She was no different from a beast

Chapter 15

—–CROW—– 

Maybe it was because I showed them my energetic and confident side during the first self-introductions?

None of the kids, even those bigger and tougher than me, underestimated me.

See?  A strong first impression is key to not being looked down upon!

…But maybe I was a *little* too strong.

“I’m the only one without friends.”

“…If you show off like that, of course they’ll be scared.”

Yuri, my only friend and unnie in Ulleung Elementary.

Yuri saw my strength with her own eyes and still became friends with me.

I showed her how I climb mountains on all fours and poke holes in trees with my fingers, and she wasn’t scared.

This isn’t my fault.

It’s because this year’s first-graders are cowardly and weak.

During lunch break, I was squatting on the high steps of the playground – the stands – when I made eye contact with Yuri, who was playing with her friends.

It had been two weeks since my school life began.

My classmates were laughing and playing together, but whenever I approached, they’d scatter like startled rabbits.

Jeongwoo, was it? He said he was taking Taekwondo, so I thought he’d be tough… but who knew he’d leak lemonade from his… you-know-what every time he saw me?

‘Is he one of those tough-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside types?’

Geez. How soft is his inside that he leaks juices just by looking at me?

It’s like a Pavlovian reflex.

“But I’m smaller than the other kids! If I hadn’t shown them how strong I am, they would have bullied me!  Yuri, you pointed at me at first!”

“?? Pointed?”

“You know, pointing with your finger. That’s really rude.”

“!! I-I didn’t know! That’s not fair! I only did it because Yuna is cute and pretty!”

Well, how could Yuri, barely nine years old, know that pointing is rude?

Adults would have just chuckled and cooed at her cuteness.

Still, it’s important to learn these manners from a young age.

“…Are you lonely without friends?”

“??”

Yuri suddenly looked at me cautiously.

Huh? Lonely? Hmm, I feel a little left out, but not really lonely.

Honestly, my mental age hasn’t regressed enough to enjoy playing with simple-minded kids who are slaves to their instincts and emotions.

I’d probably end up being their caretaker.

Even with my gorani physique and wild heart, taking care of over 30 kids would be exhausting.

“Nah~ I can make friends easily if I want to!  Not just classmates, but teachers too would fall for my charms… huh?”

Wait a minute. Come to think of it…

Why should I be fixated on little kids?

School life might be easy mode, but it’s still a small-scale society.

There’s camaraderie among colleagues, but the most important person to love, brown-nose, and kowtow to is your boss.

There’s even a saying that diligently licking the backside of someone higher up, with more power and experience, will lead to a blissful work life.

*Spring!*

“Eek! Y-You scared me…!”

“The teachers’ office!”

“Huh?”

“I can be friends with the teachers!”

In this era, the king of the classroom is undoubtedly the teacher.

Before the 2020s, when corporal punishment became taboo and teachers lost their authority, they were the undisputed rulers, responsible for the kids’ resilience and discipline!

If you’re going to make friends, befriend the king, not the peasants.

If I become the king’s right hand, those foolish kids who ignore and avoid me will be bowing down to me!

“Yuri, what’s your homeroom teacher’s name?”

“Huh?  W-Why do you want to know?”

“Just curious!”

It’s nothing, really.

Just a small surprise gift as thanks for showing me a new path!

20 minutes before the end of lunch break. A bit awkward, but not too late to make an impression.

And I might even meet that Oh Young-seok teacher or whatever his name is!

Alright~ time to work my charm!

“*Sigh*…”

‘Is this really the right thing to do…?’

For the past two weeks, my heart nearly stopped every morning on my way to work.

The supposedly model student… the small, cute child… turned out to be a little gangster straight out of a movie.

I resent the parents, just a little, for not warning me.

How do you raise a child to be so intimidating?

But she doesn’t physically bully the other kids.  She just… intimidates them with her aura.  So I can’t really scold her.

She doesn’t use bad language or lay a finger on them.

And her attitude in class? Impeccable.  Unlike the other kids who zone out or get distracted, she listens attentively.

She even aced the dictation test when everyone else scored in the 60s and 70s… and she solves arithmetic problems instantly in math class.

There’s nothing to reprimand her for… except for her intimidating aura. Otherwise, she’s a perfect student!

Not that I *want* to scold her.  Ugh… this is so difficult.

*Knock, knock, knock.*

“Teacher~ Hello~”

“Oh?  Y-Yuna?”

*Flinch!*

I trembled at her cute, energetic voice, her perfect pronunciation and tone, unbelievable for an eight-year-old, and forced a smile.  Yuna trotted over to me.

Ugh, she’s so cute.

The prettiest girl in our class… no, the prettiest in the whole school.

“Do you need help with anything?”

“Huh? H-Help?”

“Yes! In art class~ carrying the clay or the crayons and colored pencils looked really heavy. If you need to move anything for PE class later, I can help!”

“R-Really…?”

I was just worrying about how to carry the jump ropes from the PE storage room… they’re heavier than they look!

But is it okay to ask a student to do this?  She’s still so small. What if she gets hurt…?

‘…Will Yuna be okay?’

After the entrance ceremony, I tried breaking chalk like Yuna did, out of curiosity, but no matter how hard I tried, it wouldn’t break.  My hands just got covered in white dust.

If Yuna, who’s stronger than me, offers to help… it should be fine, right?

“Th-Then, shall we go to the PE storage room together?”

“Okay!”

Yuna beamed and nodded energetically.

Her black hair swayed, and despite spending most of her time outdoors, her face was pale and a smile bloomed on it.  My negative thoughts vanished instantly.

She’s such a good kid.  While the other kids are busy playing, she’s offering to help me. So mature.

I took Yuna’s hand and left the teachers’ office, heading towards the PE storage room.  I thought it would be enough if she carried a few jump ropes…

“Heave-ho!”

“??”

What? She’s really carrying it.

“Teacher! If there’s anything else, put it on top!”

“O-Okay? Then, should we grab a ball for dodgeball later?”

“Okay!”

Wow.  Watching Yuna effortlessly lift a blue plastic box as big as herself, I understood why the other kids were scared of her.

I’m glad I’m her teacher. If a classmate crushed chalk and gave a chilling self-introduction about not respecting the weak, I’d be terrified too.

I now understood why Yuna said she might send the weaker kids to the hospital.

If she used that strength on them, I’d be visiting them in the hospital ward, not the classroom.

I should be grateful she’s not violent.

Yes.  Think positive.

Other teachers complain about kids fighting and getting into trouble.

But in my class, whenever Yuna approaches, the kids quiet down.  Isn’t that great?

Class 3-1 is known among the first-grade teachers as the most peaceful and well-behaved class.

…

“Huh? Teacher?  Did you want to say something?”

‘Wait, Yuna was keeping the other kids in check?’

Realizing this crucial role, which I had overlooked due to my fear, I couldn’t take my eyes off Yuna, the small, precious girl essential to Class 3-1.

“No, just… Our Yuna is so kind and pretty.”

“Heehee. Really?  Teacher is very, very pretty too!  So pretty that I’d call you unnie if I saw you outside!”

…I should be nice to Yuna.

From today onwards, I decided to put all my faith in Yuna.

“Waaaaah!”

“Sniff… It hurts! Waaaaah!”

“…”

And that resolve crumbled in less than a day.

Children were crying on the playground.

Amidst the dust-covered, sobbing boys and girls stood a small girl with long black hair and empty gray eyes…

“I understand now. Your level.”

Yuna’s voice was low and flat, a dodgeball clutched in her hand.

“It’s so pathetic, I want to die.”

And then I fainted.

How can you win 33 against 1?

—–CROW—–