The Returnee Wants to Live Comfortably

Cursed Painting

A week had already flown by since the new semester began.

Kids who had found the start of the school year strange were gradually adapting on their own as time passed.

However, the subjects had gotten noticeably harder compared to 1st grade, making quick adjustment difficult.

Subjects like Korean, English, and math were tough enough, but the theory behind the magic power flowing within one's body was particularly complicated for students who were only now starting to learn about it.

Since they weren't like those of us who'd personally practiced and learned in Mewzealand, everyone groaned as they clutched their heads, asking, "What does this even mean?"

Of course, that too was only a temporary issue. Eventually, everyone would come to understand, piece by piece.

Especially in my class, there was already a student who was ahead of the assigned curriculum.

"Ah-rin! Do you have time later?"

"Don't you want to come with us to the department store after a bit?"

"I got some spending money from my dad—let's pick out some nice clothes together!"

"Yeah, Ah-rin, you'd pick something good. You're so cute, after all."

A crowd of girls surrounded Ah-rin.

It was no exaggeration to say half the girls in the class flocked to her desk.

Ah-rin, the object of all this attention, had turned into the most popular girl in class in just one week.

I hadn't noticed it in 1st grade, but Ah-rin, now grown, was undeniably beautiful.

Thanks to this, it wasn't only the girls who clustered around her.

"Ah-rin, if you don't know anything, you can just ask me. I'm really good at studying."

"No, I'm smarter than him. Just look at my first-year grades!"

"Nonsense! You lost to me in sparring!"

"Ah-rin, I could teach you some useful skills—want to meet up after class?"

The boys, too, flocked around Ah-rin whenever they found the chance.

They claimed they'd "teach her this" or "make school life easier," wanting to get close.

It was like they were completely beguiled by a fox, their eyes glazed over with infatuation.

Yet, no matter what they offered, Ah-rin's response was always the same.

"Sorry, I already have plans."

No matter what the others tried to give her, Ah-rin never accepted.

After refusing, she always came over to my side.

After all, what they tried to offer was already something Ah-rin had.

She was already ahead in Korean, English, and math, so there was no need to learn from anyone else, and there was nothing needing explanation on magic power manipulation or skills either.

In both looks and ability, there was no one in this class who could surpass Ah-rin—except for me.

For her, it was so ridiculous as to be laughable.

"Seongjin! Let's hurry to lunch!"

Whenever class ended, Ah-rin would simply come to my side.

It must have been frustrating for all the kids smitten with her.

Still, none of them could object to me.

They all knew that if I ever set my mind to it, I could take over the whole school.

Even so, I had no intention of monopolizing Ah-rin.

"Hey, Ah-rin, how about hanging out with the girls today?"

"Huh?"

At my question, Ah-rin's eyes went wide.

Her expression clearly asked why on earth she'd do that.

"Why?"

"What do you mean, why? Aren't you bored hanging out with just me for a week straight?"

"Nope! Not even a little!"

Her beaming smile was as consistent as ever.

No matter how close we were, at school, she should mesh with other kids too.

"Come on, sometimes hang out with your classmates. The boys, sure, whatever, but at least spend time with the girls, right?"

"Mmm..."

Ah-rin was steadfast about not interacting with the other boys.

She herself knew that the boys approached, tongue-tied and unable to do anything without her.

However, forming friendships with the girls was just natural and posed no problem.

"Alright! If you say so, Seongjin, I'll give it a try!"

After a moment's hesitation, Ah-rin agreed with a bright, refreshing smile.

Just looking at her, it was easy to understand why everyone was so drawn to her.

"See you tomorrow, then, Seongjin!"

"Wait—a sec. Before you go..."

"Yeah?"

I stopped Ah-rin, who was about to run over to the girls.

She tilted her head, looking at me questioningly.

"It's nothing."

"Okay!"

Watching her, I couldn't bring myself to say it and just let her go.

If I said something wrong and spoiled that good face, it would be meaningless even if she played with other kids.

****

After school, I called Karen to an empty clubroom no one else used.

Large windows were covered by curtains, blocking out any sunlight.

The door to the quiet room creaked open.

With cold eyes and pale skin, the undead Karen entered like a ghost.

"You called, Demon King."

"You didn't bring anyone with you?"

"No."

Despite her grim appearance, Karen, my right-hand, bowed her head in respect.

She soon sat before me to discuss something secret.

"So? How's school been for the past week?"

"Well..."

Karen turned her head shyly and muttered,

"It's absolute hell!"

To fill in a vacancy, Karen had become a teacher under the chairman's name.

Karen—who had a history as a hunter—was a good fit for the role.

So at first, she thought this job would be easy.

"What's so hellish about it?"

"This..."

Karen, with a seriously distressed expression, showed me her phone.

There were messages exchanged with parents on it.

― Did you really swear in front of the kids?

― I heard you used obscene language during class?

― Aren't teachers supposed to be role models? What are you doing?

― Your name's Karen, right? Did you only learn Korean swear words?

― I'll be visiting Hand soon, let's talk at the café.

It was an avalanche of complaints from parents.

In fact, on the first day of school, Karen had used harsh words in front of the kids.

When asked a simple question about whether she had a boyfriend, she exploded like a time bomb.

Even I couldn't defend her on that front.

― And why can't boys and girls be paired up?

― My kid's dream is to date someone at Hand. Please let them cuddle a little.

― Do you have some trauma from being dumped?

― That's why you'll always be single!

It seemed the kids had vented everything to their parents on the phone.

Showing me the texts, Karen finally let her true feelings out.

"Dating? Hahahaha! Dating? In a place for studying, why are they yammering about romance? Is this some college campus? What are kids doing worrying about relationships already!"

"Karen."

"And forever alone? Are you kidding me, you little brat! Is this your way of bragging about getting married and being pregnant already? Fine! Come on, then! Let's see what your face looks like in person!"

"Karen."

When I called her firmly, Karen's surging words halted.

Realizing she was in front of the Demon King she adored, she immediately bowed her head.

"Ah, my apologies, Demon King. My emotions have been hard to control recently..."

"It's fine if it's just with me. But you know you can't act like this in front of the parents, right?"

"I'll keep that in mind!"

Karen must have been having a hard time because of the bombardment of parental texts.

She probably felt overwhelmed, since her duties included not just parents but faculty tasks too.

"Anyway, did you find anything out?"

"Yes, that homeroom teacher we were supposed to have—I don't think the cover job was for a simple purpose."

That teacher, who'd been executed by Vern's hand after Vern saw through the disguise.

Though I couldn't remember the name, according to Vern, there was likely a connection with the Sura guild.

"I've confirmed that he became a follower of the Sura guild. Maybe he was sent to watch over the Sura in our class."

Sending a bodyguard for their precious Sura made sense.

However, something didn't add up.

"But that teacher wasn't even a guild officer, let alone a full member of the Sura guild—he was just a mercenary moving for money."

"So that means..."

He didn't know Ah-rin was Sura and had simply gotten the job undercover.

Then, it was probably for something other than guarding the Sura.

"And it seems the Sura guild doesn't know that the previous teacher is dead."

Karen took out a different phone from her pocket.

It belonged to the previous teacher—killed by Vern—and when turned on, the message app popped up.

When I saw it, I let out a half-laugh.

Even after the original user's death, the messages with orders kept coming.

Besides...

"I thought I recognized that code."

"Yes, it's used among Mewzealand nobles when communicating with other houses."

To a normal eye, the messages would look like random strings, like piled-up bricks.

But for someone who had lived as a noble there, the alignment of letters looked different.

I knew because I'd gone undercover among the nobility before.

And Karen, before becoming undead, was the daughter of a noble house.

Only she and I could decipher this.

"Who would've thought it'd be used among Earthlings."

"Apparently, in the Sura guild, this is the standard."

That meant the phone's previous owner had learned it from those guys.

Which was required to work under the Sura guild.

"I'll take over monitoring this. It's something only I can do."

"Sure. I'm counting on you."

"And this phone—besides that—it can be put to practical use."

Karen closed the messages and tapped on the gallery.

There, an endless stream of forbidden images and videos no student should see poured forth.

It gave an idea of what kind of person the phone's previous owner had been.

And even more ridiculous...

"What do you think, isn't this amazing?"

"..."

"I just thought it was some garbage phone, but it had real uses."

Karen was almost ecstatic sorting through those obscene files.

Well... fine. Unlike her Demon King army days, Karen was now an adult.

But she should be careful where she looks at them—especially here in Hand.

"If you're caught, you'll be disciplined."

"Even as an adult, I can't look at R-rated stuff?"

"It's not that—think about where you are."

Hand, the world-renowned academy for awakened beings.

Rules here were strict, and getting caught would ruin your life.

Sang-ah, who had once stolen underwear due to sleepwalking, only got off because I covered for her.

"Besides, what do you think happens if a teacher shows a student that sort of thing?"

"Yes..."

"Be careful."

At my warning, Karen had no choice but to put the phone away.

Hand's rules meant discipline regardless of gender, if you were caught even once.

Rattle!-

Then, a student flung the clubroom door open.

At the sudden intrusion, Karen turned, guarded.

"Who is it!"

But seeing it was a familiar friend of mine, I raised my hand to calm Karen.

Still, what was she doing here?

"Seongjin... I've been looking everywhere for you!"

Sang-ah, who'd burst through the door, was out of breath from running.

She must have scoured the whole campus searching for me.

"You weren't in the boys' dormitory, so I thought you must've left the grounds... Luckily, I heard your voice nearby."

Sang-ah looked greatly relieved, saying it was good her hearing was sharp.

I narrowed my brow and asked her,

"What's wrong?"

"Ah! More importantly, Seongjin, there's a huge problem!"

A huge problem?

"Eunseol... Eunseol is...!"

****

After a week of classes, the students adapted to the new semester.

And right on cue, club activities began.

Any student or faculty member with a specialty or hobby could start a club.

For Baek Eunseol of Class 6-2, there was a club perfect for joining.

Regina, a faculty member highly versed in art, had continued the art club for another year.

There were new members, and among them, Baek Eunseol stood out in particular.

There was real promise in the paintings Eunseol showed off on her phone.

"You're all doing wonderfully. Wonderful~"

Regina, as was her habit, checked each member's work.

Maybe because the members pursued art as a hobby, their skill was impressive.

They looked more suited for a field requiring manual dexterity than for hunters.

"Very, very excellent."

Her habit of mixing English and Korean slipped out again.

"Hm? Student Eunsol?"

That's when she noticed something odd.

Baek Eunseol was simply sitting and painting.

But on closer inspection, her face was off.

She looked emotionless, as if controlled—her eyes had no focus.

And then, blood was running from her nose.

"Ah, student Eunsol? Blood from your nose...?"

Worried, regina approached Eunseol.

Up close, her expression was even more alarming.

With a possessed look and only her hand moving, she resembled a bizarre marionette.

What could she possibly be drawing in this state?

Regina craned her neck to see the painting, and then—

"Wow... Wo—"

"..."

"WHAT THE FUKUUUUUUUUUUU!!"

At the supervising teacher's scream, the students jumped in surprise.

Wondering what was happening, the kids left their work and began gathering around Eunseol's desk one by one.

"Huh? Wha, whaaaaaa?!!!"

"Hii—hiiick!!"

"W-what is this!!"

All of them soon reacted the same way.

"Miss Baek! Miss BAAAAAEK!! What on earth did you d-draw?!"

"Huh...?"

At Regina's shout, the focus returned to Eunseol's eyes.

"Teacher...?"

As if she was waking from a trance, Eunseol looked around.

The students stared at her as they would a ghost.

Why are they looking at me like that? wondered Eunseol, but then her eyes dropped to her painting.

And then—she understood why.

"Huh?"

Looking at her own painting, Eunseol doubted her eyes.

It was certainly something she'd drawn with her own hand.

There was no doubt about that—but there was a serious problem with what was on the canvas.

"Huh...? Wait... this...!"

When she first started the painting, Eunseol had suddenly lost consciousness, as if possessed.

She'd had similar symptoms before while drawing.

When she came to her senses, she often found a particularly vivid memory depicted on the page.

And just like before, a scene from her unforgettable past had ended up on the paper.

"Studeeeent Baek Eunseol!!"

"T-this... This is... it's... Not what you think...!"

Regina's outrage was natural.

If there had been a TV camera around, it would have necessitated instant mosaic.

It was a painting that absolutely never should be drawn at Hand, where the rules against obscenity were strict.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

Eunsol draw the forbidden elephant, that's my guess...

【ꉂꉂ(ᵔᗜᵔ*)】