Chapter 1404 – 1404. Savior Of The Academy
The final exams were over.
The rankings for the year were announced the very next morning. Students gathered in front of the bulletin board to check their scores. Some cried, and some laughed.
I was among those who laughed.
My name was on the far left of the bulletin board, at the very top.
1st place. Sung Yujin.
‘A predictable result.’
My gaze moved down. The top 10 students were eligible to participate in the Japan exchange. I needed to check the rankings.
2nd place. Ryu Hana.
3rd place. Kim Chunwoo.
4th place. Choi Dayeon.
5th place. Ahn Gisan.
6th place. Yu Mina.
7th place. Clara Feyred.
8th place. Hwang Sungju.
9th place. Lee Sieun.
10th place. Ma Jinbae.
I scanned the top 10 rankings and nodded.
‘Results as expected.’
They would all probably agree to participate in the exchange. There were things to learn at the Arashi Academy in Japan. Besides, the opponent was Japan. As Koreans, we absolutely could not lose or run away.
‘If we run away, we’ll be branded as traitors.’
I looked at the only foreign name, Clara Feyred. Clara, a playable character, was an international student. We were in different classes, and her behavior was quite different, so I hadn’t encountered her much.
‘There’s no problem. Clara doesn’t act proactively when she’s not a playable character. Let’s take this opportunity to get to know her.’
Clara was a famous singer as well as an academy student. She was so famous that it was quite difficult to meet her within the academy. As soon as her academy classes ended, she would leave for her entertainment activities.
‘The closing ceremony is in a week.’
The atmosphere at the academy, with the vacation just around the corner, was generally excited. Welcoming the vacation was the same at any school.
•••
Upon arriving in Japan, we immediately boarded a prepared bus and headed to Tokyo Arashi Academy.
The history of Japan’s Arashi Academy was even longer than that of Korea’s Maruhan Academy. The Arashi Academy in Japan was larger in scale than the Maruhan Academy. Roughly twice as big. It wasn’t surprising. Japan’s population was about twice that of Korea.
“It’s old,” Lee Sieun said, looking out the bus window beside me.
The buildings of Arashi Academy generally had a very old feel. Well, it wasn’t so old that you’d worry about the buildings collapsing.
“It’s not just old buildings. Look closely. There are new buildings too.”
“Hmm. You’re right, Yujin. They seem to have enough ability and money to build new buildings… Why are they using the old ones?”
“To preserve tradition and history? The old fogeys in Japan are quite conservative.”
“It’s different from our academy. Our teachers are desperate to build new buildings.”
“Hehe. That’s true.”
The teachers at Maruhan Academy wanted to build new buildings for their departments whenever they had the chance. There were countless teachers who complained to the administration that buildings were old even if they were less than 10 years old. Of course, the administration didn’t pay them any mind.
The bus stopped in front of an old building.
“Alright, everyone! Grab your luggage and get off!”
Yoon Heejeong, one of the two supervising teachers, shouted.
“Just hurry up, just hurry.”
The other supervising teacher was a man in his 30s who looked like a bum. He scratched his haphazardly grown beard and spoke as if he were annoyed. He was Jo Moosang, the homeroom teacher of the 2nd grade, class 3.
The 10 students from the 1st grade, including me, and the 10 students from the 2nd grade got off the bus and stood in front of the old building.
The five-story wooden building looked somewhat precarious.
“…Ms. Yoon Heejeong. Is this really the dormitory where we’ll be staying for two months?”
Choi Dayeon spoke in a cold tone. Even though she seemed like that, Choi Dayeon wasn’t angry at Yoon Heejeong. She was probably feeling anger towards the Arashi Academy and the Maruhan Academy’s administration for preparing this old dormitory.
“I heard the building was a bit old… I didn’t expect it to be this bad.”
“Wouldn’t they change it if we complained to the administration?”
“Before coming here, we were told that there was only one dormitory available for us.”
“What…!”
Just as Choi Dayeon was about to scream with a distorted face, someone walked over from beside the building. It was two women. I widened my eyes when I saw them. One was Sung Hari. Wearing jeans and a leather jacket, she waved at me with a bright smile.
Next to Sung Hari was a woman with short black hair wearing a white dress. Everything from her clothes and accessories to the bag she was carrying was designer brand. Her aura exuded overwhelming wealth.
“Mother?!”
Choi Dayeon exclaimed in surprise.
‘That was Choi Dayeon’s mother. She does look similar. I wonder if her boobas are similar too?’
I licked my lips as I looked at Choi Dayeon’s mother. I roughly knew her name. Choi Dayeon was so famous that it was impossible not to know.
‘Choi Jeonghwa. The daughter of the chairman of the Geumhwa Group and the master of the Golden Tree Clan.’
Choi Jeonghwa looked like she was the same age as Sung Hari. In other words, she was incredibly youthful.
‘A mother-daughter donburi… Is it possible? She looks like she has a terrible temper.’
The mother-daughter donburi of Choi Dayeon and Choi Jeonghwa… I absolutely couldn’t give up. If necessary, I would even use the absolute hypnosis sticker.
They had already approached us.
Sung Hari hugged me tightly.
“Yujin, seeing you like this, you seem a bit taller?”
“We met three days ago.”
“I guess you don’t seem taller.”
The surroundings buzzed at Sung Hari’s appearance. Sung Hari, aware of the attention, immediately let go of me. But she continued to hold my arm.
“Okay, everyone, quiet!”
Yoon Heejeong calmed the buzzing students.
“Ms. Sung Hari and Ms. Choi Jeonghwa have agreed to join us as temporary teachers during the Korea-Japan academy exchange. Everyone, please greet Ms. Sung Hari and Ms. Choi Jeonghwa. You don’t need me to tell you who they are, right?”
Sung Hari, an S-class hero.
Choi Jeonghwa, the master of a major Korean clan.
As Korean academy students, it was impossible not to know their names.
‘I thought it was a bit strange that there were only two supervising teachers when we came to Japan… So this was the situation. Did they not tell us in advance to surprise us?’
The surprise was a success. Even I was surprised.
They introduced themselves to us.
“I’m Sung Hari. Please take care of me during the exchange.”
“I’m Choi Jeonghwa. Tell me if you need anything. I’ll help you. First of all… shall we change this rotten dormitory?”
After speaking, Choi Jeonghwa was about to take out her smartphone from her designer bag, but someone silently approached her and slapped her thigh with their palm.
“Oh my, rotten dormitory! That’s harsh. This Dongun Hall is a historic dormitory of Arashi Academy with a 50-year history.”
The person was a girl who looked about 9 or 10 years old, wearing a flamboyant kimono. Her black hair was in the so-called hime cut style, and her eyes were a bewitching purple. She exuded an atmosphere that didn’t match her age. Her Korean was so fluent that you would believe she was Korean.
“…Principal Tenrai…!”
Choi Jeonghwa frowned and glared at Tenrai.
Tenrai Nagisa.
The principal of Arashi Academy wore a smile that didn’t match her age as she looked around. You shouldn’t be fooled by her appearance. Her actual age was over 70.
I wasn’t that surprised because I knew Tenrai Nagisa through the original work.
‘I don’t know much more than that.’
She wasn’t my type, so I never properly researched her character information. She was just a typical old hag character with a child’s appearance.
“It’s nice to meet you, I sincerely welcome you to the exchange as the principal of Arashi Academy. And… it’s nice to meet you again here, an old connection.”
Tenrai Nagisa smiled at Sung Hari and Choi Jeonghwa.
Sung Hari clicked her tongue openly, and Choi Jeonghwa frowned.
“Old hag. You’re still as unable to act your age as ever.”
“You’re still as mischievous as ever. Is the child next to you your son?”
“If you try anything with Yujin… no, with the kids, I won’t stand for it.”
“Don’t be so wary. The times are different from then. And Choi Jeonghwa, unfortunately, I cannot grant your request. Maruhan Academy must stay in Dongun Hall during the exchange.”
Despite Tenrai Nagisa’s firm words, Choi Jeonghwa didn’t back down.
“I’ll pay for it. We’ll stay at a nearby hotel. It won’t interfere with the exchange schedule, so don’t worry.”
“The reason we assigned Dongun Hall is not to snub Maruhan Academy. As we told Maruhan Academy, Dongun Hall is the only dormitory available at the current Arashi Academy.”
“So, I said I’d pay for a hotel out of my own pocket.”
“Is the importance of accommodation more important than the safety of the students?”
“……Safety?”
“You all know that the atmosphere in Japan is turbulent due to the trash of the Madou Sect. The Madou Sect can’t easily touch Arashi Academy, where I am. So, stay here. If you stay outside the academy… I can’t protect you.”
“……”
Sung Hari and Choi Jeonghwa looked at each other. And they nodded with a sullen expression. It seemed they had decided to stay in the old dormitory.
Tenrai Nagisa approached the students. She shook hands with each of them, one by one, and greeted them. She shook hands with me last. Her hand was as small as her appearance.
“It’s nice to meet you, please take care of me during the exchange. Child of the Thunder.”
“Yes, well, please take care of me too.”
She stepped back and spoke to everyone from a suitable distance.
“I’m sorry that we assigned you to an old dormitory. I didn’t assign you to an old dormitory to mistreat you, so please understand with a generous heart.”
Yoon Heejeong stepped forward in front of Tenrai Nagisa. Since Sung Hari and Choi Jeonghwa were keeping their mouths shut as if they were dissatisfied, she had no choice but to step forward. The other teacher, Jo Moosang, was acting like a discharged soldier, pretending not to know anything and staying far away.
“I understand that the safety of the students is the priority. But… it’s a bit unexpected that the principal came out herself.”
“Since I invited you, it’s only right that I greet you. I would like to personally introduce Dongun Hall to you, but… even though I look like this, I’m the principal, so my schedule doesn’t allow it. If you have any inconveniences, don’t hesitate to tell me.”
With those words, Tenrai Nagisa disappeared like a ghost.
