Ch 148
Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy
Chapter 148
My body feels as heavy as a thousand pounds.
Today I wanted to rest deeply, forget about portals and everything, but Se-jin called me earlier asking to go to a portal.
If I don't go, Luciel will nag me endlessly, so I had no choice but to use warp magic to Se-jin's house.
"Good evening."
"You look particularly tired today."
"I was busy all day. I'm never running a cafe again. No, I should either not do it or not be a homeroom teacher."
"You were worried, but business went well, I see?"
"Don't even mention it. There were so many people."
I smiled while taking photos as service all day, and now my mouth is cramping.
While preparing for the cafe, I bought 5 days' worth of coffee and 3 days' worth of ingredients like bread and waffle materials in advance.
But even after selling all the pre-bought ingredients, we ran out of materials in the middle and had to borrow from other classes, and even that sold out completely.
"There were that many?"
"Yeah. Later, when I said we were out of coffee and drinks, there were even people asking if they could just reserve goods by paying money."
Of course, I couldn't go that far, so I apologized and sent them away.
Since I don't even have materials to sell tomorrow, I had to take the kids out in the evening to buy more ingredients and discuss additional goods production.
Not only that, but as the supplementary instructor, I had to go watch the martial arts tournament in the middle.
It was probably the busiest day at school.
Still, from tomorrow I decided to sell only a fixed amount and close early, so it should be better.
"Um... Teacher, then if I go on the weekend, I can't get the goods?"
"That's not necessarily true. Things like mugs and towels will be delivered by quick service tomorrow morning."
"What about those pillows and photo books?"
"Those are a bit difficult to remake, so I can't distribute them on the day."
Se-jin looks disappointed.
"But I decided to draw 2 people daily and send them later anyway."
"That's a relief. Um... Teacher, could I possibly purchase them separately?"
Now that I see it, was Se-jin also after the goods?
"There's nothing wrong with that, but it'll take some time."
Originally, if they didn't sell, I was going to ask this girl to buy some, but they sold well so I didn't mention it.
"I'm planning to go and wait from 8 AM on Saturday, but if I can't buy any, I'll ask you."
"O... Okay."
***
"Thank you for waiting. Now let's begin the long-awaited 2024 Martial Arts Tournament finals!"
It's not as much as last year, but broadcasting stations came to film and there are quite a lot of people.
"I'll be going."
"Seong Eunseo, you can do it! You've been doing well all this time. You know teacher always believes in you, right? Fighting!"
After encouraging her, Eunseo bows her head to me in greeting and goes up to the dueling ground first.
"Teacher, please cheer for me too."
"Huh? Right. Eunsu too. I'm looking forward to a great match."
"That's mean."
"What's mean?"
"Your cheering tone is different for Eunseo and me. You're only cheering for Eunseo because she's in your class. Boo."
"That can't be. Just hurry up and go up."
Actually, my pick was Jinsu, who came to supplementary classes even during the festival period and worked hard.
But he met Eunsu in the semifinals and was unfortunately defeated, so the finals became a match between the Eunseo and Eunsu sisters.
The festival is almost over now.
"Teacher Kang, who do you think will win?"
Teacher Park asks from beside me.
"Well. Their skills are similar. Whoever is more desperate will probably win."
If I had to choose between the two, it's true that I lean more toward Eunseo as Eunsu said, but Eunsu is also my student, just in a different class, so I don't care who wins.
"Whoever wins, they're both from the swordsmanship class, so this year's WHCU is set too."
"That's right."
"This year is America, right? Lucky. Getting to travel abroad every year."
"Come on... Teacher Park, what are you saying like that. It's not like Teacher Kang is going to play, and there will be a lot to worry about. Right, and he has to do supplementary classes during vacation too."
Teacher Jung beside us scolds Teacher Park.
Come to think of it, I have to do supplementary classes during vacation again...
"Well, that's true."
"Teacher Kang, can we do patriotic betting this year too?"
"Patriotic betting?"
"Why are you pretending not to know? I'm talking about WH Toto."
"Well. The winner hasn't been decided yet and I haven't analyzed other opponents' strength, so I don't know yet."
I really don't know.
Whichever of Eunsu and Eunseo goes up, they're not at a level where I can guarantee victory.
If Se-jin hadn't learned martial arts last year, she would have lost to Bianca, but even excluding martial arts, both of their skills are somewhat lacking compared to Se-jin.
Of course, if I teach them martial arts like Se-jin, winning wouldn't be difficult, but is there a need to do that?
I taught Se-jin martial arts because I made a bet with Kim Dae-chan.
I could do the same this time and make a lot of money again with WH Toto, but honestly, I don't think I lack money even now, so it's ambiguous.
I think I need to consider this part a bit more while watching the match, and it looks like the outcome will be decided soon.
At a glance, it looks even or slightly in Eunseo's favor, but Eunseo is advantageous by about 20 times, not slightly.
That Eunsu, she said she wouldn't go easy in the tournament but she's still not giving her all.
On the other hand, Eunseo is giving her all as always.
As expected, not long after, Eunseo knocked away Eunsu's sword with her sword and confirmed her victory.
When there's not much difference in skill to begin with, if the mindset is different, the result is obvious without watching.
After watching the award ceremony and interviews, I returned to the classroom.
It's not as much as the first day, but there's still a long line and the classroom is packed.
"Teacher, how did the finals go?"
"How did it go? Our Eunseo won."
"Wow!"
"Amazing!"
"As expected of our vice representative!"
All the kids who couldn't go watch because the cafe was too busy are happy as if it were their own achievement.
"Then our class is confirmed as the best class, right?"
"Yay! Ski resort during winter vacation!"
If you win the martial arts tournament, the class with the winner gets a whopping 30 additional points.
Sales are naturally first place too.
"It's not certain yet, so you shouldn't be too complacent."
We got 60 points so we're ahead, but there's still a lot left until vacation, and there are still practicals and final exams.
Like other days, I take photos and give autographs to customers who visited the cafe, providing fan service, so I'm busy.
"Teacher, shouldn't you go now?"
Checking the time, it's already 5 o'clock.
"You're right. I'll be back."
Business is until 6, but I left the classroom, briefly stopped by the dormitory, and then headed to the auditorium.
Because I need to rehearse for the festival performance on the last day of the festival.
The vice principal said he'd excuse me if I wanted, but I decided to do it in the end.
The other teachers already know I'm doing it, so if I change it late, there will be talk... No, 100% there will be.
Anyway, I can't say I have no responsibility for Teacher Kim leaving the school, so I don't completely not understand the vice principal's position.
Well, I got a promise that he won't retaliate petty like in the future, so that's enough.
It's still awkward with the vice principal.
We don't completely avoid talking, but we don't talk about anything besides work.
Honestly, I don't think much of it, but the vice principal seems very uncomfortable with me and said he won't accompany this year's WHCU tournament either.
There are quite a lot of people when I arrive at the auditorium.
"Oh? Teacher Kang, you came early."
It's Teacher Min, who's in charge of the festival performance.
"The festival rehearsal starts at 5..."
"Teacher Kang's turn is later, so you could have come slowly."
"It's fine. I'll watch and wait."
There are many students in flashy costumes, probably dance performance teams, and teachers who came to perform like me.
The first-year representatives are three people including Teacher Jung, who's in charge of first-year swordsmanship.
They're all newcomers this year, so they probably got stuck like me, but their expressions are full of confidence.
What the first-year teachers prepared is an idol cover dance.
I saw them practice during supplementary classes a few times, and they all danced quite well.
The third-year representative is a magic show.
Watching them practice, they make birds with fire, rabbits with water, and it bursts in the air spreading like fireworks.
It's quite visually spectacular, but from a Hunter's perspective, it's not that amazing.
"I guess the singers aren't here yet?"
Usually singers come to university festivals, not high school festivals, but Hunter schools are different.
They receive sponsorship from major domestic corporations, so they have incomparably more money than most universities.
I heard quite popular girl groups and boy groups came last year too.
Of course, I couldn't watch because I was managing entry at the school gate.
"Do you like singers too, Teacher Kang?"
"No, well... I don't have any particular favorite singers, just..."
"Singers don't rehearse. They're professionals. They're people whose time is money too. They just come, sing only the contracted songs, and leave."
"That makes sense."
I thought I could watch closely if they rehearsed, so I'm a bit disappointed.
"Teacher Kang was singing, right?"
"Ah, yes."
"I can hear the legendary song that's been famous among the kids."
"Who said such things? What legend..."
"All the kids were saying that. That you destroyed the 2nd school with an unaccompanied self-composed song at last year's retreat."
"Destroyed is too much..."
"You're being modest. They said you did it live without even playing accompaniment. I'm looking forward to it."
"I only did that because I didn't have time to record separately, so don't put too much pressure on me."
Even though I say this, I actually practiced really hard.
Even though I'm doing this because I was forced to, I don't want to be embarrassed.
Sitting and tuning the guitar while watching other teams' performances, my turn came.
I sang lightly to match the settings and came down, but Teacher Min approaches.
"The settings should be fine if you do it like you did at the end..."
"The settings aren't the problem... Teacher Kang, I was really surprised. I can see why the kids called it legendary."
I practiced a lot and sang lightly, focusing only on settings, but I'm a bit embarrassed.
"You're being too kind."
"Come on, you're too modest. That song just now was self-composed, right? Was it the song you sang before?"
"No. It's a different song."
The Muse song is good too, but I prepared a different song this time.
"I want to hear the other song too. Do you have any thoughts of doing two songs?"
"What? No, that's a bit... Actually, I didn't want to come out either. Since it's a festival performance, shouldn't the students get attention?"
Whether it's one or two songs doesn't make a big difference, but the teachers' participation is just for show.
I think the students should be the protagonists of the festival.
"Come on, where's that? Teachers are also legitimate school members. It's not a Hunter school student festival, but a school festival."
Now that I hear it, it's not completely unreasonable...
"Everyone was staring in fascination. I think there will be a lot of encores."
"Haha... Then the time would be too..."
"How many minutes does singing one more song take? You don't even have audio files, so no separate preparation is needed. Then I'll think you can do two songs."
"No..."
"Teacher Min, let's start the next rehearsal."
"Huh? Just a moment. Personally, I think three songs would be fine too."
I was going to say it's difficult, but she only says what she wants to say and leaves.
I don't think my songs will be that popular when even real singers are coming...
Well, does it matter?
I'll only do more if there are encores anyway.
After watching other students' rehearsals and helping with the proceedings, the students helping with the proceedings said those who finished rehearsing should wait in the waiting room behind the stage set up on the playground, so I left the auditorium.
When I arrived at the stage set up on the playground, I saw several tents behind it.
Is that the waiting room?
There happened to be an A4 paper labeled "waiting room," so I tried to enter, but it's too noisy inside.
Wondering if there's a quieter place, I entered a tent in the corner.
There's no one here and it's perfect, so I try to look at my phone, but it's too noisy outside.
"Sister Sia, you're so cool!"
"Sister Eunryu, you're so pretty!"
I guess the singers who are supposed to perform have arrived.
I try to go out to watch too, but the tent opens and women rush in with some man.
Looking at their flashy outfits, they seem to be the girl group performing today.
"Brother, there's someone inside."
"Who are you? We were told this is our girls' exclusive waiting room."
"Is that so? I came in without knowing..."
"What do you mean you don't know, you malicious stalker!"
Without properly listening to what I'm saying, his hand comes at me first.