I Became an Unknown Professor at the Academy

As Baek Hana relentlessly rained punches down on Kang Seok-ho, Edyn, watching from a distance, exclaimed in horror.

“Ugh, it’s a good thing I let Nayoung  sleep.”

“Yeah… If Nayoung had seen this, she wouldn’t have been able to talk to Hana for a while.”

Maria agreed with Edyn, and their gazes naturally shifted to Nam Seo-hee, who was holding a bag full of chocolates.

Although her expression seemed indifferent as usual, her trembling legs betrayed her true state.

Edyn sighed softly and said,

“You’re funny too. If you’re going to act like this, why don’t you just charge at them yourself?”
“……”

Nam Seo-hee, who had been heading towards the arena, turned her eyes towards Edyn, making a clicking sound.

“What? What did I say wrong?”

Nam Seo-hee glared at Edyn with her eyes rolling like a ghost from a horror movie they had seen when they were young, causing Edyn to forget her position as an apprentice holy knight and hug her best friend, Maria.

“I know you two are close, but can you please tone it down a bit here?”
“Hey!! Look at her eyes!! How can you say we’re close when she’s looking at me like that?!”

Edyn was flustered, but Maria shrugged and replied.

“If Seo-hee really hated you, she wouldn’t have reacted at all. She’s reacting like this because she considers you a friend.”
“……No, why is her reaction so scary?”
“If you understand, can you please back off? And Seo-hee, please open your eyes properly.”

Maria pried Edyn off of Seo-hee, and Seo-hee stopped glaring at Edyn. However, her legs continued to tremble.

“It’s over.”
“It was over a long time ago.”

Maria and Edyn stood up as they saw the supervisor heading towards the arena.

“Hey, Seo-hee. Stop moping and get up. If Hana was really angry, she wouldn’t have accepted the chocolates you gave her earlier.”

Thud-

Nam Seo-hee’s trembling legs stopped.

She then turned to Maria, not Edyn, and asked.

“Is that true?”
“Yes. If Hana was truly angry, would she have brought you here?”
“……I see.”

Although her expression remained unchanged, the overall atmosphere lightened, and Nam Seo-hee stood up.

“Well, I was the one who spoke to her, but why are you asking Maria?”
“Yes, yes. I understand, so let’s go.”
“Look at that bitch rolling her eyes!!!”
“Yeah, yeah. I know, so be quiet. You’re causing a scene.”

As Maria was sandwiched between Edyn and Nam Seo-hee, she sighed softly and quietly scanned the surroundings.

It was close to dinnertime, and since tomorrow was the last day of course registration, the place was almost deserted compared to a few days ago.

However, the fact that it was deserted meant that there were still some people present. And among them were a few who had been intently watching the match between Baek Hana and Kang Seok-ho. As soon as the match ended, they frantically typed on their smartphones and smart watches.

‘Fortunately, it doesn’t seem like anyone recorded a video.’

Maria, who had been instructed by Claire to ensure that Baek Hana’s name did not appear on community forums or other students’ lips, found the current situation less than pleasant.

Among the top 10 guilds, the ‘Iron Knights’ was undoubtedly one of the strongest in terms of pure power.

And the person who had just been pinned down by Baek Hana, taking punches to the face without being able to put up a proper fight, was none other than Kang Seok-ho, the youngest son of Kang Min-ho, the guild master of the Iron Knights.

In their first year, when there were no clear indicators of strength yet, to an outsider, it might seem like Kang Seok-ho had simply been unlucky and faced a stronger opponent. Unfortunately, some of the students present recognized Kang Seok-ho, and it seemed they would be sharing what they witnessed through text and word of mouth.

‘Those who were here will write about what they saw, but it shouldn’t be a big problem yet.’

Wherever people gather, factions form, and conflicts arise. Unless there was a video, people would likely dismiss it as slander or defamation to tarnish the image of the Iron Knights.

Not all the top 10 guilds were on good terms, and the lower-ranked guilds, which changed annually with new guilds rising and falling, were always looking to take down those above them.

“You two go ahead with Hana.”
“Huh? Why? What’s up?”

As Maria changed direction, Edyn turned to her and asked.

“I want to stay and watch for a bit.”
“Sure, do what you want.”

Edyn and Nam Seo-hee approached Baek Hana.

Maria waved lightly at Baek Hana, who glanced at her, and Baek Hana, with a stiff face, waved back slightly.

The three of them quietly left the arena.

Maria, now alone, approached Kang Hanna, who was carrying the unconscious Kang Seok-ho on her shoulder like a sack of rice.

“If it’s not too much trouble, can I help you?”
“He doesn’t need holy power or anything… But sure, if you want to help.”

Kang Hanna, who had to prepare for the next contest, was happy to get rid of the troublesome burden and turned to leave.

“Then I’ll ask for your help.”
“Yes. I’ll wake him up and send him on his way.”

As Kang Hanna returned to the designated area, Maria squatted down and examined Kang Seok-ho’s condition.

“Other than the nosebleed, he doesn’t seem to have any major injuries.”

His cheeks were slightly swollen below both zygomatic bones, but it was a cute level of bruising for someone who had lost consciousness.

Maria channeled holy power into her hands and lightly slapped Kang Seok-ho’s cheeks several times.

Slap! Slap!

With each crisp sound, the swelling on Kang Seok-ho’s cheeks gradually subsided.

“Ugh, ugh……”

Slap! Crack!!

“Ugh…!!!”

Sssss-

“Stop!! I’m awake! Why are you still hitting me?!”
“Oops. Sorry.”

As Kang Seok-ho opened his eyes wide and sat up, Maria smiled playfully and stood up.

“……Your method seems a bit extreme, but thank you for treating me.”
“It’s my duty as a priestess.”

Maria placed her hand on Kang Seok-ho’s cheek, which he was rubbing, and said,

“Let’s have a little chat, shall we?”
“……?”

When the person involved admits everything, it becomes a nuisance to deal with.

**

“I’m back.”

Baek Hana returned home and opened the door, scanning the floor where the shoes were placed.

Baek Hana’s clear eyes landed on a pair of black shoes.

Sliiiide-

Baek Hana changed into slippers and looked at the coat hanger.

As expected, only Baek Woo-jin’s black coat was hanging there.

The corners of Baek Hana’s mouth curved into a wide smile.

“Woo-jin~”

Baek Hana’s voice, which had been dragging, suddenly became lively.

Hmm~ Hmm~

Humming a tune, Baek Hana slowly made her way to Baek Woo-jin’s study. She carefully pushed open the tightly closed door and poked her head through the gap.

Scratch, scratch.

The sound of Baek Woo-jin scribbling with a pen filled the room, along with a scent that soothed her mind.

With the setting sun at his back, he sat at his desk, writing something as he did every day.

“Can I come in?”

Tap.

Baek Woo-jin put down his pen and looked up.

“Come here.”
“Huh? Oh, okay.”

When Baek Woo-jin gestured, Baek Hana hesitated for a moment, then closed the door and approached him.

“Hand.”
“Hand…?”

Baek Hana tilted her head at Baek Woo-jin’s sudden request, but obediently held out both palms for him to see.

“Back of your hand.”
“Here… Oh.”

As Baek Hana turned her palms over, she suddenly noticed the state of her hand and tried to withdraw it. But Baek Woo-jin was quicker, and he grasped her hand firmly.

“Uh, I…”

Baek Hana fidgeted, unsure what to say, as Baek Woo-jin examined her reddened, chapped hand.

Baek Woo-jin looked at her hand for a long moment before finally lifting his gaze to meet hers.

“What about your gloves?”
“…In my pocket…”

The gloves Baek Woo-jin had given her.

They were meant to protect her hands, but Baek Hana hadn’t used them even once, not wanting to damage the gift he had given her. She had kept them safely with her at all times.

“Baek Hana.”
“Yes…”

Baek Woo-jin released her hand and spoke.

“I appreciate that you value the gifts I give you.”
“…Yes.”

Swish.

Baek Woo-jin’s large hand covered the back of her hand.

“Just as you value my gifts, I want you to know that I value you just as much.”

As he held her hand, the stinging sensation she had felt since noticing the injury began to fade away.

“Baek Hana.”
“Yes.”
“I gave you those gloves to use, so please use them.”
“…Okay.”

Baek Hana nodded shyly, then suddenly jumped and wrapped her arms around Baek Woo-jin.

She had to do something to hide the heat rising to her face.

Baek Hana buried her face in Baek Woo-jin’s shoulder, feeling his warmth. Her eyebrows twitched as she detected a familiar feminine scent on him—a scent that had been there ever since that day.

“Baek Hana.”
“Yes, yes?”

At Baek Woo-jin’s call, Baek Hana lifted her head from his shoulder, startled.

“Have you finished registering for your classes?”
“Huh? Oh, no, not yet. I was planning to do it today.”

She figured she didn’t need to register for the mandatory courses since they were already included in the timetable. As for the elective courses, she intended to fill the remaining spots with whatever was available.

But what Baek Woo-jin said next made Baek Hana’s eyes widen in surprise.

“Some lectures require attendance on weekends, so make sure to check before registering.”
“…Huh?”

Weekend attendance?

She had never heard of such a thing.

“Some courses also assign tasks that need to be completed outside the academy, which would require you to go out or stay out overnight. I’m telling you this in advance because it seems you don’t know about the overnight permission process, so make sure to check and register for those as well.”
“Uh, yes… I understand.”

The thought of being separated from Baek Woo-jin during the weekends was unbearable.

She decided to seek help from Lee Nayoung as soon as she returned to choose the right courses.

“Have you eaten dinner?”
“Not yet.”
“I’ll prepare something. Go and rest or take a shower.”

Baek Woo-jin stood up, still holding Baek Hana in his arms, and her legs naturally wrapped around his waist.

Ssswish.

Baek Hana slid her hands from around his neck, gliding them down his chest and coming to rest at his waist.

“I’ll help too.”
“…Okay.”

Baek Hana and Baek Woo-jin headed to the kitchen together, donning matching aprons, and prepared dinner side by side.

“By the way, about Lee Nayoung …”

As they ate dinner, Baek Hana, sitting close to Baek Woo-jin, couldn’t stop herself from telling him about everything that had happened in those five days, and he listened quietly.

“See you tomorrow!”
“It’s almost curfew. You should go now.”
“Okay~ Goodnight!”

Baek Hana hurried back to the dormitory, promising to meet again the next day.

And the next day…

“The battle for classes!”

Baek Hana ran around, trying to secure spots in the classes she wanted. It was a struggle, but she finally managed to complete her timetable.

“Good night.”
“Mmm…”

And so, Baek Hana’s weekend came to an end.

.

.

.

Monday morning, the official start of classes.

A post with an attached photo was uploaded to the Arena Academy community.

[Anyone still dare to call it a baseless rumor?]
Posted by: 3rd Year

(Photo)

If they’re not in a relationship, why are they walking to work like this, arms linked?
Fucking refute me if you can, assholes.
Don’t want your head cracked open? Then don’t refute me.

The post and the attached photo quickly became a hot topic.

“Was it a mistake to do that?”

Maria scratched her head as she looked at the photo of Baek Woo-jin and Claire, walking with their arms linked.