Villain Professor of Heroes

“What nonsense is this?!”

Confusion prompted Yu Hye-won to suddenly lash out, yelling at Han Min-ha.

“What’s your problem now? You think it’s clever talking about your parents working abroad? You’re just doing this on purpose to get under my skin, aren’t you? You’re such a creepy person.”

However, no matter how much she pushed, the situation wasn’t going to change, nor would her words be taken back.

Hye-won continued to glare back and forth between the silent Han Min-ha and me before a small smirk appeared on her lips.

“Really…?”

“At this point, I think we should stop, Student Hye-won. Please return to your seat.”

“It’s okay, Hye-won… It was an unintentional remark.”

At Han Min-ha’s words, Hye-won briefly glanced down at Han Min-ha’s head before sharply turning her body around.

“This is so irritating!”

And with that, she forcefully opened the research room door.

“Dammit… Door lock…”

Attempting to abruptly twist the doorknob and leave, Hye-won muttered under her breath before pressing the door-lock button.

After stepping outside, she slammed the door without looking back.

Due to her exceptionally strong sense of pride and domineering personality, Hye-won wasn’t capable of apologizing even when it was necessary, instead opting for a defiant stance.

Though her actions were inappropriate, they weren’t malevolent.

What could one do with a character like that?

As Hye-won left, silence descended over the research room.

Han Min-ha remained frozen in the same hunched posture as earlier, now staring at the answer sheet on the desk.

“Student Min-ha.”

“Yes, professor.”

“Shall we continue, or shall we stop here for today?”

“I’m fine. I’ll hear the rest of the explanation.”

“Very well, then.”

With that, I opened the thick Organization regulations manual and proceeded with the problem-solving session with Han Min-ha.

By the time we finished, Hye-won hadn’t returned.

She probably went back to the dormitory.

*

After Han Min-ha also returned to the dormitory, I was left alone to finish writing the guidance log before leaving the research building.

The April sun had already set, casting the surroundings in a navy twilight.

As I walked under the lamplights toward the faculty dormitory, my thoughts wandered back to the earlier incident.

Han Min-ha’s parents are missing.

Even so, there’s no reason to leave the family relationship section blank.

Which suggests it’s highly likely their involvement in Hero activities led to some unfavorable incident.

They may have intentionally harmed civilians or defected to become Villains.

Or perhaps there’s another reason the Organization no longer recognizes them as Heroes.

But if that’s the case, how do you explain the survivor’s pension being given to Han Min-ha?

I’ll have to contact the Organization about this during tomorrow’s break.

It’s a significant family matter for the guidance student, and it’s not right to continue with doubts.

And it might even be the key reason why Han Min-ha cannot use Aura.

This isn’t out of sympathy for Han Min-ha’s orphaned state.

Given my awareness of mental barriers and my status as a vessel, it’s not easy to harbor such emotions for fictional characters.

But solving chronic issues is key to making Han Min-ha an S-Class Hero, and the answers might lie in the parents’ disappearance.

After arriving at the dormitory, I cleaned up, ate a quick dinner, practiced a bit of mental cultivation, and then laid down in bed.

Looking at the group room, I noticed Hye-won hadn’t issued any separate apology.

At the top of the scroll, there was a group photo Hye-won had taken a while ago at a bulgogi restaurant.

In front of the picture, Hye-won gleamed prominently in golden hues, with the shadowy silhouettes of Han Min-ha and myself squashed into the background.

Without a doubt, it was the classic Golden Viper and Gray Mold scenario.

*

Yu Hye-won returned to the dormitory in a huff and immediately headed to her room.

“Hye-won, are you done?”

Some of the admirers of her group greeted her, but Hye-won ignored them all.

“Why is she acting like that? Did she argue with her advisor?”

At this, Hye-won stopped mid-stride and sharply turned her head like a snake.

Her piercing glare caused the students to flinch and shift their eyes away.

“Argued with my advisor?”

“Uh… Well, I just thought it was possible.”

“Anything’s possible when garbage professors meet garbage students.”

“That wasn’t what I meant…”

“That’s exactly what I mean. That’s what you mean.”

Confused by her irrational hostility, no one dared to speak, instead quietly gauging each other’s reactions.

After glaring at her classmates, Hye-won stomped fiercely up the stairs.

How dare you even discuss my relationship with my advisor?

You upperclassmen who think you can engage with me just because we’re in the same class clearly mistake me for someone equal.

Puffing with irritation as she entered the room, Hye-won leaned against the door and stood still for a moment.

The reason for her anger was simple.

She was facing a situation where an apology was necessary.

So that made her angry.

Because apologizing was the right thing to do.

But I truly didn’t know that girl was an orphan.

If I had known, I wouldn’t have said those things.

So it wasn’t my fault.

“Argh, damn it…”

With an annoyed tug at her hair, Hye-won collapsed into a chair.

Pulling out her cell phone to dial a number, she soon flung it face down on the desk.

“I didn’t know, okay?”

Yelling in frustration, Hye-won grabbed her phone again and opened the photo gallery.

The gallery was filled with numerous pictures from their previous visits to the bulgogi restaurant.

Selfies taken with Professor and Han Min-ha, well-cooked bulgogi, and the restaurant sign were interspersed with a series of covert photos.

All shots of Professor Hyun.

She’d pretend to take selfies with continuous shooting, carefully framing moments to capture Professor Hyun.

Professor Hyun entering the store with his coat on.

Professor Hyun speaking politely to the server, handing over the menu.

Professor Hyun saying something to Han Min-ha with an expressionless face.

Professor Hyun scooping steamed egg onto a plate.

Professor Hyun wiping his mouth with a napkin.

Professor Hyun retrieving his wallet from his coat pocket to pay.

Professor Hyun reaching out of a drive-thru window to collect coffee.

Professor Hyun drinking coffee through a straw while one-handedly steering.

Professor Hyun reversing toward the faculty housing.

As Hye-won scrolled through the images, it felt like she could hear Professor Hyun’s voice.

“At a time like this, apologizing is the right course of action.”

“Hm… this is so frustrating…”

She hated how someone’s looks made them think they could get away with anything by just speaking.

I just needed someone like a mannequin, and I chose you.

Why are you trying to lecture me now?

Do you think I’d submit so easily?

You’ll never break me.

If I’d known you’d be like this, I would never have picked you.

Just wait, Professor Hyun…

I’m not here to follow your guidance—I’m here to own you.

Apologize? Right action? Don’t make me laugh.

Nevertheless, after some time, Hye-won began composing a message to Min-ha.

After numerous drafts and deletions, she finally, frustrated, hit send.

[Didn’t know.]

Min-ha’s reply soon arrived.

[It’s okay:)]

Seeing this, Hye-won grew even angrier.

People who have never been kind tend to see kindness as hypocrisy.

And it’s natural to feel resentment toward qualities one lacks.

Hye-won was particularly prone to this.

So, she read the notification but intentionally refrained from opening the message window.

That way, Min-ha wouldn’t know if the message was read, and it could seem like Min-ha’s reply was ignored.

Min-ha… You irritate me…

Why help someone like you?

Why should I?

You’re so… irritating.

Still lying on the bed, Hye-won picked up her phone and dialed a number.

“Managerial Assistant, please come to my room.”

Soon, Hye-won’s supervisory assistant, Kim Assistant, arrived at her room.

“Is there an issue? Did your father ask you to do something?”

“No, nothing from him, but could you bring me a copy of the lower-class schedule?”

“Ahh, okay. I’ll get it right away?”

As Kim Assistant closed the door and left, Hye-won smirked.

A typical weak-on-the-weak, strong-on-the-weak garbage person.

At least I always come on strong whether they’re strong or weak.

Hye-won lay back on the bed to await Kim Assistant’s return while scrolling through her photo gallery.

*

That night, I had the same dream again.

As usual, I was floating high above the ground, surrounded by an odd-colored cloud drifting toward me.

Right before the cloud touched me, the scene suddenly shifted, and I found myself standing on solid ground.

Above, a glowing meteor slowly descended.

Before the meteor struck the ground, I woke with a jolt.

“No!”

I shouted, harshly flinging the covers off, only to realize I’d just awoken from a dream as I tried to get out of bed.

Five in the morning.

I was in the faculty dorm at Graford Academy.

I’m Professor Hyun, who teaches Basic Defense, and I’m a vessel.

As I awakened, my disrupted mental barrier solidified, and clarity returned.

Alright. It was just a dream.

Recurring, nonsensical nonsense.

Why must I keep dreaming this?

On the days I dream, my energy is completely drained, making it hard to carry out the day’s work.

As I thought for a moment, I soon forgot most of the dream’s contents.

Always the same.

A vivid dream, followed by forgetfulness a few seconds after waking.

The only remnants left are the cloud and the meteor.

Let’s… get cleaned up first.

I can’t lie down like this without feeling uneasy.

I turned the shower on and leaned against the wall while thinking about the day ahead.

Morning meeting, lecture, guidance student meeting.

And I need to inquire with the Organization.

About Han Min-ha’s parents.

Since I’m an Academy professor working to resolve issues for my guidance student, they’ll surely cooperate with confirmation.

If not, I can ask the department head to send an official document.

Mention that both Hye-won and Min-ha’s guidance is being disrupted, and they’ll surely jump to help.

Alright. That’s settled.

Let’s hurry and shower and try to get a bit more rest.

*

The next day, after calling the Organization and providing the names of Han Min-ha’s parents for a quick inquiry, I received a baffling reply.

“Are we talking about Han Taewoo and Seo Ji-a?”

“Yes.”

“Hmmm… This is strange… There’s no record of heroes with those names in our Organization.”

---