Teaching in the Village

: Rebirth

2

Humiliated and murdered, I could not rest in peace. My soul, unable to find release, drifted around them, watching as they carelessly disposed of my body.

My death couldn't be covered up forever. Mom and Dad, supporting each other, stumbled their way to the place where I had spent my final moments.

Suppressing their grief and sorrow, they were determined to get justice for me and make them face charges for intentional homicide.

But how could my powerless parents possibly succeed? As I watched, my eyes wide with fury, they beat Mom and Dad to death.

Rage and hatred nearly tore my soul apart. Volunteering to teach became the greatest regret of my life.

"Ms. Shaw!"

A voice pulled me from the nightmare of my past life. I looked up to meet a questioning gaze.

"Sorry, I was just spacing out. Could you show me to the dorms first?" I gave him an apologetic smile, then lowered my gaze to conceal the hatred in my eyes.

'This time around, I will absolutely not let this family of heartless monsters go.'

Led by the Principal, I walked step by step back to that familiar place.

"Ms. Shaw, get some rest for now. I'll take you to the classroom tomorrow."

"The students at our school are all very hardworking. All they need is a great teacher."

The Principal beamed at me, his voice full of delight.

'After all, it's not easy just to get someone willing to come teach here.'

Listening to the Principal, I forced a smile.

'I didn't want to paint everyone with the same brush, but after what I went through in my past life, my heart remained unmoved.'

After seeing the Principal off, I calmed my thoughts and quietly tidied the room.

「The next day.」

The Principal personally escorted me to the Senior Year classroom. I stepped onto the familiar teacher's platform, my cold gaze sweeping over the excited faces below.

'I knew this class all too well.'

When my gaze landed on Caden Morgan, who was sitting in a corner in the back row, I quickly lowered my eyes to hide the hatred I couldn't suppress.

"This is Ms. Shaw, the new volunteer teacher from the city! From now on, she'll be leading you in your final push for the College Entrance Exams so you can leave these mountains behind!"

The Principal's booming, excited voice ignited a roar of cheers from the class.

The entire school had only one Senior Year class, which was packed with over sixty students.

Due to a shortage of teachers, they had no choice but to be crammed into one class. Only a small fraction of the village's youth attended high school; everyone else had already left to find work.

In my previous life, having grown up privileged, hearing about their circumstances had filled my heart with pity and sympathy. I hadn't regretted my decision to volunteer at all.

But as it turned out, my efforts and concern didn't bear any great fruit. Instead, they taught me a lesson about human nature.

"You are now seniors, and you're facing the harsh battle of the College Entrance Exams."

"Whether or not you can leave these mountains depends entirely on your own hard work. The world outside is vast and wonderful, so you must give this your all."

"I am going to be very strict with all of you, so I expect no troublemakers or pessimists."

My stern, cold gaze swept over each person below. This attitude was the complete opposite of how I was in my past life. I would no longer be gentle and approachable just because I pitied them.

'Only the powerful can control the situation.'