Chapter 2: False accusation

As I walked out of the academy’s main gate, the conversation I had earlier with the principal came to mind.

“Mr. Choi, why on earth did you do such a thing?”

“What do you mean?”

I had just finished a lecture with the academy students when I was suddenly met with the principal’s voice, filled with anger.
Surprised by his sudden outburst, I tried to remain calm.
But the principal continued with a furious expression on his face.

“Don’t pretend you don’t know. We’ve already secured the evidence.”

His unexpected accusation left me stunned, so I asked again.

“Please explain what’s going on. I really don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

The principal sighed briefly before showing me the phone in his hand.
[Helmunt Academy Intranet Access Log: User: – chlwndnjs111]

“What… what is this?”

The Helmunt Academy Intranet.
It’s an internal storage system that gathers students’ information to prevent it from leaking outside the academy.
Messages, photos, calls, and all communications sent via students’ phones are encrypted and transmitted through the Helmunt Academy Intranet.

Though the mechanism is complex, it can be simply described as a ‘Wi-Fi with strong encryption magic.’
Just like on Earth, if you control the Wi-Fi, you can steal data. The same applies here.

“Principal, why would I access the Helmunt Academy Intranet containing students’ personal information? I have no interest in such things.”

“Then how do you explain the username recorded here? Isn’t this the ID you regularly use as an instructor?”

“It… it’s true that I often use this ID, but I’ve never logged in.”

“You’re trying to deny it just because we don’t have any evidence other than the access log.
But we’ll soon send out a large-scale cooperation request. If the Magical Investigation Agency starts an inquiry, things could escalate.”

“If you admit your wrongdoing now and leave the academy on your own, we’ll demand that all stolen data be deleted.
Since this concerns students’ privacy, you’ll need to submit a written statement confirming the deletion.
Otherwise, we’ll proceed with an official investigation request.”

Even now, thinking about it makes my blood boil.
‘Damn it. You want to involve the Magical Investigation Agency? Fine, do it.
If this case drags on until trial and I’m found not guilty, I’ll counter-sue for false accusations.’

I can say with absolute certainty that I never accessed the intranet.
I don’t even have the necessary permissions.
And if I did intend to access it to steal information, why would I use my own ID? I’m not that stupid.

Besides, all the students I teach are barely 20 years old.
Why on earth would a 20-something like me want to look at the chat logs or photos of kids who are practically still teenagers?
‘This is so messed up.’

No matter how much I think about it, I can’t shake the anger.
At that moment, a familiar face caught my eye.

‘Baek Hyunseo, a student in the beginner’s class at Helmunt Academy. Her father is the principal.’

The moment she saw me, Baek Hyunseo looked startled and quickly hid something behind her back.
She seemed to have just arrived at the academy, holding textbooks in her hands.

‘What’s this? Is she planning to give someone a gift?’

Despite me being wrongfully accused and kicked out because of her father, here she was, casually getting ready to hand out presents.
As I stared at her, feeling bitter, she stammered.

“Um… Instructor Choi… did my father scold you harshly because of the intranet?”

“He didn’t just scold me, he accused me of being a crimi—”

I stopped mid-sentence, suddenly feeling uneasy.
‘Wait… how does she know the principal was angry at me because of the intranet?’

Baek Hyunseo had the peculiar habit of not using a cellphone.
And from the way she was carrying a load of textbooks, it was clear she had just arrived at the academy.
This meant no one could have informed her via call or message, nor could she have overheard anything directly.
So how on earth did she know what happened between the principal and me?

“Hey… was it you?”

Baek Hyunseo flinched, stammering in surprise.

“Wha… what do you mean? Me… me?”

“You don’t even have a phone, and you just arrived at the academy. So how do you know that I was reprimanded over the intranet?”

“Well… my father told me yesterday…”

Hah. What a load of nonsense. That wretched old principal left for a business trip early yesterday morning and only returned directly to the academy today.
Moreover, the intranet access log was recorded in the afternoon.
By the time the principal confirmed it, he would have been far away from home.

“What are you talking about? The principal went on a business trip early yesterday morning.
The intranet log shows the access occurred in the afternoon.
By then, your father would have been far away from home.”

Baek Hyunseo swallowed nervously, trying to appear calm as she replied.

“I… I got a new phone. My father bought it for me, and I’ve been using it since recently.
I think I heard about it over the phone in the evening while he was away. He mentioned that someone had accessed the intranet. Does… does that satisfy you now?”

“Oh, really? Then you must have a phone number, right? Go ahead, tell me.”

Baek Hyunseo fell silent. She stared at me with anxious eyes.
Her reaction said everything.

I yelled out in frustration.

“Why? Why did you do this? What did I do that was so wrong?
Why did you turn me into a criminal in an instant? Why?!”

Of course, I wasn’t suspecting Baek Hyunseo for no reason.
The security of Helmunt Academy’s intranet is so strong that even a top-level mage wouldn’t be able to breach it.
However, there’s one way to access it freely.
The Master Key.

The principal always carries the Helmunt intranet’s master key.
Since it contains important information, no one else can have it—he keeps it on him at all times.
But just in case, he made a backup device.

I recalled a past conversation I had with the principal.

• “Principal, what’s that you always wear around your neck?”
• “Ah, this? It’s a magical device that contains the intranet master key.”
• “Are you sure it’s safe to carry something like that on your person?”
• “Haha, don’t worry. You know my magic skills, don’t you? There’s no chance anyone could steal it from me.”
• “What if you lose it, though? If the intranet goes down, you’d need the master key to reactivate it.
  Losing that key would be disastrous.”
• “Haha, I told you not to worry. Of course, I’ve kept a spare one at home just in case.
  You’re aware of the level of the magic barrier around my house, right?”
• “Ah… if you have a backup key stored at home, then that’s a relief.
  And since the barrier around your house was created by you, I feel reassured.”
• “Exactly. I told you there’s nothing to worry about.”

If the principal didn’t access the intranet himself, the only remaining way to do so would be by using the backup intranet master key.
And the only person who can freely pass through the magic barrier surrounding the principal’s house is Baek Hyunseo, his immediate family.

Also, since the principal is divorced, only he and Baek Hyunseo live in that house.
All these possibilities pointed to one conclusion.

Baek Hyunseo might have used the backup master key to access the intranet, even under my ID.
But I refused to believe it.
Sure, I’d nagged at her a lot, and she’d received failing grades from me often.
But would she really go so far as to use the master key to access the intranet and leave a record under my ID? That made no sense at all.
It’s like robbing a bank in the middle of the night, then leaving your ID in the center of the vault afterward.

‘That idiot principal must be so blinded by his daughter that he didn’t even consider her a suspect.’
Grit

I’d worked my way up over the years to earn the title of an S-class instructor through sheer determination.
The money didn’t matter anymore, but I had gained a reputation admired by all.
Every student followed my teachings without question, and parents across the country lined up to send their children to my lectures.
My students looked up to me as if I were a hero, and I cherished the way they thanked me and trusted in my guidance.
But now, overnight, I had become a traitor in everyone’s eyes.

Seeing me trembling in anger, Baek Hyunseo suddenly shouted.

“I… I told you it wasn’t me! And even if it were, what could you do about it?
You’re just an academy instructor. Do you think you can treat the principal’s daughter like this?
I’ll tell my father, and you’ll be disciplined.
You’ll regret treating me this way!”

“Disciplined? Don’t make me laugh. Go ahead, do whatever you want.
I’ve already quit being an instructor.
Ha. What’s the point of arguing with you? You’re clearly not going to explain why you did it, so I’ll just go my way.
Please, just get lost.”

“What?! Quit?
Wait… did my father fire you?”

“No. I resigned. Everyone already sees me as a fool.
They all think I stole their data from the intranet.
So, I quit.
You must be happy, right? The guy you wanted gone so badly that you even left a record under my ID is finally out of the picture. You must be thrilled.”

“W-was it really that serious?”

“Are you out of your mind? The intranet holds all the information from the students’ phones.
And there’s a record showing that someone accessed it—under my ID.
How would you feel if you thought some stranger had combed through every corner of your phone?
Your gallery, your call logs, your messages, your apps—nothing left untouched.
How would that make you feel?
I’ve been turned into a perverted voyeur overnight at the academy.”

Suddenly, it hit me again: Baek Hyunseo didn’t even own a phone.
‘Damn it… She doesn’t have a phone, so how could she know about this? This is so messed up.’

Thud

Feeling that there was no point in talking any further, I brushed past Baek Hyunseo.

“W-wait…”

I heard her mumbling something, but I ignored her.
Continuing the conversation would only hurt my brain more.

I looked back at her and spoke clearly.

“Let’s never cross paths again.
It’s better for both of us that way.
I usually don’t dislike people, but you…
I really can’t stand you. You’re the worst. I mean it.”

Step
Step

As Choi Juwon walked away, Baek Hyunseo muttered to herself in a daze.

“This… this isn’t what I wanted…”

Plop

Suddenly, her strength gave out, and she collapsed to the ground.

Splat

The cake she had been holding was instantly crushed, sticking messily to her clothes.

To Be Continued