Ch 220
Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy
Chapter 220
When I entered the classroom, the atmosphere was quite different from the usual boisterous one.
Well, I had roughly expected this.
Yesterday I beat up Lee Ji-sung thoroughly in the martial arts tournament preliminaries.
"Min Chan-seong, when you come in, the homeroom teacher said to come to the faculty office."
"Got it."
At Nam Ji-hyeon's words, I put down my bag and headed to the faculty office.
Come to think of it, this kid didn't even greet me or call me big brother.
Well, I guess that would be a bit difficult in this atmosphere?
Yesterday, only four people from this class participated in the martial arts tournament preliminaries - me, Lee Ji-sung, Nam Ji-hyeon, and Seong Ji-an - but it seems the rumors have already spread far and wide.
All the kids who had been friendly with me until now seem to be keeping their distance.
Lee Ji-sung's image has improved considerably recently, but I didn't know it would be to this extent.
I put down my bag and headed to the faculty office.
When I opened the door and entered, oh my. Winter is gradually approaching, but it's still November and this is clearly indoors, yet the atmosphere is so cold.
If the classroom was the bitter cold of Gangwon Province, then the faculty office is Siberian permafrost?
When I went to Teacher Choi Seo-ra's seat, I saw Choi Seo-ra with a serious expression.
"I came because you called for me...."
"Right. Chan-seong, I... no, let's go out first."
The place Choi Seo-ra took me to was the female teachers' lounge.
It's early morning so no one is here, but I didn't expect to come to this place.
This is a men-forbidden zone that I never entered even when I was a teacher.
Well, it doesn't look much different from the male teachers' lounge.
"Ji-sung's mother will be coming to school in a little while."
"I see."
"'I see' you say. Chan-seong! Why on earth did you do that yesterday?"
Yesterday I beat up Lee Ji-sung thoroughly and exercised my right to remain silent.
I naturally thought I'd get to see the police station, but that didn't happen.
I just returned to school and was confined.
Since Hunter School is still a school after all, it seems they want to cover things up internally rather than make it known to the outside.
The reason I exercised my right to remain silent wasn't because I couldn't think of an excuse.
Of course, I couldn't say something like 'I beat him up because this bastard was mocking my student,' but I had prepared countermeasures in my own way.
"Chan-seong, you saw the atmosphere in the faculty office earlier, right? The current situation is a very serious matter."
Serious?
I certainly did beat him up quite severely yesterday.
His nasal bone and jawbone were broken, and two or three ribs were fractured.
I heard about 5 teeth were broken too.
Of course, when I saw him this morning, he was completely fine.
Because healing magic exists in this world.
But if this were a world where healing magic didn't exist, I really beat him up so thoroughly that he would have needed months of treatment.
I could have beaten him half to death.
"Is it because Lee Ji-sung is a third-generation chaebol?"
"No. I think of all students as the same students. But if we think realistically...."
HIIK, with Choi Seo-ra's personality, I believed she wouldn't discriminate based on the kids' circumstances.
"Is it different when thinking realistically?"
If I understood correctly, I'm a little... no, quite a lot disappointed.
"When I talked with Ji-sung's mother yesterday, she was very angry. She demanded that a disciplinary committee be convened immediately and even mentioned expulsion.... People like Ji-sung's mother would actually have the power to do that...."
That's what I thought. Fortunately, it wasn't the meaning I was thinking of.
Realistically, Seo-ra is right.
Hunter School isn't a private school created by Hwasin Group, but given who the opponent is.
It's not just any chaebol, but Hwasin Group, which ranks first in Korea's business hierarchy.
If such a chaebol family's madam mobilizes her connections, expelling one orphan would be nothing.
"I see."
"No... Chan-seong, 'I see' again. What on earth are you thinking?"
"Um...."
"I'll speak first. From what I've observed, Chan-seong, I know you're not a student who would do this kind of thing for no reason. Now tell me. I need to know so I can help you."
"..."
"Do you not trust me? I really want to help you."
If it's Choi Seo-ra, who usually cherishes and cares for her students dearly, her words about wanting to help me wouldn't be a lie.
But I can't reveal my cards yet.
"I'll tell you when I meet Ji-sung's mother later."
"No, Chan-seong...."
"Oh, right. My guardian will be coming too."
"Huh?"
Seo-ra has a puzzled expression.
Well, if I were Seo-ra, I would have been surprised too if a student I knew to be an orphan said their guardian was coming.
"Guardian... did you perhaps find some relatives?"
"It's not like that."
"Then who?"
"You'll know right away when you see them. They said they'd find you right away when they arrive at school. They'll come earlier than Ji-sung's mother."
Oh my, speak of the devil and he appears - I feel a vibration from my pocket.
"Um, teacher? I think they're here now. May I answer the phone?"
"Huh? Oh, yes. If possible, let me talk to them."
I said okay and took out my phone to press the call button.
"Hello."
—Chan-seong, I'm at the first-year faculty office right now, but your homeroom teacher isn't at their seat either, and when I asked, they said they took you out.
There's worry in the voice and also a slightly excited feeling.
Wait, does this person think I'm being dragged away and scolded by my homeroom teacher right now?
"When I came to school, they called me about yesterday's incident, so we're just talking for a moment now."
—You're just talking, right? Where are you?
"This is the female teachers' lounge...."
—Ah, you're there? I know where it is, so I'll be right there.
They hang up the phone right after speaking.
They're not usually like this, but judging by the tone of voice, they seem very worried.
Anyone would think they're a real guardian.
"What should we do? They hung up the phone, but they said they're coming this way now."
"Huh? What do you mean? How does your guardian know this place?"
How would they know....
KNOCK! KNOCK!
It's a knocking sound.
The female teachers' lounge isn't that far from the faculty office, but it hasn't even been 30 seconds, let alone a minute since they hung up.
"I'm coming in."
With a very familiar voice, the door opened simultaneously.
"Hello."
Seo-ra has a completely surprised expression, and that's understandable because the person who opened the door and entered was....
"Ki... Kim Se-jin Hunter?"
"Oh my, thank you for recognizing me."
"No, I mean... why is Kim Se-jin Hunter... don't tell me Kim Se-jin Hunter is Chan-seong's...."
"Yes. I'm the person who became Chan-seong's guardian."
I did ask them to act this way, but hearing it directly feels a bit strange.
"What on earth is this...."
"Chan-seong was a student that Teacher Kang Shin-hyeok was sponsoring."
"I know that too, but... Kim Se-jin Hunter is a major executive of Ares Guild and Chan-seong is still a first-year...."
"If you're worried about tampering, don't worry. I told Chan-seong that if it's okay with him, I would act as his guardian only until he becomes an adult."
Se-jin, when did you anticipate this kind of situation? Even though I asked urgently yesterday, you speak quite well.
"Um... then Chan-seong, now that Kim Se-jin Hunter is here too, why did you do that yesterday... oh, excuse me for a moment."
I hear a vibrating sound from somewhere, and Seo-ra stops talking and turns her head to answer the phone.
I can't hear it well, but it looks like it's Lee Ji-sung's mother.
"Um, the parent of the student who was hit by Chan-seong yesterday has arrived at school now."
As expected.
"Really? I didn't have much time either, so that's good."
"For now, we're supposed to meet in the vice principal's office...."
"I see. I'll get to see the vice principal after a long time."
No, why there again?
No wait. For this kind of matter, it might be better to have the vice principal there too.
It's not that I need help or anything.
We left the female teachers' lounge and followed Seo-ra to arrive at the vice principal's office.
"Well, who is this? It's our school's pride, Se-jin."
He greets Se-jin warmly, but afterwards glares at me fiercely.
"So. So Se-jin became the guardian. Hey, Teacher Choi, did you hear the reason for the assault?"
"Well... not yet. Chan-seong said he would talk about it when Ji-sung's mother comes, in front of everyone...."
"What? He still hasn't come to his senses. Look here, student Chan-seong, what on earth are you thinking? How serious is the current situation? I also talked with Ji-sung's mother, and she's determined to not only expel you but also take criminal action."
"Um, Vice Principal... anyway, Ji-sung's mother has arrived now, so...."
"No, look here, Teacher Choi. Before that, we need to know the reason so we can help."
Is it because it would damage the school's reputation?
There's certainly that reason too, but honestly, the vice principal does care for the students.
It's a bit touching, but I still don't need help.
"Chan-seong is also reflecting a lot and regretting it."
"Does that look like the attitude of someone reflecting? It doesn't seem right at all."
This time the vice principal is wrong.
I don't know about reflecting, but I'm really regretting a lot.
Since it can be healed with magic anyway, I should have beaten him up more. I really regret not being able to do that.
I could have beaten him half to death.
"Oh right, Se-jin, you know since you're the guardian?"
"I do know, but I don't really like repeating the same words. One thing that's certain is that while Chan-seong's assault was definitely wrong, in a way, I was the one who provided the cause...."
"Huh? What do you mean by that?"
As the vice principal raised the question, the door opened and Lee Ji-sung's mother entered with Lee Ji-sung.
I recognized her at a glance since I had seen her before when I was in charge of the entrance during the festival, and I had also made a home visit with Luciel.
Besides, if it's a woman who came here with Lee Ji-sung, it could only be Lee Ji-sung's mother.
"Welcome."
"Is that the bastard?"
Lee Ji-sung looked surprised for a moment when he saw Se-jin, but soon glared at me.
And the woman called mother doesn't even acknowledge the greeting and approaches me with big steps.
Her hand immediately goes up - is she trying to slap me?
It seems like that's what she's trying to do, so I was about to dodge by tilting my head, but there was no need to do that from the start.
"What are you doing?"
Se-jin next to me immediately grabbed her hand to stop her.
"Let go of this? And who are you?"
"I am Chan-seong's guardian."
Se-jin says while letting go of her arm.
"Um, ma'am, please calm down first and take a seat."
Since the atmosphere is tense, the vice principal steps forward to start mediating.
"Do I look like I can calm down right now! Our child was completely beaten to a pulp."
HO-OH, usually when the vice principal mediates due to his appearance, most people tend to follow obediently, but this is impressive.
I guess it's because it's about her child?
"I understand your feelings, ma'am, but he's fine now and has been treated well...."
"You beat someone up and then treat them and that's it? Don't interrupt me! And you're the guardian? I clearly heard he was an orphan bastard with no mother or father, so what...."
"I said I fully understand your feelings, ma'am. But I would appreciate it if you didn't use such bad words."
"HMM HMM, the side that did wrong is being so stubborn, so I got a little excited. Vice Principal, but this isn't right. Whether it's a sister or a relative, if they became the guardian, they should apologize first."
When the vice principal speaks in a low, intimidating voice, Lee Ji-sung's mother also seems unable to hold out this time as her momentum weakens a bit.
What apology?
That's not on my agenda for today.
"There will be no apology."
SIGH, I was going to speak first, but Se-jin beat me to it again this time.
"Se-jin?"
"What? Are you saying those words right now?!"
As if slapping is a habit, this time she tried to hit Se-jin's cheek, but Se-jin isn't someone who would get hit by such an ajumma.
This time the vice principal blocked it.
"You can't keep doing this."
"Our son had his nasal bone and facial bones broken, and several ribs and teeth...."
"But at least he didn't become a vegetable, so that's fortunate, isn't it?"
"Se-jin! What on earth are you saying!"
This time the vice principal yells at Se-jin angrily.
Teacher Kim also has a very surprised expression.
But Lee Ji-sung's expression hardened instantly.
As expected, that bastard is really quick to catch on.
"No, really... where did such nonsense come from! With that running mouth, what kind of words...."
Huh? Doesn't the mother remember?
It was also two years ago, and she might be thinking only about her son getting beaten right now.
"The son over there seems to have noticed. It seems you don't remember, ma'am."
With those words, Se-jin took out a brown document envelope from the bag she was carrying.
The title is written large on the outside.
[1st Hunter School Middle School Vegetative State Incident]
In case it became difficult to get close to Lee Ji-sung or our relationship went sour, I had investigated this.
Since we became close and it wasn't needed, I thought about discarding it, but I kept it just in case the real Min Chan-seong woke up so I could get some compensation from Lee Ji-sung.
"..."
The mother who had been full of vigor also became silent, so it seems she finally remembered.
"Yesterday, I conveyed the contents of this document to Chan-seong over the phone."
"After hearing the story from Kim Se-jin Hunter, my memory came back."