Academy’S Gumiho Is A Magical Genius [EN]: Chapter 22

Academy Gumiho is a Magic Genius – Episode 22

Decision (2)

“Why are you guys here…?”

The unexpected figures weren’t just one, but two.

And they’re students.

I’m not a teaching assistant, so I don’t have close relationships with the students.

Nevertheless, I recognized both of them.

“…Hi.”

“Assistant! You were here. I’ve been looking for you since yesterday!”

They were beautiful female students.

Perhaps it’s because it’s the season when flowers bloom. They were incredibly beautiful girls, but that’s not my concern.

What I’m curious about is only one thing: the reason why they came to find me.

“…Why did you come to find me?”

I tilted my head slightly.

Because I was so embarrassed that my face turned red.

It’s not because of romantic excitement. It’s because of the guilt that constricts my chest and the shame that makes me want to hide in a rat hole.

The two female students looked at me and opened their mouths.

‘…I don’t want to hear it.’

I don’t know what they’re going to say, but I don’t want to hear it.

I wanted to cover my ears.

But my ears are open, and they spoke.

“Thank you for saving us!”

“…Y-You’re welcome.”

Yes, I didn’t want to hear these words.

I can’t help but know who these two girls are.

Because I saved them both.

The cheerful female student is Noh Yoora, whom I saved when she was about to be crushed by a monster. The taciturn tone is now more than familiar, it’s welcome, Seo Yerin.

“You were so cool back then! You were moving around with flames, and then, whoosh, the monster was knocked away!”

“…Yoora, be quiet in front of the patient….”

“Ah, and I heard from Yerin. When you saved me last time, you saved Yerin first.”

Noh Yoora, with a bright atmosphere, patted Seo Yerin’s back.

“You should thank the assistant too!”

“I just did…?”

“Hey, you can’t use informal speech to thank the assistant.”

“…B-But….”

“Yerin?”

When Seo Yerin, who lacks social skills, lowered her head, Noh Yoora asked with a questioning tone, as if asking if she really wasn’t going to say thank you.

That pressure pushed Seo Yerin’s back. She recalled whether she had ever said thank you in polite language in her life, and said with difficulty.

“Th-Thank… you… very much….”

Seo Yerin’s heartfelt gratitude.

Although there was pressure, the gratitude was not diminished.

The gratitude that was fully conveyed became poison to me.

I lowered my head in embarrassment and covered my face with my right hand.

I’m not crying or suffering. It was just a blank expression.

‘…I don’t know what expression to make.’

I’m used to corpses.

From the corpses of complete strangers to the corpses of mothers and daughters who died relying on each other.

Even the corpses of colleagues who had overcome adversity together.

I’ve seen so many corpses that I’ve become desensitized to death, and I’ve had quite a bit of experience salvaging them myself. In the meantime, the deaths of nine students didn’t give me much emotion.

But this time it was a little different.

‘I killed innocent children while saving those children.’

There is a term in economics called equivalent exchange.

It means exchanging two objects with equal value.

And I exchanged the lives of two groups of the same number.

The original intention was not like that.

I wanted to save the nine students who were going to die unfairly.

But in return, another nine innocent students, children who had nothing to do with this episode, died. I saved nine innocent people and drove nine innocent people to their deaths.

What a dog’s death this is.

I felt it deeply as I looked at the students’ corpses.

No matter what I do, this world will not change.

It was following the original development and scenario of this world.

That’s a good thing. Because it means that at least the ending of this world is a happy ending.

Of course, I was worried about the people who would die in the process.

But I didn’t have the confidence to stand up.

What if I stepped in again and people died?

And if people who have nothing to do with the scenario die? Could I bear it then?

While I was struggling in deep emotion, it was Noh Yoora who pulled me up.

“Assistant, are you okay?”

She grabbed my hand, knelt down, and matched my eye level.

I raised my head at her worried eyes. My haggard face was reflected in her clear eyes.

Even I feel like this, so how would she feel watching right in front of me?

Noh Yoora had a flustered expression.

“A-Are you okay? No, no matter how I look at it, you don’t look okay! Let’s go to the infirmary!”

“No, I’m really okay. Let go of this hand.”

“…Really?”

“It’ll be all better in a week, so there’s no need to go to the infirmary.”

I persuaded Noh Yoora in a coaxing tone.

Because even if I went to the infirmary now, it was obvious that I would only be taking up the school nurse’s time. I’m a living corpse on the verge of death right now, but the more the elixir’s effect circulates, the healthier I’ll become.

In a week, the effect of the elixir will melt into my whole body.

I didn’t have the energy to explain that fact one by one, so I just brushed it off, saying I was okay. As if my words were true, Noh Yoora let out a sigh of relief.

“Hoo, that’s a relief. But then, is it perhaps a mental problem?”

“…Maybe.”

“Assistant, would you look me straight in the eye?”

She sat on the bench next to me and stared at me intently.

No, why is everyone sitting next to me?

Did someone put honey there?

Whether or not, Noh Yoora seems to be thinking of making eye contact with me by force. She put her hands on my face and turned my head.

My weak body couldn’t withstand her strength.

The moment I met her eyes, she smiled brightly.

A face that came into view at once. The moment I thought her eyes were pretty without realizing it.

“…!”

“…It must have been very painful.”

“…O-Oh, uh….”

For a moment, my mind flashed.

It felt like someone was peeking at a fragment of my emotions.

When I opened my eyes wide in an unknown unpleasantness, Noh Yoora was right in front of me.

It was really close.

A distance where our noses touched and we could feel each other’s breath.

At that sight, Seo Yerin blushed and covered her eyes with her hands.

Even so, she didn’t forget to peek through the gaps in her hands.

“What… what are you doing right now…?”

“I peeked at the assistant’s emotions. To be exact, it would be more appropriate to express it as a sense.”

“…What?”

Peeking at emotions, no, senses.

It’s an ability with endless uses depending on how it’s used.

There are more than 10 uses that come to my mind right now. To have such a great ability.

Isn’t it too generous of an ability for a mere extra? At that moment.

Noh Yoora’s eyes drew a curve. She grabbed my hands again and opened her mouth.

“Assistant, you felt that my ability was amazing just now, right?”

“…Yes.”

“I like that you’re honest. I can easily see through lies.”

Her eyes were still shining beautifully.

I felt bitter about that sparkle.

I was afraid she would peek at my senses again.

More precisely, I’m afraid she’ll look into the depths of my senses.

There are emotions and memories that I never want to reveal there.

I can’t tolerate bringing them out again or someone peeking at them. She also shook her head, knowing how I feel now.

“Don’t worry. My ability is only at the level of reading the surface of the senses. I can’t see it if the assistant hides it tightly.”

“Even considering that, it’s an amazing ability.”

“Well, I’m a student at Chilseong Academy, so it’s only natural.”

After taking a breath, Noh Yoora said.

“Assistant, do you know what newspapers or articles call us?”

“Well, a student.”

“땡 [sound of buzzer], wrong! The correct answer is cadet.”

“…Cadet?”

Cadet refers to a student at a military academy.

This would mean that Chilseong Academy is being compared to an institution that trains officers, but what is the intention of asking that question?

Noh Yoora smiled and continued.

“We are cadets. It’s the same as being a reserve soldier. Of course, we are elites among elites.”

I know that very well too.

There are several player education institutions in the world, and Chilseong Academy is one of the top five institutions in the world. This is where many promising students from Korea and overseas gather.

And this is also the background of all sorts of scenarios and episodes.

“I’m not a very good student. I’m bad at both written and practical skills. But what about outside?”

No further explanation is needed.

She’s a talented person with a natural talent.

However, because she’s in the monster den called Chilseong Academy, her talent seems to be fading.

Yes, this is a place where only students who are somewhat prepared can enter.

“I know that the assistant is in pain. You must have wanted to save the dead students.”

I made a humming sound as I listened to her words.

I was comforted by a girl who was 4 years younger than me, no. Since my original age is 25, I was comforted by a girl who was 8 years younger than me.

That fact was very funny.

“But teacher, please look at me.”

Whether or not, Noh Yoora was looking straight into my eyes.

She smiled brightly and said.

“I’m alive in this place thanks to the assistant.”

“….”

“So please be sad, but don’t blame yourself. Because I’m alive now purely thanks to the assistant.”

That won’t work.

Not blaming yourself is nothing more than self-justification. I was clearly careless and not careful.

Her words were pleasant, but not enough to shake my heart.

This was naturally exposed to Noh Yoora’s ability to peek at fragments of emotions.

Noh Yoora pressed my cheeks with both hands and raised my head.

The self reflected in her eyes had cloudy eyes.

Right then, something cut through the wind.

Slap!

Suddenly, my vision shifted to the side.

I saw Seo Yerin covering her mouth with her hand.

At that time when I couldn’t react at all, a follow-up hit came.

Slap, my head turned in the opposite direction with the sound.

The expression of her face that I faced again after being slapped twice on the cheek was very bright.

Noh Yoora, who was smiling brightly, said

“It seems that the assistant is more foolish than I thought.”

“…What is this.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll help you this time.”

Again, my vision was reversed.

With my weak body, I couldn’t avoid her attack, and I didn’t even feel like blocking it. Rather than pain, I felt question.

Why is she hitting me?

Did I do something to deserve it?

Then, I suddenly thought that my appearance might be frustrating to her.

Because she can read the surface of my heart.

If she peeks at my emotions, she’ll surely be frustrated to the point of being choked up.

But I can’t help it. If it wasn’t for my intervention, those students might not have died.

I killed the children.

─I’m alive in this place thanks to the assistant.

Her voice, which sounded like a hallucination along with the blow of slapping my cheek.

Yes, I saved the students who were supposed to die. But my vision narrowed, and I couldn’t pay attention to the other students.

If I had hardened my heart from the beginning and prepared in advance.

Those children wouldn’t have been crushed in vain. But suddenly, I had a thought.

Why did I think I had to save those children?

─It seems that the assistant is more foolish than I thought.

The words that lingered in my ears, flashing with the pain felt on my cheek.

As she said, I’m foolish.

At first, I ignored them, saying they were just characters in a novel, but now I’m blaming myself for the deaths of innocent students due to my mistakes.

‘…So I have to take responsibility.’

I’m the one who caused the trouble.

Then I have to be the one to clean it up.

Even if the protagonist has awakened, my determination has not changed.

I have to do it even if I fail.

Because I decided so.

[You have cleared the main quest ‘Responsibility’.]

[Accept the reward.]

[Wind dwells in your legs, and agility increases by one level!]

[Agility: D- → D]

The message that came to my mind.

Come to think of it, I received the main quest.

Why is this popping up now?

It’s already been two days.

But why is it cleared now?

[Following the main quest ‘Responsibility’, a new linked quest is output.]

[Main Quest: Decision]

[Description: Your actions were clumsy and unprepared. As a result, the protagonist awakened as planned, and unrelated students became sacrifices to the scenario.

Even so, you have decided to continue walking this path. No one knows what will be at the end of that decision.]

[Clear condition: 1. Intervene in the new episode in advance, 2. Exclude the protagonist’s intervention.]

[Success: ‘Point Shop’ open, ‘Trait Catalog’ presented.]

[Failure: The protagonist will fully accept the original scenario.]

I see, I think I know why this message finally popped up.

It must be because of the linked quest that was output later.

I read the quest details and felt the need to get stronger as soon as possible.

I’ve felt my own weakness to the bone.

I have to build up my strength before the next incident happens. To do that, there was a place I had to visit first.

A place related to my eyes.

To go there, I said goodbye to Noh Yoora and Seo Yerin and left.

* * *

Seungwoo walks confidently somewhere.

Noh Yoora, who was watching the scene, widened her eyes.

How can his back look so cool?

She blushed and took out an unforgettable memory.

That day I don’t even want to think about.

I saw that back even on the day the assistant saved me.

It was a broad and reliable back.

And he saved her from being trampled and crushed to death with that figure.

Really, it has become an unforgettable memory for the rest of my life.

“…Yoora, your personality has… changed.”

“Hmm? I don’t know.”

“That’s what’s weird….”

Seo Yerin, who was standing right next to her, gave her a reproach.

She was embarrassed by her friend’s sudden change.

Unlike herself, who has almost no interpersonal relationships, Yoora has always been at the center of people. Opposite personalities.

But thanks to that, they were able to become friends.

Because they are friends, they have often seen each other and couldn’t help but know.

“You… you weren’t interested in men.”

“Was I like that? I have a lot of male friends?”

“That’s all. They’re just male friends.”

“Why is that?”

Sigh, Seo Yerin swallowed a sigh and grabbed her head.

Unlike herself, who is not sociable, Yoora has many friends regardless of gender. As such, she is often confessed to.

It’s only been a month since she entered school.

The number of people who have confessed to Yoora, who exudes the charm of a fresh girl, has already exceeded the number that can be counted on two hands.

Seo Yerin has seen more than 12 male students by her side.

She doesn’t know how many more people confessed when she wasn’t by her side.

“…You’ve always kept your distance from men.”

“I didn’t really intend to….”

They say there is no friendship between men and women.

Like that saying, the men around Yoora are friends, but they want to be in a closer relationship with her.

Yoora knows that fact, so she usually puts some restrictions on contact with men.

“Wow… Isn’t he so cool?”

“…What?”

“I’m talking about that back. There’s a beauty that can’t be hidden even with a patient’s gown.”

Seo Yerin shook her head at her friend, who was making a stupid expression.

That’s completely severe. How did a friend who wasn’t very interested in men become like that?

In fact, his face was worth seeing.

She agreed with that much. But she didn’t like his personality.

Well, it’s only natural since it started with a misunderstanding from the first meeting.

Of course, she didn’t really care about the past now.

Whatever the case, he’s the benefactor who saved her and her friend.

She was too grateful to treat him with the narrow perspective she had seen before.

But seeing her friend with a foolish expression, she didn’t know how to react. She was very frustrated because she had no eloquence or sociability.

While Seo Yerin was doing that.

Even though Seungwoo was gone, Yoora was staring blankly at the path he had walked.

She clearly knew what her emotions were.

Perhaps it’s because she was born with the ability to peek at other people’s emotions and senses. She didn’t mistake her emotions for other emotions.

The warmth rising in her heart was certain.

“Surely, the opportunity was trivial.”

The first meeting took place in the lecture hall.

A man who appeared as a teaching assistant in the famous Nam Hwayeon’s lecture. His appearance, which captivated all girls and women, was very dangerous.

It was truly the ideal appearance that people think of. It seemed to be itself.

But she didn’t fall in love at first sight.

It was definitely an appearance that would make you fall in love at first sight, but at first, he was just a beautiful man.

After that, almost a month passed.

Enough time for the intense first impression to fade. In the meantime, Noh Yoora was slowly forgetting about a person named Baek Seungwoo.

That day she almost died.

In a desperate situation where she couldn’t expect help from her friends and couldn’t overcome it with her own strength.

He saved her.

I knew it when I grabbed his hand just now.

He’s weak. He’s so weak.

He was a weak person who was dragged around by her own strength, which was lower than the grade average. But he was weak, but he saved her.

Even in a situation where it was difficult to catch her breath, he stroked Yoora’s head and calmed her down.

The situation may have been urgent, but if you look at the process, it wasn’t a big deal.

But why does my heart warm up whenever I think of that time?

That back that protected her. In a situation where cold death was strangling her neck, the fire that warmly illuminated all directions.

Whirr, it still comes to mind when I close my eyes.

A moment that was scary but happy, cold but warm.

The flame of that day was still burning in the girl’s heart without cooling down.

Even if that was a trivial opportunity.

As young students do, first love usually comes without warning.