CICN 33

Chapter 33

Finally, the gifted academy’s classes had begun.

Though it was labeled as temporary, unless a change was requested, students would continue with the same classes, so it was practically the start of the semester.

Evi checked the class schedule she had received.

She had heard that if a class was too popular, students might be assigned to a different professor than the one they had requested.

‘Luckily, none of my classes got changed.’

Evi confirmed that the class list matched exactly what she had applied for.

‘They say people usually become friends while taking the same classes.’

She had overheard other students talking in the cafeteria or dining hall. Many students were already friends before entering the academy, or they grew close by sharing a dorm room.

‘But in the end, most say they grow close while attending the same classes.’

Evi was well aware that her image among the students wasn’t great.

It would’ve been better if Rimora had apologized and admitted her fault in front of everyone, but since she just quit instead, it was now difficult to clear up the misunderstanding.

‘Still, maybe if we take classes together and talk a bit, I might make at least one friend…’

With that small hope, Evi headed toward her first class — mathematics.

Along the way, she saw Irene in the distance, still surrounded by other students as she headed somewhere.

‘I wish I had a class with Irene too.’

Contrary to Evi’s worries, Irene didn’t particularly avoid her.

But Evi couldn’t bring herself to ask what classes Irene was taking.

‘What if I end up bothering her?’

It was already enough that she didn’t avoid her like the others. Asking out of nowhere just to get close might come off as annoying — and if Irene thought that, it would break Evi’s heart.

So Evi never asked Irene what classes she was taking.

And if she couldn’t ask Irene, there was no way she could ask Arcel and Ruska either.

‘Though we parted ways before I even got the chance to ask.’

After spending two hectic days listening to Ruska’s chatter, they had to separate again on the third day — so they couldn’t even exchange proper farewells.

‘But they were probably just like Irene — staying with me because they were worried.’

Expecting to attend classes together might just be her own selfish desire.

And as proof, neither Arcel nor Ruska had shown up again since then.

She was grateful they’d even spent a few days with her — but now that they were gone, she couldn’t help feeling a bit empty.

Evi drooped her shoulders and checked the location of her first class.

“First class today is math with Professor Malles… East Building 23?”

Her eyes widened at the address.

Most of the gifted academy’s classes were held in buildings near the main building.

In the past, all the buildings used to be filled with students, but this year, the academy hadn’t accepted as many new students — so they were only using the buildings closest to the main building.

But East Building 23?

Evi, who had memorized the names and locations of all buildings in the academy, knew.

That building was located at the very edge of the academy.

‘I don’t have time!’

There were only 10 minutes left before class started.

While other students were leisurely heading to nearby buildings, Evi didn’t have that luxury.

“Wahhh!”

Clutching her side-slung bag, Evi sprinted toward the designated building.

As she ran down increasingly empty paths and finally entered the building, she heard a bell ring in the distance.

Class was starting.

“Huff, huff…”

Panting heavily, Evi climbed the stairs.

She had run so desperately that she could taste something bitter in her mouth.

And just before the bell stopped ringing, she reached the classroom.

Evi opened the door and called out,

“Hello! I’m sorry I’m la— huh?”

Her eyes widened.

The classroom was completely empty.

‘Did I come to the wrong place?’

But the paper in her hand clearly said this was the right room.

‘Why is there no professor… and no students?’

Evi’s face turned pale. Had there been a mistake and she ended up in the wrong place?

Even if the professor wasn’t here yet, surely at least one student should’ve arrived.

‘What do I do? Should I go back to the office and ask again?’

Just as she was about to turn around in a panic, she noticed something written on the chalkboard.

Mathematics — Professor Malles
For the first class, take the book on the desk and solve all the marked problems by next time.

After reading the message, Evi approached the desk.

On it was a thick book.

“Advanced Mathematics, Volume 1.”

She had seen it before. When she was in school, a teacher had once brought it in to show the students.

During break time, everyone had gathered around the teacher’s desk, flipping through the pages and groaning at how hard it was — saying they couldn’t solve a single problem.

Evi had wanted to look too, but she couldn’t.

If she had, she’d just be bullied more.

So when she found the book still lying on the teacher’s desk after school while cleaning, she had been thrilled.

She’d even gone to wash her hands thoroughly before carefully opening the cover.

As the others had said, it was filled with difficult explanations and problems from the start. But Evi had loved discovering new knowledge and had been happily absorbed in the book — until the teacher walked in and yelled.

“What do you think you’re doing?! Why are you touching that?!”

He had marched over, snatched the book from her hands like it was contaminated, and brushed off the parts she’d touched as if her hands had dirtied it.

Then he’d glared at her and walked out of the room, taking the book with him.

After that, she never saw it again. She only saw another student with similar grades to hers get called to the teacher’s office and given some kind of explanation.

But now…

“I can really take this with me?”

Evi reread the note on the chalkboard and hugged the book to her chest.

‘I’m so happy!’

She hadn’t met the professor face-to-face, which was a shame — but he must have had a reason.

‘If he’s the kind of person who lends such an expensive book to a student just like that…’

In the past, she’d been scolded just for touching it — but now she was allowed to hold and read it freely.

“Hehe…”

Evi smiled and gently patted the book in her arms. Then a strange thought occurred to her.

“But why aren’t there any other students?”

Math was a required subject for all students. Even though she was sure this was the correct classroom, why was she the only one?

There was still time before the next class, so Evi sat down at a desk and opened the book.

She saw problems marked with circles throughout.

The next class was in just two days.

Solving all of them by then seemed like a tough task. Still…

‘I’ll do my best.’

Evi clenched her small fist, her eyes sparkling.

Two days later

Professor Malles was walking toward his classroom.

He was tall and broad-shouldered. Though his hair was stark white, his sharp, gleaming eyes gave off such a powerful presence that those who passed by him lowered their heads instinctively.

Passing through the crowd of students who didn’t dare look him in the eye, he strolled lightly toward his classroom.

At the gifted academy, once professors were assigned a classroom, they had to use it for the entire semester.

So most tried to secure the largest, cleanest, most centrally located classrooms possible.

But not Malles.

He had requested a classroom as far out of the way as possible — one that was quiet and rarely used.

“You really want to use that building as your classroom? There are plenty of nicer places—why the oldest one…?”

“Just give it to me. The fewer people around, the quieter it is. Noise only interferes with research.”

“But you should consider the students too. For younger kids, walking all the way out there might be tough.”

“At most it’s ten extra minutes! Back in my day…”

“Here are the keys to the classroom and the attached office. If you think it needs cleaning, just let the staff know. I’ll be going now!”

Sensing that Malles was about to launch into a long story, the academy staff member quickly handed over the keys with a polite bow and made a swift exit.

When Malles entered the classroom, he looked around and nodded in satisfaction at its shabby condition.

“This really is the oldest classroom in the entire academy.”