The process is what it is, but in the end, I won.
Calming down the three grumpy faces, I returned to my room, took off my clothes, and looked in the mirror.
There were quite a few wounds scattered all over my body.
To be honest, if I hadn’t pulled off that trick, I wouldn’t have been able to beat their ambush.
The kids had really grown stronger.
“Good kids.”
They grew up well without needing my instruction.
At this point, they could live wonderfully even without me.
After washing up a bit and having breakfast, I returned to my room and stood by the door, looking at the scenery of my room.
I glanced around my room where I had stayed for the past year.
Desk, bed, wardrobe. It was a tidy room with only basic furniture.
Guess this room and I are saying goodbye now.
Ding! Dong! Ding! Dong!
The academy’s bell started ringing.
Looks like the opening ceremony is about to start.
I casually grabbed my sword and headed to the academy auditorium.
There were already many people gathered in the auditorium.
New students enrolling and those moving up a grade.
As I stood in a corner of the auditorium watching them, a few people came over to greet me as they passed by.
“Instructor Lee Hyun! Welcome!”
“Yes.”
The instructors needed to go up on the stage.
I followed another instructor onto the stage and looked for my students who were moving up a grade.
“Instructor! Over here! Here!”
“We’re over here!”
2nd Year Class A.
Every student in Class A advanced flawlessly without a single one getting left behind.
Since there was no special division, all the students were gathered together.
Among them, I spotted Sowol, Lena, and Arisha.
When our eyes met, I smiled at the grumpy ones, and they quickly turned their heads away.
Such cuties.
“Well then. Let’s begin the opening ceremony.”
Following the announcer’s lead, the students began to move.
As I watched, I turned my attention to the window that caught my eye.
“On a clear day like today, we’re starting the school year…”
The principal’s opening remarks sounded like pleasant background music.
While it might be painfully boring for others, knowing this was my last time in this world made it bearable.
If this were a game, wouldn’t the credits be rolling here?
I folded my arms and looked around at the students.
In the future, these kids will live as elites in this world.
I hope they lead happy lives.
“…The instructor for 2nd Year Class A will be Instructor Atrus.”
Of course, I’m not taking on any teaching role this time.
Actually, I didn’t take on any subject instructor position.
The principal seemed a bit sorry, but I didn’t want to interfere with the students’ curriculum.
“…And Instructor Lee Hyun has submitted a leave of absence.”
After the introductions for the responsible instructors and subject instructors concluded, the principal spoke last.
With that, the auditorium began to buzz with chatter.
“I heard Instructor Lee Hyun has things to do. I hope you achieve what you wish.”
Like the other students and instructors, the principal also showed regret.
The gazes of the students from last year who had been with me were filled with questions and disappointment.
I waved lightly at them and took my place again.
Even though my leave caused some commotion in the auditorium, the opening ceremony didn’t stop.
As the other instructors calmed the noise, the principal continued with the remaining events.
And finally.
The academy anthem, the BGM that plays when you see the true ending in a game, began to resound.
As I listened, I closed my eyes. This is really the end.
[Observe the True Ending]
[Reward: Return]
[※Time does not flow in the real world while you are in this world.]
[※If you die in this world, you will also die in reality.]
[You have observed the True Ending.]
[Return will proceed in 10 minutes.]
“…This concludes the opening ceremony.”
As the anthem ended and the principal’s declaration rang out, a new window appeared before my eyes.
Return. That thing I had longed for was right in front of me.
“Instructor!!”
“Where are you really going?!”
After the opening ceremony ended and people started filing out, the students from 2nd Year Class A ran up to me.
Smiling at them, I nodded my head.
“I’m proud of you all.”
“Instructor Lee Hyun…”
“Come here. Let me give you a hug.”
I pulled the weeping students into a tight embrace.
Such grateful kids.
Since they had worked hard for my return, I really hoped they would live wonderfully going forward.
“Sowol.”
“…Liar. Liar. You said you wouldn’t go…!!”
“Because I’m a liar. So? You won’t let go?”
In the end, I hugged the now-bawling Sowol tightly.
As I comforted Sowol, who was sobbing on my chest, I gave a gentle kiss on her forehead.
“Become a wonderful saint.”
“Ugh… I don’t want… I don’t want you to go…”
Sniff “Are you going to cry again before I leave?”
At that, Sowol finally clamped her lips shut.
Sniffling and wiping her tears, Sowol looked up at me, shaking her head.
After planting another kiss on her forehead, I set her down.
“…Next time we meet, I won’t let you go…”
“Sure. You can do that. Now, Lena, come here.”
“Waaaaah! Master!!”
As soon as Sowol was released, Lena dove into my arms.
Crybaby that she was, she held me tightly, lifting her tear-stained face to me.
“Wah! You look ugly.”
“Haahh…!!”
“Just kidding. Our Lena is always pretty.”
I wiped her tears with a handkerchief.
But eventually, she burst into tears again, and I hugged her tightly.
As Lena sniffled in my embrace, she finally managed to stop crying and looked at me.
“Master… Where are you going?”
“I’m going home.”
“…Home, you say…”
“You know.”
Lena stared intently at me and nodded her head.
Then she hugged me once more tightly.
“I… I will miss you.”
“Yeah. I’ll miss you too.”
“…If you don’t go, you can keep seeing me…”
“Haha, you troublemaker.”
That’s not how it works.
I gently set Lena down and turned my eyes to Arisha.
With her head bowed, she slowly walked over and lightly grabbed the hem of my clothes.
“Don’t go…?”
“No.”
“…I’ll do everything for you. Still, won’t you stay?”
“Still, no.”
“…Ugh!”
In the end, unable to suppress her frustration, Arisha tightly held onto me, bowing her head.
Is she going to get angry? Or cry?
I leaned down to comfort her.
And then…
“Oh my gosh!”
“Yikes~!”
Arisha stole a kiss from my lips!
Are you seriously kissing me here?!
I froze in surprise, and hurriedly pulled her away.
The pouty-faced girl who looked like she was about to cry just a moment ago now wore a bright smile.
“With this, the first kiss of the teacher belongs to me! I’m the main wife!”
“Such a cheat!!”
“How unfair!!”
“Hehe~! In this world, what’s unfair? Teacher! Did you know? We…”
Just when Arisha was looking at me with a brighter face than usual and was about to speak.
[Starting the Return.]
As a message window popped up before my eyes, I became dizzy. Everything blurred, and I couldn’t hear a sound.
Is this how it ends?
I smiled at the students outstretching their hands towards me in panic.
“Take care, my students.”
I’m off.
.
.
.
When I opened my eyes, I saw a familiar ceiling.
It was my room.
Waking up from bed, I looked at my computer.
The icon of Ragnarok was staring at me.
As I gazed at it, I stretched lightly and went out to the living room.
It was quiet.
Everything that happened just a moment ago felt like a lie.
Ding dong ding~! Ding ding ding dong~!
Then, the alarm rang.
I immediately went to the shower, washed up, got dressed, and headed outside.
Then I hopped into the car and moved right away.
The place I arrived at was a big hospital in the city.
I passed through a bustling area filled with people checking in and patients, reaching the VIP hospital room.
“Mom. I’m here.”
Inside the hospital room, a middle-aged woman looking out the window gave a faint smile.
My only family. My mother.
“Why do you keep coming over?”
“Well, it’s only right for a son to visit his mom.”
My mother had been hospitalized for five years.
She had always been weak since I was little, regularly collapsing.
Thanks to her considerable wealth, combined with my success in cryptocurrency and stock investments, I could afford such a nice hospital room for her.
If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t have been able to take care of her comfortably.
“Read all the books I brought?”
“Yeah. They were interesting.”
I had brought books, worried she might be bored.
My mother softly gazed at the books before holding my hand.
Her hand was thin and small.
As our hands met, her gaze warmed me.
“My boy… Always taking care of me must be tough, right? Not even dating… It’s my wish to see my son with a girlfriend…”
“I got it. I’ll definitely introduce you to someone later.”
“It’s a promise.”
We linked pinkies with our upturned fingers.
Only after making that promise did my mother seem tired and lay down in bed.
I waited until my mother fell fast asleep, then I gently stroked her head and headed home.
Oh right, there wasn’t anything to eat at home.
After stopping by the store for some shopping, I arrived home and grasped the doorknob, grinning.
There was someone inside.
Is it a burglar?
If so…
I burst through the front door.
Then the people inside turned their attention toward me.
“Uh…? Why are you all here?”
