Ch 117
Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy
Chapter 117
It's already been a week since the school trip ended.
Thanks to Minha's return, the class atmosphere has returned to how it was before.
Last Monday evening, I presented the regeneration magic thesis at the Hunter Association together with Teacher Kim.
At first, most of the magicians scoffed, but when we introduced Minha's case and Teacher Kim regenerated the leg of a clinical trial subject she brought, the situation completely reversed.
Countless requests came in asking us to attend seminars, not just domestically but from various academic societies around the world.
Many contacts came to the school and even to my personal number, but I dumped them all on Teacher Kim.
The so-called passing the buck.
I feel a bit sorry, but since I made her a co-author, it should be okay to leave this much to her, right?
They say winning the Nobel Magic Prize is also likely.
Like the Nobel Prize, they say we have to go to Sweden at the end of the year to receive it, but if possible, I'd like to send Teacher Kim alone for that too.
"Teacher Kang is working overtime too, right? I think I'll be done in about an hour and a half, so let's have a drink after I'm finished."
It would normally be overtime before final exams, but since I went to the space where Luciel is during lunch time and handled all the paperwork, there's no problem.
"Isn't working overtime on Friday a bit wrong? I finished everything during lunch."
Teacher Park made a dejected expression asking if that was really true, so I told him to work hard and left the faculty office.
I came to the parking lot, started the engine, and after driving for about 30 minutes, I arrived at the meeting place.
It's a restaurant located in Gangnam that I've been to a few times.
After parking and checking the time, there were still over 20 minutes left, so I was thinking of doing some web surfing when a familiar car entered.
She came early too.
I immediately got out of my car and approached her.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
"Oh? Teacher, did you come right after finishing work?"
Se-jin, who was parking and getting out, looked surprised.
"Of course, it's an appointment with someone. It's been a while. You must be very busy these days. Seeing your face is like plucking stars from the sky."
"Tch, you were the one who said you were busy every time I contacted you, Teacher."
"Was I? Sorry. Last week I was busy because of the school trip, and these days it's final exam period. But I came out like this today, didn't I?"
"Yes, yes. I'm so grateful I don't know what to do with myself."
This girl who used to be obedient, innocent, good, and would die at my every word is giving such answers...
Well, I have been indifferent.
She's the only disciple I taught martial arts to and a business partner who owns half the building shares.
"Sorry. But since I came out like this today, cut me some slack."
"Fine. Let's go quickly. I'm hungry."
We talked while eating, and she said he decided to go to Ares Guild next year.
"So you'll become the guild master right away?"
"That's not it. The current vice guild master said he'll take over as master and help me until I get used to it."
"What if he says he'll continue doing it?"
"All the shares belong to me anyway, so it doesn't matter. And he said he's retiring like father."
"I see."
"It would be really nice if Teacher came to our guild too."
"Oh my, Teacher's value is expensive, can you afford it? It'll cost a lot of money to prevent existing guild members from leaving."
"That's true but... Um, didn't you say you'd give me a disciple discount last time?"
Haha... I didn't expect her to remember that.
"Even with a discount, it won't be easy, will it?"
"How about... Installments?"
"Of course not."
"Tch, but I'll scout you as first priority when I have the money later."
"Sure. Oh, and yesterday was your birthday, right? Happy belated birthday."
"How did you know? I didn't even tell you."
"I have my ways of knowing."
Actually, if Vice Principal hadn't asked me yesterday morning whether I congratulated Se-jin since it was her birthday and the guild threw a party, I wouldn't have known at all.
After finishing the meal, we went to a nearby department store and I bought her a gift too.
Earlier during lunch, I called an accessory shop in the department store, received a catalog, and reserved a pair of earrings.
She's my most cherished disciple and business partner, so I can't just get away with buying one meal.
"Is it really okay?"
I chose it hastily, so I said he could exchange it for something else if he didn't like it, but she seemed to like it.
"It's so pretty. I wasn't expecting anything at all, I'm really grateful."
"What, over something like this. Well then, shall we part ways now?"
"What? Already?"
"You went on a portal raid today too. Aren't you tired?"
"I'm fine... Are you tired, Teacher?"
"A little. Well, we ate and I gave you a gift. It's late too."
"It's not even 9 o'clock yet. Since we met after a long time, how about a drink?"
"What drink? We both brought cars."
"We can call a designated driver. If drinking outside is burdensome, how about my house?"
"H-house?"
"I actually received a really good bottle of wine as a gift recently, but it felt awkward drinking it alone so I've been saving it."
"Wine? I don't really like wine..."
"If you don't like wine, I can buy something else. A-and I have a cat too."
"Suddenly a cat? You didn't have one when I went last time. You didn't mention it earlier either. Did you adopt one?"
"T-that... Yes."
"What breed? Don't you have photos? If you do, show me."
"I-it's just a cat. I don't have photos, you can see it directly if you come."
I usually like cats quite a bit, so I thought about going, but it still won't do.
I told Master I'd come today last week.
"I'm curious, but I can't today."
"What? You're off tomorrow."
"I don't go to work, but I have other plans."
"Ah, okay..."
She looked quite disappointed.
I promised to drop by when Se-jin contacts me on a day she finishes early next week, and we parted ways.
I drove toward Gangwon Province.
The highway was quiet, but traffic was quite backed up in Seoul, so it took nearly 3 hours.
I should be able to master Warp magic by next week, so this suffering will be the last.
***
"A cat?"
"Yeah, a cat. I saw in a magazine interview that Hunter Kang Shin-hyeok likes cats. If I say there's a cat at home, wouldn't he come to see it?"
"Ah... I did see that magazine too, but I have a fur allergy so I can't keep cats."
"Oh geez, you blockhead. Who said to really keep a cat? Just tell Hunter Kang Shin-hyeok there's one so he'll come see it."
"But if I make him come with a cat that doesn't exist, he'll be angry that I deceived him when he comes and there's no cat..."
"Tsk tsk. Why wouldn't there be a cat?"
"What?"
"You can be the cat. When Hunter Kang Shin-hyeok comes to the house and asks where the cat is, you just meow once in his ear and the game is over."
***
"The guy who said he'd come yesterday... Huh? Why are you empty-handed?"
Master's expression doesn't look good.
Well, I have been a bit neglectful of Master while I was focused on learning regeneration magic to treat Minha.
I did visit every week, but I just brought food and immediately went to Luciel to learn magic.
Last week too, I just brought food and went straight to Luciel...
I kept saying I'd buy the food he wanted to eat but forgot every time, making excuses about not having money.
Thinking about it again, it wasn't just a little neglectful but completely neglectful.
If it weren't for Master, there wouldn't be the me of today.
"Ah, that's..."
"I said something unnecessary. You've been saying you're very busy lately. The situation must still be quite bad. I'm sorry..."
I expected him to scold me for coming empty-handed, but Master being like this makes me feel even more sorry.
"That's not it."
"Not it... Are you even eating properly? There are still a few ramens left, so let's go eat those together."
Wow, I'm really moved.
I followed Master and arrived at the cave.
"I'll bring out the ramen, so light the fire."
"Um... Master, I've been quite neglectful, haven't I? I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what. You're having a hard time supporting me. I'll bring out the ramen soon, so light the fire."
"Master, you don't need to bring out the ramen."
As I spoke, I raised my Ganggi and flattened the ground in front of the cave.
This should be enough.
Actually, I didn't come empty-handed.
I bought plenty of food including chicken in my subspace, and I prepared a special gift because I felt sorry for neglecting him.
"I told you to light the fire, what are you doing?"
"I didn't come empty-handed."
I smiled broadly and drew up my internal energy to use magic, and a black sphere appeared, soon spitting out my gift.
"T-this is a camping car, isn't it?"
Maybe because he watches a lot of YouTube videos, Master recognizes it at a glance.
"Yes, it's a camping car. Let's go inside and take a look."
I equipped it with a large TV, a soft bed, a refrigerator, a microwave, and the air fryer that Master wanted most.
"Isn't this an air fryer?"
"Yes, that's right. Now you can enjoy crispy chicken to your heart's content."
Master had been requesting to use an air fryer for a while.
An air fryer doesn't cost much, but the problem was electricity.
Air fryers are products with quite high power consumption. Of course, if I store freshly fried chicken with subspace magic, it stays crispy.
But I can't take it out every time he eats.
At first, I thought about a small generator, but it's loud and needs continuous oil replenishment.
So what I came up with was a camping car.
Camping cars need oil to move, but if you just keep it in one place, oil isn't necessary.
Electricity can be charged with the solar panels installed on the roof.
It's a slide type, so when fully extended, it can charge up to 2,000 amperes.
"This is supposed to be very expensive..."
It did cost quite a bit to have a professional company install additional solar panels and remodel it, but since I bought the camping car itself used, it didn't cost too much.
It's not that much money compared to what I have anyway.
"No matter how expensive, it can't compare to what Master has done for me."
"Shin-hyeok, you rascal..."
He looks completely moved.
I kindly explained how to use everything one by one.
What he liked most was the air fryer, but he also really liked the TV.
Well, he's been watching on a small screen like a laptop, so connecting it to a TV must be a new world.
"I filled the refrigerator with lots of food too, so anything marked frozen can be put in the air fryer, and you can keep alcohol cold in the refrigerator."
"I really chose my disciple well."
Seeing Master happy like a child makes me feel good and proud, but also anxious on one hand.
There really isn't much time left to spend with Master.
According to the original story, the protagonists will come here during the training camp in October next year.
But at that time, Master won't be here.
Of course, there are still 1 year and 3 months until October next year, but it wouldn't be strange if he disappeared tomorrow.
The original story didn't specify exactly when Master passes away.
Looking at Master humming and putting frozen dumplings in the air fryer, it seems like he'll be okay for a while though.
"Master."
"What? Do you want to eat too? Should I put in more?"
"If you put that much in at once, it won't fry properly."
"Really? Well, I can run it once and then run it again."
"Master."
"What again?"
"Live long, long. I'll do many better things for you and buy you many delicious things."