Chapter 1 – Academy

Taeho Kim.

I like ‘effort’.
It’s like magic. Even if it is a wall that cannot be overcome no matter how hard it is, even if it is a tree that cannot be crossed no matter how much you shoot it
In the end, if you keep trying and trying again, you will succeed.

I had a ‘talent’ called hard work.
If you study, study. If it’s exercise, exercise. Magic is magic. I’ve done everything I thought was worth doing.

If I were in school, anyone would dream of it, the extreme of Korea’s academic background.
It was only natural to set the goal of going to the ‘Academy’.

As always, I tried and eventually succeeded.

I thought getting the academy pass would be such a joy, but I didn’t think so.

Because I entered the academy alone.

I have a girlfriend

“Tae-ho. That… Congratulations… Hehe…”

Note

My first and last girlfriend.

She lowers her head to hide her sullen expression.
I can’t see the expression, but I can tell. She’s crying now.

My heart hurts.

This stabbing feeling in my chest eats me up. Because I love her with all my heart, I can’t show her weakness, so I desperately hold back her blushing eyes.

But in the end, she couldn’t hold back and shed tears. Even my girlfriend sheds tears at my unsightly appearance.
She holds my hand tightly with both hands.

“It’s okay… Whip… Big… Taeho, I can’t go with you…”

The trembling voice weakens the heart.

Should I just give up?

After reading my expression, Seoha pinches the back of my hand.

“Oh.”

Scoop up and calm down.

“Taeho, wake up. You just… Big… Weird thought, right? Something like giving up admission.”

“Huh…”

She stops her tears and looks straight into my eyes.

“Tae-ho. Is the academy funny enough to think of something like that with us moving a little farther away?”

“No…”

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Don’t miss it… I’m glad you think of me, but

You don’t have to sacrifice like this.”

I nodded without speaking.

The time is December.

It was a day when the wind felt especially cold.

*

*

*

Entered the academy

Extremes of class. The academy, where only the children of prestigious students enter and leave, had a dense curriculum, just like its name.
Time passed like a bullet, and the seasons changed many times.

And in the process, I didn’t make many friends.

Let’s learn about the academy.

What is an academy? Extreme elitism in pursuit of honor.

The end of the honor that anyone with money and back would want to let in.

Because of this, the people who enter are the sons and daughters of famous families, the sons and daughters of famous politicians, and the children of the presidents of conglomerates. One search and you’ll find plenty of monsters whose names are auto-completed.

The academy is the first step on the royal road given to their children by those who spend money, honor, and money.

But what about me?

There’s nothing.

Are you a well-known celebrity in your country? Our descendants inherit the bakery from generation to generation. Is the bakery included?

The son of the president of a large corporation? It is a small but famous bakery in the neighborhood.

The son or daughter of a famous politician? I know bread, but I don’t know politics.

Surprisingly no The only thing I can say is that he was a self-made man.

But even that is as insignificant as dust on the table in the academy.

Even if you don’t have anything, isn’t it okay because you came here through hard work? Would you still admit it?

I’ve had this thought before.

It didn’t matter.

Babies who grew up in a greenhouse have strong self-esteem, and never give a place for someone like me to step in.

Just like now

“Water.”

When I hear the words, I rush out. She goes to her drinking fountain with the tumbler she was given. As usual, open the faucet and fill the tumbler with water.
Gold-based intaglio flowers inlaid with silver cover the entire tumbler. The dazzlingly colorful patterns eat up my mind.

Fill her with water about two-thirds of her way up, then run towards her on her heels.

Does this seem like a normal classmate relationship?

“Great job.”

Fuck

I didn’t come to the academy without thinking.

To make your dreams come true. And she came here to remain a reliable and wonderful man to her.

“Isn’t the bakery kid ignorant? Bring a straw.”

I didn’t come to this academy to help out with this fucker.

“Do you want to close your business?”

I smiled and found a straw and handed it to him.

Fuck.