Ch 183
Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy
Chapter 183
"Senior Se-jin?"
"Of course. Please sit down."
Ji-hyeon sits next to me, but what was that chill I felt just a moment ago?
I haven't done anything particularly wrong though....
"Is the pretty junior next to me Ji-an, the daughter of Hunter Song Jin-cheol?"
"I'm Ji-an though."
"Huh?"
"I'm Nam Ji-hyeon. Thank you for the compliment about being pretty."
"Ah, so you're Ji-hyeon. Your father is Hunter Nam Il-seong from Bicheon Guild, right? I heard about it."
"You know my father?"
"Huh? Well, I've met him a few times at the association."
She's acting quite skillfully, considering she knows this not because she heard it from Nam Il-seong, but because I told her about it.
But this Se-jin, she's speaking with a smile on her lips, but her eyes aren't like that at all.
Wait, the fact that she mistook Nam Ji-hyeon for Seong Ji-an earlier - could it be that she saw me bickering with Nam Ji-hyeon and misunderstood that we have a good relationship?
It seems like that's probably the case.
It looks like I'll need to do some additional explaining tonight.
"How's the food?"
"It's delicious."
"It seems more delicious than school food."
"It's delicious."
"It's not as good as our Bicheon Guild's, but it's still not bad."
"It seems healthy and really good."
Everyone including me gave positive reviews, but Nam Ji-hyeon and Lee Ji-sung went too far at the end.
I can understand Ji-sung since he's being forced to eat healthy food, but that Nam Ji-hyeon kid really keeps crossing the line.
"Is Bicheon Guild's food that delicious? When I went there for a field trip when I was in school, it wasn't that great. Has it changed recently? I should go check it out next time."
Haha, our Se-jin isn't easy either.
"Chan-seong, should I give you some more bossam?"
"Huh? No, it's okay."
Well-boiled bossam is always welcome, but I declined because Se-jin was watching.
"What do you mean it's okay? Ji-hyeon took all the shrimp."
"No, if it's shrimp, there's paella...."
I declined again, but Ji-an stubbornly put a few more pieces of meat on my tray, and Nam Ji-hyeon, probably noticing the atmosphere, passed over a piece of fried chicken.
"I don't really like chicken, so you eat this."
Even when saying the same thing, the nuance is different - receiving it from this kid feels like I'm being given leftovers.
No, that aside, I'm really too conscious of Se-jin's gaze.
"The junior next to Ji-hyeon has a good appetite. If you need more, just go ask and they'll give you some."
There's a barb in those words.
She's definitely angry.
"Haha...."
I try to laugh it off awkwardly, but Ji-sung and Yu Hye-ji immediately stood up with their trays.
"But only from what you originally received. If you eat both Korean and Western food with one meal ticket, the cafeteria will run at a loss."
They sit back down dejectedly.
"Um... Senior, I have a question. We're not going to do intense exercise like in the morning during the afternoon too, right?"
Nam Ji-hyeon asks a question - it seems like she also found the morning quite painful like me.
"Of course. In the afternoon, we'll mainly do guild tours and simple explanations and promotions. We'll also have quizzes."
"I'm saved."
"Was the morning that bad? We thought a lot and prepared that program because our juniors were coming. Father went there personally too."
"No, it's not that it was bad...."
"It's just a bit...."
"Honestly, I thought we had come to Antiroider Guild."
"Oh my, we modeled it after their system because we thought it was good. It seems like you've been to Antiroider Guild, junior."
"In middle school... for a field trip...."
"Ah, I went to Eleven when I was in middle school. Anyway, we have free time until 2 o'clock after eating, right?"
"Yes. I heard there's a place that sells souvenirs on the first floor, so I was planning to go there."
"The cafe on the first floor near the back entrance has delicious waffles and fresh fruit juice. You all still have room for dessert, right? I'll treat you."
"Really?"
"Senior is the best."
Yu Hye-ji, Seong Ji-an, and Nam Ji-hyeon all brighten up, and it seems like Se-jin gets along better with the kids than I thought.
Well, the age gap isn't that big either.
After finishing our meal, we all took the elevator down to the first floor together.
We arrived at the cafe, ordered juice and snacks, and came to a table to wait, but since it was a maximum 4-person table, we had to split up.
The girls' table right next to us was having such a good time, giggling and chatting with a great atmosphere.
But our table was completely like a Siberian plain with a blizzard raging.
There wasn't a single word of conversation.
The two of them don't get along, but why do I have to be mindful too?
DRURURUK! DRURURUK!
As soon as the vibrating buzzer rang, Do-hyun got up from his seat with the buzzer, and Seong Ji-an followed him.
That Do-hyun kid, I know he dislikes Ji-sung, but his look toward me isn't great either.
Did he think I'm close with Ji-sung because I saved bread for Ji-sung earlier?
"Are you on bad terms with that guy?"
"It's none of your business, so mind your own."
This Ji-sung kid is too prickly too....
After waiting about 10 minutes...
The atmosphere was so bad that I was just sipping my coffee when Se-jin from the next table stood up.
"I have a schedule, so I think I need to go now."
"Stay a bit longer...."
"I need to prepare for the afternoon program too."
"Ah...."
"By the way, is there a junior who could spare some time?"
Having gotten close in the meantime, all the girls were making a fuss about helping.
"It's not a lot of work, just some simple setup, so I don't need everyone... I think one sturdy male student would be enough."
She glances at me - it seems like asking for help is an excuse and she's telling me to come out separately.
"I'll help...."
"I'll do it."
I was about to say I'd help, but Do-hyun suddenly stood up and shouted loudly.
I also immediately stood up and expressed my willingness to help.
"I... I've been seniors fan since two years ago. I have something to tell you and I really want to help."
Was Do-hyun a fan of Se-jin?
And he has something to tell her....
"Oh, really? Then both of you follow me."
No, what is Se-jin doing?
I naturally thought she'd only choose me....
Following Se-jin along with Kim Do-hyun, ripples keep stirring in my heart.
Is this the original story's corrective force?
No, even in the original, Do-hyun and Se-jin meeting was in the second year.
Right now Do-hyun is a first year, and he seems to be on quite good terms with Yu Hye-ji, so I wasn't too worried....
Of course, I know that Se-jin likes me very much, but... I keep worrying.
Unlike the original, Ji-sung revealed early that Yu Hye-ji is his fiancée, so Do-hyun and Se-jin might....
No, that can't be.
I trust Se-jin.
Following Se-jin, we took the elevator and arrived at the 13th floor.
We passed through various spaces and arrived in front of a door with a nameplate saying "Small Conference Room."
"In the afternoon, we'll have simple explanations and education here. What I need you two to help with is taking chairs out of the storage room inside and setting up twenty of them here."
"Yes."
"Chan-seong, you start first, and Do-hyun, right? You said you had something to say. Should we go outside and talk for a moment?"
"Ah, yes."
Se-jin takes Do-hyun outside the small conference room.
I don't know what they're talking about, but Do-hyun didn't even request it separately, so there's no need to move locations....
Haha. What am I thinking right now....
I said I trust Se-jin.
Thinking it's probably nothing important, I move the chairs, but even after setting up all twenty, Do-hyun hasn't returned.
Should I contact Se-jin? I was about to, when I slightly opened the conference room door.
I looked outside, and for a moment I couldn't believe my eyes.
Se-jin was standing close next to Do-hyun, patting his back.
Seeing this scene reminded me of the original story again.
During summer vacation of the second year, Se-jin invites Do-hyun to tackle a portal together.
While conquering it together and having various conversations, Do-hyun opens up about his troubles.
That Yu Hye-ji, whom he'd been having a thing with since first year, was Ji-sung's fiancée.
It's twisted now because of me, but in the original, Ji-sung becomes quite close with Kim Do-hyun by helping solve Do-hyun's poverty.
Se-jin comforts Do-hyun as he anguishes between friendship and love, and their love begins to bud....
Even then, Se-jin patted Do-hyun's back like that while comforting him....
Is this really okay?
***
"What did you want to say? Since you said you're a fan, it's not something disappointing like asking for an autograph, is it?"
"Well, I wanted to express my gratitude. Senior might not know, but that Teacher Kang Shin-hyeok has helped our family a lot."
"Ah! I think I heard about it from the teacher. He said he was personally supporting one talented student in the middle school division. That student was Do-hyun?"
He told senior about it too.
"Yes. Actually, the house our family is living in now was also provided by the teacher, but at the beginning of this year, we were suddenly told we had to move out and we were at a loss. But Teacher Kang had already taken care of everything."
"I think I heard that story from the lawyer too. Our Teacher Kang may look like a scatterbrain on the outside, but he's quite thorough in his preparations. But why to me...? If it's to express gratitude, you should tell the teacher... Ah."
Thinking of Teacher Kang Shin-hyeok, I can't help but feel my eyes getting hot.
"Teacher Kang Shin-hyeok has passed away, but I thought it was proper to express my gratitude to senior, who is the teacher's successor...."
"Is... is that so?"
"The teacher told me there was no need to repay favors or anything like that, that helping other people in difficulty would be repaying the teacher. But I was determined to definitely repay Teacher Kang Shin-hyeok's kindness when I grew up...."
I ended up showing tears.
"I thought you were just handsome, but you have a really kind heart too, junior. As the teacher said, help people in difficulty."
"Of course I plan to do that, but I also want to repay senior."
"Huh? You don't need to go that far...."
"Senior is Teacher Kang Shin-hyeok's lover, aren't you?"
"Uh... huh?"
"I saw senior acting as the chief mourner at the funeral. I also heard that the teacher's will said he'd leave everything to senior."
"That's... true, but...."
"I'll definitely come to Ares after I graduate. Ah, it's absolutely not like asking for connections or anything - I'll work hard and pass fair and square. I definitely want to be helpful to senior and Ares Guild."
"Really? I'll cheer you on."
***
"So that's what it was about."
After hearing the story, it seems like I was worrying unnecessarily.
Most importantly, if he thinks of Se-jin as my lover, there's absolutely no reason to worry.
Kind and innocent Do-hyun would never covet his benefactor's woman.
"The kid seems really nice. And handsome too."
Huh?
"Handsome?"
"He's handsome enough to be an actor. Isn't he popular at school?"
Even if Do-hyun doesn't try to seduce her, Se-jin might fall for... No, that can't be.
Se-jin's face is full of mischief as she speaks - it seems like she's doing this on purpose.
"He is popular. Why, are you interested?"
"If I said I was interested, would you introduce me?"
I responded jokingly, but seeing her take it even further, she's really upset.
"You're doing this because of the cafeteria incident earlier, right? It's a misunderstanding. I already told you about Seong Ji-an. I'm hanging out with Nam Ji-hyeon because she's Ji-an's friend, and she and I have the worst compatibility."
"What do you mean worst...? Even while bickering, you two looked very close. Most importantly, does it make sense to give chicken to someone you don't get along with?"
"It was just one piece. She took three of my shrimp."
"What? She did? I thought... she was giving it because she likes the teacher...."
Phew, it seems like the misunderstanding has been cleared up.
"You complimented Do-hyun on purpose, right?"
"He is handsome though. That Seong Ji-an girl who said she likes the teacher seemed more interested in Do-hyun than the teacher."
Hearing this, Seong Ji-an didn't bother me much today.
I hope it continues like that... No, wait. This Se-jin kid keeps saying he's handsome until the end.
The misunderstanding has all been cleared up, but I think she's going too far, so I glare at Se-jin, and she approaches me.
And then she hugs me tightly.
"Since we're similar height, you're nice to hug."
"What are you doing? What if someone sees?"
"What does it matter?"
What does it matter... This girl is really stubborn, I think, and at that moment she whispers in my ear.
"No matter how handsome he is, it's all meaningless. In my eyes, teacher looks the most handsome, and I only have eyes for teacher."