After finishing conversation with the two old men and returning to my seat, Irina was there.
"What. Did you get Suhyeon's permission before coming?"
Saying that casually, Irina's face distorts.
Seems her insides are all twisted having to obediently follow after agreeing herself.
"I already got permission before coming. Why are you doing this too, oppa?"
"I'm just asking if you're faithfully implementing promises?"
Then I looked at Suhyeon, who was silently laughing beside me.
Irina says so, but did you really let her come after getting permission?
"Just as Irina said. She came after getting my permission."
"See! I said I got permission!"
"Of course, I didn't want to let her in smoothly so I refused several times, but she kept asking for permission until the end, so..."
"Hey! When did I do that!"
"What about phone records remaining here? Still, if you object, I can show and play message contents and call recordings to the Examiner."
Scary, scary. Did you record even then?
Irina also seems to think similarly to me, making a tired expression.
"More than that, where did you go, Examiner?"
"Aren't you too obsessed with oppa? Wherever oppa goes!"
"I'm just asking? I don't know why you think that way."
At first when those two bickered , I was unconsciously tense.
But now I've reached the level of just passing it off thinking 'there they go again.'
Since I know both maintain 'lines.'
Both know there's absolutely no benefit the moment they cross that.
Both Suhyeon and Irina are smart about that part.
"So, where did you go?"
...You say obsession to Suhyeon but you ask again, Irina?
Dumbfounded, I laughed and gave the answer both women were waiting for.
"Called by the Dean. Going there, Suhyeon, your grandfather was also there."
"Grandfather? Why did he suddenly come?"
I told Suhyeon and Irina about the conversation I just had with the two old men.
Unlike inside the Academy, the overall situation isn't very good.
So each country presented opinions for more reliable and excellent ability user training.
Upon hearing my words, Irina's expression distorts strangely.
Whether dumbfounded or thinking it's nonsense,
I could immediately tell the visible reaction wasn't very positive.
"Don't know. Just said discussions came up."
"Of course they would. Doing that would automatically eliminate level gaps."
"Each country has different numbers and levels of ability users. So educational institutions training those juniors must have different levels by country. Think about it. Here's level 8, there's level 4. In that situation, joint academy? The level 4 side has something to gain, but the level 8 side has nothing to gain."
At Irina's explanation, Suhyeon goes "Ahah!" and nods.
I was also worried about exactly that part regarding joint academy establishment.
Joint academy's establishment purpose. Reveal know-how for everyone to become strong together.
But acting contrary to that purpose, making only some people good?
With such thoughts, upper countries will say 'No thanks!' and won't send ability users.
Like US leaving world peacekeeping forces.
"But Examiner said so. If one place collapses, that burden will come double, triple, or more, so they might agree from fear of that."
"That's... well, right. If it were before, maybe not, but now many cases of failure from small mistakes. Oppa. How severe are damaged places?"
Hearing my answer, Irina sighed saying 'Really big trouble.'
"Still, thanks to that, they'll think positively."
"Send your country's ability users to suffer damage versus teach them to handle it there, right?"
At Suhyeon's confident voice, Irina jokes saying "Oh my, well done. Good job!"
Then going "Wait!" she shouts loudly and crosses arms.
"Why did they tell oppa that story first? I'm hearing it for the first time too?"
"If you don't know the reason and ask, can't help it."
So I said if you don't know, can't help it.
Probably the two old men seem to want to send me if that academy is really made.
Since I've already produced quite good results examining students here.
Simply fighting well and teaching well are separate problems. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novelꞁire.net
Conversely, considering Irina's personality, she's far from joint academy.
Sorry to say this, but she's 'combat' specialized.
Her trait is 'Combat calls me!' so that says it all.
"But Examiner! If such an academy is really established, how do you enter there?"
"Well. Nothing certain, but from roughly what I heard discussing, they're thinking of primarily taking talents filtered by each country's educational institutions."
"Hmm? But there are cases where abilities develop relatively late, right?"
"Naturally considering such cases, they're thinking of routes for direct admission..."
"Student Lee Hyunwoo?"
"How long have you been here?"
Threw question so naturally I momentarily couldn't feel strangeness.
Irina aside, when has this guy been here?
"I've been here since a while ago."
"Then why didn't I know?"
"Well, when this person here sent me flying over there."
The person here Lee Hyunwoo mentions. That was Irina.
More than that, what? Sent flying? Looking casually, my goodness.
His condition is quite a sight from getting properly beaten.
What's this about now, looking at her with that feeling—
"Don't misunderstand, oppa. Would I do that for no reason? This is driving me crazy."
"What are you saying?"
"Since a while ago, he's been whining asking me to beat him up too!"
Beat him up? Could Lee Hyunwoo have that preference... can't be.
Then the remaining possibility for that beating Irina mentions is one.
"Student Lee Hyunwoo? Don't you still come asking me to spar every day?"
"I've done it every day I come to work without missing once."
"Correct! So I'm always grateful!"
But why go to Irina asking for beating?
Asking for beating means pointing out your lacking parts.
I do that every day, so what does that make me?
"But how should I say it? Ah! I thought it would be good to get beaten more diversely by various people! Since succeeding in Silver promotion, my earnest feelings somehow got diluted!"
Diluted my ass. If your current passion is diluted, everyone else should go die.
Getting completely smashed sparring against S-rank every time,
Not enough, asking another S-rank for beating too?
Other ability users would faint hearing this story.
"And asking only the Examiner for sparring feels too much like sparring!"
What's this about now?
"Don't I need someone who really hurts and treats me roughly! That way I can bring out more real combat feeling. But the Examiner is such a good person, it's awkward for you to do that."
"Look at this bastard? Hey. So I'm not a good person?"
"Not that Irina-nim is bad, but the feeling of treating roughly seems good!"
"Are you complimenting or insulting now? Pick one!"
From my perspective, seems like subtly dissing.
More than that, Hyunwoo? What? I'm too good a person so I can't do that?
Starting tomorrow's sparring, I'll beat you like a dog on dog days.
Real combat level, atmosphere, plus real combat level pain too?
I'll do that for you. Should have said so earlier. Would have done it right away.
"Looking at the story so far, grandfather and the Dean both seem to inwardly want to send the Examiner there."
I felt that too. That's why I suddenly brought up that story.
Each country will send ability users with bright futures.
Then personnel teaching them must also be tremendous people.
From faculty to examiners checking levels, everyone.
'And considering safety, S-rank residence will be almost essential.'
Someone who can teach students in any case at the academy,
While definitely protecting the academy from all threats.
Among such personnel, picking the best, even I think I'm certain.
"Think about it, Irina. If that joint academy is really made, the Examiner might go there, right? Then both I and you, time we can be with the Examiner..."
When Suhyeon nods, Irina's expression immediately darkens—
No, kids? Why worry about something that hasn't happened yet?
Joint academy wasn't established, nor was there official announcement to make one.
Even if so, there are portals. Doesn't take long to come and go.
And it's not definitely decided whether I'll really go there!
"Hey. Kim Suhyeon. Don't worry. I'll handle that."
"If it really happens, I'll threaten to make that academy built in Korea."
...Hey. Wait. What? What will you do?
"Would that be possible? Domestic maybe, but overseas..."
"Don't you know who I am? Who am I? Irina. If I set my mind to it, strongest ability user who can catch and kill three Elders. Other countries all know too. So if I say let's do that, they'll definitely do it."
"...Okay. I'll trust you."
No, you crazy woman! Don't use force for such things!
And Suhyeon, even you! What am I supposed to do if you encourage that!!
Couldn't help but hold my forehead.