I Became the Academy’s Kibitz Villain

Throughout last night, Baek Seol-hee and I studied her doppelgänger ability extensively.

It was a lengthy process.

The doppelgänger was repeatedly created and then destroyed.

I accidentally shattered the doppelgänger with a bat.

Fortunately, no injuries occurred when the doppelgänger broke, allowing us to explore its abilities in various ways.

“For now, only one can be made at a time. Check. The doppelgänger can be broken to recover mana. Check. If the doppelgänger is close, sensations can be synchronized. Check. And…”

I summarized Baek Seol-hee’s doppelgänger ability to make it more accessible for her.

“It’s possible to move to the doppelgänger’s location. This involves transforming the main body into frost mist for movement…but teleporting across spaces is not possible.”

“Someday, it’ll be possible.”

Baek Seol-hee, perhaps envious of Yumir’s space teleportation, aspired to move her main body to the doppelgänger’s location regardless of the distance.

For now, her wish was simply to be able to cross over to my house where the doppelgänger was at any moment.

“I must. Definitely. I want to move freely. I can’t keep relying on Yumir forever.”

“Yumir doesn’t complain every time she teleports, does she?”

“She doesn’t. If she did, I would’ve said something. But because she doesn’t, I feel even more apologetic. Especially last time, when you and I were… tsk.”

“I felt really sorry for spoiling the moment. It’s okay. You can just come to me like this from now on.”

Although Baek Seol-hee’s method might be more complex and challenging than Yumir’s, the fact that she cpi;d now leave the Taeguk Watch at her office and come to my room was a significant achievement.

“Additionally, the doppelgänger can use abilities, albeit in a very weakened form.”

It was not limited to making gestures; it could fully utilize abilities.

However, the abilities it could use are clearly limited.

“The abilities the doppelgänger can use depend on the total amount of magic power given to it. If you put in the power of an E-rank, it has the strength of an E-rank; if C-rank, then C-rank strength.”

“…If I put all my magic power into creating a doppelgänger, I wouldn’t be able to move and would have to control the doppelgänger only while I recover. Ah, this part is a bit different. Modify this. It’s not quite like that…”

Baek Seol-hee, lying on the bed, watched me organize her doppelgänger ability on my laptop and helped with the organization.

“The synchronization of sensations between the doppelgänger and the main body varies with distance. It’s like a walkie-talkie. Even the distance between the front door and the veranda is enough to lose the connection.”

“…We just need to train.”

“Right. We’ll train so that the doppelgänger can appear in front of people. When it’s time for prenatal education, just lying in bed or taking a light walk will be enough.”

Someday, even just sitting still, doppelgänger Baek Seol-hee should be able to handle everything on her own.

But that would require consuming a significant amount of magic power each time a doppelgänger was created. If there were a way to quickly replenish mana—

“…Ah.”

A good idea came to mind.

“Seol-hee, how much cash do you have?”

“……Should I give it all?”

“No, no. What are you talking about? When you say it like that, it sounds like I’m some scumbag who’s after your money.”

I flicked Baek Seol-hee’s forehead lightly with my finger.

“I meant, do you have enough to buy a building on Ulleungdo, about a thousand pyeong?”

“…How much would that be?”

“To buy about a thousand pyeong…just a simple estimate would be about a hundred billion for the land alone?”

Amazing, Ulleungdo.

A hundred million per pyeong.

Only possible because of the strong ‘patriotic’ energy imbued in the land.

Considering the pensions and hotels on top, we’d need at least two hundred billion.

“I frequently visit a certain pension, you know.”

“Yeah.”

“The hot spring there is actually a mana recovery spot.”

“……?”

“That’s why I go there often.”

“Just by entering the water, magic power is restored…?”

“Yeah.”

“Then…!”

Baek Seol-hee tried to get up right away.

“Let’s go to Ulleungdo. I’ll take you.”

“Calm down.”

“If we go into the sea, nobody will notice. Or—”

“Just calm down.”

I hugged Baek Seol-hee tightly in my arms and gently stroked her head.

“We can go to Ulleungdo anytime. Even now, if we wanted. But do you think you’d enjoy it now?”

“…….”

“Let’s wait until you’ve recovered some strength. Okay?”

“Yeah.”

Her face buried in my chest, she blinked for a moment, then blushed and clung to me.

“We could buy that pension in Ulleungdo, couldn’t we?”

“No, not that one. We’ll buy a hotel where nobody can enter, and pretend to live there while actually staying at the pension. With me.”

“The ultimate escapade. The paparazzi will roam around the hotel I bought, and if we send the doppelgänger there, everyone will think Baek Seol-hee is there. …But why don’t I just buy that pension?”

“That’s not possible.”

That place was an asset of the society.

“Anyway, let’s leave at least an E-rank doppelgänger elsewhere, and have the doppelgänger act similarly to how you usually do. Meanwhile, you can soak in the hot springs of Ulleungdo or be patriotic without any problem. As long as no one attacks you or anything, there shouldn’t be a big problem.”

“…Won’t people think it’s weird to have a doppelgänger? Wondering why it only feels like E-rank magic power.”

“We’ll think about that when the time comes. Or we could hire someone else to act as a bodyguard around you.”

It would be nice if an agent of the society could be attached, but I was not sure Baek Seol-hee would like having an agent of the society by her side.

“Seol-hee, can you fight with the doppelgänger?”

“The doppelgänger could mimic Snow White’s face, but engaging in serious combat like we did in Jindo would be out of the question. Its magic power is its very lifeforce.”

“Magic power as lifeforce…”

“…Anyone come to mind?”

“Just thinking, if that’s the case, using mana seems quite reluctant.”

It was a limitation someone had conceived.

“Utilizing magic power to protect people is noble, but if using mana also shortens one’s lifespan, even S-class heroes might think twice before taking action.”

“That makes sense. Plus, if you’re an S-class hero, the government would have a say in your actions. Don’t do anything rash, only step in when the nation faces peril.”

Baek Seol-hee looked up at me, her expression laden with significance.

If I was right, she might have caught wind of something about ‘that man’, be it from the chairman or the president.

“Being the ultimate weapon is a heavy burden. Revealing your condition would only add to the chaos of the world.”

Was being ranked number one the same in every context?

Because they were heroes, brimming with justice, battling villains with bodies on the brink of death, refusing to let the symbol of peace falter.

The difference here was that in this world, there were many ready to step up and become a new symbol of peace.

“Seol-hee, if the world learns of your pregnancy, you’ll be stepping down for at least a year, making the next S-class temporarily Korea’s representative.”

“Then, will Toosin be Korea’s representative?”

“Do you trust Toosin to take care of this country?”

“…….”

Baek Seol-hee sealed her lips.

“Toosin might be a paragon of justice, handsome, and undeniably skilled, but still, he seems to lack the qualities needed to fill the shoes of Gwang Ik Gong or Snow White, doesn’t he?”

“…….”

“Someone once said, if you were to rank Korea’s S-classes, it would look something like this.”

S+ class included Gwang Ik Gong, Snow White.

S class include Toosin, Baridegi, Cheok Jun-kyeong, Naje.

S- class included Armored Taejo.

“Want to hear something interesting? Do you know what criteria people use to classify someone as S+ class?”

“Performance…?”

“It’s whether one can subdue all the S-class heroes of a neighboring country. For instance, if Snow White alone can suppress all five S-class heroes of Japan.”

“……It sounds difficult, but not entirely impossible.”

“Right. That’s the prestige of being S+ class.”

Though all classified as S-class by the Hero Association, there’s naturally a distinction within the S-class itself.

“What if someone more reliable than Toosin becomes S+ class and represents Korea as a power user?”

“……Then, I’d want to announce it openly.”

Baek Seol-hee tapped my cheek with her finger.

“Even if we don’t say who the father is, I’ll announce that Baek Seol-hee has finally gotten pregnant as everyone in the nation wanted. If the world is anxious about the absence of an S+ class, wouldn’t everyone feel relieved if there were an S+ class to protect the country during my maternity leave?”

“Who are you thinking of?”

“How about the person responsible for making Baek Seol-hee take maternity leave take responsibility?”

“……That’s not possible.”

Just as Baek Seol-hee rejected my recruitment offer, I couldn’t accept that either.

“Better to raise a few S+ classes and place them instead.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I’m already eyeing someone.”

“A woman?”

“Why do you think it’s a woman?”

“Because you wouldn’t teach a man by your side.”

“……Do you see people as some kind of accessory?”

It was easier to teach women, but that didn’t mean I absolutely despise teaching men.

“Or should I ask Solar Platina for help? While I’m pregnant and giving birth, can you protect this country?”

“And when Solar Platina gets pregnant, then you’ll step forward?”

“Why not take turns each year?”

“Look at you. No intention of stopping at one?”

“Planning to gather kids for a soccer team?”

“…….”

I covered Baek Seol-hee’s mouth with my hand.

“If that’s the plan, you’re essentially retiring. Just give birth and that’s it? The mom needs to be there with them. If both mom and dad are out on missions, who will be by their side?”

“…….”

“Don’t look at me like that. I’m not someone who will give up my path just because I have a child. On the contrary, I’ll move even more actively. If before it was for my woman, then it will be for my children.”

I was already moving with that mindset, but now, with even more responsibility, I’d have to give my all.

“So, the answer is simple. To ensure you can raise our child with peace of mind…”

My conclusion was clear.

“To raise someone capable of dedicating themselves to this country in your place as an S+ class. As quickly as possible.”

After all, work was something that the successor did.

“It’s not about waiting for a new S-class to come in; it’s about making one.”