Chapter 37 Part 7: Connivance.

I wonder how much time had passed.

I was still held captive by the vice-principal, sitting demurely on the sofa opposite her.

She busied herself around the parlor for a while, then brought out some refreshments.

Two cups of fragrant coffee.

Chocolate and cookies to go with it.

At first glance, it looked like we were chatting at a café, but that wasn’t the case.

If I were the vice-principal, I would have brought up uncomfortable topics too.

She’d throw out questions that cut to the heart of my intentions, racking her brain while flicking abacus beads in her mind.

Maybe she would even recall long-forgotten ghost stories or anecdotes.

“I heard you like coffee.”

“Ah, thank you.”

“It’s at a good temperature to drink, so take your time.”

Even though the vice-principal said that with a smile, I knew she wasn’t really smiling.

Her mouth was forming a smile, but anything could come out of it.

I tensed my muscles appropriately, just in case.

It wouldn’t happen, but if the vice-principal tried to subdue me, I would have to protect myself.

But I took a sip of the coffee as if nothing was wrong.

I was just a little flustered by the unexpected interview, and I didn’t forget to smile, showing that I would cooperate faithfully.

“I hope the coffee suits your taste. It’s the teacher’s preference, after all.”

“It’s delicious. You must use expensive beans.”

“I spent some money on it.”

“Haha…”

The vice-principal set down her cup with a clink and stared at me.

For a moment, I felt as if my surroundings had frozen.

Just like before, she spoke in a gentle but firm tone.

“Shall we get straight to the point?”

“I don’t mind.”

“Good. Student, were you ever kidnapped to a strange place when you were young?”

“…Um.”

It might seem rather rude, but it was actually a polite expression.

It was clear that the vice-principal already knew what kind of past I had.

So it was more like asking if there was any need to beat around the bush.

“…What would you do if that were the case?”

I said that and observed the vice-principal’s reaction.

I didn’t know what she was thinking by calling me here, but it was clear she had something in mind.

“Help the student… and help them overcome their wounds.”

“That’s the textbook answer.”

“That’s what I would do if you were a student.”

“So you’re saying you wouldn’t need to if I wasn’t a student?”

“Do you consider yourself a student of this academy?”

I nodded without hesitation.

It wasn’t like I had nothing to be pricked by if someone brought it up, but at least I got into this academy with my own skills.

There were no impure intentions or motives in the process.

It was only because I wanted to die surrounded by many people.

Only because of the wish that I didn’t want to die alone did I come this far.

I didn’t know what she thought of me, but that was how it was.

“I see.”

The vice-principal closed her mouth for a moment after saying that.

And she took a few sips of the now-cold coffee and spoke again.

“Do you know about a kidnapping case that happened about 12 years ago?”

“No, I didn’t know about it.”

“A famous hero couple was murdered, and their five-year-old daughter went missing.”

“…”

“And 12 years later, that young daughter reappeared before my eyes.”

The vice-principal said that and stared at me.

I tried to read the emotions in her eyes towards me.

I needed to know if it was goodwill or hostility, at least, to know what to do.

And right now, it seemed to be goodwill, at least.

It seemed like she was willing to reach out to me.

However, that goodwill would only continue if I told the truth.

The 고민 was not long.

“Vice-principal… what kind of relationship did you have with my parents?”

It was a question that pricked my conscience quite a bit, but it didn’t matter.

I was both a seventeen-year-old girl and a middle-aged man who had already lived out his life.

Due to the mixing of the two egos, I became something of a third entity, but I was still the daughter of those two.

Fortunately, the vice-principal didn’t seem to catch the hidden meaning in my question.

No, it would be strange if she did.

When a person who went missing in the past asks about their parents… there’s no way she could think of anything else.

“We had interactions in the past. Not close, but like work colleagues, you know?”

“Yes.”

“They were a few years ahead of me, so I learned a lot from them in many ways.”

She said that, but I knew right away that it was a lie.

If their relationship was just that, there would be no need to speak as if she was trying to hide her emotions.

I thought it might be something more than just a teacher-student relationship.

Since Aunt Ailey knew the vice-principal, there had to be something.

I sat quietly for a while and listened to the vice-principal’s old stories.

Most of them were personal stories, but I thought it wouldn’t hurt to listen.

But the story I really wanted to hear was different, so I slowly changed the subject.

“…Excuse me, teacher. If it’s not too rude, could you tell me how you found out?”

“It’s simple. I’ve been keeping a close eye on you since the entrance exam.”

“Ah.”

“You also showed abilities similar to the results of that experiment that’s known to the public.”

“I see…”

“More than anything, was it Gong Jinhoo? That student told me because he was worried about you.”

I nodded.

In short, this kind of exposure was bound to happen sooner or later.

And if a little more time passed, many flies would be attracted.

Just like how Trickster appeared a few weeks ago.

“So… what did you experience there? If you’re okay with it, could you tell me?”

The vice-principal looked genuinely concerned.

It was clear that she wanted to hear what happened to me and help me if she could.

But I didn’t think I could tell her.

It wasn’t that hard to talk about.

I underwent several surgeries without anesthesia, all in the name of observing reactions.

If I expressed any opinion or refused, I was suppressed with drugs and violence.

I gained tremendous power after a major surgery that tore apart my race.

And the friends I made died because they couldn’t withstand the surgery, and so on.

There were so many stories I could tell.

If I really opened up my story bag, I could talk all night.

I gained a lot.

I lost a lot.

There were too many painful memories for me to hold alone.

But I couldn’t possibly talk about it, so I shook my head.

“…Why?”

The vice-principal stared at me with a face stained with doubt and bewilderment.

Then she looked at me as if she would give me everything if I just spoke, and then changed her expression.

“…Okay. If you feel like it later, will you tell me then?”

“Yes.”

I smiled as I said that.

Maybe the teacher will never know.

That attitude, as if she would give me everything, actually became poison.

I don’t know how the teacher will act, but other people will surely be wary of my aunts and uncles.

They will try to completely eradicate the evils of the past who have cleanly washed their identities and are hiding all over society.

But they were the only ones who remembered my past self and shared memories.

Even if they weren’t good memories, it couldn’t be helped.

Even if it’s dismissed as a symptom of schizophrenia, they are the only ones who fully remember the two personalities within me.

So I couldn’t let other people touch my aunts and uncles.

There was a reason why I deliberately left them alone, even though they could be said to be the only stain on my life.

Right after thinking that, I took a deep breath and calmed my emotions.

For a moment, I thought I should take more medicine.

I slowly blinked and focused on what the teacher was saying.

“Originally, due to the nature of the matter, it could lead to expulsion. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“But since it’s not that you came in with malicious intent, but rather an effort to blend into society, I will protect you.”

“Ah…”

“Personally, I think it’s not a bad idea for you to just drop out of school.”

“…Why?”

“Because Lee Yeji already has the potential to work as a pro hero or hunter.”

I couldn’t deny that.

I don’t know about a hero who saves people, but if it’s a hunter who kills monsters, I could debut right now.

But I enrolled in the academy because I needed to blend into society.

…I also had the goal of enjoying the youth that I could never experience again.

At that thought, the vice-principal asked a question.

“So what are you going to do in the future?”

“I…”

I hesitated for a moment and then spoke.

I thought about making up a goal, but I didn’t think it was necessary.

So I just spoke my original goal.

My goal is to have a celebrated end, not an end where everyone points fingers at me.

I want everyone to remember and welcome me, no matter what kind of death it is.

When I said my goal, the teacher nodded and affirmed my goal.

“But as you know, I have to keep a close eye on you in case of any accidents.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“And… should I cover up what happened recently on my end… would that be okay?”

“You can say that the medication I’m taking separately has a mental stabilizing effect.”

The vice-principal readily nodded, and that was the end of this matter.

However, several days passed without me receiving any separate medication.

During that time, I interacted with the students.

I choked Gong Jinhoo, who had revealed useless facts, as punishment, and I helped Kang Xia with her training.

Eating snacks with Jang Yuna and Kim Aram at the snack bar was a bonus.

Then, when a little more time had passed.

“Please pay attention. I have an announcement to make today.”

Our homeroom teacher said that and wrote the words ‘Regular Sparring’.

I looked at those four letters and sighed deeply.

It seemed like the situation would become quite troublesome in many ways.