Possessed an Academy Security Guard

40 – 040. Kang Haneul (1)

When she arrived in front of Professor So-Young Do’s lab, her strange anticipation clung to her heart.

The only people I’ve met so far are people who didn’t appear in the original work, except Ryu Tae-hyun. On the other hand, Do So-young is a regular character who appeared as a heroine in the original work, so I had no choice but to look forward to it.

– Smart.

-Come in.

As I knocked on the door with a heart full of anticipation, I heard a calm voice shortly after.

As I opened the door and entered, I saw bookshelves lined on both sides filled with various books, a small table in the middle, and Do So-yeong looking this way with an electric kettle beside it.

From nob le mt l dot com

Light brown hair and green eyes. Her wavy hair was calmly tied and hung down to one side, and her suit, neatly dressed, adhered to her like her skin, boasting a nice look.

Those features matched the original illustration seen in the world, but the difference between the 2D illustration and her real face was obvious. However, for some reason, I was able to recognize at once that she was Do So-young. Even though I only saw it in the illustration, maybe it was because it was a familiar face.

After that, Chae-yeon, who came in late, raised her hand and shouted.

“Hello!”

“Yes. Hello?”

At Chae So-yeon’s cry, Do So-yeong did not panic and just smiled softly. She pointed her palm at her table as she offered her a seat.

“Are you from the guards? Sit comfortably. If I had time, I would have gone to a cafe and met you, but I have materials I need to prepare until the next lecture.”

“No, Professor. I just appreciate the professors taking the time.”

“You don’t have to be so rude. Even if you are a professor, you are an assistant professor who is only in his second year.”

“Yes! Then I’ll be at ease!”

Chae-yeon smiled and sat down in her seat. No matter how much she was, her attitude must have been embarrassing, so she had a startled look on her face. However, soon a gentle smile settled on her face again.

Steaming green tea was placed on the table, and Do So-young opened her mouth softly.

“You said you wanted to hear about student Kang Ha-neul, right?”

“Yes. I know the general situation from the information you reported the other day, but I want to hear from the professor directly.”

“Good. But before that, may I ask you a question?”

I nodded and Do So-yeong took a sip of green tea before opening her mouth.

“When I filed the case with the security guard, the student lost contact, so even so, in the end, he showed up and applied for withdrawal, right? But why are the guards still trying to investigate that student?”

As long as the person himself appeared intact, isn’t there an incident? I shook my head at Do So-young’s question.

“The fact that I couldn’t contact anyone around me, including my parents, until I submitted the letter of withdrawal two days ago, and the fact that a student who entered school with excellent grades showed up saying that he would drop out abruptly after not attending school for a single day. There is something that I am not sure about.”

“I agree with you on that point. However, if he drops out, Kang Ha-neul is no longer a Green House student. But why are the guards stepping out?”

“Because I am still an academy student until the application for withdrawal is received and the process is over.”

“You have a strong work ethic.”

That word brought a bitter smile to my lips. He said that he was for the sake of the current students, but it was only a facade. The real reason Min Chae-ryeong investigates Kang Ha-neul’s dropout and tries to stop it isn’t such a sound reason.

“I understand the position of the guards. For that reason, as a professor in charge of student Kang Ha-neul, I must cooperate as much as possible.”

“Thank you for your cooperation. Now, can you answer our question?”

“As much as you like.”

“Thank you. First of all. What is the specific reason for Kang Ha-neul’s withdrawal?”

“It is specific and there is no sleep. He said he had no intention of becoming a Hunter. He said he had no hope.”

There is no hope. At that, I tilted my head.

In the original work, Kang Ha-neul was a character who attacked and was defeated by mid-winter. However, Haneul Kang, who is a top 1st grader, is so outstanding, he was also not a weak superman objectively. First of all, he belongs to the highest class among the freshmen of the best academy in Korea, so if he becomes a hunter, he will be able to make a name for himself as an excellent hunter, if not a hero.

‘Is it because he’s a character with too much pride or ego, so he’s not satisfied with his level?’

I thought so for a moment, but immediately shook my head. It was after a sparring with mid-winter that Kang Ha-neul began to question his skills and become pessimistic. At least at this point, she must be very proud of her own skills.

She is, but why is she trying to drop out of the academy, saying that there is no hope for her, who has not been defeated by Midgyeol?

“Didn’t she say that she wanted to have a job other than being a hunter? For example, the police, soldiers, or private security companies… ….”

“Not at all. On the contrary, if you aspire to such a job, there is absolutely no reason to drop out. Rather than dropping out, it would be more beneficial for her to follow the relevant curriculum provided by the Green House.”

Not everyone who is a superman becomes a hunter who hunts monsters. The demand for superhuman superior physical abilities and superpowers is so high that not only hunters but also public posts such as police, soldiers, and firefighters, as well as private companies, overflow.

And the Green House provides a systematic curriculum for such other careers, making the name Hunter Academy colorless. Right now, Lee Young-han, a victim of the previous succubus incident, was also taking the relevant curriculum as an aspiring researcher.

So, if Kang Ha-neul plans to have a job that requires even a little bit of superhuman ability, she doesn’t have to drop out of the academy.

‘I can’t believe that… ….’

“Isn’t it possible that Kang Ha-neul is trying to leave the superhuman industry?”

“I think so too. It’s not like there aren’t superhumans who, for one reason or another, want to live like normal people.”

“But isn’t that a bit odd?”

Chae-yeon, who had been silently listening to the story until now, opened her mouth.

“There was always a student who dropped out because of poor skills, but Kang Ha-neul? He said he was 1 and a half? It’s not really a level to be pessimistic about my skills, and I heard that I didn’t come out from the first day of class because the other students were so good. Then he said he had been thinking of dropping out even before that, but if he had, he wouldn’t have registered for admission in the first place. The final registration for our academy is mid-February.”

“Huh?”

I looked at her with surprised eyes at her opinion of her vegetables, her cooking.

“…… What. Why. What are you looking at with those eyes?”

“No, just look again. I guess you do what you think too.”

“…… Don’t you think that’s a compliment?”

“Uh. It’s sarcastic.”

“… ….”

Chae-yeon glared at me with her resentful eyes. When she turned her head to Do So-young, avoiding his gaze, she stared at the teacup on her table, deep in thought.

“…… Sure, that’s kind of weird. There must have been quite a bit of free time between the notification of acceptance and the final registration deadline…….”

“Maybe he changed his mind in the period between registration and the start of the semester.”

“Anyway, it’s only two or three weeks. In the meantime, I guess it’s something that will change your mind……. Ah!”

Do So-Young let out an exclamation as if she remembered something about her.

“Did you think of something?”

“On February 22nd, there was a preparatory university for incoming students. It is a place for seniors to deepen friendship by explaining things like academic schedules and career paths to juniors. There were many freshmen who did not come because it was not compulsory, but Kang Ha-neul definitely attended the preparatory college.”

Do So-young showed us the list of attendees at the preparatory college. Certainly, three letters of the name Kang Ha-neul were clearly printed on the inside.

“I’m not sure, but maybe my pre-university changed my mind about my career path. Have you had a conversation with Kang Ha-neul during the preparatory college?”

“No. However, Kang Ha-neul and other students in her group probably talked about it. Because the pre-university program is structured around group activities.”

“Do you know who the other students were in your group?”

At that, Do So-young rummaged through her smartphone.

“Yes. Here I am. The freshmen who were in the same group as Kang Ha-neul were Yu Seol, Yu Jin, Alan Bernstein, and Mid-Gyeol students.”

‘Bingo.’

Kang Ha-neul, who was at odds with Mid-winter in the original work, was in the same group as Mid-winter at the preparatory college. Is that really an unfortunate coincidence? Probably not.

Whether or not the preparatory college program existed from the original work, there must have been some kind of contact point between the two people in the same group. And if Kang Ha-neul made up her mind to drop out of college due to her preparatory college, it would have to do with midwinter. I instinctively felt that way.

Afterwards, I had a question and answer session with Do So-young as time allowed, but no clue came out. To find out the cause of Kang Ha-neul’s dropout, it seemed like we had to listen to the stories of the students who were in the same group, starting with Midwinter.

“You know, An Su-ho. Why are you bothering me like this?”

As I left Do So-yeong’s lab, Ja-yeon Choi asked me.

“What bothers you?”

“This job is to stop her child named Kang Ha-neul from dropping out. Then can’t she just go and convince her not to drop out?”

“Will it work?”

I sighed at that opinion, doubting whether there was such a thing as an idea. I thought it was unexpected because he showed a sharp side a while ago, but after all, the vegetable kite was the vegetable kite.

“If someone who has already made up his mind to drop out goes to a random stranger and tells him not to drop out, there is no way he will accept it. In order to be persuasive, you should at least investigate the cause.”

“The manager says you don’t know?”

“Uh. He said he didn’t know.”

I wasn’t sure if he really didn’t know or if he knew but didn’t tell us, but at least on the outside he said he didn’t know the cause.

“So what now?”

“I should have a talk with the students in the same group. First of all, from the middle of winter.”

I called the mid-winter number I got from Do So-yeong.

-Turrr. Pop.

-Who are you?

At the gentle yet shrill voice, I immediately revealed my affiliation.

“My name is Ahn Su-ho, and I belong to the Special Countermeasures Division of the Green House Guard. Are you a midwinter student?”

-Yes. I’m in the middle of winter. But what about the guards?

“You remember Kang Ha-neul, who was in the same group at preparatory college, right? I have a few questions I’d like to ask you about that student-“

-Is it a criminal case?

“Yes?”

When I reflexively asked the sudden question, she asked again.

-A criminal case?

“No. It is not a criminal case.”

-Then is it a civil lawsuit?

“No. It’s not even a civil lawsuit…….”

-You said there was something you wanted to ask me. Does it have to be me?

“Not necessarily. Ask a question to the other students in the same group at the preparatory college, including the Midwinter student-“

-In other words, it doesn’t have to be me, right?

The midwinter blasted coldly from the other side of the phone.

– Then ask other students. Unfortunately, I’m pretty busy. My time is pretty expensive.

– Boom.

After saying that, the call was disconnected. Unilaterally from the other side.

“Huh.”

I laughed out loud because I was so dumbfounded. Originally, Midwinter had a bit of an awkward corner due to the character of being a third-generation conglomerate, but it probably wasn’t this much. She never thought that she would be openly barred from the door.

“…… Wow, he’s really not cheap. What’s your name? Midwinter? Worth the name A cold wind blows from the way you speak?”

“… ….”

“What are you going to do? Are you going to go to another student?”

“It’s okay, but I’d like to hear from Midwyeol if possible… ….”

The fact that the two people who faced each other in the original work were in the same group as a preparatory college is hardly a coincidence. Even if it was a coincidence, the aftertaste was unpleasant to pass without proper verification.

“What if I want to hear the story? If I don’t meet you over there, there’s no answer?”

“It’s not that there aren’t many ways.”

After saying that, I called the number I had saved in advance.

After a short beep, a refreshing young man’s voice came from the other side of the phone.

-Hello?

“Oh, Taehyung. I am.”

-Your brother. What did you call me for?

The person on the phone was Ryu Tae-hyun. After working hard to become close to him for the past week, we became friendly with each other. In fact, there was no effort whatsoever. Because Ryu Tae-hyun was a good sociable guy.

“Is Taehyun close to you, Midwinter student?”

-Winter? Dear…… Not losing, just having lunch together and going to training together in the afternoon? But why?

If that’s not friendly, then what? Those words got up to my throat. You can see that he is only insensitive when it comes to relationships with women, even though he is the main character.

“Let me ask you one favor. There are a few things I want to ask a midwinter student about work. Could you arrange a place for me?”

-A seat? Why don’t you tell me directly?

“I just called myself and got rejected. He said he was busy.”

-Ahahahahaha! Well, he’s been busy these days.

“So. Would that be possible?”

Ryu Tae-hyeon, who had been thinking about my question for a while, readily answered.

-I can’t give you a definite answer, but I’ll ask you one more time.

“Yes, thank you.”

I can’t say for sure, but it didn’t matter. Midwinter would never refuse Ryu Tae-hyeon’s request.

Exactly 10 minutes later. I got a call from Ryu Tae-hyeon saying that he had made an appointment with mid-winter.

As expected, he was the main character.

***

3:00 P.M. Sharp.

Utilizing the one-hour gap between lectures, Ryu Tae-hyeon, mid-winter, and me and the four people of Vegetable Research Center gathered at a cafe near the lecture building where the two of them had their next class.

“I brought you a drink!”

Chae So-yeon put down drinks for the four of us on a large tray. Vegetable Yeon did all the calculations. She said that she would buy it for herself, saying that she was a senior or an elder, but she had no reason to refuse.

Chae-yeon smiled and passed her drink. A plain Americano in front of me. Ryu Tae-hyeon had 3 bags of espresso and sugar/syrup. Iced tea filled with ice in midwinter. And Chae-yeon herself was a self-made Chip Frappuccino topped with cookies and whipped cream.

“Thank you. Vegetables team member.”

“What is gratitude! Because this is what adults originally live for!”

“Still, being grateful is something I’m thankful for. For a single student like me, even a light cup of coffee sounds like a big deal. Thank you for buying.”

“A well-mannered friend! Can I send you some gifticons if needed?”

“Ahahahahaha.”

Exciting vegetable-yeon and Ryu Tae-hyeon laughing awkwardly. Midgyeol, who looked at the two with a sullen expression, let out a deep sigh.

“Excuse me. I don’t have much time for that, so please bring out the business quickly, right?”

With those words, all the gazes of the party turned to Midwinter.

I took a close look at the midwinter. She had her trademark red hair, and her eyes, up close, had the brilliance of a transparent jewel.

The outfit was only a simple piece of knitwear that came up to the neck, but from the texture and finish of the fabric, it was obvious that it was a luxury product. Santina, which has all kinds of parts and brand logos embedded in it to look expensive, is not a luxury product, but a real luxury product with a subtle sense of luxury from its neat design.

Even though he was just sitting still, he had a different aura from the general public. It was not an intentional atmosphere. As the successor of Hansung Group, she received a systematic elite education from a young age, and it was a natural aura that only she could have.

“Hey. What are you talking about? Siri rudely.”

Ryu Tae-hyun frowned at Midwinter’s attitude of blatant antipathy.

“Courtesy? Right now, this is where I’m taking the time to meet them, right? If you’re polite, shouldn’t you rather be over there?”

“No, no matter how old they are, they are all academy staff… ….”

“Then you should be more polite over there. After all, academy staff are people who work for students. Am I wrong?”

“You really are in the middle of winter-“

“Is this polite manners!”

Her Ryu Tae-hyeon interrupted her, and Chae-yeon glared at her with her displeased expression.

“How can you show that kind of attitude towards an adult when you’re a first grader with no blood on your head?!”

“Ratdrops? Are those eyes knotholes? If I’m a rat, then what, you think you’re a flea?”

“What?! Flea?!”

As the midwinter began to creep in, as if she was looking down, saying that she was small, she kicked her seat and stood up in a fit of heat.

“This, this small freshman…… !”

“Poohyeot. It’s not me who’s shy, it’s him. It seems that you haven’t grown up yet in your personality and character, as well as your apparent height. And… ….”

Midwinter rolled her eyes at her, and then she smiled.

“If you look closely, there is one more undergrown corner. When I first saw you, I inadvertently thought you were an elementary school student?”

Midwinter’s gaze was directed to the chest of the vegetable-yeon in the middle of the night. Chae-yeon, who felt that gaze, blushed at her and went into a fit of rage.

“Hey! I’m much taller than this and my body is thicker than you?! Would you like to check it out?!”

-Kududeuk!

The next moment, with the sound of her bones snapping together, red horns began to sprout from Chae-yeon’s head.

“What crazy!”

-f*ck!!!

“Evil!!!!”

However, as I hit her on the top of her head with all my might, the horns she was about to grow half-grown returned to her head. Chae-yeon, who turned her head away, glared at me with a resentful gaze, even her tears welling up.

“Why are you hitting me?!”

“Think about why you got hit. Think about it, and if you still don’t know why, assume that ignorance is the reason.”

“Seeing….”

At that, Chae-yeon rubbed the top of her head and sat down on her seat. Then, with her mouth pouting, she was lost in her thoughts, as I said, it seemed that she was examining the reason for her being beaten.

“…… Something, this Surely you didn’t invite me to show you this anachronistic joke, right?”

Midwinter couldn’t help but feel absurd at the sight. I was embarrassed by that pitiful gaze, so I cleared my throat, cleared her expression, and told her.

“No. There are a few things I want to ask you about student Kang Ha-neul. Could you please cooperate?”

At those words, midwinter’s eyes turned to Ryu Tae-hyeon. Ryu Tae-hyun, who was giggling at her vegetable-yeon appearance, met her eyes with her.

The eyes of the two cross each other. Silence for a while. Midwinter, who had been looking at Ryu Tae-hyeon with a puzzled expression for a while, sighed heavily.

“…… Get it done in 10 minutes. My time is very expensive.”