Ch. 3
"Haa…"
Han Jiyoon exhaled deeply, reclining in her chair.
An S-rank superhuman, the leader of one of the world’s top five clans—her titles alone rivaled those of national leaders. And yet, here she was, an Academy professor.
Her presence could be explained by intelligence she’d recently received.
“The villains’ movements are unusual.”
When superhumans first emerged, humanity saw them as saviors. For a time, the world forgot one simple truth: humans, when granted power, inevitably desire to wield it.
Monsters, despite being considered humanity’s enemies, were still just "monsters." Most were so alien they couldn’t be mistaken for humans.
Villains, on the other hand, were human. The same species. It was widely accepted that villains, not monsters, posed the greatest threat to humanity.
"And now, even the ‘Elders’ are on the move," Han Jiyoon muttered bitterly. Hearing that name again was enough to make her grit her teeth.
Once comrades, they were now traitors consumed by greed. If only they hadn’t stabbed their allies in the back, things might have been better now.
“You need to head to the Academy. They need pressure to keep them in check,” the Association President had said, his face unusually tense. Han Jiyoon understood. It was bad enough dealing with regular villains, but the Elders? Even the Superhuman Association couldn’t handle them alone.
The term “Elder” referred to former S-rank superhumans who had become villains.
Bzzzt.
The vibration of her phone interrupted her thoughts. A simple, concise message had arrived:
[Status?]
Han Jiyoon sighed, typing her reply.
[Nothing unusual yet. Quiet for now.]
[Don’t let your guard down.]
[When have I ever let my guard down? If you’re so worried, why don’t you come here yourself?]
[Busy.]
“This brat. Aren’t you being a little too casual with your older sister?”
Han Jiyoon resisted the urge to call and scold the sender. She wasn’t the only one dispatched; others were busy too.
If the Elders were on the move, simultaneous attacks were possible. And while the Academy was critical, there were other facilities just as important to protect.
“And yet, students are running around recklessly without a shred of responsibility…” Han Jiyoon buried her face in her hands.
This wasn’t how things had always been. The trend started when superhumans began appearing on TV. They starred in commercials, dramas, and even internet streams. Superhumans became symbols of fame and wealth, their abilities a ticket to a glamorous future.
Of course, not everyone thought this way. Many students still admired superhumans for their sacrifices, training hard to live up to that ideal. They sweated and bled, fully aware they might lose their lives.
But even they would eventually realize: No matter how many monsters they defeated or villains they fought, it meant nothing if they didn’t become famous.
"This can’t go on…" Han Jiyoon muttered.
Superhumans should carry a sense of responsibility. They shouldn’t be blinded by money and fame. But she couldn’t force them to share her beliefs. That was a matter of personal choice.
A troubling thought struck her suddenly.
“Am I turning into a stubborn old nag without realizing it? I’m only in my mid-20s!”
No way. If she started hearing people calling her old nag, it’d be over. She resolved to maintain an open mind. She didn't assume she was always right.
Knock, knock.
“Clan Lord… ahem, I mean, Professor."
The person who entered was a clan member disguised as an assistant.
“It’s about the new rank examiner you mentioned earlier.”
“Oh, Examiner Baek Seojin? What about him?”
“He just started an evaluation.”
“Already?”
“Yes.”
Han Jiyoon sighed, pressing her fingers to her temples. This was why the Academy needed to add ethics and morality to its curriculum.
Students were eager to show off their abilities, no matter the cost. They acted without hesitation, leaving the aftermath for others to handle.
The students knew the world would side with them over a lowly civil servant. What could anyone say if they argued, "How can someone so weak evaluate us?"
The controversy over civil servants gaining bonus points in exams for awakening superpowers had already caused enough backlash. If that civil servant turned out to have barely passable abilities? The media and public would have a field day.
“Who is it this time?”
“Park Junwoo.”
Click, click.
Han Jiyoon quickly pulled up his profile.
Park Junwoo. Martial arts type. Entered as a C-rank. Reached the Gold evaluation standard by Academy metrics.
"…Why is someone eligible for a Gold evaluation taking the Silver test?"
“You know how it works. If they skip tests or fail to meet standards, they can be demoted. Some abuse the system. They can always climb back up when they feel like it.”
“These kids nowadays…”
Han Jiyoon caught herself mid-sentence. Don’t think like that! Don’t turn into an old nag!