Chapter 2: Whatever happens in the future, it’s all your fault.

With her beautiful face, long legs, and slim waist, it was hard to believe that the girl before them was the headmaster of the academy.

Choi Iseul, who became the youngest academy headmaster in her twenties, sighed deeply.

The reason? There was a disturbing rumor circulating within the academy—a male student had been stalking a female classmate.

Choi Iseul muttered to herself.

“No matter how much I think about it, something’s off…

Hyunseung Lee has always been the top scorer in written exams without causing any issues.

Why would he even bother with something like stalking? Does he even have time for that?”

The written exams at Broad Academy were notoriously difficult.

Even children from prestigious guilds, who had received private tutoring, struggled to score perfectly.

Yet Hyunseung Lee, from the moment he entered, had never once missed being the top scorer in every small exam held since the start.

Of course, his practical scores, which required physical ability, were terrible.

Still, Hyunseung was well-regarded by the academy instructors.

In fact, there was no reason for him to be disliked.

He was quiet, diligently did his work, and never showed off his abilities.

Moreover, his attitude in class was impeccable.

Beside her, Professor Jung Yujin, a magic instructor, voiced her doubts.

“I feel the same as you, Headmaster.

Honestly, there are plenty of students who show no interest and doze off during lessons.

But Hyunseung always had a keen expression and focused intently in class.

Throughout my teaching career, I’ve never seen a student sit in the front row and study with such passion every single time.

Despite already knowing the content, given his grades, he never looked bored and kept paying attention…

To think that such a model student would commit an act like stalking… It’s hard to believe.”

“Hmm… Professor Jung, it seems you and I think alike. In that case, how about we delay Hyunseung’s punishment until more concrete evidence emerges? After all, the phone found in his locker hasn’t been proven to be his.”

“I agree. Let’s proceed that way…”

BOOM –
In the middle of their conversation, the door swung open, and a woman, adorned with fancy accessories and dressed in what looked to be incredibly expensive clothes, barged in.

It was Yoo Heeyeon’s mother, Kim Heera.

Startled, the headmaster stood up and greeted her.

“Hello, you must be Yoo Heeyeon’s mother. What brings you here…?”

Kim Heera was the wife of the Artemis Guild Master, the most powerful guild in the country, and the mother of Yoo Heeyeon.

Her husband, Yoo Hanbeom, ran the Artemis Guild, which raked in astronomical sums of money every year.

In terms of power, no other guild could even come close. Because of this, Kim Heera was also said to have influence equal to that of the Artemis Guild’s power.

Ignoring the headmaster’s greeting, Kim Heera glared and spoke sharply.

“Headmaster? I’ve just heard something very upsetting. Is it true that some lowlife student has been following my daughter Heeyeon around?”

The headmaster, sweating nervously, responded.

“Well… the exact details haven’t been confirmed yet…”

-Flinch-

As the headmaster tried to explain, Kim Heera immediately picked up on it and pressed harder.

“What? The exact details haven’t been confirmed? There was a phone in that punk’s locker, filled with pictures of my Heeyeon taken while following her around. If that’s not solid evidence, then what is?”

The headmaster had nothing more to say.

It was practically undeniable evidence. But considering Hyunseung’s character, she believed he wasn’t the type to commit such an act.

She wanted to delay judgment until more evidence came to light.

“Well… to be honest, Hyunseung is not the kind of student who would…”

“What? Are you siding with that stalker now? Ha! This is why a young woman like you shouldn’t be running an academy! You can’t even handle things properly! Isn’t that right?!”

Kim Heera glared with contempt at the headmaster, then raised her phone in the air.

“You’ve messed with the wrong person. I’m going to call my husband right now and tell him to cut all the funding to this academy. And I’ll make sure to send enforcers to ruin every business you’re involved with. You know the charities that Broad Academy and the Artemis Guild jointly donate to? I’ll tell them to pull all the money from there too. Got it?!”

-Flinch-

A significant portion of the academy’s operating funds came from large donors like the Artemis Guild.

The headmaster used these funds to create an environment where students could focus on their studies and training.

She also sought ways to help those in need, fostering mutual growth.

The Academy’s joint donation project was one of them.

It was a project to send relief goods to young, helpless orphans.

Principal Choi Isul spoke.

“Th… that would be difficult. If… if you suddenly stop the joint donation, the children in the slums might all starve to death at once.”

“f*ck, why the hell should I care if those brats starve to death?

I was just pouring money into something useless, asking you to take good care of my daughter.

And now the principal of the Academy is siding with a stalker instead?

If the evidence isn’t clear, shouldn’t you at least separate that bastard from my daughter?

If nothing else, suspend him!”

….

The principal thought deeply for a while.

Then she finally answered.

“Alright. He will… be suspended.

I will suspend him for now…

And if more definitive evidence comes out, further punishment will be taken.

We’ll also assign bodyguards to Yuhuiyeon.

So, please maintain the joint donation…

These children need our help, having lost their parents and everything else.”

Kim Heera, satisfied at last, patted the principal’s back.

“See? Wouldn’t it have been better to agree from the start?

I won’t touch the donation.

But make sure that bastard who messed with Yuhuiyeon is dealt with.

How dare he?

He doesn’t even know his place.”

Kim Heera grumbled, clearly still angry.

“A useless bastard who hasn’t even awakened a profession.

That punk thought he could make a move on my Yuhuiyeon just because he studied a little?

Let’s show him what happens when he steps out of line.”

Kim Heera continued cursing Hyunseung before storming out.

Magic instructor Jung Yujin spoke with a troubled voice.

“Principal… do we really have to suspend him?”

“For now, let’s proceed with a temporary suspension.

But make sure it doesn’t affect him unfairly.

He shouldn’t suffer excessive punishment until we know the real culprit.

If Hyunseung isn’t guilty, we must compensate him appropriately.

Now… let’s begin the investigation.”

An announcement rang through Broad Academy.

“Student Hyunseung Lee, please come to the office immediately.

Once again, student Hyunseung Lee, please come to the office immediately.”

“Hey, Hyunseung, they’re calling for you. You criminal scum.”

Sung Hyunwook mocked me, pointing toward the speaker.

I headed toward the office, enduring the disgusting stares of everyone around me.

When I arrived, Magic Instructor Jung Yujin explained why I was called.

It was obviously about the stalking incident involving Yuhuiyeon.

Then, Jung Yujin told me something unbelievable.

“I’m sorry, but starting tomorrow, you won’t be coming to school for a while.”

“What?…”

I stared blankly at the instructor after hearing her words.

“Instructor, I swear I didn’t stalk anyone.

There’s no clear evidence that I did it either.

The phone found in my locker isn’t mine!

This is so unfair!

Please investigate. I’m confident I’ll pass any investigation.

This isn’t right, and you know it.

If I’m suspended, everyone will think I’m guilty of being a stalker.”

Jung Yujin lowered her head like someone who had committed a crime and spoke quietly.

“I’m sorry…

I know you’re not that kind of person…

But from my position, there’s nothing I can do.”

“Did Yuhuiyeon’s parents pressure you?”

It was obvious.

Yuhuiyeon’s father was the leader of the top guild in the country, Artemis.

Her mother could also use Artemis’s power.

Broad Academy usually didn’t handle things so rashly.

Seeing how they were rushing through this, it was clear someone was pushing them.

It had to be her parents.

The way Jung Yujin avoided my gaze, unable to speak, was proof enough.

‘f*ck…’

The decision was already made.

There was nothing I could do.

I was an unawakened, jobless nobody, and I was up against Artemis, the top guild in the country.

Whether or not I actually committed a crime didn’t matter.

Truth was always bent to the will of the powerful.

-BOOM!-

I didn’t see the point in continuing the conversation.

I left the office and closed the door behind me.

Outside, Yuhuiyeon was waiting for me, glaring.

“So, you’re getting suspended in the end?

Why’d you do it?

If you’d just knelt and begged, maybe I would’ve forgiven you.

Tell me honestly, why’d you stalk me?

Was it because I’m too pretty?”

She was spewing nonsense.

But beyond that, she knew I was getting suspended.

She must’ve asked her parents to make it happen.

I was furious and shouted at her.

“You think it’s cool to act like that, relying on your parents’ power?

f*ck… and by the way, you’re not even that pretty.

Why would I ever be interested in someone like you?”

Yuhuiyeon looked at me, shaking, as if she couldn’t believe what I just said.

“If it wasn’t because you liked me, then was it because you were curious how I always came in first in the practical exams?

Did you think you’d find some hidden trick?

Keep dreaming.

No matter how hard you try, an unawakened loser like you will never get a job.

You can come in first on the written exam a hundred times, but you’ll always be dead last in the practical.

Did you think stalking me would somehow help you find a hidden piece?

Pathetic.

No matter your reason, you’re nothing but a worm.”

-Tch!-

Yes, I was unawakened and jobless.

But it wasn’t over.

I knew I could become much stronger than her if I wanted.

Hidden jobs, hidden items, hidden skills.

I knew where all of them were.

First place in the practical exam?

I didn’t need to stalk her to get there.

I barely restrained myself from slapping her across the face and spoke.

“I’ve already told you, I didn’t do anything.

And you’re the one who provoked me first.

Remember, whatever happens from now on, it’s all your fault.”

With that, I turned my back on her.

Behind me, I could hear the insults and jeers from others.

They were all from Class A, just like me.

“What a piece of trash, pretending he’s innocent until the end.”

“Guys like him are the scum of society.

It’s disgusting to think we were in the same class as that freak.”

“See, this is why you shouldn’t associate with unawakened losers.

He barely got into Class A through the written exam, but his inferiority complex is eating him alive.”

Unawakened…

Inferiority complex…

Stalking…

They were spouting complete bullshit.

I looked at the crowd mocking me and at Yuhuiyeon, who glared at me like I was an insect.

‘I’ll find those hidden pieces…’

From now on, I would gather the hidden pieces.

I’d find the one who framed me and destroy them.

And last, I’d make Yuhuiyeon, the Artemis Guild, and all those who looked down on me regret it.

By the time my suspension ends, there will be no one in this Academy who dares to call me a stalker or an unawakened loser.