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HELHEIM SCANS
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Chapter 8: Whoa, Stunning in Real Life.
Seoul Academy of Supernatural Abilities.
The route to the academy’s special autonomous district was clear and convenient for all enrolled students.
There were shuttle buses that circled all of Seoul and an entire subway line dedicated solely to the academy.
There was no need to worry about outsiders getting in the way, as only students and academy personnel with proper IDs and passes could board.
Since there was a shuttle running near my apartment, I grabbed a sandwich from the convenience store and waited.
Soon enough, I was on the bus.
Well, there was a slight issue, though.
“Is that... him?”
“Whoa, why didn’t the rumors spread sooner?”
“Maybe everyone’s eyesight failed from being blinded by him.”
“Oh, that actually makes sense.”
Tapping my student ID and finding a seat was fine and all, but for some reason, everyone on the bus kept glancing at me.
I was sure I’d never seen any of them before, yet their eyes were filled with clear interest and... admiration?
Was this some kind of reverse-world-specific bullying tactic?
Or was I being paranoid?
‘Goddess, what’s going on here?’
I considered asking the Goddess for her wisdom, but—
[…….]
After sending a message earlier saying she was fuming over something at the convenience store, she’d completely vanished.
Well, she occasionally went MIA in the other world too, so maybe she just had to step away.
Bathroom break, perhaps.
Regardless of the Goddess’s whereabouts, I needed to figure out what was going on with the bus passengers.
‘Yep, no doubt about it. They’re definitely looking at me.’
As a former hero who had reached the pinnacle of power, distinguishing between direct and indirect gazes was child’s play.
They were absolutely stealing glances at me.
This was no misunderstanding.
[The Goddess hurls profanities at you.]
Eh, her vanishing only to return and start cursing at me was nothing new.
That was barely worth acknowledging.
What concerned me far more were the unfamiliar emotions in the eyes of the bus passengers.
As a hero, and later, as a god of destruction revered by some, I was used to being stared at.
‘Back then, people always looked at me with reverence, awe, and sometimes even fear.’
The experience of being deified from a mere mortal was… uniquely stimulating.
It was less unnerving and more of a rush—a dopamine hit from being exalted by others.
Still, it was a lonely experience, which was partly why I returned to the modern world.
Even here, I was no stranger to attention, but the emotions behind the gazes were different.
Back then, the emotions I encountered were reverence, devotion, admiration, and at times, fear or resentment.
But here, what I felt was curiosity, interest, and, occasionally, lust.
They were curious about me.
In more ways than one.
After months of watching this world’s media, my divine-level data analysis was clear: they were harboring romantic interest toward me.
[……?!]
[The Goddess asks if you were aware of this.]
‘Of course I knew.’
I mean, back in high school, it was perfectly normal to sneak glances at a cute café or PC room employee.
It was practically a given.
Ever since I noticed the unusual stares during my previous commute, I’d been checking my reflection in the bathroom mirror every morning.
No matter how I looked at it, my face wasn’t half-bad.
In other words, there was demand.
Given the gender-reversed power dynamics in this world, my appearance alone probably made me somewhat desirable.
Especially at a supernatural academy where male students were a rarity.
It wasn’t far-fetched to say I was practically the protagonist of some harem romance fantasy.
[The Goddess stares at you in disbelief.]
[She asks if you’ve been acting like that all along, despite knowing everything.]
Hey, what’s with the that?
As a former hero, I had nothing to be ashamed of.
I’d lived with honor, and besides, I’d barely left my apartment—I hadn’t had time to do anything shameful.
[She says that is precisely the problem.]
[(ㅁ_ㅁ)]
Honestly, she found the weirdest things to take issue with.
“Hey, market research is important, you know. Besides, I’ve already decided on my primary ‘route’—the academy.”
Suddenly heading into the city and declaring, ‘Hey! Everyone, look at me!’ wasn’t my style.
I’d already been the center of attention in the other world far too much to enjoy that.
Sure, being popular was nice, but what I truly desired was romance.
‘Whether it’s a pure romance or a harem, I’m fine with either.’
I was the kind of guy who wanted it all—the omnivore type.
I just wanted the people I liked to all like me back.
A simple, honest desire.
Therefore, I planned to focus on being a diligent, model student at the academy.
‘A studious, upright image would be ideal.’
Acting like a delinquent or some arrogant hotshot didn’t suit my personality.
Besides, I had no intention of role-playing as some over-the-top character.
I simply wanted to lead a normal school life, make connections, and perhaps, experience a wholesome romance—
A peaceful life as an ordinary student.
That was my small, modest goal for this world.
[The Goddess sighs, muttering that she must have raised the hero wrong.]
“Hey, what did I do now?”
[She pities the poor convenience store employee.]
“Wait, what? Why?”
Seriously, the Goddess and I never seemed to be on the same wavelength.
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HELHEIM SCANS
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* * *
Chugging, the train sped along the railway over the blue river, and beyond it, an island came into view.
Seoul Academy of Supernatural Abilities.
A special autonomous district entirely dedicated to the academy, formed as an island and functioning as a unique academy city.
It was a cradle of talent that gathered prodigies from around the world.
So much so that governments, corporations, and even villain organizations kept a close eye on it.
However, there was no need to worry about espionage or terrorism from the outside.
Click.
The train just crossed a trigger point.
For a moment, a wave of mana scanned the train and its passengers.
Gazing out the window, she watched the landscape beyond.
Bright, dark, and colorful.
The river beyond the train flickered through day and night, dawn and twilight in a single instant.
It was as if space and time were layered together in a multidimensional knot.
No matter how many times she saw it, it was still a breathtaking sight.
Aris Severus, a professor of combat studies and magic, stared with an expressionless face, mentally comparing her magical knowledge to the miracle unfolding before her.
No matter how many grand mages and archmages collaborated to construct it, the scale of the barrier covering the entire island was beyond astonishing.
Most students didn’t even notice the train had crossed through a barrier—it was that discreet.
For an educational institution rather than a military base, it was best that it remained subtle.
That way, students could enjoy their freedom and rights without feeling oppressed.
The academy itself was designed to reflect this philosophy, with a diverse and beautiful campus.
Modern buildings and streets coexisted with areas styled like quaint medieval villages, with markets, plazas, and fountains.
There were even training halls styled after East Asian dojos for close-combat-oriented students, while the dormitories were built in four different architectural styles representing the seasons.
Some criticized it as a wasteful extravagance for the privileged few.
But with the academy's reputation, the heavy investment was justified.
After all, once the students graduated, they would become A-rank hunters or top-tier researchers, making massive donations or returning as instructors, easily repaying the costs.
Besides, the tuition itself was exorbitant.
Regardless, it was a place where the most talented gathered, which was why Aris Severus, despite disliking bothersome tasks, voluntarily took charge of forming the illusion magic for the combat department’s placement exam.
Every year, she harbored high expectations for the new students entering the academy.
These were the seedlings that could grow into not only A-rank hunters but also graduate students or elite experimental subjects.
‘I should make sure they don’t lose heart.’
Especially this year—it felt different from the usual.
The descendants of prestigious families and magic towers were naturally outstanding, but there were also unexpected dark horses.
Strictly speaking, they weren’t even from her field of expertise, yet she couldn’t help but take notice.
She came to a stop at the bulletin board in the village square, where vendors sold food, desserts, and magic items.
[Combat Department Class 1 Placement Exam]
Aris Severus stood before the board, scanning the list of scores.
“Oh-ho.”
This year was definitely more intriguing than usual.
* * *
[The goddess’s eyes widen in shock.]
[She glances around the hero with great confusion.]
It was my first day of school since the entrance ceremony.
Even though it was a day brimming with the potential for major events, I had still been casually exchanging jokes with the goddess.
I figured it was fine to take it easy.
After all, no matter how good-looking or talented I was, I was still just a mere student at the academy.
There was no reason to stand out—my academic scores from the college entrance exam barely scraped by the cutoff line, and during the entrance ceremony’s placement test, I had only fought a group of goblins with minimal effort.
I mean, it would’ve been ridiculous to go all out against goblins.
So, my plan was simple—take a relaxed stroll around campus, scouting out the grounds.
But something felt… off.
“Wow, he looks insane in real life.”
“I should smash my phone. My camera lens must be garbage.”
“He’s that good-looking and insanely strong?”
The atmosphere was strangely unusual.
I realized why when I saw the placement exam results posted around campus.
“...Huh?”
Wait a minute.
[Combat Department Class 1 Placement Exam]
[1. Shin Yuseong]
Wait… me?
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HELHEIM SCANS
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