It was not much different from any other day. Yeona walked to school in the morning with Park Cheong-sol, who came to eat breakfast every day.
“How did it go with the parent’s invitation class? I was worried about that. Did you talk to your Dad?”
“No.”
“Then….”
Guests, Park Cheong-sol and Yeona, had become comfortable seniors and juniors without realizing it.
“Fortunately, Uncle agreed to come. Hehe.”
Upon Yeona’s words, Park Cheong-sol blushed. He quickly turned his head, avoiding Yeona’s gaze, and spoke.
“okay? If it doesn’t work out, I was thinking of telling my parents, but I feel relieved to hear that it’s not someone else but the Uncle who is coming. “I’m really glad.”
“Eek. “You were planning to tell your parents?”
“If there wasn’t a guardian to come with us, I was thinking of doing that.”
“There was no need for that. But thank you for caring. Senior.”
“No need to thank me, Yeona. You don’t know, but the parent’s invitation class is really important.”
The academy is a jungle. Even though they attend the same class wearing the same uniform, there are clearly ranks and classes among the children.
The classes are divided into three levels: the lower class are the non-awakened, the middle class are the awakened, the upper class are the awakened from wealthy families, and the top class are the awakened with rare skills.
In that context, Dok Yeona belongs to the lower class. However, the children treat her as if she were in the middle class.
The reason dates back to when Yeona transferred to the school.
Despite being non-awakened, Yeona transferred during the semester.
This meant she wasn’t a typical social beneficiary. Those in the social beneficiary category cannot transfer schools during the semester.
It is common for them to submit documents and have interviews to come in during the enrollment season.
So there is someone’s influence behind Dok Yeona’s transfer. And that someone is speculated to be a guardian from a wealthy family.
“Um. Is that really important? I really don’t understand. Isn’t it just a class where they give a few words of advice?”
“It’s more than just a few words of advice. You can hear various information from the parents who are currently working, and the guardians can give practical advice that is really necessary for children like their own. But this is getting more… Ah. No, forget it.”
Suddenly, Park Cheong-sol shut his mouth. Since the problem was resolved, he decided it was unnecessary to say anything more.
‘I don’t really want to talk about the school’s problems.’
Yeona chuckled at this.
“Why did you stop talking?”
“It was nothing. And we should hurry and go to the classroom. It’s almost time for the bell, right?”
“Ouch!”
“Hurry and go in. Listen well in class and see you tomorrow.”
“Yes. Senior, fighting!”
Yeona made a fighting gesture. Then she glanced at her wristwatch and hurriedly ran to the classroom.
Swoosh.
As they opened the door and entered, there was a moment of silence.
“Oh, I thought I was really late!”
“….”
Not only that, but Minji, who always greeted her warmly, now showed a cold response. She didn’t even make eye contact or respond.
“Hmm? Did she not hear me?”
Yeona, who had put down her bag, pretended to know once again.
“Minji. There’s a parent’s invitation class, you know. I think I’ve solved that.”
Despite bringing the words close to her, there was still no response. Or rather, she seemed uncomfortable. Yeona was taken aback by the change in her friend’s attitude overnight.
And then it happened.
“Oh, the smell. Hey kids, where’s that disgusting smell coming from?”
The children started murmuring. The center of the commotion was at the back of the classroom. The so-called upper-middle class children were gathered there.
“Hey, did you smell it too? It smells like cheap oil, right?”
“Yeah. It smells like kimchi and soybean paste… Anyway, I feel like I’m going to throw up.”
“This is why we can’t focus in class. Hey, you, clean up the classroom a bit.”
“Yes, sir.”
Soon, an awakened spirit user deployed their skill. A cool breeze swept into the classroom.
The problem was.
“Eek! What are you doing right now!”
The wind he created hit Yeona. Fortunately, she wasn’t hurt, but her hair and uniform were all messed up.
“Oh, sorry. Sorry. I summoned the wind to ventilate the room, but it ended up hitting you, Dok Yeona.”
“Hey, why are you apologizing? The person who smells should apologize. Did the spirit just go over there for no reason? There must be a reason for it.”
“Right, right. When you think about it, we’re all suffering because of that one person. They should definitely apologize. Whether they like it or not.”
“Oh, I think the smell got stuck in my hair.”
The children praised the skill caster while criticizing Yeona. They claimed that the source of the smell was none other than Dok Yeona herself, so it was fair.
At this, Yeona could only let out a bitter laugh.
“Ha, listening to this is really ridiculous. Who’s supposed to apologize to whom now? Did I hear it correctly?”
“Haha. Seems like someone still doesn’t get the situation. That’s why they say ignorance is bliss, huh?”
“What?”
“Hey, Dok Yeona! We’re talking as if we’re catching some criminal, but you run a family restaurant, right? No way? Don’t even think about fooling us.”
“What nonsense. Who said anything about fooling anyone? What’s wrong with running our family restaurant? Wait a minute, were you guys saying that about me being smelly?”
Complaining about the smell of cheap oil, kimchi odor, and such.
As if it were directed at herself.
‘No, it’s more like insulting our family.’
Yeona’s eyes sparked with anger.
“Huh. Who are you to say I’m smelly? What gives you the right to say that? If Minji was so bothered, why didn’t she ask the class president to switch partners?”
“What…?”
Yeona looked at her partner, Minji. Minji still didn’t look at her. The children laughed at her, seeing her like this.
“Hey, look at Dok Yeona’s expression. Totally disgusting.”
“It’s so embarrassing to think she’s pretending to be one of us all this time. Right? Hey, Dok Yeona. Is that presidential watch of yours a fake too? Ugh. You really have no shame.”
“Stop talking nonsense. And about this watch…”
Someone interrupted Yeona’s words. They didn’t intend to listen to her anyway.
“It’s so obvious. But hey, kids, isn’t it weird? Even if it’s a knockoff watch, she’s wearing artifacts all over her body. Necklaces, bracelets, you name it. How much do those cost?”
“Oh, I see.”
“Do you know something? What is it?”
“There are a lot of kids here who get sponsored.”
“Disgusting.”
Enough was enough. Yeona, pressing her lips together tightly, walked towards the kids gathered at the back of the classroom.
Swoosh.
“Why, aren’t you all preparing for class?”
The teacher for the first period, in charge of [Herbal Studies of the Otherworld], entered. The children returned to their seats as if nothing had happened.
“We were waiting for you, teacher!”
“Miss, didn’t you say we’d be divided into teams for today’s experiment?”
“You know it well. Everyone, make teams of four… Hey, who’s that? Dok Yeona? What are you doing standing there? Quickly, take your seat.”
“…Yes.”
At that moment, Yeona felt as though she had been left alone in enemy territory. The creaking sound continued as she returned to her seat.
Meanwhile, there was someone watching Yeona. It was Baek Yeong-eun with pink hair.
Baek Yeong-eun was the one who spread rumors about Yeona. Not only that, she added a few words of her own. In other words, she was the instigator who made things difficult for Yeona.
“Oh, seriously, is that all you can do? It’s so boring.”
She wore an irritating expression, regretting her own inaction.
***
“Cinderella lost her parents when she was young. She was abused by her stepmother and stepsisters.”
“We can just send the stepmother and stepsisters away.”
“Unfortunately, Cinderella didn’t have the power that Haeli has.”
“Hmm. Then Cinderella must have been really sad. Not being able to do anything.”
“Right. She must have been sad.”
“If you’re being abused and persecuted, you must be sad.”
Yeona was someone who could fully understand that feeling.
Maybe that’s why. In an instant, Yeona’s expression darkened.
“Hey, did the sisters bully you too, Yeona?”
“Huh?”
“Who bullied you!”
Haeli, who caught that, asked fiercely. Her chubby cheeks flushed red, as if she was really angry.
Yeona smiled shyly and put down the fairy tale book she was holding.
“No one bullied me. Who would bully me?”
“But why are you sad?”
“Huh?”
“You’re sad, aren’t you?”
I guess this is why they say you can’t fool children’s eyes. Embarrassed, Yeona forced a smile.
“No, I’m not sad at all. You must have seen it wrong, Haeli. Look, I’m smiling like this.”
“No, you’re sad. I know everything, Haeli.”
“……”
“I’ll send the stepmother and stepsisters who are bullying you far away. So don’t be sad. I’ll get rid of them all.”
These are the words of an ignorant child.
But somehow, it felt like the humiliation I received today was being washed away.
“Phew. Get rid of what? I told you it’s bad to say things like that. I think I’ll feel better if Haeli just hugs me.”
Yeona opened her arms. Haeli didn’t hesitate and ran into her arms.
“That’s easy! I can hug you every day.”
A warm warmth is transmitted. Yeona hugged Haeli tightly, not wanting to let go of that warmth.
***
Jong-sik has a keen eye for cooking.
His younger brother, Jong-pal, is good at cooking.
But Jong-sik surpasses Jong-pal in assessing ingredients.
For this reason, Jong-sik was in charge of ingredient inspection.
“Are they in good condition? With this level of cultivation skill, stable supply should be possible. What do you think, Mr. Dok?”
Pyeong-ari, who was looking around the Abukadu farm, asked Jong-sik’s opinion.
“I also like it here the best. Abukadu will contract with this farm.”
“Then I’ll send the staff to proceed with the contract.”
The two were touring farms nationwide to procure ingredients for the lunchbox business.
Of course, there was no need for both of them to personally attend to such matters. Nevertheless, Jong-sik willingly volunteered for the farm tour.
Perhaps because he felt that he needed to see it for himself to feel at ease. Pyeong-ari also followed Jong-sik, saying, “Well, you have to see it and sign the contract!”
“But, Team Leader Pyeong.”
“Yes?”
“You’re also from the Seoul Academy, right?”
“Was I?”
A few days ago, without much thought, he agreed to go at Yeona’s request, but somehow he felt uneasy.
What if he made a mistake and it had a negative impact on Yeona? That’s why he decided to ask Pyeong-ari, Yeona’s senior colleague.
“Did Team Leader Pyeong also have the parent-invited classes at the academy?”
“I did. The parent-invited classes were my favorite time. Oh! Are you attending Yeona’s invited class?”
“It happened unexpectedly. Jong-pal is generally busy.”
“Oh, that sounds so fun! Have you thought about what kind of class to have?”
Pyeong-ari asked with a very excited expression.
“No. I really don’t know what to prepare. But I’m afraid if I go without preparation, I might cause trouble for Yeona. Ugh. Can you help me?”
“Of course! When is the class?”
“Two days from now.”
“Oh my. Just to make sure, Mr. Dok. Besides preparing for the class…”
He couldn’t hear the rest.
Wasn’t it just a matter of showing up?
“What else do I need to prepare?”
“It’s not absolutely necessary to prepare anything, but still, no one just goes without preparing.”
“That’s quite a complicated thing you’re saying.”
“It won’t do. Just trust me. Mr. Dok! I’ll help you with everything from start to finish.”
Pyeong-ari said enthusiastically.
