107) Chapter 17. What Should I Do? (2)

I’m still a child.

At least in this world, I am.

I’ve only just become a high school student, and honestly, even in today’s world, being freshly graduated from high school and technically an adult doesn’t necessarily mean someone is “all grown up.”

No matter how I think of myself, that’s how others will see me.

“……”

But still.

If kids my age are in danger, what am I supposed to do?

I can’t just sit still and watch.

Of course, just because I step in doesn’t mean things will always get better, and this time I probably only made things worse.

“If something similar happens next time, tell a teacher.”

“…Yes.”

Right now, that’s the only answer I can give.

What else can I do?

I can’t say, “No, I won’t,” to someone speaking to me like this.

“Here.”

But the principal didn’t seem satisfied with my short answer. She held out her pinky finger.

“Promise.”

“……”

Um.

I don’t think I’m that young.

Maybe because she works with kids, someone my age still looks very young to her?

But even when I awkwardly glanced between her finger and her face, she didn’t pull her hand back.

In the end, I hesitantly extended my pinky and hooked it with hers.

Her hand was a little cool.

But the finger wrapping around mine was firm—comforting, even.

She pressed her thumb over our linked fingers like a stamp before letting go.

“Alright, that’s all I needed to say. I actually have a lot more I want to talk about, but Instructor Justina probably has plenty to say too. Hearing the same thing twice would be boring, right?”

“…Ah.”

Right. Of course.

The one who stopped me with that stern face was Instructor Justina.

And I still sneaked out anyway. She must be furious.

My back already felt damp with sweat.

“But she’s not coming right away. She’s still getting treatment. Hmm, then—do you have any questions? If it’s something I can answer, I will.”

The principal smiled gently.

“When I walked in, you all looked like you had a bunch of questions.”

“Oh, then me.”

Soi raised her hand high.

When the principal looked at her, Soi spoke shyly.

“I know you used to be a hero… but I’ve never seen your power properly. When you were active, were you…?”

“Ah, my active period was really short.”

The principal gave a slightly bitter smile and looked out the window.

It was fully spring now. The branches were covered in fresh green leaves, and flowers of all colors bloomed along the roadside. Even a hospital full of sick people looked strangely lively—spring in the world was the complete opposite of my situation.

“I actually spent much more time working at the Association headquarters. I wasn’t a very famous hero.”

“B‑but… you were really strong.”

Soi tilted her head, confused.

“Because I’m strong, you think it makes more sense for me to have been an active hero?”

“N‑no, that’s not what I meant…”

“Mm, I used to think that way too.”

The principal fell silent for a moment, thinking.

“But after living a while, I realized that’s not how it works. Talent and what you want to do aren’t always the same.”

Her expression was a little bittersweet.

“Talent and what you want to do?”

“Let me put it this way. There are lots of strong people in the world, right? Plenty of people can lift heavy things. But they don’t all choose the same job. Some become athletes, some become rescue workers, some do other physical work.”

Her gaze stayed on the window.

She wasn’t right next to it, so she couldn’t see the ground below.

But imagining the outside wasn’t hard. Kids who couldn’t stand lying in bed were probably out walking around.

A lot of academy students were hospitalized.

School was closed for a few days. Kids were injured, and there would be discussions about responsibility.

Thankfully, most of the kids’ parents were heroes and knew the staff, so things probably wouldn’t escalate too badly.

Even if everyone tried to settle things peacefully, public opinion outside the academy was a different matter.

“Or they might choose a job that doesn’t use strength at all. Maybe they have other talents, but even if they don’t, choosing a different job isn’t wrong. Some people simply do what they want to do, with all their effort.”

“Then you…?”

“Hmm, I…”

The principal’s gaze shifted.

Past me, past Soi and Chae‑yi, past Jinwoo and Hyeonji.

Except for me and Jinwoo, all the kids here wanted to become heroes using their talents.

I still wasn’t sure, and Jinwoo… well, in the original story, after awakening, she decided to become a hero too, so it probably wouldn’t be too different here.

“I guess you could say I had talent. I could fight. But… once I became a hero, I realized continuing wasn’t easy.”

She looked down at her hands.

They were injured all over.

She was strong, she could shoot beams from her eyes, but her body wasn’t invincible.

I finally understood why Auntie Yujin was so famous. She was flashy, she flew, and she rarely got hurt even in fights. Other heroes weren’t like that.

Hero battles weren’t scripted performances.

They were real—cutting, tearing, breaking. Villains who dared to fight heroes weren’t normal. They attacked with the intent to kill.

In reality, heroes sometimes lost, sometimes screamed in pain, sometimes… suffered permanent injuries or even died.

The news only showed a tiny fraction of it.

What would someone think after living in that world for so long?

No matter how strong your body is, it’s not shameful to be unable to endure it forever. Saving even one person makes you a hero—no one should be able to criticize that.

“……”

Soi’s expression shifted.

She looked like she regretted asking. Guilty.

Seeing that, the principal smiled again.

“But thanks to that, I met all of you. Being the academy principal is more fun than working at headquarters. I get to have students. Hmm, is this getting too dark?”

“N‑no, not at all.”

“Hehe.”

When Soi shook her head quickly, the principal laughed and stood up.

“Then rest well. At least today, Instructor Justina won’t be visiting.”

“…I‑is she very angry?”

“She had horns. Right here.”

The principal held two fingers to her temples and smiled.

“I’ll tell her not to be too scary.”

I swallowed hard, and the principal waved, turned, and headed for the door.

“Then, I’ll see you next time at the academy.”

“Ah, yes. G‑goodbye…”

I awkwardly bowed, and the kids bowed too.

The door closed gently, and silence returned.

“Ugh… I shouldn’t have asked.”

“Well of course you shouldn’t have. If someone that strong isn’t a hero, there’s obviously a reason.”

Chae‑yi scolded Soi.

Soi pouted, but she didn’t seem to have a counterargument.

“……”

And Jinwoo was still quiet.

…Right.

Most of the other kids had hero parents, so they were probably used to danger. Their families worked in that world.

Even if not, as long as the kids weren’t seriously injured, their families might prefer not to escalate things. They were all professionals who knew each other.

But Jinwoo’s family wasn’t like that.

What must they be saying at home?

In the original story, Jinwoo’s family was strangely never mentioned.

I always assumed the author just didn’t want to bother writing about them.

But considering the cross‑dressing and everything else… maybe the family wasn’t normal.

“…W‑what?”

“Oh, n‑nothing.”

Yeah.

I shouldn’t dig too deep right now.

In the original story, nothing major happened related to that anyway.

If I don’t poke at it, maybe it won’t become an incident.

…For now, that’s what I decided to believe.

===

A word from the author (A/N):

Thank you for reading today!

Anon, thank you for your support!

Since you supported anonymously, I’m greeting you using the Novelpia reader‑nickname feature!

Thank you for congratulating me on reaching 100 chapters! I’ve been able to write this far thanks to all the readers who always read and support my work! I’ll continue doing my best until the very end! The reason I first started writing was because I wanted to “keep writing happy endings,” so I’ll do my best to make sure this novel also heads firmly toward a happy ending! There are all kinds of novels in the world, and all kinds of authors, so I think it’s perfectly fine for there to be an author who writes only happy endings! I’ll do my best so that Rua can truly become a happy child together with her friends, and so she can steadily gain the courage she needs!

Just like the stories I read when I was young now feel nostalgic when I think back on them, I hope my story can also become a fond memory in your hearts! I’ll always do my best so that the time and money you spend reading my work never feel wasted! Thank you so much! Please continue to take care of me!


Rabbok‑i, thank you for your support!

Thank you always for reading my novel! When I first started writing, I was nervous every day. Even though it’s my own writing, controlling myself is entirely my responsibility. Writing without anyone beside me telling me to do it was harder than I expected, but knowing there were people waiting for my story allowed me to keep writing until now! I can’t say I wrote every day, but the reason I’ve been able to write so consistently is entirely thanks to all of you readers! I hope that the joy I feel while writing can also be felt by you as you read! Thank you so much! Please continue to take care of me!


ZeroPay, thank you for your support!

In some ways, Rua and Seo Arin might resemble each other a little! They are mother and daughter, after all! But thankfully, Rua grew up differently from Seo Arin, and she knows what a real family is. In fact, Seo Arin’s way of speaking and acting was inspired by certain people I’ve known in real life. She wasn’t based on any specific character, but I wanted her speech patterns to feel realistically irritating, and I’m glad some readers noticed! I’ll do my best again this time so that Rua can truly become happy someday! Thank you so much! Please continue to take care of me!


eternalyg, thank you for your support!

Of course I’ll make sure her wounds can be healed! The goal of this novel is for Rua to overcome her situation with the help of the many people around her, and to slowly move toward that shining happy ending in the distance! I’ll work hard so that Rua, her friends, their parents, and their teachers can all reach a happy conclusion! Thank you so much for always reading my work! I’ve been able to come this far thanks to everyone who reads and supports my writing every day! Please continue to take care of me!

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Pub: 06 May 2026 10:28 UTC

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