Ch 223
Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy
Chapter 223
After confirming that everyone was asleep, I used teleportation magic to arrive at the portal.
When I entered the portal and went to the RV, I found Luciel and Se-jin talking around a campfire.
"You're here?"
"Yeah. Se-jin was here too? It's late, don't you need to go?"
"Tomorrow's the weekend."
"You usually work on weekends too."
"Hehe, I didn't have much work this week."
"You must be getting used to it now."
"That's right. Though I have to go out on Sunday because I promised to go portal raiding with the A Team, tomorrow is completely free."
The way she's looking at me with sparkling eyes feels like she's about to pester me to go on a date with her since she's free tomorrow...
"That's nice. I still have festival practice tomorrow."
"Preparation? What are you doing? Don't tell me it's singing again?"
"There's no way I'd do that. My class just decided to do a play."
"Oh, what play?"
"Romeo and Juliet."
"Huh? I know that one too."
Luciel, who was eating a chocolate bar, chimed in.
"How do you know that?"
"I saw it in a book."
"That's a real classic. Everyone knows the content, so it won't be very popular."
"That's why we changed it a bit. It's a love story between a rich girl student and a terribly poor teacher."
"Really? Then it'll be interesting. What role is Teacher playing? Romeo, as expected?"
"Shin-hyeok definitely suits it since he's good at charming students."
"Hey, Luciel... what's that supposed to mean?"
"Se-jin was your student too. That other one is also your student."
...I can't argue back because it's not wrong.
"It's not just students. Someone who can charm even angels would find students a piece of cake."
Even Se-jin. When I see moments like this, they really get along well.
It's not like I deliberately charmed anyone, and when you think about it, they all said they liked me first.
"Both of you stop it. I'm not the protagonist anyway."
"Then what role are you playing? If it's a class play, the whole class participates, right?"
"Everyone participates, but not everyone acts. I'm in charge of props and backgrounds."
"Aw, I was going to go watch if Teacher was performing, but I guess there's no need."
"I was also going to go watch with Se-jin if Shin-hyeok was acting. I won't go."
"Good thinking. It's an annual festival and there probably won't be much to see anyway. Just rest instead."
"Still, I'm supposed to be a guardian, so I should go. And I have some work too."
"Did you donate to the festival or something?"
"Not money, but Stevia is scheduled to perform at this year's celebration."
"It's not free, right?"
"It is free though."
"Hey, that won't do. If you keep doing those things for free, the school will get spoiled."
"I wasn't even thinking about it, but the Stevia members suggested it first."
"Huh? Why?"
"They said they wanted to do it because they got to know Teacher through the school performance and received help."
"Was there such a thing? I didn't do anything particularly great."
Except for helping at the beginning, I didn't pay any attention at all, so it's somewhat embarrassing.
Of course, the school performance isn't particularly beneficial to me, but still, they're doing it because they're grateful to me.
"How are the Stevia members doing these days? Is the company okay?"
"Yes. It's surprisingly profitable. They're in a break period now, but the reaction to their last album was really good."
"That's a relief."
"It's all thanks to Teacher."
"What did I even do? You're the one who's been working hard, Se-jin."
"Don't just say that, how about coming to our Ares Guild when you finish your student life this year?"
Hmm, a guild...
"If Teacher comes, I'd be happy to give you the guild master position."
"Isn't that a burden? I've seen all the hardships you go through, so you're trying to dump it on me?"
"Ah, you caught me."
"It won't work."
"Still, I'm sincere about wanting you to come to our guild. Most of Teacher's disciples decided to come to our guild this time too."
"Did you already sign contracts?"
"Already? It's December now. Third-year students can contact guilds starting from the second semester."
"Really? I thought it would start in earnest next year since there are usually many contract announcement articles during vacation."
"If we did that, we'd lose all the promising talents. The announcements are just made in January."
When I asked Se-jin who went where, she said she happened to have a list and showed it to me.
When I checked, not only did the four-person group of Jinsu, Minhee, Eunsu, and Eunseo sign with Ares Guild, but most of the students who were in our class during their second year also signed contracts with Ares Guild.
"Didn't you recruit too many? Just because I taught them doesn't mean you have to accept them all."
There must be other talented students too, so I'm a bit concerned that they might have accepted everyone just to appease me.
"The disciples would be hurt if they heard that. We thoroughly analyzed and contracted each one. Originally, students from 1st Hunter School are the top recruitment priority for all guilds if they have average grades."
"Really? Looking at the list, they're all decent kids."
"So Teacher, please come to our guild when you finish your student life. If you don't want to be master, you can be vice guild master."
I didn't give a definite answer and said I'd think about it.
When I return as Kang Shin-hyeok, the first thing I need to do is wage war against Antas.
If I become affiliated with Ares Guild, I might receive a lot of help with various things, but there's also the possibility that Se-jin's Ares Guild could become a concentrated target.
Honestly, since I'm not lacking in force, any help would probably be obtaining information, and I can ask for that even without being affiliated with a guild.
***
Weekends really pass by quickly.
After eating breakfast and lounging around in the dormitory, it was already 8:50.
I quickly changed clothes and headed to the small auditorium.
Actually, since I'm in charge of props, there's nothing particular for me to practice.
The prop and background production was all finished yesterday. But the installation remained for today.
Still, it should be finished by morning, so after lunch I'll tutor Eunseo and maybe ask Se-jin to go on a date in the afternoon.
When I arrived at the auditorium and waited while chatting with my classmates, Choi Seo-ra arrived.
"Is everyone here?"
"Yes."
"Good. Then the prop team should install the props on stage together, and we actors should do a rehearsal."
Lee Ji-sung didn't come, but since he wasn't originally participating, no one mentions it.
Choi Seo-ra doesn't show any sign of it either.
I don't particularly feel sorry for him.
You reap what you sow.
Of course, the incident of turning Min Chan-seong into a vegetable and covering it up was committed by Lee Ji-sung before the possession, not by that guy, but mocking and insulting Eunseo was done by that guy.
Last time, he seemed to be desperately trying to approach the vice principal and expose Choi Seo-ra's identity to somehow clean up his image, but no way.
I already told the vice principal in advance that Seo-ra was a double agent I had infiltrated.
If it proceeds according to the original story, besides Choi Seo-ra being an Antas member, Antas Korea members were supposed to infiltrate the school and commit terrorism during this year's festival.
I've already prepared for this part too.
I asked Se-jin to investigate the personnel entering and exiting the school including teachers, and received an answer that there were no personnel changes in the past year.
She also said there were no special movements in Antas Korea's activities.
Originally, the reason Antas Korea members could penetrate the thorough school security in the original story was because Choi Seo-ra cooperated.
I don't think I need to worry more, but just in case, I'm planning to visit Hong Man-sik tomorrow.
Since I went to his house once before, it would be simple to use teleportation magic.
While I'm at it, wouldn't it be fine to take care of him?
"Chan-seong?"
"Huh? Yeah."
"What are you thinking about? Give me that tree picture over there."
"It's nothing."
I thought it would be finished quickly, but it took quite a while because there were many things to organize and many items that were made too carelessly had to be remade.
Still, after finishing everything and looking at the stage that turned out quite decent, I feel rewarded and proud.
"Everyone really worked hard. Let's tell the teacher and leave quickly."
"I don't see the teacher?"
"Did she go to the bathroom?"
The rehearsal kids seemed a bit chaotic, but I guess it was because Seo-ra wasn't there.
"Nam Ji-hyeon, where did the teacher go? We finished all the installation."
"Minhee's grandfather passed away, so the teacher went to take Minhee there."
Oh no... That's sad.
"Ah... What do we do? That's terrible."
"Wait. Then what about our play? Minhee is the female lead."
"Will she come to school on Monday?"
"I heard Minhee's hometown is Jeju Island."
"If her grandfather passed away, she'll probably take three days off."
"We were just talking about that, but is there anyone among you who wants to play the female lead?"
When we first decided on roles, there were many kids who wanted to do it, but unlike then, no one readily steps forward now.
"Doesn't anyone want to do it?"
It can't be helped because, although it's a short 40-minute play performed by kids, since it's the female protagonist, the lines and stage directions are quite substantial.
The festival starts Monday. This is completely screwed.
Are we going to cancel it like this?
It's too wasteful of the time we spent preparing for that.
"Nam Ji-hyeon, why don't you do it?"
"Me... me?"
"Since you wrote the script, you must have almost memorized the lines."
"Right. Since Ji-hyeon wrote the script, she'll memorize it faster than us."
"Right, Nam Ji-hyeon, you do it."
"That's right. You and Ji-an get along well too."
When I first recommended Nam Ji-hyeon, everyone agreed, but Nam Ji-hyeon glared at me.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Everyone worked hard preparing, are we going to cancel it like this?"
"Chan-seong is right. The festival is the day after tomorrow, and we don't have time to prepare something else."
"If there are no volunteers, the writer should be the substitute."
"No... that's..."
Nam Ji-hyeon, this girl looks completely flustered.
"Didn't you say you were in the drama club?"
"I only wrote scripts in the club. Acting is..."
"Still, you'd be better than us who have never done a play before, right?"
Why is she being so evasive?
"I... I can't act."
Geez, what's the big deal.
"Hey, the festival visitors don't have high expectations either. It's not like we're professional actors, and no one expects incredibly great acting. We worked hard preparing, so instead of canceling it, just..."
"...I really can't do it!"
She shouted and left right away, but why go to such extremes?
Come to think of it, she's supposed to use honorifics and greet me throughout the second semester, but she's been subtly ignoring me since the Lee Ji-sung incident.
That aside, still, it's a script she wrote, so she shouldn't be so irresponsible... TSK TSK.
"Hey, guys, Ji-hyeon really can't act. Every time we do a play in drama club, we hold auditions, but Ji-hyeon is really at the level of an elementary school student reading a Korean textbook, so she only writes scripts..."
Seong Ji-an steps forward to defend her.
I really didn't know it was that seriously bad.
I feel a bit sorry for pushing her too hard.
"Ji-an, then what do we do?"
Right. After practicing every day after homeroom and making props, even giving up precious weekends like today to prepare...
While everyone was worrying, Seong Ji-an's eyes lit up as she spoke.
"Hey, guys! How about this?"
"Did you think of a good idea?"
"I'll play the female lead."
"Huh? You're the male lead. Are you going to play two roles?"
"Hey, that's a bit much."
I think the same.
"That's not it. The male lead has somewhat fewer lines than the female lead. Since I practiced with Minhee, I think I can memorize it by Monday if I try."
Several girls said it was a good idea and told us to discuss who wants to play the male lead, but again, no one steps forward.
Honestly, the male lead also has fewer lines compared to the female lead. In reality, it's not few at all... Wait. Why is Seong Ji-an looking at me?
Somehow I feel uneasy.
"Um... Chan-seong, could you take the male lead role?"
"Me, me?"
"They say kids learning magic have good memorization skills because they have to memorize spells and formulas."
It's not wrong, but...
"There are many other kids in our class learning magic besides me."
"What do you mean many, there are only three. Min-woo is already playing a friend role. The other one is..."
That's Lee Ji-sung.
"Right. Chan-seong, you should do it."
"That's right. You have the best grades in the magic class."
"What are you talking about? I completely bombed the test this time."
"That's because you took it while catching up."
"We worked hard preparing... You'll do it, right?"
"Min Chan-seong! Min Chan-seong!"
...I'm going crazy.