TRPM 229

chapter 229

The shrine maiden already knew it in her head.

She was somewhat famous in her own right, but compared to Elf, a world-renowned actress, she realized it wasn’t much.

(I’m famous in Japan, not worldwide.)

Still, being openly compared to Elf like this didn’t feel good. She knew they were roughly the same age.

No, the problem really started with talking about autograph prices in front of the person herself.

(You idiot…!)
(…Ah…)

The cadet who had mentioned the autograph prices suddenly realized her mistake and wore a grim expression. Seeing this, the shrine maiden considered getting angry, but thought that would look worse, so she addressed the cadets.

(I’m fine, but don’t say things like that again.)
(Yes, I’m sorry.)

The cadet who had misspoken apologized and cautiously left.

(…Wait, something’s weird.)

How do they know the prices of my autograph and Elf’s autograph? Could there really be people buying and selling autographs behind the scenes? But you can usually get one for free at a signing event.

(…Unbelievable…)

Thinking it was ridiculous, the shrine maiden leaned back on the bench she had been sitting on, intending to cool her head with some fresh air, but…

Vrrr…

Her smartphone vibrated, signaling that a peaceful break was out of the question. Maybe someone nearby had sent a casual message, but it didn’t feel like that. Just a hunch.

She took out her phone to check the message. And she realized her intuition had been right.

(…Injury reported, Training Area 3.)

A cadet had been injured during training. She got up immediately and headed toward the training area. An injury happening in a training area where injuries are supposed to be prevented meant it was serious. Whoever it was, they must have exchanged attacks beyond what the training area could safely handle.

“Ugh… ughhh…”
“It’s okay. This should hold until the instructor arrives.”
“But the bleeding… oh, the instructor’s here.”

When she arrived at the training area, the shrine maiden immediately noticed what had happened.

“Again… you?”
“Hahaha… sorry…”

A cadet, covered in training sword blood, hung her head in embarrassment.

(Wasn’t she the top first-year cadet this year? I recall her physical strength fluctuates greatly depending on her condition.)

Her physical condition made it hard to control her strength, which likely caused serious injury to her training partner. Thinking this, the shrine maiden took out a talisman and healed the injured cadet. Once the wounds were closed, she spoke.

“Emergency care is done. Just to be safe, go to the nearest hospital, show your cadet ID, and get proper treatment.”
“Yes… ugh…”
“I’ll go with you.”

Once the situation was under control, she glared at the cadet who had caused the problem.

“Couldn’t control your strength again?”
“Well… you know my constitution. Plus, with consecutive opponents attacking, I got exhausted and couldn’t hold back.”
“I see… and you probably accepted every sparring challenge, even the unnecessary ones.”

The shrine maiden sighed and regarded the cadet.

(She didn’t just challenge people to fight the top cadet for fun, did she?)

The first-year top cadet had hair growing on her eyes and neck. Though hidden by clothes, she likely had more hair under her uniform. According to records, she even had a tail.

(A werewolf mutant, right?)

While Koreans were familiar with mutants due to the Iron Blood Guild’s mutant team, cadets from overseas didn’t view mutants favorably. Yet this mutant was the top cadet. It wasn’t surprising that other cadets would challenge her to humiliate her or waste her training time.

“Well, I do get more sparring experience, so it’s good for me!”
“……”

Even so, she said this with a smile. Being perceptive, she probably knew how others viewed her.

(At least she genuinely enjoys sparring.)

Somewhere, it had been said that future Iron Blood Guild members needed plenty of experience in personal combat. The shrine maiden thought this as she addressed the cadet, still smiling naively.

“So… you’re the one cleaning up this wrecked training area, right?”
“Eh?”
“The person who spars is supposed to clean up the training area. But since your sparring partners have gone to the hospital…”
“…Ah.”

Hearing this, her face turned pale. Looking around belatedly, she saw the other cadets had already fled to take the injured ones to the hospital.

“Good luck.”
“Uwaaah…!”

Leaving the first-year top cadet behind, the shrine maiden exited the training area.

(I should report this to the Director.)

If it were the Director, she wouldn’t just watch a cadet get bullied like this.

Chloe Greenwood, the newly appointed instructor at Seoul Awakener Academy—well, not officially yet, but scheduled to start next year—was currently studying mental magic.

She had agreed to the offer from Director Shin Hanji, tempted by the conditions. But the mental magic Chloe specialized in—specifically, Dream Walker abilities—wasn’t something that could easily be taught to others.

(Still, I have about a year grace period…)

Chloe judged that she could master mental magic enough to teach cadets in under a year.

(At this rate, I could master any type of magic.)

It wasn’t arrogance. Chloe hadn’t expected to learn mental magic so quickly, nor did she expect the method she was using.

(I can do this because I’m a Dream Walker.)

Her study method was unconventional, unlike that of ordinary magicians, and uniquely suited to her.

Under the guise of interacting with other mental mages, she entered their dreams and extracted all information they knew about mental magic. This didn’t erase their memories, but Chloe could internalize all the theories in her own mind. Using these theories, she practiced magic, and even imperfect spells were successfully cast.

(The entity Geonwoo summoned for me was the great mage Merlin, so since the theory was established, casting magic wasn’t difficult.)

Though her proficiency was still lacking, she studied diligently, analyzing theories from other mental mages in her mind while preparing for film shoots in reality.

“Next scene, let’s go!”
“Yes!”

She prepared for the movie shoot. Although she was set to become an instructor next year, until then she continued filming. She had already signed a contract and had no intention of breaking it, not due to penalty fears, but to fulfill her commitments.

“Chloe, I read the article… are you really going to become an academy instructor?”
“Yes, I think so.”

The director’s expression soured. The movie was part of a series, and Chloe’s role had been significant since the first film. If she quit acting after this, her character wouldn’t appear in future films…

(…Fewer people will watch the movies.)

Chloe’s popularity was immense. The director tried desperately to persuade her, but she barely acknowledged it.

(No offer could match Director Shin Hanji’s proposal.)

Chloe recalled the offer that made her decide to join Seoul Awakener Academy:

[We’ll bring your family to Korea for protection, and I’ll acquire your cherished security company for academy use. Not enough reason to leave acting yet, right?]
[When Chloe becomes a mental magic instructor, she can assist in teaching cadet Han Geonwoo… and she’ll likely want to stay close to him.]

Chloe blushed. She couldn’t argue, and Director Shin Hanji seemed to know everything.

[Not just Han Geonwoo, but Ihaeun cadet will also be under your guidance. I’ll arrange it so you can spend time with them privately.]

Eventually, Chloe gave in and signed the contract.

(No regrets. It’s probably for the best.)

She had already considered leaving acting someday.

[In her early awakening, she gained popularity from her changed appearance and nickname “Elf,” though she now regrets those decisions.]
[Acting itself wasn’t hard.]
[But attracting attention also drew assassins, which was the real problem.]

Nowadays, high-ranking officials ensured assassins wouldn’t target her recklessly, but she had long considered leaving acting. Until a reason arose to quit, she kept going, and now saw the academy offer as an opportunity.

(Moving my family to Korea might be difficult, but the safety here makes it worthwhile.)

Thinking this, Chloe nearly ignored the director and stood up for her scene.

(If this is my last film, I have to give my best performance.)

That was the utmost courtesy she could show as she left the acting world.