ch 249
Became a Swordsmanship Instructor at the Academy
Chapter 249
"What do you mean? Teacher Kang is dating our Eunseo..."
"When on earth did this start..."
"Crazy, Seong Eunseo, you didn't even tell me."
Eunsu was making a fuss, even hitting Eunseo's back, and both Father and Mother seemed very surprised.
This was the reaction I had expected.
"We only officially started dating recently."
"...I never even thought about it, but as far as I know, Teacher Kang Shin-hyeok is with someone from that Ares Guild..."
"I think it was said that you were dating Guild Master Kim Se-jin."
This was also a question I had expected.
I had never openly declared that I was seeing Se-jin, but most of the official events so far had been with Se-jin.
Moreover, when I disappeared, it was Se-jin who inherited my estate.
I hadn't particularly denied the speculations either.
"I'm also dating Se-jin."
"...What did you say?"
"What are you talking about right now?"
"Teacher?"
"I said that I'm dating Se-jin in addition to Eunseo."
"What on earth does that..."
"What are you trying to do right now? How can you say such...!"
Both of them were so surprised that they couldn't speak properly.
The warm atmosphere had instantly turned cold.
"Um, Hunter Kang Shin-hyeok... this is very confusing, but are you saying you're two-timing right now?"
"That's correct. However..."
"Mom, don't say it like that!"
"What? Eunseo, did you know about this too?"
"Yes. I knew and started dating him."
"Eunseo, why would you..."
"What are you lacking that you would...!"
"Because I like Teacher that much. It's not like Teacher suggested this either. I talked it over with Se-jin Unni and we decided to do this."
Geez... Eunseo is saying everything I should be saying.
"I chose this, so everyone just don't say anything and congratulate me... Brother?"
Even so, I couldn't just leave it all to Eunseo, so I took Eunseo's hand to stop her, but Father interrupted and stood in front of me.
"Ah... Dad?"
"I know that Teacher Kang is a truly remarkable person, but this isn't right. How can you make our Eunseo a concubine..."
"A concubine? I have never once thought of her that way."
"Then is our Eunseo the first? Even if that's the case, this isn't right."
"There's no such thing. Both Eunseo and Se-jin are my first."
"Do you call that talking right now...! I'm really disappointed."
"I didn't think you were that kind of person... Are you meeting our Eunseo with a light heart?"
Now even Mother... Eunsu isn't saying anything, but the expression she's looking at me with is definitely not kind.
I myself know that I'm indecisive.
That's why I had postponed making a choice until now, using the excuse that the only answer was no romance.
However, once I make a decision, I'm the type to push through to the end without ever looking back.
Even when I decided to cut ties with my family in my previous life, I spent countless hours agonizing over it, but for the 10 years from when I cut ties until I died, I never contacted them first even once.
Luciel, Eunseo, and Se-jin—these three made the proposal on behalf of indecisive me, and I made the decision.
So I absolutely cannot back down.
"I understand that you two are disappointed, but this wasn't an easy decision for me either. I'm not meeting anyone with a light heart."
"Isn't that more of a problem? If it's not a light heart, then what about the future..."
"In the future, I will naturally be with both of them."
"Do you think that makes sense? Then who will you marry..."
"I'll obtain citizenship in a country where polygamy is possible and marry both of them simultaneously, so you don't need to worry about that. I have sufficient capability to do so."
"Yes, Teacher Kang has the ability, so you could do that. But Teacher Kang isn't just anyone—you're a globally famous person. Do you think people will just sit still?"
"I will bear all the criticism."
If the media makes it an issue, I plan to say that I passionately courted and clung to both of them.
No, I'm even thinking of erasing any media that makes such criticisms from this world.
My happiness and the happiness of the people I love are most important.
"Do you think things will go according to your plan, Teacher? Besides, I don't understand how one person can love two people at the same time. So if our Eunseo and that Se-jin Hunter both fell into the ocean, who would you save first?"
"If you're with me, such a thing won't happen. I'll stake my life on making both of them happy."
"That's why I said 'if.' If you can't even answer something like this properly..."
"Yes. As Mother said, if such a thing were to happen, I would stake my life to save both of them. If two people fell into the ocean, I wouldn't save one first—I would evaporate the entire ocean."
"What kind of nonsense is that..."
"Mother's hypothetical doesn't make sense to begin with. I will absolutely never create a situation where both of them are in danger."
"Y-you speak well, but living life..."
"Even if Mother and Father oppose it, I will absolutely never give up on Eunseo. It may be hard for you to understand right now, but I promise you both. I will stake everything I have to make Eunseo the happiest person in this world."
***
"So what happened?"
"Yeah. Stop beating around the bush and tell us quickly."
I understand why Se-jin is curious since she needs to have the same conversation as Eunseo, but I didn't expect even Luciel to show interest.
"...I didn't get an answer."
Both parents said they needed to talk with Eunseo and asked me to excuse myself.
Eunseo also said she would handle the conversation well, so I gave my greetings and left the house.
I was worried about Eunseo and thought about staying until they gave permission, but no matter how I thought about it, that didn't seem right...
Anyway, I had said everything I needed to say, so I felt somewhat relieved.
Now the bowstring had left my hand.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Luciel looked incredulous.
"It really isn't easy..."
Se-jin's expression had darkened considerably.
"Don't worry too much. As I said in the conversation earlier, I absolutely won't give up. Even if your parents oppose it, Se-jin, I'll keep visiting them and asking for permission until they allow it."
"I'm still... planning to tell them a bit later."
"I see."
Se-jin went back to work, and I stuck close to Luciel, who was turning on her laptop.
"Why?"
"Are you really okay?"
"Huh? With what?"
"When I talked to Eunseo's parents this time, I didn't mention you..."
Honestly, whether it's two-timing or three-timing, it's all trash, but I didn't say anything because of Luciel's identity.
'I have two other people I like besides Eunseo, and one of them isn't human but an angel.'
If I said that, they would think I was joking.
And I couldn't call Luciel to that place to prove it.
If I asked, she would come, but when they're already upset, if I added that problem too...
"Oh, what am I saying? I already said I was fine with that."
Of course, it wasn't my unilateral decision—I naturally asked Luciel for her understanding beforehand.
I thought she might be a little upset, but Luciel said she had no intention of appearing before the public anyway.
She said that even revealing her identity to Eunseo wouldn't have happened if Eunseo wasn't my lover.
It's a bit embarrassing to say, but Luciel coolly gave permission, saying that since she only needed me, I should do that if it would make persuasion easier.
"Still..."
"I'm really okay, so don't worry about it. I talked it all over with the kids."
"Talked?"
"A week has 7 days, but there are three of us, right? If we divide it by 2 days each, there's one day left, right?"
"Uh... huh?"
I hadn't really thought about dividing up the days of the week to meet like this.
"In exchange for not mentioning me this time, that remaining day became mine."
"...What's that about?"
"No good? Then never mind."
...Seeing how coolly she gives up, I can feel that wanting one more day was just an excuse.
"...Thank you."
"I heard you don't say things like that between lovers?"
"Where did you hear that again?"
"It was in a drama Master was watching."
She smiled brightly and pulled me in with her wing, then kissed me.
I was a bit startled, but this time I kissed her back.
"Nice picture, isn't it?"
...As soon as I heard Master's voice, Luciel disappeared.
"No... Master!"
"What, kid. It's not like I nagged you not to do it."
He's grinning while starting a campfire, and after ruining the whole mood, he's so annoying.
"Are you having ramen again? I heard you had some an hour ago."
"What I ate earlier was a snack; this time it's a late-night snack. Are you going to eat too?"
Isn't that the same thing?
"I'm fine. Don't keep popping up suddenly and startling me."
"This kid is really giving his master a hard time. What did I do wrong? I just said it was a nice picture because it was nice."
"I know Master is lonely being single, but you can't interfere with your disciple's romantic endeavors."
"Who... who said I was lonely?"
"Stop pretending. As I told you before, there's a nice grandmother... Ack!"
He came over and gave me a knock on the head.
Really, that Zhang Sambong fellow is also completely unreliable.
He said that once I mastered Absolute Domain, I wouldn't have to worry about getting knocked on the head anymore.
Of course, now I can defend and dodge about five times out of ten, but when Master gets serious, I get hit without fail.
Not just the head knocks—even during the last beating disguised as sparring, I couldn't properly fight back.
Just how strong is Master?
"Anyway, your problem is that mouth of yours."
"...Isn't it because you're bothered by it?"
"Want to get hit one more time? It's not like that, so just fill this with water."
He put a pot on the campfire he had skillfully lit and told me to fill it, so I filled it with water using magic.
"You really don't need any, right?"
"I said I don't need any... This won't do. You're going to eat all of this and then we're sparring."
"Are you going to beat me up under the pretense of sparring again?"
"Oh my, beating up? I'm graciously sparring with you for your skill improvement. Tsk tsk."
He speaks so smoothly.
What help is such one-sided beating?
"Rather than that kind of sparring, couldn't you give me some real guidance?"
"Didn't Sambong teach you Absolute Domain?"
"I've already mastered that. Zhang also said it was sufficient."
"Sufficient, my foot. It only looks that way to that guy's level."
"That's why I'm asking you to give me some guidance."
Honestly, with my current skills, I could probably defeat the Demon King sufficiently.
But I'm not confident about facing those Outer Gods or Evil Gods that Heavenly Honoured one warned about.
"I told you before, right? Don't try to shoulder everything by yourself."
Of course, Heavenly Honoured one said it wasn't a confirmed future, and Master also said I didn't need to shoulder everything alone, but...
Right, even if those Evil Gods or Outer Gods don't appear by heavenly fortune, I want to become stronger and develop.
"You definitely said that. I understand what you mean, but I want to become stronger."
Because I'm also a martial artist, setting aside all these problems.
"...You're already strong enough. Even by martial world standards, there was no one with your level of skill at your age."
Before, he said kids like me were a dime a dozen, but now he's acknowledging me?
But I'm not happy at all.
Is teaching that bothersome?
"Still... then at least tell me about the next stage, the next level. I need to know something like that to make an effort, don't I?"
You need to have goals to make efforts and develop.
Master pondered for a moment, then threw a question instead of an answer.
"What type of sect is our Xiantian Sect?"