People Can't Be Fixed (1)
A businesslike atmosphere pervaded the sturdy building.
All the facilities of Hand, the academy exclusively for Awakened youths, were notably more reinforced than typical buildings.
A city that fostered young Awakened required such precautions as a necessity.
Recently, they had even started developing specific systems to control students when they acted out.
But no matter how solid the facilities, it was aningless if the mindset of the administrators was not firm as well.
Students with the greatest talents from across the nation—indeed, the whole world—gathered here, all with sharpened teeth.
There was no guarantee that their always-reckless temperants wouldn't eventually be turned against the authority above them.
"What is the main agenda for this eting?"
The man who could be called the principal of Hand's high school division broke the silence.
Since he always had to deal with these sharp-edged children, his voice was severe.
The other principals of the middle school divisions, who sat beside him, were no different.
As a result, the clean room was filled with heavy air.
"As you all know, it's been over a month since the freshn's entrance ceremony. At this point, you all must know what problems will start cropping up."
The principal of Middle School 3 offered a report file as he spoke.
Beneath the title, the words "Dropout/Expulsion Student List" were written in small letters.
"Hahaha... It's nothing new, is it?"
The principal of Middle School 4 laughed calmly as he pushed forward an identical report.
The other principals of Middle Schools 1, 2, and 5 all did the sa, nodding in agreent.
"We have our fair share of wayward students at Hand, but it's not as if there aren't any sensible ones as well. The irony is, most of the nas on this list are among the sensible."
They enrolled in Hand either to beco hunters or to learn to wield their powers more efficiently.
But if the environnt didn't support those goals, one naturally grew dissatisfied with the institution.
Could ordinary kids really adapt to an environnt created by their off-balance peers?
"Most students enroll at Hand to tighten their loose screws. But right now, it's a phase when nothing has been fixed yet. Those who can't endure and end up leaving are the sa as ever."
Most of the nas on the reports were students.
Many had grown weary, exhausted by fellow freshn whose quirks hadn't been corrected, and by upperclassn who still acted out of control.
"Ah... Of course, the lists include those caught sneaking in alcohol, cigarettes, or dirty magazines, too."
"So, what's the count of students who left school in each middle division?"
"For us, it's 81. Fewer than previous years."
"65. Not much change from before."
"70."
"68."
The principals of schools 1, 3, 4, and 5 answered in turn.
"That's an improvent over previous years for everyone."
"But we can't let our guard down. If that number rises, our institution will only gain more notoriety as a delinquent school."
Still, because it was no easy task, they all wore gloomy expressions.
No wonder Hand was sotis called an asylum disguised as an educational facility.
Problems usually got fixed by high school, but for newly enrolled middle schoolers, it was pure hardship.
Strict, old-fashioned rules had been attempted before, but proved insufficient, and the faculty's stamina had its limits.
Above all, they could never forget the fact that this place was a 'school,' not an asylum.
"It's a truly complex reality. To reduce these problems, deploying security robots is urgent."
"How far along is that?"
"About 80 percent. The research team reports that after several years of test trials starting this year, we plan to fully implent them."
These robots wouldn't run on electricity or solar but on mana stones acquired from within gates.
Just as the strength of the Hand's facilities owed to mana stones, these robots would also boast excellent performance.
They couldn't rely only on the competency of staff forever.
They must create an environnt everyone—students and staff alike—could trust.
"By the way, principal of Middle School 2, why have you remained silent?"
Everyone turned to look at the principal from School 2.
Now that they thought of it, he hadn't spoken up when student withdrawal numbers were discussed.
"The truth is, sothing quite shocking has happened at our school."
"What is it?"
"Exactly 30."
"What... do you an?"
"I an the number of dropouts."
At that, the other principals all showed looks of amazent.
Sixty was already considered remarkably low, but thirty was a record-breaker.
"How on earth did you manage that...?"
"At first, we thought it was because we sent our top student, Michael, to the recovery facility, but there is another reason."
The principal of Middle School 2 proceeded to ntion one student.
Among the hundreds of students, this new prodigy had toppled ten of the school's strongest sequentially, taking the top spot in Michael's absence—a cot among the freshn.
"After that student took over the school, the majority opinion is that life at school has improved."
It was a testimony coming especially from the 2nd and 3rd-year students.
Given the source, there was a degree of authenticity.
"After reaching the top and showing every student the consequences, he now reigns over them... They say he's like a Demon King."
This, too, was a rumor quoted from among the students.
Zzwaarrr—
At that mont, the quietest man in the room moved.
He poured a red liquid, appearing to be wine, into his glass.
Seated at the most elaborate chair at the round table, he opened his mouth for the first ti.
"Any special details about this student?"
"Pardon?"
Raven Holbat.
He appeared to be in his early twenties—a very handso man.
He looked young enough to be called the son of any of the assembled principals, but he was, in fact, the chairman of Hand.
The principals were surprised and paid close attention as he moved.
"The only special trait is that he's the son of a well-known prosecutor."
"Could he be a Mutamit?"
Mutamit Awakened were as common as pebbles at Hand.
Though there was no need to ask, the chairman directed his question to the principal of School 2.
"He was not a Mutamit. He did not have horns or a tail, anything inhuman."
"No horns..."
Raven's voice trailed off in clear disappointnt.
Feeling his faint hope dashed, he knocked back the drink in his glass.
At the scent wafting from his glass, those present furrowed their brows.
For in that mont, he looked less like a man drinking wine and more like one drinking blood.
****
Hand was surrounded by gossip and controversy, but it remained an established landmark in Korea.
As the highest-level Awakened education institution, its facilities were more luxurious than those in Hongdae or Gangnam.
"What a great street."
I said this as I exited the theater with my friends.
The billboards lit up at the perfect mont as dusk fell.
Restaurants that doubled as eateries kept their lights on and business running late into the night.
The colorful lights shimred off the beautiful flowing fountain.
If not for the couples sitting in front of it, it would have been an even nicer sight.
"There are more regular people than I thought?"
Kwon Sang-ah said, marveling at the difference from the street by day.
"Of course. It's a spot more famous than Hongdae."
"You think it's safe? Surely, there are problem students everywhere."
"You think every off-kilter junior Awakened only shows up at Hand?"
Just because strange kids were around didn't an this was automatically a dangerous area.
You'd run into Awakened outside Hand, too. If you're too scared of Awakeneed, how would you even live in this world?
"And Hand's security isn't bad. Various guilds operate here. Worrying's no use."
Of course, hunter manpower had its limits when maintaining public order.
To supplent this, Hand was apparently developing sothing.
"Later, those security robots or whatever will be deployed for real."
"Guess so?"
While I was chatting with Kwon Sang-ah, our group leader Sung Chohyang piped up.
"What do you guys wanna eat for dinner? My treat today!"
"Anything's fine..."
"Ayy~ Just say what you want."
Sung Chohyang wiggled her pixie antennae and pressed her face closer to Kwon Sang-ah, who smiled back.
Looks like they'd gotten pretty close at Hand.
"Pork cutlet for ."
"Beef."
"Udon."
As the others, including Choi Sumin, said what they wanted to eat, Kwon Sang-ah joined in naturally.
"I'll have pork belly."
"What about you, Ma Seongjin?"
"Jajangmyeon for ."
"Hm... That's all over the place. Should we decide at the arcade with a ga?"
Because of the split opinions, our group headed for the arcade, looking around as we walked down the street.
Back in college, I used to bar-hop down streets like this with my friends.
Maybe that's why I had a craving for alcohol, but I had to resist.
One alcohol-related incident got you a warning as a student; a second ant expulsion.
'Damn... I want a beer...'
As I practiced patience in my mind, I noticed the arcade.
Just as Sung Chohyang went inside, she bumped into soone standing at the entrance.
"Sorry."
"Hey, watch where you're... huh? Well, if it isn't Sung Chohyang."
"You...!"
A boy and a girl our age erged from the arcade.
The mont Sung Chohyang saw the boy, her brows furrowed.
Everyone but and Kwon Sang-ah responded similarly.
"Wow! Long ti no see. How many months has it been?"
"..."
"I thought surely we'd cross paths at Hand at least once. I guess it really is a huge place."
As Sung Chohyang scowled, Kwon Sang-ah whispered, curious.
"Who's that?"
Choi Sumin answered, face dark.
"Our school's top 1."
Middle School 2, class 3-5, Michael Kang.
He was the upperclassman supposedly forced into a recovery center for his thuggish behavior.
"What are you doing here?"
Sung Chohyang asked sharply, and Michael grinned back.
"As you can see, I'm on a date with Emily. Guess you're not dating anyone here, huh?"
"Move. I don't want to see your face."
"Why so cold? I'm being released next week."
"What?"
At that news, everyone's faces froze, especially Sung Chohyang's.
Michael then turned to his female companion.
"Long ti, huh? Been well?"
"Heek!"
The girl shrank back, frightened of Michael.
"What? I'm not going to do anything anymore."
Maybe the recovery center worked, because Michael's expression would look saintly to anyone.
His deanor was warm, but Sung Chohyang blocked him and spoke.
"Don't you rember what you did to her?"
I'd heard from Kwon Sang-ah.
Apparently, the boy had beaten her violently just because he felt like it—without even a word exchanged.
Because of him, the girl's leg bone was fractured; only Sung Chohyang's fairy-made dicine had kept it from turning catastrophic.
'He broke her bone?'
Not even Choi Sangbaek, who started a fan club, ever stooped that low.
Fights at Hand stopped when soone surrendered or the battle was decided.
But Michael kept beating her even after victory was clear.
"Of course I rember. That's why I'll apologize sincerely."
Michael got down on his knees and bowed his head in front of her.
"I'm really sorry."
At that, Sung Chohyang's expression relaxed slightly.
So did the girl's, and the mood cald.
"Michael, let's go!"
"Got it."
Emily, Michael's girlfriend, pulled him up.
She hooked his arm, urging him on, and Michael followed her lead.
"See you next week, then."
He'd apologized and finished recovery-facility life.
He didn't even look villainous.
As he got dragged away by his girlfriend, Michael accidentally bumped into .
"Ah, sorry. You a freshman?"
"Yeah."
"Nice to et you."
With those words, Michael left with his girlfriend.
For so reason, seeing them walk away arm-in-arm disgusted .
"You think he's really changed for the better?"
"At least he apologized..."
"Did he even have money for gas? I heard all his allowance was confiscated when he was sent away."
"He looks fine, so he's probably all right."
"Yeah, I guess."
Just as we were about to agree he seed improved, Kwon Sang-ah spoke up.
"Don't be fooled, everyone."
I said as I showed what was in my hand.
It was Sung Chohyang's wallet; she gasped.
"Why do you have that?"
"I just took it out of his pocket."
"What?"
When Michael bumped into us at the arcade entrance, I clearly saw him lift the wallet.
The others hadn't noticed, but my eyes caught it perfectly.
And that wasn't all.
Just now when we bumped into each other, he'd tried to steal my wallet, too.
So I returned the gesture, exactly as he had done.
"Changed, my ass."
I shook the wallet I'd reclaid from him and thought:
People really can't be fixed.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】
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