Ch 219
Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy
Chapter 219
"Um, Teacher..."
"I told you not to say anything."
"No, you're hugging me too tightly, so I can't breathe..."
It seems I unconsciously put too much strength into it, so I awkwardly smiled and released the embrace.
Fortunately, it seems the tears have stopped, but seeing her red-rimmed eyes makes me feel so upset.
"I'm sorry..."
"Don't say things like that. What do you have to be sorry about?"
"I'm lacking and incompetent, so I made you lose face, Teacher."
"Why are you talking like that? Eunseo, you did your best."
"Did you perhaps not hear... No... It's because I'm incompetent..."
It seems to be because of what I said to Eunseo at the end of the match when she collapsed.
I thought she couldn't hear because she collapsed...
I'm sorry for betraying Eunseo's expectations, but she heard everything.
"Come to think of it, didn't senior learn swordsmanship from Hunter Kang Shin-hyeok? The other disciple, senior Kim Se-jin, is an S-rank hunter doing well, but senior is... SNICKER. As expected, you must lack talent. If you lack talent, you should at least work hard, right? TSK TSK."
I really felt anger rising to the top of my head.
If Eunseo hadn't collapsed, I might have done something right there.
"You heard it after all, didn't you? I'm really sorry. I'm too lacking and incompetent... If it were senior Se-jin, this wouldn't have happened..."
"Don't make assumptions like that. Why are you comparing yourself to others?"
"But..."
"Teacher knows better than anyone how much effort you put in and how you did your best, Eunseo. You losing today isn't your fault, it's Teacher's mistake."
"No. Teacher didn't do anything wrong..."
"I'm sorry for revealing this so late, but... Eunseo, the Xiaotian Qigong I taught you is different from what I taught Se-jin."
"What?"
"What I taught Se-jin is the same as what Teacher learned, a much better mental cultivation method. I also bought expensive wild ginseng and such for Se-jin to eat."
"...It's okay. It's because I'm lacking and don't have the ability..."
She has a shocked expression, but she's even putting herself down to make me look good.
What have I done to such a kind kid...
No, now is the time to stop self-reproach.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Teacher kept telling you. You're not lacking."
"But then why am I different..."
She stops talking mid-sentence and hangs her head down.
She's probably thinking it's because I cherish Se-jin more.
She might think I didn't teach her because she lacks talent.
Honestly, I can't deny it.
Se-jin is superior in terms of talent.
Moreover, Se-jin is also a hard worker no less than Eunseo.
Furthermore, in the situation where Kim Dae-chan was forcing marriage, Se-jin even tried to jump off the rooftop to prevent causing me trouble.
Because of that incident, I decided to share my martial arts, which was the source of my uniqueness.
But this isn't the entire reason.
"Teacher thinks he knows what Eunseo is thinking, but I want to say that's definitely wrong, at least about that."
"What?"
"At that time, I was moved by the actions Se-jin showed for my sake and made that decision, but I found out about her feelings and learned of her heart much later when I received her confession."
"...I don't understand what you're saying..."
"Did I speak too difficultly? That was when I was in charge of first-years. Se-jin is Se-jin, but naturally I cherished our kids more."
"Then why am I different... As expected, it's because I'm lacking..."
"That's not it. I taught you Xiaotian Qigong because the situation was different."
"The situation?"
"Se-jin couldn't win without eating wild ginseng and learning the same martial arts as me. But our Eunseo won just by learning Xiaotian Qigong, right? So, who is more talented and amazing?"
Honestly, this is sophistry.
It's not because of the difference in talent, but because of Bianca's existence.
But if even this sophistry can comfort Eunseo's heart right now, I'll use it as much as needed... Fortunately, my sophistry seems to have worked as a small smile blooms on her lips.
"You smiled? If you cry and then smile, your butt will..."
"What's that... what is that? And you told me not to compare with others."
Responding curtly like this feels like the usual Eunseo.
"Ah, that's right. But what does it matter? It's just the two of us here now."
"I think you'd say something different when you're with senior Se-jin."
"That's... well, I can't say no, but honestly, there's not much difference in talent, and I think Eunseo works much harder."
The last statement isn't just lip service but actually true.
Se-jin has so much guild work that she can't properly train.
"Teacher is an S-rank hunter. Can't you trust Teacher's judgment?"
"I understand. Um... Teacher, then now will you also teach me the same thing as senior Se-jin..."
"No. That's impossible."
Unfortunately, you can't change mental cultivation methods.
Both Wudang and our Xiantian Sect are Taoist sects, but being from the same lineage doesn't mean the methods are the same.
It's not that we can't even try, but no one knows what side effects might occur.
"It's not that I won't teach you, but mental cultivation methods aren't something you can just change at will."
"Ah... yes."
She says she understands, but her expression is disappointed.
"But you can learn similar mental cultivation methods. There are also many other things to teach besides mental cultivation methods."
"You mean..."
"Starting tomorrow, lunch time... ah, since you've been eliminated, there won't be supplementary classes anymore. Then how about supplementary lessons including the supplementary class time?"
"Sup... supplementary lessons?"
"If Eunseo wants, Teacher could go and smash that bastard right now."
"No, that's not..."
"You don't like it? I thought so. Revenge should be done with your own hands, right?"
After discussing the supplementary schedule with Eunseo for a bit, I patted her head once and got off the bus first.
I received contact from Eunsu and other friends saying they would come here.
Eunseo said she would rest a bit and then go back to the auditorium, but honestly, I think she might not come.
Although she cheered up from my encouragement, she'll probably be concerned about the gazes of people around her.
Many adults are like that, but kids Eunseo's age are much more sensitive and pay a lot of attention to their surroundings.
Actually, she was last year's defending champion, but she was defeated in the first preliminary round by a junior two years younger without being able to properly attack even once, so even if Lee Ji-sung hadn't mocked her, she couldn't have avoided hearing whispers from around.
Rather, Lee Ji-sung's mockery and arrogance might create sympathetic public opinion, but that can't be called fortunate.
That bastard didn't act that way on purpose because he was worried Eunseo might be embarrassed by her defeat.
Moreover, that guy belittled Eunseo's efforts.
How much effort did he put in himself?
If it weren't for me, he wouldn't have even obtained the opportunity.
Even after obtaining the opportunity, he became strong by eating wild ginseng based on his family's wealth.
I had a favorable view of Eunseo even before I knew her feelings.
Ah, of course not as a romantic interest, but among my disciples, she was the type who worked the hardest.
She always grew steadily in an honest and fair manner.
Of course, I did teach her Xiaotian Qigong, but Xiaotian Qigong isn't even a great mental cultivation method.
It's inferior to my mental cultivation method in all aspects - internal energy accumulation efficiency, operational efficiency, etc.
If I had to pick something excellent, it would be stability?
Originally, the internal energy obtained from Xiaotian Qigong doesn't differ much from ordinary magic.
Moreover, she didn't even eat wild ginseng.
Eunseo winning last year was because she worked hard.
And I'm not just talking about looking at training alone.
Originally, Eunseo is an extremely timid character in the original work, completely contrasting with Eunsu's style.
But the Eunseo I saw was different.
She ran for class president by her own will and even boldly expressed her opinion in front of all students, opposing the school's unfair stance.
Seeing Eunseo's hardworking appearance, I was reminded of my past self.
Generally, to monetize a novel, you need to gain popularity through free serialization and enter the best rankings.
After that, management companies contact you for collaboration, the so-called 'contact', and you launch.
Even if you don't enter the best rankings, you might get contacted if your work seems promising, but honestly, if you didn't make it to the best rankings, the conditions aren't very good.
Therefore, entering the best rankings is most important, and in this process, there are unpleasant facts that readers don't know.
You ask people around you to increase views and recommendations, and even request comments.
I really hated this.
You should be evaluated by skill, by writing. Asking favors from acquaintances?
Even though I was a loner with no one to ask even if I had that mindset, it was really disgusting.
But even established writers who had written several popular hit works, writers I really liked and called teachers, expressed this as natural.
'You have to eat, so what choice do you have?'
'Looks like you're not hungry enough yet?'
'Everyone else does it, but you don't? That makes you a fool.'
Honestly, I wondered if I was trying to live too nobly, but I would rather earn less than monetize in such a sordid way.
Of course, I didn't completely avoid telling people around me that I write.
To friends who were curious when I said I write, and to fellow writers, I always told them when my work was decided for monetization and launched.
Because at that time, better conversion rates could get me at least one more promotion.
But I swear to heaven, during the free serialization process, I never once asked anyone for such favors.
Even though I'm a third-rate writer with no hit works who always struggled even after monetization, at least during free serialization, I could enter the best rankings and get first place through effort alone without doing such things.
Eunseo is the same.
Earlier I told Eunseo that she could win just by learning Xiaotian Qigong, but actually, Eunseo would have won even without learning Xiaotian Qigong.
Originally, even Zhang Sambong said you need to train for at least 10 years to properly use Xiaotian Qigong.
Eunseo's current skill is the result of her own efforts.
But Lee Ji-sung is not like that.
A guy who became strong by stealing the protagonist's internal energy mental cultivation method and eating hundred-year-old wild ginseng with his family's wealth - what qualification does he have to belittle Eunseo's efforts...
While thinking and walking, I had arrived back in front of the auditorium before I knew it.
As soon as I entered, I looked for Lee Ji-sung, but he's not visible - maybe he went to the bathroom.
For now, I approached Kim Do-hyun.
"Huh? Min Chan-seong, I haven't seen you for a while. Where did you go?"
"Bathroom. More importantly, where's Lee Ji-sung?"
"Constipated?"
"I'm not in the mood for silly jokes. Where's Lee Ji-sung?"
"It's his turn next, so he's down there under the arena."
Looking toward the arena, he's really down there with his eyes closed, meditating.
"Ji-sung is really amazing. Seong Eunseo senior... Chan-seong?"
Do-hyun seemed to be saying something behind me, but I ignored it and went straight to Lee Ji-sung.
"Huh? Min Chan-seong, where did you go? Did you see it well earlier? This brother completely destroyed Seong Eunseo who was acting all high and mighty as last year's champion."
"Shut that mouth."
THUD!
At the same time as my words, I drove my fist into Lee Ji-sung's face.
He collapsed just like that. Of course, I controlled my strength, but I controlled it so his brain wouldn't explode, so his nose bone probably got smashed.
"Ack! Are you cra... what are you... UGH!"
As he lifted his head to argue, I grabbed his head and punched his face once more.
Blood spurts from both nostrils and teeth seem to have broken and flew out.
Oh ho, he hastily deployed a barrier, but such a barrier doesn't work on me.
CRASH! THUD!
I broke through the barrier and kicked the collapsed bastard.
Until the teachers and students around rushed over to physically stop me, I kept beating and kicking Lee Ji-sung.
Although Eunseo cheered up, defeat is defeat. There will be many people whispering until she breaks him again, students who will mock her, and moreover, since they're in the same student council, Eunseo will be troubled every time they meet.
Incidents are covered by incidents.
I told Eunseo that revenge should be done with your own hands, but in the first place, there's no master who would stay still after seeing their disciple being humiliated.