Chapter 89: Academy Heroine's Right Diagonal Back Seat
Chapter 89
As the situation began to stabilize thanks to the students, heroes, and numerous citizens who provided relief efforts throughout the night, an order to disband was given to the students gathered in the gymnasium.
After directing operations all night and then returning to disband the students, Eve sat down in her office and took out her phone.
Her contact list contained the numbers of many influential people in the city.
Eve scrolled through the screen for a moment before selecting a number saved as [Non-business] and pressed the call button.
About 1.5 seconds later, the ringing stopped, and the tired voice of a man came from the other end.
"...I answered the call."
"Yeah, it's me. Is the emergency meeting over? How are things over there? I hope it's somewhat manageable."
"We haven't finished yet. We were working on it until just now and are taking a short break. The atmosphere? It's a mess. No one has ever experienced such a major incident before. When we mentioned that the witch seemed to be the mastermind behind this event, even Astra and Dolos, who are usually calm, seemed quite tense."
Eve gave a bitter smile at the man's words.
Even the city's leaders, who were responsible for handling such matters, were not composed enough.
They were the ones who should have quickly understood the current situation and prepared appropriate responses, but hearing that they were intimidated by the mention of a witch's name left a sour taste in her mouth.
But who could blame them?
It had been around 400 years since all the witches had vanished, with the last being the Witch of Gluttony.
Thinking back, there hadn't been a direct threat to the city like this since the era when the witches ran rampant. Expecting them to respond quickly and accurately in their complacency was almost too much to ask.
Still, it would be problematic if they didn't perform their roles, so Eve asked the man.
"You discussed treating the injured and removing the monsters from the minds of those who were controlled today, right? Those issues need to be prioritized above all else."
The people who had been controlled suddenly regained their senses, but the reason was still unknown.
To prevent another tragedy where people could be controlled again, it was crucial to completely remove the monsters lingering in their minds.
"Yes, we finished discussing that. We've already mobilized all available personnel to treat the injured, and we're setting up magical tools imbued with purification spells in each area to eliminate the monsters."
"That's a relief. Even amidst all this chaos, it seems they're doing what needs to be done. I'm a bit reassured."
"...Is that so."
The man paused before responding, and in his brief answer, Eve could sense his worry and concern.
Knowing what troubled him, Eve broached the subject.
"You're worried about the aftermath of this incident, aren't you?"
"...It's driving me crazy. If only a few people had been affected, but the whole city suffered damage. The public's distrust in the current system will skyrocket. The social repercussions... I can't even begin to imagine..."
Society operated on the belief that there would be no issues in their lives.
This city functioned normally under the belief that the heroes would protect them.
But even those with superhuman abilities were still human.
They made mistakes, and sometimes faced danger.
Therefore, the leaders had to deceive the citizens.
If a powerful monster appeared and the heroes suffered, if there was an incident that could negatively impact society, they would minimize the reported damage or sometimes cover it up.
Even while bleeding from a knife wound in their backs,
'Don't worry, everyone. The heroes are here to protect us, the city is safe.'
They had to say it with a smile.
But today's incident was too massive to cover up, and it caused damage across the entire city.
People would decry the incompetence of the heroes and lose faith in them.
If the arrows of anger from those who lost their families were directed at the heroes,
it was obvious what would happen to this city.
Thus, there was only one choice they could make.
"...Most have agreed to the proposal to announce the existence of the witch."
It was to create a common enemy to divert the arrows of anger away from the heroes.
However, the man continued with a troubled voice.
"...But honestly, I'm a bit negative about that proposal. I'm worried that revealing the return of the witch might throw the citizens into even more chaos..."
Eve, understanding who his concerns were directed towards, smiled softly and spoke.
"We have no choice. If most people agreed, it means they think it's the best option. Don't worry too much. It'll work out."
"...If you say so."
Eve's smile deepened at the man's reluctant response.
Still adorable, even as he aged.
With that thought, Eve spoke playfully.
"By the way, I've told you before, you don't have to be so formal when it's just us talking. Feel free to speak informally."
"I must decline. It's awkward enough addressing you casually in a professional setting, please don't make it harder. Anyway, it sounds like there's nothing more, so I'll hang up now."
The call ended with the man's firm response.
Feeling slightly better from the conversation despite the bad news, Eve leaned back in her chair to catch her breath. She then straightened up when she heard someone knocking on the office door.
When she said to come in, the door opened, and two first-year students, Scarlet Evande and Yoon Si-woo, whom she was in charge of, entered.
"What brings you both here? You must have had a hard time last night; why didn't you go home to rest?"
Puzzled by the fact that the two, whom she thought had gone home after the disbandment, were still at school, Eve asked, and Scarlet spoke with a serious expression.
"We have something to tell you."
"Something to tell me?"
Eve, who had been smiling, turned serious at Scarlet's next words.
"We're the ones who stopped the controlled people."
"...Can you tell me more about it?"
What followed were stories that were all shocking.
They encountered a girl who introduced herself as the Witch of Sloth while helping people.
They discovered and eventually defeated the monster responsible for controlling the people.
And the witch responsible for this incident was likely not the Witch of Sloth, but another witch.
Finding the stories hard to believe, Eve asked if they were true. In response, Yoon Si-woo pulled out a golden glowing sword as evidence.
It was undoubtedly the same light she had seen shoot up into the sky just before the controlled people stopped.
Seeing that light, she knew that what they said was true.
Moreover, even though she hadn't known them for long, she knew these two wouldn't lie about something like this.
This meant that these kids had essentially saved the city. Eve bowed her head and thanked them.
"You did really well. If the situation had dragged on, who knows how much more damage there would have been..."
Hearing Eve's words, Scarlet cautiously spoke.
"If you think so, could you grant us one favor?"
"Of course, if it's something I can do, I'll do anything."
Eve readily agreed to her request.
Scarlet then asked her a confirming question.
"The principal has some say in the city's administration, right? And since you're acting as the principal, you could ask him for something."
Eve nodded, and Scarlet boldly made her request.
"Then, please ask the principal if Yoon Si-woo can be given hero status. And make sure to mention that the more people see it, the better."
Eve, understanding their intention behind this request, was momentarily speechless.
As silence ensued, Scarlet, perhaps thinking she needed to explain, hastily spoke up.
"I think it's necessary. There will be many people dissatisfied with the heroes. They need a new hero to rely on..."
Eve, feeling a headache coming on, frowned and spoke.
"...No need to explain. I understand why you're asking."
"Then..."
"But let me ask one thing first. Yoon Si-woo, do you fully understand what it means to ask for hero status in this situation?"
Yoon Si-woo, who had been quietly standing by, glanced at Scarlet beside him and then nodded resolutely.
It seemed that Scarlet had come up with the idea, and Yoon Si-woo had agreed.
Seeing this, Eve quietly sighed to herself.
What do you say to a student who is asking to be used politically for the sake of the people?
In fact, it would not be strange for her to bow and thank them instead.
The girl she called Evande had a way of making unexpected requests, just like she did back at the gym.
Both the girl who thought such requests were natural and the boy who listened and acted on her words were the epitome of heroes who thought of others before themselves.
That’s why it felt unsettling.
Because, without realizing it, she had thought their request was a good idea.
Because she, as a teacher, found herself placing burdens on her students.
Eve, after pondering for a moment while looking at the two, spoke to them.
"...Follow me for a moment."
*
Eve led them to the front of the gymnasium.
Pointing at the gym wall, she spoke to Yoon Si-woo.
"Yoon Si-woo, can you attack that wall?"
At her words, Yoon Si-woo drew a pure white sword from the air and aimed it at the gym wall.
Then, from top to bottom, he slashed his sword at a moderate speed—not too fast, not too slow.
A single vertical slash.
Seeing this, Eve stood still for a moment before speaking.
"...You may go. I'll talk to the principal for you."
Watching the boy and girl bow their heads to her and then walk towards the school gate, Eve approached the gym wall once they were out of sight.
The gym wall was covered with scars.
Marks left by students who had attacked the wall in response to the promise of early graduation if they could break it.
Students who exuded confidence but hung their heads like harvested rice by the next day, giving the building its nickname "The Humility Gym."
Eve ran her hand over the noticeable marks left on the wall.
The deep puncture marks as if stabbed by a spear belonged to Leon, the fastest among them.
The sharp, splintered marks were from Eloise, who, while in perfect sync, married right after graduation.
The deep dents were from Martina, a confident and skilled magician.
And now, Eve lightly brushed her hand over the newly added mark, letting out a dry laugh.
"To think he's grown so strong in such a short time since enrolling... With such reason, ability, and resolve, how could I stop a student who wishes to leave the teacher's care?"
Eve took out her phone and called the most recently contacted number again.
"Congratulations on your graduation, Yoon Si-woo."
As she looked at the straight sword mark left by the Sword of Humility on the wall of Humility Gym,
Eve wished her new hero the best of luck on his path.
TOC and Next chapter text is switched around
ReplyDeleteSry, My mistake
DeleteHe gon live a decently long time, I'd guess
ReplyDelete