An Angel Lives in the Academy
Chapter 63: The Angel Realizes His Past Life (2)

Episode 63

James looked at the boy Park Jin-ho had pointed at.

Vivid blonde hair that looked as if it were woven from gold thread, and emerald eyes that sparkled with divine power.

And an unforgettable appearance that would make anyone believe that boy was a child actor. It was as if the boy was radiating light.

"Ah, that… The one who sacrificed himself for Yumari during the Blessing of the Spirits..."

So Principal James ignored Leffrey.

A handsome superhuman with such outstanding looks becoming famous now? It obviously meant he was a newbie who had just awakened.

If he were from a superhuman family or a large guild, he would have been famous from the start… and even if he wasn't, if he had awakened a while ago, he would have been a huge sensation on social media.

"Ah, Vice Principal Park Jin-ho."

"Although my knowledge is limited… he looks like a boy who awakened less than a year ago. Am I correct?"

"That's a good judgment."

Principal James said in disbelief,

"No, you're saying… a boy who awakened less than a year ago is stronger than the next chieftain of the Mooncat Tribe?"

"That's not true."

Park Jin-ho firmly shook his head.

"But you just said that boy was the top student, didn't you?"

"...Principal James."

Park Jin-ho thought about the past incidents.

Leffrey, who stopped him from purging the Mooncat Tribe, and who challenged the holy sword without hesitation, even though his body was burning.

Leffrey, who didn't give up on Hexi, abandoned even by her colleagues, and the one who walked towards the rampaging Hexi without a second thought, despite the risk of being torn to pieces.

Park Jin-ho always pondered these moments.

"What is the purpose of an academy?"

"...To nurture strong individuals who will protect humanity."

Principal James frowned.

To raise strong individuals who could stop the demon army was the academy's mission, why was Park Jin-ho suddenly asking the obvious?

"No, that's wrong."

But Park Jin-ho thought differently.

"The purpose of an academy is to create hope... That's what this professor believes."

He couldn't believe the words he just spoke.

That was how Park Jin-ho's current emotion.

Why did he deny the purpose of nurturing strong individuals? Why did he use such an abstract word as 'hope'?

"Are you serious?"

James asked in astonishment.

Park Jin-ho, turning his head, left the swordsmanship department, saying,

"If you're not satisfied with the Swordsmanship Department students... Go and ask the other departments."

Park Jin-ho was blatantly changing the subject.

Principal James, with a dissatisfied expression, followed Park Jin-ho out of the department.

The next place James went to was Lusa's Martial Arts Department.

Lusa, lounging in a chair next to the ring, greeted James with an indifferent attitude.

"James, you're still alive?"

"The Martial God? You’ve been quite well-behaved ever since you were defeated by Vice Principal Park Jin-ho… To think you’ve reformed yourself like this."

James looked around.

'Considering Lusa's violent and impatient personality… the martial arts classes here would be much lower quality than at our academy.'

Contrary to his expectations, Lusa's Martial Arts Department was conducting proper classes.

'Her personality has softened. The Martial God, just who could have made you like this...'

James, hiding his complex emotions, spoke to Lusa casually,

"You've heard from the vice principal, right?"

"Yeah, about the technique that brings back the powers of your past life. You're saying you're going to hand it over to us?"

Lusa smiled mischievously.

"Hand it over, my foot. Lusa, stop talking nonsense."

"Heh, always so serious. So what? You want to see the best students in each department?"

"That's right. Especially first-years whose abilities haven't fully developed yet. That way, the effects of Past Life Awakening are maximized."

Lusa muttered "First-year? Then there's nothing else to say," and pointed at a student.

"Then choose her. She's the best."

"Oh, that student is..."

Park Jin-ho looked at the student Lusa had pointed at. Flowing black hair, a small horn, and the elegant beauty unique to the Seocheon Yu.

"Isn't that the Seocheon Yu's Dragon Lady?"

"That's right, I told you there was nothing else to say."

James' eyes lit up as he looked at Yumari. Even though he was recommended a ridiculous boy for a ridiculous reason in the Swordsmanship Department… he had finally found a proper talent.

'The top student of the Central Academy entrance exam. And a member of the Seocheon Yu!'

Yumari who was beating down combat dummies and James who was captivated by Yumari's elegant martial arts, couldn't take his eyes off her.

"Woah."

And so he noticed something. Yumari, even during her spar with the combat dummies, kept glancing at someone.

And at the end of Yumari's gaze, sat that boy again.

That boy who made him wonder why he would want to be a superhuman when he could just be a child actor.

"Wait, wasn't that boy a swordsmanship student?"

James muttered in disbelief.

Lusa immediately snapped at him, her voice filled with killing intent,

"Don't talk nonsense. That child is in the Martial Arts Department."

"..."

"And he's my direct disciple. Got it?"

"W-Well... I understand."

James meekly submitted to the growling Lusa.

'...Should I probe her a bit?'

James composed his expression and asked as if clueless,

"That boy seems like a good candidate for Past Life Awakening too."

"...What kind of bullshit are you talking about?"

"No, doesn't he look talented at first glance?"

"Of course, that's true. No. Wait, no, it's not!"

Lusa grabbed James by the collar and shouted,

"I'll nurture his talent! So don't even think about using that suspicious magic, Past Life Awakening, on him."

"Ugh!"

Thus, James left the Martial Arts Department, practically kicked out.

'...Don't tell me that boy is in both the Swordsmanship and Martial Arts Departments? I heard there are less than twenty students with double majors at the Central Academy… and they're all practically monsters...'

The most famous among them was student council president Yu Si-hyun. A genius of the Seocheon Yu, known for being a triple major in Swordsmanship, Magical Studies, and Martial Arts.

'Could that boy really have that much talent...?'

James shook his head.

No, there's no way a newbie who isn’t even part of a superhuman family or a large guild could have that much talent. He must be mistaken about something.

'But even Lusa acknowledged it. That the boy has talent. And she even seemed fond of him.'

Could it be?

James muttered in disbelief and shook his head.

'No, Yumari was the top student in the entrance exam. And Hongwol was the second-place student. That boy wasn't even ranked. It means his talent isn't that high. There must be some exaggeration. Besides, that boy has divine power. To have divine power means...'

With that in mind, he pulled himself together.

James headed for the Magical Studies Department.

"No, really again?"

James had no more energy left to be surprised.

* * *

Meanwhile, just when James, the principal of the East Coast Academy, was losing his mind because of Leffrey, the hidden angel in every department...

A rumor spread among the Central Academy students.

'There's no way the East Coast Academy principal came here for no reason. Principal James is the best Shaman in the world, an incredibly busy man.'

'Then why is he here?'

'According to my dad's information network... He came to share the East Coast Academy's secret technique, 'Past Life Awakening' with our Central Academy.'

Past Life Awakening, the greatest secret of the East Coast Academy.

It is said that students who succeed in Past Life Awakening can gain potential beyond their previous capabilities.

'I see. That makes sense.'

'What are you trying to say...?'

'Principal James has been observing our professors and students, right? Why do you think that is?'

The students with information networks quickly deduced Principal James' objective.

'Principal James is currently… choosing a student for Past Life Awakening. I can't miss this opportunity.'

'By the way... according to rumors, the professors are pushing for a first-year named Leffrey.'

'Leffrey? The president of the Volunteer Club? The one who stood up to the student council?'

'Yes.'

'Tsk, he's a big shot. Then persuasion won't work.'

Leffrey had become a renowned figure due to the previous club fair incident.

So the students quickly abandoned their plan of persuasion, which was actually just ‘persuading’ him through threat.

'Then let's make it public.'

'Make what public?'

'When choosing the subject for Past Life Awakening, they should fairly consider the ‘level’ of their soul and choose someone objectively. Isn't it obvious that someone with a powerful past life would have a high soul level?'

There were a few students who were confident in the level of their souls.

Needless to say, they were the children of superhuman families.

'Let's not let the professors recommend Leffrey, and we'll go to Principal James and demand a fair selection process for Past Life Awakening.'

And this proposal was quite appealing even to James.

'No, don't tell me even Klein, who's obsessed with magic, thinks so highly of that boy? Could there really be something I don't know?'

James shook his head.

'No, I'm sure that Leffrey… is being overestimated. Park Jin-ho and the other Central Academy professors still evaluate talent based on personality.'

Of course, even James acknowledged that Leffrey had a good personality.

He took good care of the students around him, picked up trash when he saw it, greeted the academy staff warmly, and even gave snacks to stray cats.

Of course, these small good deeds were all due to Leffrey's habit of effortlessly farming Angelic Power, which was as natural as breathing for him.

But James, unaware of this

'He's a really good kid… but I have no choice.'

He couldn't help but think this, biting his lip.

'No matter how good his personality is… if he wasn't born with special abilities and hasn't been trained since childhood, then he's ultimately a lost cause.'

James' eyes gleamed.

A holy light flickered in his eyes.

'Besides, Leffrey has divine power. I can no longer allow those with divine power to...'

And so, James, having tea with Park Jin-ho, casually brought up the proposal.

"Of course, several professors recommended Leffrey… but there's the issue of fairness."

"What are you trying to say?"

"Shouldn't we choose a few more students, including Leffrey, and have a proper selection process?"

Park Jin-ho's eyes narrowed.

"And what would this proper selection process entail?"

"We'll select students with powerful past lives. To be precise, students with strong souls."

"Good. That's not a bad idea."

Park Jin-ho nodded readily.

'Huh? I thought Park Jin-ho, who favors Leffrey so much, would definitely oppose it?'

James was a little surprised to see Park Jin-ho nod so readily.

"Then let's decide on a date as soon as possible."

Park Jin-ho, looking at James slowly getting up, hid his smile.

Leffrey possessed immense divine power, even acknowledged by the saint. He’s so beloved by the heavens enough to forcibly draw the Holy Sword through sheer willpower…

Hexi, driven mad, had even mistaken him for an angel, that's how warm and noble his soul was.

Although Park Jin-ho didn't know anything about souls, he was certain that Leffrey's soul was on a 'different level'.

'It went exactly as planned.'

A Shaman who deals with souls and is obsessed with them.

And James Tarden, known as the Shaman King.

What would James do if he saw Leffrey's soul?

'How will he react?'

Park Jin-ho, hiding his smile, got up.