A brief silence filled the air.
Ho-cheol nearly lost consciousness for a moment.
The word that had come out of the employee’s mouth was so absurd, so out of place, that it almost seemed unthinkable.
He scratched the corner of his mouth with his fingertips.
“A union… You mean a labor union?”
“Yes, sir. The academy’s staff, as well as many of the professors, are part of the union. They work tirelessly to improve employee conditions and various other matters. If you were to join, you’d also enjoy numerous benefits…”
The employee droned on like a seasoned salesperson, prompting Ho-cheol to smirk.
Seeing his reaction, the employee, who had been nervous, chuckled too.
This reaction seemed surprisingly positive.
Maybe persuading him would be easier than expected.
But Ho-cheol’s true feelings were entirely different.
He laughed because the situation was so ridiculous.
If it were just the staff forming a union, he could somewhat understand.
They were ordinary people, after all.
But former heroes forming a union?
Ridiculous fools.
The insult rose to the tip of his tongue but didn’t escape his lips.
What fault did this employee have to deserve his wrath?
That wasn’t the kind of mindset Ho-cheol had.
Instead, he focused on his next move.
Acting out of anger would end the conversation here, leaving him unable to extract any more information.
He rubbed the inside of his lip with the tip of his tongue.
The sudden revelation of the union’s existence sent his mind into overdrive.
Just a day ago, he had changed the lecture venue.
Yet, the villains attacked the training center without any hesitation, as if they knew where he’d be.
If they were tracking him in real-time, they wouldn’t have been able to hack the training center’s security system so quickly.
They must have known and prepared the day before.
The rapid spread of such information was simple to deduce.
There was a traitor within the academy.
Even if not a full-fledged traitor, someone inside the academy was undoubtedly selling information.
And this union seemed highly suspicious.
Leaning against the doorframe, Ho-cheol tapped his thigh with his fingertips.
“The union seems pretty large, huh?”
“Oh, yes. Over half of the staff and about 30% of professors are members of the union.”
“What are some of their notable activities?”
“Well, we organize many public events and activities!”
Selling information, no doubt.
It had to be them.
Yesterday’s villain attack was only mitigated by exploiting their informational advantage.
But relying on luck for future incidents would be reckless.
Skilled villains never reveal themselves so easily.
The true mastermind behind this attack hadn’t shown even a silhouette.
Though the dean was pursuing them, the trail would likely go cold soon enough.
Would such incidents keep happening?
Ho-cheol could say with certainty:
They absolutely would.
A second, third, and fourth wave of attacks would batter the academy, threatening the students.
“Hmm.”
Ho-cheol folded his arms, staring at the employee.
Even a mere staff member displayed such loyalty to the union.
The membership rate was significant.
Was the dean unaware of this malignant tumor growing within the academy?
That seemed unlikely.
Ho-cheol recalled the professor who had been fired last year, mentioned by the dean on the first day.
That incident must also have been tied to the union.
The dean appeared to be monitoring the situation in his own way, but considering the nature of unions, even he likely had his limitations.
“How long has the union been around?”
“We’re in our seventh year now. It’s a short history compared to Clington’s, but we’ve already achieved quite a lot, so there’s no need to worry.”
‘Worry? That’s what he thinks I’m concerned about?’
Ho-cheol’s thoughts raced.
He had tolerated yesterday’s attack because it could serve as a valuable teaching example.
But repeated incidents would be nothing but a hassle.
If something happened during another lecture, it could disrupt both the aftermath and his teaching schedule.
Worse, the entire academic calendar could be thrown off balance.
Hadn’t this very incident led to the cancellation of all classes for the week?
His tightly packed lecture schedule couldn’t afford such disruptions.
Repeated attacks would harm student morale, not to mention…
Yesterday, when the security team and professors lumped him in with the villains, he realized something.
That was more infuriating than he could have imagined.
The mere thought of being treated that way during every future attack made his blood boil.
If they were villains, he could break their limbs without hesitation.
But dealing with colleagues and staff?
That was a different story.
There was only so much he could endure.
After that?
Who knew what might happen.
He might just lose it and kill them all.
As Ho-cheol stood deep in thought, arms crossed, the employee hesitantly called out to him.
“Professor?”
Ho-cheol unfolded his arms and waved dismissively.
If the union could stop leaking information, the culprits behind the attacks would have a harder time moving.
If capturing them was impossible, the best solution would be for the dean to plant someone trustworthy within the union to seize control and expose the information sellers.
But…
Imagining those justice-obsessed fools succeeding in such a task was laughable.
They’d get caught halfway through, making things worse.
Responding to problems after they occurred was always second-rate.
Preventing problems before they happened—that was first-rate.
And Ho-cheol was undeniably first-rate.
“Alright. I’ll hear you out.”
Whoever was selling information wouldn’t get away unscathed.
“Let’s find a café and discuss this in more detail.”
With that resolve, Ho-cheol straightened his shoes.
***
At the same time.
In a quiet café within the academy, Da-yeon and her companions were seated by a second-floor window.
A group of four, including Da-yeon, they all looked visibly tired and drained.
Not only had they faced their first, unexpected live battle yesterday, but they had also been detained by the security team for hours of questioning afterward.
There was no way such exhaustion could disappear in just a day.
As a result, they all sat there lethargically, either soaking up the sunlight or fiddling with their phones.
Even Da-yeon, who would usually use this time to focus on personal training instead of joining such gatherings, couldn’t bring herself to pick up her bow and had reluctantly come to the café with them.
One of them glanced up from their phone and spoke.
“He couldn’t be a… C-rank villain, right?”
There was no need to specify who they were talking about.
Everyone nodded in agreement without hesitation.
Although one of the villains had escaped, the subsequent accounts from the security team and professors confirmed that the attackers were indeed the A-rank villains known as Cerberus.
How could anyone subdue such a trio in less than 30 seconds and still be classified as a C-rank villain?
The battle records from the training hall were now crucial evidence and currently inaccessible, but their curiosity burned to see them as soon as possible.
“Even if he’s immune to mental manipulation types, the other two were general manipulation types, weren’t they?”
The overwhelming abilities Ho-cheol had displayed couldn’t possibly belong to a C-rank.
No, calling him even B-rank seemed a stretch.
Moreover, augmentation abilities were inherently at a disadvantage against manipulation types.
Yet Ho-cheol had overcome numerical inferiority, unfavorable matchups, and the element of surprise—all while subduing the villains.
A true hero.
No, more like a superhuman.
A blond student brushed her hair back behind her ear and responded.
“Well, even if his actual strength is A-rank, a villain’s rank is based on the threat level when they’re captured. If they were caught as C-rank, then technically they’re C-rank villains.”
The ranks of heroes and villains were determined through a comprehensive evaluation of various criteria and records.
For heroes, factors like public support, achievements, and career history were considered.
For villains, it was their threat level, ideology, behavior, area of activity, and objectives.
Because of this, rank wasn’t always a reliable measure of pure strength.
“This is why both villains and heroes should have a separate power grade listed.”
The power grade, distinct from rank, measured an individual’s mastery of their traits, skills, speed, strength, and synergy, taking no external factors into account.
“Should we ask him during the next lecture? About his power grade?”
“Honestly, I wonder. Wasn’t that what he was hoping someone would ask on the first day of class?”
“That was it!”
Their fatigue seemed to vanish as they excitedly continued their chatter.
“Still, he must have some confidence to show off like that in front of students.”
“Well, skill aside, he didn’t show a single sign of panic in that situation. I thought that was impressive.”
Everyone nodded in agreement again.
That had also been a turning point in how they viewed Ho-cheol.
The menacing aura that had radiated from beyond the fog was a memory that lingered vividly in their minds.
Just imagining it again sent shivers down their spines, making them want to flee on the spot.
Yet Ho-cheol had remained calm and composed, even serene.
Though he emphasized the danger in his words, the sight of his unwavering back had brought a sense of stability to most of the students.
This group was no exception.
Though they didn’t express it directly, they couldn’t help but acknowledge Ho-cheol in their own way.
As they were deep in conversation about Ho-cheol’s true abilities and traits, they suddenly fell silent and turned their gazes to one spot.
Though they had been in the café for nearly ten minutes, Da-yeon, resting her chin in her hand, hadn’t said a single word.
She simply stared blankly out the window.
While she wasn’t particularly talkative by nature, she usually paid attention to the conversation, at least nodding or responding briefly.
But today, she seemed completely lost in thought, her mind elsewhere.
“…Are you okay?”
Was the aftermath of her first real battle lingering that long?
Or was she feeling unwell?
Her behavior today was strange enough to raise such concerns.
Da-yeon blinked a few times before slowly opening her mouth.
“…It’s nothing.”
She then resumed staring lifelessly out the window.
“Come on, don’t be like that. We’re your friends, right?”
“Yeah, did you get hurt or something yesterday?”
As they tried to comfort her, a café staff member approached their table with a tray.
“One iced caramel macchiato, one upgraded-size iced café mocha with whipped cream and an extra shot, one rainbow cosmos tea, one condensed milk latte, a soufflé cake, and two whipped cream waffles…”
The familiar voice caught their attention, and everyone turned toward the staff member.
The employee, who had been speaking, also froze as their eyes met.
Standing there, holding the tray, was Ye-jin, wearing an apron with the café’s logo instead of her school uniform.
She looked stunned, unable to speak, her mouth simply opening and closing.
“Ah.”
“Oh.”
One side bit their lip in frustration, while the other’s eyes sparkled as though they had discovered a fun new toy.
Naturally, the former was Ye-jin, and the latter was Da-yeon.
Da-yeon suppressed the smirk tugging at her lips.
What should she say?
Anything would suffice.
She felt energy returning to her previously slumped body.
Finally, she slowly opened her mouth.
“Ah?”
One of the other students pointed out the window below.
“Hey, isn’t that the professor down there?”
Whip—
Da-yeon’s gaze instantly shifted.
Ye-jin’s presence was now completely forgotten.
Just as they had said, it was Ho-cheol.
He was walking into the very café they were in.
***
Near the café entrance, Ho-cheol sat down after casually finishing his order.
“So, let’s hear it properly. What benefits would I get if I joined the union?”
Although he had already decided to join, jumping in too eagerly would only raise suspicion.
By pretending to hesitate, he could make them think they barely managed to recruit him, which would work to his advantage.
The staff member, as if waiting for this moment, eagerly began explaining.
“First, let’s start with the benefits. Our union provides separate activity funds…”
He even pulled out a booklet from somewhere and diligently went through the details.
“We also provide holiday bonuses, often referred to as ‘rice cake money.’ Additionally…”
“For professors like yourself, who currently teach only once a week, this may not apply much. However, if your weekly teaching hours exceed 15 in the future, you’ll be guaranteed sufficient vacation…”
“We also issue a welfare card. With this card alone…”
“Our union president is the head of the manipulation department. If you ever face unfair treatment at work, just let us know, and we’ll resolve it immediately.”
Ho-cheol, of course, barely paid attention to the explanation.
Instead, he was busy devising a plan to identify the union’s informant. First, he needed to assess how hierarchical the organization was, confirm the power structure, and narrow down a few suspects…
The staff member, seemingly interpreting his silence as hesitation about joining, leaned forward eagerly.
“Especially in light of the recent villain attack, which is a significant issue, the dean is currently away on a business trip. This highlights the need to reform the current system that overly relies on just one individual.”
Ho-cheol, having roughly organized his plan, nodded.
“Alright. I’ll join this union of yours.”
“A splendid decision. You absolutely won’t regret it.”
Ho-cheol gave a thumbs-up and pointed to So-hee, who was sipping her drink through a straw beside him.
“She’s joining too.”
So-hee had been temporarily assigned a counseling position at the academy, primarily to facilitate her access to the institution. Although half her title was fabricated, it was enough to meet the requirements to join the union.
“This person?”
“She’s from the association but also works as a psychological counselor.”
“Oh! Understood. I’ll prepare two application forms right away!”
The staff member’s face lit up. Though they had wondered about the relationship between the two, learning she was from the association made sense.
From the staff member’s perspective, every new recruit added to their record, so there was no reason to refuse.
So-hee, flustered, pulled the straw from her mouth and protested.
“Why me? I’m not interested in unions!”
“Better to join since we’re at it.”
“No!”
She stomped her feet in frustration.
She disliked such structures so much that she hadn’t even joined the association’s union despite her seniors’ constant urging. Now, she was about to be unwillingly roped into this one.
To make matters worse, Ho-cheol added a sly comment.
“You’re covering the union dues.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Who else is siphoning off my salary?”
“The association is! Not me!”
Ignoring her protests, Ho-cheol got up from his seat.
“Will you send the related documents via mail?”
“Yes, sir. We’ll ensure you receive them by tomorrow.”
“Alright, then.”
“You can’t just ignore my opinion like this!”
“Whatever I do with the union, you’re going to be my sidekick anyway. It’s more convenient for you to join. Let’s go.”
So-hee glanced back and forth between her still-half-full coffee and Ho-cheol, her face turning to a pout before reluctantly getting up.
As they were about to leave the café, hurried footsteps sounded.
Thud-thud-thud—
Da-yeon came running down from the second floor and blocked their path.
Ho-cheol widened his eyes in mild surprise at her sudden appearance.
He acknowledged her dedication to her bow and strength, which he found admirable. She spent so much time at the range that he didn’t expect her to frequent a café.
As he was musing over this, Da-yeon bowed deeply.
“Hello.”
Ho-cheol nodded in acknowledgment.
“Yeah.”
He was about to move past her and continue on his way when Da-yeon blocked him again.
She stared at him intently.
Ho-cheol, now blocked twice, asked in bafflement.
“What?”
Da-yeon’s gaze was serious as she spoke.
“Have you decided?”
“Decided what?”
Don’t tell me she’s about to bring up that private tutoring nonsense again.
However, Da-yeon’s next words far exceeded his imagination. No, they were completely unexpected.
“Class representative.”
“Huh?”
This was why she had been so listless all day.
“You said we’d choose a class representative during the last lecture. Who is it?”
She confidently declared.
“It’s me, right?”
At the circular staircase connecting the first and second floors, Da-yeon’s friends and Ye-jin, all peeking their heads out vertically, collectively gasped in disbelief.
“Is she out of her mind?”
Even Ye-jin muttered under her breath, though none of them could bring themselves to deny it.
Cliche Novel 