Welcome, Saint Lee Ro-un

“But how do we meet the Saint? Should we just go into Jiri Academy and ask them to let us meet him?”
“Academies basically prohibit outsiders from entering. Even Jiri Academy probably isn’t an exception to that.”
“Agreed.”
“Why is everyone worrying about something so simple?”

Among the group, a male student with his hair half swept back and brown eyes faintly tinged with green smiled refreshingly as he spoke.

“We can just lure him outside!”
“You. Aren’t you saying that too easily?”
“It came up on SNS that the Saint hasn’t been doing much public activity lately.”
“That’s right. They said he doesn’t come out even when the Jiri guys cause trouble.”

Then the student who first made the suggestion pointed at the passing Jiri Academy students and spoke.

“He may leave them alone if those guys cause trouble on their own, but would he really not come out even if they have a problem with another academy?”

No matter how much he had stopped public activities, Lee Ro-un, as student council president, could not fail to come out for a conflict with another academy.

“…You used your head a bit?”
“A new approach. I think it’s decent.”
“Good. Then we’ll be doing as Seong-ho said, right?”

A student with short hair that neatly exposed his neckline and a sturdy body asked for everyone’s opinions.
The two female students sitting across from him raised their hands and spoke.

“I agree.”
“I agree too!”
“Hut. As expected, my outstanding wisdom shines everywhere.”
“I don’t think so.”
“What are you talking about?”

Boos poured down on the student with green-tinted eyes who had given the idea.
The short-haired student, who had rolled up his sleeves and crossed his arms with his solid muscles exposed, looked toward where the Jiri Academy students were headed and spoke.

“Then shall we ask those students for their cooperation?”
“I agree with cooperation.”
“We can also show the Saint just how low the Jiri Academy guys are. Two birds with one stone.”
“Then should I go ask them to cooperate?”
“Pfft. Still, sending you when you’re a supporter would be too much.”
“Seong-ho. I know you admire the Saint, but let’s not play too crudely.”
“Got it!”

At his friends’ dissuasion, Tae Seong-ho calmed down.
Immediately after, the four got up from their seats.

“Let’s see how long Jiri Academy students can last against us.”
“Let’s not make them cry.”
“Agreed.”
“Let’s go!”

The four young men and women in white uniforms followed after the students in black uniforms.

And a short while later,

Thud.

“What is this? This is all?”
“As expected, Jiri Academy doesn’t seem to have any decent students except the Saint.”
“It’s a disgrace to even be grouped together as academy students.”
“I’m disappointed. To think the Saint is suffering because of you people. I’ll rescue the Saint!”
“Can someone shut Seong-ho’s mouth?”

At the muscular student’s words, the female student beside him with wavy brown hair expressionlessly covered his mouth.
Tae Seong-ho, a supporter, couldn’t escape the hand of the ranged dealer and only struggled while making “mmpf mmpf!” sounds.
After confirming that Tae Seong-ho had been quietly subdued, the muscular student crouched down in front of the fallen Jiri Academy students.

“You guys are from Bukhan Academy, aren’t you? Why are you doing this to us?”
“Sorry about this.”

At his face, which did not look sorry at all, the fallen Jiri Academy students choked with anger.
They wanted to plant their fists into that slick face right away, but the difference in skill between themselves and them was obvious, so they couldn’t charge in.
It was infuriating.

Why are we!
If only we had been born with good traits too!

As they lay face down on the ground, chewing over their circumstances, the female student who had been quiet spoke without hiding the contempt in her eyes.

“I heard the rumors, but I didn’t know you lacked this much skill. Really, what have you been doing since your awakening?”
“Yu-na, don’t go too far. It’s not like they wanted to be like this. What can they do when ranks are divided from the moment of awakening?”
“Hmph! Their natures were probably poor from the start, so when they awakened, their traits came out worthless like that too.”
“Hwang Yu-na.”

At the muscular male student’s restraint, the bob-haired student called Hwang Yu-na turned her head.
The air about her clearly said she didn’t want to deal with them any longer.
The Jiri students, who had to watch all of it while collapsed on the ground, felt immense humiliation.
At the same time, they were furious at their own incompetence, unable to do anything even after hearing those words.
The muscular young man with a likable impression looked down at the Jiri students whose faces were twisted with anger and self-loathing, then spoke.

“Since things have turned out like this, could you call your student council president for us?”

He said it as if asking a favor, but it was actually an order.
The Jiri students realized that they had business with Lee Ro-un, but there was nothing they could do.

Lee Ro-un, carried on Cheon Su-ho’s back, opened his mouth at the sight of the city drawing closer.

“Cheon Su-ho. Do you even know where we’re supposed to go?”
“Can’t we ask people once we arrive in the city?”
“Are you seriously saying that?”
“Is that wrong? I thought the city people would tell us where the students from another place went!”
“Well, yes, they would.”

The people of the academy city below the mountain would not have taken their eyes off students wearing another academy’s uniform the moment they spotted them.
At the irrefutable words, Lee Ro-un shut his mouth.
Ray, who had been calm in Ro-un’s arms, barked loudly at the academy city gradually drawing closer.

[Woof!]
“Hyung. We’re almost there. Even if it’s uncomfortable, please bear with it a little longer.”
“Hahahaha! Lee Ro-un’s Hyung-nim. Please bear with it a little longer.”
[Woof!]
“Cheon Su-ho. Go safely and quickly so Hyung won’t be uncomfortable.”
“Understood, Lee Ro-un!”

Even though Ro-un had asked for the contradictory demand of “safely and quickly,” Cheon Su-ho answered as if it were nothing.
In reality, Cheon Su-ho had raised golden mana to protect Lee Ro-un and the spirit while quickly running forward through the air.
The sight looked like a golden arrow being shot forward.

‘This guy. To think he’s already become this used to handling mana.’

It seemed the genius everyone had paid attention to at the time of his awakening had not gone anywhere.
Lee Ro-un, on Cheon Su-ho’s back, pressed his body close and lowered his center of gravity.
The closer they got, the more Ro-un felt that the people of the academy city were uneasy, unlike usual.

Murmur, murmur.

People glancing toward one place, people gathered in groups of three or five who could not hide their anxiety, people staring anxiously at the slopes of Jirisan.
The direction they glanced toward was the same.

‘Looks like they made quite a scene.’

Seeing people who normally said the troublemakers were a headache unconsciously look toward Jiri Academy in anxiety, it seemed the guys from Bukhan Mountain had openly drawn attention as they moved.
Ro-un clung tightly to Cheon Su-ho’s back while holding Hyung tight, his face saying he did not understand the behavior of those Bukhan student bastards.

“Huh? Over there!”
“Lee Ro-un? It’s Lee Ro-un!”
“The Saint is here.”

The people who had been wary at the sight of someone approaching confirmed that the person on Cheon Su-ho’s back was Lee Ro-un and were relieved.
The belief that Ro-un would resolve this situation showed on their faces.
At that sight, Ro-un slightly furrowed his brow.

Whooong!

Cheon Su-ho, who had been flying through the air, lightly landed in front of the people.
At the movement so skilled it was hard to believe he had not been handling mana for long, Lee Ro-un silently stared at Cheon Su-ho’s back.

[Woof!]
“Ah. Sorry, Hyung. Cheon Su-ho, let me down.”
“Understood, Lee Ro-un.”

Cheon Su-ho lowered his body to make it easier for Lee Ro-un to get down.
As soon as Ro-un’s feet touched the ground, people rushed over.

“Saint.”
“Student council president.”
“Lee Ro-un.”
“Right now, students from another academy!”
“Something terrible happened!”

Amid the people rushing up and trying to tell him what had happened a moment ago, Ro-un somehow understood them and asked back.

“So they went toward the park.”
“That’s right!”
“Yes!”
“I saw it!”

There were plenty of witnesses.
At the behavior of the Bukhan Academy students, who had not hidden their tracks as if openly telling him to come, the corner of Ro-un’s mouth crooked upward.

“Lee Ro-un! How could you leave me behind!”

Joo Hee-jun arrived one step late.
Looking at the items wrapped around his body, Ro-un could guess how he had kept up with Cheon Su-ho’s speed.

“Why did you follow me again?”
“N-no. Well. We can’t let you go alone!”

Ro-un stared quietly at Joo Hee-jun, who had arrived a little later than Cheon Su-ho but not too late.

“W-what, why?”
“No. You’re a little unexpected too.”
“What about me!”
“Never mind. More importantly, it seems the Bukhan Academy guys picked a fight. Will you be all right?”
“…With what?”

Seeing Hee-jun answer while avoiding his gaze as if he had something to hide, Ro-un swallowed what he had been about to say.
It was funny to see the guy who had flinched when he heard the Bukhan guys had come charging in a moment ago pretend to be fine.
Still, finding his courage in following this far commendable, Ro-un decided not to say anything else.

“If it looks dangerous, step back.”
“Hey! You’re the one who should step back. You’re a healer!”
“Have you ever seen me step back?”
“Uh…?”

At Ro-un’s words, Joo Hee-jun’s brain started buffering.
Come to think of it, even though Lee Ro-un was a healer, when an incident happened, he… had never stepped back!?
At Lee Ro-un’s past of going around reforming delinquents with his fists, Joo Hee-jun’s mouth fell wide open.

“Anyway, if anyone is going to step back, you do it.”
“N-no. Still, how could I let only you guys.”

His hesitation was amusing.
The way he whined and glanced over as if he urgently needed to pee made him look like a dog desperate to follow.

[Woof!]
“Ah. I wasn’t insulting you, Hyung.”
[Wooof!]

Ray closed his eyes and stuck out his tongue as if pleased by Ro-un’s touch.

“Anyway, if you’re coming, come. If not, go back. It’s distracting with you here too.”

Cheon Su-ho followed behind Ro-un as he turned toward the park, and Joo Hee-jun hurriedly followed behind them.

“The Saint is here, so we’re saved now.”
“What a relief. It should all be over now.”
“Still, those guys looked pretty strong. Will the Saint and those guys be enough?”
“There’s no one normal at Jiri Academy except the Saint….”
“No, where are these people keeping their eyes?”

An angry voice cut into the citizens who could not hide their distrust toward Jiri students.

“They’re the students who were with the Saint during the Seocho-dong sudden passage incident!”
“Huh?”
“Wait?”
“Come to think of it.”
“I did feel like I’d seen them somewhere.”
“Ohh! Right! It’s those guys!”

People searching on their D-Watches confirmed the press photo of Lee Ro-un, Cheon Su-ho, and Joo Hee-jun taken together and shouted.

“The Saint and those two stopped that terrifying passage?”
“They said those three were the only ones who came to help when neither the Association nor the guilds came.”
“So there were students like that among those attending Jiri Academy.”

The people’s gazes turned toward the park where the three had walked.
A ticklish expectation filled them.

“Should we follow them?”
“I want to go too.”
“M-me too! I’m going to cheer them on!”

The people began quietly moving after the three.
People joined one by one and gathered, forming a small crowd before they knew it.
Without realizing that they had come to hope Lee Ro-un, Cheon Su-ho, and Joo Hee-jun would scold the Bukhan Academy students who had noisily stirred up the city on their own, they hurried their steps.

“He’s here.”

At the words of the female student in the white uniform with an expressionless face, the Bukhan Academy students who had been sitting around the Jiri students stood up.
They fixed their gazes on Lee Ro-un walking over from afar.
Among the four, the student whose eyes held a green tint bounced up and down.

“He’s here, he’s here!”
“Calm down a little.”
“How could I calm down! It’s Lee Ro-un! The third SSS-rank trait Awakener! The future Saint recognized by the World Awakener Association! The idol of healers! A promising talent who raised Korea’s status by several levels!”
“He’s doing that again?”
“It’s the Saint, so understand why Seong-ho is acting like that, Mi-ru.”

At the words of the short-haired male student with a solid body, the female student called Mi-ru expressionlessly nodded.
However, her gaze did not leave Tae Seong-ho, who was making a fuss.

Step, step.

Several sets of footsteps sounded, and Ro-un, Cheon Su-ho, and Joo Hee-jun appeared.

“President.”
“Lee Ro-un.”
“He really came.”

The Jiri students gathered among the Bukhan students spoke in moved voices when they saw Ro-un.
Even in a situation where it was obvious to anyone that they had been used as bait, they felt grateful to Ro-un for coming to save them.
And soon, realizing their situation, they lowered their heads in shame.

“Sorry.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I have no face.”

Ro-un glanced at them, then stopped in front of the Bukhan Academy students.
The Bukhan Academy students looked pleased to see Lee Ro-un, but when they saw Joo Hee-jun following behind him, they hid their smiles.

‘Are they… looking down on him?’

Ro-un remembered everything he saw without missing a single detail.

“We finally meet. Nice to meet you. I’m Kim Jun-tae, a third-year at Bukhan Academy. I’m the vice president of a small group I made with friends who share the same ideals. It feels strange to say it with my own mouth, but my father works in national affairs.”
“I’m Hwang Yu-na. Same academy, a member of the group. My grandfather runs Seongjin Group.”
“An Mi-ru. Granddaughter of the director of Hosan Hospital. Nice to meet you, Saint.”
“Me, me, me! Saint! Nice to meet you. I really wanted to see you. I’ve heard a lot about you from my father. Ah! My father is Director Tae Mu-jin of the Korean Awakener Association. Truly! I really, really, really wanted to see you!”
“Mi-ru.”
“Yeah.”

Grab!

An Mi-ru covered Tae Seong-ho’s mouth.
His eardrums had been suffering from Tae Seong-ho loudly introducing himself like Cheon Su-ho, so he was grateful.
Ro-un sent An Mi-ru a slightly favorable look for shutting the noisy mouth.

“Since you introduced yourselves, I should introduce this side too.”
“There’s no one who doesn’t know who the Saint is, so it’s fine. There’s no need to hear introductions for the others either.”

The student who introduced himself as Kim Jun-tae cut in.
There was no need?
Ro-un’s eyebrow twitched once.
Lee Ro-un, who had taken in all four of their behavior, opened his mouth.

“So. I assume there’s a reason you went through all this trouble and came all this way to call me out. Why did you call me?”

Ro-un’s eyes moved toward the solidly built student who seemed to be the leader.
Receiving Ro-un’s gaze, Kim Jun-tae smiled good-naturedly and answered.

“As expected, the Saint is smart.”

Ro-un’s eyebrow jumped once more.
Not knowing that he had already fallen out of Ro-un’s favor by coming all the way to someone else’s town and causing a disturbance, the muscular Kim Jun-tae smiled brightly.
At that moment, Tae Seong-ho finally shook off the hand covering his mouth and popped out in front of Ro-un.

“Saint! Join our group!”
“Ah.”
“You should have kept his mouth shut properly.”
“His tongue touched my palm. Disgusting.”
“Sigh.”

Hwang Yu-na took out a handkerchief and wiped An Mi-ru’s palm for her.
Ro-un looked at Tae Seong-ho, who had popped out in front of him, and asked back.

“Me, in your group?”
“We saw your performance at the Seocho-dong sudden passage. The opinion came up that you were qualified to enter our group. For reference, every Awakener in our group has an A-rank or higher trait.”
“Saint! You don’t belong here! Come with us!”
“Guys. Could you hold Seong-ho while I’m talking?”
“We can’t do it for long. You know that, right?”
“Got it.”

Tae Seong-ho was restrained once again.
After Tae Seong-ho, who could bounce anywhere, was subdued, Kim Jun-tae stepped forward with a kind face.

“Lee Ro-un. I heard you’ve been having a hard time all this while.”

Ro-un’s gaze turned to the side.
Kim Jun-tae… was it? That guy must be the leader of this group.
Kim Jun-tae, who seemed to be an enhancement-type Awakener, met Ro-un’s eyes directly and held out his hand.

“Come to our academy. We’ll help you.”

At Kim Jun-tae’s words, Hwang Yu-na and An Mi-ru also added their voices.

“If you come to Bukhan Academy, you can join our group too. Think carefully. It would be better for you to grow with our group’s support than to let your precious time rot away at a collapsing academy in a rural backwater like this, wouldn’t it?”
“If you stay with us, you can clear passages whenever you want. Equipment support is possible. Welcome,”

Now, would you look at these guys.
Ro-un’s head tilted crookedly.