Ch 194
Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy
Chapter 194
"Will Se-jin senior be okay?"
Eunseo's thoughts were different from other people's, which I had expected. Well, it's not strange.
Se-jin had been excellent throughout her three years at school, won the WHCU, and although she's the heir to Ares Guild, she's still an A-rank hunter.
On the other hand, Se-jin's opponent today, Nomura Takeshi, has been an S-rank hunter for nine years.
From a general perspective, it's natural to think like Eunseo.
Still, considering she could be called a romantic rival in some ways, seeing her worry shows that Eunseo is really kind-hearted.
"It's a useless worry."
"Huh?"
"If Se-jin were in danger, would I have just stood by and watched?"
I would have sneaked over at night and quietly dealt with him.
But there's no need for such troublesome work.
From yesterday's sparring, I clearly saw how hard Se-jin had worked.
"But is it really okay for us to be here?"
"Vice Principal told us yesterday, remember? He said they're planning to officially protest to the International Hunter Association, and we can continue participating in the education, but we don't have to attend if we don't want to."
"The other kids are all attending though, right?"
"I thought coming here would be more helpful than listening to boring lectures. More than that, you seem really angry."
"He's always had that kind of personality."
"Oh? It looks like they're about to start."
The entrance on the right side of the arena opened, and as Nomura Takeshi entered carrying a large spear, cheers poured out from the audience.
"Nomura fighting!"
"Thoroughly crush that arrogant Korean bitch!"
"Takeshi! Takeshi!"
Not long after, Se-jin appeared from the entrance on the opposite side.
Director Seo and the Vice Principal were with her, but unlike before, boos poured out.
Since the duel location is in Japan, most of the audience are Japanese, so it can't be helped.
"Those people are really... Huh? Teacher, that..."
"You saw it? Good eyes."
Instead of a sword, there's a tree branch that can be seen anywhere stuck in Se-jin's waist.
"Could it be like when you fought Hunter Kim Dae-chan last time..."
"Right. Just like I didn't use a sword that time, Se-jin won't use a sword today either."
If we hadn't sparred yesterday, I would have opposed it, but for Se-jin now, there's no big difference between a sword and a tree branch.
No, even without that tree branch, using only magic and fists, that Takeshi guy wouldn't be a match for Se-jin.
"Are you saying Se-jin senior is already at the same level as you were back then, teacher?"
"Well, we'll see."
Se-jin waved her hand once and was about to go up to the arena when the referees in the arena approached her.
They seemed to be talking about something, and although I couldn't hear from this distance, judging by Takeshi's face turning bright red, I could roughly guess.
He probably thought he was being disrespected because Se-jin, known as a swordsman, brought some tree branch instead of a sword.
Fortunately, the delay ended quickly.
Se-jin went up to the arena still holding the tree branch.
After that, there was about 5 minutes of the referee's brief explanation and background of today's duel, then the duel began.
The first to move was Takeshi.
As soon as the referee blew the whistle, he immediately rushed forward and aimed at Se-jin's abdomen with his spear blade filled with blue Ganggi.
However, Se-jin too easily deflected it with her wooden stick and immediately kicked Takeshi.
Even though he's an S-rank hunter, he managed to defend with his spear shaft, but he couldn't avoid being sent flying disgracefully.
Fortunately, he didn't fall outside the arena, but silence fell over the arena that had been filled with cheers for Takeshi.
Because Se-jin's tree branch didn't even have sword energy, let alone Ganggi surrounding it.
"What's with that woman?"
"How did she deflect an Aura Blade with a tree branch..."
"Isn't that tree branch an artifact?"
Everyone was murmuring with surprised expressions, and although it was a technique I had shown when facing Kim Dae-chan in Korea, most of the people here would be seeing it for the first time.
But it's still too early to be surprised.
A blue energy rippled around the tree branch Se-jin was holding, and Ganggi formed.
Soon, she threw the tree branch completely covered in Ganggi straight at Takeshi.
He immediately moved to dodge, but it was useless.
The tree branch began chasing and attacking Takeshi like a guided missile.
"Isn't that really an artifact?"
"Isn't using artifacts in duels against the rules?"
"It's probably not against the rules, right?"
"Hey, Takeshi! What are you doing!"
"Fight back! Are you still Japan's S-rank hunter after that!"
Yigieogeum... No, since it's not a sword but a tree branch, it would be more accurate to call it Yigieomogang.
Yigieogeum is a technique that consumes considerable internal energy and mental focus, but Se-jin's expression hasn't changed at all.
As one's level increases, internal energy naturally increases too, but still, Se-jin shouldn't be able to do that at her level.
But I don't find it particularly strange.
Because I heard the story from Se-jin yesterday.
***
"Kainakan, let's stop here for today."
―Right. Your skills have improved a lot compared to before.
"Really? It's all thanks to you. Thank you. Want some jerky?"
―I keep receiving things every time. Thank you.
"It's not that expensive, and you've been sparring with me too. I'll buy more next time."
―Jerky is always welcome. But you're really diligent. Even that Kang Shin-hyeok guy doesn't come often since Master fell asleep.
"Teacher is very busy these days playing student. Still, we see each other often outside, but Kainakan, you're alone here, so you must be bored."
―It doesn't particularly matter. Guarding the Demon Realm Tree and Master sleeping here is my duty.
He spoke with a completely indifferent expression, but being alone continuously in this place where time passes 30 times slower must be lonely...
"Still, aren't you lonely being alone?"
―I was alone for a long time before anyway, so it's fine.
"What's fine about that? That's not being fine, that's becoming numb."
―Well... still, since you come often, I'm not bored.
"I have so much work that if I don't come here, I can't possibly handle it all. I wouldn't be able to train either."
―Se-jin, I have something I'm curious about.
"What are you curious about?"
―Why are you trying to become strong?
"Huh? What do you mean?"
―Exactly what I said. That Kang Shin-hyeok next to you is among the humans I've seen... no, he's stronger than even our Master. When you have such a strong Kang Shin-hyeok, there's no need for you to make efforts to become strong too, right?
"That's exactly why I work even harder. I'm teacher's student."
―What does being a student have to do with... This time I don't understand the meaning.
"It's not bad to depend on teacher. But more than that, I want to stand proudly beside teacher. Even if I can't help, I don't want to be a burden either."
―Hmm... I still don't understand.
"Um, rather than being treated as teacher's student, I want to hear people say 'As expected of that teacher's student,' you know."
―It's somewhat difficult.
"Don't think about it too hard. If I'm teacher's student but my skills are lacking wherever I go, it would tarnish teacher's reputation."
―You like that Kang Shin-hyeok guy just as much as my Master does.
"Wrong. That's incorrect."
―Incorrect?
"Although I'm weaker than Sister Luciel, I absolutely won't lose to her in how much I like teacher. I like him a hundred times more than sister Luciel does."
Kainakan was completely disgusted and left.
I was wondering if it was too cheesy when Kainakan came back with some wooden box in his mouth.
"What's that?"
―This is called Demon Fruit, you eat it. If you eat it, you'll be able to become considerably stronger.
"Demon Fruit?"
―It's like a spiritual medicine. Since you can purify demonic energy just like Kang Shin-hyeok, it should be fine. Well, I was originally going to give it to that Kang Shin-hyeok guy but...
"Huh? If it's for teacher, shouldn't I not eat it?"
―That guy doesn't need it at his level. He probably knows that too since he doesn't even look for it. It'll rot soon anyway, so it's better for you to eat it than to keep letting it rot.
***
Kainakan brought the Demon Fruit for Se-jin to eat.
Actually, it wasn't that I left it alone because it would be useless for me to eat, I just completely forgot about it.
It couldn't be helped, because although I heard there was one more Demon Fruit, after that I fought with Luciel, learned magic, and was too busy with various things.
In the first place, I didn't think of it because in the original work, there was only one Demon Fruit.
I don't particularly regret it.
I never intended to eat it from the beginning, and I was planning to give one each to Do-hyun and Lee Ji-sung.
Do-hyun will eat it later, and that Lee Ji-sung bastard is annoying with his slippery behavior, so it's rather fortunate that Se-jin ate it instead.
Se-jin's tree branch still has vivid blue Ganggi surrounding it, continuing to attack Takeshi.
Takeshi is dodging and blocking fairly well, but the difference in internal energy is enormous, so if time passes anyway... Huh?
It seems our student has no intention of dragging this duel out for long.
"What... what's that?"
"What is that?"
"T... teacher? Can Se-jin senior use magic?"
Because adult head-sized large fireballs began appearing around Se-jin.
I saw her use the fusion of Clone Technique and teleportation yesterday, but to use magic simultaneously with Yigieogeum...
Really tremendous mental focus.
The fireballs that quickly took perfect form flew toward Takeshi and hit directly.
BANG, BANG!
Ho, that Takeshi bastard... He released magic like Protective Ganggi to minimize damage.
Still, he couldn't avoid his clothes being almost completely burned and becoming charred black, but it was still the right decision.
It would be better than trying to dodge the fireballs and sacrificing one of his arms or legs to the tree branch surrounded by Ganggi.
"It's over."
Because pure white needles emitting smoke are appearing beside Se-jin again.
It looks like Ice Needle, which is a very good choice.
Although they're smaller than the earlier fireballs, the quantity is much greater.
Even roughly counting, there seem to be hundreds.
"Sur... surrender!"
Takeshi seemed to be trying to declare surrender, but Se-jin's ice needles were faster.
No, faster than that was the tree branch.
The tree branch cut the spear clean in half, and the ice needles that rushed in during his moment of panic turned Takeshi into a hedgehog.
The referee quickly ran over and declared a stop.
The magicians waiting below rushed over, and only then did the tree branch that had been emitting blue Ganggi and aiming for Takeshi's neck return to Se-jin.
"How can she use magic while using Aura Blade... I really worried for nothing. Maybe even more than teacher last time..."
"Hey, that's not right. I sparred with her yesterday and I won. She is impressive though. You know what?"
"What?"
"Se-jin didn't move a single step after the duel started."
An overwhelming victory that no one could deny.
"Um... teacher, if I work hard, can I become like Se-jin senior too?"
"Huh? Of... of course."
I said "of course" because she seemed a bit deflated, but realistically, it seems a bit difficult.
Eunseo could also learn internal energy and use both magic and martial arts, but her mental cultivation method is different from Se-jin's, and now there's no Demon Fruit either.
Well, still, if I teach her well, somehow it'll work out, right?
"The... the winner is Kim Se-jin of Korea's Ares Guild!"
The referee declared Se-jin's victory, but there were no cheers or applause.
"They're really too much. No matter how much the person they were supporting lost, leaving like this is bad manners."
Instead, many people frowned and got up from their seats, and although I roughly expected it, how petty.
"Let's go."
"Huh?"
"We have to go congratulate her."
"Ah, yes."
Actually, there's one more thing to do besides congratulating.
Even though it's STB, a duel is still a duel.
Along with congratulations, I also need to watch the downfall of those who oppressed me with power and authority.