Retire 245
by Cristae245 Safety Device (1)
The official schedule at the Hunter Training High School begins at 9 a.m.—the start of morning classes in standard academic subjects.
The students’ routines revolve around this. Of course, individual habits vary.
For example, Oh Hyunwook, Kang Taewoo, and Soon Sunjin wake up at 6 a.m. After a quick wash, the three of them start their morning exercise on the field at 6:30. Lately, for some reason, Seo Hanseong has started joining them as well.
At 6:30, as the sound of quiet conversation drifts across the field, Yoo Jieun wakes up. Though she hasn’t officially enrolled yet, she’s living in the dorm with her older sister and, seeing the students out on the field through the dorm window, she hurriedly gets dressed and rushes outside. By around 6:45, she’s running behind the soon-to-be third-year students.
Around 7, Hong Seok-young comes out to watch the kids. Occasionally, on rare days, Woo Heejae joins as well, but since he usually looks after his younger brother, an elementary schooler, he doesn’t often arrive before 9. Back at the pension, he’d have the kids rolling around in the dirt under his supervision from dawn, but…
Today was one of those rare days: Woo Heejae had come in early.
Dragging his feet, Woo Heejae emerged onto the field. His drowsy gaze sharpened suddenly as he watched the kids running.
Sensing the change, the students hunched their shoulders—and immediately, Woo Heejae’s nagging began.
“You’re slowing down. How many times do I have to tell you to keep a steady pace? You’re tired already? How long have you even been running?”
And then, after saying that, he started running behind them. The kids’ feet picked up speed under the barrage of complaints from behind. Despite the cold winter morning air, sweat began to pour down their faces.
Why is he out here so early? He usually comes out much later! No one dared ask, but everyone grumbled inwardly.
The reason for Woo Heejae’s early arrival became clear when Hong Seok-young showed up.
“Oh, you’re here?”
“Good morning.”
“Ah, hello! H-hi, there, sir!”
“At this rate, the kids will be dozing off in first period.”
Hong Seok-young chuckled, then asked Woo Heejae,
“What time is Irok coming today?”
“Two o’clock.”
“You going to pick him up?”
“Yes. I thought I’d catch a movie while I’m out. There’s one he wanted to see.”
“You took him from the taekwondo studio to the ski resort? Isn’t he tired?”
“He’s got more stamina than these kids…”
The real reason was Woo Irok’s absence due to the taekwondo studio’s winter camp.
Hong Seok-young started jogging beside Woo Heejae. For some reason, he hadn’t wanted to come out this morning. Yoo Jieun looked ready to cry but kept her feet moving.
Morning exercise ended before 8. The kids, sweatier than usual, gasped for breath, hurriedly bowed, and dashed to the cafeteria. They were at the age when hunger hit hardest. Hong Seok-young and Woo Heejae watched their retreating backs, grinning.
Once the kids in gym clothes had disappeared into the cafeteria, others began to trickle out of the dorm. Yoo Hye-eun and Choi Jinwoo entered, yawning widely. Spotting her sister, Yoo Jieun forgot her exhaustion and bounded over to her.
Yoo Hye-eun stared at her, startled.
“What happened this morning? Why are you so sweaty?”
“Both the principal and Mr. Woo came out…”
“Jeez. Eat quickly and go wash up.”
By the time the first group had finished half their meal, Han Eunyoung and Lee Seungyeon rushed in, dressed neatly in their uniforms. Unlike Han Eunyoung, who was perfectly put together, Lee Seungyeon had her tie rolled up and stuffed in her pocket. Both flinched when they saw Hong Seok-young and Woo Heejae and greeted them.
“Good morning, teachers.”
Han Eunyoung entered calmly, but Lee Seungyeon lingered awkwardly in front of the two teachers.
“Uh… I usually do morning exercise, but today I felt a bit chilly, maybe coming down with something…”
“Just go eat.”
“Enjoy your meal!”
And so, another morning at the Hunter Training High School began…
“Hmm…”
Woo Heejae, watching the kids finish not just their first but their third helping and even grab apple juice from the fridge on their way out, finally spoke.
“Where’s Park Seohyun?”
“……!”
Park Seohyun’s eyes snapped open.
The first thing she checked was the window. Thanks to the thick black blackout curtains she’d drawn before bed, not a sliver of light came through.
She took a slow breath, then checked the phone on her bedside table.
[08:42]
“Ah!”
Thud!
With a short scream, she tumbled out of bed. With the blanket tangled around her feet, it was more accurate to say she rolled off than climbed down.
She wasn’t sure how she managed to get ready, but by the time she’d washed up, changed into her uniform, and left the dorm, it was 8:55.
She nearly rolled into the classroom, where her friends stared at her in surprise.
“What the—Seohyun, did you really oversleep?”
“…Yeah.”
She ran a hand through her messy hair and nodded quietly.
“What happened? Park Seohyun, oversleeping?”
“I didn’t hear my alarm…”
“I should’ve woken you. I thought you were skipping breakfast.”
Yoo Hye-eun looked apologetic, but Park Seohyun shook her head.
“No, it’s my fault I didn’t get up.”
The dorms at the training school are two to a room. With only four girls, Park Seohyun should have shared with Yoo Hye-eun, but she’d given up her spot for Yoo Jieun. Even though Jieun would be a high schooler in March, she was still too young to have a room alone.
And, honestly, Seohyun liked having a room to herself.
Of course, it was a problem when she overslept and missed her alarm like today…
Maybe because of that, she barely remembered how she got through the morning classes. Fortunately, she already knew most of the material. When Hong Seok-young had asked if she wanted to enroll in the new school he was planning, she hadn’t expected things to turn out like this…
It had only been a year and a bit, but it already felt like ages ago. She was glad she’d studied hard back then—otherwise, she’d be struggling now.
“You weren’t around this morning…”
On the way to lunch after morning classes, Park Seohyun ran into Woo Heejae.
He paused.
“…Teacher?”
“Ahem. Yeah. Didn’t see you this morning.”
“I—I overslept…”
“Really? And your hair? You usually tie it back.”
“I forgot my hair tie…”
She fiddled with her bangs, suddenly self-conscious. She’d always hated showing any sign of carelessness, so realizing she looked a mess after oversleeping made her anxious. Woo Heejae, however, seemed oddly relieved and nodded.
“You oversleep too, huh.”
“Ugh…”
“It happens. Did you stay up too late last night?”
“…Yeah. I was reading a book Ms. Kim lent me.”
“It’s good to be studious, but you still need to sleep properly.”
She nodded.
“I’ll be careful. Sorry.”
“I’m not scolding you… I just think you’re putting too much pressure on yourself.”
She blinked in surprise. Pressure?
“Choi Jinwoo may be your student, but he’s also your friend. You don’t have to be perfect.”
“……”
“You’re still learning, too. Remember what I told you?”
“…What did you tell me?”
It had been almost a year since Woo Heejae started teaching at the pilot school. As she thought back over everything that had happened, she realized she had no idea which words he meant—there were too many.
Sensing her confusion, he gave a small laugh.
“I told you I’d make you a great mage, didn’t I?”
“Oh…”
Her eyes sparkled through her tousled hair.
“Don’t rush. Take it easy. You’re doing well.”
She felt tension she hadn’t even known she was holding begin to melt away.
Her grandfather had once said something similar.
‘Magic is born from leisure.’
Though, for someone who said that, he’d been a rather impatient man…
Maybe this impatience ran in the family.
She didn’t know why Woo Heejae was giving her this pep talk just because she’d overslept, but it was exactly what she needed right now.
She nodded and answered with renewed vigor.
“…Yes!”
Woo Heejae smiled with satisfaction.
“Good. Then enjoy your lunch… Your hair’s not bothering you?”
“Huh? Oh, no, it’s fine.”
“I thought it might get in your way since it’s down… But if you’re fine, that’s good. Enjoy your meal!”
“You too, teacher!”
From the afternoon classes onward, Park Seohyun’s focus returned.
Unlike the fixed morning schedule, afternoons were flexible. During the training school’s winter break, this was even more true; the hunter teachers had their own duties, so whoever was free would take the class.
They’d said this would be sorted out by March, so for now, all she had to do was pay attention.
Park Seohyun was sitting in the classroom with Choi Jinwoo. He glanced at his watch.
“…Isn’t today Ms. Kim’s class?”
She checked her phone.
[Afternoon class today!]
A message from Kim Chaemin.
“That’s right… Why isn’t she here?”
“She’s not answering her phone.”
“I saw her car earlier. The yellow one.”
“So she’s here…”
After a moment’s thought, Park Seohyun stood up.
“I’ll go check the staff room.”
“Want me to come?”
“No. No need for both of us.”
She left Choi Jinwoo behind and stepped out into the quiet hallway—quiet because the school was large for the number of students. The noise from the field was actually louder.
Through the window, she saw her friends clustered together in a corner of the field. Looks like they were up to something fun again. She shrugged and picked up her pace.
The staff room was in a different building. As she stepped outside, a chill breeze brushed her face. It wasn’t all that cold, but seeing her breath come out white reminded her it was still winter.
“…Goyo?!”
On her way to the staff room, she stopped in her tracks. Mr. Woo’s voice. He rarely raised his voice like that.
Curious, she listened closely. Bubbles rose from the shadow at her feet. Eavesdropping was wrong, but…
“Still…”
That was Ms. Kim’s voice.
“So what you’re saying is…”
Now the principal’s voice.
“……”
Curiosity won out.
Just enough to hear the voices…
“Why not! Isn’t it a good idea?”
“How is it, exactly?”
“It’s perfect!”
“Where is it perfect?!”
“I’m saying I’ll become Mr. Woo’s apprentice!”
“And how is that supposed to be a safety device!!”