Ch 120
Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy
Chapter 120
When I take out the leaf, Luciel approaches and snatches it away.
"What are you trying to do now?"
Since she even brought out her wings, I thought she might be trying to attack, so I drew up my internal energy.
But she just flew up and picked a handful of leaves, then held them out to me.
—Ta, take them. You said there was only one left...
"..."
—Uh... Hurry up and take them!
I really don't know what she's trying to do.
Just a moment ago, she said she'd only forgive me if I apologized first...
Is it because I said I wouldn't come for a long time?
—Re, really... Fine, I was wrong. I'm sorry.
I thought about asking if she knew what she did wrong, but I silently accepted the leaves she handed me.
I'm not cruel enough to push someone who looks like they're about to cry any further.
—Why aren't you saying anything? I said I was sorry. I said I was wrong...
I was planning to go back and talk later, but I can't bring myself to shake off someone who's crying and grabbing my arm.
"I'm sorry too."
As soon as I said that, I pulled her into a hug.
—You'll come back, right? I hate it when you leave for a long time! Without you, I...
"Yeah. I know what you're trying to say."
I patted the back of the sobbing girl to comfort her, as she seemed very upset.
It wasn't Luciel's fault that Master left in the first place.
It was entirely my choice to postpone lunch with Master and come see Luciel...
I also unfairly took my anger out on her.
The truth is, I know that even though Luciel outwardly complains that I'm ugly and nags at me, she relies on me a lot and needs me.
Even though she's an angel who lives an almost infinite life, she's already spent thousands of years alone in this place.
Fortunately, the crying stopped quickly.
"Siel, let's not say hurtful things to each other anymore."
—...Okay. I promise.
As soon as she answered, she held out her pinky finger.
It seems she remembered what I said last time.
I lightly kissed the forehead of the girl who was grumbling that her arm hurt so we should hurry up and make the promise.
—Wha... What?
"You said this is how they make promises in the Heavenly Realm."
Just as she remembers what I said, I also remember what she said.
It's a bit embarrassing, but since I did it my way last time, it's only fair to do it her way this time.
***
"No matter how many more times we do this, the result won't change. How about keeping your promise now?"
"But..."
"Tsk tsk, would it be proper for someone called a Sword Immortal to go back on their word? Hurry up and send me back to where I originally was."
"..."
"Tsk, hurry up."
"Ah... I understand. But as you said at first, swear that you won't interfere with the world."
"I swear. Is that good enough? I told you it's needless worry. At my age, what would I have to interfere with in the world?"
"Are you really not thinking of becoming an immortal? The Immortal Realm is truly a wonderful place. If you change your mind even now, I'll pass my title of Sword Immortal to you."
No matter how good the Immortal Realm might be, it couldn't be better than eating delicious food my disciple buys me while watching variety shows.
He uses his sword quite well, but he really can't understand what people are saying.
"I don't need it, so send me back to where I was. Didn't I already swear?"
Yeo Dong-bin made a displeased expression and slashed the air with his sword.
Through the split space, I could see a familiar landscape.
Worried he might say something more, I warned him not to send any other immortals in the future and jumped right in.
My vision changed and I could see the familiar scenery... Huh?
The camping car is gone.
That guy Shin-hyeok has some petty aspects, but he's not petty enough to take back something he's already given...
No, what's this now?
A tombstone with my name carved on it has been erected next to the cave.
Come to think of it, that bastard Yeo Dong-bin said when he moved the location that time flows differently between the Immortal Realm and the mortal world...
It seems that guy Shin-hyeok thinks I've ascended to immortality.
I can understand why he'd misunderstand since I left without saying anything, but if I had truly ascended, he should know I wouldn't have left without saying anything to him...
Just how much time has passed...
He's not planning to never come again, is he?
***
—Saturday?
"Yeah, this week is final exam period so weekdays are a bit difficult, and I have an appointment Friday evening too."
—I'm off on Saturday anyway so it doesn't matter to me... But are you okay?
"Hm? With what?"
—You always said weekends didn't work for you, Teacher.
"Ah, it's okay now."
It's already been two weeks since Master left.
I still feel sorry and sad when I think of Master, but I've decided to stop wallowing in self-pity.
Nothing changes even if I keep being sad and depressed.
Master won't come back, and I'll just be causing trouble for those around me.
That's what I realized, including my fight with Luciel, though we've made up now. The kids in my class and people around me were very worried.
Besides, Master, who became an immortal, wouldn't want me to keep being sad either.
Last week I went to the portal to retrieve the camping car and erected a tombstone.
I only wrote the name so it wouldn't be a problem if the protagonists discover it later.
—Um, so what time will you come?
"Let's have dinner. How about 6 o'clock?"
—6 o'clock? That time seems a bit early.
"Really? Then I'll come by 7."
—Yes. Then I'll prepare according to that time.
"Don't strain yourself with cooking or anything, it's fine to order delivery food. I'm going to see the cat anyway. But are you really not going to send me a photo of the cat?"
—Ah, that's... It's hard to take photos...
"Must have quite a prickly personality."
—Huh? Not particularly.
"Well, whatever. That's originally a cat's charm anyway."
—Is... Is that so? Anyway, the real thing is much better, so come see for yourself.
"Got it. See you on the weekend."
I hung up the phone and returned to the teachers' office.
I finished all the paperwork during lunch break, so I just need to kill time and then leave work.
"Teacher Kang, when did you come? The Vice Principal was looking for you earlier."
"The Vice Principal was looking for me?"
"Yeah. He said he couldn't reach you by phone and asked me to tell you to come to the Vice Principal's office when you arrived."
"Ah, yes. Thank you."
I went to the Vice Principal's office, knocked, and opened the door.
"Teacher Park said the Vice Principal was looking for me..."
"Oh, yes. Teacher Kang, sit down first. Should I give you some tea?"
"No, it's fine. What's this about?"
"Well, it's nothing special, but how's your schedule for this summer vacation?"
"Summer vacation? Well, I was just thinking of traveling around a bit. Why do you ask?"
"Travel is good. Have you made any reservations for flights or accommodations?"
"No. There's still some time until vacation, isn't there? Final exams aren't even over yet."
I was originally planning to drive around in the camping car anyway, so I wasn't going to make reservations, but somehow I feel uneasy.
Should I have just said I did?
"That's fortunate. Then this summer vacation's new teacher training chief instructor..."
"I won't do it."
"Look here, Teacher Kang... I haven't even finished talking yet, why are you in such a rush? At least listen to the whole story before answering."
"You're going to ask me to be the chief instructor anyway, don't you think I know that?"
"Hmm, your intuition has really improved."
With all I've been through, of course I can read between the lines.
"I heard you were originally supposed to do that yourself. This isn't right."
Even though there's a difference between Vice Principal and regular teacher, we're both S-rank Hunters from the same Hunter Association, and you're trying to dump this on me?
Maybe in the past, but not anymore.
"I've been feeling a bit unwell lately..."
"Say something that makes sense. That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard all year."
"Ahem, you know your class got last place in first semester grades, right?"
"Huh? What does that have to do with me being the chief instructor for new teacher training?"
Our class's poor grades aren't because our students can't study anyway.
Due to the incident in April, three students—Yeon-su, Minha, and Jae-hyeon—couldn't participate in practicals.
Minha, who's in the top ranks of our class, didn't take the midterm exam, so that probably had quite an impact too.
"It's not related to the chief instructor position. But do you know this?"
"Know what?"
"The homeroom teacher of the last-place class is subject to supplementary training."
Sup... Supplementary training?
"What? What are you talking about?"
This is news to me.
"We've always done it this way... Ah, you weren't a homeroom teacher last year, right? That's why you didn't know."
No, our class didn't get last place because the kids can't study, but if kids can't study, you should give the kids supplementary lessons.
Having the teacher take supplementary training, what kind of nonsense is this...
"The last-place class homeroom teacher supplementary training is two weeks. But if you become the chief instructor for new teacher training, you naturally won't have to go to supplementary training."
"Is the last-place class homeroom teacher supplementary training also like new teacher training where you eat and sleep at a training center?"
"No. That's commuting. But you have to receive 8 hours of education per day. On the other hand, the new teacher training chief instructor just needs to do the opening ceremony, closing ceremony, and one lecture in between."
It does seem like being the new teacher training chief instructor would be better than taking the last-place class homeroom supplementary training...
"Wouldn't it be better to suffer cleanly for 3 days rather than suffering for 2 weeks? The chief instructor doesn't even need to eat and sleep at the training center, just do those three scheduled events."
Seeing the Vice Principal trying to sweet-talk me makes me so annoyed.
Right, I can't keep getting pushed around forever.
"I won't do either."
"Right, the chief instructor position is... Huh? What do you mean? Ah, are you saying final exams aren't over yet?"
"What?"
"Don't pretend. You seem to think your class students might do well on final exams and not be the last-place class, but the point gap with the 9th place class was quite large."
"No. Even if our class gets last place, I won't take such ridiculous supplementary training."
"What?"
"If it bothers you, fire me."
He looks quite flustered, which is uncharacteristic for a Vice Principal.
If I were a regular teacher, going head-to-head with the Vice Principal like this would be crazy, but I'm not a regular teacher.
"Look here... Teacher Kang, what are you saying in such a way..."
He's frowning as he speaks, but does he think he's the only one who can frown?
"You know the saying 'kind words beget kind words,' right? Did you think I'd keep accommodating the Vice Principal's unreasonable demands forever?"
"Uh... Unreasonable demands, what do you mean?"
"Don't you remember when we dueled last year, everyone could see I won, but you kept insisting we continue the duel?"
"Come on, that was so long ago... Have you been holding onto that all this time? How petty for a grown man."
The one who hits usually doesn't remember, but the one who got hit remembers everything, and he calls me petty? Ridiculous.
"Not just the duel, but during the retreat, the deal was clearly just up to being an instructor, but you suddenly made me sing too, remember?"
"Ahem, why do you keep bringing up past events? That was all because you're capable. This time too. I made the proposal thinking of you."
"Ah, I didn't know the Vice Principal thought that way, so I was rude."
"Right, Teacher Kang... No matter how much you're an S-rank Hunter like me, this is a school and our positions are clearly different, so in the future be more careful with your words..."
THUNK!
"... Did you think I'd say?"
As I spoke, I took off the training gloves I was wearing and threw them at the Vice Principal.