Ch 112
Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy
Chapter 112
Mom puts side dishes on top of my rice.
"Don't like braised black beans? Should I put something else on?"
My left hand has gotten used to it now, so it's fine...
"No, it's okay. I can eat by myself."
"Mom wants to do it for you."
I was about to say it's okay again, but I remembered how she looked like she was about to cry when I dropped some side dishes while using chopsticks last time, so I couldn't bring myself to stop her.
If I don't want to worry her, I need to do better, but I can't even stop Mom from taking care of me like this every time... I'm worried that things won't get better at this rate.
"Are you going to stop eating?"
"Yeah, I'm done."
"You haven't even eaten half of it. If you don't like the side dishes, I could order delivery food..."
"No, I just don't have an appetite. And I'm not moving around much, so if I eat too much I'll gain weight."
"Our Minha can afford to gain a little weight."
"No way. Mom, you should go eat your meal quickly too."
"Okay. Should I buy ice cream on the way back?"
"Yeah. I want strawberry flavor."
After Mom left, I tried to get up to go to the bathroom, but without thinking I tried to use my right arm and pain struck me.
Even though I don't have an arm, it feels itchy and like bugs are biting at it, as if the arm were still there.
It's not because the surgery went wrong.
According to the doctor, it's a neurological problem that occurs when limbs are amputated.
The neural networks in the brain related to experiences when the arm was there remain, so I feel the arm that doesn't actually exist as if it does exist.
I gritted my teeth and stood up to look at the full-length mirror next to the bed.
I made it look like the lost arm was there and moved in sync with the pain while suggesting that I was doing things with the nonexistent arm, and the pain gradually faded.
It didn't completely disappear, but it's bearable enough now.
It does feel foolish doing this alone in the hospital room...
Still, I was grateful that I was in pain when Mom wasn't here, and I went to the bathroom.
Mom doesn't seem to be back yet, but staying in the hospital room continuously feels stifling.
My stomach feels heavy from eating, so when Mom returns I should suggest we go for a walk.
I turned on my phone next to the bed.
At first, I got a lot of messages from classmates, and of course even now Eunseo and other friends still send messages telling me about school progress and asking how I'm doing, but it's decreased a lot compared to the beginning.
Since I'm not going to school, it's natural...
The class group chat that I've turned notifications off for keeps getting new messages.
[What time do we need to be at the playground tomorrow?]
[We're leaving at 7, so you need to be there by 6:50 at the latest.]
[I heard it takes a little over 2 hours. Is lunch an in-flight meal? Or do we eat after arriving in Japan?]
[It's 2 hours, would they give in-flight meals?]
[It's past 12 o'clock.]
[They'll probably give in-flight meals. But in-flight meals are really not good. The portions are tiny and they don't taste good either.]
[Really? Then if you ask for another one, will they give you more?]
[Look at pig number 2. I heard they give more if there's leftovers, so ask.]
[Our passports were issued, right?]
[We applied for them as a group in April. They arrived ages ago.]
[Then why haven't they distributed them?]
[I heard from a friend in class 3. They're worried some kids might lose them if they hand them out. They said they'll distribute them at the airport tomorrow.]
[But was what the teacher said earlier for real? Do you have to take off your shoes when boarding international flights?]
[Yeah. For international flights, when you board there's a shoe rack in front.]
[You put them there and put them back on when you get off.]
[Everyone stop teasing Jae-woo. He'll think it's real. Taking off shoes was just the teacher joking around. You board just like going to Jeju Island, so you don't need to take them off.]
[Ah, Seo Eunseo why did you tell him? If you hadn't said anything, Lee Jae-woo would have really taken off his shoes. We missed a hilarious moment.]
Come to think of it, the school trip is tomorrow...
That's probably why everyone seems so excited.
I'm envious.
Normally I would have gone with them too...
I was about to leave the room thinking I'd get more depressed if I kept reading, but I closed my phone thinking I might ruin the kids' mood for nothing.
I think I made a pointless promise with Teacher.
Waiting two months won't change anything.
I should have quit a little earlier, then I would have left the group chat long ago and caused Mom less trouble...
Of course, I don't resent Teacher.
He even caught the culprit directly.
Anyway, there's not much time left on the promised deadline, so I'll probably be processed for withdrawal soon...
I buried my face in the pillow from the overwhelming depression when my phone rang.
I looked to see who it was and it was Teacher.
[What's our Minha doing? Did you eat dinner?]
“I ate…”
[You look tired. Is something wrong?]
[Nothing's wrong.]
[I'm thinking of stopping by now, is that okay?]
He must be busy with school work, but Teacher has been stopping by at least three times a week.
[You must be busy since the school trip starts tomorrow, it's okay.]
[Huh? You knew about it?]
[I saw the group chat. You don't need to overdo it because of me. You're leaving early tomorrow, aren't you.]
[That's exactly why I have to go. I refuse your refusal.]
I was about to reply that it's really okay when the door opened.
"I already arrived."
***
Since I had already corrected most of the errors, Teacher Kim could have completed it if we had just a little more time, but since the school trip is tomorrow, I fixed the last remaining error.
"Huh? If you really apply it like that... Wow! This works. Teacher Kang, you're really a genius."
"Genius, what... So now the theory is complete?"
"Yes. The theory seems to have no more places that need work... But would there be anyone who could actually use magic according to this theory? It requires tremendous magic and the magic arrangement method is quite different from existing magic, so even S Rank magicians would have difficulty learning it right away."
Regeneration magic certainly isn't easy magic.
"I think I could do it."
But I had already mastered regeneration magic two days ago and was just waiting for Teacher Kim to complete the theory.
"You think you could do it? Teacher Kang, you've only been learning magic for less than 3 months..."
"Since I'm not used to existing magic, I think I can do it. Should we try experimenting?"
"Experiment? To experiment with new magic, you need to formally apply for research to the Magician Association Ethics Committee and get clinical approval."
"Wouldn't it be okay if we don't do animal experiments or recruit clinical subjects?"
"That's true but... Then how would we experiment...?"
"Then self-experimentation would be okay, right?"
"S-self-experiment? Teacher Kang, don't tell me..."
Thinking she'd try to stop me if I said anything, I created Sword Energy and cut off my pinky finger.
"KYAAAK! Teacher Kang, what are you doing?"
Ow, even though I only cut off one joint, it hurts tremendously.
When I practiced with Luciel, Luciel cast sensory blocking magic so there was no pain...
"If it doesn't work, Teacher Kim can reattach it for me. Let me try first."
When I used regeneration magic, green light appeared and the bleeding stopped as bone grew and flesh began to cover it.
It was a bit disgusting, but soon it returned perfectly to its original state.
"T-Teacher Kang?"
"As expected, it works. It's perfectly fine. Strength goes in well too."
When I wiggled my finger back and forth to show it was fine, Teacher Kim's eyes grew as big as marbles.
"Are... Are you really okay? May I touch it?"
"Yes, feel free to touch it."
She approached with a surprised expression and touched my finger this way and that.
"It's really... Fine."
"Yes, it's a perfect success. Then that's unsightly, so I'll clean it up."
I ignited Sammaejinhwa to burn away the severed finger.
"Even if I completed the theory, I thought it would take at least 3 months to actually succeed... If you organize this into a paper and present it, this year's Nobel Magic Prize will be yours, Teacher Kang."
Nobel Magic Prize, so there's such an award too.
"There's such an award. I haven't really thought about it. Since I didn't make this alone, we should receive the award together."
"No way, I didn't do anything. You created all the theories, Teacher Kang."
"The initial theory was completely messed up. If Teacher Kim hadn't helped me, I never could have completed it. So if you're going to publish it as a paper, it should be as co-authors."
"I can't do that. Even other magicians could have done what I did..."
"I don't think so. Is there some reason you can't receive the award together...? Ah! Are you worried that it'll be known that you're the Vice Principal's daughter?"
"Some teachers already know anyway and I don't really care about that, but I really did too little..."
"Hey, then there's no problem. If you feel burdened, I'll ask Teacher Kim to take care of organizing the paper and presenting it."
"I can do the organizing, but for the presentation, Teacher Kang should do it directly yourself... And no matter what, co-author is..."
"If you keep saying that, I won't present this theory!"
"What?"
"How can I receive the award alone when we suffered together? I'm not that kind of bad person."
"Ah... Okay. Then I'll work hard to prepare the paper and do my best with the presentation."
Phew, it would have been really troublesome if she insisted on not doing it until the end, but fortunately.
"Um... Then I'll be going now."
"Already? It's a historic day, let's go out and have a meal. I'll pay."
"I'd like to, but you know why I made this magic, right?"
I didn't learn regeneration magic to receive something like the Nobel Magic Prize.
"That's right. I got too excited..."
"It's okay. It's really fortunate that the school trip is tomorrow."
"Ah, that's right. Then I'll also prepare so I can present it right when Teacher Kang returns to the country."
I said please take care of it and left the infirmary.
I immediately got a leave permit and drove to the hospital where Minha is.
I thought about calling on the way, but wanting to surprise her pleasantly, I arrived at the hospital and sent a message.
Looking at her reply, she seemed to have less energy than usual.
When I asked, she said she saw the kids talking about the school trip tomorrow in the group chat.
She said I shouldn't come since I have to leave early tomorrow, but I can't do that.
[That's exactly why I have to go. I refuse your refusal.]
I sent the message and immediately opened the hospital room door.
"I already arrived."
"Teacher?"
"Good evening. Mother isn't here?"
"You didn't need to come... Mom went to eat."
"I see. That worked out well."
I approached Minha.
"Worked out well? T-Teacher?"
"There's still some time left until the promised day, but I want to keep it sooner."
"Um... Excuse me, but this doesn't seem right. I clearly said last time that I don't want marriage out of pity. And I'm still a minor and we're not even married, but if you do this..."
She's talking with a completely red face like a radish, really drinking the kimchi soup by the barrel.
SMACK!
"OW! Teacher, I'm a patient..."
Cheeky students who think such things get punished immediately.
"Before being a patient, you're my student! Don't talk nonsense and close your eyes since Teacher is going to give you a present."
"A present? Are you going to do something like a kiss..."
This kid has gotten strange from being only in the hospital.
When I asked if she wanted to get hit one more time, only then did she close her eyes.
I used regeneration magic toward Minha's arm as she squeezed her eyes shut.
Green light spread and her arm regenerated.
"Um... Teacher, I feel my arm... Huh?"
Maybe because of the regenerating sensation, she opened her eyes even though I didn't tell her to.
"T-Teacher, how is this even possible...? I'm not seeing an illusion, am I?"
"Well, I can see it with my eyes too. If you can't believe it, how about trying to move it?"
She immediately clenched and unclenched her fist, then moved her arm.
"How is it, does it still feel like an illusion?"
"This... This isn't a dream, right?"
Earlier it was an illusion, now it's a dream?
"Feel like a dream? Then wouldn't you know if you got flicked on the forehead one more time?"
"N-no. I really... My arm is really back..."
Suddenly she hugged me tightly and was crying, making my clothes damp.
It's certainly not a good feeling, but I didn't push her away and patted her back.
"Sorry for making you wait so long. And thank you for believing in Teacher and waiting."
"T-Teacher, really... Thank you."
Even as I kept comforting her, she just kept crying and repeating words of gratitude.
"If you're grateful, stop crying and pack your bags quickly. You have a lot to prepare if you're going on the school trip tomorrow, right?"