Rank 0 of the Awakener Special School - Chapter 59

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Rank Zero of the Awakener Special School
Episode 59
“Vice Principal!”
Someone rushed urgently into the Vice Principal’s Office.
Teacher Park.
An instructor of the Core Training course and the current proctor of the Rescue Target Acquisition exam underway.
“There appears to be a malfunction in the control system. We need to stop the exam immediately.”
The reason Teacher Park sought out the Vice Principal’s Office was simple: the Vice Principal himself was overseeing this Rescue Target Acquisition exam.
Yet the Vice Principal receiving this report showed no great alarm.
He’d been watching the situation through monitors already installed in his office.
Looking back, something had seemed off from the start—the number of injuries was higher than last year.
The practical exams conducted at Gaon always produced injuries, few or many, but never to this degree.
Moreover, when the ceiling collapsed moments ago, the camera monitoring the interior of the exam venue went dark.
Which meant the current state of the exam was now unknown.
The Vice Principal’s eyes left the monitor, which had switched to static, and he looked toward Teacher Park.
“Who’s taking the exam right now?”
“It’s Seol Ji-hyo. Previously, she—”
“Just her alone?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Then let it continue.”
“…Pardon?”
If he stopped the exam here, it would amount to admitting something had gone wrong.
That couldn’t happen—not with the Headmaster and all manner of industry bigwigs watching.
Besides, this was already the final round of testing.
One more turn and they could cover it all up as though nothing had happened—stopping the exam frantically now would be absurd.
“But, but what if that student can’t escape?”
“No need to worry. This is the girl who survived Narak with her entire body torn to shreds.”
“However…”
“Of course, the odds of a miracle happening twice are slim. But even if, by some chance, something goes wrong with that child, there’s little reason to be gravely concerned.”
First, all the observers gathered here were prominent figures favorable to Gaon.
The families had all agreed to clauses forbidding them from disclosing internal school matters to the outside.
As for the other observers and sponsors, they were all individuals who knew the inner workings of the school well and maintained personal connections with Headmaster Orion.
“You see, when I ordered Seol Ji-hyo transferred back home, the Seolhwa Pharmaceutical Chairman raised no objection whatsoever to our side. The sponsorship funds continue unabated as well.”
“That, well, that may be true, but…”
Still, Teacher Park hesitated and did not withdraw.
At his wavering demeanor, the Vice Principal’s eyebrows rose sharply.
“Could it be you’re hesitating because of your daughter?”
“…”
Teacher Park’s daughter belonged to Gaon’s elementary division. She was the one who had gone missing near Narak not long ago.
That’s right—Teacher Park’s daughter had been rescued by the Special Class. By Seol Ji-hyo.
“What is it? Now trying to repay your daughter’s debt of gratitude? You, who raised your voice so loudly when the disciplinary committee convened?”
“…She’s too valuable a talent to lose like this.”
He admitted it—Teacher Park had held prejudices against Seol Ji-hyo.
But…
His only daughter, whom he’d thought was dead, had returned alive.
To the student who had saved her, he had yet to say a word of thanks—not even an apology.
Back then, he’d thought: Look at that. Summoned all the way here, and not a single apology from her.
And then: Tsk, this is what happens with children raised without parents.
In that moment, shame had washed over him for such words he’d spoken to that girl.
He could have summoned her to the faculty office separately, but unable to face her even then, he’d delayed and delayed until now.
“There will be no stopping it. The matter is settled—now off you go.”
“But Vice Principal—”
“The matter is settled, Teacher Park.”
That was when—
“That won’t do.”
At the sound of another voice from the open doorway, both Teacher Park and the Vice Principal turned to look back.
The moment the Vice Principal saw who had appeared there, his expression twisted in shock.
“He, Headmaster—!”
A youth with a youthful face and round eyes like silver beads.
Orion, the Headmaster of Gaon.
“You may leave.”
“Yes, of course…”
After seeing Teacher Park out, Orion turned his gaze toward the Vice Principal.
“I never imagined you’d be discussing something this important while I’m away.”
“Headmaster, that’s not exactly—”
“Vice Principal. There should be nothing in this school that escapes my notice.”
Bewilderment flickered across the Vice Principal’s face.
“But, as you know, if we stop things here, the losses—”
Crackle.
At that instant, the monitor that had switched to static suddenly flickered back to life.
“Waaaaahhh—!”
The roar of spectators blared through the speakers.
“H-how could…?”
The exam proctor holding the microphone, too, stood dazed, barely mumbling.
Though the feed had returned, the scene was still chaotic—dust swirling everywhere.
Shattered railings.
Overturned structures.
But amid it all, a girl in torn PE clothes stood unmistakably upright.
Her face, caked in dust, was covered with scratches.
Yet she was clearly alive.
Seol Ji-hyo.
“…Hm.”
A moment later, a low sound escaped from Orion’s lips—a soft exhalation that was neither quite laughter nor quite a sigh.
Orion glanced briefly over his shoulder.
“Are we done now?”
The Vice Principal’s gaze followed Orion’s, moving past his shoulder toward the open doorway.
And standing there—
‘…Moon Yu-jin?’
The top student throughout his years here. Even a member of the Special Class. Moon Yu-jin, who was well-known even among the faculty.
Yet somehow—
That exemplary student, who always appeared so composed, now stood thoroughly disheveled, breathing heavily, even his usually neat necktie loose around his neck.
“Really, he does give me a lot of work.”
Orion approached Moon Yu-jin with his characteristic toddling gait.
Then he gave his arm a light, playful tap.
“So then, I’d like to hear something.”
“…About what?”
“During the oral exam, you didn’t show your face at all, yet suddenly you barged into the Headmaster’s Office demanding to stop the exam. I’m curious about why.”
…Moon Yu-jin had?
The Vice Principal’s eyes widened.
Meanwhile, Orion, his face full of mischief, pressed further.
“Since when?”
“That’s—”
“Don’t play dumb. I even changed your diapers once, you know—my nephew.”
Orion smiled knowingly.
“You’re already caught, kid.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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