyes wide open.

Lee Min-ho smiled slightly and continued.

“Of course, the events of yesterday need to be made into a news article, highlighting Rashid’s bravery.”

An older brother fighting alone against a Lesser Monster to protect his only younger sister—such an emotional story deserves to be told. It’ll easily make the front page.

Han-yul Military Academy has a chance to gain attention without relying on Arna’s influence. This was an opportunity Lee Min-ho wasn’t going to miss.

“And in the article, please ensure to emphasize that Rashid is a student at our Han-yul Military Academy.”

*

That morning, I was repairing the exterior walls of the research building with Rashid.

“What? The school is providing you with faculty housing?”

“Ah.”

I should have been in class but was instead under the scorching sun doing manual labor. All because I left school yesterday without a valid reason, resulting in disciplinary action. The punishment involved helping repair the school building.

“Good. Having a home again.”

“Ah.”

Sizzle—

Rashid skillfully applied silicone, efficiently filling the cracks in the wall. He’d clearly practiced this a few times.

“So, does this mean you’ll continue attending school?”

“…”

Rashid momentarily put down his caulking gun, paused in thought, and then spoke.

“I will stay. At school.”

“Good choice.”

Considering the school had provided him with housing, and likely further support to follow, this was the right decision. External sponsorship deals would surely come in too. It appeared asking Ryu Jung-min to inform the principal about Rashid’s situation was a sound move. The school had reacted quickly.

Ms. Ryu Jung-min truly was helpful.

“How is Nellie? She must have been very startled yesterday.”

“Nellie is fine. Very fine.”

Nellie didn’t seem to need much worrying about. Rashid’s words, valuing his sister, suggested she was okay.

Indeed, Nellie had appeared quite cheerful yesterday, even amidst the appearance of vicious Lesser Monsters and explosive artillery fire. She hadn’t shown any signs of fear when she saw me and was more concerned about asking for meat.

She was truly a fearless child.

“This week.”

Rashid paused his work to look at me, continuing his sentence.

“I must take the practical evaluation.”

Since the withdrawal decision had been reversed, Rashid would remain a student and needed to prepare for the practical examination taking place this week.

Meaning, he would need a practice partner.

“Teammate. Desired.”

“So you’re asking to be on my team?”

“Ah.”

Rashid nodded. It was the first time he himself had suggested forming a team.

The request likely included gratitude for protecting Nellie, which I interpreted correctly.

“Alright. See you in the general education class later.”

“Ah.”

With that, we returned to our work, filling the wall cracks with silicone and applying filler to any damaged areas.

Now, all that was left was the painting – when suddenly,

“Why do I have to be punished too!”

Kim Han-bit appeared carrying paint cans at a distance.

“I would have helped from the start if I knew this would happen!”

Kim Han-bit also received the same punishment for accessing the management department’s server without permission to obtain the bombardment coordinates.

She couldn’t escape punishment for unauthorized access to information.

“Why me…”

“Stop complaining and bring the paint quickly.”

“Now you’re talking big, huh…? Don’t you realize it’s all because of you I’m in this situation…!”

Bang!

Kim Han-bit slammed down the paint cans and glared at me fiercely.

“Ughhh…”

I wasn’t particularly intimidated. It felt like watching my cousin-sister sulking. She’ll get over it eventually.

“I’ll never help you again!”

Despite saying this, Kim Han-bit handed me a paintbrush and even prepared an apron and coveralls to prevent paint stains.

She was rather thoughtful.

“I’ll handle the lower part. You take care of the top.”

“Ah.”

Rashid and I began painting, with me doing the lower section because I’m shorter and Rashid handling the upper sections due to his height.

“Urgh… the smell…”

On the other hand, Kim Han-bit collapsed from dizziness due to the strong paint smell.

How fragile. She really was a technical engineering student after all.

“Just endure a little longer. We’re heading out to eat lunch after finishing this.”

“Lunch?”

“We’re planning to go to a nearby burger place. Would you like to join us? I’ll treat you since you’re helping.”

“Burger place? What burger place!”

The mention of a burger place made Kim Han-bit jump up from her seat. The dizziness she’d felt moments ago was already gone.

“Why are we going to a place like that when there’s a perfectly fine student cafeteria here?”

“Isn’t it common sense that you go to a burger place after doing manual labor?”

“That’s not true!”

Kim Han-bit loudly voiced her objection.

I turned to Rashid, asking,

“Rashid, what about you? Will you go to the student cafeteria?”

“I’m going. To the burger place.”

“Rashid says he’ll go to the burger place.”

Rashid agreed to go to the burger place with me, showing that he knew a good thing. This meal wouldn’t be dull.

“Everyone here is out of their mind…”

Kim Han-bit shook her head, not understanding, and then headed towards a nearby ice box, presumably thirsty.

“Oh no? There’s no water left?”

“We drank it all earlier. Can you go buy some?”

“And now you’re assigning me grocery runs again…”

Sighing deeply, Kim Han-bit took out her wallet. Though her words and expressions showed irritation, her body was already preparing to head to the convenience store.

“Can you just buy water?”

“Also, bring some Letsbe. And a few Sol’s Eye drinks please.”

“That Sol’s Eye again!”

She scowled, evidently irritated again.

“Who on earth drinks Sol’s Eye…”

–Oh, there you are.

At that moment, a child in the distance waved their hand.

A girl wearing a pristine white lab coat, walking casually despite being outside—none other than the Technical Engineering student Yoo Ji-woo.

Yoo Ji-woo waved a black bag at us and said,

“I picked up some Sol’s Eye drinks. Would you like one?”

“Ugh, so irritating…”

Unable to contain her frustration any longer, Kim Han-bit began to scratch her own head.