103) Chapter 16. I’m Glad (5)

In academy‑genre stories, the principal is always described as strong, but they rarely show that strength outright.

Because if the story just fully reveals and uses that overwhelming strength, the protagonist loses their purpose.

So usually, the principal is only described as strong, and actual fight scenes are shown once or twice, very briefly.

Later, when the world is in chaos and everything is falling apart, the protagonist—now fully grown—splits off from the principal, who goes to protect another area. That way, the story maintains a justification for why the world doesn’t collapse completely, while also conveniently removing the principal so the protagonist can shine.

That’s why—

I don’t know exactly how strong Principal Seol Heewon is.

But I do know her concept.

You know that symbolic ability that appears in every hero story.

Flying through the sky, shooting lasers from the eyes, bullets doing nothing, knocking someone out with a single tap—those literal “superman” archetypes.

Whether the story is parodying hero tropes or sincerely paying homage, there’s always at least one character who appears as a symbolic “hero among heroes.”

Of course, in this world, that symbolic figure is Auntie Yujin. Instead of shooting lasers from her eyes, she breathes fire from her body.

But this world also has someone who fits that archetype perfectly—and that’s the principal standing over there.

Ah, of course she’s not as strong as the “original inspiration.” Call it basic courtesy.

No—more likely, the author just didn’t want to embarrass themselves by saying something like “She’s probably even stronger, actually.”

“……”

The principal slowly descended to the ground.

Then she gently set down the two kids she had been holding tightly under her arms.

“So.”

The principal quietly opened her mouth.

Her voice was no different from usual. The same gentle, soft voice I heard in her office.

“You’re saying you’re Rua’s mother.”

“Uh…”

Seo Arin looked a bit flustered.

If I had to put that expression into words, it would be something like, “Already?”

And also, “Why is she still here?”

A moment later, her gaze landed on me and Jinwoo. Her eyes widened.

She looked back and forth between the mole‑man villain unconscious behind us, my leg, and Jinwoo supporting me—as if things weren’t going the way she expected.

Maybe, by now, that earth‑digging villain was supposed to have collapsed the mountain.

It was definitely dangerous. The ground was unstable. The ominous sounds we’d heard several times already were warning us to leave immediately.

If the principal started fighting seriously, a few buildings might actually collapse.

There are people in the world who think they’re good at planning.

People who make plans only inside their own heads, and believe that if they place people in the right spots, everything will move smoothly on its own.

People who think the world revolves around them, and that they are the standard of the world.

Seo Arin seemed to be one of those people.

She had always acted alone, never cooperating with anyone. Now that she had forced others to move, this was the result.

“It’s a bit strange.”

Whether Seo Arin was flustered or not, the principal continued speaking gently.

Her voice sounded like she was smiling kindly.

But the kids who could see her face were frozen pale. Even more than when facing Seo Arin.

Her tone was polite. Calm, like she was speaking to an adult visitor at the school.

“Rua’s parents are different people. I actually know them very well, since I’m a close friend of both. Unfortunately, I was too busy to meet Rua in person until I became the principal here, but my friend bragged about her so much in front of me.”

“……”

Even in this situation, I felt embarrassed and strangely warm inside.

I’m not someone worth bragging about.

In elementary school, my grades were good, but that was only because I already knew the material.

In middle school, I studied hard to meet expectations, and I did maintain good grades for the first year—

—but I didn’t finish that school.

My GED scores were good, but that’s different from school grades.

Even so… Auntie Yujin bragged about me?

As a daughter she was proud of?

“Hah.”

Seo Arin scoffed.

But her gaze was already moving around.

She glanced at the academy kids and dismissed them as insignificant.

She looked at Soi, then Chae‑yi. She saw Hyeonji sliding down her ice steps in a cool pose. Then she looked at me, standing a bit behind the principal.

She barely spared Jinwoo a glance. Did she not know what Jinwoo’s abilities were?

“That woman isn’t even anything special to you, right?”

For a moment, it felt like my blood boiled upward.

But at the same time, my heart tightened painfully.

Because she wasn’t wrong.

Legally speaking, Auntie Yujin and I weren’t deeply connected.

I was still a child “placed in a foster home.” Even now.

Auntie Yujin and Uncle Dohyun do think of me as their daughter. They even prepared everything so they could adopt me whenever I was ready.

They were waiting for me.

Waiting for the day I could call them Mom and Dad.

“Legally, there’s nothing, right? So of course the biological mother is the real mother. I thought she'd been adopted or something.”

“……”

The principal stayed silent.

But I didn’t think she was silent because she had no argument.

She was clenching her fist, holding something back.

“Ms. Seo Arin.”

The principal spoke.

She didn’t say “Mother.” She said “Ms. Seo Arin.”

As if she had never once considered treating her as a parent.

“I believe the person who has raised a child is the one who deserves to be called a parent. Above all, you must not abuse a child.”

“What, are you going to sue me or something?”

“Oh, yes. Since you mentioned lawsuits, there’s something I’d like to ask. Do you have any proof that you’re biologically related to Rua?”

“…Huh?”

“Have you done a DNA test?”

“No, even without that, the birth record—”

“Are you certain? That Rua is the child listed in that ‘birth record’? I’m sorry, but a child’s personal information isn’t something you can just access. Especially not for a parent who cut ties and disappeared long ago.”

“What?”

“Since you brought up legal matters, let me be clear: even if the child was registered at birth, even if you are genetically the mother and your parental rights haven’t been terminated, if the child is living in a stable home through proper legal procedures, you cannot just take them because you want to. Do you think the court is that lenient?”

Blink, blink.

Both Seo Arin and I blinked at the same time.

Oh… is that how it works?

“First of all, Ms. Seo Arin, you’re currently an escaped convict, correct? Then the first step is to resolve that situation legally. You must allow yourself to be arrested. Then you must face judgment and pay for your crimes. Otherwise, the court will almost certainly deem you unfit to be a parent—emotionally and financially.”

“No, I’m telling you she’s my daughter—”

“Some people use the word ‘child’ to mean nothing more than someone who shares their blood.”

The principal raised her voice, cutting her off.

I could feel how furious she was. Her voice was still soft, but only because that was her natural tone.

“But the word ‘child’ as used in society doesn’t mean that. What meaning does blood have? If you didn’t take responsibility, how can you call yourself a parent? If you want to use the word ‘legal’ in front of others, then place yourself within that same ‘law.’ That’s only fair, isn’t it?”

“……”

Seo Arin shut her mouth tightly.

She glared at the principal with burning eyes.

I imagined the principal’s expression was probably just as fierce.

“So what. What do you want me to do.”

Seo Arin finally spoke.

Her expression had returned to the one she wore at the beginning, but her voice no longer carried any weight.

No—she no longer had that overflowing confidence she had before. Her voice and posture were the same, but…

Compared to Principal Seol Heewon’s calm, precise words and actions, her attempt to look impressive now just looked pathetic.

“If I say she’s my daughter, then she’s my daughter.”

“The world calls people who say things like that criminals. Many, many people throughout history have said the same thing while kidnapping children. So you’re just an ordinary kidnapper, Ms. Seo Arin.”

Seo Arin’s mouth shut again.

“…Ugh, annoying.”

She muttered through clenched teeth.

“That’s enough. I was trying to go easy on you—”

“Yes. I agree.”

The principal cut her off again.

As if she knew exactly how much Seo Arin hated being interrupted.

“I’ve been far too lenient as well. In the past, I wouldn’t have continued this conversation for this long.”

Strangely, as she said that, I thought I saw a faint red glow in front of the principal.

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Pub: 06 May 2026 10:24 UTC

Edit: 06 May 2026 10:30 UTC

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