The Academy Geniuses I Raised and Dressed-Chapter 187 : Return to the Academy (2)

“…What do you mean by taking your place?”
Kim Sang-sik, who had been staring at me open-mouthed, regained his usual expression and asked.
“I created Demon’s Class to help the students who joined us improve their skills, while also growing myself. But no matter that I started it, I can’t simply do everything my way. After all, almost everyone in that group is my senior.”
“I see…”
“And even if I have more information than anyone, wouldn’t it sound far more convincing coming from an adult than from me?”
“What exactly are you asking me to do?”
“The classmates in Demon’s Class are curious why my team is so much stronger than the others. I promised them I’d tell them the secret to our rapid growth.”
“And what is that secret?”
“You, sir.”
“…What?”
His shocked expression almost made me laugh.
“I want you to be the reason why our party grew so fast.”
“That doesn’t make sense. What do you mean I’d be the reason?”
“The truth is, there’s no real secret. We only grew faster than others because we used the Mysterious Craftsman’s equipment and spent the whole break hunting countless monsters. On top of that, we already had dungeon and monster knowledge, strategies for using our abilities efficiently, and a clear grasp of our strengths and weaknesses. Those basic elements combined to get us here.”
“…So you want me to act as though I taught you all those things?”
“Exactly.”
I smiled.
“We’re planning the second Demon’s Class meeting this weekend. At that time, I want you to hand out the Mysterious Craftsman’s gear to the students. Then, explain what effects their equipment has, what strengths and weaknesses they should focus on, what paths of growth they should take, and the monsters and mechanics of the dungeon. By tomorrow I’ll organize all of this into documents and email them to you. All you’d have to do is memorize it.”
“But won’t the academy directors object if I become a teacher for Demon’s Class?”
“If they do, we’ll silence them with results. If the students show huge growth, no one can argue. But one thing is necessary.”
“What is that?”
“You’ll need to hide your identity. Use the Doppelgänger’s Mirror to change your appearance, then wear a mask. If you hand out the Mysterious Craftsman’s gear in that guise, what do you think will happen?”
“Don’t tell me… Yein, are you planning to make me the Mysterious Craftsman?”
“Yes, exactly.”
“And the real Mysterious Craftsman?”
“There’s no need to worry about that.”
“Why not?”
“Because I already have permission.”
“…I see.”
I nodded.
“Sir. Will you accept my request?”
“Do these meetings only happen on weekends?”
The moment he asked, I smiled inwardly.
“Yes. Everyone has their academy classes during the week, so I scheduled them for weekends.”
“Understood. If it’s your request, I can’t refuse.”
“Thank you.”
“But let me ask one thing.”
“What is it?”
“Yein. Who are you, really?”
His eyes reflected my face.
“My identity…”
I hesitated for a moment, then replied.
“When everything I’ve planned is finished, I’ll tell you the truth. Until then, please see me only as a first-year hunter trainee.”
“…Alright. I’ll trust that promise.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
After that, I left the house with the others.
“So, where should we go have fun now?”
The moment we stepped outside, Meiling brightened and asked in a cheerful voice.
“Sorry, but I need to head back to the hotel.”
“What?”
Her eyebrows shot up.
“Something wrong?” Seo Yui asked.
“I have to do some paperwork related to Demon’s Class. I’ll need to borrow a laptop at the hotel.”
“That sounds like an excuse. Are you just ditching us?” Meiling glared.
“Meiling… Yein wouldn’t lie like that,” Lumina said softly.
“Then I guess it can’t be helped.”
Seo Yui, expression unchanged, turned to Lumina and Meiling.
“Let’s go out on our own today.”
“Have fun, you three.”
“Mm…” Lumina nodded.
But Meiling turned her head away, sulking so obviously that anyone could see.
A few dozen minutes later, I returned to my room with a laptop and began drafting the document for Kim Sang-sik.
This feels like I’m writing a Latesai strategy guide.
Maybe I should title it
How to Train Third-Year Academy Characters (Except Gwangcheon).txt.
If I uploaded this online, people would probably say it’s detailed but ultimately useless information. After all, you only have one year with third-years.
In the actual game, the real focus was always on your peers and the second-years.
But the world I was in was both a game and not a game. In the system of the game, dropping out didn’t exist, nor could different academies gather like this. And Phase Two dungeons had appeared a year early.
Through Demon’s Class, I’ll accelerate my companions’ growth. Then, when the time comes to fight the Latesai, it will be far easier.
A long-term plan. But if it succeeded, the payoff would be immense. I was sure of it.
“Hmm…”
“What are you looking at, Sang-sik?” Jodie asked from behind him.
“…A lesson plan, I suppose,” he replied.
“Huh? Are you going back to the academy?” Her eyes widened.
“No. Not the academy. But it looks like I’ll have to play teacher.”
“Really?”
She leaned over to peek at his monitor—then staggered back.
“Ugh.”
Her eyes glazed over at the wall of text filling the screen.
“I’ll… just head downstairs. What should I order for lunch?”
“Get whatever you want.”
“Okay!”
Humming, Jodie left the room.
Sang-sik chuckled at the sound of her light steps on the stairs.
Then his expression turned serious again as he focused on the monitor.
Just as Yein had said, the document was packed with details: rare items to be distributed, their effects, the Fortress Dungeon’s monsters and mechanics, the Demon’s Class students’ abilities, aptitude levels, strengths, weaknesses, and how to compensate for them.
How in the world did that kid figure all this out?
It was one thing to ask the students directly about their abilities and aptitude grades. But knowing the strengths, weaknesses, and ways to compensate for them? That would require careful analysis and firsthand observation in actual battles.
And the Fortress Dungeon information—how he obtained that was an even greater mystery.
It had only been a week since the dungeon appeared in Seoul, yet the document Yein sent contained detailed monster data and strategies for clearing its gimmicks.
“…It’s like reading a prophecy.”
Kim Sang-sik’s hand, scrolling with the mouse wheel, stopped.
There was one thing missing from the document.
He didn’t include his own ability. If I remember correctly, Yein’s ability was Thorn Explosion.
Back in April, when Yein had saved his classmates from being slaughtered in a dungeon, the event had been a hot topic among Gwangcheon’s staff.
So why leave out his own ability? Was it because he’d already trained it enough that he didn’t need to rely on others? Or… was it because his real ability is different?
His eyes widened slightly. He reread the document carefully.
Could Yein’s true ability be something like foresight? Without seeing the future, there’s no way he could’ve written something like this.
If foresight was real, it would explain everything—how he’d exposed Forward’s weaknesses, how he helped capture Yang Len, even how he knew about magic stone energy tech.
“Sang-sik! Lunch is here!”
Jodie’s voice boomed from outside.
Well, he said he’ll tell me someday. I’ll know for sure then.
Sang-sik shut off the computer and headed downstairs.
“Excuse me. What do you think you’re doing here?”
I stared in disbelief.
After sending the email, I had wiped the files and browser history, returned the laptop at the lobby, and come back upstairs.
But on my bed lay three people.
“We’re staging a protest,” Meiling declared.
“A protest?”
“If you don’t come out with us today, we’re not leaving this room. Cancel all your appointments and work.”
“……”
I said nothing and looked at Lumina.
“Lumina. Have you been hiding here under Stealth ever since we came back from breakfast?”
Because I clearly remembered locking the door when I left. And I had to use my keycard to open it when I returned. Which meant the only way the others got in was if Lumina, invisible, had opened the door for them.
Her face flushed bright red, and she pressed her lips shut.
“Then whose idea was this?” I asked, scanning the three of them.
None answered.
Meiling?
I glanced at her. She pouted and glared at me, though the tips of her ears were turning red.
No… if it were Meiling, she’d care too much about appearances to throw a tantrum like this. Then… Lumina?
I shifted my gaze back.
“~!?!”
Lumina let out a muffled squeak like a strangled scream and turned her head away.
No, not her either. She’d never come up with something so bold—especially not if it meant inconveniencing me. That leaves only Seo Yui.
I turned toward her. She was lying on a pillow, looking half-asleep. She could’ve nodded off at any moment… but that was just how Seo Yui always looked.
Still, her personality is too mature for this kind of stunt… then who on earth…?
Just as I struggled with the mystery—
Bzzzzt.
My phone vibrated in my pocket.
“!!”
All three froze at once.
I answered.
“Hello?”
[Yein. It’s me.]
The voice of Park Gwang-a, Gwangcheon’s student council president.
“Senior. It’s been a while.”
[Yeah. You got a call earlier, right?]
“What call? Oh—wait.”
[Huh? What’s wrong?]
“Nothing.”
I stepped back, away from the three craning their necks to eavesdrop.
“Are you talking about the call from Gwangcheon?”
[Yeah. Did you agree to come back?]
“Yes. We’re all returning.”
[Really? That’s great!]
Her voice brightened.
[I overheard people talking about you earlier, so I wanted to confirm it myself.]
“I see.”
[It’s a relief. Having students like you back at Gwangcheon means everything. And with the foundation switching from Forward to Homar, maybe we’ll finally lose that ‘trash academy’ reputation.]
“I hope so.”
[Then let’s meet tomorrow. I’ll treat you all to a welcome-back dinner.]
“Sounds good. I’ll look forward to it.”
[Great. See you then.]
The call ended. I slipped the phone back into my pocket.
“Who was that?” Meiling asked sharply.
“The student council president. She just wanted to confirm we’re coming back. Anyway—so where do you want to go?”
“…Huh?” Meiling blinked, caught off guard.
“If you three refuse to leave, I won’t be able to sleep tonight. So, tell me where you want to go. I don’t have any appointments today.”
“R-really!?” Lumina’s eyes went wide.
I nodded.
The three of them instantly lit up, huddled together, and began a hushed debate.
After about three minutes, they reached a conclusion: a shopping mall. Eat there, watch a movie, just hang out.
For all their dramatic protest, their choice was surprisingly ordinary. But maybe that was the point—sometimes the simplest outings were the most fun.
So I spent the day quietly trailing after them.
Then Thursday came. The morning we would return to Gwangcheon.
Time to say goodbye to this hotel.
I thought that as I flipped through the morning news, something that had become part of my routine.
s about new dungeons being investigated, and how the Hunter Market was thriving from the flood of new materials and relics.
Then—suddenly, breaking news flashed across the screen with a red banner.
“…You’ve got to be kidding me.”
I muttered, rising to my feet. My eyes locked on the text at the bottom of the screen.
[Former Seven Pioneers member Nadia Hassan visits Seoul City Hall.]
My heart pounded.
“…Why are you here now?”
I bit down on my lip.
Nadia’s arrival in Seoul could mean only one thing.
The Latesai would soon appear in this world.
(End of Chapter)