Ch 113
Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy
Chapter 113
"It's about time to go."
—Already?
"What do you mean already? We've been here for over a week. Ah! Is it because time flies too fast when you're with me?"
—W-what are you saying! You're not even good-looking, but you get cocky just because I hang out with you a little...
"Hmm, really? Then next time I come, no chocolate bars!"
Unlike master, Luciel is a kid who doesn't really like ramen or other foods, but the one thing she uniquely loves is chocolate bars.
—No, how can that be? I taught you magic so diligently.
"Do you know how much chocolate bars you've eaten so far?"
—They're not that expensive, are they?
"Not that expensive? They're incredibly hard to find and expensive! I work really hard thinking of you to buy and bring them..."
—T-that was the case? I understand. You're not ugly.
She only says I'm not ugly after all that hinting...
"Forget it. I should just stop talking."
—Ah, I got it. You're handsome.
This is completely like poking someone's side to make them bow.
"Finally?"
—Ah, you're really handsome. Kang Shin-hyeok is the most handsome!
Seeing her face turn completely red as she says this, she seems quite frustrated.
"Good. I'll bring some next time I come."
—Really? Then I want Twix and Snickers, Cool Break, Free Time, and ah, Crunchy in all colors.
She's memorized all the chocolate bar product names by heart.
I said okay and tore the Demon Realm Tree's leaf.
My vision went dark, then I could see an unfamiliar ceiling.
Yesterday I treated Minha and immediately processed her discharge.
Right now, only four people know that Minha has recovered: me, Teacher Kim, and Minha's parents.
If it becomes known that Minha's arm has recovered, not only the hospital but also the media will be troublesome, as anyone can see.
The paper presentation is also planned for after the school trip, so we processed the discharge with her arm covered at the hospital.
The surgery was already finished and the hospital couldn't do anything about it anyway, so we were able to discharge without being caught.
Then we went straight to the department store.
I put on a hat, sunglasses, and even a mask in the car before getting out, and went shopping with Minha and her mother.
Since the school trip was in casual clothes, I bought her several outfits and a pretty suitcase too.
She said it was okay because she had clothes and bags at school, but I wanted to buy them for her.
If it weren't for Minha, Group 6, which I was originally supposed to be in charge of, would have all died.
If that had happened, I probably would have lived with guilt for the rest of my life...
Buying a few outfits for the kid who trusted and waited for me isn't even a problem.
After all, I'm an S-rank Hunter and a building owner in Gangnam.
If Minha had wanted a luxury bag, I probably would have bought it for her.
Of course, our Minha didn't make such requests.
Rather, she kept saying it was okay, that it was too expensive, so I had to threaten that if she kept doing that, I'd buy everything from here to there.
After finishing shopping, I booked rooms for Minha and her mother at a nearby hotel and got the adjacent room for myself.
It was late, and I had no intention of returning to school anyway.
Since I kept my promise with Minha, now it's time to keep my promise with our class kids.
After all, surprise gifts are the best.
I already asked Teacher Kim to escort the kids to the airport instead of me today.
Checking the time on my phone, it's 6:30 now.
The flight is at 10, but since it's a group trip, the kids are supposed to take the bus from school and arrive at the airport by 8:30.
The hotel we're at is in Gangnam, so it'll take about an hour to Incheon Airport, but traffic might be heavy in the morning, so I need to hurry.
I had told Minha about this yesterday in advance, but just in case I was about to contact her, this kid, not being able to sit still, sent a message.
[Teacher, are you awake? I'm all ready.]
She's already all ready? She must be very excited about the school trip.
[Already? I was planning to leave around 7:05.]
[Should I go down to the lobby then?]
[We're in adjacent rooms, is there any need to do that? The teacher will get ready and drop by.]
I washed up, got dressed, and left the room.
My luggage is in the car, so I just need to take my phone, wallet, and room key.
When I rang the bell, the door opened and I could see her mother and Minha wearing the dress we bought yesterday.
"Teacher, how do I look?"
"What do you mean how? Our Minha is always pretty. But are you going out now too, ma'am? You should rest a bit more. The hotel breakfast here is pretty good too."
"Oh no, it's fine. Minha is all better now and my husband is alone, so I want to go see him quickly too. Thank you so much. I will repay this kindness somehow."
I came down to the lobby with Minha and her mother.
I called a premium taxi for her mother first and saw her off.
"Driver, please take good care of her to Gangnam Express Bus Terminal."
I took out a 50,000 won bill and gave it to the driver.
It's not that far from the hotel, but we don't have much time so I felt sorry for not being able to drive her myself, and I only had 50,000 won bills in my wallet.
"Should we go now too?"
"Yes!"
We went to the parking garage, got in the car, and set off for Incheon Airport.
It was definitely a bit congested in the morning, but maybe because we hurried, we arrived quite early.
When I called Teacher Kim, she said it would take another 30-40 minutes, so if we go in and eat something, the timing would be perfect.
"Are you hungry? The kids will take a while longer, so let's go get a hamburger or something."
"Hamburgers are totally great. Teacher, can I get out now?"
"Wait a moment."
I opened the dashboard and it's full of sunglasses and masks.
Ever since becoming famous, I always keep sunglasses and masks ready in the car.
I picked out what I'd use first and told Minha to choose too.
"Me too?"
"Aren't we doing a surprise?"
Armed with masks and sunglasses, we headed to the international terminal to check in first.
"Coming to the airport like this feels like we're on a secret mission."
"Agent Park, this operation depends on security. Can you do well without getting caught?"
"Huh? Yes!"
After checking in, we briefed the plan while eating hamburgers.
After we finished eating, Teacher Kim contacted us saying they had arrived at the airport.
"The kids are here, so let's just do as I explained earlier."
"Yes."
I went toward the check-in area while keeping a slight distance from Minha, and the students were gathered together.
Looking back slightly, I could see Minha following quite calmly.
I took off my mask and approached our class kids.
"Oh? Teacher."
"What a relief."
"Relief? Why, were you worried the teacher wouldn't come?"
"The teacher said he had all our passports."
"If the teacher didn't come, we couldn't go on our school trip."
I was about to be a little moved thinking they were worried about me... But of course.
"From now on, I'll call names and hand out passports, so come up one by one and receive them."
"Yes."
I called names one by one and handed them out, and finally only one remained.
"Park Minha."
As soon as I called Minha's name, the excited atmosphere instantly died down.
"Teacher...?"
But I didn't mind and called Minha's name once more.
"Teacher... Why are you doing this?"
"Minha... Can't come."
Some kids not only looked down but seemed like they were about to cry, so I quickly called out once more.
"Park Minha!"
"Yes! Class B President Park Minha is here."
Finally, Minha, who had been behind the kids, took off her mask and sunglasses and responded.
"Minha?"
"It's really Minha."
"Park Minha!"
"Did you all miss me?"
When Minha grinned and said this, our class kids rushed to Minha without anyone going first.
"Park Minha? Your arm..."
"My arm? It's perfectly fine."
When Minha repeatedly clenched and unclenched her hand, then spun it around to show it was fine, everyone couldn't help but be amazed.
The students and teachers from other classes nearby also looked surprised.
This level of surprise seems like a great success.
"I really missed you all so much."
***
"Teacher Kang, I believed in you."
"Who was it that told me to accept Minha's withdrawal last week?"
"Ahem... No, I had no idea that you and our Seon-hwa were conducting such research. If you had given me a hint beforehand, would I have made such a suggestion?"
"Yes yes, I understand."
I responded appropriately to the vice principal and spread out the itinerary.
Since I'd already been on the preliminary visit, I know everything...
"Excuse me, Vice Principal. The last day's schedule... Why is the bus transportation still the same?"
I went on the preliminary visit and said that traveling by bus would take too long and be tiring, so they said they'd change it, but it's still by bus.
"When I looked into alternative transportation, the price was too expensive. The bullet train costs over 120,000 won per person even with group discounts, which is five times higher than the existing bus plan, so we had no choice."
I know the bullet train is expensive, but thinking about going through that hardship again already makes me tired.
"Still, other than that, there's nothing too difficult, right? Instead, according to other teachers' opinions, we reduced the guides in the schedule and added a lot of free time."
Originally there was almost no free time, so this is somewhat good news.
Looking at the itinerary again, except for the second day when exchange with Japan's First Hunter Academy is scheduled, free time is included everywhere.
Actually, it's not complete free time but time to spend by class.
Several teachers said they'd just tell them not to leave certain areas and let them roam freely, and I'm planning to do the same.
It would be troublesome if they caused accidents, but I trust our class kids.
Japanese public safety isn't bad either.
It's definitely not because I find it bothersome.
While thinking about this and that, we arrived in Japan before I knew it.
After going through immigration and collecting our luggage, it was already 1 o'clock.
We boarded the chartered buses by class.
"Teacher, when do we eat?"
"You ate the in-flight meal earlier."
"Teacher, are we going straight to the accommodation?"
"No, we'll stop by Tokyo Tower to look around and then go to the accommodation."
"Tokyo Tower?"
"Teacher, have you been there? How is it?"
"I went during the preliminary visit, and it's nothing special. Has anyone been to 63 Building or Namsan Tower observation deck? Think of it as similar to those. The exterior looks a bit different though."
It might sound like I'm being dismissive, but I can't help it since I've been to Tokyo Tower too many times.
Not just when I went for the preliminary visit, but in my previous life when I was in Japan on a working holiday, I went every time acquaintances or friends visited.
Still, the view is pretty good and there's a photo zone with a glass floor, so kids who like taking pictures should enjoy it.
While answering the kids' questions, did we drive for about an hour from the airport?
Finally, Tokyo Tower came into view straight ahead.
Getting off at the parking lot and heading to the entrance, they said that if we enter as a group, it might inconvenience regular visitors, so we decided to go up two classes at a time.
But I don't know who planned it, but the homeroom teachers play rock-paper-scissors, and the losing class walks up while the winning class takes the elevator.
Of course, it's not to the very top but just to the middle deck, so even walking slowly would take about 20 minutes to arrive.
But Tokyo in June is quite hot.
Of course, I have Hanseobulchim (immunity to cold and heat), so whether it's hot or cold doesn't matter to me.
"Teacher, we don't want to walk."
"You absolutely must win."
"Teacher, we believe in you."
Our kids really don't want to walk up no matter what.
Whether it's hot or not, I don't want to walk either, so I said we must win, but unfortunately luck wasn't on our side.
"Teacher... What the heck."
"I'm disappointed."
"How can an S-rank Hunter lose at rock-paper-scissors!"
What, do these kids think S-rank Hunters become good at rock-paper-scissors?
"Teacher is the worst."
"WAHHH..."
When we departed from Korea, everyone looked up to me because I treated Minha, but now they're treating me like a complete traitor just because I lost rock-paper-scissors once.
At least the other kids are just lightly complaining, but the magic department kids who are relatively weak physically and several kids who said they have acrophobia are glaring at me quite seriously.
"Still, they said we can take the elevator when coming down, so don't be too disappointed. Oh right, they said they give commemorative cards if you walk up."
"We don't need stuff like that..."
"It can't be helped. Let's go up to the 2nd floor. There's a souvenir shop there too. There's also a place that sells waffles with ice cream on top. I'll buy one for each of you."
"Teacher is the best."
"As expected, our teacher!"
Look at these kids?
Their expressions completely changed when I said I'd buy them snacks.
Even the kids who said they had acrophobia refused to be included in other classes and said they'd be fine if they ate snacks and followed along - they're really little devils.
I bought snacks for the kids and told them to look around the souvenir shop while waiting for our turn, when suddenly the emergency bell started ringing.