At barely twelve years old, Maxwell was forced to shoulder a heavy responsibility. He was charged with taking care of his siblings, May and Kyle. At first, he never once believed he would make it—but alas, fate had something different planned for him.
Not only did he push through, but he managed to do so while diligently balancing work and his studies, all while teaching his twin siblings as well.
Most of the credit should have gone to Principal Kim, because without his help, Maxwell would have broken down long ago—or might not even be alive at all.
Thinking back to all the times he used to follow Principal Kim into the forest to hunt, train, and gather herbs, Maxwell knew one thing without a shadow of doubt: if Principal Kim hadn't stumbled upon them in the woods by chance—or so he claimed—their lives would have been utterly miserable.
"Hey, Maxwell."
Hearing the voice, Maxwell lifted his head from his desk and looked around the now-empty classroom. His gaze soon settled on the stunning figure standing in front of the board.
Dressed in a white long-sleeved shirt complemented by pristine white trousers, stockings, and shoes, with a white tie knotted to perfection, the man looked flawless. His pure white hair and deep blue eyes, paired with clothes free of a single crease or blemish, gave him an almost holy aura—like someone who existed far removed from the filthy reaches of the mortal realm.
"Think of the devil, and he wakes you up from your peaceful slumber."
"What's with that disappointed look on your face? I know you were just thinking of something inappropriate," Principal Kim said tiredly as he moved to gather his things.
"By the way, Uncle Kim, what's going on? Where is everyone?" Maxwell asked, remembering he had only closed his eyes for a moment during an extremely boring class taught by an exceptionally lazy teacher.
"What else? They've left."
"What?!" Maxwell exclaimed. "You mean I slept through two entire periods and now it's lunch break?"
"Of course not."
Hearing this, Maxwell felt a brief wave of relief—one that vanished almost instantly as a cold thought slithered into his mind.
"Wait… wait… don't tell me…" Maxwell said, shocked. This was something that hardly ever happened.
"Yes, it's exactly what you're thinking," Principal Kim replied, his next words only confirming Maxwell's suspicions.
"Oh… no. So you mean we were kidnapped by aliens, brought to a mirror dimension, trapped, and forced to endure endless suffering with you for all eternity?" Maxwell asked, looking dumbfounded.
"What?" Principal Kim stared at him. "Does your imagination for nonsense truly know no ceiling?"
"What do you mean by that, Uncle Kim? If it wasn't aliens, then what could have possibly happened?"
"Dear lord, with all your intelligence, you still have the brain of a third grader. I can't really say I'm disappointed, though."
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Maxwell asked.
"It means exactly what it's supposed to mean," Principal Kim replied with a light smirk.
"In any case, you really need to stop sleeping in class."
"Why, though?"
"It's simple. You're a scholarship student, ranked first in the entire school—at least in theoretical studies."
"So? Isn't that a good thing?" Maxwell asked, clearly not understanding where this was going.
"What I'm saying is that as the top theoretical student, you should strive to be a role model."
"As things stand, although you're number one academically, you're probably one of the least liked students in the entire school."
"And how does that affect me?" Maxwell asked lazily, twirling his hair.
"That attitude right there is what students keep complaining about."
"At least try to make an effort in class. Even if you study more than all the other students combined, you should still try to connect with your classmates. Otherwise, this year's practical exams will be hell for you."
"Right now, you're already one of the lowest-ranked students in practical assessments."
"During the practical phase—which is meant to showcase strength—students will fight to secure strong teammates."
"Why are you telling me all this? You're the principal. Getting a few students to team up with me should be nothing to you," Maxwell said, waving his hand dismissively.
"Normally, yes," Principal Kim replied. "But be realistic. If you were someone else, would you willingly let a weak forest recluse onto your team?"
"Of course not."
"Exactly." Principal Kim sighed in relief, thinking he'd finally gotten through to Maxwell—only for that hope to be shattered moments later.
"I'll make sure they pay dearly just to join my team—and still give me the respect I deserve," Maxwell declared.
Principal Kim sighed deeply and shook his head. "You and I both know you don't have the money for that. And bowing your head now would only further damage your already poor reputation. Unless you plan to help students with their schoolwork—which you definitely don't have time for."
"True," Maxwell said, already resigned to his fate.
"Good. As your caretaker and principal, I'm willing to help you—but on one tiny condition."
"You'll find out when you get home. Your mission has already been prepared. Do what's needed, then message me. I'll tell you what to do next."
Hearing this, Maxwell felt a bad premonition settle in his chest.