Chapter: 05
♣ Welcome to Willow School ♣
We welcome all young dreamers who will one day grow into great magicians!
Willow School was established in 1956 as the first magician training school on the Korean Peninsula.
Every year, dozens of graduates emerge, and countless alumni have been active across the magical community.
Willow School provides students with high-quality education and a healthy environment while ensuring safety from mystical invasions.
Children who are bullied for seeing ghosts, teenagers who want to escape unverified family teachings to receive systematic training, or any young dreamer aiming to become a proper magician—feel free to contact us anytime!
The doors of Willow School are always open to you…
“Saebyeok.”
Saebyeok looked up from the pamphlet’s introduction.
Dongbaek, having parked the car, was walking over holding Haram’s hand.
“Ready?”
Dongbaek removed her sunglasses and gave the usual playful smile.
Saebyeok nodded while looking at the red brick building at the top of the gentle slope.
“…Yes.”
Willow School.
Also known as the Magician Training Institute, this place is a school affiliated with the AKA Foundation.
In other words, under one roof sit an elementary, middle, and high school, forming a system that trains adult magicians in a seamless escalator-like path.
“Traditionally, magicians were trained in an apprenticeship system. But after liberation, the foundation was established, and they thought, ‘Let’s try proper education,’ and that’s how the school was founded.”
Dongbaek added lightly, “I guess there were a lot of psychos back then,” and skillfully turned the corner of the hallway.
Following her briskly, Saebyeok asked,
“But it’s so quiet. Are there no students today?”
“It’s still vacation. Probably only the teachers on duty are here.”
Of course…
Everything felt strange and new as Saebyeok’s eyes drifted to the view outside.
On the frozen lakeside, a bare willow shivered alone.
“This way.”
Holding Haram with one hand and Saebyeok’s backpack with the other, Dongbaek gestured toward the principal’s office.
“You go in first, Saebyeok.”
“What about you two?”
“Haram and I have a quick stop to make. We’ll be back as soon as possible.”
Obediently, Saebyeok parted from the group and headed toward the door with the “Principal” nameplate.
Unlike other classrooms, the principal’s office had a luxurious double-door entrance.
Hesitating, Saebyeok knocked cautiously.
Just when it felt too quiet, “Is anyone there?” he wondered, the door swung open.
Immediately, he tried to put on a polite smile, but…
“Hello. I’m the new first-grade teacher—AAAH!”
It’s a school! A slightly crazy school, yes!!
What kind of school opens the door with a headless mannequin?!
Saebyeok, terrified, held his pounding heart and stepped back cautiously.
The mannequin, seemingly startled by his reaction, slowly moved aside and “spoke.”
“…Please come in.”
It spoke.
No head, no neck—and yet it spoke!
Saebyeok, still in shock, noticed a small red-specked speaker between the mannequin’s shirt collar.
“….”
Still cautious, he stepped into the principal’s office.
Whether out of consideration for the frightened guest or to avoid a 21st-century Luddite revolt, the mannequin gestured to a spot some distance away.
“Would you like something to drink? We have Woojeon tea, Songhwa tea, and Peony tea.”
“…Are you a robot? Or some… mystical being?”
“To put it simply, I am a mystical being with some robotic features. I am a limited edition, the thirteenth Hahyeondal series, created by Teacher Geumak Chayeonsil, specialized for assistance and hospitality.”
…Basically, this is some magician’s work.
Saebyeok finally exhaled in relief.
Letting his guard down was dangerous. Even things that normally wouldn’t startle him now caused flinches.
Having met Dongbaek, an unusually powerful presence, he had momentarily relaxed, but now he readied himself again.
Even with someone protecting you, life is ultimately a solo journey. Weakness means not surviving.
“….”
Regaining composure, he noticed his surroundings:
Various potted plants by the window.
A folding screen, moon jars, Goryeo celadon, and Buncheong pottery displayed in a grand cabinet along one wall.
A large ink-and-wash painting beside the sofa, with meticulously arranged scholar’s stones beneath it.
Classic elderly tastes. Though somewhat lavish, it was fitting for a wealthy private school.
“Uh… is the principal out?”
“….”
Saebyeok gave up on an answer and began exploring the room.
Wow… the ink painting is amazing. This is like Geumgang Mountain. Why is the porter moving?
The moon jars and Goryeo celadon shimmer exquisitely, making him hesitant to step in closer.
Skipping the scholar’s stones out of boredom, he turned to admire the plants and noticed a birdcage peeking from between them.
A canary sat quietly inside.
“How cute… What’s your name?”
Smiling, Saebyeok leaned closer to look.
Canaries are supposed to sing beautifully, but this one was unusually quiet.
Does it not want to sing? Maybe it’s tone-deaf.
Imagining a tone-deaf canary, Saebyeok burst into a laugh.
At that moment, a commanding voice thundered:
[Impious one!]
Startled, Saebyeok straightened up.
[How dare you think vile thoughts in front of me!]
“Wh-what…?”
The voice continued, yet only the mannequin was in the room.
[Here! Right here!]
“Uh, where? Where are you?”
[Aha! Your eyes are knots! How can you not recognize me right in front of you…]
“Oh my, ancestor. Even your anger carries down the hall.”
Suddenly, the door swung open and Dongbaek walked in.
“You’re not the ancestor whose shouting once sounded like heavenly music. Last time you had a throat infection and went to the vet, right? I’ve told you countless times—stop smoking.”
[That… that brat! I told him never to appear before me again…!]
“Oh dear, your throat’s ruined. I can’t handle it, so 13, you take over.”
“Understood.”
The mannequin approached and lifted the birdcage.
Even as the canary chirped loudly, 13 held it steadily above its shoulders without hesitation.
Thus, the headless mannequin became the canary-head mannequin and plopped down before the desk.
The canary’s shrill voice gradually transformed into mechanical tones.
“Th-That brat. Your insolence is temporarily blocked due to unseemly language. Your insolence is temporarily blocked due to unseemly language. This insolence… Who is your master? Me? Or that unripe foal on your head!”
For the record, the master is Teacher Geumak Chayeonsil.
Dongbaek laughed so hard he almost fainted at the mannequin’s dry responses.
Amid this ridiculous Q&A, Dongbaek wiped the tears from his eyes and beckoned Saebyeok.
“It’s okay, come sit. The tone is funny, but it’s not dangerous.”
“Yes, you insolent one! Temporarily blocked for unseemly language.”
“Yes, ancestor. First, let’s explain why we’re here. Don’t get so riled up that you fall over when you hear it.”
The canary, now part of the mannequin, fluttered weakly, no longer fierce as before.
“First, let me introduce. Saebyeok, this is the principal of Willow School.”
Dongbaek gestured politely across.
Saebyeok, confused at the hybrid of cage and mannequin, whispered:
“Uh… excluding the mannequin, right? So just the cage? Uh… just the canary? Principal?”
“Yes… haha. Only the canary is the principal. Now it’s a merged version with 13.”
“Temporarily blocked for unseemly language. Temporarily blocked…”
“And Principal? This is Saebyeok I mentioned over the phone. A new teacher at Willow School~”
The mannequin’s dry voice pointed out unseemly language as applause echoed.
“I heard it. Last year’s temp teacher ran away, right? I told them to treat teachers better! This is the countryside, a crazy school with problem kids! No matter the money, there’s a limit… I told you a thousand times…”
Dongbaek’s nagging continued endlessly.
The principal canary, once defiant, now sprawled under the perch.
“…Anyway, our AKA Foundation takes this issue very seriously.”
“Fine, spill it all, then.”
“So we came as a group today.”
“This body seems deaf with age. What is that brat babbling?”
“As I said, Saebyeok will be the vacant elementary teacher, Haram will enroll this year. I will also take a suitable position—”
“Hah, seems my time has come.”
“We’re actually family.”
The canary slowly lifted its head from the cage floor, seeming to ask, ‘What nonsense is this?’
“Since we’re here, we have things to look for at school too~”
“Is this your backyard?”
“So we’d like full access across the school, even to restricted areas.”
“Temporarily blocked for unseemly language.”
“Hahaha, you’ll follow our requests diligently. How grateful we are!”
“Temporarily blocked…”
The canary in the cage screeched silently.
Dongbaek leaned slightly toward the desk, narrowed his eyes, and smiled.
“This is the position of Chairperson Chayeonsil, head of the Foundation.”
“….”
“Our ‘loyal’ principal will surely obey the chairperson’s orders, right?”
The canary slid down, lying flat on the cage floor.
Dongbaek’s victory was complete.
