-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Academy Enrollment
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Korean Hero Academy's dormitories boasted facilities that were worlds apart from your average school dorms. I couldn't shake the nagging doubt—did I really deserve to stay here? The lavish treatment left me feeling deeply uncomfortable with myself.
Even after countless sessions of mind control, it wasn't easy.
I stood in front of my assigned room. The corridor's stunning interior had my eyes bouncing all over the place. I had no idea where to put myself.
Was it okay for me to even be standing here? My shoes felt way too dirty. My head was a total mess with worries like that.
'So this is what the top spot gets...'
A penthouse on the 50th floor had been assigned to me. The entire floor consisted of just four penthouses, reserved for this class's top male and female first- and second-place candidates.
To enter the dorm room, biometric info was required—fingerprint, whatever—as long as it could verify it was me. The room was a personal space that no one else could access.
The moment I stood in front of the door, the display started recognizing my info. The lens scanned my appearance, pulled up the data, and unlocked the door. The whole process took less than a second.
"This is insane."
I opened the door and stepped inside. A bright-toned entryway greeted me. I dragged my suitcase along the hallway to the living room.
I shoved my luggage aside roughly. The suitcase wheels rolled off on their own into some corner. Ignoring the toppling bag, I began inspecting the place.
My steps quickened. Kim Hyunjoo's lesson echoed in my mind: Never run inside the house. It was etched deep into my bones, making my legs hesitate to break into a sprint. But walking slowly in a space like this felt disrespectful. I had to hurry as fast as possible.
I dashed around like I was on a soccer field, checking out the space I'd live in for the next three years. Actually, it was comparable to a real soccer field in size.
"Fuck."
My dick got hard on its own. No dirty thoughts, no porn pics, no videos—nothing—yet it stood straight up. My body was primed to serve the nation as a Captain. It happened so fast, I was shocked myself. Never in my life had I imagined feeling patriotic toward South Korea—
I'd never even dreamed it.
A Captain Candidate's dorm consisted of four rooms total. Roughly 50 pyeong, by my estimate. Giving a single incoming student a 50-pyeong suite.
But for the top and runner-up spots, the suites were at least ten times bigger. Standing in the middle, my precum started leaking out. Was this really South Korea? I had to wonder.
A single Captain Candidate's room was bigger than Lee Seonha's 40-pyeong apartment in Seoul. The value was different, of course. But still.
"Mind control, mind control..."
I repeated it endlessly. I couldn't let this treatment overwhelm me and forget my own worth. I deserved this. I didn't know the full details yet, but Captains were that important. Rationalizing it like that, I headed toward my suitcase.
'Time to unpack...'
My mind went blank. Seeing photos online was one thing; standing in a full-sized room like this was entirely different. Feeling the reality of my treatment made it seem even less real.
I pulled out the soccer ball first. Lee Seonha had asked why I was packing this. Back then, I couldn't answer. How could I say I wanted to kick it around in a room the size of a soccer field?
"Where should I aim..."
The outer side of the dorm faced outward. One entire wall of the living room was floor-to-ceiling glass. The cityscape, with the Academy dominating the view, unfolded like a painting. I gripped the ball, facing that direction.
Word was, the glass was bulletproof. No matter how hard a nobody like me kicked, breaking the dorm window was impossible.
I unleashed a mighty shot. Playing soccer indoors. My dream, already achieved...
Wham!
Ting!
Thud!
"Ow!"
The ball smacked the glass and ricocheted straight into my face. No time to dodge—I took it full-on. The pain hit heavier than expected. Tears welled up a bit.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The Academy's entrance ceremony was a nationally watched event. The future of Korea's Hero society gathered in one place—who wouldn't care?
Even apathetic folks knew a few students' names, thanks to nonstop chatter around them. Especially the top male and female names—they were drilled into your ears.
You ended up knowing whether you wanted to or not.
Reporters staked out from the main auditorium entrance. They snagged interviews from every visible student. Like a chef with endless ingredients, more material meant more dishes. They could spin anything into a story.
"Interview! Just one, please!"
"When's Lee Hyunwoo showing up? Still not here?"
"Someone saw him leaving the dorm just now. I tried approaching—got shut down!"
That said, they weren't indiscriminate. Like ingredients determining a dish's flavor, stories had grades too. Lee Hyunwoo material? Special S+ rank.
"He seems really interview-shy. Approach gently. Offer snacks too!"
"Makes sense—he's the top Captain Candidate. Might feel overwhelmed. But no worries. I'll melt that kid's heart."
"We count on you, Jiseok! Hearing your voice might put Lee Hyunwoo at ease for the interview."
"First, get him over here. Team Leader Horan said so too. If you nail it, we share the scoop. Got it?"
The reporters pulled out all stops for Lee Hyunwoo's interview. They even dragged out desk-bound section chiefs with vague connections. But most were "met him once" or "nodded hello" level.
—Hyunwoo likes naughty stuff.
'Crazy bitch. What makes her think she knows Lee Hyunwoo that well—saying crap like that...'
Rookie reporter Choi Jihyun had talked to her sister Choi Seulgi a few days ago. And regretted it. Why'd she pick up that call of all times? Her sister rarely called, so why then—
During the meeting, her sister's cocky voice about "knowing" Lee Hyunwoo haunted her. That overconfidence had pushed her to blurt out something stupid. A reckless move.
—I'll go! My sister knows Hyunwoo!
—Me too. My cop friend met Lee Hyunwoo. That could break the ice—plenty enough to land it.
She'd volunteered for the Academy coverage team. Flipping the dull meeting vibe seemed like a score. Or so she'd thought, pressured not to lag behind top peers.
Pairing with the stellar Kang Jiseok made it feel futile...
Team leader Kwon Horan asked, eyeing Choi Jihyun with unease and doubt. Jihyun felt it keenly. She knew her rep.
"Jihyun, you really know Lee Hyunwoo?"
"Y-yes..."
Disqualified as a reporter. Too introverted for fieldwork. In a sea of fake-news peddlers, she'd chosen this to deliver facts and uncover truth—for the thrill.
Current Choi Jihyun? Way over her head.
Kwon Horan turned to Kang Jiseok beside her, eyes full of trust. Worlds apart from her look at Jihyun. The emotional gap was stark.
"No worries about Jiseok?"
"None at all. Checked with my friend. He only snapped a blurry back shot... but it matched Lee Hyunwoo. Plus, he says he has a personal story—drop the keyword, and he'll get it."
"Keyword?"
"Yeah. 'Women's restroom'—just say that, and he'll light up. Something funny went down."
"Haha, really? I'll trust you then, Jiseok. So glad we have you. Feels solid."
Kwon Horan sidled up to Kang Jiseok, kneading his shoulders, lavishing praise. Jiseok accepted it awkwardly, unable to brush her off.
Choi Jihyun felt her limbs tremble uncontrollably. Tension swallowed her whole.
A showdown with top-dog peer Kang Jiseok. Least welcome situation. All because she'd raised her hand—now she'd look like a fool.
'If I screw this up, I'll get chewed out again...'
Her shoulders slumped. Heading into a unwinnable fight soured her mood. The scolding afterward loomed—how harsh would Team Leader Kwon be?
"Lee Hyunwoo! There he is!"
"Coming this way."
"Quick, reel him in!"
Students could agree to interviews voluntarily, but reporter access was strictly controlled. Blocking paths meant blacklist—for the whole outlet, banned from Academy.
Unthinkable. Reporters stuck to rules, calling desperately from afar.
"Lee Hyunwoo! Please, just one interview!"
They wooed him desperately. Reporters from every outlet waved frantically at the top Captain Candidate. Like animals in heat, fighting for one last breed.
'Will this work?'
Choi Jihyun had grilled Choi Seulgi: Your mess, you fix it—help me. She'd etched in her sister's advice. So unlike usual Seulgi, she'd noted it skeptically.
Then tried it.
Kang Jiseok beside her yelled.
"Lee Hyunwoo! Remember the cop from the Practical Evaluation?"
"Oh! Look over here!"
Team Leader Kwon shook Kang Jiseok excitedly. He shook her off and called to Hyunwoo, dropping friend-sourced details to hook him.
"That cop's my buddy! He's dying to know how you're doing!"
Lee Hyunwoo glanced at Jiseok, hesitation flickering. Needed something surer. Jiseok tossed the keyword.
"Women's restroom! Care to say a word about what happened that day?"
Hyunwoo's eyes widened. Hooked for sure. He slowly approached—straight to where Jiseok and ATN stood.
"Guess you really are buds with that cop hyung."
Lee Hyunwoo stepped before the camera, waiting for questions like he'd do the interview. Jiseok thanked his cop friend mentally.
'I'll treat you big time, Minseok!'
Jiseok cleared his throat, sifting key questions from his mental list.
"Lee Hyunwoo."
"...Yeah? What?"
"?"
As Jiseok started, Hyunwoo cut in, looking flustered. He glanced past Jiseok at Kwon Horan behind him.
Kwon Horan sprang forward at his reaction.
"Something wrong, Lee Hyunwoo? Uncomfortable standing? I'll get a chair. Jihyun, grab one."
"Y-yes!"
Choi Jihyun frantically buttoned her half-open shirt. She turned to fetch a chair.
"It's not about sitting. I came to interview that noona."
"...Pardon?"
Kwon Horan blinked dumbly, age and experience forgotten. Hyunwoo stifled a laugh and stated his real intent.
"I want to interview this noona. Choi... Jihyun? Her."
Lee Hyunwoo called out to Choi Jihyun.
'It... it worked!'
Jihyun cheered inwardly. Gratitude to nonsensical-advice sister Choi Seulgi. She'd doubted it fully—done in desperation, half-believing.
Never imagined "unbutton shirt, flash nipple, he'll come" dog-bark bullshit would land...