Chapter 33: That Time I Reformed Education in South America (4)

TL: Skye

"Understood. We will return to San Marcos."

"...Pardon?"

I stared at them with a dumbfounded expression.

In terms of character count, it came to just under six thousand.

'I was even prepared to shout "Juan, that son of a bitch"...'

On top of that, I had been planning to offer reparations amounting to five hundred thousand dollars per person.

After all, it was true that the state had caused them harm.

But they were saying yes before I had even said a word?

Wondering if there had been any coercion in the process of bringing them here, I glanced at Isabella, but she too wore an expression that said she had no idea what was going on.

Then the eldest, James Miguel, opened his mouth with a gentle smile.

"Your Excellency seems puzzled."

"To be honest... I assumed you would harbor great resentment toward your homeland."

"It would be a lie to say we hold no resentment. The reward for a lifetime of fighting for independence was exile, after all. However, what Your Excellency just said moved our hearts."

James took out a worn photograph from his wallet.

In the faded photograph, an old man in military uniform was smiling.

"Is this General Abeiro?"

"It is. This is our father's memorial portrait."

"...He is wearing the Independence Army uniform."

"Until the very day he passed, he longed for the homeland that had abandoned him. Though he was driven out, he wished more than anyone for the nation he had built with his own blood to prosper."

"......"

At James's words, the second brother William and the third brother Robert's eyes reddened with tears.

"The reason we retired before even turning sixty was because we wanted to restore our father's honor. To receive an apology from the San Marcos government and have our father's remains interred at the National Cemetery. Then, as it happened, we received an invitation from the San Marcos government."

"......"

"We thought long and hard. We wondered if this might be an attempt to threaten or abduct us. But when we actually came out here, Your Excellency brought up something entirely unexpected."

James met my eyes and spoke.

"You promised to record our father in history as a hero of independence, and at the same time offered to arrange the finest plot in the National Cemetery. You also said you would take responsibility for reparations."

"That is only right."

"Ha, all the problems in this world arise because what should be taken for granted is never honored."

"......"

"As dutiful children, how could we turn away from the grace Your Excellency has shown us? If our knowledge can be of service to our homeland, our father would be pleased."

"Ah..."

Only then did I realize. What had been in their hearts all along. And how much what I had said meant to them.

For that family, their father's dying wish was not merely a last testament, but a conviction they were determined to fulfill no matter what. And the homeland their father had longed to return to held a value beyond measure.

I felt ashamed of myself from the day before, having tried to win them over with money without understanding any of that.

"...Then at least accept the reparations."

"Ha, we may not look it, but we have earned quite a sum over the years. Use that money to establish a scholarship fund and distribute it to students in need. In any country, there are surely students who cannot study because they lack the means."

Truly... admirable to the very end.

When they came out like this, there was nothing more to say.

Simply.

"Thank you."

I expressed my gratitude by bowing my head.

"So that your decision will not be in vain, I will ensure every citizen of San Marcos knows of General Abeiro's achievements. To right the wrongs of the past, I will restore the names of the Independence Army members erased from the textbooks, seek out their descendants, and provide reparations. And lastly..."

I looked each of them in the eye and made my promise.

"I will spare no effort in providing every possible support so that the university where you will devote yourselves can become first-rate."

"...We will trust you, Your Excellency."

And so, Yu-jin University began in a manner befitting its name, born from reconciliation and unity.

***

Roughly ten days later, the Three Miguel Brothers, who had wrapped up their lives in America faster than expected, returned to San Marcos.

"I didn't expect you to come back this quickly."

"Ha, there wasn't much to wrap up. We simply settled our assets and divided them among our children before coming."

The moment the Three Doctors returned and took charge of the university establishment preparatory committee, something remarkable happened.

Renowned scholars whose names alone commanded recognition expressed their willingness to come to San Marcos at the Three Doctors' invitation.

Thanks to their golden network of connections, Yu-jin University boasted a spectacular faculty from the very start.

One day, after the urgent matters had been settled and there was room to breathe, Yu-jin was gazing out at the clear sky from the Presidential Palace office when he suddenly spoke.

"Isabella."

"Yes, Your Excellency."

"Let's step out for a bit."

"Where to?"

"A school."

Yu-jin said in a light tone.

"I want to see the children studying with my own eyes."

"Understood. I will make preparations."

Shortly after, the heavy iron gates of the Presidential Palace opened, and a convoy of escort vehicles filed out behind a black armored sedan at the lead.

Weeeee―!

Sirens blared as the roads were blocked off, and citizens stopped at the roadside to watch the procession pass by.

Sitting at the center of that procession, Yu-jin thought.

'I just wanted to quietly pop over like a casual stroll around the neighborhood.'

But for the absolute ruler of San Marcos, a quiet outing was a concept that simply did not exist. The destination, Libertad 3rd Elementary School, was thrown into a full-blown state of emergency.

Screeeech―!

The moment the convoy pulled into the schoolyard, the balding principal came scrambling out of the main building, oblivious to one of his shoes flying off.

"Y-Y-Your Excellency! It is an honor that you have visited! If only you had given us advance notice, we would have lined up the children...!"

Yu-jin stepped out of the car and waved his hand dismissively.

"Lining them up would only disrupt class... I just came to watch the children study. I'm only going to look around and leave, so please don't worry about it."

Yu-jin's words were sincere. Reality, however, refused to cooperate.

"Telling us not to worry when Your Excellency himself has come is a contradiction."

"......"

Yu-jin looked around. Bodyguards in sunglasses had surrounded the school, and on the rooftop of the building across the way, a sniper had taken position.

"Do not let the bodyguards inside the school. Only Isabella and I will go in."

"...Pardon? But."

"A school is where the future of the nation studies. I cannot enter such a place accompanied by armed guards."

When Yu-jin spoke with an air of absolute refusal, Isabella nodded reluctantly.

"Understood."

"Then let's go. Ahem."

Yu-jin cleared his throat and stepped inside the school.

Children were attending class under white canvas canopies, but fortunately they were too busy studying to pay Yu-jin any attention.

Upon entering the main building, Yu-jin quietly observed the children, taking care not to disturb the lesson.

The classrooms were packed with children. Some sat on the floor because there were not enough desks, but their eyes were bright and eager.

"Now, this is called multiplication. If you have seven boxes, and each box has seven apples in it, how many apples are there in total?"

A young teacher from Venezuela was passionately teaching math, pressing chalk firmly against the blackboard.

The children's eyes sparkled as they copied everything down, determined not to miss a single thing.

"That child... doesn't have a notebook and is writing in the margins of a newspaper."

Where Isabella pointed, a boy in a worn-out shirt was diligently taking notes, wetting the tip of his pencil lead with his tongue.

But the boy's expression looked more serious and happier than ever.

Yu-jin felt a pang deep in his chest and whispered to Isabella.

"Tell Senior Secretary Sergio to increase the budget for school supply support. We can't have children studying on newspaper."

"...Understood. I will see to it immediately."

A warm smile spread across Yu-jin's face.

'That's right. This is what a country done right looks like.'

It was the moment he confirmed that everything he had set in motion had not been in vain.

'These children are my retire... no, the hope of San Marcos.'

Yu-jin nodded with satisfaction.

But there was something he failed to notice.

Right above the blackboard. Hanging at the highest point at the very center of the classroom was his own photograph.

What was more, beneath it was a class motto that read [Let us study hard in accordance with the will of His Excellency Yu-jin Choi, the great Supreme Leader of San Marcos!], but it never entered Yu-jin's eyes, intoxicated as he was by the sight of the children studying.

After finishing his classroom inspection and stepping outside, a truck happened to pull into the schoolyard at that very moment.

On the side of the truck, a cute character and the logo TORTILLA F&B were printed in bold.

Soon, workers unloaded steaming lunch boxes from the truck and sorted them by class, and the children began forming lines.

Not a single child cut in line, and none showed any worry about not getting fed.

This was thanks to the trust they had developed that coming to school meant they would always be fed.

Yu-jin watched the scene with a contented look, then.

'That's right, eat up and grow big.'

He turned around.

"I think I've seen everything. Let's head back."

"Leaving already?"

Isabella asked, looking puzzled.

"Since you've come all this way, perhaps you could take at least one photo..."

Yu-jin waved his hand and smiled.

"The kids need to eat and then go play ball. Let's not get in their way and head back to work. We've got to hustle if we're going to earn their lunch money."

Yu-jin left the school without a second thought.

But he had not the faintest idea. What happened the very moment he was completely out the school gates.

Tweet―!

"Everyone, attention! Pre-meal gratitude!"

At the teacher's command, nearly a hundred children began shouting in unison as if on cue.

"Our great leader! His grace like that of a parent!"

The voices of children who had not yet hit puberty filled the classroom.

"Let us repay him through our studies! Viva Yu-jin! Viva San Marcos!"

The lockstep uniformity was reminiscent of a classroom in a certain country above the Korean peninsula.

What was unfolding bore a striking resemblance to indoctrination, a far cry from the free and creative education Yu-jin had dreamed of, yet every face was filled with nothing but happiness.

"Woaaaaaaah!"

The Dictatorship Locomotive was barreling out of control, regardless of Yu-jin's intentions.

*****

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