I Became an Unknown Professor at the Academy

Just as Baek Hana stepped into the audience seats after finishing her match, Kang Hanna burst forward with a sinister laugh.

“Hehehe, hehehe, hehe!”

“…”

Kang Hanna, with a huge towel in her hand, draped it over Baek Hana’s shoulders and said,

“Hehehe… Ssuuuk, as expected of our cutie… You did great!”

Kang Hanna kept praising Baek Hana while wiping the drool that had slightly dripped from her mouth.

‘Was she always like this…?’

Baek Hana felt a little dazed but followed Kang Hanna inside.

“Hana, are you okay?”

“Yeah. My clothes are a bit torn, but I’m fine.”

Baek Hana used the towel that Kang Hanna had given her to cover her body and put the half-glove she was holding in her hand into her bosom.

Then, she calmed her mind and listened to the surroundings.

-Hehehe! Rich, rich!

-Please stop, it’s embarrassing…

Not that…

Baek Hana focused again, excluding Kang Hanna’s voice.

-What did I just witness?

-Damn, I have seen Yoon Iseul lose before I graduate.

-It’s proven now. A fox can’t beat a wolf.

-But they both went all out.

-So, are you challenging her?

-Would you? Even if you win today, you’ll get crushed next week.

Baek Hana secretly sighed in relief as she overheard the whispers of the upperclassmen.

She had told Nam Seo-hee that she was fine, but she was a little tired, and more importantly, her remaining magic power had dropped below half.

Even in her current state, she was confident she could win against anyone.

It was just a bit bothersome.

From the beginning, she had chosen the strongest opponent because she didn’t want to go on stage multiple times, and fortunately, it seemed like her plan was working.

The result was satisfying, except that the opponent was more unpleasant than she had expected.

As Baek Hana caught her breath, the surrounding commotion suddenly subsided.

Yoon Iseul, who had remained on stage, walked up with her left wrist swollen.

She returned to her seat with a nonchalant expression, as if the emotions she had shown during the match were all an act.

“Yoon Iseul, it looks like you need treatment.”

“I’m fine. I’ll get it after we’re done.”

“Okay, I understand.”

Jayden nodded at Yoon Iseul’s calm response.

“Then, let’s continue.”

The ranking match proceeded smoothly.

-Lost, I lost.

-Good job.

Three upperclassmen were defeated by Nam Seo-hee’s heavy and fast sword, which was filled with lightning.

-Damn, such a cheating ability…

-Hmph.

Na Joo-hee also defeated two upperclassmen with her outstanding ability to control the elements and her advantage in the matchup.

-I concede.

-I concede as well.

-I concede.

And with consecutive concessions, Baek Hana naturally moved up the rankings.

“Hmm, I’m more excited for next year than this year.”

Jayden muttered as he recorded the students’ rankings on his tablet.

『1st Place: Baek Hana (1st Year) 2nd Place: Yoon Iseul (3rd Year) 3rd Place: Park Dae-geun (3rd Year) 4th Place: Nam Seo-hee (1st Year) 5th Place: Ahn Jin-soo (3rd Year) 6th Place: Na Joo-hee (1st Year) · · · 20th Place: Joo Seok-hoon (2nd Year)』

There were three first-year students in the single-digit rankings, and one of them had even reached the top spot.

There were still 20 students who hadn’t participated in today’s ranking match, but unless something unexpected happened, the rankings would only change among the registered students.

“Good job, everyone. You can all go home now. Tomorrow, the Ability users should gather here, and the Strength and Transformation users should gather in the upperclassmen’s training room by 10 a.m. That’s all.”

Jayden packed up his things and stood up, followed by the other professors who also left their seats one by one.

“Hana, let’s go…”

“Hehehe! Cutie!”

Kang Hanna burst into the space between Nam Seo-hee and Baek Hana.

She ruffled Baek Hana’s white hair and said,

“What do you want to eat? Just say it! I’ll buy you anything!”

“Um, I’d like to change my clothes first.”

“Oh, right. Let’s go get them fixed first!”

“No, I need to…”

“Come on, let’s go!”

Kang Hanna dragged Baek Hana and Nam Seo-hee out of the arena and headed towards a tailor shop in the center.

Dala~ng!

The reddish-brown wooden door, which Baek Hana had seen before, opened with a sound that reminded her of the medieval era.

“Welcome.”

The woman she had seen before came out from inside.

“You’re here for alterations, right? This way.”

Baek Hana and Nam Seo-hee followed the woman with a monocle on her left eye into the shop.

“Please take it off, I’ll be quick.”

“Okay.”

At the woman’s request, they took off their uniforms and placed them in the basket in front of them.

The woman with the monocle took the uniforms and went into the workshop at the back.

“Hana.”

“Yes?”

Baek Hana, who had been waiting for her uniform to be fixed, turned her head.

“Um…”

“What?”

Baek Hana tilted her head at Nam Seo-hee’s uncharacteristically long-winded speech.

“Um, no, I was just checking if you were really uninjured.”

“I told you I’m fine.”

Baek Hana chuckled at her friend’s excessive worry.

At the same time, the woman returned from the workshop with the basket containing their clean uniforms.

“It’s done.”

“Thank you.”

They took their uniforms out of the basket and put them back on.

However.

“…”

Baek Hana picked up a small box that was in the basket.

“What’s this?”

“It’s a glove.”

“A glove?”

At the response from the owner, Becky, Baek Hana opened the box.

Inside was a pair of gloves with the same design as the half-glove she had been wearing earlier.

“Since your uniform is torn, the glove I made for you back then might not be in good condition either.”

“Oh, um…”

The gloves were perfectly fine.

“It’s okay. It’s not a free service or anything. The professor has already paid for it, so if the gloves are damaged or don’t fit, don’t hesitate to come back.”

“I will.”

Baek Hana closed the box and held it close to her bosom.

“Oh, and the professor said this as well. He said not to be too precious about it because gloves are consumables, right? I think he’s right.”

“Pffft…”

Baek Hana couldn’t help but laugh, imagining the scene.

“Can you dispose of this for me?”

Baek Hana took out the half-glove she had been holding in her bosom and handed it to Becky.

“Hmm~ Now I understand why the professor said that.”

Becky smiled softly as she looked at the perfectly fine glove.

“I’m glad you’re treating it with care, but I made this to protect your hands. I’m sure the professor had the same intention. So, please treat the one in your bosom very, very roughly.”

“I will.”

“Good.”

Baek Hana and Becky smiled at each other.

Nam Seo-hee, who had been watching them, secretly sighed in relief, feeling that Baek Hana’s surroundings had become brighter.

“Shall we go?”

“Yes.”

Following Becky, Baek Hana and Nam Seo-hee left the shop. Kang Hanna approached them with long strides.

“Okay, where do you want to eat? Just say it! If necessary, I’ll even apply for an outing permit!”

“Um, then…”

Baek Hana smiled softly at Kang Hanna, who was staring at her with sparkling eyes, and said,

“Please buy me some chocolate and coffee sticks from the mart.”

“Sure, chocolate and coffee…”

Did I just hear that correctly?

Kang Hanna blinked, looking dazed.

“So, you want chocolate and coffee sticks?”

“Yes.”

“But what about food?”

“I’ll eat at home.”

“Huh?”

“Come on, let’s go.”

The three of them left the tailor shop.

**

Baek Hana’s bedroom.

“Hey! I told you not to draw on your sister’s face!”

-Pwahat! Stupid! Stupid!

Edyn chased after the fairy holding the marker.

“I expected you to win, but I’m still a bit dazed that you actually did.”

“She was definitely strong. Her ability was a bit annoying too.”

“Probably only you would consider the shadow ability to be just annoying.”

Maria exclaimed in admiration.

Edyn, who had been running around to catch the fairy, stopped for a moment and said to Baek Hana,

“I told you, she’s a monster!”

-Pwahat!

Paaak!

The marker in the fairy’s hand hit Edyn’s cheek.

“This…”

-Pihihit!

“Ouch! She’s getting more and more unruly!”

Maria sighed softly as she watched Edyn, who was running around the bed and on the floor, playing with the fairy.

“It’s almost time to go back, so stop playing and wake up Seo-hee and Nayeong.”

“I’m busy! Can’t you see that? You wake them up!”

“Haa…”

Maria slowly moved her buttocks to the side to wake up the two who were sprawled on Baek Hana’s bed.

“I’ll go to the study for a moment.”

Baek Hana left the noisy room and headed to the study.

The study door, which had always been open when she was younger, was now a place where she had to knock before entering.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

-Come in.

His voice alone was enough to put her at ease.

Baek Hana took a short breath and entered the study.

She saw him sitting in his usual spot.

“Is it okay to come closer?”

“That’s a strange question.”

“Is it?”

Baek Hana cautiously walked over to him.

Sniff. Sniff.

The scent she habitually smelled, but she couldn’t enjoy his scent like she used to.

‘Sister’s scent…’

His shoulder still carried a faint trace of Claire’s scent.

“So.”

“Huh? What?”

Baek Hana, who had been sniffing absentmindedly, snapped out of her daze.

“You didn’t just come here to say hello. If you have something to say, say it.”

“Um… I won first place…”

“I know.”

A nonchalant response.

But soon, she thought differently.

Sssss.

His large, warm hand gently caressed her head.

‘I shouldn’t do this…’

She made a promise to herself to refrain from acting too spoiled.

“Hmm…”

When she received such a touch, her body naturally leaned towards him.

“Woo-jin…”

“Speak.”

The hand that had been caressing her head moved away.

She felt a little, no, very disappointed.

“If I win first place, you said you’d grant any wish…”

“I did.”

Baek Hana swallowed hard and slowly raised her head.

The mysterious golden eyes hidden behind the opaque glasses naturally came to mind.

‘…Focus.’

She barely calmed her heart, which was starting to beat fast, and continued.

“I… I want you to train me.”

“Is that what you want?”

“Yes.”

Baek Hana nodded firmly.

Baek Woo-jin stared at Baek Hana for a while, then nodded in agreement.

Only then did a faint smile appear on Baek Hana’s lips.

“Then…”

“Then.”

Baek Hana and Baek Woo-jin spoke at the same time.

“Huh? What, what?”

“Stand in front of me.”

“Huh?”

Baek Hana blinked in surprise at his sudden request, then stood up and walked in front of the desk.

“Close your eyes.”

“I closed them.”

Baek Hana frowned slightly, feeling a strange sensation as if something was about to come to mind.

“Ah!”

As her memories became clear, Baek Hana exclaimed softly.

It was the same training that Claire had demonstrated in the past.

The training of dodging objects with her eyes closed.

‘Well, I’ve grown up since then…’

Baek Hana felt a bit disappointed that he wanted to do the same training from her childhood. But at the same time, she saw it as an opportunity.

‘I’ll show him that I’ve truly grown.’

Baek Hana spread her magic power widely.

With her eyes closed, she could see her surroundings as clearly as if her eyes were open.

“It seems you’ve figured out what I’m trying to do.”

“Of course. I got hit so many times back then!”

“If someone hears this, they’ll think I was the one hitting you.”

“You did hit me.”

“…”

“I’m joking.”

Baek Hana chuckled.

Sometimes, very rarely, she enjoyed seeing his flustered reactions. It made her feel that he cared deeply for her.

“I’ll start.”

“I’ll show you that I’m not the same as before.”

Baek Hana focused.

Sssss.

And she felt it.

A small lump of magic power gathering in front of the desk.

‘I’ll show you that I’m an adult now—’

Paaak!

A dull sound echoed through the study.

That was Baek Hana’s last memory of that day.