Ch 188
Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy
Chapter 188
The first time I noticed it was when we were leaving the amusement park.
I was on high alert to avoid running into the kids again, but instead of the kids, I discovered someone following behind us.
At first I thought it was my imagination, but they followed us to the movie theater, cafe, and even the restaurant we just left, so I'm 100% certain.
But this girl has no intention of coming out obediently and is ignoring me.
They definitely heard me.
I had no choice but to turn around and approach the guy who was pretending not to know and playing dumb.
"You're Eunsu senior, right?"
With a mask and cap pulled down low so only the eyes are visible, but I've been teaching this girl for years.
This much can't fool my eyes.
"AHEM, what are you talking about?"
They deny it with a clumsily disguised voice, but it's too sloppy.
"Senior, it seems you don't have much talent for either tailing or acting."
Thinking they can't shake it off, they finally take off the mask and hat.
"Yeah, it's me. But tailing? I just had business nearby..."
"Making excuses like that now has no persuasive power at all. I knew you were following us from the amusement park in the first place."
"..."
They've become like a mute who ate honey.
I can roughly guess why Eunsu followed us like this.
Since everyone knows she's a siscon, she must have followed because she was worried about Eunseo.
I even warned her last time.
It's not that I completely don't understand, but secretly tailing us like this seems a bit wrong.
"Senior, this is a bit much. Even if you're sisters, you're the same age. She clearly has a private life."
"Sorry. This won't happen again next time."
It's somewhat unexpected that she apologizes so readily.
I thought she'd warn me like last time.
Still, I can't believe her words that this won't happen again.
But since she apologized readily, I can't press her further.
She did tail us, but she didn't interfere or cause harm.
"If this happens again next time, I'll tell Eunseo senior."
"Got it. Really, this won't happen again. Instead, let me ask just one question."
"A question?"
"What are your feelings toward Eunseo?"
What feelings...
"Earlier during the day at NutdaeWorld when you met the other student council kids, I heard Eunseo say you're in a 'some' relationship too. Also that she asked you out first."
Were... were you there then too?
Well, if you've been tailing Eunseo since morning, it would be stranger if you hadn't seen it.
"If you heard, then you know we're not dating but are in a 'some' relationship. What's your intention in asking now?"
"I followed you two around all day today and watched, and Eunseo is sincere about you. She really likes you."
I know that too.
Even though my appearance changed, she was the only one who recognized me right away.
"So what's that..."
"I might sound old-fashioned saying this, but I absolutely hate ambiguous methods like 'some' relationships where you're testing the waters. If you really like Eunseo and want to keep seeing her, then confess and date her."
Last time you seemed completely reluctant, so what's this about?
"Didn't you find me quite distasteful before?"
"Yeah. I still think you're not that great."
Such an immediate answer without any hesitation.
"Um... Senior, when you give such direct answers, it hurts my feelings..."
"Answers like this that are slick beyond your age. You seem like a playboy and I really don't like it."
That's too harsh.
Eunsu used to follow me well, calling me teacher, teacher, just like Eunseo...
"..."
"I thought our Eunseo had incredibly high standards, so I don't know what she saw in you to like you, but today Eunseo with you was the most she's smiled and seemed happy recently."
"Huh?"
"So I'm not opposing it. You said earlier that even though I am her sister, I shouldn't interfere in romance, right? I agree with that statement too."
"Haha..."
"Don't keep making our Eunseo anxious, and if you're also sincere, then confess. And you know what will happen if you make our Eunseo cry, right?"
While speaking, she draws her hand across her throat once.
It's a threat of sorts, but to me who knows Eunsu well, it's just cute.
"Are you laughing?"
"Ah, well... I'm a bit envious and touched? Senior, you really care a lot about Eunseo senior."
"...She's my only younger sister, so of course."
"As expected, it's a bit excessive at times, but I'm still envious."
"AHEM... Ah, anyway, I said I won't follow you around like today anymore, but I'll be watching at school."
When I answered that I understood, she seemed a bit embarrassed and quickly left.
Still, one problem solved... or maybe not.
I can't confess no matter what.
Plus, since we got caught like that today, it'll probably be a bit awkward when we see the kids after the holiday ends.
While I'm worrying, I feel a vibration in my pocket.
I thought it was Eunseo, but it's Se-jin.
[You're not still on a date, are you? Don't tell me you're not going to Master today?]
Well, it'll work out somehow.
I sent a reply saying I understood and called a taxi.
I have to get back to school by 10 o'clock anyway.
A little later, I took a taxi and arrived at school.
It's a bit annoying, but there's no choice.
I'm supposed to stay at school during the holiday period, so if I stay out without permission, it'll be a problem later.
I returned to the empty dormitory, washed up briefly, and immediately used teleportation magic.
Wine and simple snacks are prepared on the dining table.
Now that I look at it, asking me to visit Master was an excuse and it seems like she called me for a drink.
"Teacher, you're late."
"It's just past 10 o'clock. It's not that late, is it?"
"10 o'clock is late enough for a high school student. If you were together until this time, Eunseo's parents would worry too..."
"I wasn't with her until now though? I said goodbye when I replied earlier, took a taxi to school, washed up, and came here."
"HMPH, you don't need to explain in such detail. How was today's date?"
It seems like an ordinary question at first glance, but if I answer wrong at this moment, it feels like something terrible will happen.
"Don't even mention it. I thought I was going to die."
"Why? Was the amusement park not good?"
"I originally can't ride rides well. The rides weren't the problem in the first place anyway."
When I tell her about today's events, she giggles.
"What are you laughing about?"
"It's funny. Eunsu really can't be stopped. How does she even follow you on a date?"
"Still, things got somewhat sorted out with Eunsu, but the problem is after the holiday ends."
"Are you worried those kids you met today might spread rumors? Then how about contacting them in advance to ask them to keep it secret?"
"Well. Neither of them are the type with loose lips... but we probably can't be as comfortable as before."
Even though I keep pretending not to know, honestly the fact that Seong Ji-an has feelings for Min Chan-seong is an undeniable truth.
Nam Ji-hyeon is Ji-an's best friend.
They definitely won't think well of it.
"Am I going to be ostracized now?"
"Would... Would they go that far? When I saw them last time, they didn't seem like bad kids."
"Right?"
"Well, you being ostracized wouldn't be bad from my perspective either."
"What? Are you saying that because it's not your problem? That's too much."
"If you get ostracized, Teacher might quit quickly out of boredom."
"Haha... Why don't you just put a curse on me?"
"I was actually considering looking into a curse doll set anyway."
Se-jin is unusually sharp today.
It can't be helped - no matter how understanding Se-jin is, with understanding as vast as the ocean and kind as an angel, I probably don't look good to her after coming back from a date with another woman.
"Let's stop this conversation. Well, it'll work out somehow. What are you going to do tomorrow?"
"Changing the subject, are we?"
"Haha..."
"You're not really going to Everland, are you?"
"...If I had my way, I'd want to go and ride nothing but scary things..."
"Se, Se-jin?"
"Fine. I'll take you. Let's just have a home date."
"A home date? It's a rare day off..."
"That's why I'm saying let's have a home date. Going out is annoying. We'd have to worry about our surroundings too."
That's true - today Eunseo was like that too, but Se-jin is the next Master of a top 10 guild, so many more people would recognize her.
"Then what will we do at home?"
"Just... watch a movie together and order food..."
I completely welcome it, but isn't it too ordinary?
It's a date after all.
"Should we go fishing in the afternoon?"
"That sounds good too. It's been a while since we've seen the ocean and had some healing..."
Looking at her expression and tone, it seems like she has more to say.
"Let's take a day off from going to Master?"
What, is that all?
I had already expected it seeing the prepared table.
We've been going every day so far, so he should have plenty to eat - not going for one day won't be a big problem.
I'm filling the empty glass with wine and answering that I understand, but did she drink a lot alone while waiting?
Se-jin's face is red.
"Did you finish a bottle before I came by any chance?"
"I only had exactly one glass."
"Really? Your face is red so I thought you drank a lot."
"Well... Teacher."
"Why?"
"Then you're sleeping here tonight, right?"
I almost spit out the wine I was drinking.
"Uh... huh?"
"D-don't misunderstand. We have a date tomorrow too and we're not going to Master either, so it seemed more convenient. I won't do anything against the rules."
Who said anything?
I only said 'huh?' but seeing her make excuses like a machine gun makes me want to tease her a bit.
"We're really just going to hold hands and sleep, right? Can I trust you?"
"W-we won't even hold hands! Teacher, you sleep on the floor."
On the floor?
Plus, not even holding hands seems a bit too much, doesn't it?
***
Time really does seem to fly when you're having fun.
The honey-sweet holiday has already ended.
"Min Chan-seong, what are you looking at?"
"Ah... it's nothing."
"If it's something good, let me see too."
Gyeong-su, who shares the same room, approached and tried to snatch my phone, but not a chance.
I quickly pressed the power button to turn off the screen.
"How petty. I'm going to eat, so come out quickly."
"Got it. I'll be right there, so go ahead."
It's nothing strange - it's a photo we all took together yesterday.
Yesterday was May 8th, Parents' Day.
I gave Master various Chinese dishes he likes, Chinese liquor, and a latest model laptop as a gift.
At the end, Luciel, Se-jin, me, and Master all took a photo together, but maybe because he's not used to photos, he had his eyes closed in every single picture.
I thought about skipping Parents' Day and celebrating Teachers' Day instead... but well, I can celebrate that when the time comes.
To me, Master is no different from a parent.
I left the dormitory and headed to the cafeteria.
I'm eating with the roommates who went ahead, and I see Eunseo in the distance.
She must have seen me too because she winked, which startled me.
That girl, really.
Fortunately, the guys next to me all seem absorbed in their food and didn't see it.
"Hey guys, the test results come out today, right?"
"Baek Min-su, why are you talking about tests while we're eating? It kills the appetite."
"...I completely bombed it."
Everyone's expressions look bad, and I'm quite worried too.
Of course, the reason I'm worried isn't because of test scores.
For the test, I just guessed on the last one or two questions and solved the rest well.
What I'm worried about is Seong Ji-an and Nam Ji-hyeon.
I got caught dating Eunseo on the first day of the holiday.
During the holiday, I thought casually that it would work out somehow, but now that I'm about to see the kids, I'm getting nervous.
I jokingly told Se-jin I might get ostracized, but it might really happen...
After finishing the meal, I'm heading to the classroom with the heart of a cow being dragged to the slaughterhouse, when I see kids crowded around the central bulletin board.
At Hunter School, when midterms and finals end, they post names, rankings, and total scores on the central bulletin board.
It's quite cruel to those in last place, but they say this is the most fair way to announce it and everyone needs to know so students will work harder.
Personally, I don't think much of it, but are the grades out already?
Well, the test ended on Wednesday.
Since it was a holiday from Friday, maybe they didn't announce it on Thursday so we could rest comfortably.
Should I check my grades first? I'm approaching when... damn, I ran into Nam Ji-hyeon.
"Ah... Hello?"
I greeted her as usual, but she ignores me like I'm invisible and walks past.
It's not like I didn't expect it at all, but it's a bit...
SIGH, forget it.
Let me check my grades first... Huh?
[1st Place Min Chan-seong 800 points]