Ch 166
Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy
Chapter 166
"You really met Lumiel?"
"Yeah. Blood doesn't lie, she loves chocolate bars just like you do."
I was about to mention how suspicious she was and how we almost got into a fight, but I held back thinking it would just make her more upset.
Anyway, I managed to talk things through well... Wait. This girl had lied to me.
"What did Lumiel say... What? Why are you looking at me with those eyes?"
"She told me to be careful because our sister is a liar."
"I, I'm not a liar. That little brat Lumiel was talking nonsense."
Looking at how she's stuttering, she must feel guilty about something.
I used invisibility magic to exit Hell's Gate and immediately used warp magic to come to Korea.
When I checked the time, two days had passed just like Lumiel said.
As soon as I arrived at the portal where Master and Luciel were, I sent a message using Se-jin's phone that I had prepared beforehand to tell them I was back.
They said they were extremely worried, so I apologized and came to the portal where Master was.
I thought not only Se-jin but also Master and Luciel would scold me, but fortunately I didn't get in too much trouble.
Well, they say it's because they trust me, but I think it's because Se-jin supplied them with provisions from time to time.
If they had run out of chocolate bars or ramen, there would have been chaos.
"Shin-hyeok, Shin-hyeok, so does this mean we can stay together from now on?"
"Not forever, but for the time being."
"Why just for the time being? Don't they think you're dead in the world?"
"I can't live like that."
I pointed at Master who was lying on the bed eating potato chips while watching TV.
At my words, Luciel nodded her head then suddenly ran to Master with a mischievous expression.
"Master! Shin-hyeok says you're pathetic!"
"Hey!"
"Pathetic? My body was feeling stiff anyway, so let's have a sparring match."
I said never mind and quickly ran away, exiting the portal.
I didn't fake my death to spend my days idly like Master, wasting time away.
When I went to a place where I could get a phone signal and searched the internet, there was complete chaos with articles about my presumed death.
It's presumed death, but in reality it's no different from actual death.
No one has ever returned from Hell's Gate.
The public's reaction is generally that it was foolish, but there are also many people who highly regard the courage to take on the challenge without backing down like other S-rank Hunters.
Well, I'm not particularly concerned about it.
It's noisy now, but since I'm already dead anyway, interest will soon fade.
I'm more worried about the people around me than what the public thinks.
Especially the students in my class, the swordsmanship class students, and the teachers I was close with - they must all be shocked...
Well, there's nothing I can do about it.
It's not something I can tell anyone.
Among the pouring articles, there's also one saying the Hunter Association is discussing whether to hold my funeral as a Hunter's funeral.
Since I'm an orphan with no one to hold a funeral for me, that's probably why such talk is coming up, but didn't they contact my lawyer?
Since Se-jin is the one inheriting all my assets, Se-jin decided to take charge of everything.
I don't know what they'll do anyway since there's no body.
Maybe they'll just hang up a photo and have people bow?
I'm definitely planning to attend the funeral anyway.
There's an old saying that when a dog dies in a minister's house, many mourners come, but when the minister himself dies, there are no mourners.
I didn't fake my death specifically to filter out such people, but still, if there are people who cut ties with me thinking I'm dead, it would be good to know.
Will not many people come like the old saying?
I don't think I lived that poorly toward the people around me...
I can't stay at the funeral the whole time, so I should ask Se-jin to show me the attendee list separately later.
That should be okay, right?
Se-jin is really going through a lot of trouble.
I haven't even seen her face yet.
She said she would stop by the portal briefly at dawn to check if I was okay.
Coming to Korea to hold the funeral and having to proceed with the inheritance procedures too.
I caused the trouble but I feel a bit sorry for dumping all the cleanup on Se-jin.
***
Two days have passed since I faked my death.
I met Se-jin in between and got hit on the back several times... Her skills must have improved because her hands were quite harsh.
I checked my changed appearance once and came out of the hideout to catch a taxi.
"Where to?"
"Please take me to Seoul Medical Center Gangnam Funeral Hall."
"Got it. You must be going to pay respects."
"Ah, yes."
After driving for about 20 minutes, we arrived at the funeral hall.
Starting today, Kang Shin-hyeok's funeral will be held here.
It's the first day but there are quite a lot of cars and people, so I barely got out of the taxi.
Well, they might not all be my mourners.
Once I went inside, I saw many familiar faces.
The first thing that catches my eye is Se-jin wearing black mourning clothes.
That girl Se-jin looks quite sad even though she knows I'm not dead.
Her eyes seem a bit swollen as if she even cried, her acting is really amazing.
When I saw her last time, she wasn't sad enough so I was worried about getting caught, so I told her to think that I really died, and that seemed to help?
Actually, after saying that, she hit me two more times on the back asking what kind of thing was that to say.
Well, whether she used eye drops or whatever, her acting is really amazing.
The line is quite long so I tried to find the condolence money box first... Huh?
"Excuse me, are you not accepting condolence money?"
"No. Se-jin, who's acting as the chief mourner, said she wouldn't accept condolence money. You can just leave your name in the guest book over there."
She's probably worried about creating an image of taking money when she's not even direct family, but it's a bit disappointing.
Not that I need the money, but I was thinking of seeing who gave how much and taking care of them a bit more later.
But it's good that they're keeping a guest book at least.
Just coming is grateful enough.
I went to the place the funeral director pointed to and wrote in the guest book, but I couldn't think of a suitable name so I wrote Master's name.
I need to light incense and bow, but there's quite a line.
The strange thing is that these are people who came to my funeral, but I don't recognize most of their faces.
I can see a few students I know, but I don't recognize most of the adults.
Ah, could it be that?
Se-jin said she would allow anyone who wanted to mourn the deceased to come as long as they were properly dressed, and I said okay, so that's probably why.
They must be my SNS followers who helped during the festival.
I was quite popular.
It's only 6 o'clock now, so office workers will come after getting off work.
It's finally my turn to light incense and bow, and I feel really strange.
"Stay strong."
I said a word to Se-jin who was acting grief-stricken and was about to find a corner seat when I was startled.
Kim Dae-chan and his wife were also with Se-jin.
I might not have expected his wife, but I didn't expect even Kim Dae-chan to wear mourning clothes like this.
He didn't make a sad expression like Se-jin, but just being here like this is really...
I felt even stranger.
I sat in a corner watching people, and while funeral food was prepared, most people just paid their respects and left right away.
Still, there were some people like me who sat down, so I quietly ate peanuts and waited, and gradually I began to see familiar faces.
There were students from our school that I saw earlier, and there were also staff from the honorary director's secretary office.
Since the association is in Gangnam, they seemed to have stopped by right after work.
Director Seo I-gyeong also came, and after waiting a bit more, Teacher Park and other faculty members came too.
Director Seo and association staff just paid their respects and left immediately, but Teacher Park and other teachers I was close with took seats next to me.
"I really didn't think Teacher Kang would go so futilely like this..."
"Me too."
"I can't believe it. Really..."
Teacher Park and the others are originally people full of playfulness and vitality no less than students, but the atmosphere is quite heavy.
"I was going to go to that really delicious conger eel place together when school starts..."
...It's such a typical thing for Teacher Park to say that it's funny but also somehow sad.
If I go back to being Kang Shin-hyeok later, I'll have to drink with them to my heart's content.
I got up to go to the bathroom briefly when I heard crying from the place where people bow.
"Teacher..."
"How can you leave like this..."
"You were supposed to teach us in third year. I said I wanted to be in your class..."
It turns out it's the kids from my class.
Some are crying and some are trying to hide their tears with their sleeves.
Seeing the kids who were always mischievous looking sad makes me feel a bit choked up too.
Those brats...
Gradually, I began to see many familiar people.
Jinsu and Minhee also came and shed tears before leaving.
Seo-ra also came with a dazed expression and wailed loudly before leaving.
Watching these scenes continuously made me think I shouldn't have come, and I was about to leave when Eunsu and Eunseo came with their parents.
The parents and Eunsu lit incense with sad expressions, bowed and left, but Eunseo kept staring blankly at my portrait photo.
"Eunseo, let's get up now."
"I can't believe it... How could Teacher..."
"..."
"Teacher, this isn't right, is it? This can't be happening. What kind of person is Teacher... You promised me. You said we'd go play together when we got back to Korea. But why..."
She shed tears like chicken droppings and then collapsed right there.
I sent internal energy to my ears to maximize my hearing and secretly listened to the parents talking with Se-jin from the side, and they said she hasn't been eating since the news of my death came out.
Come to think of it, I said we'd go to an amusement park together if she won, and she said okay...
I thought it was no big deal and forgot about it, but I couldn't keep the promise...
Other students are students too, but it hurts more with Eunseo because I spent the most time with her before faking my death.
Even though it was because of supplementary lessons, we were together almost every day, we went to America together too, and she's a kid I spent 2 years of teaching life with, not just supplementary lessons.
When she collapsed, everyone around made a fuss, but fortunately there were many magicians at the venue so she quickly regained consciousness after they took measures.
Her father helped Eunseo up and left, and I hope she doesn't hurt too much.
The funeral director also seems to be giving me hints by glancing at me since I've been occupying a seat since early.
Honestly, I can't watch anymore either...
There are still more people I haven't seen, but I can check the list later or ask Se-jin anyway.
I thought I shouldn't come at all tomorrow and got up from my seat.
Where did I put my shoes... Huh?
It's the Vice Principal and Teacher Kim.
I thought I might leave without seeing them...
The Vice Principal is the same as usual, but Teacher Kim looks completely haggard.
"Let's go in."
"I... I can't go."
"Why are you doing this after coming all this way?"
"It's because of me... If I hadn't foolishly quit school, Teacher Kang wouldn't have made such a reckless challenge..."
When we talked on the phone, I clearly told her it wasn't because of her that I was taking on the challenge, but she still seems to think that way...
"Teacher Kang also said it wasn't because of you, Seon-hwa."
"Even if he said that..."
She just sat down on the spot, and I almost went over to help her up without realizing it.
"Seon-hwa, no. Teacher Kang was always progressive and loved challenges."
Did... Did I?
I thought I was a peace-loving person who just hoped each day would pass safely without incident...
"Teacher Kang would have taken on the challenge even if it wasn't for you. Teacher Kang said so too. So let's go. We need to go greet him and send him off."
The Vice Principal helped Teacher Kim up.
Fortunately, she got up and entered the funeral hall, and she seems to be crying as much as Choi Seo-ra.
I can't see her but I can hear everything.
If I keep listening to the crying, I think my heart will weaken, so I left the funeral hall.
As I came out, I saw that many cars were still coming in and I could see many familiar students and parents.
I lived as Kang Shin-hyeok for exactly 2 years.
It wasn't a very long time, but I don't think I lived that short life poorly.