Ch 139
Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy
Chapter 139
President Lee Jung-su did not announce to the media the fact that he was attacked by us.
Well, this was somewhat expected.
It's not like there would be anything good about it being known that he was attacked by Antas because of his son's delinquent behavior.
Of course, he would have personally hired magicians to break the curse, but he would have heard that there was nothing wrong.
In the first place, when Eternal Crux first appeared in the original work, Lee Ji-sung shares the magic to break it with the world, but the one who taught him that was Luciel.
Even if he brought S-rank magicians like Director Ma or Director Seo, they wouldn't have been able to break the curse.
Since it looks fine on the outside, he would have sent him to school too.
This problem doesn't need to be particularly worried about.
The same goes for Luciel meeting Do-hyun.
Although they didn't meet directly, since he's wearing the necklace, Luciel would have seen Do-hyun too.
I was slightly concerned, so I directly asked her what she thought about the guy.
"What do you mean what do I think? He's still just a kid. Still, his features are clear, so he'll probably be popular when he grows up."
"Don't you like that type?"
"What are you trying to do right now? Don't tell me you're going to abandon me and choose that thieving cat?"
She glared at me with fierce eyes, and I had quite a hard time appeasing her.
I don't know about later when Do-hyun grows up, but at least for now, she doesn't seem to have much interest in Do-hyun.
"Teacher Kang really doesn't know?"
"No."
"You were quite close with the health teacher, weren't you? You even did research together."
The part I'm concerned about is Teacher Kim.
When I came to work three days before the start of the semester, the vice principal introduced a female teacher as the new health teacher.
I had heard the story, but I didn't really think she would quit...
It's awkward to contact her now, and it's also awkward to ask the vice principal separately, so I tried talking to Teacher Hong, but I couldn't get an answer.
Teacher Hong's attitude has also become quite cold, as if she heard some bad story.
Of course, since we're not in the same grade, it doesn't matter much...
Well, whatever.
It's not like I didn't know at all, and continuing to worry about Teacher Kim would be unfair to Se-jin or Luciel.
"I rarely make personal contact. There must be circumstances. Aren't you going home?"
"Going home? It's the beginning of the semester, so there's a mountain of work, isn't there? And yet you're leaving right on time?"
"Ah, I finished most things during lunch. Good work."
I clocked out and was going to the cafeteria to eat dinner when I happened to see our class kids standing in line.
"Oh? Teacher!"
"Eat with us."
"No. Eat with us."
Now that I look at it, most of the boys are in the Korean food line and the girls are in the Western food line.
"Teacher, aren't you tired of this? Let's eat comfortably. What's on the menu today?"
"Korean food is duck bulgogi and bibimbap. Hearty bibimbap with sweet and spicy duck bulgogi, if you're a real man, it's Korean food."
These are definitely quite popular menu items.
"Hmph. Teacher, Western food is tandoori chicken with flying fish roe cream curry udon, and the udon is really legendary."
"What legendary. Teacher, cream curry just from hearing it, it's not right, isn't it? And flying fish roe on top of that? What kind of weird food combination is this? Teacher, if you're a man, you should naturally go with Korean food."
"What are you saying? Our Jae-hyeon is also going to eat cream curry udon with me."
"Haha... Yeah."
Looking at Jae-hyeon laughing awkwardly, it seems like he wants to eat Korean food but is forced to stand in the Western food line because of Minha.
Can't they get food separately and eat together?
Seeing them bicker like this over just dinner menu makes me think that kids are still kids.
Hmm, Korean food is more to my taste than cream curry udon, but since I ate raw meat and yukhoe bibimbap with Teacher Park for dinner yesterday, I moved toward the Western food side.
"Teacher, I'm disappointed."
"Handsome people eat cream curry udon."
"Both of you, tone it down. I'll eat Korean food if it's not good after trying it."
Unlike students who get free meals, teachers pay with a card.
Instead, if you swipe the card one more time, that's it, so if you want, you can eat both Korean and Western food.
I could just pass through with a free pass, but the line wasn't very long, so I waited while talking with the kids.
The curry udon was pretty decent.
The tandoori chicken was also unfamiliar, but well, chicken is always right.
I don't think I need to eat bibimbap on top of that.
I cleaned my tray and returned to the dormitory.
I was about to go straight up but thought I'd have an ice cream as a palate cleanser and stopped by the store.
I should also buy some chocolate bars for Luciel.
"Oh? Teacher Kang, you left work early."
"You too, Teacher Min."
"I'm going to continue working in the dormitory. Maybe because I changed seats, I still can't concentrate well in the faculty office."
"I see. Have you eaten? I don't think I saw you at the cafeteria earlier."
"I think I've gained some weight lately, so I'm trying to diet and skip meals."
"What? Where does Teacher Min have weight to lose?"
Even at a glance, I don't see any excess fat, but if the most popular Teacher Min at school says such things, won't she get beaten up by other female teachers?
"Is... Is that so? Thank you even if it's just lip service."
"It's not lip service. You have a lot of work these days, so don't skip meals."
"Yes. Then at least ramen... Ah, would you recommend something today too?"
"I haven't been eating much ramen lately..."
"Ah, yes. I'll just choose myself."
I bought ice cream and two boxes of chocolate bars and came to my room.
As soon as I closed the door, Luciel came out and started eating chocolate bars.
"Nobody's going to steal them from you. Eat slowly."
I haven't eaten ramen even once since Master left.
It's not like I was conscious of it, but I think it's probably because I'm reminded of Master when I see ramen.
Geez, it's not even anything special, but I'm feeling melancholy again for no reason.
There's a retreat coming up, so I should visit once more soon.
Anyway, this year's students won't discover it, but just in case, I should hide the area around the portal better so it's not visible.
I should also clean up the food that I didn't clean up last time.
"Sweet and crispy, this is the taste."
"Do you like chocolate bars that much? Don't you get tired of them?"
"Get tired? It's new every time I eat it! It's thrilling!"
I was about to get depressed thinking about Master, but seeing Luciel excitedly eating chocolate bars, I can't help but smile.
***
Two weeks have passed since the start of the semester.
Lee Ji-sung and the two other guys in his gang who bullied Do-hyun together have all been criminally prosecuted.
Do-hyun's mother didn't agree to a settlement, but since they're first-time offenders and minors, a fine is likely.
Of course, they also received a separate one-month suspension from school.
They'd have to lie in the infirmary every day even if they came to school anyway.
All the kids in the class also received a week of community service within the school.
They all apologized to Do-hyun and are getting along well now.
"Teacher Kang, good morning."
"Yes. Good morning."
I clocked in and came to my seat, but the teachers were gathered together whispering.
"Good morning, everyone."
"Oh, Teacher Kang is here?"
"Teacher Kang is in charge of supplementary classes again, and since you're a homeroom teacher, you'll have to prepare for the festival separately too, so you'll be busy."
"What do you mean? Supplementary classes?"
"Wasn't it posted on the school website? As the supplementary class instructor for the martial arts tournament..."
I immediately sat down and accessed the website, and sure enough, there's a list of supplementary class instructors.
As the other teacher said, I'm listed as being in charge of supplementary classes, and at the very top of the first page of the official document, it says approver Kim Man-dong.
"Why are you so surprised? Didn't you hear about it?"
"No. Nothing at all."
"Really?"
"Teacher Kang, since you had good results last year, maybe they trusted you and assigned it to you again this year?"
This is ridiculous.
Honestly, I was also thinking that if a lot of our swordsmanship club kids participate in this year's martial arts tournament, I would gladly take charge of it myself.
But doing this without even saying anything isn't right.
"Still, supplementary classes aren't just for a day or two, and if they assigned it without saying anything, that's a bit too much."
Teacher Park takes my side.
"That's exactly what I'm saying."
It's not revenge, is it?
No matter how much I rejected Teacher Kim's feelings, still.
Isn't getting revenge in this way too petty?
We haven't even spoken since the start of the semester.
Even if I skip the morning assembly, I should visit once after the morning meeting ends.
I do feel somewhat sorry, but I can't just accept such unreasonable treatment without saying anything.
While working, the meeting started.
Coincidentally, the vice principal came, so it seems I don't need to visit separately.
"The second years have practical training week starting next week, right? Everyone prepare well."
"Um... Vice Principal, I saw on the school website today that I'm supposed to be in charge of supplementary classes for the martial arts tournament."
"That's right. Do you have some circumstances?"
"Regardless of whether I have circumstances or not, I suddenly have to be in charge of supplementary classes without hearing anything about it, so I'm a bit bewildered..."
"Ah, I forgot to tell you in advance. But according to regulations, I'm originally the one who selects, so there's no procedural problem, is there?"
"What?"
Regulations? There are such regulations?
"In the first place, if Teacher Kang doesn't take charge, who would? Especially since you had such good results last year. Teacher Kang should naturally take charge this year too."
He's trying to brush it off like a snake crossing a fence, but what exactly is he trying to do?
"Of course. With our Teacher Kang, we can aim not only for victory in this year's martial arts tournament but also for another WHCU victory, can't we?"
Academic Affairs Director Yoon Teacher tactlessly starts flattering.
Should I have at least frowned so he could read the atmosphere?
Sigh... Whatever.
It's not like I had no intention of doing it at all, and it doesn't seem like it would change even if I said more, so I said I understood.
"By the way, Teacher Yoon, have you selected a teacher from the second year to perform at the festival?"
"Ah... Since there's still a lot of time until the festival, I haven't made the selection yet."
"It's not that much time left. The first and third years have all been selected, haven't they?"
"Well... There were no volunteers..."
"No volunteers?"
"Haha. Everyone is so shy..."
"If there are no volunteers, don't new teachers usually do it?"
Somehow I have a bad feeling.
"Ah, that's right."
"Among the second-year staff, isn't Teacher Kang the newest?"
This old man has really lost it, hasn't he?
"That's true, but... Teacher Kang is already doing supplementary classes, so wouldn't it be difficult to also do a performance?"
For once, the Academic Affairs Director takes my side.
"Are the other teachers playing around then? We should follow convention. Teacher Kang even sang at the retreat last year."
"Ah, did he? Teacher Kang, is that okay?"
"What's there to ask about? Last year he said he couldn't do it, but when we made him do it, he did well."
...This definitely seems like revenge.
Even if I give him the benefit of the doubt a hundred times, I can understand that the supplementary classes were assigned with the school in mind.
But knowing that I obviously dislike such things and still pushing the festival performance on me, that's definitely revenge.
I looked at the other teachers hoping for help, but they all avoided eye contact.
Since the other teachers also dislike festival performances, they don't take my side, and I end up having to take it on, and the meeting ended.
"Teacher Kang's workload has exploded."
"Weren't you originally on good terms with the Vice Principal? Did you perhaps fight during the vacation?"
"Haha... We're not kids, what fighting. There's nothing like that."
"Then why is he doing that?"
"It seems like you've been completely marked."
"Then at least for the performance, other teachers could..."
"That's a bit..."
"Ahem, I should go to the morning assembly."
Everyone is really heartless.
Actually, the festival performance isn't much of a problem either.
Unlike the retreat last time where I had to go on stage right on the day, there's time to prepare.
I could roughly practice some popular idol dance and dance, or since I practiced guitar during vacation, I could play guitar and sing.
Since performances can be anything, should I have a duel with the Vice Principal and crush him like last time?
But having a bloody duel on the festival performance stage where there are many parents and general public is unlikely to be approved.
Even if it were approved, the Vice Principal would refuse with all sorts of excuses.
Right. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
Since he pushed work on me citing regulations and conventions, it's right for me to pay him back with regulations and conventions too.