Chapter 8 : School is a fucking spectacle #3 - No Kidding, I’m an Extra

"Cute! Your proper seating is truly endearing! You have the freshness of a first-year cadet written all over you!" Kawar, the magic combat instructor, looked as if she couldn’t be happier. A teacher brimming with such enthusiasm was quite the rarity; it was truly refreshing. Just look at those eyes sparkling with excitement. It was clear—this person genuinely loved teaching. Thinking about it that way, an unexpected fondness grew. How wonderful it was to have a passionate teacher; surely, she was the kind you'd end up respecting. To confess, albeit a bit embarrassingly, I once aspired to be such a teacher myself. That dream ended after being treated like a punching bag by one. "Oh, do any of you know me?!" At that question, the students eagerly raised their hands. "We know you! Hyper Witch Instructor!" "Hyper Witch! Hyper Witch!" What? What did you just say? "Training under Hyper Witch feels like a dream...!" Why, why Hyper Witch? Couldn’t they at least call her Hyper Witch in full? "Hahaha! Seems like everyone knows! Oh dear, how embarrassing!" Hyper Witch coyly twisted her body, pretending to be bashful. But... why does this not match her image? ㅡSaruk. Her radiant golden hair was genuinely beautiful. Should I call it seaweed hair? The wavy locks cascaded down to her waist. Coupled with her model-like height and figure... Such an exquisite person behaving so flippantly was quite bizarre. Why wasn’t there anyone normal? It seemed like Lee Sora was the most normal instructor here. "Anyway! For those who are unaware, let's do a self-introduction! Hello! I'm Kawar, the magic combat instructor! Quite famous in the field of magic, indeed! And from today, I'm also the scary instructor teaching our adorable cadets! Roar!" She mimicked a tiger's roar with her hands. ㅡHahaha! The students burst into laughter. Wherever you go, there are teachers beloved by and close to their students. Already, she felt familiar. "Everyone remembers what happened yesterday, right? Suddenly, a mid-sized C-rank beast, a Warp Spider, appeared, throwing the cadets into chaos! Everyone was in an uproar!" For some reason, my back started to heat up...! I better lower my head a bit! "All of it was thanks to Instructor Kawar's handiwork! It was an illusion magic I created to test you cadets! Now, illusionary beasts intruding is part of the regular curriculum, so don’t blame us too much... But was there an incident yesterday?" In a moment. ㅡWhack. The gaze zeroed in on me. Even with my head slightly bowed, the intensity of the stares was unmistakable. Why is this happening...! You all were scared, too! Why are you looking at me! Look at yourselves! But the most piercing stare came from directly in front of me. "One cadet screamed as if the world were ending, 'Oh my gosh, shi-baaaall!!!' Haha! Hahahaha!" Please, don’t laugh! "C-Cackle!" "Hahahaha!" "Snrk! Ha, haha!" Following suit, the other students began to laugh as well! These little brats were scared too, yet now they’re all trying to pin the shame on me! Such cunning little devils! "And there’s the star of the show! Kim Geun Cheol! Stand up!" Why is he asking me to stand...! "Ah, no... How do you even know that..." "We saw it in the faculty room, Instructor Lee Sora and I!" "But, still, unveiling a student’s embarrassing moments like that..." "Oh! Our Kim Geun Cheol is blushing! Hahaha! This is entertaining! Okay, now that I've seen your face! Sit, Kim Geun Cheol!" I promptly sat down. Am I really marked now? "..." Even after sitting, the students’ stares didn’t wane. They were all smiling while looking at me. "How amusing! Never seen a cadet so petrified before! Well, no worries! Under the guidance of Kawar, you'll become a brave warrior! Now, then!" ㅡThunk! Suddenly, she struck the floor with her staff. ㅡFwroooom! Instantly, a brilliant blue light burst forth, enveloping the entire classroom like a curtain! "W-What is this?!" Is this actually magic?! What a grand spectacle! In a flash, the classroom was surrounded by a beautiful blue barrier, evoking the feeling of stepping into another dimension. Other students looked around in awe. "We will commence Kawar’s first magic lesson! Today, you'll experience yesterday’s illusion a bit more thoroughly!" "What?! Are you saying you’ll show us that monstrous illusion again?!" I couldn’t help but shout in surprise! Kawar, having heard my outburst, pointed at me with a grin, twirling her finger as she replied! "My, my, Kim Geun Cheol! You’re already correct! Such potential for an honor student!" Honor student, my foot! "Honor student...! Sniff!" "Aren’t you the squealer?! But an honor student?” "Ha, haha! Snicker!" Come on, guys, stop teasing this old man...! It’s so humiliating being here at this age and facing all of this! "Well, anyways! This is essential, really. While there aren’t many beasts, there are fiends who use lethal illusions as their main weapon. Does anyone know who?" At her question. "The Kaha Bell brigade fiends," Leona, seated at an angle, answered. Kaha Bell brigade? "Ooh! As expected of top student Leona! You know it well!" "I’m from the European regions. Their notoriety is seared into my mind." "They’re the kind even Mr. Dominators couldn't easily vanquish." It seemed that the Kaha Bell brigade was a group of fiends specializing in deadly illusions. From what I researched on the internet yesterday, fiends are 'intelligent beings from other dimensions.' In other words, aliens. They desire to invade Earth. Currently, some fiend races have already occupied parts of Earth. "Anyway, such fiends disturb human senses with deadly illusions and hunt them down. They're extremely dangerous, hence this exercise. You know what I mean, right? Like the CBRN training in the military? Everyone gasps and coughs together as they experience it—think of it like that!" Is it really okay to use an example like that for minors? "Be careful. Instructor Kawar is famous for her mastery of illusion magic." "You better brace yourself. Today will be incomparable to yesterday." "I-I'm scared..." The students who had already bonded were intentionally saying unsettling things to amplify my anxiety. I'm scared to death here. But this time, I am aware it's an illusion. So, there’s no way I'll react as disgracefully as I did yesterday. Knowing it's just an illusion, how could it be frightening? Time to revamp my image here. I can't damage it any further. "Have you all shared your thoughts? Then let's start the first session! I'll be casting illusions individually; see if you can endure them!" Individually, huh... That's both nerve-wracking and intriguing. I just witnessed real magic right before my eyes. I wonder how an illusion would feel. "Oh, and if you endure, I'll give you a kiss!" What now? "A k-kiss! A kiss, kiss!" "Kisssss!" "Whoooaa!" With those words, the overly excited male students jumped up from their seats, roaring. There's nothing normal about this place. These guys seem like total psychos; best to avoid any entanglement with them. "Hahaha! Love the response! Now, let's begin Instructor Kawar's Cool and Sexy Illusion Horror Express! Hold on tight, and who should we start with... Drumroll, please!" Kawar, utterly thrilled, imitated a drumroll with her mouth while twirling her fingers. At times like this, staying silent is the best approach. I just need to observe how the first person reacts and then strategize accordingly—feels like one of those Dementor exams from Harry Potter. "Kim Geun Cheol!!!" "Whyyyyyyy?!!!!!" Why! "Why my name?!" Why me! "Ah, I love the loud response! I prefer cadets with booming voices! Anyway, our first participant is Kim Geun Cheol!" "Oh my goodness, Instructor! Why me, though? Could you at least explain?" I must challenge this injustice! If I let this slide, they might keep picking on me! "Well, no particular reason!" No reason? Just like that! "I simply thought Kim Geun Cheol seemed the right choice! Now, please step forward!" "But, Instructor, why do you keep calling me Kim Geun Cheol..." "The headmaster called you that." "..." "Hurry up, Kim Geun Cheol! Oh, and this time, try not to scream 'Oh my gosh, shit!' Hahahaha!" ㅡHahahahaha! ㅡKuhahaha! It's like a comedy show in here. That's right! Laugh it up! I'll use this chance to change my image! "Phew... Instructor Kawar?" "Does our Kim Geun Cheol have something to say?" "Not much, just wanted you to know yesterday's incident was an instinctive reaction because I was startled. I normally don't act like that, so please keep that in mind." "Oh dear! Of course, I'll keep that in mind! Because our Kim Geun Cheol said so!" Kawar exaggeratedly smacked her forehead at my words. She's overly expressive. Anyway, I walked right up to Instructor Kawar. "And Instructor." Say what you need to, Geun Cheol. "Yes?" "I think you're underestimating me—an illusion? Just knowing it's an illusion makes it trivial. It won't be frightening at all, so hopefully, there won’t be any mocking in the future." I said, maintaining a serious demeanor. "Oh." ㅡSmirk. "Is that so?" Suddenly, a terrifying and daunting smile surfaced on Kawar's face... What? What did I just witness? Was that even human? "Instructor?" Hold on. Whoa. Wait a second. This is unsettling. More dangerous. Stop. Please, stop, Instructor. No, sister! Please stop!!!! "We're beginning. Good luck? If you hold out well, you'll get that appreciative kiss. But of course, our brave Kim Geun Cheol will endure, right? Then... ta-da! It's showtime." ㅡSnap. The moment Instructor Kawar snapped her fingers in front of my face. ㅡFwooosh. In an instant, the world disintegrated. "Wha-what?" Pitch black. Total darkness. Suddenly, everything around me was consumed by darkness. At the same time, I heard the most bizarre sounds. Doors slammed violently open and shut in the dark-aaaaaaaah!!!! "Aaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!" Inside! Insideeeeee!!!! A long-necked man with countless tiny holes stabbed into his insides crawled towards me, splitting open his stomach to show meeeeee!!!!!!!! "Shiiiiiiiiit!!!! Somebody help meeeeeee!!!!!!"