Chapter 140: He Is a Mage Who Will Be a Model for Many Erin, who had been focused on her paperwork at her desk, felt a gaze and looked up.
Her secretary, Katrina, hadn't said a word, but her eyes met Erin's without flinching, looking as though she had much to say.
Knowing exactly what her grievance was, Erin let out a small chuckle and set down the pen she had been using to sign documents.
"Why do you look so upset?"
"I am not upset. I simply do not understand."
"Mmm... it's only natural to want to cheer for a child who is both talented and hardworking. Ah, is favoring a student a disqualifying trait for a principal?"
"Favoritism is...! That is not the issue... Yggdrasil's purpose is to nurture mages who will take responsibility for the future and protect humanity."
Many people were under a misconception, but Yggdrasil was not an egalitarian institution.
Trapped within the limits of the Barrier, facing a shortage of supplies, embroiled in a constant war against monsters and demons, and watching combat mages die off easily—resources were far too scarce to invest equally in everyone.
In the first place, only talented elites could even gain admission to Yggdrasil. The goal was to sift through those gathered gems to find and cultivate the rare talents capable of becoming 12 Zodiac-class mages.
One great mage achieved more and saved more lives than a thousand nameless ones.
While Erin had distributed resources a bit more evenly since becoming principal to uncover more hidden talents, the core elitism remained.
The Magic Research Club was already receiving massive support because the school saw the potential for Akito to become a 12 Zodiac-class mage. They were granted several times more funding than other clubs or student organizations, along with significant conveniences regarding commissions and education.
It wasn't just Yggdrasil; the government also provided benefits and support to talents like Akito.
In such a climate, favoritism wasn't a mistake—it was a duty for a principal.
"...But Seo Yeon-woo is still a person of interest under government suspicion."
"Suspicion and surveillance are the government's jobs. My job as principal is to help a brilliant talent spread his wings."
"..."
"Do you dislike Yeon-woo that much?"
When Katrina fell silent, Erin rested her chin on her hand and looked at her with an amused expression.
Katrina turned her head slightly, as if annoyed by the playful glint in Erin's eyes.
"Is there any mage currently in Yggdrasil who can fight a Hazard Level 7 monster? Perhaps Akito? Miss Shizuka is... likely still out of her depth."
"He simply rode on the coattails of Greyhound's achievements."
"Oh my, you know very well how close I am with Sister Frey."
Erin giggled.
She had already heard everything that happened during the commission from her close friend, Frey.
The White Abyss was far more severe than publicly known; Yeon-woo had managed a team, pierced through that abyss, climbed the communication tower, and fought a decisive battle against Okigo.
Even though he had cooperated with Frey and only landed a single strike at the end, the sheer nerve required to leap from the top of the tower into the White Abyss to attack Okigo was enough to make even seasoned combat mages click their tongues in disbelief.
It was something one could never do without absolute confidence in their own abilities.
Furthermore, the greater the ability one possessed, the more responsibilities were thrust upon them—whether they liked it or not—and they had to strive to fulfill them.
Erin herself was someone who had pushed through fierce battles where she thought she would never survive, even when she occasionally wanted to run away because she was only human.
Her life had been one of talent, luck, and bone-breaking effort.
Having experienced the grueling process of becoming a member of the 12 Zodiacs firsthand, Erin felt a deep sense of empathy for Yeon-woo.
"I still do not see Seo Yeon-woo as having the same level of talent as Daihara Akito or Amagi Shizuka."
"Many people evaluate him that way. However, he is racking up far more results than Akito, Shizuka... no, even more than mages already active in the field, isn't he?"
He had wiped out a criminal organization—though he had Greyhound's help, was that all? Despite the flaw of involving the government, he had dismantled a cell-based criminal organization that was notoriously difficult to catch.
There was the incident where he was stranded outside the Barrier after a monster attack and returned to base in cooperation with Akito's team; the time he and Akito dealt with John, who could nullify magic, and rescued civilians; and the instance where he saved fellow mages from a mysterious group. He had even taken on a commission that government agents had failed, reclaimed a base, subjugated Okigo, and even discovered a Kamiraite mining site.
Every time Yeon-woo did something, he piled up achievements that others would struggle to accomplish even once in a lifetime.
Unable to deny his track record, Katrina could not find a rebuttal to Erin's words.
"The only excuse people have to belittle Yeon-woo is that he hasn't achieved something entirely on his own yet. But haven't we been watching him here at Yggdrasil?"
"..."
Everything he did outside involved cooperation or borrowing strength.
However, everything Yeon-woo did during Yggdrasil's training was achieved through his own power and wisdom.
When comparing the two, the difference was so stark one might mistake them for different people.
"Personally, I rate Yeon-woo higher than Akito."
"Higher than Akito?"
"Yes. Akito is certainly brilliant and achieves much with his overflowing talent. But if you look at the process, he relies solely on his own abilities. Exceptional magic, combat sense, vast magical knowledge... Akito will surely become stronger than me, but he only has two hands."
"..."
"Yeon-woo, despite having talent comparable to Akito's, actively utilizes external forces. He uses what is necessary, discovers things others miss, and employs them in ways no one would expect. This isn't something you can just teach."
"Is that also a part of his talent?"
"No, it's not talent; it's experience. It's what is usually described as 'veteran savvy.' Or perhaps... knowledge? Foresight? Is that too delusional? Regardless, Yeon-woo acts with a confidence and certainty born from 'knowing,' and he produces results."
"..."
How could a student who had just turned twenty and never even held a job have so much experience?
He was too seasoned; for a twenty-year-old student, he possessed far too much.
Beyond his record as a combat mage, he owned a private laboratory, an investment firm, and recently, even a rehabilitation hospital.
On top of that, his network was incredibly vast, including Frey, Moai Technology, the Prestige Hotel, and the Shrine Maiden Clan of City D.
He was a handsome man who had everything.
That was precisely why the government was suspicious, and Katrina felt the same.
As if understanding her doubts, Erin smiled.
"Don't worry. Yeon-woo is a good boy. If he isn't... I will take full responsibility."
The weight of a member of the 12 Zodiacs saying they would take responsibility was on a different level.
If he ever became an enemy, she would use everything in her power as one of the 12 Zodiacs to destroy him.
"You can see it too, Katrina. You know how innocent Yeon-woo is. Did you see how flustered he got when I said I'd give him a hug, pulling his hips back? He was so cute I almost pulled him into a real embrace right then and there."
In Katrina's eyes, it hadn't looked like he pulled his hips back out of flustered innocence; it looked like he had deliberately adjusted his position to bury his face in Erin's chest.
Katrina could not forgive him for committing such an impudent act against a member of the 12 Zodiacs and the mage she respected most.
Seo Yeon-woo, innocent?
Erin wasn't seeing herself objectively right now, but Katrina, watching from the side, could clearly sense the changes.
Every time Yeon-woo caused something to happen outside and came to the principal's office—every day there was an interview with him—Erin's attire changed.
At first, Katrina thought Erin just had days where she wanted to dress up, being a woman herself.
Katrina had been in the field with Erin for a long time before she became a 12 Zodiac, and now she served as her secretary; she knew almost everything about her.
Because Erin's breasts were as large as her skills were great, she had frequently been the target of sexual harassment from thoughtless men.
Tired of those gazes and harassment, Erin usually preferred clothes that didn't draw attention to her chest.
Although she naturally had to wear formal suits as principal, which emphasized her bust, Erin still tried to wear the most modest clothing possible.
And yet...
Katrina looked at Erin's top, which featured a deep V-neck.
Did Erin even realize? That as the number of interviews with Yeon-woo increased, her outfits were becoming bolder and bolder.
Her large, gravity-defying breasts showed no sign of sagging, gathering in the center to create an incredible cleavage.
The way her breasts swelled between the split of the V-neck was enough to make even Katrina, a woman, feel envious and slightly scandalized.
At first, it was just a bit more makeup. Then the skirts got a little shorter, then the fit became tighter... and after these gradual changes, she was now revealing the very chest she used to hate showing to men.
As a secretary who meticulously checked school rumors and minor anecdotes, Katrina knew that the number of male students who were losing their minds over how sexy Erin looked had recently increased.
The male students were dazed by her increasingly sensual outfits, and every day she wore such clothes was a day she had an interview with Yeon-woo.
Because she had spent so much time striving to become a 12 Zodiac and hiding herself from the gazes of lewd men, Erin had no experience with men.
No experience meant she lacked immunity.
Katrina admitted that Seo Yeon-woo was undeniably handsome.
His personality was the problem, but in terms of looks alone, he was the best she had ever seen.
Could it be that Erin, lacking immunity to men, was falling for him?
Katrina believed Erin was the best as a mage, but she didn't expect her to maintain that same status in a romantic relationship.
'That man... I have to keep an eye on him.'
For the sake of the mage she respected—a feeling that went beyond respect into deep affection—Katrina could not stand to see Erin toyed with by a shallow man who had nothing going for him but his face.
To be precise, because she held such deep affection, her feelings were strongly rooted in jealousy and caution, but like Erin, Katrina failed to see her own heart objectively as she plotted a way to stop Yeon-woo.
Since thoughts driven by jealousy in a romantic context are rarely rational, even the cold-headed Katrina began to form a ridiculous plan she would never normally consider.
'I'll expose his true nature in front of Lady Erin. He's definitely nothing more than a sex-crazed animal who's obsessed with women...'
Katrina devised a bold and foolish plan to sexually tempt Yeon-woo.
If Erin were to witness him attacking her, unable to control his lust...
Unaware of Katrina's thoughts, Erin smiled brightly as she praised Yeon-woo.
"Yeon-woo is diligent and kind, so he will surely become a model for many people."
"Yes, many people will come to know. It will be so."
"He achieved so much in this commission, so the transfer students who just arrived will surely feel inspired. He will definitely have a positive influence within Yggdrasil."
At that very moment, the Yeon-woo Erin was praising...
"DIE! You black Under-the-Bed bastard!!"
"You son of a bitch!"
In total defiance of Erin's expectations of a "positive influence," Yeon-woo was currently delivering a drop-kick to Isaac, shouting all sorts of racial slurs as he engaged in a bloody brawl with the transfer students.
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