Ch 145
Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy
Chapter 145
"I can also break it. But if I do that, Luciel's condition will worsen...."
SNAP.
"Ma... Master?"
Good heavens.
"No, someone who doesn't even know magic... What on earth are you doing!"
If I break this, Luciel will be... She's fine?
Luciel is deliciously eating a chocolate bar as usual.
She doesn't seem to have noticed that the necklace was broken at all... Wait, don't tell me that brat....
"Don't you know the saying 'All streams return to the source'? Even without knowing magic, it's not difficult to grasp what principle it works on. Certainly, I could feel your sweetheart’s energy from this gem in the center, but not from the string."
Haha.... It seems like it was Luciel's lie....
I was completely fooled.
"I, I see. It seems that wicked girl lied."
"Your sweetheart seems to like you very much."
"Well... That's true, but that brat is really...."
My fists are crying.
She scared me tremendously saying I absolutely must not damage the necklace, making a huge fuss and commotion even if I just touched it.
"Are you going to scold her? Don't do that. She probably told such a lie because she wanted to be with you. Isn't her mischievousness cute?"
"Cute my foot, no... Master, are you showing favoritism because she's a female disciple?"
"Can't be helped, can it? She's the lover of my only disciple, even if he's stupid."
Seeing Master speak with a good-natured smile feels a bit awkward.
It seems he's matured a bit from being alone.
"You say such embarrassing things so casually."
"Well, if it weren't for the girl you brought, the moment you uttered the word 'old geezer', your head would have been severed."
Haha.... Right, this is how Master should be.
Still, having my head severed....
"Bu, but even so, now that I'm your disciple, isn't that kind of expression a bit much?"
"Earlier you said I was showing favoritism to a female disciple, now you're taking your lover's side?"
"She's not my lover."
"No need to hide it. I saw everything earlier."
"What did you see?"
I didn't mention this part because I thought you'd nag me about being indecisive, but it seems I need to tell you about it.
"Master...."
"Her looks are decent and her abilities seem quite good too, but her etiquette education is completely messed up. She seems younger than you too."
"No. Luciel is probably older than you, Master."
"What nonsense are you talking about? Just looking at her face, she seems to be around seventeen or eighteen. Well, in your world you said it's a crime to date someone under twenty, so is she twenty?"
"Twenty what. I don't know exactly either, but I know she's over five hundred Gapja."
"Fi... five hundred Gapja? Then she's over three thousand years old?"
"Yes."
"Ahem, what does age matter? We're clearly in a master-disciple relationship."
After making a fuss about age just moments ago.
Even though he says that, he seems burdened by the fact that she's over three thousand years old.
"If you don't like her, feel free to scold her harshly. While living together, teach her etiquette education along with martial arts training."
That Luciel brat lied without batting an eye, so as revenge I hope Master will drill her hard.
"If she's lived that long, she should know how to handle herself...."
"No. She wasted her years, so mentally she's still a child."
"Is that so? Understood."
***
I woke up to the alarm sound.
Something feels empty.
It wasn't always the case, but sometimes Luciel would shake me awake.
Now I understand the meaning of the saying 'you don't know where you slept, but you know where you got up.'
I was going to give that Luciel brat a flick on the forehead, but I couldn't do it when she glanced at me nervously and said she didn't want to be separated from me.
Uncharacteristically for her, she grabbed my arm and acted cute.
I said I'd drop by every evening if nothing special came up, but when separating, Luciel cried so sadly that it made me feel a bit down too.
Of course, now I've completely adapted well.
Since I can meet her in Luciel's world, not just through portals.
I saw her just yesterday too....
Still, on one hand I think it's fortunate.
During that time, because of the necklace, I couldn't even go to the bathroom freely at school and felt somewhat suffocated, as if I were being monitored.
I washed up briefly, changed clothes, and left the dormitory.
The late summer heat has subsided and the weather has become quite cool.
It seems autumn is slowly approaching.
Just as I was entering the cafeteria, I saw kids from my class standing in line.
"Good morning, everyone."
"Oh? Teacher, hello."
"Hello."
"Teacher, when will the midterm exam results come out?"
The midterms ended yesterday and everyone's excited about the school festival.
"I think they should come out by this afternoon."
"The class rankings will come out together too, right?"
"That's right, but since scores sometimes change due to corrections, you'll have to wait until the day after tomorrow to be certain."
Normally after exams end, you'd forget about them and enjoy yourself, but the kids in my class are particularly interested in grades.
I promised to buy drinks for 3rd place in the midterms, ice cream for 2nd place, and chicken and pizza for 1st place.
At the summer vacation unity competition, I promised that if they took 1st place in the 2nd semester like they did in the 1st semester, I'd take them to a ski resort during winter break.
You need motivation to get results.
Actually, since they took 1st place in the 1st semester, even if they're just average in the 2nd semester, they won't come in last place, so it doesn't matter much.
Seeing everyone's confident expressions, it seems they did quite well.
After eating a hearty breakfast, I came to the faculty office.
I greeted everyone and was doing some grading when it was time for the meeting.
Since the festival starts next Wednesday, there was a lot of festival-related discussion.
"Teacher Kang, tell us now."
"Huh? Tell you what?"
"The cafe theme."
"That's right. What kind of theme cafe is it that you're hiding it so secretively?"
"I sneaked a peek at the proposal from the head of academic affairs' seat, and it just said 'cafe.'"
"Haha...."
I hid it because I couldn't bring myself to say it was a Kang Shin-hyeok theme cafe, but would it be better to tell them?
"You'll all find out on festival day anyway."
"Whatever secret weapon you prepared and strategy you devised, our class will be 1st in sales."
"Come on, Teacher Go's class won't beat our class. Our class even rented a coffee machine used in real cafes."
"If it's used in cafes, it wouldn't fit the budget. How did you rent it?"
"One of our class parents runs a cafe."
"Coffee all tastes the same anyway."
"Does it really?"
There's a subtle war of nerves.
The class with 1st place in sales gets bonus points, but there's no particular merit for the teachers... They really love competition.
"Wait, don't tell me Teacher Kang is planning to bring professional baristas to sell coffee?"
"That's not allowed."
"Right. That's cheating with money."
"Cheating with money?"
"Pressing down with money. It's a school festival, so you should compete with the budget and the students' efforts."
"Does Teacher Jung have the right to say that? You said you rented a coffee machine used in cafes."
"That's not money, but help from a parent. It doesn't apply."
"I think I'll use up all the allocated budget, but I'm not planning to spend extra."
I thought making goods would cost quite a bit of money.
Body pillows are just one item, but mugs and towels come in quite large quantities.
But since Father did it at cost price, it didn't cost that much money.
It's postpaid anyway.
Plus, for things like photo cards, the kids took the pictures themselves and did the laminating themselves, so it cost almost nothing.
Among the products there's a meal ticket with me, but even that isn't me going out to buy food separately, but eating lunch or dinner together in the school cafeteria.
"As expected, our Teacher Kang is fair."
"Haha.... Well then, I'll be going now."
I left the faculty office, leaving behind the bickering teachers.
I was going up to the classroom for morning assembly when I saw Minha and Eunseo along with five other kids from my class carrying large boxes.
"What's that? Who made you run errands?"
Which teacher was bold enough to make my class kids do chores?
"No. This is our class goods."
"The security office said a package came, so we're on our way back from picking it up."
"Ah... I see. There's quite a lot more than I thought?"
"Dad made a little extra for us. And this isn't all of it yet."
"Huh? This isn't everything?"
"Yes. Bulky items like body pillows were sent separately and should arrive around the weekend."
"Why didn't you tell me, I'm sorry...."
"It's okay. Dad said it would be good promotion for his company and he happened to have some leftover inventory."
"I appreciate the sentiment, but what if there's leftover...."
The kids insisted strongly so I went along with it, but I'm worried.
I know I have recognition as the youngest S-rank Hunter, but I'm not an idol.
"That won't happen."
"Right. It won't happen, but just in case there's leftover, I'll buy it all, so don't worry."
"Eunseo, why would you?"
"Right. I'll pay for it, so don't worry."
"N... No. I'll buy it all."
Is it because she suggested it?
I always think this, but Eunseo has such a kind heart.
"Seong Eunseo, are you trying to resell and make money by yourself? I'll buy some too."
"Resell?"
"Selling again. Even if you put it up online at high prices, there'll be tons of people wanting to buy."
"It's not like that."
"It is. You're being petty trying to hoard it all yourself?"
"If there's leftover, we'll sell it at the class level."
Haha.... I thought she was purely offering to buy it for me....
I never even thought there could be such a reason.
Eunseo seems to be more money-minded than she appears.
***
I finished work and returned to the dormitory.
I changed clothes and was about to go to Luciel when my phone rang.
When I checked it, it was Se-jin.
"Hello."
—Teacher, did you finish work?
"Yeah. How about you?"
—I'm on my way home now. Are you going to the portal today too?
"Yeah. Want to come along?"
On the weekend when Master returned, I took Se-jin along to introduce her to Master.
While introducing them, I had to explain the situation.
When I said that both Se-jin and Luciel liked me but I couldn't choose just one person so I decided not to date anyone, I got scolded tremendously.
Not just the first time, but every time we meet he lectures me, saying heroes are lustful and even guys worse than me have three or four wives, asking how long I'll leave the girls lonely, ugh....
I'll have to threaten to control his food again today.
—Yes. I want to come along too.
"Alright. Contact me when you get home."
—Have you eaten dinner?
"No. I was going to eat with Master when I got there. Why?"
—I learned to make LA Galbi at academy yesterday and brought it home. Mom also brought kimchi and side dishes the day before yesterday. Would you like to eat dinner together before we go?
"Sounds good. Thanks to you I'll be eating well. Then I'll get ready and wait... No. I'll wash up and come over right away to help with the setup."
—Ah, yes. I think I'll arrive soon too. The side dish containers all have labels, so you'll see them right away when you open the refrigerator.
I said I understood and hung up.
Humming at the thought of eating a delicious dinner, I washed up and changed clothes.
After checking if I forgot anything and using Warp magic, my view changed instantly.
Is Se-jin not here yet?
Since I've visited Se-jin's house often, I'm quite familiar with it now.
I took out side dishes from the refrigerator and divided them into bowls, took out a grill from the cupboard, washed vegetables, and prepared onions and mushrooms.
Just as I finished all the setup, I heard the sound of entering the door code.
Thinking the timing was perfect, I headed to the entrance.
"Oh my, what a surprise... Ka, Teacher Kang?"
"Why are you here?"
Go... Good heavens. It's not Se-jin, but Se-jin's father Kim Dae-chan and her mother.