The Academy's Deceased Ate It All

Chapter 07

 

“Hmm, I’m sure I got the item.”The director said so and stamped the document.Then he signed it in a flowing motion and handed it to a man closer to him.“Thank you.”Choi Hyun-Woo, who was also the main character of ‘Clouds on the Horizon’, politely bowed his head and accepted it.Then, Han Soo-Young, who was also standing next to him, who was also one of the pearls, sighed slightly.“It’s finally over.”Slightly blueish hair, light gray eyes.There were also cool facial features.Choi Hyun-Woo, who smiled slightly, looked handsome even to me.“Yeah.”In contrast to Choi Hyun-Woo, her hair was slightly reddish.And in contrast, Han Soo-Young, who had dark black eyes, nodded her head.Perhaps because she just became a high school student, she looked young, but I thought that she would become really pretty in a few years.According to the setting, the two grew up together since they had no memory.Perhaps that was why they looked almost like family or siblings rather than friends of the same age.“But… Do you have any plans or appointments after this?”Choi Hyun-Woo shook his head slightly in response to the director’s question.“No. I don’t have any appointments or plans.”“I was just going to look around while I am in the capital.”Han Soo-Young continued with a complicated expression.“Now I need at least a year to come back here.”Saying that, Han Soo-Young glanced at Choi Hyun-Woo a little, and Choi Hyun-Woo only let out an awkward laugh.But when I saw her shaking her head a little as if she was trying to figure out what to do right now, I thought she was really amazing.‘Because of Choi Hyun-Woo, you almost didn’t get to take the exam for the Academy and go back home, right?’Originally, they should have arrived at least two months ago, or at least a month ago, not now.However, the problem was that Choi Hyun-Woo was a person full of justice with a typical protagonist personality.The presence of monsters, so-called monsters, that appear on their way from their hometown.And as a result, they helped people in dangerous and difficult situations, and they only arrived now, far behind schedule.On the way, Han Soo-Young, who was talking about not being able to take the exam, gave up, saying, ‘It’s always like this,’ and started to devote herself to the rescue work with him.Even though they had suffered unspeakable hardships for years to take this test, the two gave up on it in an instant.They gave up what was important to them without hesitation for the sake of the unspecified.Indeed, it was my thought that both of them had great personalities in many ways.‘If it were me, I wouldn’t be able to do that.’To be honest, I couldn’t even understand it.While I was thinking about it, the director continued to speak to the two in a friendly manner.“Hmm, how did you two decide where to stay?”“No, we both have to look around for it. If it’s urgent, there’s a branch of the association…….”At Choi Hyun-Woo’s words, the director fiddled with his hand around his mouth, as if he was troubled for a while.“Well, if you don’t mind, why don’t you stay at my house?”After a moment’s contemplation, he said so and smiled softly at the two of them.“As you know, I’ve been friends with your master for a long time. I’m sure this old man would really appreciate it if you could tell me a few stories about him… It’s hard to just let precious customers go without serving them.”Then Choi Hyun-Woo and Han Soo-Young looked at each other for a moment.“We don’t mind, we’re rather grateful.”“Thank you for your kindness.”Looking at the two politely bowing their heads, the director seemed to be very happy.Then Amelda, who was sitting quietly next to me, carefully opened her mouth.“Um, do you have a minute?”“Oh, Miss Amelda. Come to think of it, you said you had something to say, right?”When the director looked at her, as if he had forgotten, Amelda smiled awkwardly.It was such a simple smile that looked really harmless on the outside.“You said it was important, but I slipped up and forgot.”“Huh. What’s going on?”“It’s… .”Amelda glanced at us, blurring her words, and let go of a wasteful smile again.And, realizing the meaning of that smile, General Jang scratched the back of his head and said,“I’ll be out in a moment, director. Please call me when you’re done. Oh, I’m leaving the documents here.”“Yes, thank you.”Seeing General Jang leaving first, Han Soo-Young tapped Choi Hyeon-Woo.“We should go out, too.”“Okay.”I also followed them out.I knew exactly what was going to happen to the director, but I pretended not to know as I looked at him and Amelda.‘Because he won’t die anyway.’With that in mind, I closed the door.When I came out, everyone seemed to be waiting for me.“Okay.”General Jang said, rubbing his palms against the back of his pants.“Have you eaten yet?”Choi Hyun-Woo and Han Soo-Young shook their heads and answered.I said looking at him, who was looking at me.“I haven’t eaten yet either.”“Then I’ll buy you a meal, so let’s go outside. I don’t know when the conversation will end, but I’ll feed you guys first.”General Jang said so and turned around and walked out without hearing an answer.The three of us followed him. After walking for a while, I felt Choi Hyun-Woo looking at me, so I turned my head.Having made eye contact with me, he smiled softly and greeted me.“Hello.”“Oh, yes.”At the moment, I paused and immediately nodded.“My name is Choi Hyun-Woo. This is Han Soo-Young.”“I’m Yoo Ji-Hyuk.”Without realizing it, I became nervous and gave a stiff answer.However, Choi Hyun-woo still had a likable smile on his face as if he didn’t care much.“I and Soo-Young are 17 now. If you don’t mind…”“Ah.”I nodded.And I could recall the fact that the age written on my ID that I had found in this world, was the same age as Choi Hyun-Woo.Ironically, I was only ten years younger than my original age.“We’re the same age. I am seventeen too.”As I said this, I spoke in a very friendly manner, thinking of the fact that I had more to gain than to lose by being close to Choi Hyun-Woo.“If you don’t mind, can I speak casually to you? You’re the first people of my age to meet here.”“Oh, yes. No, of course.”I smiled again at Choi Hyun-Woo.I felt embarrassed when I tried to do something I had never done before.Still, Choi Hyun-Woo seemed to feel quite close to me even with this awkward smile.Han Soo-Young glanced at me from the side, looked at me once, and looked away again.Knowing her suspicious personality, I wasn’t really offended.“By the way, Ji-Hyuk, what are you doing here? Apprenticeship?”“No. Just a part-time job.”“Part-time job?”I nodded and looked at Choi Hyun-Woo.And I muttered in a voice that was barely audible even to General Jang, who was walking in front of us.“My family situation isn’t that good.”“Ah.”Choi Hyun-woo asked a question and made an apologetic expression, and I waved my hand as if it was okay.“What about you guys?”“Oh, we’re thinking of applying for admission to the Orhe Academy.”“We were.”Next to him, Han Soo-Young added in a cold voice.I looked at Choi Hyun-Woo with a look of confusion, even though I already knew the whole situation.“There was a little problem with the road today. So, we couldn’t even take the test.”“I’m so sorry about that.”“I’m fine…  .”Choi Hyun-Woo said so and glanced at Han Soo-Young’s face.Even looking from this side, it was an expression full of regret and guilt towards her.Although in my eyes, she didn’t seem to care.“So, is there anything you want to eat separately? Korean? Western? Chinese? Japanese?”“No, we’re really fine with anything.”“Yes. We appreciate it if you buy something for us.”General Jang peeked at me as if the two answers were not satisfactory.“Can’t you just give me the money?”“Again with the bullshit.”He gasped and burst into laughter.Then his cell phone rang, and he immediately pulled it out of his pocket.“Yes, director. What’s going on?”Is it over already?‘It hasn’t even been ten minutes yet.’After thinking that way, I soon accepted it, remembering the fact that Amelda, or Esmeralda, was part of the most dangerous villain group.Come to think of it, she was quite strong in the original story.“Yes, yes. no. We’re here together right now. We haven’t even gone outside the main gate yet. Yeah, I thought I should feed the kids.….”After talking on the phone for a while, General Jang looked around us and said.“The conversation with Miss Amelda is over. She’ll be coming down soon, so let’s go together.”A few minutes after the words were said, the director and Amelda walked down side by side.On the surface, there seemed to be no problem.“Oh, did I make you wait? I’m sorry.”The director smiled kindly as if he was embarrassed.And he naturally moved to the front of the group.“Let’s eat first. It’s a good day, so I’m willing to pay.”“Heh, what’s the matter with you, cheapskate?”“Hey, what am I supposed to do if you say that?”“… … .”Director and General Jang exchanged words with each other in a friendly manner, and we followed the two.I stepped back for a moment and walked slowly.Thanks to this, I was placed at the back of the group, and fortunately, no one seemed to think it was strange.‘Let’s see.’I couldn’t find anything strange on the surface.Like the director, Amelda was also very natural.Even General Jang, who must have been with him for years, didn’t felt anything out of place, so it was no wonder that I couldn’t find any discrepancies.‘That’s a perfect skill.’The director who was with us now was not the director we had met just a moment ago.If I had to say anything, the current director was part of the abilities that Amelda had created.Perhaps the real director was locked up somewhere.Alteration and transformation.That was Esmeralda Lysnerger’s ability.‘The director in front of me is an alter ego of Esmeralda.’Even I, who already knew all about it, looked skeptical.Then again, it seemed that I wasn’t the only one.More than anything, the fact that General Jang hadn’t noticed anything unusual meant that her transformation was seamless.‘I wouldn’t have been able to do anything about it if I hadn’t known about it beforehand.’Thinking so, I followed them out of the main gate.In any case, the real start of the story was tomorrow.Therefore, there was no need to step up and do things wrong.* * *“Ji-Hyuk. Wake up.”At the gesture of shaking my body, I woke up and blinked.I was living in the staff lounge here.On the surface, I was allowed to use this place privately in the name of saving living and transportation costs.Actually, there were other reasons.“What’s wrong?”“It is urgent. Let’s go together.”General Jang had a stiff face.I knew well what was going on, but I put on my clothes, fidgeting with an expression that I didn’t understand.“What the hell is going on, sir?”“Are you ready?”“Yes.”“Okay…  .”He fiddled for a moment as if he were sweeping his mouth with his palm.I figured it out by observing for a few days, but it was something he often did when he was in trouble.“The item delivered yesterday has disappeared.”“What?”When I asked back as if I did not believe it, General Jang also murmured as if he was dumbfounded.“There was a theft.”