SWNOVELXO Chapter 206
“Teacher Jackie hasn’t clocked out yet, huh?”
“Yeah, yeah…! I still have a lot of papers to grade for the kids’ finals. I just want to finish this before I go.”
“Ugh, but isn’t it a bit hot in the Teacher’s Office? Should I turn on the air conditioning?”
“Oh, yes, I’d appreciate that!”
Teacher Jacqueline Carroll nodded gratefully in response to the kind offer from Class B’s homeroom teacher, Shim Hyo-chan.
As he said, the Teacher’s Office was humid and hot.
Jacqueline was so focused on her grading that she hadn’t even noticed the beads of sweat forming on her forehead.
“Huh? Why won’t it go below 26 degrees?”
“What?”
“Have you touched the air conditioning at all?”
“No? I just pressed the power button.”
“But why? The air conditioning in the Teacher’s Office is on central control.”
Shim Hyo-chan scratched his chin, surprised as if he had never seen this situation before.
“I’ll go ask the Administration Office about it.”
Jacqueline Carroll waved her hand with a bashful smile, feeling awkward about Shim’s excessive kindness.
‘That’s strange. Why is it stuck on central control?’
These days, if an air conditioning unit wasn’t installed in a classroom, hundreds of complaints would flood in, with all the talk of low birth rates and children’s welfare.
And wasn’t the Academy funded quite generously?
“The air conditioning? Director Kim said we should save power after 3 PM. You’ll need to check with the Foundation for details.”
“The Administration Director?”
“No, it’s not possible. It’s the Planning and Coordination Director, Kim Yong-seong.”
“Huh? Why is he…?”
Following the staff’s directions, he crossed the sunlit sports field and entered the adjacent Foundation building.
Inside, the air conditioning was also operating at a weak intensity.
Just then, a well-dressed man came down the stairs.
Shim Hyo-chan received a rather astonishing answer from him.
“We have to adjust the budget, so we unfortunately have to compensate from other areas. That’s just how it appears in electrical savings.”
“What? What does that mean?”
“Don’t argue with me… Please go talk to your Principal about it.”
“Yes, I’m sorry.”
“Honestly, what’s with the Foundation when it’s just for the Elementary Division?”
“Huh?”
“Does the whole Academy think it belongs to them? Ugh!”
Suddenly, Director Kim burst out in anger. Shim was startled by the escalating temper.
“Sigh… We’ve submitted a budget increase request to the headquarters, so despite the inconvenience, I hope the teachers can understand until then… I’ve brought an ice water dispenser to the entrance, so go cool off. Your back is all sweaty.”
Gloomily, Director Kim sighed and left the courtyard.
If you looked closely, you could see that his sideburns were drenched in sweat too.
“Wow, is that the infamous team leader I’ve heard about? Seriously, I’m shocked.”
*
[IWC Reminiscence]
[2nd Circle Cast: Cold Wind]
“Ahhh… So refreshing.”
I directed the cool air towards Ji-hye, who was sprawled out flat on the gym floor.
“But can we really use magic like this?”
“I got permission. It’s fine.”
“Got it. You’re the best, Na-me!”
The cooling cycle magic circle embedded in the wand spun diligently in midair, creating a breeze.
“Remember what I said? Don’t close your eyes and watch the incoming magic until the end. You won’t get hurt anyway.”
“But… what can I do if my eyes just close on their own?”
Ji-hye protested as she sat up.
“And while moving, the mana injected into the magic circle should change too. Use less when close to the opponent, and more if you’re moving away.”
“Hmph… I already know that… sniff… but I just can’t remember…!”
In an instant, Ji-hye’s eyes were welling up with tears.
“Okay! I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I know how hard it is to use magic while moving.”
“Waaah…”
“There’s still plenty of time until the interschool competition, so if you practice steadily every day, you’ll be able to do it, Ji-hye.”
While I kept patting her back, a girl peeking over my shoulder chimed in.
“Why do you fight like a polar bear during battles but act all weak in front of Na-me?”
Hearing her best friend’s, Han Seori’s, words, Ji-hye turned her head sharply.
“I’m not a polar bear!”
“Then since you wear glasses, are you a glasses bear?”
“Not a glasses bear either!”
“Alright, kids, calm down. Haa….”
Once finals were over, the Academy often had shortened classes almost every day.
So today, I stayed after school to help Ji-hye with her martial arts training.
From 2nd to 6th grade, there are no midterms in the second term.
This is to let students enjoy the events called exchange tournaments or interschool competitions against other academies.
And a small preliminary round is held for hopeful representatives, with those selected getting a significant bonus in later grade calculations.
Ji-hye, who had been placed in 2nd-grade Class B due to her poor grades in 1st grade, planned to participate in the preliminary selection to join the same Class A with Seori and her friends in 3rd grade next year.
“They say you can’t use the Light Transmutation Circle Inscriber in the competition?”
“Hmm… It can’t look like Na-me’s. They’ll probably only allow things like bracelets or gloves.”
“But there won’t be any products with gyro sensors in bracelets or gloves.”
“Yeah…”
Ji-hye could be considered a rather unique case compared to the other kids.
It was a martial arts competition that primarily used aura to break through the opponent’s barriers.
For elementary school competitions, you could use up to three first-circle spells along with aura.
First-circle spells aren’t that difficult, but managing aura seems a hundred times harder, yet she fell into the category of being not-so-good at multitasking.
“But if you look closely, there might be wands like that out there?”
In the form of bracelets or gloves, and with a gyro sensor attached…
That would be like ordering a two-plus Hanwoo gimbap at a gimbap shop.
“I’ll just work harder…”
Ji-hye was quick to give up.
“Okay, Ma Ji-hye! This time, let’s have a match! I’m totally wiped, so I’ll take advantage of this and take you down!”
“You’re done for. No mercy.”
After that declaration, Ji-hye stood up.
“Hey, wait! Barrier, barrier! I haven’t even cast it yet! Na-me, save me!”
Seori dashed off, sending a look of plea my way.
Where does all that energy come from?
[Output Magic Pressure (log): 5]
[Development: Mana Barrier]
*
The law is distant, but the fist is close.
And in Korean society, the fist is the support and empathy of the masses.
When Na-me gave an interview, the presidential petition site literally exploded.
Once the fuse is lit, the flames won’t die down.
The most heavily hit were the ‘Serious Crime Investigation Agency’.
While it was good to catch politicians who committed corruption, economic crimes, and public office crimes, their reaction to the arson bridge bombing incident classified as a ‘major catastrophe’ in the Republic of Korea was unusually lukewarm.
Simply put, there was no ‘political gain’.
The perpetrators involved in the case were mostly immigrants or illegal refugees manipulated by Valpurgis, and catching them would only fill one more prison cell.
Grisly events gradually faded over time, and it was revealed that they had repeatedly been rejecting requests for retrials under the pretext of still ongoing investigations.
[“Responsibility for investigation noise acknowledged” – Kim Dae-woon, Chief of Serious Crime Investigation Agency resigns]
– Wow, it’s the same old song and dance with these guys, huh? LOL
– Experiencing the powerful ties of corruption in the prosecutor’s office and politics through this incident. The people will grow stronger.
– What a weird situation since an incompetent regime got in power… So we must vote wisely during elections!
└ Yeah, I’m still not voting for them, LOL
Even amidst the rise of one-person media, the power of the press remains formidable.
In the Blue House, where they have witnessed way too many cases of trying to hide things and getting burned, sharing information as it comes in seems like the best plan.
[President Ijo-won’s second national address: “The Valpurgis expulsion operation has been meticulously planned for a long time”]
Analysts commented that the President was taking drastic measures to redeem himself for the mistakes made in the last emergency address.
He stated that whether the arson bridge bombing incident could have been averted or not would be investigated by a special prosecutor’s team formed by both the ruling and opposition parties, expressing strong regret over the hostages they failed to rescue, barring one.
Some were disgusted by characterizing Na-me, who had been trapped in a capsule for seven years, as being ‘rescued’ by the government, while on the other hand, some supported her being recognized as a true victim and wished for her future life.
“You’ve also made the core investigation targets, Jeong-ho. How did you get involved with such a daring girl?”
“Lawyer Park…”
“Not a lawyer. I’m a special prosecutor. It’s been ten years since I took off my robe as the high prosecutor, and now I’m just an old man in the back. Anyway, hang in there. You’re not hiding anything, right?”
“… No, nothing.”
“Good, let’s do well from here on out. Of course, the investigation will proceed, so don’t even think of tampering with evidence.”
Seoul Central Prosecutor Jeong-ho Cheon chuckled bitterly.
He thought he had done everything he could, yet the advice from his seniors that ‘luck’ was also required to climb higher resonated in his mind.
When the door slammed shut, the black prosecutor’s robe hanging next to it fluttered down.
The winds of change had begun to blow.
*
Just a few days after summer vacation began, one particular morning.
When I woke up, a small red LED light was blinking in the capsule.
Was there a message from Yoon-seul, who had just finished home repairs?
Rubbing my sleepy eyes, I shuffled over, bringing the hologram to my bed.
Isn’t it human nature to want to sit when you’re standing, and lay down when you’re sitting?
To stay true to my nature, I wrapped myself in a blanket and waited until my eyes adjusted to the bright holographic light.
[Baek Ah-rin – Active]
‘What? That’s Ah-rin!’
The adorable friend I had spent two months with at the orphanage.
Among children emphasizing rules and discipline, she was truly free-spirited and pure-hearted.
Since she got adopted by a rich man, I had no contact with her, and sometimes felt mixed emotions about it.
When I glimpsed into the essence of that person, he didn’t seem like such a bad guy.
That’s why I was able to trust Ah-rin and leave her in his care, praying from afar that she would grow up in a good environment, only seeing good things.
Surprisingly, she might have strict rules at her new family’s place regarding games and capsule usage.
Surely, she hasn’t forgotten me already.
As I kept thinking about this,
[Baek Ah-rin: Na-me…]
[Baek Ah-rin: Help me…]
[Baek Ah-rin: Please… For sure…]
A message that made my heart drop came in.
[NoName: Baek Ah-rin, where are you? Are you okay?]
“…”
I threw the blanket aside and got up, sending a short message back.
Biting my thumb nervously, I waited for her response.
I don’t know how many times I have walked around on the carpet, but my footprints were now clearly marked.
Ding-
“Why is her reply taking so long…!”
[Baek Ah-rin: There’s no one living here.]
[NoName: No one living there?]
[Baek Ah-rin: Uninhabited island?]
Why is she being so unsettling? Saying it like that makes it sound like someone died.
What in the world is she doing on an uninhabited island?
[NoName: Are you in a really urgent situation right now?]
[Baek Ah-rin: Urgent, what’s that?]
[Baek Ah-rin: Ah, I get it.]
[Baek Ah-rin: No.]
At least I’m relieved to hear it’s not urgent. But if it’s uninhabited, I have no idea how she’s using the capsule.
[NoName: Can you give me the address if you know it? I’ll stay in touch while I go there.]
[Baek Ah-rin: Wait a minute.]
[Baek Ah-rin: Duri Do, Okdo-myeon, Gunsan-si, Jeollabuk-do.]
[Baek Ah-rin: Are you really coming?]
‘Ugh, seriously frustrating…!’
I checked the map, and while there was a building, it was currently an uninhabited island.
I had no idea how Ah-rin ended up in such a place, but I had to go as quickly as possible since she was asking for help.
If I could know the reason, I could explain it to Professor Cheon easily.
[Baek Ah-rin: Sorry…]
[NoName: What are you sorry for? I’ll be there as soon as I can. Are you sure you’re at Duri Do?]
[Baek Ah-rin: Yes.]
[Baek Ah-rin: I want to leave here. But my grandpa won’t let me go.]
[NoName: Grandpa? Is he the one who trapped you?]
[Baek Ah-rin: I’m not trapped, but there’s no boat at all.]
[Baek Ah-rin: I’m scared, Grandpa.]
[NoName: Got it, I’ll stay in touch while I’m on my way.]
[NoName: (Shared: 010-xxxx-xxxx) Just click this number once.]
*
“Ah-rin! Baek Ah-rin! What are you doing? Come out!”
“Uh…?”
“Hurry! We need to hide right now.”
“Minwoo oppa! Na-me is… Na-me is coming! Na-me is coming!”
“Hey, just hurry and hide! If we get caught, we’re both finished today!”