Even Today, the Ranker Dreams of Retirement

Meanwhile, Hyun Siwoo in the principal’s office.

“Principal… I’ve really become the principal.”

[An outcome I never imagined.]

‘Hey, Neaiba-nim, why do you keep teasing me instead of helping?’

[Haha! But it’s too funny, isn’t it? Are you destined to be the head wherever you go? How come you end up as the leader everywhere?]

‘There was none of that in the first iteration…’

It seemed that because he had obtained such a high position in this iteration, he was receiving excessive treatment wherever he went.

This time was no exception.

‘Oh my, Fides-nim!’

‘Such an esteemed person in this humble place!’

It was a torment for Hyun Siwoo as the school officials consistently made a fuss about giving him the principal position.

‘Um, shouldn’t we get the parents’ consent as well…?’

‘I’d bet my entire fortune that no parent would object!’

‘What about the students’ consent?’

‘I’d bet my life that no student would object!’

‘Aren’t you being too resolute?’

[True. That seems like a dangerous bet. At least one student, Hyun Habin, probably won’t like it.]

“……”

Anyway, after receiving unnecessary lip service about betting lives, Hyun Siwoo finally nodded.

Of course, in the process,

‘Fides-nim is the strongest among magicians, no, the strongest on Earth, aren’t you!’

‘Urk…’

As Hyun Siwoo knew that Hyun Habin was actually the strongest, he felt a pang here, and

‘Just having someone like you as the school principal will raise our status!’

‘The students will learn so much too!’

‘Ugh…’

Here, the pressure was no joke, but.

“…Still, it might be good to have some influence on the school, even if it’s just for a short stay.”

Hyun Siwoo nodded with a resigned expression.

Being the principal is a good position.

Is there any authority to immediately declare a school holiday if things seem off… or something like that?

It would be best if he could notice right before an incident occurs and declare a holiday. Though it doesn’t seem like a principal can do everything.

“Still, even if something does happen, it’s not bad to have the authority as principal to evacuate the faculty and students.”

For Hyun Siwoo, who usually doesn’t like belonging to any place, this was a big decision. He sat in the principal’s office he had suddenly been handed over and crossed his arms.

“Hmm, shall I taste the flavor of power while I’m at it?”

Might as well use what I can use.

[What are you going to use it for?]

“For today, first…”

Hyun Siwoo continued as he turned on the computer on the desk.

“Let’s check the students’ schedules.”

He had been curious about what classes Hyun Habin had signed up for anyway.

The reason was, of course, just one.

‘To avoid her!’

It’s good that we’ve come to the same school, but let’s not run into each other if possible, little sister!

Neaiba asked in a voice of incomprehension.

[Why? Is it because Hyun Habin dislikes you from before?]

Clearly, when he visited home, Hyun Habin had been plotting against ‘Fides’, calling him the ‘Masked Magician’. Hyun Siwoo shook his head.

“Ah, it’s not just for that reason.”

[Then?]

“If we meet, I have to pretend not to know her, right?”

[True?]

Hyun Siwoo couldn’t reveal his identity yet. Anyway, Hyun Habin and ‘Fides’ had to meet as strangers.

[Then isn’t that good? You’ll both be polite to each other, right?]

“That’s exactly the problem!”

Hyun Siwoo sighed, resting his forehead on his interlocked fingers as if he didn’t even want to imagine it.

“…If we use formal speech with each other, I think I’ll die of cringe.”

[That was the problem?!]

‘It’s a very important problem.’

Nodding seriously, Hyun Siwoo clicked on the internet browser. Now that he had become the principal, Hyun Siwoo could access the faculty system.

Which means.

He could see the courses Hyun Habin had registered for.

“Hmm, I wonder what subjects she signed up for?”

[Maybe she’s already signed up for the classes you’ll be teaching?]

‘Please, no.’

The thought of meeting his sister in a teacher-student relationship.

He had expected this possibility since coming to the school. Still, it’s best to avoid what can be avoided.

Ding-

Just then, as if in response to Hyun Siwoo’s silent prayer, the next window opened.

Hyun Habin’s schedule filled the screen.

‘Uh…’

[…?]

The two were momentarily enveloped in silence as they confirmed this.

“…?”

[Hey, is what I’m seeing right now correct…?]

After a brief silence, Neaiba asked in a dubious voice.

“Um, well. If it’s a 10-credit schedule… then yes.”

[It’s not an error?]

“Ah, it doesn’t seem to be…”

Silence.

Neaiba’s exclamation continued, bewildered as if he couldn’t understand at all.

[W-why isn’t this an error? Check again!]

‘Surprisingly, it’s not! It’s the same even after refreshing!’

[There’s not a single magic subject?!]

“Why did she only sign up for liberal arts courses?”

Usually, students’ basic credit load is 20 credits. Hyun Habin had registered for exactly half of that.

And all of them were liberal arts courses.

Hyun Siwoo’s voice trembled as he slowly read through the schedule.

“C-cooking, webtoon appreciation, drama appreciation… It looks like that’s all she’s going to do!”

[When I told her to do what she wanted, did she really just choose what she wanted to do?!]

“She seems to have chosen only what she really wanted to do!”

[What a rascal!]

“Maybe she hasn’t dropped out yet because she registered her schedule like this?”

Hyun Siwoo nodded with a deep sigh.

“Anyway, we worried for nothing. Running into Hyun Habin? If we just avoid her well, that won’t happen…”

[Hmm, considering Hyun Habin’s magic skills that we saw last time, she’s certainly not at a level to take classes here. From her perspective, it might be fine to just hang in there taking liberal arts courses.]

Belatedly, they nodded, offering an interpretation that might have been understanding or resignation. Checking the clock, Hyun Siwoo stood up.

“Well… now that lunch time is over, I guess I should go introduce myself as the new principal.”

Ugh.

He moved his feet reluctantly, wearing an expression of annoyance.

◆◇◆◇◆

“I can understand myself, but Jiseok, why did you suddenly apply to be an instructor too? I didn’t know you were interested in schools.”

In the Solaris office.

Jise, who had been tilting her head, suddenly exclaimed “Ah!” as if she had remembered something.

“Come to think of it, Jiseok, you used to watch Harry Potter enthusiastically! Could it be because of that? Wanting to go to a magic school?”

“When did I ever watch Harry Potter! Besides, is this the same as that? This is a modern Korean high school!”

“Oh come on, you were so serious about it that you even took the Hogwarts house test. What house did you get back then?”

“What do you think it was?”

“Hmm… Hufflepuff? The color certainly suits you now.”

Golden eyes and blonde hair. Plus, Hufflepuff with its yellow symbol. A perfect color match.

“Come to think of it, gold and red is quite a good combination too. Gryffindor wouldn’t be bad either.”

“Why are you choosing based on colors? Am I that lacking in characteristics?”

“Smart Ravenclaw or ambitious Slytherin… Hmm, somehow they don’t suit you.”

“What?”

Is she implying that I seem neither ambitious nor smart?

He absolutely couldn’t accept that.

“What about you, nuna?!”

“Me? I haven’t taken it, so I wonder what would suit me?”

In response to Jise’s words, a quiet third-party voice interjected.

“…Guild Master would certainly suit Ravenclaw or Slytherin well.”

Though the best fit for both of you would be Hufflepuff.

“…?”

The Chae siblings turned simultaneously towards the source of the voice. The owner of the low voice was none other than Secretary Lee.

“Secretary Lee, you’ve watched Harry Potter too?”

Chae Jiseok asked, as if surprised. Secretary Lee Junhwi, who had been mechanically flipping through documents alone at a distance. He raised his head with a look of exasperation.

“Haven’t you seen my T-shirts and slippers all this time?”

Secretary Lee Junhwi’s items always had ‘DOBBY IS FREE’ written on them.

“…Ah, that’s right.”

“I just thought you were dreaming of freedom in an ordinary way.”

“This was foreshadowing?”

Amidst the Chae siblings who immediately understood, Secretary Lee Junhwi smiled soullessly.

“By the way, it seems like both of you haven’t been working and have just been chatting for a while now?”

Chae Jise naturally turned to her brother beside her and said.

“Hmm. Indeed, looking at how diligent and righteous Secretary Lee Junhwi is, he must be Hufflepuff.”

“No, nuna. Seeing how he always courageously talks about resigning, he must be Gryffindor.”

“Considering how he subtly smiles while cursing and pressures us, Slytherin fits perfectly too.”

Unable to bear it any longer, Junhwi said in a voice filled with murderous intent.

“I got Ravenclaw on the test, so both of you please be quiet!”

“Oh, it was Ravenclaw?”

“You were Ravenclaw!”

“……”

Tap tap. Having finished speaking, Junhwi organized his documents with precise movements. He wore an expression of slight regret, as if feeling he had been caught up in unnecessary foolishness. Jise added:

“Secretary, don’t you want to visit Ullim International High? You’re quite a well-known magic-type hunter in our country.”

“That’s right. Plus, with your immersion in Harry Potter, you seem perfect for it.”

“If all three of us go, who will guard the office?”

Besides, it seems like these sibling superiors are doing all the Harry Potter immersion. He added in a crisp tone:

“Moreover, if I have to do business trips from here to the school, I will definitely resign.”

“That… makes sense.”

Indeed, no matter how much affection one has for Harry Potter, it can’t overcome work overload.

“Guild Master and Vice Guild Master, you should know this too. By the way, the character I supported most in Harry Potter was…”

“Could it be Dobby?”

“Yes! The scene where he finds freedom was truly a masterpiece!”

“……”

This person is serious about Dobby.

After a moment of silence, the Chae siblings voluntarily spoke up.

“Um, Secretary.”

“Yes?”

“We’ll work hard on our duties even if we go to Ullim International High, so don’t worry.”

“We promise.”

The Chae siblings promised seriously.

“Haha, why are you both suddenly like this? I’m fine.”

At those words, Junhwi, who had regained his soulless smile, spoke in a warm voice.

“I was planning to go catch you myself if you didn’t.”

“……”

This person, maybe his true calling isn’t a slave but a slave catcher?

◆◇◆◇◆

“…So, we agreed to lecture only two or three hours a week.”

Any more than that, and we wouldn’t be able to face Secretary Lee Junhwi for being absent from Solaris duties.

The Chae siblings, who had arrived at Ullim International High, nodded. Chae Jise, sitting in the back seat, put her hand on her chin.

“We could have chosen not to come at all, but we couldn’t do that this time. It’s good to come see Habin, but. Actually, the reason we’re coming isn’t just for Hyun Habin.”

“…That’s right.”

Chae Jiseok nodded with a heavy expression.

“We might have been interested in Ullim International High because of Hyun Habin at first, but the current situation doesn’t seem normal.”

“Because the current principal of Ullim International High is none other than…!”

“Fides-nim.”

‘He’s not someone who would move for trivial matters.’

Watching Chae Jiseok’s serious expression, Jise also nodded.

“That’s right. And that’s not the end of it. This time, there’s talk that Kang Taeseo from Caligo is also coming as faculty.”

“What? From Caligo’s side too?”

“It definitely smells like something, doesn’t it?”

Jise furrowed her brow. With Hyun Habin and Fides, two unpredictable figures gathered together, she couldn’t predict at all what kind of incident would occur this time.

[The constellation ‘Nearest Light’ pounds its chest in frustration, saying that even it can’t see the future well this time!]

[The constellation ‘Nearest Light’ sheds tears, apologizing for only being able to earn money with its precognition until now and not being much help in such an important moment!]

“You don’t need to apologize that much. I’m always grateful.”

Jise smiled gently, but her eyes were sharply fixed on Ullim International High’s campus.

Even without using precognition this time, she had a feeling.

A feeling that something big was about to happen.