Before the dean could speak, Alexa finally stepped forward, her voice calm but firm as she raised her hand slightly and said, "Everyone, please calm down. This isn't how we solve things."
But someone near the end of the table let out a scoff and muttered loud enough for all to hear, "You're only defending him because he got in through you. Let's be honest—he just rode on your name to get this job."
Another professor followed, adding with a bitter tone, "Yes, he appeared out of nowhere, no background, no teaching history, and suddenly he's a professor? Just because Alexa brought him in? It doesn't make sense."
The room stirred again, but Alexa didn't back down, her voice sharper this time. "That's enough. I brought Jihoon here because I saw something in him—not because of politics or favors. You may not like his methods, but he's not here to play around."
A few frowned but stayed quiet, especially when Alexa continued, "He hasn't even been here for a full month. You're judging him as if he's failed a year's worth of work. How can you expect instant change when the job is to guide long-term growth?"
Her words seemed to echo in the room, making the other professors fall into a short silence. Even the dean looked unsure of what to say next.
Then another professor, older than the others, finally broke the quiet. "Waiting longer might be too late. We have to act early. Someone like Min Yoora has a real future ahead. What if he ruins her? What if his lazy approach messes with her direction? Do you want that responsibility?"
At that moment, Seojun, who had stayed silent and calm, finally spoke, his voice deep and steady as he leaned forward just a little and said, "Then…"
All eyes turned to him again, waiting for what he would say next.
Seojun looked around the room slowly, not in anger but with a cold curiosity, like someone observing noisy animals. He finished his sentence clearly, "What do you want me to do?"
The professors looked at one another, their faces serious, and after a few nods exchanged in silent agreement, one of them stood up and said firmly, "Leave. Leave the academy."
Seojun leaned back in the chair casually, not showing even a hint of concern, and replied in a calm voice, "I can't do that."
"What?!" one of them snapped, slamming their hand on the table.
Another professor pointed at him angrily. "Hey, we didn't ask for your opinion or your feelings, brat! Just leave! You're not welcome here!"
Others joined in, their voices rising, "It's not a request. It's an order!"
But Seojun didn't flinch. Instead, he said slowly, "What if I told you that only I can bring out Yoora's full potential?"
The room suddenly went quiet for a beat, followed by low murmurs and disbelieving laughter. One professor scoffed, "Bring out her potential? In what, taming animals?! Are you seriously joking right now?"
Another added sharply, "This is what happens when you hire someone too young. He thinks he's a genius, but all he does is play with beasts."
"He's just a tamer," someone muttered bitterly. "Taming is not even combat class, and he wants to act like he's something important?"
Inside Seojun's head, the System commented dryly,[They love Yoora that much, huh? Funny how they act like she's their child only now that she's excelling.]
Seojun's lips curved slightly into a cold smile, and he stood up slowly, pushing his chair back without rushing. "Fine then," he said, voice low but full of challenge, "Let's make it simple."
He looked around at the angry faces. "I'll show you. My students will defeat yours."
The words immediately caused a stir in the room. Some stood up in disbelief, others shouted, "What did you just say?!"
"He's insulting all of us!"
But Seojun didn't stop. He stepped forward with quiet confidence, locking eyes with the one who insulted him earlier. "Any condition you want," he said clearly. "Set it. I'll take it."
Just as the others were about to shout again, a man from the back—calmer than the rest but clearly respected—stepped forward and raised his hand. The others went silent.
He looked at Seojun with narrowed eyes and said, "If you're that confident, then you need atleast 10 total of students and you only have one week. Not just attendance—students who choose your class. If you fail, you leave quietly without a word."
Seojun tilted his head slightly. "That's it?" he asked with a small grin. "Alright. I accept."
Seojun glanced around the room, the heat of their glares sharp on his back, but he didn't care at all as he said, "If you don't have anything else to say…" letting the words hang in the air for a few seconds, waiting for someone to answer.
They just kept staring at him, some clenching their jaws, others crossing their arms tightly, not even bothering to hide their dislike.
With no reaction and no more words, Seojun simply turned around and walked to the door without hurrying, opening it casually and stepping outside as if he had just finished a boring meeting, not a heated argument with half the academy's professors.
Just before the door closed, he could hear Alexa's voice rising inside, sharp and angry, "You all need to calm down and think clearly, that's enough!"
The dean's voice followed after, not as loud but clearly firm, trying to stop the tension from rising even more.
He walked slowly down the hallway, his hands inside his coat pockets, his expression unreadable as the sunlight from the windows lit the long corridor.
[Well, that was intense, They really hate you now, host. You sure know how to make a good impression.]
Seojun didn't reply right away as his eyes glanced at the quiet walls, passing by the school banners and framed photos of past graduates on the walls.
[But wow, they're really serious about Yoora. It's like the whole academy is betting their pride on her And now they're scared because she chose you. Oof. That must sting.]
"I don't care," Seojun said softly under his breath, not stopping as he turned the corner. "They're blinded by their ego."
[Heh, true, true. Don't they know you already have four other students? You only need five more in a week.]