Ch 127
Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy
Chapter 127
"Teacher, you're really going to buy us beef during the unity competition, right?"
"Yeah. I'll treat you to Korean beef."
After Eunseo's suggestion, the principal and vice principal had a discussion and gave Minha 100 points and Jaehyeon 50 points, for a total of 150 points.
I thought I'd be thankful just to avoid last place and not have to go to training, but we became the best class.
The best class receives various benefits, including 1 million won in support for class operating expenses.
Of course, considering the students' appetites and the wicked price of Korean beef, 1 million won wouldn't be nearly enough, but it doesn't matter.
They protected my precious two weeks of summer vacation, so I can certainly buy them some Korean beef.
Besides, teachers also receive separate prize money.
Honestly, after Master left, my interest in the teaching profession had cooled somewhat.
I actually thought about quitting...
Plus, lately I've been so worried about Se-jin's problem that I couldn't properly pay attention to the kids.
Of course, it's not just that the kids felt sorry and sad that I was going to training.
According to Eunseo earlier, they all thought of this because they couldn't go to the unity competition together and were looking for a way.
But regardless of the motive, I'm really touched.
"Teacher, have a good vacation. See you on the 10th."
"Alright. Everyone rest well."
These adorable little ones.
I should look into whether I can rent a yacht or something in addition to the Korean beef.
Like a boat party. Yeah, and in the evening I'll buy expensive fireworks to set off.
I want to create unforgettable memories for them.
"Teacher Kang is lucky, isn't he?"
"Haha... I never thought about it either, but things worked out well."
"Shouldn't you buy me a drink? I'm free today."
"Ah, I have a prior engagement today... I'll buy you a drink after school starts."
"Hey, I was just saying. Well, but you know a promise is a promise, right?"
"Yes. Have a good vacation."
"You have a good vacation too, Teacher Kang."
Teacher Park really can't be stopped.
I watched the students streaming out of school like ants, then returned to the dormitory.
I'm really glad I don't have to go to training, but thinking about meeting Se-jin tonight makes me feel overwhelmed.
Instead of staying here like this, I took out a Demon Realm tree leaf from my wallet and tore it to have a little more time to think.
My vision changed instantly.
It was unfamiliar at first, but now this place is too familiar.
I used Blink to arrive at the camping car in an instant, but I don't see either Kainakan or Luciel.
Are they researching again?
It's been 10 days since Se-jin went home, which is 10 months in this place's time. Nearly a year has passed.
But Luciel's magic research is still ongoing.
I help out whenever I come in between, but even when I ask what kind of magic it is, she won't explain.
If it takes this long and keeps failing, she would have told me out of embarrassment...
Well, that's not what's important right now anyway.
Still, I should at least say hello since I'm here, so I climbed up the Demon Realm tree and saw Luciel crouched down drawing magic circles.
"I'm here."
—You came early? It doesn't seem like even a week has passed yet.
I was here until 6 AM this morning and it's 11 now, so about 6 days have passed.
"I said I'd come early. Should we start right away?"
—No. I think I need to make a few more corrections. This time it'll definitely succeed.
"I think I've heard that about a hundred times already?"
—No, this time it's really all done.
"I've heard that about two hundred times..."
—Do you want to keep getting on my nerves?
"What kind of magic is it exactly? It's been almost a year since you started researching. Isn't it time you told me?"
—I'll tell you when it succeeds. You're being mentally exhausting, so go away.
I was going to leave anyway since I needed to think about how to answer Se-jin, but suddenly Luciel grabs me.
"What? Are you already done with corrections?"
—No. But since you came, you should give me chocolate before you go.
Anyone watching would think she commissioned me to do something.
I was about to say something but just took out chocolate and gave it to her before returning to the camping car.
Right now I don't have the luxury to argue with that girl when my own problems are a yard long.
If I stay here, I can think for about a week, but will I be able to reach a conclusion by then?
My head hurts.
***
After finishing the morning raid, I came out of the portal and headed to a nearby restaurant.
"Everyone listen while you eat. As I mentioned this morning, some of our team will be supporting Team 1 in the afternoon, you know?"
"Weren't Deok-su, Seon-jae, and Uram supposed to go, these three?"
"Team 1 contacted us saying they have room for more people, so they asked us to send some B-rank hunters for experience too. We can send 2 more. Any volunteers?"
"Me."
"Magicians are excluded. Gyuri, if you're out, we only have two magicians. Team 1 also asked for front-line support... Se-jin, how about you?"
Normally I would have definitely volunteered to meet the A-rank examination requirements, but not today.
A-rank portal raids take at least 8 hours or more.
"Se-jin has an appointment tonight so she can't."
"I asked Se-jin, so why are you answering, Hyeon-jeong? What, did you two decide to go to a club together?"
"Lee Hyeon-jeong, don't corrupt our innocent youngest."
"What do you mean I'm corrupting her?"
"That's right. And today won't work. I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what, it'll be tough if our ace youngest is out."
"Right. Well, no need to be sorry. Then let's have Minsik and Taegyu go."
Hyeon-jeong winks at me.
After finishing our meal, we have break until 1 PM, so I came to a cafe with sister Hyeon-jeong.
As soon as we ordered coffee and sat down, Hyeon-jeong pulled her chair closer.
"The team leader really has no sense, when today is D-day. How is it?"
"What do you mean how... I honestly don't have high expectations."
"What are you talking about?"
"If he was going to accept, I don't think he would have delayed like this. Even the cat thing didn't work..."
Sister said she could definitely make him fall for me in one shot, so I endured the embarrassment and did it, but Teacher looked more surprised than pleased.
"That was because your mom suddenly came. Why are you thinking so negatively?"
"...I don't have confidence. There's been no contact since that day."
I sent a text this morning to confirm the appointment time again, but there's no reply.
Since it's the closing ceremony, he would have finished early...
"Hmm, if he was going to reject you, he would have done it right away. When you asked him to pretend it never happened, he said he understood your feelings and would give you an answer, right?"
"But..."
"Maybe Hunter Kang Shin-hyeok also needs time to sort out his thoughts?"
"What?"
"Would it be easy to suddenly see someone as a woman when you've been thinking of them as a student? Even when the media asked if you two were dating, he absolutely denied it."
"That's right... Um, sister, I found out that cat thing is only done between lovers..."
"Ah, sorry about that part. I gave that advice thinking you and Hunter Kang Shin-hyeok had some feelings for each other... Well, but he didn't reject you outright, right?"
Sister speaks positively, but I'm scared.
If Teacher rejects me, won't it become difficult to even approach him...?
Wouldn't it have been better to maintain our current relationship?
That's why I asked him to forget about it...
"Have confidence. It'll work out. Hunter Kang Shin-hyeok may have money, ability, and good looks, but you're not lacking either, Se-jin. You're an attractive person too."
"Thanks for the encouragement."
"It'll work out, so don't worry too much. You took tomorrow off, right?"
"Ah, yes."
"I'll be expecting good news."
I replied with an awkward smile instead of words.
I really hope it turns out that way.
***
Before I knew it, a week had passed.
Of course, only about six hours have passed in outside time.
Actually, during that time, Luciel kept asking me to help with magic research, so even when I came here, I didn't have proper time to think.
But this time, unlike before, she didn't call me as much, so I had quite a bit of time to think.
Thanks to that, even if not perfectly, I've organized my thoughts to some extent.
Now it's time to go, so I came out of the camping car to tell her, but I only saw Kainakan and Luciel wasn't there.
"Is Luciel still correcting the magic circle?"
—That's right. Going? If you have jerky, just a little...
Since I always only take care of Luciel, I sometimes give him jerky, and he seems to have gotten hooked.
I used Subspace magic to take out jerky and give it to him, then headed to the Demon Realm tree hill where Luciel is.
—You came? I was just about to call you.
"Are you done with corrections?"
—Yeah, now it's really perfect.
"Yes, yes. Let's do it next time. I have to go now."
—Just help me once and then go.
...It'll probably fail again anyway.
I was about to say we could do it next time, but seeing her unusually earnest expression, I couldn't bring myself to say it.
"Fine, let's start quickly."
I went to the familiar position and stood there, and Luciel moved to the center of the magic circle.
I inject internal energy according to her signal, but... Huh?
It's not that I'm injecting it, but it feels like the magic circle itself is sucking internal energy from me.
When I feel a slight sensation in my dantian, the magic circle glows blue and white light begins to gather in the center.
I'm reaching my limit soon.
But this time, her words about fixing it perfectly weren't a lie, as unlike before, the atmospheric flow is stable and the light gets stronger and stronger.
In this state, there shouldn't be any explosions, so I poured out all my internal energy without holding back.
I was about to say it's too much now, but the magic seemed to succeed as the white light in the center grew bigger and then enveloped Luciel.
It's not a blinding or hot light, but warm and somehow sacred feeling.
I was so amazed that I forgot about the pain and exhaustion in my dantian and watched for a while. About 10 minutes passed?
The light gradually faded and Luciel revealed herself.
Surprisingly, there's no change at all.
"Another failure?"
—No. This time it's a success.
As she speaks, she approaches me and suddenly hugs me tight.
Since I have no strength in my body, I fell down as is.
"H-hey... I know you're happy it succeeded, but I'm dying here? Get off me. You're heavy."
—How heavy can I be?
"Like Mount Tai is crushing me... UGH!"
This mean girl kicks me after I helped her with heart and soul.
Different coming in and going out of the bathroom...
—Stop talking nonsense and stay still.
She suddenly approaches me... Her face is too close and burdensome.
"What are you trying to do? You're too close."
—I told you to stay still. You'll get hurt if you move.
At this distance, I might smell her breath, so I closed my mouth, but she puts a necklace around my neck.
"What's this?"
—A gift to commemorate the magic's success. You must never take it off from now on.
Suddenly a gift?
I looked down at the necklace and saw a silver-gray cord with a blue gem emanating white light in the center.
The design is quite nice and it's not particularly uncomfortable.
"Why the sudden gift? At least tell me what magic it was."
—It'll take some time to explain. Is that okay? You said it was time to go.
At her words, I took out my phone to check the time, and if I don't leave now, I'll really be late.
No, even if I go back now and leave, I'll be late by car, so I'll need to use Warp magic.
"Since I have to stay here while my internal energy recovers anyway, give me at least a brief explanation."
—You'll find out when you go out.
Luciel, unusually smiling brightly as she speaks... Somehow I feel uneasy.