ch 2
Became a Swordsmanship Instructor at the Academy
Chapter 2
Hunter School implements a full dormitory system for both teachers and students due to the security of the educational curriculum.
Students are completely restricted from going out during the semester, and even teachers find it difficult to go out on weekends without a reason.
They say married people can commute, but I'm single so that doesn't apply to me.
It's already been two weeks since I entered Hunter School.
Before coming to school, I tried to find Giyeon somehow, staying at a motel near Mount Seorak and searching the mountains every day, but I couldn't find him in the end.
I could make up excuses if needed, but having just arrived and going out every week doesn't feel right, and Mount Seorak isn't exactly close either, so I wished I had found him first—it's really unfortunate.
In the original story, it mentioned that he got lost near Daesungryeong Pass, so I thought I'd find him easily, but...
Maybe the portal hasn't been created yet.
The protagonist discovers the portal 2 years and 6 months later during the 1st-year retreat.
Since the school retreat goes to the same place every year, I think I can narrow down the search area by following along this fall.
I was planning to continue searching before the retreat, but it seems difficult for the time being.
There's too much work.
I commonly thought that being a school teacher meant being a civil servant with good work-life balance, just teaching classes, but that was a complete misconception.
Usually, classes end before 6 PM, and there's no night self-study like when I was in high school, so many teachers leave exactly at 6 PM.
But for new teachers like me, that's just a dream.
It's partly because it's the beginning of the semester, and partly because I'm not familiar with the work as a newcomer, so I'm working overtime almost every day.
Still, the part I was most worried about—teaching the kids—is going quite well.
I've been a literary boy since childhood who preferred books to playing outside, and I've never even attended a kendo academy.
For someone like me to teach swordsmanship to students sounds absurd, but Kang Shin-hyeok's memories and experiences made that absurdity possible.
When I see incorrect postures, the correct ones appear in my mind, and even for demonstrations, if I set my mind to it, my body follows along naturally.
To begin with, the 1st-year class I'm in charge of is mostly focused on physical training, and there are theoretical textbooks and curricula all laid out, so I just need to follow them.
"Teacher Kang, still not finished?"
"Ah, please go ahead without me."
The biggest culprit that makes me work overtime and suffer even on weekends is this paperwork.
At least I have no problems with document writing since I was a writer in my previous life and wrote on computers, but Excel and PPT are a bit difficult.
I even got certifications when I was young in my previous life, but as I got older and didn't use them, I almost forgot everything.
I thought I would only teach students, but why are there so many things to do...
"There's a dinner tonight. Aren't you going?"
"The principal said this morning that attendance is voluntary..."
From what I could tell, quite a few people weren't going.
Honestly, as a newcomer, I should go, but besides what I'm working on now, I have mountains of things to do.
"But it's the first dinner gathering, do you have other plans?"
"Not really, but I don't really like drinking... I have a lot of work, and when I finish, I was planning to train."
Fortunately, when I hold a sword, my body moves naturally, but sometimes it feels awkward, so I've been training personally every day after classes end.
Originally, I extremely disliked moving and would sign up for a gym, go for a few days, and then stop, but my personality seems to have changed with my body—I get fidgety if I stay still.
If I rely too much on memories and experiences, I might suddenly embarrass myself in front of students.
Above all, I don't want to ruin this healthy body that I couldn't even dream of in my previous world.
"I heard that after the dinner, the new teachers are going to have a drink separately."
What?
I didn't hear anything about this...
Am I being ostracized?
I have been somewhat negligent in relationships because I've been busy adjusting, but I haven't done anything wrong.
I've greeted teachers well when I meet them in the dormitory or at school.
I didn't feel like I was being excluded...
It makes me feel a bit down.
"I didn't hear about that."
"They probably haven't told you yet. But Teacher Kang, when I look at you, you seem to live too rigidly."
"Pardon?"
"I mean you look like you have no flexibility. If you were in a guild for 3 years... Oh, you said you worked solo, right?"
When you join a guild, you usually move in teams, but Kang Shin-hyeok, who was a loner, worked alone in the guild too.
He went to China alone as well.
"Yes, that's right."
"So that's why. But as you live a teacher's life, you need to mingle with others around you."
"I know, but it's not easy. I'll try."
Actually, the part I find most difficult is mingling with people.
"When you answer like that, I feel like I'm scolding you too much."
"Not at all. It was good advice. I think I should socialize, but having worked alone for so long, it's not easy to put it into practice."
"With your style, I think you'd be popular if you just paid a little attention to those around you."
"No, I'm not... What popularity..."
If Teacher Park hadn't told me about the new teacher gathering, I wouldn't have known.
Still, it's fortunate that students follow me well.
"Such modesty. Talking about it, not only the new teachers who just came in, but also among the existing teachers, there seem to be quite a few people interested in you."
"That can't be. Don't give me false hope."
"I'm not the type to make up stories. It's because you put up such a wall that you feel that way. You leave early for overtime work or to train. If I wasn't sitting next to you, I probably couldn't have talked to you either."
That hit home.
I had promised not to live as a loner like before and to enjoy everything I could enjoy, but thinking about it now, I just made the promise without changing my behavior at all.
"You don't have anyone you're seeing, right? It's because you only work and train. Try mingling with those around you. You might find a good connection."
"Haha...."
"Don't just laugh meaninglessly, is there any teacher you're interested in? It doesn't have to be a new teacher, tell me."
"Ah, not really..."
"Not only the new teachers, but all the teachers at our school are quite good-looking."
As Teacher Park said, whether they select teachers based on their looks or not, not only the new teachers but also all the female teachers who were already here are all beautiful.
Honestly, if I could date any of them, I would say "thank you" three times and date them, but the truth is, I didn't think about dating someone from school.
I didn't come to school to date, but I'll spend more than half the year at school, so if I don't meet someone here, where else would I...
I'm not bad-looking either, should I spend money on dating agencies?
I prefer natural meetings.
"They're all too good."
"Our Teacher Kang is handsome too."
"Ah, handsome? No, not at all."
I know I'm good-looking.
But if I say I'm good-looking here, they might think I'm conceited.
Alright. From now on, I'll approach and act more proactively.
Ah, of course, it's not because of the statement that female teachers seem interested in me... No, it's not.
"Teacher Kang is too strait-laced, it's no fun. Well, I'll go first."
Teacher Park, I might seem that way now, but later I'll become the school's top social butterfly.
***
"Teacher Kang, you're really good at grilling meat."
Then offer me a piece to try. I've been grilling meat for over an hour, but not a single word like that.
SIGH... I don't know if I came to the dinner or to work part-time grilling meat at a restaurant.
I thought they were being stingy, but as a mere new teacher, I shouldn't show it.
"Ah, it's nothing special. The pieces at the edge are ready to eat now."
As soon as I finish speaking, chopsticks fly around.
Unfortunately, since the menu is beef that cooks quickly and the grill isn't very large, there isn't much to cook, and as soon as it's cooked, it disappears instantly.
"I'll leave first, so please take your time eating. Feel free to order more if needed."
The principal got up from his seat first.
It's all-you-can-eat meat anyway, so he's just showing off.
"Shall we also leave after finishing this?"
"Yes."
The atmosphere is winding down.
I didn't even get to eat much meat because I was busy grilling... Oh well, never mind.
I'll buy and eat some with my own money later. I didn't come to the dinner just to eat meat anyway.
After the vice principal and senior teachers began to leave one by one, the three teachers at our table also got up.
Some people go home or return to school, but it seems like those who get along well go for a second round.
"Teacher Kang, would you like to join us for a second round..."
"Teacher Hwang, they said the new teachers are having a drink together today, so let him go."
"Is that so? Then it can't be helped. Let's definitely have a drink together next time."
Teacher Park, whose face was slightly flushed as if a bit drunk, blocked the other teacher and winked at me.
Not knowing how to respond, I just greeted them to take care on their way back and left the restaurant.
Teacher Park had mentioned the new teachers drinking together, but I hadn't received any contact, so I felt awkward about suddenly joining, but after Teacher Park left, a physical arts teacher whom I had greeted several times told me he had forgotten to pass on the message.
Relieved that I wasn't being ostracized, I was about to check the meeting place again and leave when a female teacher approached me.
"1st-year swordsmanship, Teacher Kang Shin-hyeok?"
"Ah, yes."
"Are you going to the gathering today?"
"I was just about to go."
Who was she... I can't remember her name well, but I think I saw her in the teachers' office a few times.
"Then let's go together."
It was a bit burdensome since we weren't close... No, I shouldn't feel burdened here.
She kindly offered first.
Besides, it's better than going alone.
The meeting place wasn't far anyway, so I agreed.
While walking, we chatted, and this female teacher who spoke to me is Teacher Kwon Seah, in charge of 2nd-year magic theory.
"We're here. It's on the second floor."
The meeting place is a cocktail bar.
I don't know who decided, but as expected from a gathering of new teachers, the atmosphere is quite different from the meat restaurant where we had dinner.
"Teacher Kwon, over here. But why are you with... Ah! You're Teacher Kang, right? Why are you two coming together? This is suspicious."
"Ah...."
"Come on, unnie. It's not like that. We just happened to be going to the same gathering."
When I was flustered by the mischievous question, Teacher Seah next to me calmly refuted.
"I was just teasing. Come on in."
Seeing that they're already addressing each other as unnie and dongsaeng, it seems people who've gotten close are quite friendly.
Well, I can also get closer through today's gathering.
Following the guidance of another female teacher to the seats, I found that all seats were already filled.
Six women and four men? All familiar faces, and I know the names of a few teachers.
As I sat down and was about to order, the female teacher who had teased us earlier clapped her hands to get everyone's attention.
"Since everyone seems to be here, why don't we introduce ourselves first? We all recognize each other from the teachers' office, but we don't really know each other properly."
That female teacher who asked the mischievous question earlier seems to be today's organizer.
Everyone nodded in agreement, so we decided to introduce ourselves clockwise, starting with the female teacher who spoke up.
"I'm Yoon Iseul, in charge of magic practice for 2nd-year classes 1 to 5. I'm twenty-seven, and before coming to school, I was in the Hwasung Guild, and I'm a graduate of the 1st Hunter School."
I thought she might be someone whose name I knew, and indeed it's Yoon Iseul.
There's an episode where the protagonist gets caught by a teacher on duty while sneaking into the girls' dormitory and gets severely scolded, and that teacher is none other than this Yoon Iseul.
She had quite a strict image, like a witch with old maid hysteria, but seeing her in person, she's just a cute teacher.
"I'm Baek Geon, in charge of 1st-year physical arts. I'm thirty this year, and before becoming a teacher, I was in the Bicheon Guild, and I'm a graduate of the 3rd Hunter School."
This is the teacher who told me earlier that he had forgotten to mention the gathering.
He has a very large build, and since he's also in charge of 1st-year students, and the physical arts training ground and swordsmanship training ground are quite close, we've greeted each other many times in passing.
"I'm Kwon Seah, in charge of 2nd-year magic theory. I'm twenty-five, and I was in the Hwasung Guild with Teacher Yoon, and I'm also a graduate of the 1st Hunter School. Nice to meet you all."
I heard about Teacher Kwon Seah on the way here... Wait, I don't understand why everyone is mentioning which Hunter School they graduated from.
The guild is their previous workplace, so that makes sense, but I don't see why they need to mention the school... Is it because Teacher Yoon Iseul mentioned it when she introduced herself first?
While thinking that it probably doesn't matter if I don't mention it, one by one the introductions ended, and it was my turn.
With so many eyes on me, I feel a bit nervous.
It might be my imagination, but Teacher Kwon Seah, who came with me, and other female teachers seem particularly bright-eyed.
Right, Teacher Park said there are many female teachers interested in me.
Yes. This gathering is a great opportunity to escape being a loner.
Thinking that I should speak as confidently as possible without being nervous, I stood up from my seat.