Chapter 9
The entrance ceremony began ordinarily and ended just as ordinarily.
It was so typical that it almost made Saebyeok feel foolish for having expected anything special. And once the ceremony ended, things became even more surprising.
Now the students would have to separate from their parents and live in the dormitories.
Naturally, Saebyeok had expected parents to have endless requests. After all, how could anyone feel comfortable leaving their precious child behind?
…Everyone looked perfectly comfortable.
Even while handing the dormitory guidance over to the dorm supervisor, not a single parent grabbed Saebyeok to say things like, “My child can’t eat this,” or “Please make sure they avoid that.”
What was worse—no one even objected to the headless mannequin acting as the dorm supervisor!
“Um… if there’s anything in particular I should know about your children, could you please tell me now?”
Unable to stand it any longer, Saebyeok stepped forward to the podium herself.
Please, someone just chop my head off! Torture me with every trivial, annoying little request!
“……”
But the parents said nothing.
After receiving only suspicious looks, as if she had said something strange, Saebyeok returned to the empty classroom and clutched her head.
Something… feels wrong.
Are magicians normally like that? Are they usually this quiet?
Then what about Mr. Dongbaek?
That man is the most talkative person I’ve ever met—so what exactly is he?
“Dummy dads are like Therizinosaurs. They look like carnivorous dinosaurs, but they’re actually herbivores living in their own little world.”
Haram, who had been playing a beeping mobile game, suddenly spoke up.
“Magicians are usually like that. They live a long time, marry early, and have lots of kids, so they don’t really think children are precious. And if they’re sending their kids to this school, that says everything.”
“What do you mean by that…?”
“If their children were really precious, they’d keep them with them and teach them personally. They wouldn’t abandon them in a remote boarding school like this.”
Blinking slowly, Saebyeok turned to look out the window.
Students and parents were walking toward the dormitories behind the mannequin supervisor.
…Looking from above, it became obvious.
Compared to the number of students, there were strangely few parents.
“I asked around earlier. Three or four of them are from orphanages. Apparently rumors spread that they were possessed by ghosts, so the foundation staff brought them here.”
“…So we should be grateful that anyone came at all.”
Murmuring blankly, Saebyeok recalled the four entrance ceremonies she herself had experienced.
Each one had been a place filled with people… where she had spent the time alone.
“Don’t worry about it too much. Humans don’t worry about dinosaurs anyway.”
“…What?”
“Oh! Spinosaurus appeared! Dad!”
Haram, who had just scored a huge success in the gacha game, suddenly cheered and ran out of the classroom.
Unable to stop the child, Saebyeok could only stare blankly.
…Wait. Since when was Haram so eloquent?
After the entrance ceremony ended, a full staff meeting was held.
It was technically a meeting, but in reality it was more like a gathering to introduce new staff members. Surprisingly, there seemed to be quite a few replacements.
Each time the vice principal introduced someone in a dry voice, Saebyeok clapped mechanically.
Every now and then she searched for Dongbaek, but that familiar face was nowhere to be seen.
Well, it wasn’t just the elementary school that made up Beodeul School. Maybe he had taken a position in the middle school or high school department…
“Me? You saw me in the faculty office today.”
But later that evening, as they sat down for dinner after he had already finished work early, Dongbaek said that casually.
“I was so happy to see you that I even smiled brightly at you.”
“What? You were at the staff meeting?”
“See? What’s the point of swearing loyalty and signing contracts if you can’t even recognize someone standing right in front of you?”
“T-That can’t be true! I really looked hard for you!”
“Ah, I’m so hurt I could cry. Haram, you must never marry someone like your mom. Find someone with sharp eyes who can recognize you from a mile away.”
“Nice. I’ll marry a Troodon.”
Haram speared a piece of rolled omelet with chopsticks and popped it into his mouth.
“Sigh…”
Dongbaek sighed and corrected the strange way Haram was holding his chopsticks.
“So how’s class preparation going? What do first graders learn these days?”
“It’s less about learning and more about getting used to school, at this stage.”
Even parents who weren’t particularly affectionate would likely feel the impact once separated from their children.
Saebyeok had already fully prepared herself for students bursting into tears during class.
“Well, I’m not worried about that. I’m sure you’ll handle it well. Did the other teachers tell you anything to watch out for?”
“They told me to read the school rules carefully.”
“…That’s it?”
Dongbaek’s chopsticks stopped.
“Yes. They said I should talk to the second-grade homeroom teacher. I’ve been so busy lately… I’ll probably talk to them tomorrow.”
“And the head of academic affairs didn’t say anything?”
“…Learn well from the second-grade teacher?”
“Wow. They’re really trying to get by with the bare minimum, huh?”
Dongbaek set his chopsticks down irritably and laughed bitterly.
Startled by his reaction, Saebyeok asked carefully,
“Is… there some kind of problem?”
“The problem is that I don’t even know what kind of problem might happen. Though whatever it is, it’s still within my control…”
After thinking for a moment, Dongbaek looked directly at her.
“Listen carefully, Saebyeok. Why do you think the school rules are important?”
“The first page says it’s to prevent the invasion of Mysteries.”
“That’s right. Beodeul School is basically a fortress. An impregnable fortress that no Mystery can approach.”
No matter how contagious a Mystery was, or how fiercely it hunted the hearts of young magicians, none of them could cross the school’s walls.
That was thanks to the system that strictly punished violations of the school rules.
“The rules applied to outsiders are extremely strict. Needless to say, uninvited guests are immediately expelled the moment they step onto campus.”
However, once someone belonged to the school, the weight of the rules became much lighter.
“The people most free from the rules are the staff. After all, teachers can run in the hallways and smoke in designated areas.”
“That’s true…”
“But when teachers break the rules, the penalties are much harsher than for students. Just like how adults receive heavier sentences than minors in the outside world.”
Dongbaek covered his mouth thoughtfully.
Saebyeok watched him, confused, before speaking.
“Well… you don’t have to worry that much. I’m someone who lives perfectly well without breaking the law.”
She didn’t even litter on the street. Because a teacher once told her to do it in first grade, she had raised her hand when crossing crosswalks all the way until sixth grade.
“We can’t accept bribes, we can’t have secondary jobs… We must faithfully perform educational duties and maintain dignity as role models for students. Those are obligations teachers learn in university.”
She had read the rulebook multiple times, but few clauses seemed particularly unusual.
At most:
- Do not go to the western school building
- Treat the willow tree by the lake with respect
- All forms of meat consumption are forbidden on campus
…The last one was definitely strange.
“I’ll work by the book and stay away from dangerous things, so don’t worry. Honestly, compared to being chased by monsters outside, I feel much safer and happier here.”
Saebyeok scratched her neck awkwardly.
Dongbaek watched her quietly before smiling.
“…For now, sure. You’re a smart person, Saebyeok.”
Then he added, in a strangely meaningful tone,
“Even if something goes wrong, don’t worry too much. I’ll always be behind you.”
School rules, huh.
Saebyeok was a person of above-average intelligence. She hadn’t completely ignored the warning of a capable Mystery expert.
I should definitely be careful.
But… will these little kids even understand the rules?
“Alright, the bell rang. Everyone take your seats.”
A first-grade teacher’s day at Beodeul Elementary began by escorting the students from the dormitory to the classroom.
Fixing crooked uniforms.
Retieing loosely wrapped scarves.
Knotting undone shoelaces.
By the time she led the chick-like children into the classroom like a kindergarten teacher, it was 8:30 a.m.
They spent time taking off thick winter coats, pulling stray hair from scarves, and laughing together.
Then the bell signaling the start of class rang.
Standing at the podium, Saebyeok looked at the bright eyes of the first graders staring back at her.
Her heart swelled.
She opened the attendance book.
“Let’s start with roll call. After I call your names, we’ll go in number order and do a short self-introduction.”
“Yes!”
“Okay. Number one, Kim Cheolsu.”
There were 17 new students this year.
Saebyeok called each name and made eye contact with every child until attendance was finished.
Now it was time for introductions.
She was about to explain that they could simply say their name, hobby, and favorite thing—just in case anyone was shy.
Knock knock.
Saebyeok tilted her head.
“Who is it?”
“……”
Did she mishear?
“Cheolsu, go ahead and start your introduction—”
Knock knock.
Hmm…
Saebyeok made Cheolsu sit back down.
As she walked toward the door, a thought suddenly occurred to her.
What if the students copy what I do?
“…Alright, kids. Look at the teacher. If you’re home alone and someone knocks on the door, what should you do?”
“Open it!”
“Good answer, Minseo. But before opening it, you should ask first. Repeat after me. Who is it?”
“Who is it?”
The chorus of tiny voices was unbelievably cute.
Smiling warmly at them, Saebyeok suddenly realized something strange.
The hallway outside had gone completely silent.
Who is it really?
“Excuse me, who’s there?”
“……”
“Person in the hallway, who are you?”
She was about to look out the window into the corridor when a deep male voice answered.
“We’re from the foundation. We brought a new transfer student.”
A new student?
Saebyeok tilted her head and pushed the door open.
“I haven’t heard anything about that yet. Which school did the student come fr—”
A dark shadow suddenly fell over her head.
The first thing that entered her mind was one word.
Black.
An excessively loose black suit.
A smooth black bowler hat.
Black leather gloves clinging tightly to the skin.
And black lips that split open all the way to the ears.
Before she could react—
Its stomach split open.
Twisted ribs spread apart grotesquely, revealing thousands of teeth embedded within.
It was the embodiment of ravenous appetite.
Proof of endless vitality promising boundless prosperity.
And the chorus of transcendence that we all cry out together!
……
……
Ah.
Maybe
being chewed by those glorious teeth
would actually be
a meaningful death—
Suddenly something grabbed her ankle and dragged her backward.
Saebyeok slid across the floor and crashed down.
Dazed, she lifted her head.
The horrifyingly beautiful scene before her stimulated her nerves until they felt crushed to pulp.
Layer by layer.
Within the heavenly teeth embedded in its belly—
One.
Two.
Three.
Our eyes pushing through the disgusting organs.
Those many identical yet different eyes spun wildly.
Then slowly focused on one place.
On me—us— sitting on the floor.
Piiiiii—!
A sharp whistle pierced the air.
The warning whistle continued without pause until the creature reluctantly closed its stomach and melted back into the shadows.
When it finally disappeared, Saebyeok looked across the hallway.
In the classroom opposite hers—
Teacher Yang Mirae stood there with a red whistle in her mouth, breathing heavily, her face flushed.
