Ch 193
Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy
Chapter 193
Since I had written similar documents before, I could recognize it at a glance.
Of course, the document in Se-jin's hands was different from what I had written, with the word 'International' added in front.
"Japanese hunters seem to get respect based on age, huh? That's not how it works in Korea. If you're confident, go ahead and sign it."
Not just me, but the other people—the vice principal and Director Seo—also looked quite surprised.
And rightfully so, because at the top of the document Se-jin was holding, written in large letters, was 'International STB Application Form.'
STB—the system that allows lower-ranked hunters to challenge higher-ranked hunters to prove their qualifications and get promoted.
I had used the STB system myself when I disciplined Kim Dae-chan and became an S-rank hunter, but I never expected Se-jin to bring that document.
I hadn't thought about it at all.
Come to think of it, she did say she'd smash them to pieces when we talked on the phone.
It seems that wasn't just talk.
"A newborn calf doesn't fear the tiger, what an arrogant girl! Fine!"
He seemed slightly flustered by Se-jin's provocation, but soon snatched the document and wrote his name.
Tsk tsk, he took the bait properly.
As that guy said, Se-jin is young at twenty-one.
But her skills are already at a level where most S-rank hunters wouldn't be able to compete.
They say that no matter how hard you try, you can't overcome the difference in talent, but Se-jin has both effort and talent.
Plus, she received direct teaching from my Master, who is the strongest under heaven.
Not only Aura Blade, but I know she recently started learning Mental Focus as well.
She's definitely stronger than her father Kim Dae-chan and Director Seo here, and you'd probably need someone at the vice principal's level to have a proper fight with her.
No matter how I look at it, that Japanese S-rank hunter in front of us doesn't seem as strong as the vice principal.
***
"There's no need to go this far, is there?"
"If he had properly apologized and bowed his head there, I wouldn't have gone this far either."
"Still, you did receive an apology..."
Although Se-jin's bombshell statement made STB the center of discussion, both the Japanese expert and our Korean Director Seo said there was no video manipulation, so we did receive an apology.
It didn't seem like a sincere apology though.
"You call that an apology? Anyone could see it was a reluctant apology. I need to properly smash them so they come to their senses."
"Well, that's true... but will you be okay? Director Seo and the vice principal seemed to be against it."
"They're like that because they don't know my abilities. But it wouldn't be right for even you to say that, would it?"
"Huh?"
"Do you think I'll lose?"
She's overflowing with confidence.
Of course, I don't think Se-jin will lose either.
But there is a risk of injury.
I'm already busy with lots to do, and I don't want Se-jin to get hurt because of my affairs.
"Of course not. But I don't want you to get hurt because of me..."
"It's okay, I was planning to do STB anyway. I think I mentioned it to you before."
"That's true, but..."
"If I apply to Korean hunters, it would be awkward later, right? I'd see them often at the association and guilds would cooperate. And when you did it, my father made mistakes and was at fault, but I don't have any of that."
"That's true."
"If it's an overseas S-rank hunter, I don't have to worry about that, and I have the justification that they oppressed Korean students. Plus, some people think our guild's influence has declined since father stepped down from the master position, and there are quite a few people within the guild who don't trust me. I'm thinking of smashing those people's perceptions at the same time with this opportunity. It'll be proper guild promotion too."
I was a bit surprised.
Se-jin, this girl had it all planned out.
Well, unlike me who was an individual, Se-jin is the successor of Ares, one of Korea's top 10 guilds.
It's been two years since graduation, but I still thought of her as a kid. Seeing this side of her, I shouldn't think that way anymore.
"So you're going to revive the guild that fell through STB, with STB again?"
"The word 'fell' is a bit much even coming from you, teacher... That's too harsh, isn't it?"
She pouts and narrows her eyes coyly.
"No, that's... sorry."
"Well, the biggest reason is because of you, teacher."
She says this while blushing slightly, but she's still cute as always.
"STB is tomorrow, right?"
"Yes. I said I was fine with doing it right away, and the opponent was okay too, but the Japan Hunter Association said they needed time to prepare and suggested tomorrow morning, so I agreed."
"Then you'll stay in Japan. Want to eat and have a sparring session?"
"Do you have time? Don't you have to participate in the afternoon program?"
"I can skip it. The vice principal said I don't have to force myself to participate since there was such an incident. It's not that interesting anyway."
"Then should we go on a date after sparring?"
"...Isn't it a bit much to play around when you have a duel tomorrow?"
"It's okay. I'm confident."
"Confidence is good, but you know overconfidence is poison, right? The date depends on how the sparring goes."
"Yes!"
"Then let's meet at Luciel's World at 2 o'clock."
After finishing the meal, I returned to my room and told my roommate students that I wouldn't participate in the afternoon schedule.
"We saw the news too. Those Japanese guys really went too far."
"They say it's not the first time they've looked down on Korea, but this incident really... Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Even if it wasn't sincere, I did receive an apology."
"Um... then Chan-seong, are you going back to Korea today?"
"No. I'm planning to watch the STB tomorrow before leaving. The vice principal said he's going back tomorrow too."
"I want to skip the lecture and go watch the duel too."
"Haha..."
"But can Hunter Se-jin really win? The opponent is an S-rank hunter."
"Right... Even though Hunter Se-jin is a WHCU winner, she's only twenty-one years old."
Certainly, for people who don't know like these two, it would be normal to think Se-jin is at a disadvantage.
"We'll find out tomorrow."
"That's right. Oh? It's time. We might get in trouble for no reason too. Let's go."
"Rest well."
"Take care."
After confirming the two people left, I immediately took out my wallet.
I had already told Eunseo through text that I wouldn't participate from the afternoon schedule, so without delay, I tore the leaf.
My vision changed instantly.
From the familiar hotel room, I entered Luciel's space with vast earth, purple sky, and various strange plants growing.
Since I haven't come often lately, it feels quite unfamiliar.
When I went toward the Demon Realm Tree where the camping car was, I could see Kainakan manifested in his true form.
Is Se-jin not here yet?
"Kainakan, long time no see."
―I thought you'd forgotten my face since you haven't come in so long.
His expression is the same as always, but somehow there's an edge to his words.
"Sorry. I've been a bit busy lately. Want some jerky?"
―It... it's not like I said that because I missed the jerky...
"So you won't eat it?"
―If you're giving it to me...
He acts coy when he's going to eat it anyway.
I took out jerky with Subspace Magic and gave it to him, and while I was chatting with the guy, Se-jin arrived.
As soon as she came, Kainakan reduced his size and approached Se-jin, and Se-jin greeted him happily and took out jerky with Subspace Magic to give him.
They seem quite close, which makes sense since Luciel here is sleeping and I haven't come lately.
"You're a bit late."
"I got a lot of calls from reporters in Korea. Oh, I sent the video too. I'll mosaic the faces and it'll be uploaded soon."
After eating earlier, I transferred the recorded video to the computer since we said it would be good to upload it along with articles and videos.
"Sorry for all the trouble because of me."
"Don't mention it. But Korea is in complete chaos, right? The Korea Hunter Association also decided to officially lodge a complaint with the International Hunter Association."
"Right. What's the Japanese side's reaction?"
"They seem to be trying to downplay the incident, saying it happened due to a misunderstanding, but once the video is uploaded, everyone will know that's not the case. Public opinion is on our side. Um, but..."
"What? Is there a problem?"
"Your incident became a topic too, but my STB application became an even bigger topic. Of course, it's not completely buried since your incident was the cause, but it doesn't seem to be getting much attention..."
"What does it matter? I don't really care about that. Should we start now?"
Se-jin will smash them anyway, so it's fine.
I picked up a Demon Realm Tree branch that was lying around.
"Yes. Um... teacher, if it's okay, could you fight me with Aura Blade?"
Se-jin also picks up a branch while talking, but Aura Blade?
Is she planning to use Mental Focus in tomorrow's duel?
I think it's been less than two weeks since I heard she started learning Mental Focus from Master.
"Will you be okay?"
"If I want to overwhelmingly smash them, I'll need to do that much."
I'm a bit worried, but well, she's the one who asked.
I just need to control it well.
When I infused my internal energy into the branch, blue Aura Blade was created.
"Got it. Then here I go."
At the same time I spoke, I charged forward and slashed horizontally.
She also ran forward and blocked it directly, which surprised me.
CLANG!
Even though Se-jin's branch didn't have Aura Blade surrounding it, a clear sound rang out as if metal had struck metal.
She already learned Mental Focus?
Of course, I wasn't going all out and was controlling it, but this is really speechless.
Some people struggle so hard to barely learn it, and she learned it in just two weeks...
Is this what a hardworking genius is?
"Then I'll go too."
She counterattacks fiercely, and both speed and power are quite fast.
Is it because it's been a while since we sparred?
Thinking of the old Se-jin, I matched the level, but it's quite close.
The phrase 'daily renewal and constant improvement' comes to mind, but when did she become this strong...
I wonder if I'm going to get surpassed by the student.
She definitely has confidence rather than overconfidence, but for now, no way.
I avoided all of Se-jin's sword strikes that fiercely aimed at vital points and lightly kicked her foot to trip her.
"Master should have taught you that footwork is important, not just the sword."
She gets up right away but looks flustered.
But soon she disappears from sight.
Blink?
It seems she's planning to use magic in tomorrow's duel too.
Well, since Se-jin is publicly acknowledged as my disciple, it wouldn't be strange for her to use it.
I spread my internal energy to find her location and used Blink as well.
"You need to properly hide your presence... Huh?"
I tried to strike her branch to make her drop it, but Se-jin's figure scattered like a mirage.
This girl, even Teleportation?
But if it were Teleportation, I shouldn't be able to feel her energy... wait, could it be...!
"Behind you. Were you surprised? If you inject a lot of internal energy into Clone Magic, you can make people mistake it. Sister Luciel taught me."
I feel the hard texture of a branch on my neck.
Even if Luciel taught her, to not just use magic and martial arts together but to fuse them is amazing.
But it's still too early to think she's won.
I activated Mental Focus and turned the branch to powder.
Even a branch reinforced with Mental Focus that can withstand Aura Blade isn't omnipotent.
When the same Mental Focus is used, the side with stronger will wins too easily.
"Th... this kind of thing is cheating!"
"Before calling it cheating, do I really look like a teacher to you?"
"Huh?"
I manifested in my true form and poked Se-jin's side with the branch.
"Ack! H-how are you behind..."
"Who do you think told Luciel about the fusion of magic and martial arts?"
"It was you who told her, teacher?"
"Yeah. It was me. I was a bit surprised, but you're still 10 years too early to beat your teacher."
"Tch, but this much should be no problem for tomorrow's duel, right?"
After sparring, I realized I was wrong in my earlier thinking. Even the vice principal wouldn't be enough to face Se-jin.
It seems like you'd need Cha Su-hyeok, known as Korea's strongest hunter, or someone from the top tier of the Ten Stars.
"That should be fine. But let's go one more time."
"Good!"