After Shinoda and Isiah left, the Hero Culture Research Club room was left with only Hitomi and the remaining members.
Hitomi, who actually had no interest in this club, made for an awkward atmosphere.
“High school girls from the birthplace of subculture, Japan! Isshonii Gecko Sugoi!”
“Maybe you could dub my untranslated visual novel?”
The male members hit on Hitomi while Sang-hyun’s attention was elsewhere.
There was a reason Sang-hyun became the president despite his atrocious sense of humor.
It was because he was the most socially adept among them.
“No.”
Ashikaga Hitomi frowned and gave them a serious look, not bothering to elaborate as she usually did.
“Uh, uhh…”
“Then maybe…”
“Rather than that, you’re making me uncomfortable. President, I’ll be going now~”
Hitomi left the clubroom with a contemptuous expression after packing her belongings. She had no reason to stay in this clubroom without Shinoda around. Their advances were a bonus—she could leave under the pretense of avoiding them.
“Hey, you guys need to know your place. How do you think it looks when you hit on someone who’s clearly here for Shinoda? That’s the kind of reaction you’re going to get.”
After confirming Hitomi’s departure, Sang-hyun shook his head as he spoke. His fellow club members were truly clueless.
“Black tears.”
“This is the disparity between honne and tatemae!”
The club members fell into despair in the ‘OTL’ pose.
They were aware of what the president said. However, they thought they might be able to become ‘girl friends’ with her and approached her anyway.
“To be scorned by a pretty girl… it has its own charm…”
“Mm.”
At some point, one of them stood up to speak, and another followed suit, nodding.
“Ah, you fools.”
Sang-hyun smacked their heads with his hand since they still seemed out of it.
*
The next morning.
I was heading to school with Park Hayeon when we met up with Hitomi along the way.
“Good morning everyone~”
“Yeah, hello.”
“Good morning. Hitomi.”
We greeted each other.
“Umm.”
As we continued walking toward school, Park Hayeon subtly tried to hold my hand. Out of consideration, I took her hand first.
“Hiik.”
Hayeon instead flinched, staring at me in surprise.
‘Maybe she’s too innocent.’
I looked at her with a ‘Why?’ expression. With no response, Haeon pretended not to notice and stared ahead.
“Wow, your hands are calloused like crazy.”
Though I had expected softness, Park Hayeon’s hands were surprisingly firm, likely from her daily training.
“Uhm, yeah. If you don’t like rough hands, I’m sorry?”
“Actually, I think they’re a sign of hard work, so I like it. Good job.”
“Hehe.”
Haeon was delighted. I was also glad that she trained hard.
Strangely, Hitomi stayed slightly apart, watching us cozy up.
“Shinno, did you get that message too?”
Then, Park Hayeon suddenly remembered something and exclaimed.
When she mentioned a message, one specific one came to mind.
“Was it from Cha Yoon-jung in our class?”
“Yeah.”
“Looks like it went out to Class A too. There was quite a commotion in our class chat.”
I pulled my smartphone from my pocket and opened the text message I had received that morning.
It was a picture of Cha Yoon-jung in a naked, indescribably embarrassing pose.
I couldn’t know the reasons behind her sending such messages to her classmates, but it was clear she wouldn’t walk with her head held high anymore any time soon.
“Ew. Don’t look at that.”
Park Hayeon frowned slightly, snatched my smartphone, and deleted the message.
‘Honestly, her figure is rather plain compared to ‘Red Knight’ or ‘Fake Hitomi’ so it didn’t even elicit much feeling.’
Of course, I understood her concern. There must be various complex reasons.
We crossed the crosswalk and approached the gates. The imposing Academy was immediately visible, rivaling even a major university campus in its grandeur.
But right then, someone fell from the rooftop of the Academy building.
Plop!
The loud sound reverberated like a tire bursting.
“What was that?”
“Did someone just fall?”
The crowd quickly buzzed with conversation.
“Let’s see what’s wrong. Let’s go!”
Hayedon pulled my hand toward the scene. Not having much choice, I followed.
At the foot of the Academy, near a flower bed, lay Cha Yoon-jung in a ghastly state—her neck nearly bent at a 90-degree angle, and her arm bone jutting out from her shoulder area.
The Academy building, towering even over typical university structures, must have subjected her body to considerable impact.
“Kehk, keheek.”
Even in this state, the tenacious life force of an Awakened One held Cha Yoon-jung to this world. Close to death, she gasped for air and coughed up blood.
“My goodness, what should we do!”
“Isn’t that the person who sent us messages this morning?”
“That seems right. Maybe she committed suicide out of embarrassment?”
“Someone call 119!”
Hayeon and I were equally shocked and hesitated.
The morning’s message likely came from someone who was threatening her or had impersonated her number, and it seemed Cha Yoon-jung had known the truth, leading her to be unable to bear the shame.
“I’ll call 119. Shinno, see if you can give her some first aid!”
Hayeron pulled out her smartphone to make the call. I nodded and stepped forward.
“Hey, move aside.”
At my call, the surrounding students parted like the Red Sea before Moses.
Preparing for any eventuality, including the penalties from my Mist Shadow Martial Arts skill, I retrieved a potion from a hidden pocket inside my sailor uniform. I sprayed it on Cha Yoon-jong.
“It’ll all be forgotten eventually. You’re an Awakened One for heaven’s sake, don’t die from something as ridiculous as this.”
I spoke quietly.
Rumors confirmed that the message had been sent to all of the first-year students. It was understandable for her, as a woman, to feel humiliated enough to choose suicide. Perhaps she simply lacked the strength to endure it on her own. All I had to do was keep her alive until the healing powers of time kicked in.
“Kheh… uh…uh…”
Gradually, thanks to the potion, Cha Yoon-jung’s breathing grew more stable. I used two whole bottles to stabilize her condition.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“We’ll secure the scene. Students, please hurry to your classes!”
The teachers who arrived promptly dispersed the students gathered around the fall site. Hayeron informed them she had called the authorities.
“Good job. But who used the potion…?”
“I did.”
The elderly teacher, surprised as I raised my hand, pulled out his notebook.
“Hmm, a student with such an expensive item… might I have your contact information? In case there’s a charge later, it’d be helpful.”
“No worries, consider it a gift.”
With the new manufacturing method developed by K Pharmaceutical Villain, potion costs had fallen considerably. Besides, I had enough money.
“These days, it’s rare to find such a kind-hearted student. I’m the Academy’s vice-principal, Kang Namchu. And might I know your name?”
“I’m Shinno.”
“I’ll remember that. You’re that famous one, aren’t you?”
I gave a quick bow and joined the stream of students filing away.
“I’d like to be like Shinno someday. Just giving away such an expensive potion to a stranger! And not even asking for money in return!”
On the way to the classroom, Hayeron chattered.
For her, living in poverty, the value of the potion would certainly feel immense, so her reaction was understandable.
“A potion isn’t a big deal. She’s a classmate, not a complete stranger.”
“Are you close?”
Suddenly emitting another wave of sadness, Hayeron asked.
“No, we’ve never even talked. We just exchanged greetings.”
“Still, Shinno is amazing! When I make a lot of money in the future, will I be able to do the same?”
“Certainly. You’re far kinder than me and a much better hero.”
Park Hayeron was a hero who’d willingly sacrifice herself for others, quite different from me, a good-hearted individual.
‘Still, what happened? Someone dared to mess with an Academy student. Anonymous or not.’
Though ‘student’ might make them seem weak, in truth, they’re stronger than most villains. The theoretical studies at the Academy were primarily combat techniques and tactics, paired with intensive practical training that allowed them to perform effectively in real situations.
The individual who threatened Cha Yoon-jong was likely a powerful villain.
‘Who could it be?’
The original story’s flow had changed, and now I was vaguely aware only of who might appear. A message like that and Cha Yoon-jong falling from the roof had never happened before.
After parting with Hayeron and reaching the classroom, I sat down and pulled out my smartphone.
‘I should ask Isiah for help.’
I sent her a message. She was an expert in these matters.
“One thing to check out.”
The ‘1’ disappeared almost instantly.
—
