Chapter 11: Kite
‘Or, he might have already gotten close with the children and they are buying and eating ice cream.’
Lee Si-wang, the Vice Guild Master of the Ignis Guild, was regretting what he had told the Guild Master in the call a few minutes ago.
“Just how did this happen?”
The unbelievable sight unfolded before Lee Si-wang’s eyes.
Students were stuck in the wall while unconscious.
“Please take care of the cleanup.”
Returnee.
That was all Yoo jin, who was this school’s teacher starting today, said.
“Surely, did you hit them?”
“Hit them? They seemed not to know how scary adults are, so I just gave them a finger flick of love each as a present.”
“That is hitting them…….”
Finger flick.
Yes, if it was an ordinary teacher, they could hit about one finger flick for the purpose of discipline.
Even if corporal punishment was forbidden.
Because he knew that it was being done to some extent implicitly.
However, the Returnee who was not a normal teacher.
Even if it was just a finger flick to him, looking at it from another person’s position.
The student still stuck in the wall entered Lee Si-wang’s vision.
“I also have to use a skill to subdue an Awakened to this extent. Even if you say you really hit them with a finger flick, no one will believe it.”
The power of one finger flick was as strong as a decent A-class Hunter’s skill.
“A-class is that weak? I really hit them weakly, almost like flicking a booger?”
Lee Si-wang’s mouth fell open.
Not because of the words that A-class is weak, but because of Yoo jin’s expression that was genuinely surprised.
He knew that he was ridiculously strong, but no matter how much he tried to imagine, the picture of when Yoo jin used his strength sincerely was not drawn.
‘Just how strong is this person? Can’t he even smash the Earth?’
Lee Si-wang, who shook his head, checked the children’s faces one by one.
“It isn’t that A-class is weak, but that you are strong. The difference between a Returnee and an A-class is much bigger than the difference between a civilian and an Awakened. Moreover, these kids aren’t even official Hunters, just brats.”
“I’m telling you those brats didn’t seem like brats? You would have been surprised if you were here too? They threatened me?”
At the headache rushing in, Lee Si-wang scratched his head.
“Haa…….”
No matter what he said, it seemed words of refutation would come out of Yoo jin’s mouth, so he suppressed what he wanted to say with a sigh.
Who is the person in front of his eyes?
A Returnee.
The first Returnee of the Republic of Korea.
His superior who possessed tremendous authority and power.
The strongest man, whom even the Ignis Guild Master had to walk on eggshells around and humor.
‘We absolutely need the Returnee.’
Lee Si-wang ruminated on the Guild Master’s words and approached the wall to check the children’s condition.
“Although they are in a fainted state, there don’t seem to be any major injuries.”
It was a monologue, but Yoo jin’s voice came from behind.
“See! I told you it was a finger flick of love?”
Lee Si-wang pulled the children stuck in the wall out and laid them on the floor.
‘If they just can’t speak…….’
In the midst of that.
“Huh? Isn’t this kid Kang Tae-wook?”
“Correct. Do you know him?”
“I do. He is an A-class and a nature-attribute Unique Skill Awakened, so he is a quite famous prospect. On top of that, his parents are Association executives…….”
The expression of Lee Si-wang, who was moving his lips, stiffened.
The content of the call with the Guild Master shimmered in his head.
‘There are also children of high-ranking positions of the Association, so be careful…….’
He had thought it would be a completely unrelated story.
“…….”
“Anyway, please take care of the cleanup well. I have an interview.”
Whether he knew Lee Si-wang’s mind or not, Yoo jin turned his body and tried to leave the spot.
“W-Wait a moment. This is not a level I can handle…….”
Yoo jin answered without even looking back.
“You said top 3 guild.”
“Therefore, it is a bigger matter. Since both are big.”
“I don’t know, then just do as much as you can. If the parents say something, tell them to come find me.”
“…….”
His mind was becoming distant.
Lee Si-wang felt as if his soul was escaping.
“I think the Guild Master will faint.”
In the situation that had become a headache, Lee Si-wang wrapped his hands around his forehead.
Yoo jin, who was trying to leave the Incinerator with Jin-ho, suddenly stopped walking.
“Hey, Mr. Vice Guild Master.”
At Yoo jin’s voice, Lee Si-wang raised his head.
A slightly brightened expression.
Right, this is it.
Still, he thought he was the most normal among the Returnees.
Probably having heard his voice, he must have stopped to give a little help.
Thinking about it carefully, although he caused an accident, isn’t it fortunate he didn’t kill them?
Asking for the cleanup was also proof that a human part remained unlike other Returnees.
Lee Si-wang thought.
Perhaps he intends to speak to the Guild Master directly himself.
Then, at the very least, the Guild Master would inevitably use his power within the line he could.
Lee Si-wang’s gaze full of anticipation headed toward Yoo jin.
“That…… sunglasses don’t suit you.”
***
While Ignis Vice Guild Master Lee Si-wang was doing the cleanup at the Incinerator.
Yoo jin and Jin-ho, who had left the Incinerator, had arrived at the counseling room arranged in the Old School Building.
When he conveyed the interview with the student to the principal he met on the way, the principal disappeared in an instant with the words, “I-I will convey it to the teacher in charge.”
“That human seems to run away whenever he sees me.”
“Yes? Who?”
At Yoo jin’s monologue, Jin-ho, who was sitting across from him, spoke.
“No, it was a monologue. Rather than that…….”
Yoo jin, who was capturing the face of Jin-ho sitting opposite him, slowly scanned the inside of the counseling room.
It took 100 years.
This spot.
Finally, he could do the atonement of that time.
Yoo jin pulled up the corners of his lips.
This time, I will absolutely not run away.
“Are the guys you mentioned in the morning that Kang Tae-wook or whatever guy and the lackeys from earlier?”
“Yes.”
At Yoo jin’s voice, Jin-ho obediently nodded his head.
An expression distinctly different from the morning.
If it were yesterday, no, if it were before meeting Yoo jin.
Jin-ho would absolutely not have told the truth.
Even now, not trusting adults is the same.
It is not that he trusts adults or teachers, but Jin-ho trusts this man sitting in front of his eyes.
“How long were you bullied?”
“Since entering school, so it’s been a little over a year.”
“Ha, you didn’t look like it but you have good persistence. Originally, guys like that can’t do anything patiently.”
Laughter leaked out from between Jin-ho’s lips.
“It’s real. Originally, thugs who bully others do that because they can’t focus on any one thing. Guys who are steeped in studying or exercise don’t even bully others.”
“Those guys are model students at school. Their grades are good and their image is good.”
“They say kids these days are clever.”
“I’m the strange one. Since I can’t do like that.”
“You have to speak correctly. It’s not that you are strange, but you are doing well.”
“Other teachers said not?”
“Who?”
“Everyone. Always only I was scolded. Even if I fought with Tae-wook’s group, only I was scolded. The one who got hit was me, but only I was scolded.”
“…….”
“But now I roughly know. It’s because I don’t have money at home, and my parents don’t have power. So I don’t blame the teachers. I just decided to think that teachers are also adults because of that and not believe them.”
Jin-ho’s face smiling small.
How long did it take to become like this.
How much must he have hated adults to become like this.
Yoo jin exhaled a deep breath.
And then, he tried to say, ‘It’s okay now,’ but swallowed it inside.
He thought he didn’t have to say it anyway.
Since this child would also know.
That is why he said these words to him.
Words he had hidden tightly.
Words that were useless even if said.
He had said those words.
Since this child also came to know that it would be different now.
“By the way, there is something I’m curious about; why did Kang Tae-wook and the kids bully you so much?”
Jin-ho, who was fidgeting with his fingers under the table, opened his mouth.
“That…… it’s probably because of Older Brother.”
“Older Brother?”
“Tae-wook has one older brother. He graduated now, but. He is hugely famous.”
“What does that famous Tae-wook’s brother have to do with bullying you?”
“That is, because I said Tae-wook’s brother bullied classmates, probably from then…….”
Jin-ho could not meet Yoo jin’s eyes.
Although what he said wasn’t a lie, as if he was hiding something.
He seemed not to want to speak.
Beyond this.
Knowing that, Yoo jin also did not ask anymore.
Because the emotional state is visible to the eye.
As proof of that.
Gooooo!
Orange Demonic Energy was seen shimmering strongly above Jin-ho’s shoulders and head.
The change according to the emotional state.
It seemed his emotions became intense just by recalling it.
However, due to this phenomenon, Yoo jin was certain of one thing.
Unlike ordinary Hunters who handle mana.
That only Jin-ho possessed the same Demonic Energy as him.
Although he didn’t know the reason.
Gates appeared, and Awakened appeared.
And Awakened used mana.
However, there was one fact that only Yoo jin, no, the Returnees knew.
That mana was merely a replica.
Like an imitation of Demonic Energy.
Putting the Demonic Energy flowing in Jin-ho’s body into his eyes, Yoo jin spoke.
“You said you were in which class?”
“Year 2 Class A.”
“Homeroom teacher?”
“Mr. Ju Sang-cheol, who was an A-class Hunter…….”
“Done. That’s enough.”
Yoo jin, who finished speaking, rose from his seat.
“First, go back to your class.”
Jin-ho, who was sitting in the seat, looked up at Yoo jin blankly.
“Don’t worry. Those guys won’t be able to enter class today. Since I will handle the cleanup, don’t worry.”
“Ah, yes…….”
“Then, see you tomorrow.”
Leaving the last words, Yoo jin turned his body.
Like that, Yoo jin and Jin-ho grew apart.
Crossing the threshold of the counseling room, Yoo jin spat out a monologue.
“First, I have to go find the principal again.”
He has to go to that child’s class.
There was the reason that he was the only one who could strongly raise that child’s power, but.
Another one was.
***
Tracing back time a little.
Before Yoo jin moved to the school after coming out of the Ignis Guild.
A black plastic bag was held in the hand of Yoo jin who came out of a convenience store.
Heavy footsteps.
Although it is 10 years in reality.
To Yoo jin, it is 100 years.
After 100 years, Yoo jin was able to face his student.
OO Charnel House
Yoo jin stopped at the location informed by the Ignis Guild.
“Sorry for being late, Eun-ho.”
He poured a cup and put it down.
“Barely 100 years. I think it is far short as the price of my sin but…… I came because I thought I should apologize in person.”
And he gazed at the charnel house niche of the student who had become 18 years old forever.
For a very long time.
“…….”
Yoo jin, who gazed at the student’s urn for a long time…….
“Still.”
Smiled small.
“It was indeed good that I returned.”
In Yoo jin’s vision.
Inside the student’s niche.
Jin-ho’s photo entered his eyes.