Ch 115
Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy
Chapter 115
Instead of entering immediately, I stuck flat against the top deck floor.
I could enter right away with Blink, but there was a possibility they might immediately harm the hostages.
Since I can't block two hands with one hand, understanding the internal situation comes first.
I created a water drill to gently carve into the floor and burned the debris with Triple Flame to make a small gap.
It's a hole barely big enough for a pinky finger to pass through, but this much is enough to spread my internal energy without problems.
When I spread my internal energy, I could sense one person each at the windows facing north, south, east, and west, and quite a lot of people in the center.
Based on the magic I felt, there seemed to be about three in the center?
It looks like they gathered the hostages in the center and posted one guard each at the windows.
Looking at the nature of their magic, they're all physical types, and there's only one magician in the center.
Seven people total, and except for the magician, they all seem to be at a similar level.
The magician doesn't have little magic either, but doesn't seem to reach A-rank.
Anyway, if I just eliminate that magician first, there shouldn't be much danger.
I used Blink magic to the location where my internal energy had detected them.
My vision immediately changed and I saw a blonde-dyed guy talking on the phone, so I immediately pressed his pressure point and knocked him unconscious.
"Stop messing arou—"
THUD!
"Kamura-san!"
"You bastard, how did you...?"
The magician must have been the boss because the others showed panicked expressions, but I first used Barrier magic to surround the hostages.
Good. Now I have some breathing room.
"How what? I came up from below."
As I spoke, I dashed to the guy on the left, pressed his pressure point to knock him unconscious, and used Blink to do the same to the guy on the right.
Hearing the sounds of them falling, the other guys who were standing guard at the windows rushed over, but I subdued them in the same way.
It was much easier than I thought, making me feel slightly deflated.
"Thank you."
"Really, thank you."
"Are you someone sent by the government?"
That's not quite it...
"Thank you."
"We're alive thanks to you."
Everyone kept bowing their heads and saying thanks, which made me feel a bit embarrassed.
I subdued the terrorists not to save these people, but because of our school's students.
If our school's students hadn't been in danger, I wouldn't have stepped forward like this, so my conscience stings a little.
Of course, regardless of motivation, if it weren't for me, all these people might have died, so I don't need to feel too burdened about it.
I contacted the Vice Principal that the suppression was complete, made contact with the response headquarters below, and after waiting briefly, a helicopter arrived.
They must have been standing by nearby because they arrived quite quickly.
The situation was quickly resolved as they rescued the criminals and people.
The Japanese government offered to provide medical services, but fortunately no students were injured, so the students were sent back to the lodging by bus.
Of course, the Vice Principal and I stayed behind again to give explanations and testimony about the suppression, which took quite a while.
Was it the Chief Cabinet Secretary? Anyway, a high-ranking person from the Japanese government came to express gratitude and said they would give me a good citizen award and prize money.
I said it was fine since the school trip might be canceled and we'd have to return home immediately, but they insisted on giving it.
The Vice Principal also said he'd make separate time for it, so I agreed, and returned to the lodging with the Vice Principal.
Although the incident was resolved well, since the kids were in a dangerous situation, I thought the school trip might be canceled, but fortunately they decided to proceed with the schedule as planned.
I did some investigation in case there might be retaliation.
I contacted Hong Man-sik to explain the situation, and after a while he contacted me back saying that even within Antas Japan, this was something the direct subordinates of an executive did independently without getting permission from the boss, so there wouldn't be any separate retaliation.
The Japanese government is really grinding their teeth over this, so it should be fine.
It's unfortunate that we lost a whole day of the school trip schedule, but I'm glad it wasn't canceled entirely.
***
Second day of the school trip, today's schedule is an exchange meeting with Japan's First Hunter Academy.
The location is Tokyo Big Sight at the Tokyo International Exhibition Center on the artificial island of Odaiba.
Like our Hunter School, Japan's academy is also a national classified facility, making visits difficult, so we're meeting at this external location.
200 students came from the Japanese side.
Since they have more students than our country, this represents half of their second-year students.
The exchange event doesn't last all day, just four hours in the morning.
First we had simple greetings and then divided by subject.
One teacher each from Korea and Japan came out for each subject to conduct special classes.
Coming on a school trip and having classes—what a crappy thought—but fortunately it's not just classes.
The classes are only 30 minutes each, short, and the rest of the time is given for students to freely talk with each other and exchange gifts that each school prepared.
While it's ultimately an event aimed at building friendship, since it's Korea and Japan, I heard there's subtle competition between the two schools.
Sometimes there are duels between teachers or students.
I hope there won't be anything like that.
After the face-to-face ceremony, we divided by subject for classes, and the Japanese teacher started first.
Since they excluded all advanced content and only covered basic material, it wasn't very interesting... Honestly, it was boring.
The class was fully translated into Korean on the screen in front, but the kids were quite bored too, and some even dozed off.
However, the Japanese academy students and Japanese teachers concentrated incredibly when I taught.
From the thunderous applause and cheers when I started the class, to not a single person dozing during class—everyone had such bright, attentive eyes.
It wasn't like I taught anything amazing, but it was somewhat burdensome.
I thought Japanese students had really good concentration, but I understood the reason during the free time that followed.
Originally during the free exchange time, I was going to go to the bathroom to briefly meet Luciel.
Usually when I slept, I almost always visited Luciel, but since I'm sharing a room with other teachers on this school trip, I couldn't drop by.
"Excuse me, you're Teacher Kang Shin-hyeok, right?"
"Ah, yes."
"KYAAK! It's really him. Could I please get your autograph?"
"Me too."
"Me too!"
Not only Japanese students but even teachers started coming to me with paper, forming a long line.
Normally S-rank Hunters do gain some recognition abroad, but not to this extent.
It's probably because of yesterday's incident.
I'd been on the news continuously since the Vice Principal and I finished handling things and returned yesterday.
Even yesterday evening, I got a call from the Prime Minister.
Like the Chief Cabinet Secretary or whoever I met the day before, he said he was really grateful and asked if there was anything I wanted.
Actually, even in this world, Japan and South Korea don't have a very good relationship.
There are Dokdo disputes and Japanese colonial period existed, so there are various problems like in my previous life.
I thought about asking them to resolve such problems, but it's not something the Prime Minister alone can decide.
Still, I tried floating the idea just in case, but as expected, he expressed difficulty, saying such things would be problematic.
So I was about to say never mind, but then I requested that we be able to take the bullet train when moving to Nagoya on the last day.
Fortunately, he said that was possible, and I thought they'd just make reservations or something, but they said they'd empty out 6 entire train cars for us.
"You're so handsome."
"Haha... Thank you."
"I heard you also use magic. That's really amazing."
"Haha..."
"Um, could we maybe take a photo together...?"
"Ah, yes. That's fine."
Total popularity explosion.
There were students asking for my SNS account, and among the teachers, some meaningfully winked while giving me notes with their contact information written on them.
Of course, I have no intention of contacting them.
They were all beautiful or cute, but I don't have time and I'm not particularly interested in international dating.
Anyway, I was dealing with the flood of students and teachers throughout the free time, so I couldn't go meet Luciel.
Still, since the afternoon schedule is free sightseeing in Odaiba, I should be able to make some time then.
After finishing the free time and gift exchange ceremony, we moved to Daiba Station.
"Teacher, it's free time now, right?"
"Right. Don't go outside Odaiba. Everyone come back by 5 o'clock. If anything happens, text the teacher right away."
"Yes!"
"Understood!"
"Teacher, hurry up."
"Stop rushing. If it seems like the teacher isn't reading your texts, you all know the Vice Principal's number, right? Contact the Vice Principal."
Since I'm planning to go meet Luciel, I might not be reachable.
"Yes. Understood!"
"Teacher, can we go now?"
"Enough with the lecture, the other classes already left."
"Alright. Don't cause trouble and have fun."
"Yes!"
Everyone shouted with excited expressions and scattered in groups of three to five.
It just turned 12 o'clock, so I should be able to spend at least 5 hours with Luciel.
"Teacher Kang, let's go eat together. Teacher Jung found a good restaurant."
"Ah, Teacher Park, my stomach feels a bit off, so I was going to skip lunch..."
"Really? Then it can't be helped. Go rest up."
"Yes. Enjoy your meal."
I shook off all the teachers and headed straight to a convenience store.
In modern time, it's only been a day and a half, but in Luciel's time, it would be over a month.
Obviously she'll be thoroughly sulking, so I need to buy lots of chocolate.
I bought out the convenience store and entered a quiet alley to tear a leaf.
With the now-familiar sensation, my vision instantly changed.
―Oh? You came? You're a bit late this time?
It's Kainakan.
"Didn't I say I'd be a bit late this time? I told Luciel too."
―You said that? For something you said, the master was waiting quite eagerly. You said you'd definitely come once a month.
"That's true, but I said I'd be late this time due to circumstances... Is Luciel very angry?"
―Of course she is. Go quickly.
When I went toward the Demon Realm Tree, I could see Luciel right away.
"Luciel, I'm here."
―Hmph. I told you not to shorten my name like that!
I greeted her as warmly as possible, but she didn't even look at me and speak.
"Why are you like this again? I said I'd be a little late when I came last time."
―Twenty days is a little? Why did you come already? You should have waited the full two months.
"I said I had circumstances. But I came like this anyway. I bought lots of chocolate that you like too."
When I mentioned chocolate, I felt her head turn slightly, but she immediately turned her head sharply in the opposite direction again.
She's thoroughly sulking.
"Our Luciel... You missed me a lot, didn't you?"
―Wh-what are you saying? I'm disappointed because you didn't keep your promise. Who would... Someone as ugly as you... And I told you not to call my name like that!
Still not being honest.
"Then should I go back?"
―Hmph. Yeah, go. Go away! I won't teach you magic anymore either.
I thought she'd stop me, but she's being stubborn.
"I already learned all the theory anyway. I can practice elsewhere even if not here. Then I'm really going?"
I tried to take out a leaf from my pocket again, but before I knew it, Luciel was holding my wrist.
―Wh-where are you going after coming late? Just try leaving. I'll curse you forever!
I was surprised to see tears welling up in Luciel's eyes.
Was I too harsh?
I didn't expect it to be this bad... I should have given in a little.
"Alright. I won't go, so let go of this."
―Really?
"But be honest. You missed me a lot, right?"
―N-no... Okay, maybe I missed you a little...
Seeing her face turn red as she spoke, I couldn't help but think she was cute.
A creature who's supposedly thousands of years old being this pure—teasing her is the best.
"Is it okay to be that ambiguous? And not a lot, just a little?"
―Ugh, are you really going to be like this? Fine. Just give me the chocolate.
She tried to snatch the plastic bag hanging on my arm, but I was faster.
"Answer honestly and I'll give it to you."
―Ugh, really... I won't eat it! Do whatever you want, go or stay.
She let go of my arm and walked away, but it seems like she'll sulk again, so I should stop teasing her now.
"I missed you tremendously, Luciel."