'I guess I'm really lucky when it comes to food.'
[I'm glad you're enjoying the meals in this world.]
I followed Sung Suah and had lunch together at the school cafeteria.
The facilities were incredibly impressive, and the food was no joke.
Except for the first village I visited with Viola, the food everywhere I went was absolutely delicious.
"This cafeteria is really nice."
"I'm glad you like it. Some people don't, though…"
I jokingly asked, wondering if she was talking about herself.
"Do you not like it?"
"Oh, no way. I like it here too."
Sung Suah answered with a smile.
Her fresh smile was truly charming.
'It's really fascinating…'
[What part are you referring to?]
'I'm just surprised that someone can be this kind even if we're just colleagues.'
It's rare to find a woman who would casually invite a man to eat with her on their first meeting.
Unless I were some incredibly handsome man, this kind of thing doesn't usually happen.
But on the contrary, the other party is an incredibly beautiful woman…
She ate with me without any hesitation and enthusiastically explained about the students in Magic Department Class 7.
Aside from Seo Ji-eun, whom she mentioned earlier, the remaining students in Class 7 didn't seem to have any major issues.
"The fact that they've made it to the third year means they have the skills to back it up."
Fortunately, it didn't seem like being an instructor in the Magic Department would be too stressful.
With Sung Suah around, it would be even more enjoyable.
The only real problem was one student.
I asked about that one student.
"Did Seo Ji-eun say she intends to continue?"
"Yes… I think so. She hasn't expressed any intention to drop out yet."
When Seo Ji-eun's name came up, Sung Suah's troubled expression showed genuine concern.
Sung Suah was like… a mix of Sonya and Viola.
Sonya's passion for teaching and Viola's kindness.
But what made her stand out was a modern sophistication that neither of them had.
It really made me realize how important clothing is for a woman.
Not that Viola and Sonya dressed poorly.
It's just that the clothes in this era are also quite beautiful.
Looking at Sung Suah and Cho Seo-hyun, it seemed that even though they held the position of instructors, they were treated as heroes and weren't restricted in their attire.
'…I guess I have to dress neatly?'
[Probably. Your position is different…]
'Damn…'
Well, it's not like I have an overflowing wardrobe, and thinking about it, changing clothes all the time would be a hassle for someone like me…
As I was eating with Sung Suah, a cheerful girl's voice called out from behind.
"Ah! Instructor Sung Suah!"
"Oh, Ara. Are you here to eat?"
"Yep!"
"Huh?"
I turned around and saw the short-haired girl I had seen earlier.
She looked at me and pointed at me with a surprised expression.
"Ah! It's Instructor Suho."
Seeing this, Sung Suah scolded her.
"Hey! What are you doing, being so rude to the instructor…"
"Sorry…"
Despite her words, she was scratching her head and smiling.
'Cute.'
[Are you interested?]
Interested, you say…
'Not at all.'
[…? Is it because her short hair makes her seem less feminine?]
'No, she's just a kid.'
Why would I be interested in someone who's not even an adult yet…
Cho Seo-hyun, despite her childlike appearance, is an adult, which makes her appealing.
Viola, despite her childish personality, has an adult appearance, which makes her appealing.
But this girl is just a kid.
There's no reason or need to be interested in her.
Song Ara placed her tray next to Sung Suah and sat down.
Sung Suah looked at me curiously and asked, "Do you two… know each other?"
It was Song Ara who answered, not me.
"He's our new class instructor."
"Ah… So… Cho Seo-hyun… is the instructor?"
"Yep."
Munch munch!
Song Ara answered and then started shoving rice into her mouth.
The way she ate so heartily was quite cute.
'Well, it's good that she eats well. But Cho Seo-hyun….'
I cut off my thoughts about Song Ara and focused on Cho Seo-hyun.
'What on earth does that woman do in her daily life that makes everyone look at me with pity whenever her name comes up…'
[….]
Why does everyone make that face whenever Cho Seo-hyun's name comes up…
Sung Suah was looking at me with a pitiful expression.
That woman must have a really nasty personality.
'Wait…. But isn't Cho Seo-hyun going to be Sung Suah's sister-in-law?'
[Publicly, their relationship is known to be not good.]
'Wow…. Even heroes have love and war.'
I don't know the exact details, so I can't take sides.
As I was thinking about Sung Suah and Cho Seo-hyun, Song Ara, who was sitting across from me, suddenly looked up as if she remembered something and shouted.
"Ah! That's right! Instructor!"
And with Song Ara's shout, salmon roe and rice grains, blessed by the sun and unable to forget their homeland, flew across the table and landed on my face.
And Song Ara's saliva was an added bonus…
Sung Suah and Song Ara, sitting across from me, jumped up in surprise.
"Oh my! Are you okay?!"
"Ahhh! I'm so sorry!"
"…."
Song Ara, who had jumped up, shouted again and spilled the remaining salmon roe and rice grains from her mouth.
I get that you're sorry, but stop opening your mouth…
"Here… let me…"
Sung Suah took out a handkerchief from her handbag and started wiping my face.
She could have just handed me the handkerchief, but she wiped my face herself.
Sung Soo-ah… a true goddess…
"I-I'm sorry…"
Song Ara, shocked by what she had done, covered her mouth with both hands and mumbled an apology.
This girl is also a goddess.
The goddess of abundance.
Since she sprayed food from her mouth, it fits…
Sung Suah continued wiping my face and said, "Just a moment, I'll clean it up for you."
"Ah, no. It's fine. And Song Ara, don't worry too much…"
"…I'm sorry."
Yeah, if you're sorry, just stop worrying and chew what's left in your mouth…
Sung Suah finished cleaning my face and folded the handkerchief, now stained with various food particles, and put it back in her handbag.
"Ah, Instructor Sung Suah. I'll wash that…"
"It's fine. Don't worry about it."
Sung Suah smiled without showing any sign of disgust.
Her kindness and thoughtfulness were beyond common sense.
But her fresh smile and kindness only fueled my anger.
'Damn it, I'm going to make the protagonist of this world a wreck…'
[That's a very good attitude.]
'That bastard… How did he get engaged to a woman like this…'
I haven't even met the protagonist of this world yet, but I'm already filled with hostility.
I'm so jealous I feel like my head might explode.
But I calmly picked up my tray and stood up.
"It seems like you two have something to talk about, so I'll head out first. Song Ara, don't worry too much. Instructor Suah, I'll wait for you in the classroom."
"Okay… I'm really sorry…"
"Alright, see you later."
Song Ara, unlike before, had a genuinely apologetic expression.
I left the two behind and headed to the restroom to wash my face.
***
"Ugh…."
Thud!
As soon as I finished today's tasks and returned to the private room I was assigned, I collapsed onto the bed.
"They said to register my biometrics on this smartwatch…"
As soon as I lay down, I activated the smartwatch on my left wrist.
It was round in shape, similar to the smartwatches from my world.
Though the security and functionality were probably on a whole different level…
"If they're giving these out for free, they must be really rich."
[The donations coming into the consulate are so abundant that they can't even spend it all.]
"They should give me more money… By the way, the Magic Department seems pretty comfortable."
I grumbled as I recalled the events after lunch.
After the minor incident in the cafeteria, nothing much happened.
I met the students of Magic Department Class 7 (though there were only five), and Sung Suah explained the curriculum they would follow.
"Sung Suah is really dedicated."
[It seems more like pure kindness rather than a passion for teaching.]
If Sonya had a pure passion for teaching, Sung Suah had pure kindness.
Sonya could be scary as an educator…
My job was simple but tedious.
To assist during training or practical classes for the Combat and Magic Departments, ensuring no accidents occurred.
As I finished the first Magic Department class today, I remembered Sung Suah's smile.
"But when I think about it, Sung Suah seems harder to deal with than Cho Seo-hyun."
[Her love for her fiancé seems unwavering.]
-[Pure Love], [Ideal Wife]-
She seemed like the type of woman who wouldn't fool around and would devote herself entirely to her marriage.
If such a woman is engaged, there's no way she would ever stray.
"…But there was a crack, right?"
-[Lack of Affection from Her Lover]-
I never expected Sung Suah to have a lack of affection.
Especially from her fiancé…
"Is this Sung Suah's problem, or is it the protagonist's problem…"
[On the surface, it doesn't seem like Sung Suah has any issues. But it's better not to jump to conclusions until we gather more information.]
"Tell me more about this guy."
Armonia sorted through the information received from Zodiac and relayed it to me.
"His name is Cho Kang-hyun. He's 28 years old. Currently holds the title of top-tier hero and is from the Church."
"The Church?"
Come to think of it, I heard about the Tower and the Church earlier.
"The Church is the highest-ranking hero organization in Korea. It's number one in power, wealth, and recognition."
Most of the talents they recruit are healers, and graduates from the Healing Department at the consulate are required to join the Church, no questions asked.
"That's way too strict."
"The Church contributes the most donations here, so their influence is unavoidable."
"So they're saying, 'You owe us, so take responsibility'…"
Cho Kang-hyun, who belongs to the Church, is said to be such a remarkable figure that even the Church can't mess with him.
"Wait, at that level, he doesn't have to serve as an instructor, right? Is he just a law-abiding guy…"
For someone of his caliber, a three-year gap would be a huge blow to the Church.
They must have tried everything to stop him.
[Even before Cho Kang-hyun became an instructor, he visited the Healing Department at the consulate several times a year.]
"…Is it love? Is he also a graduate of the Healing Department?"
[No. Cho Kang-hyun graduated top of his class from the Combat Department.]
I don't get it…
If he were visiting the Combat Department where he made his mark, that would make sense, but why the Healing Department…?
"Well, he must care a lot since he's from the Church."
[The Healing Department is also isolated within the consulate. Very little information comes out from there.]
"…I'll have to look into it more carefully later."
Since I'm now an instructor at the Hero Academy, I should be able to enter the Healing Department building…
It's not that I'm interested in the Healing Department itself, but rather in Cho Kang-hyun.
For such a famous figure, there's surprisingly little information about him aside from his public activities.
Or maybe because he's so famous, there's less information available.
"I'll ask Cho Seo-hyun or Sung Suah about it tomorrow."
***
"Why are you asking about Hyun… I mean, Instructor Cho Kang-hyun?"
The next day, as I walked down the hallway with Cho Seo-hyun after arriving at work, she looked at me suspiciously when I asked.
"Ah… I was just curious since he's so famous."
"Hmm… Well, he is pretty amazing…"
Cho Seo-hyun's lips twitched as she tried to hold back a smile.
'Creepy… Can you really smile like that just from praising your younger brother?'
[Maybe she's happy because it's praise for her family, not just her brother.]
'Ugh!'
[….]
I overreacted through the communication line, but honestly, I didn't care much anymore.
Yesterday, because of the contrast between my sister and Cho Seo-hyun, that side of her bothered me, but thinking about it, she's someone else's sister, right?
'There's nothing more exciting than someone else's sister, hehehe…'
[….]
Cho Seo-hyun spent the entire walk down the hallway boasting about Cho Kang-hyun.
The same Cho Seo-hyun who had been grumpy and sleepy earlier was now beaming as she bragged about her younger brother.
But there wasn't much useful information to gain.
Most of it was just about what achievements he had made, things Armonia already knew.
In the end, I listened to Cho Seo-hyun's meaningless bragging as we arrived at the classroom.
Cho Seo-hyun stood at the lectern and addressed the students.
"Today, we're going on a simple mountain hike!"
***
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