Ch 184
Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy
Chapter 184
It feels like just yesterday that I entered school as a new student, but it's already May. Time really flies.
May, when bright spring shows off its momentum as the final stretch toward summer.
True to the saying that it's the month of family, there are many events including Children's Day as a holiday, Parents' Day, and even Teachers' Day.
However, May is precisely the month that students don't entirely welcome.
"Everyone worked hard receiving lessons today. You know next week is midterm exams, right? Study a bit over the weekend."
"Yes."
Because there are midterm exams in May.
"Chan-seong, want to study together over the weekend? I reserved a study room."
Our Hunter School has study rooms separate from the self-study rooms.
It must have been tough to get a reservation since it's exam period, but they managed to secure one.
"I'm more comfortable studying alone."
"Don't be so stuck-up and come out. The other kids all agreed to come too."
Even Nam Ji-hyeon is being bothersome.
"Other kids? Who else is coming?"
"Do-hyun and Hye-ji. Me, Ji-an, and you."
"Student council members."
Everyone became close after going on that field trip together.
Ah, of course Lee Ji-sung is excluded.
"Since we are all top students, studying together will be helpful for you."
I know they're all honor students, but honestly I'm not really interested in exams.
I don't really know what Min Chan-seong's past grades were like, but since it's Kang Shin-hyeok who got first place even at the training center.
"Sorry."
If I put my mind to it, couldn't I get perfect scores in all subjects?
Of course, I have absolutely no intention of actually doing that.
If I pulled something like that, it would draw tremendous aggro.
"I went to the trouble of thinking of you and making this proposal, so just regret it later when you see your report card."
I was planning to do moderately average, but should I do better than that Nam Ji-hyeon kid and flatten her nose?
"I'll handle it myself, and if you're going to do it with student council members, why don't you include Ji-sung?"
"Say something that makes sense. What kind of studying would a delinquent like that do."
Actually, what concerns me more than the midterm exams is Lee Ji-sung.
Even though we're almost halfway through the first semester, he still doesn't get along well with Do-hyun.
Rather, it seems their relationship got even worse after Yu Hye-ji came out about being his fiancée.
Of course, since coming to high school, he hasn't caused any incidents, solved the hidden camera incident at the beginning of the semester, and joined the student council, recovering his image quite a bit...
He still doesn't have anyone he's close with and feels like an outsider even in class.
"I saw at the dormitory that he studies hard in the self-study room every day? Since he's a fellow student council member, we should look after him a bit..."
"You're really kind-hearted. Even if you don't have memories, still. I heard he bullied you terribly..."
"Since I don't even have memories, there's no need to hold onto it, right? These days he doesn't cause trouble and lives diligently."
"What a saint you've become. I hate him. If he comes, I won't go."
"I also think Lee Ji-sung is a bit..."
Indeed, his karma is too great.
"Still, isn't ostracizing him because of past events a bit wrong?"
"What are you saying. It's all self-inflicted."
It's not wrong.
Lee Ji-sung, who didn't commit those acts himself, must feel truly wronged, but there's nothing to be done.
Doesn't that Lee Ji-sung bastard intend to change perceptions?
He must know well that his situation isn't good, so why isn't he doing anything?
He's definitely not the type to just stay still like this...
"Let's go to the student council room."
"Why did they call us today?"
"Since there's Parents' Day and Teachers' Day in May, aren't they probably going to explain events like that?"
"We'll know when we go."
"Right. Let's go."
***
"Moving? What do you mean?"
Thanks to the contract the teacher left last time, I was told we could continue living there until Yeon-ji becomes an adult...
—...I was scammed.
About two weeks ago, a new person joined mother's workplace, and since they were similar in age and had a good personality, they quickly became close.
As they spent time together, she learned about our family situation, and since it was quite difficult, she said she also did insurance sales.
So she said she would get insurance for me, and when she said to entrust her with the seal and ID card and she'd bring them back tomorrow after handling everything, mother entrusted them to her, but she hasn't come to the company since that day.
She couldn't be contacted either, and just when mother was worrying, a loan notice arrived at home the day before yesterday.
Upon investigation, the colleague who said she'd get insurance had used the seal and ID card to take out a bank loan.
She immediately reported it to the police and visited the bank, but since the seal and ID card belonged to mother, relief was difficult...
Not only bank debt but apparently private loans too, because when she came home with Yeon-ji a little while ago, loan sharks were waiting.
They say the scammer woman left for the Philippines and is hard to catch.
To pay off the debts, she's planning to turn the house we're living in into a rental and use that deposit to put out the urgent fire...
—I'm sorry. Mom was stupid...
"Ah, no. It's not mom's fault, the scammer is the bad one..."
—...I'll send you the address when we move.
She spoke with a completely powerless voice, and I tried to say once more that it wasn't mother's fault, but mother hung up the phone.
The rental deposit will have to be returned when the term ends later...
No, that aside, can the rental deposit really solve all the debts?
I'm so worried remembering the loan sharks who kept coming to bother mom since childhood.
If it were vacation, I could at least work part-time to help, but the reality that I can't do anything right now is so frustrating and overwhelming.
If Teacher Kang Shin-hyeok were here at times like this...
"Do-hyun? Do-hyun!"
"Huh? Yeah, Hye-ji."
"What's wrong, I called you for a while but you didn't respond. Let's go to the student council room. They told us to come after homeroom today."
"Ah, right... We should go."
***
"Secretary Jung, is what I asked for last time all finished?"
—Yes. I proceeded as you instructed. But... um, Young Master, it would be more comfortable to just call me casually like before...
"This is more comfortable."
—Ah, yes.
"The work was handled cleanly, right?"
—Of course. I even confirmed that the loan sharks visited today.
"Loan sharks? I think I'm hearing about that for the first time."
—Kim Do-hyun's mother's current house is quite expensive. Well, it's not hers, but anyway. So it seemed difficult to completely ruin her with just bank debt, so I also had her borrow some money from loan sharks.
Still, loan sharks seem a bit too much, but well, it should be fine.
"I see. So what's the current situation?"
—She said she'd vacate the house, turn it into a rental, and use the deposit to pay off debts. But even giving all the deposit wouldn't cover the principal, and private loan debt originally never ends no matter how much you pay...
"That's enough. I understand. So is it all finished now?"
—They're such ruthless guys that we could end it here, but they seem to be looking for a house to move to now, so if we bribe the real estate agent to commit fraud, it would be completely finished...
Doesn't Secretary Jung have any blood or tears?
Of course, I was the one who first asked him to make Kim Do-hyun's family a bit difficult, but I don't think we need to go that far.
"I don't think we need to go that far. Just wait until I give additional instructions."
—Understood.
If we push too hard and something happens to someone in Kim Do-hyun's family, it would be irreversible.
Honestly, I didn't want to go this far either, but I had no choice.
This is all because of that other possessor named Kang Shin-hyeok.
If that bastard hadn't helped Kim Do-hyun, I would have helped Kim Do-hyun myself and recovered our relationship.
Not only Kang Shin-hyeok but Kim Do-hyun himself bears some responsibility.
If he had gotten along nicely, I wouldn't have gone this far.
Whenever I approached him friendly and extended my hand, he should have pretended to be reluctant and accepted it, but since he completely ignored me, I had no other choice.
If he weren't the protagonist in the first place, I wouldn't have cared either.
Well, whatever.
Now all preparations are finished.
You're doing well enough that you don't need my help?
Then I'll just make it so you need help.
When I entered the student council room, the seniors aren't here yet since they're not visible, and Kim Do-hyun and Yu Hye-ji aren't here either, just our class trio.
I felt gazes briefly turn toward me, but they're soon busy talking among themselves.
"Chan-seong, let's do it together."
"I said I'm more comfortable alone."
"Don't regret it after failing the exam and just nicely do it together."
"I'll probably do better than you."
"What? Hey, want to make a bet?"
That Min Chan-seong bastard really bothered me at first, but seeing that he still has no memories, I don't think I need to worry anymore.
I once suspected whether he might be pretending while actually remembering, but I completely dismissed my suspicions when I saw him give me bread during the last field trip.
If it were an act, there's no way he'd look after someone who used to bully him.
"What kind of bet?"
Seong Ji-an, who's popular in class and gets along well with Nam Ji-hyeon - quite a few guys are envious seeing that, but for me who knows the future, it's not particularly meaningful.
Anyway, both Nam Ji-hyeon and Seong Ji-an are heroines.
Even if they get along well with Min Chan-seong like that now, it's meaningless.
When they become in the same class as Kim Do-hyun in their second year, they'll all fall head over heels for Kim Do-hyun.
Not even waiting until second year, just looking at the last field trip, both Seong Ji-an and Nam Ji-hyeon seemed to already have developed interest in Kim Do-hyun.
Both Seong Ji-an and Nam Ji-hyeon are quite decent, befitting heroines.
Since they extremely hate me, it would be hard for me to woo them, but if I were Min Chan-seong right now, I probably would have swept Seong Ji-an off her feet and made her my woman.
Nam Ji-hyeon also bickers a lot with Min Chan-seong but seems to be secretly interested.
Tsk tsk, foolish guy.
Well, since he was probably lying in the hospital continuously, maybe it's because he has no dating experience.
I think it's not something I need to worry about in the first place, and I'm checking the time when I hear the door opening and Kim Do-hyun and Yu Hye-ji enter.
Yu Hye-ji clinging close to Kim Do-hyun's side doesn't please me much, but seeing Kim Do-hyun's expression, the corners of my mouth unconsciously try to rise.
He looks completely devastated, so he must have heard news from his mom.
"You're here?"
"Guys, this Min Chan-seong bastard says he won't study together over the weekend. He's being arrogant saying he doesn't need help from you guys."
"Don't make up words. When did I say that? I just said I'm more comfortable alone."
"If you're comfortable alone, just let him do it alone."
"Still, it would be good if we all did it together. Since we're all student council members. We could also build camaraderie while we're at it."
"Seems like studying isn't the purpose."
"I said 'while we're at it.' Among fellow student council members..."
"Speaking of student council, there's one more person over there."
At Min Chan-seong's words, everyone looks at me.
Even without memories, he must have heard from other kids that I bullied him a lot.
Like with the last field trip, he has a feeling of subtly looking after me.
I really don't know what he's thinking...
"What kind of studying would Lee Ji-sung do. He wouldn't do it even if asked."
"Forget it."
"Me neither."
"Why are you all like this. He listens to classes diligently and asks lots of questions. Last time at the dormitory self-study room, he was studying really hard by himself."
"So what. His grades are completely terrible."
"Last time he couldn't pass the magic test and had to take a makeup exam."
I know my image is trash, but isn't it still a bit much to openly criticize someone like this with the person right in front of you?
I'm thinking it's too much when Min Chan-seong approaches.
"That's why we should help him a bit. Ji-sung, want to study with us over the weekend?"
"Huh?"
"Hey!"
"Min Chan-seong, you really..."
"Aren't you guys the ones being really too much? The study room is available for up to 6 people anyway. If we include Ji-sung, I'll join too. Lee Ji-sung, let's do it together."
I really don't understand why this guy looks after me like this.
Is he really a pushover?