novelraw Chapter 286 : Chapter 286
Chapter 286 : Chapter 286
Chapter 286: Persuasion
The question was not only inappropriate for a professor and an adult, but it was also dismissive, bordering on insulting.
Indeed, Da-yeon and Ye-jin’s expressions weren't good.
They were only holding back somewhat because it was Ho-cheol who spoke the words, but it was clear they were barely restraining the urge to flip the table right then.
Ho-cheol looked calmly at the two of them.
If they couldn't hold back and lunged at me, I was prepared to take a few hits, but surprisingly, they were holding back well.
Da-yeon asked with an uncertain tone.
"…Honestly, Professor, I don't understand why you'd suddenly say something like that."
Ho-cheol pondered his phrasing briefly before speaking concisely.
"Because it's dangerous. Consider it my own advice."
"That sounds less like advice and more like backseat driving."
Ignoring Ye-jin’s sharp retort, Da-yeon continued.
"…You always used to say that this job requires putting your life on the line and that it's something we must accept."
"Right. I definitely said that."
The profession of a hero is always accompanied by danger and death.
No one starts on the path of a hero without knowing that.
Ho-cheol knew it well, too.
If it were merely because a dangerous villain had appeared, he wouldn't dare to bring this up.
But this time was different.
It wasn't a distinction between good and evil, but merely a conflict between ideologies—a disagreement over the interpretation of a system.
No, even such a sophisticated description fell short.
It was simply grown-up adults throwing a destructive tantrum like children.
There was no reason for the two of them, who hadn't yet been formally tied to the current Hero System, to deliberately involve themselves in this messy fight.
"No one knows what the new hero system that person proposed will be like. Maybe it'll be even more screwed up than the current one. But even that would be considered normal from the perspective of the one who wins."
This was a scathing expression that Ho-cheol, as an outsider and not a hero, could make.
"If you simply want to become heroes, you don't necessarily have to get involved in this matter."
At the very least, they didn't need to continue their current job experience.
In his view, this fight would conclude in about a month or so at most.
Since Clington Hero Academy was on break, there was absolutely no problem with them taking a temporary leave of absence.
In fact, the other students were already enjoying their break, so why were these two unnecessarily extending their job experience, causing him such anxiety?
Ye-jin looked utterly confused by Ho-cheol's explanation.
"…If the Professor says it's that dangerous, then it's not like we'd be safe just by quitting this…"
"That's not it either."
Ho-cheol stated flatly.
Byeong-hoo was distinctly different from the enemies Ho-cheol had defeated so far.
A faint line still remained in him.
What he sought to overthrow was the existing Hero System.
Ho-cheol was certain that he wouldn't lay a hand on ordinary citizens unrelated to heroes.
Although they were hero hopefuls, he probably wouldn't even pay attention to students yet.
Conversely, he wouldn't hesitate to hurt anyone who was associated with the system.
They finally understood Ho-cheol's intention, but it still wasn't convincing.
Da-yeon pouted, clearly showing she was hurt.
"You promised to protect us."
"Right. I promised. But this is beyond my capability."
Protecting them from the situation right in front of him wasn't a problem.
He would protect them even if it cost him his life.
However, he couldn't be by their side 24/7.
These two weren't the only precious people to him, and he had too much work to do right now just to protect only his loved ones.
And the fear of not being able to protect them wasn't the only issue.
What if these two got hurt or died where his eyes and hands couldn't reach them?
What state he would fall into, and what he would do—Ho-cheol couldn't even guarantee the aftermath himself.
His parents, Jeong Yu-hwa.
Ho-cheol had already lost precious people twice.
And both times completely overturned his life.
He was certainly much more mature now than he was then, but that didn't mean he had become insensitive to pain.
On the contrary, he had become able to honestly face and express his feelings, and he valued relationships more deeply.
That's why the blow would be even more devastating.
Ho-cheol let out a faint sigh and interlocked his two hands on the dining table.
"Before you're my students, you're already precious people to me. It's my honest feeling that I don't want you to get hurt by being caught up in such a trivial matter."
They didn't understand his words for a moment, but then both of them simultaneously widened their eyes more than ever before.
This was the problem.
A devastating remark that unexpectedly pierced their hearts at the most unpredicted timing.
Both of their faces flushed crimson.
Ye-jin covered her hot cheeks with her palms, and Da-yeon subtly pulled the hair she had tossed back to hide her face.
How could one person make others' hearts pound like this?
Was this not illegal?
Da-yeon peeked at Ho-cheol through the strands of her hair.
While the masked face was slightly awkward now, the essence of the person was what mattered.
And even if the real Ho-cheol had that appearance, it was completely unimportant to her.
What mattered was his heart that cared for her.
Even in this situation, where their roles as professor and student had been shed, wasn't he still worrying about her?
Ah?
Just as she was feeling moved, a sudden question flashed through her mind.
No, wait a minute.
The reason this man had so clearly refused her advances numerous times was extremely simple: the difference in their positions as student and professor.
As long as that solid wall existed, he treated all her feelings and expressions as nothing more than a summer fever.
But summer was already over.
And Ho-cheol's professor title was finished, too.
Student and supervising professor.
That contradictory relationship that had been the catalyst connecting Ho-cheol and her, and simultaneously the barrier keeping them apart… wasn't there right now, was it?
There was no longer any barrier between the two of them.
As the thought reached that point, Da-yeon fiercely tossed back the hair she had been using to cover her face out of embarrassment just moments ago.
Then, she pushed herself up and stood.
"Professor. No, wait."
I kept calling him Professor, so I forgot.
I should call him properly.
"Jeong Ho-cheol Sidekick."
Although he had a pseudonym when he wore the mask, she didn't hesitate to call him by his name.
Ho-cheol was instead taken aback by her sudden change in attitude, but she calmly continued her statement.
"You're neither a professor nor a student now, and there's no guarantee you'll return to a professorship. If so, shouldn't you give me an answer to my question from back then?"
Only then did Ho-cheol understand Da-yeon's abrupt change in demeanor.
Ah, so she was asking for the answer to her confession again.
He had certainly deferred the answer by constantly invoking the student-professor relationship, so it was understandable for her to demand a new answer in the current situation.
The only problem was…
"Ah, well. That is…"
Ho-cheol trailed off, wiggling his interlocked fingers awkwardly, looking distressed.
After a brief moment of deliberation, he divulged the truth they didn't know—his relationship with So-hee.
Thud—
Da-yeon slumped weakly into her seat.
Her eyes were looking at Ho-cheol, but her slack pupils registered nothing.
It was literally as if her world had gone dark.
Ye-jin had a similar reaction.
Of course, she had inwardly thought So-hee was their biggest rival, but to think she had devoured him while they were suffering outside!
Da-yeon's eyes narrowed.
Gnash—
She brought her thumb to her mouth and started biting her nail.
Her pink lips stood out, and white teeth peeked through.
Staring at Ho-cheol and continuously chewing her nails until they were ragged, she asked.
"Then, did I just wait, foolishly believing the Professor's words, only to be abandoned?"
"That's a bit of strong phrasing. Abandoned."
I never even possessed you, after all.
Of course, I held back from saying that, as she would genuinely get upset.
"Still, well. It's really touching that you keep liking me. I genuinely appreciate it."
Despite Ho-cheol's thanks, both of their reactions were cold.
At this point, such a remark was merely mockery directed at the loser.
However, the next sentence brought them back to their senses.
"So, if that feeling is sincere and remains the same even after you graduate, come find me. I'll seriously consider it then."
Ho-cheol lightly tapped the table with his fingertip, rousing the two of them.
"So. You'll stay put during the break, right?"
Seeing Ho-cheol return to the main topic, the two of them plainly displayed their complex emotions.
It was definitely the first time Ho-cheol had expressed such blatant anxiety.
Was it truly that dangerous?
—Feeling such unease, they were simultaneously not entirely unhappy.
It meant he cherished them that much.
Surprisingly, Ye-jin was the first to answer.
And.
"I'm sorry."
It was not the answer Ho-cheol wanted.
He asked, truly unable to understand.
"…Why?"
"Because my goal isn't to be a hero."
Her goal was not to be a hero.
Therefore, she couldn't quit being one.
Originally, Ye-jin strived to become a high-rank hero more than anyone else.
Ye-jin and her younger siblings, who grew up in the facility, learned resignation as the very first emotion even before they came of age.
Everything was lacking, and the situation was harsh.
Although they didn't go astray thanks to Hye-jin's dedicated love, they couldn't simply be happy either.
Seeing her siblings constantly walking on eggshells and realizing that their current situation wasn't just different from others, but wrong, Ye-jin made a decision.
She would show them that they, too, could become heroes whom everyone admired.
At first, she dreamed of becoming a hero with such a magnificent ambition.
And she worked hard to meet everyone's expectations.
Without even knowing that those expectations were gradually turning into pressure, crushing her.
Just as the pressure and pain were about to weigh her down and crush her, she met Ho-cheol.
[You don't have to cling to being a hero so much. To your siblings, you're already a cool and wonderful hero—]
It might have been inconsequential comfort to him, but Ye-jin was saved by his single remark.
Since then, her goal wasn't just a simple hero, but an adult like Ho-cheol.
For the current Ye-jin, being a hero was not the destination.
It was just a path that momentarily overlapped with her journey toward her goal.
She didn't need to be a hero.
However, if she stopped her steps toward that goal merely because it was dangerous, it would be a goal she could never reach again.
Perhaps it was a goal that was incomparably more difficult than being a hero.
That's why it was worth striving for even more.
Ho-cheol shifted his gaze and asked Da-yeon.
"You too?"
Da-yeon nodded, her expression not much different from Ye-jin's.
"Yes."
Da-yeon's goal was extremely simple: to be acknowledged by Ho-cheol.
For that, being a hero was merely a milestone and a process.
Seeing their determined expressions, Ho-cheol sighed deeply.
Since they were the kind of people who wouldn't listen, he fully expected resistance.
But he didn't expect such a resolute attitude.
He had seen eyes like that many times.
And he knew that no kind of persuasion would work on them.
He knew.
This was all just his own selfish desire to begin with.
He shouldn't be disappointed that they wouldn't follow it.
"…Is that so. Then there's nothing I can do."
Ho-cheol rested his chin in his hand and picked up his fork.
"Then let's just eat."
As they continued their meal after Ho-cheol gave up on persuading them, Ye-jin squirmed subtly, gauging Ho-cheol's mood.
Feeling her gaze, Ho-cheol checked the plate in front of him.
Indeed, having lost his appetite after being rejected by the two, there was still a lot of food left on his plate.
Although leaving half-eaten food wasn't proper etiquette, there were even plates he hadn't touched at all.
He reached for a plate and asked.
"Want some?"
She bristled and fidgeted in her seat.
"Do you think I'm some kind of glutton!"
She grumbled with a protruding lip.
"I just have something I'd like to talk about with just the two of us."
"Ah. Really? In that case."
Ho-cheol nodded, holding the plate in the same position.
It wouldn't be hard to spare a moment.
He was about to put the plate back down, but before he could, Ye-jin reached out her arm and thrust her fork deep into the meat on the plate.
"Still, it's a sin to waste food. That—that's why."
"Of course."
Ho-cheol chuckled softly and moved another plate to her in front of her.