Chapter 46

The teachers couldn’t openly provide special treatment to help the transfer student adjust, but it was known that if not done overtly, some level of convenience could be afforded.

Day by day, it had become common knowledge among those in the know that the abilities of supernatural ability users were growing stronger.

Because of this, teachers responsible for students with powerful supernatural abilities generally avoided taking on such responsibilities unless driven by a strong sense of duty. As a result, they also avoided offering special treatment to other students.

However, the case of the new student, Rao Ha, was different.

Though claiming to be Chinese and exhibiting features such as a near-Chinese skin tone and manner of speech, the teachers recognized the authenticity of her claim when they saw the Rao family insignia on the documents submitted during her enrollment process. They understood she wasn’t merely pretending to be a Chinese national.

Moreover, should she truly be the heir of the Rao family, it was imperative the school offered her some consideration to avoid negative repercussions.

The Rao family, a newly prominent family that rose to power alongside the emergence of supernatural abilities, was known for producing especially powerful individuals, likely due to their large population.

Powerful supernatural ability users signified the significant influence wielded by the family.

The school, lacking teachers with comparable supernatural abilities — or even weaker abilities — risked severe consequences should they mistreat the Rao family heir. If the family were to send even a single member in retaliation, it could mean the end not only for the teachers but also for the students.

Though the government strictly prohibited killings involving supernatural powers, no one, including the teachers, believed they could effectively prevent murders committed by heirs of prestigious families from other countries.

Additionally, the fact that she wore a gown known as a gonlongpao, which even in modernized China still held significant meaning and was not casually donned, further suggested her position as a genuine heir.

Against this backdrop, the transfer student’s group was carefully and thoughtfully assembled by the teachers.

Among the group were Yoon Inna, the most popular girl, Kim Ha-neul, the most popular boy, Erica, a prodigy unmatched in academic prowess, and Kim Da-seul, known for her extensive connections.

Assigning these four individuals as the transfer student’s group mates for their team assignment was a conscious effort to provide assistance in her adjustment—an assistance that could even be considered flattery.

Although continuously providing convenience might raise suspicions among the students, offering it occasionally was manageable.

For instance, ensuring that the members of the history assignment group would also be together during the school trip at the end of May was yet another form of convenience.

The teachers hoped that through such joint activities, the transfer student might form friendships with the school’s popular students and smoothly integrate into her new life. However, unbeknownst to them, an unfortunate incident occurred on the very first day.

A seat-related dispute led to the transfer student immediately earning the ire of one of the school’s popular students. Complicating matters further, the girl who deemed the transfer student a rival was among those chosen to pair with her in the group.

None of the teachers could have foreseen the transfer student causing trouble from the first day, nor could they anticipate the results of both this incident and their well-intentioned provisions.

—Even those with insight.

Even the protagonist of this world.

And Rao Ha, who had transferred here.

*

Time quickly passed, and two weeks had gone by. Though I had regained some semblance of protection through my supernatural abilities, and while the transfer student remained somewhat isolated, I hadn’t yet successfully conveyed that Kim Ha-neul’s romantic interest was, in fact, Yoon Inna.

Even when it seemed I’d done nothing, time flew by like an arrow and didn’t return. During that time, my studies hadn’t improved in preparation for life in this world. A recent pop quiz served as proof of my academic defeat at the hands of my peers.

“Inna,… are you still in a lot of pain?”

I couldn’t forget the humiliation of Yoon Inna placing her hand on my forehead, despite sensing a subtle mix of concern and another sentiment in her actions. Regardless, being mentally outdone by someone younger was undeniable.

I had to accept the reality of my results, despite finding it difficult to believe. My once unwavering confidence shattered under the weight of the scores that represented failure to me, and what I couldn’t accept.

It was said that grades are inherently ruthless. Though I understood the lectures to a certain extent, receiving such a low score confirmed the harshness of the world.

86 points.

For me — one whose intellectual capacity was likened to “Tien Wai Tien” — to receive such a score was unfathomable. There was no time for leisurely volunteering or requests while serving the student council.

Regardless of dreams unrelated to academics, there are reasons why everyone studies. Whether it’s to survive a failed dream or to prepare for a possible future romance, one still has to face reality.

Given that the queen’s bad ending couldn’t be ignored, as well as my need for better grades, I turned to requests for help.

The request listed: “Looking for a second-year senior to tutor. High pay is available, but prefer someone both attractive and top-ranked academically. No refunds necessary if they fail to teach successfully.”

This request targeting a beautiful top-scoring student, as well as one posted to the student council, practically pointed to me or the student council president. However, due to her busy schedule, the president couldn’t accept the request.

Had I known this earlier, I would’ve realized the request was ultimately aimed at me. Despite possible hidden intentions, I had no choice but to accept. What I truly needed wasn’t to re-learn new materials but to remind myself of forgotten concepts. Teaching others provided an excellent opportunity for this.

Thus, I began tutoring, albeit as a part-time worker rather than the more leisurely student. Given my position, assuming some connection to “me,” I expected the request might be related to the school’s queen and went with considerable tension.

Though partly mistaken, it was indeed related to someone connected to me but not directly to the queen.

“So, next question?”

At the coffee house where I’d initially met her as an “unapproachable heroine” and my junior came this smaller version of her, waiting outside a three-story house. The girl who had towered over me at a height of 180 centimeters due to physical enhancements was now at an average 160 centimeters — her formerly melon-like assets reduced to apple-sized. But despite the physical changes, her long, trailing hair and sunken eyes confirmed she was indeed Kana.

“Simple. Solving trigonometric inequalities isn’t much different from solving trigonometric equations.”

Thus began the tutoring that now, after a week, continued smoothly.

There was the minor nuisance that communication needed to be done through her sketchbook since she couldn’t speak, but this barely affected the one-and-a-half-hour lesson. If she slowed the pace due to her own issues, it was her fault, not mine.

To emphasize her understanding, the girl before me nodded vigorously and placed a cookie into my mouth — a crisp, fragrant treat.

Though Kana’s habit of stalling the progress of the lessons was persistent, the slow revival of my own academic memories meant we weren’t progressing too swiftly anyway.

Considering that it was unusual for trigonometric functions to be taught in the first year in my prior knowledge, perhaps the curriculum here progressed faster due to the extended middle school program.

Perhaps sensing my difficulty in teaching, she intentionally delayed progress to accommodate.

“Ah, sister, where are we going for the school trip?”

She switched to formal language when writing in her sketchbook during tutoring, even though being only one year younger, informal speech would’ve been acceptable. She didn’t entertain my insistence to address her differently, nor did she agree to drop the honorific “sister.”

“Don’t know, don’t care.”

One of the most important events of school life: the impending school trip, which I learned about from her moments ago.

“Anyway, let’s continue the lesson.”