I Became an Unknown Professor at the Academy

The shrill alarm shattered the silence in the room.

“Ugh…”

“Shut up…”

Five girls were entangled in a large bed that could easily accommodate five people, squirming and stirring.

“You’re heavy…”

Baek Hana, who was at the center, opened her eyes. She then detached Nam Seo-hee and Lee Nayoung, who were stuck to her sides, and sat up.

The spacious room was extravagantly furnished with high-end furniture. A huge glass wall offered a refreshing view of the blue sky and the surrounding landscape.

“Oh, right…”

Baek Hana, still half-asleep, sat there blankly until the alarm stopped ringing. Only then did she realize where she was.

It was 7:36 am.

Baek Hana checked the time on the wall clock and carefully climbed down from the bed. She then took in the faces of her friends, who were sleeping soundly.

These were the friends who had helped her choose a gift for the anniversary with that person who would return in February and had chatted with her until late last night.

Kang Hanna had announced through a notice last night that everyone should gather in the lobby on the first floor by 10 am, so they had at least two hours to spare.

“Good morning.”

“Hello.”

Baek Hana came out to the living room and greeted Yoon Iseul, who was sitting on the sofa, drinking coffee, and watching the news.

“You look bright, and it puts my mind at ease.”

“Huh? Oh, um… Thank you for last night.”

Baek Hana felt happy for a moment, thinking about the person who cherished the gift she had chosen.

-But why the handkerchief?

-The color doesn’t match at all… And it doesn’t even have a pattern.

As soon as she heard Na Joo-hee’s whispered words, her face turned red.

The person who always gave her freedom, a name, happiness, and countless other things.

Yet, she had always taken it for granted that she could lean on him, a kind and warm person.

Because he had always been happy with the small things she gave him.

But she had used that as an excuse to avoid him.

She had avoided his heart, which was happy regardless of the value of the gifts.

She didn’t realize this fact, and she felt ashamed of how happy she had been.

So she made a decision.

She was determined to achieve remarkable results at this festival and stand proudly before him at the closing ceremony.

“Miss Hana?”

“Huh? Oh, sorry. What did you say?”

Baek Hana quickly snapped out of her thoughts and asked Yoon Iseul, who smiled and shook her head.

“I enjoyed last night too. Let me know if you need help with something like that again.”

“I will.”

Baek Hana thought it would be okay to get closer to Yoon Iseul.

.

.

.

“Raise your hand if you’re not here.”

Kang Hanna, wearing a black uniform that was slightly different from the school uniform, looked around at the students and made a lame joke.

“Hmm, everyone’s here.”

Feeling that her joke wasn’t that funny, she quickly continued.

“As I announced yesterday, we will now head to the Royal Academy. We’ll have a rehearsal for about an hour, and then we’ll go straight into the real thing, so stay alert and don’t make any mistakes. Got it?”

“Yes, sir!”

The students responded energetically.

“Look at these kids, all energized after some rest.”

Just two days ago, the students had been exhausted, with sunken eyes and a haggard appearance. But after a good night’s rest and a hearty meal last night, their faces were glowing, and their eyes were wide with confidence.

But this moment was brief.

Click-clack, click-clack.

The sound of footsteps, filled with dignity, echoed clearly, and the confident students stiffened, standing at attention.

Kang Hanna swallowed hard as she saw Baek Woo-jin approaching, flanked by Jayden and Cheon Ji-ho.

“Is everyone here?”

“Yes, sir! We’re all here!”

Kang Hanna nodded in response to Jayden’s question.

“Then let’s go.”

“Yes, sir! All aboard!”

Kang Hanna turned around and followed the three professors.

“Miss Hana?”

“Oh, sorry, sorry.”

Baek Hana, snapped out of her thoughts by Yoon Iseul’s call, quickly followed Kang Hanna. Only then did the students lined up behind her start moving.

“He’s so cool…”

Baek Hana couldn’t take her eyes off Baek Woo-jin’s back, adorned in a uniform with golden threads on a black background.

.

.

.

Thirty minutes on the bus.

-I’ve seen it on video, but it feels completely different in person.

-It feels like we’ve gone back to the Middle Ages.

-Have you lived in the Middle Ages?

As they entered the Royal Academy, the usually well-behaved students looked out the window and shared their impressions.

“I thought you’d be amazed.”

Yoon Iseul had been glancing at Baek Hana, who had been spacing out since they left the hotel.

‘Does she like Professor Baek Woo-jin? He’s definitely a person who attracts attention, except for his glasses.’

He was tall and had a broad build.

His deep voice could captivate both men and women.

Even his movements exuded dignity.

‘I guess it’s best not to interfere.’

It was her freedom to have feelings for someone. If the other person didn’t have a partner, she would have tried to help in any way she could.

But the other person was dating Claire Bean Assen, the representative of Bwiar.

‘I can’t jump into the fire just to gain her favor.’

Pssst!

The bus stopped, and the door opened.

Baek Woo-jin and the other two professors were the first to get off, and Kang Hanna stood up and said,

“Everyone off!”

Yoon Iseul cautiously shook Baek Hana, who was staring at Baek Woo-jin through the window.

“Miss Hana?”

“Huh?”

Baek Hana’s hazy blue eyes widened slightly, and she snapped out of her thoughts.

“We’ve arrived.”

“Oh, sorry.”

“It’s okay. Come on, let’s get off.”

Only after the two of them stood up did the other students sitting down follow suit.

“Sorry, there’s been a problem inside, and it looks like there will be a 30-minute delay. We’ll guide you to the waiting room first.”

A woman in a red uniform led the way, and the group followed her, with Baek Woo-jin at the center.

“Holy shit…”

“Damn, is this the main hall?”

“It’s bigger than the Hotspur home stadium.”

“Now this is what I call a waste of money…”

The students were not just amazed but shocked by the massive size of the hall.

And when they entered the hall, their reactions changed again.

“I know all these faces.”

“I’ve smashed that guy’s head at least ten times.”

“And I’ve lost to that guy over twenty times.”

They scanned the faces of the students from other schools who had arrived earlier and were resting in the sunlight, their eyes gleaming.

“Please feel free to wait wherever you like.”

The woman apologized again for the delay before leaving.

“We have to wait for about 30 minutes, so sit down and wait or do whatever you want. Just let us know if you’re going somewhere.”

Kang Hanna waved her hand casually and headed towards where Baek Woo-jin and the other two professors were.

‘She really does like him’

Yoon Iseul was sure that her earlier guess was correct as she watched Baek Hana, who hadn’t taken her eyes off Baek Woo-jin since entering the hall.

‘It’s best not to interfere.’

Yoon Iseul used her shadow to create a small, thorn-covered wall around Baek Hana, a warning to other students who might approach her out of interest in her appearance.

But the problem arose from a completely different source.

“Is that Baek Woo-jin?”

A man with the same blond hair and blue eyes as Jayden, with thick eyebrows and distinct facial features, asked Baek Woo-jin.

Some students, including Yoon Iseul, sighed.

He was Ben Stiller, ranked 23rd in the world and the master of Justice, a large guild with 3,000 members.

“Ben Stiller…”

Yoon Iseul swallowed and quickly scanned him.

‘He doesn’t seem to be here as a professor.’

His outfit was casual, reflecting his personality, and it was a short-sleeved shirt and shorts, inappropriate for the winter season.

“Why is a man who only moves for a minimum of hundreds of billions here…?”

Yoon Iseul’s gaze naturally shifted to Baek Woo-jin, whom Ben Stiller was looking for.

Baek Woo-jin was looking at Ben Stiller, who was of similar height.

“Isn’t that Korean?”

Ben Stiller frowned at Baek Woo-jin’s lack of response and manipulated the ring on his finger.

Whoosh

Green light enveloped Ben Stiller’s body.

-Ah, did it work?

Surprisingly, fluent Korean flowed from his mouth.

-Are you Baek Woo-jin?

Ben Stiller asked again.

But Baek Woo-jin’s mouth remained tightly shut.

-Hmm…

The crease on Ben Stiller’s forehead deepened.

-Hey, I’m Claire…

A crisp sound filled the air as Ben Stiller’s body flew through the air.

He spun dozens of times in mid-air before crashing to the ground.

The chaotic hall fell silent in an instant.