Chapter 10: The Hero’s Arrival is Always Late (1)

This morning, the academy’s director, Media, summoned me through the dorm supervisor. At first, I felt a bit uneasy, but the supervisor mentioned that a meeting between the top-performing student and the director was a tradition at the academy.

Standing in front of the director’s office door, I straightened my clothes and knocked.

Knock-knock-

“Director, it’s Kang Geom-Ma.”

“Come in.”

A seductive voice answered from beyond the door. I carefully opened it. The large desk inside was cluttered with books and scrolls, leaving no space. On one side, old books were lined up on shelves.

Behind the desk, a multicolored stained-glass window let in soft light, creating an elegant and somewhat ethereal atmosphere. It felt like an extension of the academy’s library, though a bit more disorganized.

“Oh, Geom-Ma! You’ve lost quite a bit of weight! You’re looking like a real adult now.”

“…”

“Wait a moment. Let’s talk when I finish getting dressed.”

Media was adjusting her robe, which had slipped off her shoulders. Even though I had knocked and announced my arrival, she didn’t seem in a hurry to fix her clothes. She really was an overly transparent person in many ways, which made dealing with her complicated.

“Should I come back another time?”

“What?! No way! I’m a busy woman!”

Her robe was intentionally loose, and with the slightest movement, part of her chest was visible. When I averted my eyes, Media smiled mischievously and finally finished buttoning up. The image of that red magazine I had seen in the library the day before popped into my mind as I watched her barely cover her skin with her clothes.

“Do you want something to drink? I’ve got green tea, coffee, black tea—pretty much everything they sell at the campus store.”

Media smiled as she ran a hand through her hair and opened the fridge.

I eagerly nodded.

I had been drinking tap water for the past two days because I couldn’t afford the ridiculous prices at the campus store. Pride wasn’t an issue here. Accepting what was offered was the right move.

“Could I have cold green tea?”

“What?”

When she heard me, Media blinked rapidly, a little surprised. A brief look of confusion crossed her face.

“You want something cold?”

“Ah, yes.”

Media smiled slightly and tossed me a bottle of green tea before sitting across from me, crossing her legs. Her thighs, tight under the fabric, were provocative.

“A boy asking for ‘cold tea’ like an adult. Geom-Ma, are you an old man inside?”

“Pff!”

Her question made me choke and spit out the green tea. Some of it splashed onto Media’s robe.

“Oh, please, take it easy. No one’s going to take it from you.”

With wide eyes, Media got up, sat next to me, and began patting my back while wiping my mouth with the sleeve of her robe. I glanced at her from the corner of my eye, thinking.

“It would be perfect if she wasn’t seventy years old…”

I recovered and nodded slightly in thanks. Media, smiling, seemed pleased.

“How’s life at the academy?”

“…Well, it’s… fine.”

It wasn’t easy, to be honest, but I couldn’t tell that to someone who had gone out of her way to help me. Still, there was something I needed to mention.

‘Still…’

“But, is it normal for the prices at the campus store to be so high? A bottle of water costs ten thousand won…”

Media burst out laughing at my words.

Was she laughing at me? Did she find ordinary people amusing? Media, who had been laughing and crying for quite some time, finally calmed down, took her cup of tea, and took a sip. The fragrant aroma of black tea filled the air.

“Sorry, Geom-Ma. It’s just that hearing you talk like a housewife was really funny. If it upset you, I apologize.”

She took another sip of tea and tapped the cup with her finger.

“You’re right, the store is ridiculously expensive. Even I hesitate every time I try to buy something there.”

“The academy director too?”

I asked, confused, and Media sighed before answering.

“This position isn’t what it seems. The pay is low, and there aren’t many perks. It’s more of an honorary title. I was assigned this role because the previous director didn’t want to continue, and I, too, am eager to escape from this desk.”

Media seemed lost in thought. The light of the setting sun bathed her face in a golden halo, highlighting her mature beauty, different from Abel’s. Noticing my gaze, Media smiled flirtatiously.

“What? Mesmerized by my beauty? Or perhaps, should we escape the academy together?”

‘Is this a disaster?’

If I could escape the academy, I wouldn’t have to worry about the complicated plans I had in mind. As I seriously pondered her suggestion, Media laughed and playfully tapped my forehead with her index finger.

“You’re adorable, Geom-Ma. But not for now. You’re a student, and I’m your teacher. When you graduate, we’ll see.”

Media laughed while crossing her legs again. Then, she pulled a card out of her pocket and handed it to me.

“Here, use this.”

“What is it?”

“It’s a staff discount card. I don’t use it much, so it’ll be more useful to you. With the discount, the prices are closer to those outside the campus.”

“Is it okay to give this to a student?”

“A student shouldn’t go hungry, right? Besides, being the top student comes with certain privileges. So don’t worry, take it. In fact, I’m sorry for not giving it to you sooner.”

Media winked at me. On any other day, it would have seemed cheeky, but at that moment, she seemed charming. Age was really just a number then.

When my lips trembled with joy, Media clapped her hands with a smile and said.

“Well, that’s it for today. I’ve got more work to do. Thanks for taking the time to come on a Sunday. If you ever need to talk about anything, don’t hesitate to come find me.”

I bowed and was heading to the door when Media called out again.

“Oh, by the way, did you enjoy the magazine?”

“…”

“Hehe, seems like you’re quite the man too, Geom-Ma. If you ever want to see something in person, just let me know.”

I quickly left the office without looking back.

Media, the wise. A woman who was, without a doubt, too much for me.

***

Life at the academy went on more smoothly than I had anticipated.

I was still avoiding looking at Chloe to avoid any awkward confrontations, but it seemed like she had made some friends and was adapting well to the class. Sometimes I caught her glancing at me, only to see her blush and quickly look away with her typical “Hiiiik!” Meanwhile, her new friends would throw me cold looks.

Not that I cared much. I was already used to being ignored as a student of the special class.

I wasn’t the only one in the special class, but it seemed like there was a certain hesitation between us, as if we were all too aware of our respective standings.

Still, I was glad I had insisted on staying in the Wolf class instead of opting for a higher-level class. By now, I’m sure the students in the Star and Dragon classes had already formed political factions and were caught up in their usual intrigues.

In the game “Miracle Blessing,” I remembered how ruthless they could be, and now, as a resident of this world, I would have been crushed if I had ended up in one of those classes.

‘I’m living pretty well.’

Thanks to Media’s discount card, my quality of life had significantly improved. Although I wasn’t living in luxury, I was at least able to enjoy balanced meals. Honestly, even if I bowed three times a day toward the director’s office, it wouldn’t be enough to express my gratitude.

Moreover, with better nutrition, the results of my training were becoming more and more evident. As I ate and slept better, my body was growing stronger.

In fact, whether it was just a feeling or not, the length of my school uniform pants seemed to be noticeably shorter compared to when I first entered the academy.

Without realizing it, I was fulfilling my role as a student. I participated in morning exercises and training sessions, and I even made an effort to keep up with the theoretical classes.

So far, things were going well. I hadn’t done anything to negatively impact the main storyline, nor had I drawn any unwanted attention. Even the instructors seemed to be turning a blind eye to my status as the top student.

If things continued like this for the next three years, I believed I could reach the goal I had set for myself.

“For now…”

I was lost in thought, staring out the window, when the atmosphere in the classroom suddenly became restless. Except for a few, most of the students rushed out into the hallway.

No one had bothered to inform me what was happening, and I wasn’t interested enough to ask, so I decided to use the break to get some rest. These short naps were essential for keeping my focus during lessons.

The afternoon lesson was on the history of the academy’s founding. Though they say history is a mirror for the future, for someone like me who already knew a lot of the plot, it was a rather dull subject.

Suppressing my appetite, I carefully selected a textbook to use as my pillow for a quick nap.

‘History books are too stiff and angular, and this one has too many doodles on the cover…’

Just then, a growing murmur echoed from the hallway.

– “Wow, is that him?”

– “He’s so handsome.”

– “He’s not coming to our class, is he?”

– “He’ll definitely go straight to the Star class.”

Curiosity filled the air. Despite my lack of interest, I couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of discomfort in my chest.

‘What day is it today?’

I pulled out my phone to check the date.

「May 5, 2034」

‘It can’t be.’

I rushed out of the classroom. The students were already gathered outside, all looking in the same direction.

There were too many people. I made my way through the crowd, ignoring the annoyed glares I received.

After a while, I finally reached the front. I took a moment to catch my breath before scanning my surroundings. I asked a girl standing nearby.

“Who’s here?”

“I’m in a bad mood, could you just stop talking to me?”

She shot me a disdainful look after noticing the color of my student badge.

“You don’t want any trouble. Just tell me.”

Hearing the cold tone of my voice, she gestured in a certain direction. My eyes automatically followed where she pointed. With a stunned expression, I muttered to myself.

“He’s arrived.”

The protagonist of this world.

Leon van Reinhardt.

There was no doubt about it. It was him.