Armonia began the briefing in the warp room.
"This time, your mission location is the Hero Academy in South Korea. Just like with Stura, your mission begins by infiltrating the academy and getting close to the target."
"Hmm? So, there's a lover this time?"
"Yes, there is."
The protagonist of this world is Cho Kang-hyun.
He is a top-tier hero who reigns supreme in a game-like world known as the "Hunter genre."
Despite being only in his late twenties, he is recognized worldwide as a hero.
"Cho Kang-hyun. Currently, he is serving as an instructor at the Hero Academy."
"Instructor duty?"
"Let me explain it simply."
The Hero Academy, abbreviated as "Yeongsagwan," is where all the top heroes in South Korea come from.
It is considered the best institution in the country, an elite group.
However, there was a problem with this institution.
It was the instructors responsible for education.
The number of heroes willing to serve as instructors was significantly lacking.
But they couldn't just entrust the future of South Korea to anyone.
You might think, "Wouldn't some of the graduated heroes want to become instructors?"
"The problem is that most of the talents who graduate from Hero Academy have no interest in that job."
"Of course. They worked their butts off to become heroes, why would they want to babysit kids…"
As Armonia said, the talents who graduated from Hero Academy didn't return.
Eventually, the government mandated that all official heroes must serve three years as instructors.
Graduates of the Hero Academy had to serve three years as instructors within ten years of graduation.
"That doesn't sound easy… If it's like the Hunter genre I know, heroes make a ton of money."
"The benefits are also quite exceptional. But even those benefits aren't enough to entice them…"
"So, the protagonist is also serving that duty now?"
"Yes. This is his third and final year."
And the people who are with him during those three years…
His older sister, and his fiancée.
"Fiancée? Not married?"
It was hard to understand.
With his level of ability, he should already be married…
"Even Zodiac doesn't know the exact reason."
"Strange… Anyway, got it."
There was no need to rack my brain over something I didn't know.
"The fiancée's name is Sung Suah, and his sister's name is Cho Seo-hyun. Also, Zodiac has arranged the academy's records so that you will frequently encounter these two."
"How?"
"You will be assigned as an assistant instructor for two classes."
Unlike regular instructors, assistant instructors don't need to be graduates of the Hero Academy.
While regular instructors focus on one class, assistant instructors assist with two.
Their main role is to prevent incidents during the students' practical training.
However, their position is somewhat equal to that of regular instructors.
But ultimately, it feels more like a contract position, and if a major incident occurs, they are the first to be cut.
"And you will be responsible for assisting the classes taught by Sung Suah and Cho Seo-hyun."
"…Damn, I thought I could wield power like Stura!"
"Unfortunately, it seems you'll be the one being wielded. Please be careful."
"Sigh… That's just my life."
The academy is divided into three specialized departments.
Combat Department.
This is the department that specialises in martial arts-related abilities such as swordsmanship, spearmanship, archery, etc.
Magic Department.
This department specialises in elemental magic as well as various other types of magic.
Healing Department.
This department is for students who use healing magic.
It's similar to the liberal arts, sciences, and physical education departments in the world I lived in.
Hero Academy is divided into these three fields, each with its own building.
"The classes you will be assisting are Combat Class 5, taught by Cho Seo-hyun, and Magic Class 7, taught by Sung Suah."
"Complicated…"
"I'll explain the rest of the information step by step once we get there."
"Okay, got it."
I stepped into the glowing blue warp case alone.
As the door closed behind me, three women saw me off.
"Take care, Suho!"
"Come back soon, nya~"
"I'll be waiting here, Master."
"Alright, I'll be back. Everyone, get along."
Is this how a father feels when his children see him off to work…?
As I finished speaking, Armonia said,
"Then, I'll begin the transfer."
***
I was walking down a corridor of a building so extravagant that it was hard to believe it was a school.
'Wow… This is on a whole different level from the prison-like school I used to attend.'
[Not only the government but also guilds from all over the country donate to operate this place. A comfortable life is guaranteed.]
This Hero Academy is operated more by donations from guild organizations than by national taxes.
The top donors are the Church and the Tower, followed by large guilds that continuously donate.
While most schools cheer when students graduate, the cadets here grumble when they graduate because the facilities are so good.
I arrived at the main gate of Hero Academy and went through a rather complicated process to enter.
It was an institution where life, safety, and more were guaranteed.
'Well… I'm from the monster faction, right? I heard the monster faction has infiltrated this place to some extent.'
[That's correct. But they also have their own positions, so they won't necessarily help you if you're in trouble. Please be careful.]
'Okay, got it. Ah, this must be the faculty office.'
I followed the first instructions and arrived at the faculty office.
Inside, many people were moving about in an orderly manner.
'Is it chaotic because it's the first day of school?'
[First, you need to find Cho Seo-hyun.]
I wandered around the crowded place, asking people and searching for Cho Seo-hyun.
Finally, a man who seemed to be an instructor gave me detailed directions.
"Ah, Instructor Cho Seo-hyun's desk is over there by the window."
"Thank you."
The desk by the window was hidden by a partition.
No one was there—wait, someone's there?
As I approached the desk, I saw someone lying down.
She had short hair and was wearing a tight white T-shirt and jeans. She looked to be around 150 cm tall.
Despite her height, her chest seemed to be around a C-cup.
A girl with that appearance was lying on Instructor Cho Seo-hyun's desk, drooling and sleeping.
She was even smiling in her sleep.
"Hng… Hng… Hehe…."
"…."
She must be having a pleasant dream…
'Is she a student?'
[Based on the information we have, she is Cho Seo-hyun.]
'…This is the older sister?'
I'd believe it if she were the younger sister…
However, Cho Seo-hyun is supposed to be the older sister of the protagonist, Cho Kang-hyun.
Since Cho Kang-hyun is in his late twenties, this woman should be around thirty.
She looked much more like a student than an instructor.
While I was hesitating about how to wake her up, someone approached.
"Oh? Instructor Cho Seo-hyun is sleeping again…"
It was a woman who seemed to be an instructor.
I explained to her.
"Well… I'm the new assistant instructor, and she's sleeping."
"Ah, starting this semester… with Instructor Cho Seo-hyun… I see…"
The female instructor looked at me with pity.
'…This feels unsettling.'
[It's said that her personality isn't great. It would be best to be careful.]
'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani….'
[….]
"Instructor Cho Seo-hyun!! Wake up!! We need to distribute weapons to the students!!"
"Hwaaaah…."
The female instructor grabbed Cho Seo-hyun's shoulders and started shaking her violently.
It wasn't just waking her up; it looked more like an exorcism from a horror movie.
'…She's still not waking up.'
[She seems to be very vulnerable to sleep.]
'She's such a kid….'
She really is like a kid…
But today is my first day at work.
I didn't want to ruin my first impression by saying something mean.
I smiled at Cho Seo-hyun, whose eyes were still unfocused, and said.
"Hahaha… Instructor Cho Seo-hyun, it's my first time meeting you today. You're as cute as a child."
"Uh…."
The female instructor, who had been performing the exorcism, looked at me with shocked rabbit eyes.
What, do we need a sacrificial lamb this time?
I asked the female instructor.
"…Is something wrong?"
"That… that comment…"
As the female instructor's voice trembled, another voice was heard.
"Who the hell…."
"…?"
It wasn't my voice. It wasn't the female instructor's rough voice either.
It was a cute and lively voice, but it felt like it had been swallowed by hellfire and charred black.
The female instructor tightly held onto Cho Seo-hyun and shouted at me,
"Run away quickly!!!"
"Huh?"
As I questioned, Cho Seo-hyun, who had been sitting at the desk, rushed at me with a fierce glare and a loud roar.
"Who the hell called me a child!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
***
I was carefully following the small woman to the auditorium.
"…."
"…."
After causing quite a commotion in the faculty office, Cho Seo-hyun, who had finally calmed down, was still fuming.
Cho Seo-hyun, who was leading the way, turned her head and glanced at me.
"If you say that again… I won't let it slide."
It was clearly a warning, but it wasn't scary at all.
Not that I had any reason to provoke her further.
"Okay, I'll be careful."
"Huu…."
She still looked displeased, but she didn't pick a fight.
As I followed her, I checked her status window.
=====
[Name: Cho Seo-hyun]
[-Traits-]
[Martial Arts], [Stealth Lv.11], [Instant Charge Lv.25], [Admiration for the Strong], [Impatience], [Poor Crisis Management], [Ability Caution]….
=====
From her traits, I could roughly assess Cho Seo-hyun.
A woman with a bit of a scatterbrain.
'She looks the part…'
[But you should still be careful. The abilities under Martial Arts are not ordinary.]
I also checked the traits under Martial Arts.
-[Dagger Arts Lv.39], [Swordsmanship Lv.27]-
If we were to fight, I'd be dead in one hit.
Her appearance and her dagger skills suggested she was someone who would close the distance quickly and finish the fight in close combat.
But the funny thing was, despite having Stealth, which suggested she had trained a lot in hiding her presence, it didn't match her personality at all.
'She seems to look down on others. I should be more assertive.'
[I'm worried it might backfire.]
'No, she seems like the type to push someone off a cliff if they show weakness.'
From what I could tell, Cho Seo-hyun was the type to mercilessly push aside anyone she deemed unnecessary.
If I showed any weakness, she would exploit it and tear me apart.
'I need to stay on my toes. If I show any weakness, Cho Seo-hyun will be a pain.'
[Despite being siblings, they are said to have a very good relationship. Winning her over will be a huge help.]
Armonia said the fiancée was the most important, but Cho Seo-hyun was equally important.
As I walked while observing Cho Seo-hyun's head, we soon arrived at the auditorium.
The auditorium was filled with third-year students lined up, chatting with each other.
There were roughly about 500 students.
Cho Seo-hyun turned around and spoke to me.
"Today, we'll be distributing weapons to the third-year Combat Department students."
"…Just the two of us?"
"Yes, the other instructors are busy, so we're short-handed. Let's go!"
Cho Seo-hyun leaped onto the auditorium stage in one jump.
"Wow…"
That move was impressive.
She had jumped dozens of meters in a single bound.
I jogged towards the stage.
'Damn, I wish I had that kind of ability…'
[If you collect enough Enel, that day will come.]
'That damn Enel…'
As Cho Seo-hyun landed on the stage, the murmuring in the auditorium ceased.
"Alright! We'll now distribute the weapons! Combat Class 1, number 1, come up when called!"
I barely made it to the stage in time.
'Ugh, this is exhausting…'
I grumbled internally as I stood next to Cho Seo-hyun.
Behind the stage, there were stacks of boxes. Probably filled with the weapons to be distributed.
After arriving, I asked Cho Seo-hyun one thing.
"Can't we just let them pick their own weapons?"
"Sigh…"
Cho Seo-hyun frowned, looking like she couldn't believe I was asking such a question.
'Damn… She's really making a big deal out of a simple question.'
[Her personality really doesn't seem great.]
Cho Seo-hyun let out a long sigh and explained with an annoyed expression.
"…We used to do it that way, but it caused chaos, so we changed it."
The weapons distributed to the cadets at the Hero Academy were all the same.
There was no chance of one being more outstanding than the others.
But that was the instructors' perspective.
When they let the cadets choose their weapons freely, it led to fights and chaos, so they changed the system.
"Please ask such questions when there's more time. When I call the students, you hand them the weapons."
The sleepy, dazed expression from before was nowhere to be seen.
And I responded appropriately, not showing any weakness.
"Okay."
Cho Seo-hyun shouted to the students.
"Class 1, numbers 1 to 5, come up, receive your weapons, and then the next numbers come up quickly!"
"Yes!!"
All the students in the auditorium responded loudly.
One student hurriedly climbed onto the stage.
Cho Seo-hyun flipped through the documents she had brought and opened her mouth.
"First-year Class 1… Huh? Wha, what's this…. Why is this…."
But Cho Seo-hyun started trembling with a panicked expression.
"…? Is something wrong?"
I looked over her shoulder at the document she was holding.
On the A4 paper she was holding, there were colorful, cute, large letters written.
[Hehehe. My birthday is next month! I should eat something delicious with Kang-hyun(>_<)]
***
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