I Became an Unknown Professor at the Academy

Wednesday.

“Those who are staying, take care of yourselves, and those who are returning to the dorms, make sure to clean up properly~?”

Kang Hanna, who had been watching over the groaning students, hummed cheerfully and left the training hall.

-Damn human…
-Damn money-grubber.
-Haha!! I thought I wouldn’t see you again after moving up to the second year…
-It’s really annoying that it actually helps.

Kang Hanna, who had been relieving her stress on the students by using the excuse of gaining practical experience, left the training hall, and the students immediately started grumbling and cursing.

But not everyone was like that.

“I heard you were going to the student council room.”

Seo-hee, who had been wiping the sweat off her face with a towel, turned around.

“Yes. I’m just going to say hello to the disciplinary committee members.”

Unlike the others, who were exhausted or drenched in sweat, Baek Hana maintained her freshness and answered while taking off the half-gloves she had been wearing.

“Then I’ll wait for you at the dorm.”
“I’ll send you a message if I’m going to be late.”
“Okay.”

Baek Hana, who had already packed her things, headed to the changing room, quickly changed into her school uniform, and left the training hall for the main building.

“Hmm? Hana?”

Jayden, who had just finished his lecture and was heading to the research lab, spotted Baek Hana in the main building lobby and approached her.

“Hello.”

Baek Hana felt comfortable around Jayden, as she had seen him a few times and knew that he had a good relationship with Baek Woo-jin.

“What brings you to the main building?”
“I have some business in the student council room.”
“So, Iseul invited you?”
“It’s not an invitation. I joined the disciplinary committee.”
“I see.”

Jayden nodded in understanding at Baek Hana’s answer.

New students at Arena Academy are prohibited from participating in all activities, including student council and club activities. Therefore, all new students are automatically second-year students.

“I’m going there too, so I’ll show you the way.”
“Thank you.”
“Haha, it’s nothing.”

Baek Hana followed Jayden past the lobby and into the elevator.

“If Hana is in the disciplinary committee, there will be almost no incidents in the second year.” “I hope so.”

No, it had to be that way.

That way, she could spend more time with Baek Woo-jin.

“Well, conflicts will arise, and naturally, incidents will happen. But if you have any concerns, you’ll probably avoid the days when Hana is on duty, right?”

Ding.

The elevator stopped on the fourth floor.

“If you turn left, you’ll find the faculty meeting room, and if you turn right, you’ll find the student council room and other club rooms.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. The student council room is at the end of the right corridor, so just keep going.”

Baek Hana nodded slightly in greeting to Jayden, who was waving goodbye through the closing elevator doors, and turned right as instructed.

‘It looks much bigger than it did from the outside.’

Baek Hana was surprised by the long and wide corridor, and she walked towards the student council room with a curious look on her face. After a few minutes…

[Student Council]

Baek Hana found the large sign above the door at the end of the corridor and turned the doorknob to enter.

“Excuse me—”
“Hana!”

Baek Hana was sartled and looked at Jane Moore, the blonde girl who was running towards her.

“Jane?”
“Yes!! It’s me!”
“Ah, yes, yes…”

Jane Moore shook her hands vigorously, as if they were shaking hands, and Baek Hana awkwardly followed her lead.

“Welcome. And Jane? I told you to stay calm, didn’t I? Have you forgotten already?”
“Ah… I’m so happy to see you.”

As soon as Yoon Iseul approached, Jane Moore trembled and quickly let go of Baek Hana’s hand, stepping back.

Yoon Iseul smiled softly and welcomed Baek Hana with her usual gentle demeanor.

“I wish we could sit down and have a longer conversation, but since Hana has a personal schedule today, I’ll just introduce everyone briefly.”

Yoon Iseul stepped aside, and the sofa in the center came into view. Eight men and women stood up from their seats.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Kang Woo-jin, a fourth-year student.”
“I’m Jeon Hyo-woo, also a fourth-year student.”
“I’m a third-year student…”

Two fourth-year students and six third-year students.

Jane Moore was excluded because she was Yoon Iseul’s assistant and not part of the disciplinary committee.

So, a total of eight people introduced themselves.

“I’m Baek Hana, a second-year student. Nice to meet you.”

Baek Hana bowed slightly, and the entire student council, including Yoon Iseul, welcomed her with a light round of applause.

“I was going to appoint Hana as the head of the disciplinary committee, but since she refused, I’ll just make her a regular member. Is that okay?”
“Yes, that’s fine with me.”
“Haha, yes. But don’t worry, I won’t burden you with miscellaneous tasks as I promised. We still need to fill two more spots for the second-year students, anyway.”
“No, it’s okay…”
“That’s not possible.”

Baek Hana had been living with Yoon Iseul for about a month and had realized that she was quite stubborn, so she didn’t want to prolong the conversation.

“Do you have any questions or anything else you want to say?”
“When do the shifts start?”
“Originally, we were going to rotate the shifts until all the second-year students were assigned, but Professor Baek said to include Hana right away.”
“Huh… Professor Baek?”
“Yes. So, I’ll have to adjust the rotation a bit, and I’ll send you the schedule by email no later than tomorrow afternoon.”

Baek Hana nodded once in response.

“If there are no other questions, you can leave now. I feel a little guilty for calling you here just to introduce you.”
“No, it’s fine. I was going to the dorm anyway.”
“Haha, thank you for understanding.”

Baek Hana checked the time on her smartwatch.

PM 04:16

She could have stayed and talked a little longer, but she decided to leave because the eight students and one foreigner were looking at her with quite burdensome eyes.

.

.

.

“I’m back~”

Baek Hana, who had finished her business at the student council room, returned to the dorm and headed to the mansion with her friends as usual.

“Hmm~”

Baek Hana felt more joy at the prospect of seeing Baek Woo-jin than at the upcoming training with Claire. She hummed a tune as she put on her slippers and headed towards the entrance.

Swoosh.

“…”

Baek Hana’s head naturally tilted to the side as she smelled Claire’s strong scent coming from various places in the entrance.

The scent wasn’t unusual, as it was coming from furniture that Claire often touched, like the coat rack and shelves. But today, the scent was unusually strong and widespread.

And mixed in with it was a faint scent…

“What are you standing there for?”
“Sorry.”

Baek Hana snapped out of her thoughts as Idni lightly tapped her shoulder. She scratched her cheek and continued walking.

“Hmm, she’s not here?”
“Yeah.”

Claire, who was usually in the kitchen preparing dinner, was nowhere to be seen. Idni and Maria looked at each other with questioning eyes.

“She might be in the study.”
“Ah, yes.”

They quickly concluded that she must have stepped out to serve coffee to Baek Woo-jin, and their steps naturally led them to the study.

Knock, knock, knock.

Baek Hana, who rarely knocked on the study door, did so this time.

-Come in.

Permission was granted even before she could say anything else.

Baek Hana carefully turned the doorknob and slowly pushed open the study door.

“…”

Baek Hana blinked as she looked at Baek Woo-jin, who was sitting alone, looking at some documents.

“Where’s Claire?”
“She’s resting in the bedroom.”

“…”

Baek Woo-jin’s answer left Baek Hana and the others confused.

Resting in the bedroom?

Who, and why?

“Claire’s not feeling well, so today’s training is canceled. Let her rest until dinner.”
“Huh, no, I, is Claire sick?”
“Yes.”

Baek Woo-jin lifted his head slightly and pointed to the tightly closed bedroom door with his chin.

“She’s awake, so go in and see her.”
“Ugh, yes…”
“Excuse me…”

Baek Hana and her friends tiptoed into the study and stood in front of the bedroom door.

-Come in.

Permission was granted even before they could knock, and Baek Hana and her friends entered the bedroom.

-Beep!!

The fairy sitting on Claire’s shoulder greeted them first.

“Welcome, Hana.”

Then, Claire, wearing a light nightgown, welcomed them with an awkward smile.

“Are you okay?”
“Yes. I’ll be fine after resting today, so don’t worry too much.”

Indeed, Claire didn’t seem to be in any discomfort. Except for the white patches on her neck and shoulders, which looked like band-aids.

“Are you really okay?”

Baek Hana looked at the white patches around Claire’s neck and shoulders with concern.

“Yes, it’s just a muscle ache, so don’t worry.”

Claire’s reaction, as she avoided eye contact, made Baek Hana’s face grow even darker.

“Don’t be sick, Claire…”
“Yes, yes…”

“Do you need anything?”
“No… I’m fine.”
“Alright. We’ll leave you to rest, so take it easy.”

Baek Hana didn’t want to disturb Claire’s rest, so she gently pushed her friends out of the bedroom. Then, after sending her friends out of the study, she approached Baek Woo-jin.

“Woo-jin.”
“What is it?”

Baek Hana came close to Baek Woo-jin and pouted, whispering softly.

“Don’t make Claire sick. You know you are stronger than her.”
“…”

Baek Woo-jin’s response was a little more blunt than usual.

“I’ll try my best.”
“Are you watching?”
“…”

Baek Hana pouted cutely and moved away from Baek Woo-jin.

“And I want spaghetti for dinner tonight.”
“…”
“Alright.”
“Hehe, see you later~”

Baek Hana smiled softly and left the study.

“Go to your room first.”
“It’s right in front of us.”

Baek Hana nodded at Idni’s response.

“But why are you all looking so glum? Claire is a person too, and she can get sick. Isn’t that right?”
“Yes.”
“And it’s not a serious injury. So, let’s be grateful that we can relax today.”
“That’s a bit…”
“What’s wrong with that?”

Baek Hana and Edyn continued their conversation as they walked down the hallway.

“I’ll, go…”

Maria, Seo-hee, and Joo-hee, with flushed faces, looked at each other.