Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 95

Several days later.

Hyun-sung headed to the principal’s office after finishing class.

He was going to check the results of the survey conducted at the school’s main gate that day.

The survey method was simple: students wrote down what they wanted from the principal on a piece of paper and put it in a prepared box.

Surprisingly, the students responded enthusiastically.

The person who liked the students’ active participation the most was Principal Park Sang-hyun.

When he first started, Principal Park Sang-hyun had many worries. He thought that if the students’ response was lukewarm, it would be better not to do it at all.

Fortunately, his fears didn’t come true.

Knock, knock.

As Hyun-sung opened the door and entered, Principal Park Sang-hyun greeted him with a welcoming voice.

“Hyun-sung, come on in!”

“Yes, hello, Principal. How did the results turn out?”

Hyun-sung was also curious. Since he was the one who first suggested it to Principal Park Sang-hyun, it was natural to be curious.

Principal Park Sang-hyun nodded and replied.

“They’re out. They’re out, but the first place is…, haha.”

Principal Park Sang-hyun stopped talking and let out a hollow laugh.

That meant that something unexpected had come up.

Hyun-sung looked at Principal Park Sang-hyun and asked immediately.

“Why? Is there something strange?”

Hyun-sung naturally expected it to be a bathroom issue. Even during homeroom [HR] time on Saturdays, the number one request from students was definitely the bathroom.

However, judging from Principal Park Sang-hyun’s smiling face, something completely unexpected seemed to have come out.

“Before that, can I ask you something first?”

“Yes, what is it…?”

“During the morning assembly, did my words sound so boring?”

“Excuse me? I don’t know what you’re talking about all of a sudden.”

He couldn’t understand what he was saying even if he listened carefully.

Then, Principal Park Sang-hyun smiled awkwardly and handed Hyun-sung a memo.

Pfft!

Hyun-sung, who was checking the memo, couldn’t help but laugh. He covered his mouth in an instant, but it wasn’t enough to stop the laughter that had already burst out.

Hyun-sung barely stopped laughing and asked Principal Park Sang-hyun.

“Are you saying that this is the number one survey result right now?”

“That’s right. Otherwise, why would I ask you first?”

“I’m really surprised, too.”

The memo Hyun-sung was holding read:

– The principal’s words during assembly are too long.

At least twice a week, there is a school-wide assembly on the school playground—Monday and Friday, and in special cases, it may be added in the middle.

What is indispensable every time is the principal’s speech.

Come to think of it, Hyun-sung remembered.

To be honest, he couldn’t hear what he was saying. After 5 minutes, he only thought about when it would end.

Hyun-sung checked the memo again.

It was something he could fully relate to.

At that time, Principal Park Sang-hyun asked again.

“Do you think the same way?”

“I’m sorry, but that’s…”

“Okay. I understand what you mean. I don’t think I need a confirmation, do I?”

Principal Park Sang-hyun interrupted Hyun-sung’s words.

Hyun-sung glanced at him.

Principal Park Sang-hyun was showing a different side of himself than usual.

However, he didn’t look particularly angry or disappointed. He just looked like he had learned something he didn’t know.

Then, Principal Park Sang-hyun looked at Hyun-sung again and asked.

“Was it that bad?”

It seemed like he was having a hard time admitting it.

Hyun-sung thought that appropriate comfort wouldn’t be bad in this case.

“I don’t think it’s just for the principal.”

“What does that mean?”

“Imagine listening to it for over 10 years. Wouldn’t anything sound grating?”

Six years of elementary school, three years of middle school, and now one year of high school—that’s 10 years, and if you’re a senior in high school, it’s 12 years. Who wouldn’t be tired of it?

“So, you’re saying now…”

“Yes, it’s cumulative. If you think about listening to it from elementary school until now, isn’t it natural? You can think of it as a cumulative effect.”

“Cumulative effect…, huh! Well, that sounds plausible.”

Spreading the responsibility.

Principal Park Sang-hyun’s expression seemed to have improved. His shoulders must have felt lighter.

Hyun-sung thought it was time to wrap things up and continued.

“I think it’s a good thing for the principal?”

“A good thing? What does that mean?”

“Aren’t you getting a chance to solve ten years of indigestion at once?”

“Are you telling me to show off?”

Hyun-sung smiled and nodded. He judged that there would be no better opportunity than this.

“What a great opportunity?”

“Opportunity?”

“That’s what I think. It doesn’t cost money, it’s good for the students, and I don’t think it’s bad for the principal.”

At Hyun-sung’s words, Principal Park Sang-hyun smiled and said.

“In the end, you also thought my words were just useless nagging without any nutritional value, right?”

“Well, it’s not necessarily like that…”

“Okay, man. I know what you mean, so I’ll take care of this problem myself. Like you said, it doesn’t cost money.”

Hyun-sung smiled and nodded slightly.

To be honest, it was definitely not okay for it to be 20 minutes or even more than 30 minutes. Especially in the summer, the pain was even greater.

In some cases, there were students who couldn’t stand the time and collapsed, so how bad would it have been? The funny thing is that they continued to talk even while watching the students collapse.

What’s not right is not right.

After listening, he fully understood why the students chose this as the number one priority.

Hyun-sung asked again.

“Then, what is the second place?”

“Bathroom.”

As expected, the bathroom problem came out right away. This is the most urgent thing. The school must be aware of the problem and have reported it to the higher-ups several times.

Looking at his past life, it was only possible 5 years later.

The problem is money; there is no way to do anything until the budget comes down.

Perhaps that’s why Principal Park Sang-hyun’s face was darker than before.

There’s no business in front of money [money is the most important thing].

Principal Park Sang-hyun opened his mouth slowly and weakly.

“This problem is…”

“…”

Hyun-sung had nothing to say either.

Two people with no words.

After a while, Hyun-sung got up from his seat and looked at Principal Park Sang-hyun.

The principal’s expression was not good either.

He felt sorry for the students who participated if he just let it go like this. Moreover, the Principal didn’t know, but Hyun-sung had expected it to some extent.

He conducted the survey even though he knew it.

What if this came out as number one? It’s just making a promise that you can’t keep without any measures after the survey.

It’s a mistake.

This is a scam for the entire school, not just one or two people.

He proceeded irresponsibly even though he had fully expected it before starting. It is unacceptable to simply make excuses for the budget.

“Excuse me…, Principal.”

Hyun-sung carefully called Principal Park Sang-hyun.

“Huh? Yes, yes. What’s wrong?”

“I think I made a big mistake.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“To be honest, I…”

Hyun-sung began to explain to Principal Park Sang-hyun from the beginning what he had done wrong.

As Hyun-sung’s explanation continued, Principal Park Sang-hyun’s expression began to darken even more. Eventually, when the explanation was over, Principal Park Sang-hyun got up from his seat and went to the window to look outside.

Hyun-sung, who didn’t know what to say because he seemed to have made a big mistake, was also in a difficult situation.

It was hard to leave, and it was hard to keep sitting there.

Then, Principal Park Sang-hyun turned around and walked towards Hyun-sung.

“Student Kim Hyun-sung.”

“Yes, Principal.”

“Actually…, I’m the same.”

“Yes?”

Hyun-sung wondered what he meant for a moment.

Then, Principal Park Sang-hyun said again.

“I mean, I had expected it to some extent since you first suggested the survey.”

“You mean…”

“That’s right. Why wouldn’t I know? I received reports several times and requested a budget several times. Every time, the answer was postponement.”

“Ah, yes.”

Indeed, Principal Park Sang-hyun would have known more about the seriousness of the bathroom than he did. He is the final decision maker, so it is natural.

Principal Park Sang-hyun continued.

“If it’s a mistake, I made a bigger mistake. You only made a suggestion for me. Isn’t that right?”

In general, what the principal is saying now is correct. After all, Hyun-sung only made a suggestion, and Principal Park Sang-hyun made the final decision on the survey.

However, the important thing is that Hyun-sung does not fall into that general case.

As a principal, Hyun-sung may look like an ordinary student, but Hyun-sung himself is not.

Of course, you can just close your eyes and pass by.

No one will say anything, and no one will blame Hyun-sung.

But the problem is that Hyun-sung can’t do that.

His conscience does not allow him to do that.

Conscience (良心) [a person’s moral sense of right and wrong].

A moral consciousness or mind that distinguishes between right and wrong, good and evil, for a certain action.

Although it is not visible to the eye, that conscience that makes up the person’s personality does not let Hyun-sung’s heart go.

Hyun-sung said.

“Of course, that’s true, but I don’t think I have no responsibility at all. I had already expected it before making the offer.”

Principal Park Sang-hyun glanced at Hyun-sung.

Usually, when something goes wrong, people try to escape from the responsibility in any way possible.

However, it was natural for Hyun-sung to look unfamiliar as he kept trying to get into the center of the responsibility even though he said it was okay.

“You too…”

“Isn’t there any way? I feel so sorry to my friends, juniors, and seniors if I just pass by like this.”

“That’s what I’m saying. We, no, I should have been more careful from the beginning, but now that things have turned out like this…”

“…”

Two people with no words.

How much time has passed?

Hyun-sung opened his mouth first.