Chapter 171 : Career Counseling (1)

The two students each contacted their parents and asked about the interview.

Fortunately, neither parent was negative about the interview, and they were able to make time for it on the same day.

Of course, the student's attendance at the interview was also mandatory, but as it happened, both of them only had Ho-cheol's first-period lecture today.

In fact, there were only a handful of lunatics in Ho-cheol's class who would take another lecture in the afternoon after a three-hour lecture in the first period on a Monday.

A few hours later, Ho-cheol and the male student headed to the Support Item Production Engineering Department.

The Support Item Production Engineering Department.

Ho-cheol had almost no connections outside of the Hero Department, but he had somehow contacted the dean and Se-ah, and through a few introductions, he had found a professor.

The professor fiddled with his monocle and read the document.

Ho-cheol, who had been staring at him, asked cautiously.

“So. How is it?”

Unlike usual, his attitude was filled with a sense of tension.

Since it was a matter related to a student, not himself, he was actually a little nervous.

The professor took off his monocle and placed it on the desk.

He pushed the monocle lightly with his fingertip and said.

“It's not bad. There are a lot of places that need work, but that’s just a matter of basics. It’s much better than a freshman who has learned in a half-baked way. At the very least, it shows that he’s worked harder than just a hobby.”

This monocle was one of the support items the male student had made personally, and it was being evaluated as a kind of portfolio.

“Especially freshmen or students who don't know much tend to mistakenly think that more and diverse functions are better and try to cram in as much as possible. But perhaps thanks to his education as a hero, it’s good that he has selected and included only the most necessary and optimal functions. As expected, to know what’s most important and necessary, experiencing it firsthand is the best.”

At the rather positive evaluation, the male student's expression brightened.

Of course, Ho-cheol was also relieved more than that.

Because at least one basis for persuasion was firmly established.

“And he has also prepared for the related certifications to some extent. And his grades are, well.”

The professor looked over the documents and nodded his head.

“This is not at all insufficient for a transfer. The last semester was a little lackluster, but the average is what’s important.”

“Actually, the grades this semester were centered on practical application, so students who focused on theory probably saw their grades drop a lot.”

“Hmm. I see.”

In fact, even while talking, the professor still couldn't believe the current situation.

Not only was it strange for a professor from the Hero Department to contact him out of the blue, but the reason was for a consultation on a student's transfer.

Occasionally, there were students who transferred from the Support Item Department to the Hero Department.

In the public eye, and in the perception of the students, the Hero Department was a completely superior version compared to the other departments.

But the opposite situation, at least as far as he could remember, had never happened.

The students had no intention of doing so, and furthermore.

He confessed his honest feelings.

“I’m surprised. To be honest, it’s really rare to see a professor who goes to such lengths for a student.”

Of course, there were many professors who paid close attention to their students.

But when it came to a student's transfer, the story was a little different.

In fact, the more passionate a professor was in helping a student outside of lectures, the more passionate they were in preventing a student from leaving.

It was a matter of course.

For whatever reason, if a student left during the semester, the professor's evaluation would be lowered.

Ho-cheol answered nonchalantly.

“I don't care about such things.”

He turned his head and said to the male student.

“I couldn’t do what I wanted to do, so you guys should at least be able to.”

The male student and the professor were both impressed.

They had thought there might be a few reasons, but if that was really the first reason that came to mind, they could only say it was amazing.

The male student asked belatedly.

“What did you want to do, Professor?”

“I don’t know. But one thing is for sure. At the very least, it wasn't a villain.”

He had neither the leisure nor the situation to find that out.

The professor clasped his hands and asked.

“Are there any other items or portfolios you’ve made besides this?”

“Ah, yes!”

The male student opened his bag and took out the items he had designed and made.

Immediately after the consultation with the professor, Ho-cheol and the student headed to a cafe in the academy.

Originally, Ho-cheol had intended to visit the parents, but when he called, they had said they wanted to see the academy, so it was decided that they would come to him.

Ho-cheol had no reason to oppose it, as he could also save time.

Since it wasn't an official interview, it would have been a little strange to meet in the professor's office, so they had arranged to meet at a cafe.

Perhaps thanks to the positive response from the professor about the transfer, the male student's steps were more confident than before as he walked next to Ho-cheol.

“You said both of your parents are heroes.”

“Yes.”

“Their hero names?”

He searched for the parents' hero names that the student had told him.

Both parents were B-rank heroes.

However, it was just that there were too many A-rank heroes in the area where they were active.

The prevailing evaluation was that they were good enough to receive A-rank, considering their career, skills, and achievements.

In particular, their recognition and popularity were also good.

In Ho-cheol's opinion, they were proper heroes, not intentionally created ones.

“They’re great people.”

“Hahaha. Thank you.”

After waiting for a moment, the male student stood up as he saw a middle-aged couple enter through the door.

“You’re here.”

“Yes?”

Ho-cheol put down his cup and stood up.

He greeted the couple who had approached the table.

“Hello. I am Jeong Ho-cheol, the professor in charge of student Ahn Seong-hu.”

“It's a pleasure to meet you.”

“Hello. A parent-teacher interview about his career path. That’s surprising. We never had an interview like this in his first year. It’s not anything bad, is it?”

“It’s not.”

The male student, Seong-hu, left to buy coffee, and his mother looked at Ho-cheol and smiled lightly.

“You’re very young for a professor.”

There was a bone in her words.

Ho-cheol gave a bitter smile.

“Honestly, as a parent, I can’t help but be worried about a professor who is an ex-villain. And this year, there have been so many absurd incidents.”

“I understand all of your concerns. I may not be the best professor for the students, but I am doing my best.”

In any case, if the topic were to shift in this direction, it would not be good for Ho-cheol either.

He immediately got to the point.

“I’m sorry to say this, but student Ahn Seong-hu has no intention of becoming a hero.”

At Ho-cheol's very transparent and blatant declaration, the parents' expressions hardened.

“What do you mean by that? Are you saying he has no talent?”

“No. He has more than enough talent. It’s just that the direction his talent is heading in, and the path he wants to take, is not that of a hero.”

Ho-cheol took out two bundles of paper from his bag and held them out.

“Please take a look. This is student Seong-hu's grades by subject, his disposition and counseling content, and an evaluation from a professor in the Support Item Production Department.”

Although it was a hastily made report, prepared in just a few hours, it contained all the key information.

Seong-hu's parents looked over the report with a very serious expression and talked about various things.

“If he didn't want to be a hero, I wonder why he didn't tell us.”

“I saw a small obsession with wanting to be a hero because both of his parents were great heroes. However, it was so minor that I was only able to confirm it after counseling.”

“……If it were up to me, I’d like to tell him to do what he wants to do.”

Seong-hu's mother's voice trailed off.

“But of all things, he wants to do that grease-monkey work, no, support item production.”

For heroes in their 40s and older, support item producers were called by the derogatory term "grease-monkey," and their image was by no means good.

“Most importantly, he’s invested several years of his time, and to suddenly change his career path.”

It wasn't just the two years at Clington.

He must have prepared for a long time before enrolling to become a hero.

“Of course, it’s natural to be worried that it might be too late to transfer when he’s almost a third-year. But I actually think that these two years have been an important period that has allowed Seong-hu to find the career path he truly wants.”

Ho-cheol also brought up stories of Seong-hu's portfolio and personally made items, and passionately persuaded the parents.

By the time the interview had gone on for over an hour.

The ones who raised the white flag first were, perhaps naturally, Seong-hu's parents.

“We understand what you’re saying, Professor. But it’s a difficult problem for us to decide on carelessly. So we’ll have to talk more with Seong-hu.”

“Yes. It’s an important matter. It’s alright to think about it more.”

Seong-hu's father, who had been listening silently to the conversation since the first greeting, opened his mouth.

“Honestly.”

He uncrossed his arms and scratched his cheek.

“I was very skeptical and didn't like the idea of an ex-villain professor. I was looking at you with a biased view, but.”

He stood up and held out his hand to Ho-cheol.

Regardless of Ho-cheol's abilities, he had never imagined that he would care for each and every student to this extent.

“Even if he does transfer, I think he’ll rely a lot on a great adult and professor like you at the academy. So please continue to take good care of him.”

“Once a student, always my student. Even if he graduates, I will always do my best with sincerity.”

And so, the interview ended, and Seong-hu and Ho-cheol left the cafe first.

“This is as far as I can take you. From now on, it’s up to you.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Ho-cheol raised his hand and slapped Seong-hu's back hard.

Jja-ak—!

“Ugh!”

“Even if you transfer, you have to stay here until the end of this semester, right? I have no intention of letting you go, saying you should focus on your studies there.”

He raised his index finger.

“You have to be in the top 4, in the top 10%. I’ll only write you a recommendation letter for your transfer if you are. You’re not thinking of transferring without that much will and effort, are you?”

Without Ho-cheol's recommendation letter, the difficulty of the transfer would be incomparable, and if he failed, he would have to drop out and re-enroll.

The situation had become complicated for Seong-hu in many ways.

But instead of looking worried, he clenched his fist with determination.

“Yes!”

“Your confidence is already S-rank. Go on. You said you were going to show your parents around the academy.”

“Thank you!”

“Right. Work hard.”

After sending Seong-hu off, Ho-cheol checked the time and immediately headed to the main gate of the academy.

Because the first interview had gone on longer than expected, it was immediately time for the next interview, without any leeway.

Ho-cheol couldn't hold back a sigh that burst out.

Honestly, an idol?

He wasn't so narrow-minded as to stop her from doing what she wanted.

And her appearance was objectively outstanding.

He didn't know about her singing ability, but since she had said her goal was to be a singer or an idol, he was sure she would sing well.

But considering his position, he couldn't just say it was okay.

If a professor were to go and say, ‘Your daughter wants to quit being a hero to become an idol,’ he would have no excuse even if he were doused with water.

Even if he were to give them something, he would have to ask for cold water.

As he was thinking about various things, he arrived at the main gate of the academy.

The female student, Min-jeong, who had arrived earlier, was standing there, leaning against the main gate.

“Professor!”

“Right. We’re running out of time, so let’s leave right away.”

Ho-cheol stopped for a moment.

Right next to Min-jeong, an unexpected face was staring at him.

“What are you?”

Da-yeon twirled her hair around her finger and said, as if spitting out the words.

“I want to go too.”

“……Why?”

Ho-cheol asked, as if he genuinely couldn't understand.

“I’m the class president.”

“That was last semester. And even if you were, you have no business interfering in this.”

Da-yeon, who had been trying to tag along vaguely, was flustered by Ho-cheol's firmer than expected attitude.

She parted her lips and racked her brain as much as she could.

Then she found a new answer.

“Min-jeong’s parents are very stubborn, so it’ll be difficult to persuade them, even for you, Professor.”

“So it’ll be easier if you’re there?”

“Much more than without me.”

At the unbelievable words, Ho-cheol looked at Su-jeong with a look that said, ‘Is that true?’

Min-jeong also nodded her head as if in agreement.

“I think it’ll lighten the mood a lot.”

“Why on earth?”

“My parents are the type who became independent from the Sword Demon's sidekicks. Thanks to that, they’re crazy about Da-yeon. They like her more than me.”

“That’s because you’re a delinquent.”

“No, just because I dyed my hair and got my ears pierced doesn't mean I'm a delinquent!”

Ho-cheol let out a hollow laugh as if dumbfounded.

The group of four who hung around with Da-yeon.

He had thought they had no reason to be friends, but to think there was such a connection.

Was that the reason?

He stroked his chin.

“Right. Well, if it helps with persuasion.”

It would be better than nothing.

By the way, a former sidekick of the Sword Demon.

Ho-cheol momentarily felt a strange sense of anxiety.

“What are your parents' hero names?”

After hearing Min-jeong's answer, he immediately searched for the two hero names.

An A-rank hero who was about to be promoted to S-rank soon.

Fortunately, it was a name he was seeing for the first time.

He had been worried that he might have been involved with them during his villain days, but it seemed to be a groundless fear.

Ho-cheol put his phone back in his pocket and tilted his head.

On the way to the parking lot, Ho-cheol, at a question that suddenly came to mind, asked again.

“But you. You can sing well, right?”

Min-jeong, who had received a suspicious gaze, jumped up as if dumbfounded.

You’re asking that as a question.

“I'm not kidding. Do you want me to sing for you right now?”

“Don’t.”

Min jeong cleared her throat and sang a cappella.

Ah ah shall we go to Jongno, shall we go to Myeongdong.

“No, I told you you don’t have to sing.”

Despite Ho-cheol's dissuasion, Min-jeong raised her voice even higher.

And so, she sang the whole song until they reached the parking lot.

I'm standing on the street corner of Euljiro.

The only good thing was that, apart from the song choice, she sang quite well.