Chapter 96 : Chapter 96
Chapter 96: Illegal Awakening (8)
The next day.
Ignis Guild Headquarters, a hospital room prepared on the upper floors.
There, Lee Chan-yeong opened his eyes.
The ceiling blurred white.
At first, he thought fluorescent lights were piercing his eyes.
Lee Chan-yeong only breathed for a while.
One, two, three.
Counting numbers inwardly.
The pain that seemed like it would swallow his body had disappeared completely.
Just until yesterday, every time he breathed in, it felt like his internal organs were being ground like sand, but now his body condition was refreshed without a single painful spot.
His mind followed his senses.
He retraced his situation in a fleeting moment.
Descending to the underground Dark Store, taking the medicine given by the illegal business.
Fainting.
In his blurred memory, when he briefly opened his eyes, there were Teacher and friends.
And receiving help from Jin-ho and friends to escape outside, to Ignis Guild…….
Chan-yeong, having finished sorting things out in his head, slowly opened his mouth.
It wasn't that anyone told him to, but those words came out first.
“I was wrong…… Teacher…….”
Where the tearful voice headed.
The shadow that was leaning against the end of the bed straightened up.
It was Yoo jin.
“Is your body okay?”
A nod was sufficient for an answer.
Chan-yeong nodded quickly, but three times.
“Then it's done.”
A short sentence of relief popped in the air inside the hospital room.
Chan-yeong's chin began to tremble.
Only then did his breath go in deeply, and because this ordinary breath was so precious, moisture was forming fully in Chan-yeong's eyes.
Silence continued like that.
Even in that silence, Chan-yeong was shouting.
Only inwardly, continuously.
Continuously.
His wrongs.
Those words he only thought inwardly, buried in silence like that.
Chan-yeong half-raised his body and opened his mouth.
“Um, Teacher…….”
“What.”
“It was my greed. My parents are innocent. I knew it was illegal too. Even though I saw my parents' tears, I ignored them. Because it felt like only I was falling behind. Because only I couldn't achieve my dream. Because the starting line was different, I think I was envious and jealous. So… So….”
Chan-yeong's head dropped.
“The moment I saw the Illegal Awakening Verification Device at the Ignis Guild, I was scared of this power. Afraid I would be punished… Afraid my parents would become criminals…… I was the one who did wrong… Only I…… If only I…… receive punishment, it would be fine….”
“…….”
Yoo jin was just listening to the story without saying anything.
“Actually, I was running away until the end. I made excuses about my parents, but I guess I was just scared. Since it's power obtained through lies, no, since the human being myself is fake… So when I took the medicine, when I wasn't in my right mind…… I was relieved. Because it would end if I died….”
Although it seemed like he was rambling, Chan-yeong was showing his sincerity.
In the midst of that, one word got stuck in his throat.
Chan-yeong, biting his lip tightly, soon closed his eyes and said.
“I, I'm going to drop out.”
Yoo jin's eyebrow went up just a little.
Chan-yeong's voice continued.
“There is no other way to receive punishment than this. All my friends Awakened and are really making efforts and studying, but I am fake….”
“You are my student.”
Yoo jin's voice cut off Chan-yeong's words.
Chan-yeong's pupils shook violently.
That one line settled on his chest like a boulder.
“As expected…… Teacher is…… really different from other adults. So… So I can't stay any longer. Only I get special….”
“I never abandon a student. And don't worry, I'm not giving special treatment only to you. I think of every student in my class as equally special.”
Drip.
Drip.
The tears that had formed in Chan-yeong's eyes burst.
“But…… I am a fake. I can't do it. I… Because I'm sorry to other friends. Because I'm sorry to friends in the same classroom…….”
“Then…… you can just start again from the beginning.”
Chan-yeong's eyes opened twice as wide.
Yoo jin's smile filled Chan-yeong's vision.
Yoo jin walking slowly.
Yoo jin, who came right in front of Chan-yeong, took out one artifact from his pocket.
An artifact like a pendant with a blue gem lit up.
Yoo jin, grasping it with both hands, reached out his hands toward Chan-yeong's chest.
And then, putting strength into his eyes, he pulled up demonic energy.
Then.
Creeping.
The demonic energy extending from Yoo jin's body gathered in his hands, and soon.
It began to emit a brilliant light.
“Te… Teacher, this is…….”
Chan-yeong stammered in surprise, but the real thing to be surprised about happened next.
The light emitting from Yoo jin's hands began to cover Chan-yeong's body.
The light that ate up Chan-yeong's body as if washing his body with water.
The light that roamed Chan-yeong's body for a long time emitting light like that gradually disappeared.
After all the light disappeared.
“Phew…… Seems it's done.”
Yoo jin, finishing his words, brought his hands back to their original place.
When Yoo jin slowly opened his grasped hands, the artifact inside was shattered into pieces as if it had done its job.
“I don't think I can return it.”
“Teacher, just what did you do.”
At Chan-yeong's surprised voice, Yoo jin moved his gaze, which was looking down at the pendant, to Chan-yeong.
“What do you mean what did I do. I let you start again from the beginning.”
“Yes? What does that…… Uh…….”
Chan-yeong, who was making a blank expression, moved his arm as if he realized something.
It wasn't felt.
Neither mana.
Nor the Unique Skill.
So.
“The power you received illegally is gone now.”
“Teacher…….”
He didn't ask just how he did it.
A Returnee.
A mysterious adult.
Although he couldn't understand, he thought there was nothing Yoo jin, his homeroom teacher, couldn't do.
Since he said it, it must be true.
“Thank you. Now I think I can…… drop out more comfortably. There can't be an Unawakened in the prestigious Taewoon High…….”
Just then, Yoo jin cut off his disciple's words.
“No. No need for that.”
Chan-yeong's eyes headed toward Yoo jin.
Sunlight coming through the window hung on Yoo jin's shoulder.
Like a spotlight on a stage.
Brightly.
As if illuminating the protagonist.
“Even if there comes a day when you think of abandoning yourself, I won't accept that. Because that… is a real teacher.”
Grin.
A smile spread on Yoo jin's face.
Chan-yeong's vision blurred once again.
“…….”
He couldn't speak anymore.
No, he didn't know what words to bring up.
Because all the words that came to mind didn't seem fitting.
Looking down at such Chan-yeong, Yoo jin said.
“Awakening? It's good to have. But that is just an ability. A person's worth is separate. I don't know if you can Awaken again, but probably since you are my disciple… wouldn't you be able to? I will help you.”
“…….”
Chan-yeong couldn't answer again.
This time he clearly knew what he had to say, but the flowing tears, the crying clutching his throat, prevented him from spitting out any words.
Even if an answer didn't return, Yoo jin was fine.
Because the answer hung in those tears, in the eyes looking at him.
Yoo jin, smiling contentedly, turned his body.
“Now you are just an Unawakened. Because that child who did Illegal Awakening is gone now. You don't have to worry about your parents either. Since I've taken care of everything.”
Yoo jin, having put a period, moved his legs toward the hospital room door.
Like that.
Only Yoo jin's laughter and one child's crying sound filled the hospital room.
Well.
Although they were making different expressions, their emotions were the same.
Something called happiness.
***
Thud.
The door closed.
A man leaning against the wall came into the view of Yoo jin, who came out of the hospital room where Chan-yeong was.
“You are cool, really.”
Lee Si-wang was standing leaning against the wall.
It seemed this guy heard everything.
“What sunglasses indoors. I told you it doesn't suit you.”
“Ahem.”
Lee Si-wang, who had become immune now, took off his sunglasses while hiding his expression as much as possible and put them in his pocket.
“Ah, and I can't return the borrowed item.”
Yoo jin showed his hand looking at Lee Si-wang.
Inside, the shattered pendant was visible.
“It doesn't matter. Since I didn't lend it but gave it to you.”
“Was this expensive too?”
“It would be expensive. Since it's an item embedded with an ability more precious than most A-Rank Healers.”
“Well, sorry about that.”
“No. Rather, it's a relief I could be of help.”
“Okay, anyway…….”
Yoo jin, who was moving his steps again, stopped his legs.
“Ah, right. Since I'm busy. You train our Chan-yeong a bit.”
“Yes…?”
At the unexpected remark, Lee Si-wang's eyes grew twice as big.
“I am busy…….”
“What do you mean you're busy.”
“I am the Ignis Guild Vice Guild Master…… how can I not be busy… Aside from that, clearly inside you said you would help him…….”
Lee Si-wang complaining to himself.
Yoo jin's eyebrows drew a diagonal line.
“…….”
At that appearance, Lee Si-wang hardened his lips in a straight line and sighed briefly.
“No, but why me…….”
“You are the Assistant Homeroom Teacher.”
“…….”
Lee Si-wang, making a blank expression, tried to say something,
Then smiled slightly.
“Well, having about one disciple would be good.”
Grin.
Smiles spread on the faces of Lee Si-wang and Yoo jin.
“It won't be easy. To not fall behind other children with an Unawakened body. And if it's that guy, he will definitely Awaken. With his own power. Because Santa Claus always gives presents to good children.”
Like that, the long, long Illegal Awakening incident ended.
***
The next morning.
Year 2 Class A Classroom.
“Good morning. is everyone here?”
Yoo jin, stopping at the podium, met the children's eyes one by one.
Jin-ho.
Ye-na, Tae-wook.
The twins.
And even Lee Chan-yeong who finally had a relieved expression.
Yoo jin was smiling looking at the children.
Until that sound came out.
“But Teach. Seong-hyeon didn't come out.”
“What?”
At the twins' voices, Yoo jin's gaze headed to the empty seat.
The face that should be smiling was not visible.
“What is it? Come to think of it.”
Because he was only caring about Chan-yeong, he couldn't check if the children went in well.
It was when Yoo jin's gaze reached Jin-ho and the children.
“Should we go and see?”
Familiar repertoire.
“It's done.”
Although the voice already flowed out, it was after the twins left the classroom.
“Those guys are really consistent.”
The classroom children laughed at Yoo jin's voice.
At that moment.
Vibration rang on Yoo jin's smartphone.
Dormitory Supervisor.
Student Jo Seong-hyeon was not present at roll call last night and this morning.
Since it's the weekend, contacting you now…….
Yoo jin's eyes narrowed.
“Hey, Kang Tae-wook. That day… Did Seong-hyeon leave with you guys?”
Although there was no subject, Tae-wook understood Yoo jin's words at once.
“That time? No. Seong-hyeon didn't come out with us then. Didn't he go back toward Teacher?”
At Kang Tae-wook's voice, Yoo jin's expression sank.
The children of that day listening from the side.
Jin-ho and Ye-na, and Lee Chan-yeong.
Their expressions sank together.
The atmosphere of the sunken classroom.
Thud thud.
“Teacher, he isn't there.”
“He isn't in his room.”
The twins, having finished speaking, saw the sunken class atmosphere, read the room, and returned to their seats.
“Just what is this…….”
At that moment.
Ziiing―
Yoo jin's smartphone ringing once more.
When Yoo jin touched the screen.
His pupils shook violently.
“…….”
One photo had been delivered to Yoo jin's smartphone screen.
The figure of Seong-hyeon whose whole body was bound.
In front of him.
There was a Little Princess smiling.