"You are the principal?" Shin spoke, cutting through the man's thoughts. "I'm Yeri's guardian, and I need to take her home so she can recuperate properly. The doctor here said I only need to sign some paperwork."
The principal was momentarily stunned. His gaze shifted toward the infirmary doctor. So there was no dispute about taking her home?
She shook her head firmly, indignation written all over her face. "Student Yeri is merely running a fever. I've already administered fever medication. Why take her out? I'm only concerned this will affect her academic record. Yet these people ganged up on me and accused me of not understanding how this school works."
"How could it be an ordinary fever?!" Nina protested. "I already said she had a nosebleed and fainted!"
But the language teacher interjected, her tone firm and righteous. "Principal, if kindness is repaid with hostility, how can teachers and staff possibly work to the best of our ability in such an environment?"
"Exactly," another teacher muttered. "I thought SC University was different from other schools. Aren't these wealthy students always saying that here, they're not above anyone, just ordinary students?"
"That recent bullying incident really shocked me," yet another added. "I used to believe that too, but seeing students abuse their family's authority like this puts me on guard. Who knows when we might be framed next?"
The principal found himself caught in a dilemma.
He didn't want the teachers to see him as a sycophant currying favor with the wealthy, yet he also couldn't afford to offend students whose families could shake the school to its foundations.
Either way, someone would be displeased, and right now, all eyes were on him.
After a brief pause, he turned toward the three most convenient targets.
"What are you three still standing here for?" he snapped. "Go back to class instead of troubling the adults. Looking after Student Yeri is not your responsibility."
Nina opened her mouth to protest, but Jj subtly gestured for her to stop.
"It's fine," he said quietly. "I'm here now. Thank you for looking after Yeri."
Reluctantly, Nina, Levi, and Loki prepared to leave.
Loki, however, glanced at Shin as if awaiting instructions from his guardian.
Truthfully, he was enjoying the spectacle, arguments without violence or bloodshed were a rare novelty to him.
Shin gave him a slight nod.
Only after the three students left did Jj speak again.
"Principal, I'm Yeri's older brother. There has never been any issue regarding her attendance or medical condition before. My parents have always been meticulous with paperwork, hospitalizations, medical leave, all of it is immediately reported to the school. I don't understand why the infirmary doctor suddenly felt the need to create such a commotion."
The infirmary doctor flared instantly.
"Are you blaming me?" she shot back. "You were the ones turning a small matter into something enormous! I am the doctor here. I know her condition better than any of you. But fine. Since you all believe you know better, I will no longer handle anything related to Student Yeri!"
"Principal," the language teacher added sharply, "if anyone can say whatever they want, does that mean our years of professional experience are meaningless to others?"
Jj's frown deepened. He genuinely couldn't understand why these people were spiraling so aggressively.
"If you truly are her older brother," the principal said impatiently, rubbing his temples, "then you should trust our school's credibility. We are also thinking of what's best for your sister. The infirmary doctor's judgment couldn't possibly be wrong."
Other teachers seized the opportunity, voicing their agreement and praising the principal for his "fairness" and "respect for staff professionalism."
Finally sensing victory, the infirmary doctor lifted her chin.
"Thank you, Principal. Matters like this shouldn't be taken lightly. The moral foundation and reputation of our school rest on us, the staff, our ability to stand firm and properly educate these students- "
"You said it's just a fever, correct?"
Shin's voice cut through the room like a blade.
His tone was calm, but his gaze, cold and merciless, froze everyone in place.
Until now, he hadn't cared what these people were trying to prove. Having confirmed that Yeri had fallen back into a stable sleep, his attention finally sharpened.
"With her current condition," Shin continued evenly, "it's impossible for her to return to class today. Tomorrow, if she improves, I'll personally bring her back. Is that acceptable?"
The infirmary doctor swallowed.
If she argued further, she would only sound unreasonable. After a tense pause, she nodded stiffly.
"Then give me the paper you said I needed to sign," Shin said.
With visible reluctance, she handed over the prepared form. Shin signed it without hesitation.
She accepted the paper back, already forming a scathing remark, when her eyes landed on the signature.
"Shin… Keir?" Her voice cracked. "Are you playing some kind of joke on me?!"
Everyone turned to the imposing man in disbelief followed by scoffs, indignant, mocking expressions.
How dare he write that name?
What was he trying to pull?
The principal snatched the document, his hands trembling as he read it. His face flushed with anger as he looked up at Shin.
"What do you mean by this?" he demanded. "Are you trying to cause trouble by impersonating someone like him?!"
The teachers also erupted.
"Has he lost his mind?! Of all people to impersonate that man?!"
"Does he think we're blind? Shin Keir as Student Yeri's guardian? Ridiculous!"
"Principal, this should be reported to the police immediately," the language teacher said sharply. "This is fraud! Perhaps Student Yeri is faking her illness as well!"
"No wonder!" the infirmary doctor chimed in. "My previous schedule never put me in contact with those troublemakers from the special class, now this happens!"
Jj's heart pounded violently. Cold sweat broke across his forehead. He assumed Shin Keir hadn't wanted to be recognized, that was why he wore a mask.
Before he could step in to intervene, Shin spoke again, almost casually.
"Ah," he said, "I forgot I was wearing a mask."
And without hesitation, he removed it.
The muttering died mid-breath. Accusations froze on parted lips. Faces drained of color one by one. Some shrieked in disbelief and terror.
"I didn't intend to cause a disturbance by coming here," Shin said calmly, as though commenting on the weather. "That was the reason for the mask."
His gaze swept across the room, measured, merciless.
"But listening to all of you construct such ridiculous narratives," he continued, "does raise serious questions about this school's credibility."
No one dared to meet his eyes. Heads bowed, some in shame, others in pure terror.
Most of all, the principal and the two staff members who had fueled the chaos stood rigid, their earlier righteousness utterly shattered.
The air in the infirmary thickened.
Shin did not raise his voice. In fact, he barely moved.
The lazy slant of his posture vanished, replaced by something controlled and unnervingly precise.
"What has happened," Shin said, "is that a student fainted, experienced a nosebleed, and is currently unconscious. Her guardians requested medical caution. Somehow, that turned into a discussion about her family's wealth, her moral character, and whether she deserves to attend this school."
He paused.
"Where is the disrespect? The conspiracy? The trouble?"
No one answered.
The principal felt a bead of sweat slide down his temple.
"I did not interfere with your procedures," Shin said, his tone level, but the infirmary doctor instinctively retreat half a step.
"I did not insult your profession. I simply asked to take her away so she could rest properly. Yet you implied academic incompetence, and discriminatory remarks toward a student based on her health and family background."
The infirmary doctor's lips trembled. "That- that's not it. I'm doing it for student Yeri's sake... I- I might have gone overboard."
"Then prove it medically," Shin cut in quietly. "Not socially. If concern for a student's health is considered 'abusing authority,' then maybe the problem isn't the students."
The principal, who was accustomed to hiding whenever conflict arose, or pushing matters onto the dean whenever his incompetence was exposed, was shaking like a leaf.
Of all people he could have offended, it had to be someone he never even dared imagine standing before him.
In a moment of blind panic, he turned and slapped the infirmary doctor hard across the face.
She stumbled and fell to the floor.
"You crazy woman!" he roared. "Why did you have to make such a big deal out of this? Talking nonsense about the school's image and reputation when they only came to take Yeri home?!"
The infirmary doctor collapsed where she fell, sobbing uncontrollably.
She actually scolded Shin Keir! What would happen to her now?
"And you!" the principal rounded on the language teacher, pointing a trembling finger.
"You even suggested calling the police! Are you trying to create another scandal and drag Shin Keir into it as well? Don't think I didn't notice how you were leading everyone along!"
The language teacher shook her head in terror.
Shin had already lost interest. One glance was enough to tell him this cowardly man wasn't worth another second of his time.
He removed his suit jacket, gently draping it over Yeri before lifting her into his arms.
Seeing him turn to leave, the principal clamped his hands together and hurried after him, his voice trembling with desperation.
"Young Master Keir, this is entirely our fault! Please rest assured, I will give you a satisfactory explanation and properly discipline our faculty! You are absolutely right; the school's credibility has been declining. That is my failure, to be honest I was on long leave. Now that I'm back, all unworthy staff will be dealt with, for Student Yeri's sake!"
Shin paid him no attention. Jj followed closely behind as they exited the building, where a car was already waiting.
Only after settling Yeri carefully inside did Shin glance back. "I'll have my lawyer contact you."
The car drove away.
The principal stood frozen, mind blank, replaying his every word and action in horror.
Lawyer? Why a lawyer?
A teacher who had followed them downstairs asked anxiously, "Principal… what should we do now?"
That was when he snapped back to himself and rushed inside to convene an emergency faculty meeting.
Before that, however, he vented all his fury on the infirmary doctor and made sure the language teacher didn't escape unscathed either.