Ch 207
Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy
Chapter 207
"The supplementary classes will start next week, so I hope all participating students prepare well and get good results. Let's all cheer for them."
I was about to say something was wrong, but as soon as Choi Seo-ra finished speaking, applause poured out from the class.
No, if this happens, it would be awkward to ask if this isn't right.
How on earth did this get registered?
"Well then, that's all. Everyone worked hard today."
"Thank you for your hard work."
"Thank you for your hard work."
"What, Min Chan-seong. When did you apply for the martial arts tournament... Where are you going?"
Lee Ji-sung approached and tried to talk to me, but I didn't have time to deal with this guy right now, so I immediately left the classroom.
Even though I couldn't ask right away earlier because of the atmosphere, I need to check.
Fortunately, I quickly caught up with Choi Seo-ra.
"Teacher."
"Oh? It's Chan-seong. What's wrong? Is there something?"
"Um, I never applied for the martial arts tournament supplementary classes, but my name was on the list today."
"Oh my, really? Your name is on the list I downloaded."
She showed me the documents as she spoke, and my name was really there.
"I'll have to ask Teacher Kim. Let's go to the faculty office together."
"Yes."
I followed Choi Seo-ra to the faculty office.
I was worried about what to do if she wasn't there, but fortunately Teacher Kim was at her seat.
"Um, Teacher Kim, Chan-seong here says he didn't apply for supplementary classes, but his name was on the list when I downloaded it earlier."
"Huh? I also thought Chan-seong wasn't participating since he didn't apply today... His name is on there?"
"You don't know either, Teacher Kim?"
What? Wasn't it Teacher Kim who forcibly registered me?
Well, Teacher Kim did recommend it last time, but I clearly expressed my refusal then, and since I didn't stay today and she didn't say anything separately.
Even if Teacher Kim is the vice principal's daughter, she's not like the vice principal... Wait, the vice principal?
"I definitely didn't... Ah, could it be that the vice principal registered me?"
"The vice principal?"
"Before, he asked if there were any outstanding students in the first-year magic class, so I praised Chan-seong a lot. I told him about the incident in Japan and that I had recommended the martial arts tournament, so maybe the vice principal thought I had forgotten and included him in the supplementary class participants."
It's a reasonable guess since that man liked to make people do various things even when I was a teacher.
That man, really...
"Since the individual's intention is most important, if you don't want to do it, Chan-seong, I can exclude you even now."
I thought it was forced participation with no way out, but this is somewhat unexpected.
They say parents and children usually resemble each other, but Teacher Kim is indeed reasonable.
"I think it would be good for you to participate for the experience, Teacher."
No, Seo-ra. That's not right.
"Me too. As I said before, with Chan-seong's skills, if luck is on his side with the brackets, he could definitely achieve good results."
Teacher Kim, you just said you'd exclude me, but now why are you...
I was about to say I'm not interested and ask to be excluded, but suddenly I had a good idea.
If I participate like this and meet Eunseo first to eliminate her, then there would be no chance for Eunseo and Lee Ji-sung to meet.
I feel a bit sorry for Eunseo, but if I can prevent the future from being disrupted this way...
I already told the kids I wouldn't participate, but I have the excuse that the vice principal forcibly registered me.
Plus, I could say I'm doing it to repay some debt to the original owner of this body by at least making it to the finals.
Of course, if I don't meet Eunseo in the preliminaries, it's all for nothing, but I have a way for that.
I can't help meeting students from other schools in the first preliminary round, but if things go as I think, I should be able to face Eunseo in the second preliminary round.
Of course, if I eliminate last year's winner in the preliminaries, enormous attention would be focused on me.
But making it look like I barely won by the skin of my teeth, or won by luck, isn't that difficult.
Conversely, making it look like I was dramatically defeated by Lee Ji-sung is the same.
Anyway, Lee Ji-sung will have become somewhat stronger after obtaining the Internal Energy manual, and he'll eventually win the WHCU too...
"Yes. Then I'll participate."
"Really? Good thinking."
"I'll cheer for you too, Teacher."
I can compensate Eunseo in some way.
Coincidentally, Zhang Sambong heard about Eunseo on the last day and spent the whole day writing martial arts manuals for her.
They were all in Chinese, but I had Master translate them too.
Of course, I haven't taught them yet since teaching them right now would give her a high chance of victory against Lee Ji-sung.
I can teach her martial arts and comfort her by dating frequently, right?
Most importantly, Eunseo really dislikes Lee Ji-sung.
So losing to me would be better than losing to that guy.
But at this time, I was overlooking something.
That things in the world don't always go according to my will.
***
A week has already passed since school started.
Classes are over too, and the dinner menu happened to be my favorite pork cutlet with spaghetti, so I ate very deliciously.
The day before yesterday, I told Eunseo and Eunsu that I would be participating in the tournament.
Both were surprised, but it wasn't difficult to convince them when I told them the excuse I had prepared.
I also double-checked and even practiced manipulating things so I could meet Eunseo in the second preliminary match.
But my mood isn't great because supplementary classes start today.
When I used to teach supplementary classes, I did 15 hours a week: 2 hours every day after regular classes from 7 PM, totaling 10 hours, and 5 hours on Saturday morning after breakfast until before lunch.
But 15 hours a week is the minimum standard.
The schedule Teacher Kim, who is in charge of supplementary classes for magic class students this time, announced last Friday is absolutely murderous.
2 hours every day after regular classes, and 5 hours each on both weekend days.
A total of 20 hours of supplementary classes per week.
Actually, this is after it was reduced because several students protested—originally it was 10 hours on Saturday and 5 hours on Sunday for a total of 25 hours.
I thought she was different from the vice principal, but seeing such an outrageous schedule, I can't help but think 'like father, like daughter'...
Even though it was reduced, there's not a single day off.
They say weekend classes only last until morning, but there are assignments for other subjects and performance evaluations too...
At least I can go to Luciel's world, but the other kids must be dying.
Se-jin, Luciel and I planned to go on a fishing date this weekend too...
Of course, it's not like there's no way at all.
Min Chan-seong is in a state of having just awakened from a coma after 2 years.
It wouldn't be strange at all if his body suddenly felt unwell.
It feels like I'm overusing this excuse, but if I use the excuse of going to the hospital, I should be able to skip one of the two weekend days.
First, I should go today and get a feel for the atmosphere while laying some groundwork, I thought as I headed toward the auditorium where the magic dueling arena is located.
When I arrived at the auditorium and opened the door, there were quite a lot of people.
Teacher Kim doesn't seem to be here yet, which is a bit unexpected.
Most are female students, and at a glance, there seem to be easily over 10 people.
For first-years, it's just Cha Min-woo, Lee Ji-sung, and me—three people—but did this many apply from 2nd and 3rd years?
"Lee Ji-sung, you came early."
"You should come early once in a while too."
"As long as I'm not late. But there are quite a lot of participants."
"I heard there are three of us first-years, and one each from 2nd and 3rd years."
"Then what are all those students over there?"
"They're probably not here for supplementary classes but followed that annoying guy over there."
He's pointing at Cha Min-woo as he speaks... Ah, now I understand.
Cha Min-woo is set to be quite popular.
Do-hyun is about 20,000 times more handsome, but that guy isn't ugly either, befitting a supporting character.
He gives off a strong impression of having good grades and coming from a well-off family.
Of course, it's not known that he's the son of Cha Su-hyeok, the master of Purgatory Guild.
But looking at the casual clothes he wears on weekends and the things he uses, they're all luxury brands and latest models, so everyone would think he's well-off.
Plus, even though that guy has a somewhat annoying personality, he hasn't done delinquent acts like someone else.
"Are you jealous seeing how popular he is?"
"Not at all."
"Right, you were popular once too. Yeah. You lose if you're envious."
Seeing him say this, he seems really envious, but I'm really not envious.
Compared to my popularity when I was a teacher, that level is cute.
Anyway, it's almost time for supplementary classes, but aren't they leaving?
It doesn't seem right for people unrelated to supplementary classes to be crowding around like this.
The seniors with us also have bad expressions.
It might be because they're envious, but it's hard to concentrate when they're chattering so noisily.
"Hey, students unrelated to magic class supplementary classes should leave now."
I was going to let it slide thinking Teacher Kim would come and sort it out later, but a third-year student stepped forward first.
"Who are you to say that?"
"Class hasn't started yet. The teacher isn't here either."
Oh my, these first-year kids are really brazen.
"We need to prepare for class and meditate, but when you guys chatter like this here, it bothers other students."
It's a valid point, but Cha Min-woo, who was chatting with the girls, frowned and stepped forward.
"Why are you being like that to our friends? Like they said, it's still before class time."
"Even if it's before class time, everyone is preparing and meditating, but when you chatter like this next to us, we can't concentrate."
"Yeah, since the senior is being nice about it, it sounds reasonable, but..."
A second-year male student also joined in.
"What if we're not nice about it?"
That's Cha Min-woo for you.
...It was a tense atmosphere that seemed like a fight would break out any moment, but just then Teacher Kim entered the auditorium.
"Huh? Why are there so many people?"
"Teacher, these are my friends, and they said they were curious about magic class supplementary classes."
"Can we watch?"
"Watch? There won't be much to see though. Fine. But don't be noisy. If you interfere with class, I'll kick you out."
"Yes."
When Teacher Kim coolly agreed, the seniors frowned, but Cha Min-woo and the first-year kids were emboldened.
"Everyone's here. Then let's start right away. First, I'll explain the curriculum, so pay attention."
She explained earnestly, and to summarize: theoretical and tactical education during weekdays, and since weekends have longer hours, practical sparring.
When I taught supplementary classes, I didn't make a separate distinction between weekdays and weekends and just combined theory and practice.
With a fixed schedule like this, it seems it would be hard to skip weekends.
"If everyone understands, shall we start class right away?"
"So we're having theory class today?"
"No, since it's the first day today, I'm going to test everyone's skills."
Oh, this is the same at least.
"How do you test?"
"How else? Combat, of course. I'll face each of you one by one."
"Um, then who will activate the dueling arena barrier?"
Come to think of it, that's right.
For me, it was outdoors and the kids weren't shooting out Sword Energy or Aura Blade wildly, so the surroundings weren't greatly damaged, but magic users' fights are completely different.
Without activating the barrier, various spells would collapse the auditorium.
The kids can activate it too, but they can't handle Teacher Kim's magic at their level.
She was B-rank when I first met her, but she was promoted to A-rank early this year.
Actually, even a B-rank hunter's magic would be too much at the kids' level.
"I brought purified magic stones, so it's fine."
As she spoke, Teacher Kim took out a purple magic stone from her pocket.
Purified magic stones are made by refining monster magic stones and have the function of supplying magic.
"This size doesn't cost much. Well then, third-year, come up first."
Doesn't cost much, my foot.
The size isn't that big, but if it's purple, the purity is quite high, so for that size, it would have taken at least 10 A-grade monster magic stones.
Plus considering labor costs and other materials, it's at least hundreds of millions of won.
She could just ask another teacher, but wasting money on something so expensive...
"This probably won't happen, but if anyone succeeds in landing a magic attack on me, I'll grant one wish."
Oh, what a windfall!
It seems I can legitimately skip supplementary classes.
The test started in order, beginning with the third-year who had trouble with Cha Min-woo earlier.
If Teacher Kim got serious, it wouldn't have taken long, but like I used to do, she's matching the kids' level.
The second-year wasn't much, but the third-year student who tested first has decent skills.
If luck is on his side with the brackets, he should definitely make it to the finals.
Following that, Cha Min-woo, who tested first among the first-years, was also decent.
If he improves just a few areas where he lacks technique, he could definitely aim for the top ranks.
"Next, come up."
"I'll go first."
I was going to go last to avoid drawing attention, but Lee Ji-sung was one step faster.
Well, anyway, that guy will be done quickly.
Sure enough, the test was over in less than 5 minutes after he went up.
He cast magic fairly quickly, but it flew in completely wrong directions, and he collapsed after using less than 10 spells.
Teacher Kim also had a quite deflated expression.
It can't be helped.
Even though Lee Ji-sung has been studying hard since the first semester, lost a lot of weight during vacation, and is working very hard even now, the years he lived as a delinquent can't be bridged that easily.
Especially since the students receiving supplementary classes now are at least top-tier in their respective grades, while Lee Ji-sung is barely hanging on to upper-middle tier.
"The last one is Chan-seong? Come up."
"Yes."
I patted the shoulder of Lee Ji-sung, who was coming down with an exhausted expression, and stepped onto the dueling arena.