It was time for the afternoon class.
The moment had come for Kim Ho-jun, the president of the academy, to teach his first lesson.
‘Kim Ho-jun... Finally, I’ll face him again.’
Baek Seo-jin clenched his fists tightly.
This was the man he had to defeat at all costs. Moreover, he might get the chance to see his first love, Seomun Ye-jin, again during this class.
Kim Ho-jun, in his arrogance, had a habit of dragging Seomun Ye-jin around and flaunting her as though she were his trophy.
“Seo-jin, today’s first afternoon class is being taught by President Kim Ho-jun.”
“He might not try anything reckless inside the academy, but... still, be careful.”
“Be cautious, Seo-jin.”
The encouragement from Kim Chul-woo, Park Sun-hoo, and Bae Ye-rim gave Seo-jin strength.
“Thanks, guys.”
Though Seo-jin put on a confident front, the truth was he was nervous about meeting Kim Ho-jun face-to-face.
From childhood, defeating Kim Ho-jun had been his goal. But at just 15 years old, Kim Ho-jun had already become an SSS-class hunter, his talents outclassing Seo-jin’s by far.
Even Seo-jin had to admit this fact.
‘The problem isn’t his talent—it’s that he uses it for evil, committing one atrocity after another.’
But Seo-jin found courage in his companions, who believed in him and supported him. Even when faced with such a formidable foe, their faith gave him strength.
‘And I still have Ha-yeon and Se-hee.’
The afternoon class was one where all first-year students participated. Naturally, Lee Ha-yeon and Han Se-hee would be there. Through them, Seo-jin might also be able to rely on Moriya Yuka and Kang Yu-ra, who had grown closer to the two.
‘No, this isn’t the time to sit idle.’
This wasn’t the time to wait passively.
Visit freёwebnovel.com for the 𝑏est n𝘰vel reading experience.
Not knowing what might happen during the lesson, Seo-jin decided to seek out Lee Ha-yeon and Han Se-hee in advance to have a meaningful conversation with them. He needed to prepare for any schemes Kim Ho-jun might try to pull and ensure he wouldn’t regret failing to act.
“I’m going to see Se-hee and Ha-yeon for a moment.”
“Both of them? Now?”
Kim Chul-woo looked puzzled. With only about 10 minutes left before the next class, Seo-jin’s decision seemed odd.
“Yes. I don’t think Kim Ho-jun will act rashly, but you never know. Better to be prepared.”
“Hmm, you’ve got a point.”
Kim Chul-woo nodded, while Park Sun-hoo chuckled.
“Haha! You’re amazing, Seo-jin. Friends with Saintess Han Se-hee and the genius heir of the Angel Guild, Lee Ha-yeon?”
“Well... childhood friends,” Seo-jin replied with a faint smile, feeling a subtle sense of pride.
If Park Sun-hoo and Kim Chul-woo knew the extent of Lee Ha-yeon and Han Se-hee’s feelings for him, they might shed tears of envy. Even Bae Ye-rim, sitting quietly nearby, would likely lament that her competition was far too strong.
‘There’s no need to mention that. It’s not lying—it’s just leaving things unsaid.’
Seo-jin had no intention of needlessly hurting the feelings of his newfound friends and comrades.
Together, they envisioned a brighter future, one they could create by working together.
‘If I lose, my friends who believe in me will also suffer.’
He couldn’t afford to lose now—not to Kim Ho-jun. If Seo-jin failed, Ho-jun would undoubtedly target Lee Ha-yeon and Han Se-hee, just as he had done with Seomun Ye-jin. Even his friends—Chul-woo, Sun-hoo, and Ye-rim—would face the fallout.
‘That cannot happen.’
Determined, Seo-jin headed toward the outdoor auditorium, where Lee Ha-yeon and Han Se-hee had gathered for the afternoon class.
“Se-hee! Ha-yeon!”
As he called their names, a wall of ice rose in front of him, blocking his path.
“Stop. Don’t come any closer.”
The frosty barrier, created by Kang Yu-ra, radiated cold energy.
‘Ah, she’s embarrassed.’
Seo-jin misread Yu-ra’s intent as shyness, finding her actions endearing. Despite her behavior, he needed to talk to his friends, so he addressed her in a gentle tone.
“Yu-ra, could you move aside for a moment? I need to talk to Se-hee and Ha-yeon.”
While he could easily destroy the ice wall with his power, Seo-jin patiently waited, hoping Yu-ra would lower it herself.
“Yu-ra, let him through,” Lee Ha-yeon said calmly.
As Yu-ra dissolved the wall, Seo-jin smiled in satisfaction.
‘That’s Ha-yeon for you.’
Though she usually avoided him at the academy to prevent rumors, she had acknowledged him as a friend by allowing him to approach. Now, he needed to reassure her that she didn’t need to worry about gossip and remind her to stay vigilant against Kim Ho-jun.
“What do you want?”
Lee Ha-yeon crossed her arms, her tone cold and her expression irritated. While she appeared displeased, Seo-jin knew it was merely a facade for the sake of those watching. Smiling gently, he replied:
“We’re inside the academy, Ha-yeon. You don’t need to keep up that expression. Forget the rumors and just treat me as a friend again.”
Seo-jin’s words sparked murmurs among the surrounding students.
“Lee Ha-yeon and Baek Seo-jin are friends?”
“Well, the Angel Guild and White Tiger Guild are both part of the top ten guilds, so it makes sense they’d interact.”
“Oh, now that you mention it, there was an article about how Baek Seo-jin once acted as Lee Ha-yeon’s bodyguard five years ago and got severely injured protecting her from villains.”
Among the murmurs, Seo-jin caught snippets that reminded him of painful memories. Five years ago, he had failed to stop Gye Un-jik from abducting Han Se-hee and Lee Ha-yeon. It was a failure that still haunted him.
‘Never again.’
He vowed not to let such a failure happen again. This time, he would protect those he held dear.
“Ha-yeon, Se-hee. Be cautious during the upcoming class,” Seo-jin said seriously.
“I’ll do everything I can to protect you, but we’re dealing with Kim Ho-jun. You never know what he might try when he thinks no one is watching. Stay on guard at all times.”
***
It was finally time to begin.
As I prepared to step out to teach the lesson I had personally designed as the academy’s president, Seomun Ye-jin approached me from behind and wrapped her arms around me.
“A class taught by my dear husband! I bet Ha-yeon and Se-hee might be a little jealous of this.”
I chuckled. “Oh, really? Still, isn’t it nice to teach the class together as my partner?”
“Yes, it is! Hehe~ And don’t you agree, darling? Teaching alongside a beautiful wife like me must make the experience so much more enjoyable, right?”
“If I’m with my lady, then anything is great. But... to be honest, I don’t particularly enjoy teaching unless it’s to people I care about.”
Teaching wasn’t exactly my favorite activity. I only found satisfaction in teaching Seomun Ye-jin, Han Se-hee, and Lee Ha-yeon because they were precious to me.
That didn’t mean I would neglect my duties or act half-heartedly toward the other students. Now that I had taken on the role of teaching, I intended to fulfill it with diligence and integrity.
“I know. But still, until the day that fool Baek Seo-jin finally falls... I’ll have to endure his delusions and wandering eyes. I’d like to blow off some steam.”
With that, Ye-jin released her arms from around me, stepped to my side, and linked her arm through mine, leaning into me with a confident smirk.
“In front of everyone, I’ll make sure they know I’m your wife.”
Her determination made me laugh softly. Ye-jin’s subtle flair for showing off was incredibly endearing.
She always had a way of driving me crazy with her charm, her presence constantly stirring something in me. At that moment, I had the urge to kiss her, but I settled for gently patting her on the hip instead.
“Se-hee and Ha-yeon might get jealous.”
If Han Se-hee and Lee Ha-yeon were envious of Ye-jin’s affectionate displays, then that was a small price to pay.
And so, as Kim Ho-jun—no longer Baek Seo-jun—I stepped out of the president’s office with Seomun Ye-jin by my side, ready to begin my first class.