HLSEBT - 79

Chapter 79: Let’s Run Away

The romance of autumn rain didn’t reach the principal’s office.

Gazing at the gloomy weather, the principal felt an even deeper despair.

His right hand kept deforming against his will, so he had come out wearing gloves. An esper seated in the principal’s position couldn’t afford to show a lack of control over their abilities.

He began muttering to the empty air.

“They’ll definitely come for me…”

Yesterday, he had contacted the former principal.

That man had left with a hefty sum of money, happy and carefree. With no family and claiming all his acquaintances had died on missions, he was the one who handed over the job to the current principal.

“It’s an easy job.”

The face of the man who spoke of growing old under beautiful sunsets seemed incredibly content.

To ease the anxious current principal, he often sent reassuring photos, showing he was alive and well despite being involved in such affairs.

But that man had gone missing.

“This can’t be… this shouldn’t happen.”

Muttering to himself, the principal jumped when lightning illuminated the dark room.

The leaves that must have been fresh just yesterday now fluttered pitifully. The leaf stuck to the windowpane was still green but would soon turn brown, seeping into the earth.

“…They’re going to die.”

The crow’s warning was clear.

This was a meticulously planned experiment, and all variables had to be maintained.

Though terrified, he followed it.

If he broke even that rule, he feared his hand might explode while squeezing toothpaste the next morning.

But staying at Shelter wasn’t an option either. Cheon Geon-young would surely capture and detain him.

The principal, mentally cornered, began circling the room at a steady pace.

He stopped only after Goh Myeong-seong, who managed the cafeteria, knocked on the door.

Goh Myeong-seong’s flushed face looked like he wanted to burst into cheers.

“It wasn’t a minnow—it was a big fish!”

The principal tried to hide his anxiety, even removing his gloves before the other entered.

It didn’t matter if his blackened hand showed. He judged it the better choice for someone like Goh Myeong-seong.

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

Goh Myeong-seong stole a glance at the principal’s steel-like hand and quickly replied.

“The transfer student. That girl, Jeon Sung-ha.”

The principal gestured for him to continue. Goh Myeong-seong was practically bursting to share what he had seen and heard.

“I don’t know who spread the rumors, but she’s shown interest in our product.”

“Class G’s Jeon Sung-ha.”

“Yes! She really got under Kang Jin-ho’s skin. All our top-tier products are sold out. With the supply of amplifiers running low, other students are clamoring for more to be made.”

Goh Myeong-seong rambled about how much money they’d made this semester.

“It seems everything will be cleanly sold out. They’re short-handed in the cafeteria basement—chaos has erupted.”

“For the next semester, I’ll assign additional verified personnel.”

“Oh, thank you so much!”

Goh Myeong-seong looked like he might break into song at any moment.

Money was pouring in.

While the vice principal and underlings bore the responsibility, he could simply hide behind this sturdy man and collect the cash.

Thinking there was no easier or better job than this made every day feel like payday.

Drunk on visions of a golden future, he babbled on.

“Producing amplifiers for students in the cafeteria basement… This is a revolutionary shift in thinking. What’s the point of inspecting food trucks endlessly? Everything’s made underground.”

“Still, be careful. Mistakes come from carelessness.”

Worried he might have upset the principal, Goh Myeong-seong bowed deeply.

“Of course. We’re being extremely cautious.”

“How are the students reacting? Are they saying it works?”

The man, who had been raising his voice, met the principal’s icy glare. He suppressed his excitement as much as possible and answered.

“It’s the best. From sample candies to everything else, it’s getting rave reviews.”

“I see.”

“The students are grateful too.”

The principal let out a bitter laugh.

Goh Myeong-seong prattled on, either truly believing it or trying to impress the principal.

“In many ways, you’re providing daily sustenance to the students—they should obviously be thankful.”

“That doesn’t seem necessary.”

The obsequious man bowed so low his scalp was visible. The principal still had enough energy left to mock him.

Stupid bastard.

He couldn’t end up like this money-crazed fool.

Chewing on his twitching cheek, the principal issued instructions to Goh Myeong-seong.

“Distribute as planned. Even the new agents won’t be able to leave with much. Only those originally planned will fall away.”

“I know your skills better than anyone. I’ll follow without question.”

Goh Myeong-seong nodded like a loyal servant. Outside the window, the wind howled eerily, tormenting tree branches.

“The heat will finally break.”

Goh Myeong-seong believed the refreshing autumn would follow the wind, his eyes unwavering. After a brief pause, he began speaking again.

“Um… Principal. One thing, though.”

“What is it?”

“The convenience store owner… Do you have any plans to replace him?”

“Park Dae-chul?”

“I know it’s presumptuous, but he’s quite soft…”

The principal rubbed his forehead, clearly wanting to send Goh Myeong-seong away.

“He’s soft because he doesn’t take his share and instead handles important duties through coercion.”

“…”

“If we replace Park Dae-chul, the new person will demand their rightful share.”

“Ah, you’re absolutely right. Yes.”

Goh Myeong-seong’s eyes widened as if amazed by the thought.

“Park Dae-chul has been working since the previous principal. Replacing a smoothly running wheel will take time.”

“I spoke out of turn. Someone like me shouldn’t think too broadly. I’ll follow your guidance.”

Apologizing for overstepping, Goh Myeong-seong left. The door slammed shut louder than usual.

Alone, the principal’s mind held only one word.

“Escape.”

Whiiing. Trash flailed pitifully along the road. The principal checked the calendar. The first mock battle was just days away.

A day when everyone’s attention would focus on one place. Naturally, incidents would abound.

Perhaps even seeing someone loaded into an ambulance wouldn’t raise eyebrows.

His uncontrolled bodily deformations were gradually returning to normal. As he slipped his glove back on his now-normal hand, he muttered,

“Let’s run away.”

Before the storm hit, he would escape from Shelter.

________________________________________

Only two days remained until the first mock battle.

The two filled the relationship diagram provided by the company with names.

Hong Eun-soo and Woo Joo-han examined blind spots they hadn’t noticed and supplied additional names.

“Do you get extra points for employment?”

Hong Eun-soo teased, winking.

Whenever she saw Yoon Tae-ha, she sometimes felt compelled to act out movie-like scenes.

Winking or slipping a note into her hand in the hallway. Her sudden unexpected actions had startled Yoon Tae-ha more than once.

“You can build drones alone, yet you like this stuff?”

“If agents don’t know espionage clichés, what then? How do you live without fun?”

“Fun? Clichés?”

“It’s good to have fun. Seems you’ve lived a hard life.”

She seemed ready to hack anything if asked. But Yoon Tae-ha told her to set it aside for Hong Eun-soo’s future.

At twenty, she was still a student.

For Yoon Tae-ha, a distinct line existed between those who crossed Shelter’s walls and those who hadn’t.

Hong Eun-soo left for a class exclusive to intelligence espers.

Yoon Tae-ha returned to the classroom. Telekinetic and nature espers, along with their guides, sat there.

This was the lineup of candidates for combat during the mock battle.

Throughout the lesson, she endured stares from two male students.

It wasn’t Cheon Geon-young sitting beside her. It was Woo Joo-han and Kang Jin-ho.

Due to joint classes, Woo Joo-han, whom she now saw more often, blatantly observed—or perhaps surveilled—her.

Sometimes subtle, sometimes overt, their gazes lingered.

In the same classroom, she often felt eyes on her. Looking around, it was either Woo Joo-han or Kang Jin-ho.

Each sent intense looks for different reasons.

Kang Jin-ho’s face screamed his desire to kidnap her and eliminate her from the first round.

It seemed the Class T students had caught on to Kang Jin-ho’s murderous intent toward her. Both Cheon Geon-young and Woo Joo-han became more aware of the back of the classroom.

“Isn’t it dangerous?”

When she was searching for materials alone in the library one evening, Woo Joo-han approached and asked.

It was rare for him to initiate contact. Though she greeted him warmly, he had unilaterally avoided her.

“Who’s in danger?”

Her firm reply earned a sardonic response.

“Haven’t you seen Kang Jin-ho’s eyes? When he makes that face, accidents always follow.”

“No accidents this time.”

“You sound confident.”

“Of course. I came here for this. I’m not the age to wear uniforms again otherwise.”

Woo Joo-han scrutinized Yoon Tae-ha, who fit awkwardly into her uniform, and pouted.

“Doesn’t it suit you?”

When she looked up, he acted as if he’d never said anything.

Woo Joo-han, holding a guide textbook, pretended to sleep by covering his face with the book whenever female students called his name.

Beside him, Yoon Tae-ha shook her head and focused on her work.

She planned to access as much material as possible from Shelter’s library, which was only accessible there.

When the voices faded, Woo Joo-han lifted his head.

“Did they leave?”

“Even with a partner, why do espers chase you around?”

“How should I know?”

Covering his face with a thin book, he rested his cheek on the desk.

His tousled brown hair was a mess, but he didn’t seem to care.