ch 250
Became a Swordsmanship Instructor at the Academy.
Chapter 250
I don't understand why he's suddenly asking this kind of question about lineage.
Is he trying to test my memory or something?
When I first learned martial arts from Master, I naturally heard various explanations including the history of the sect.
To be honest, I listened half-heartedly and forgot most of it, but I'm not so forgetful that I can't remember the lineage.
"Isn't it Taoist lineage?"
"That's right. Then what would be the ultimate goal of a Taoist lineage sect?"
Ultimate goal?
"Perhaps ascension?"
From the first sect leader of Xiantian Sect until now, all the sect leaders have supposedly ascended.
Just recently, people from the immortal realm came to tell Master to ascend too.
"Correct. It's ascension."
"Then is my next stage ascension? I don't really want to go to the immortal realm."
I don't know much about the immortal realm or ascension, but it's probably not something I can go to with my lovers.
"Well, I can't say for certain, but if it's you, Shin-hyeok, I'd say you've gotten somewhat close to it."
"Can't I just refuse like Master did?"
"That's not the problem."
Hmm... Then what is the problem?
What, are they going to forcibly take me there?
Come to think of it, when Master received the invitation, they tried to take him by force when he refused.
Our Master beat up the immortals who came to take him and refused.
But that was because Master was ridiculously strong - could I do the same?
If I fought Zhang Sambong who taught me Absolute Domain last time, I'd lose a hundred out of a hundred times.
"If they try to forcibly take me, can't Master stop them?"
But I have Master.
"That's not the problem I'm talking about."
"Then what is the problem?"
"To become an immortal, you must abandon the Five Desires and Seven Emotions."
"By Five Desires and Seven Emotions, do you mean sleep desire, sexual desire, appetite, desire for fame... things like that?"
"Those would be one type, but more precisely, the 'Five' in Five Desires refers to ear (耳), eye (目), mouth (口), nose (鼻), and body (身). In other words, Five Desires are desiring the pleasures you can obtain through your body, and Seven Emotions are the seven emotions: joy (喜), anger (怒), love (愛), pleasure (樂), sorrow (哀), hate (惡), and desire (慾)."
Suddenly the atmosphere feels like ethics class.
"So you're saying I have to abandon all of those to become an immortal?"
"That's right."
"Wait a minute. For all that talk, Master, you're incredibly greedy about food... Ouch!"
Why another flick to the head?
"I can do that because I've already transcended that stage. When I met you, Shin-hyeok, I had already surpassed that stage."
"Then if I also transcend that stage..."
"When I met you, I was alone with nothing - no possessions, no connections, nothing. But you're not the same, are you, Shin-hyeok?"
"Huh? What do you mean by that..."
"I don't need to ask about other things, so I'll just ask one thing. Shin-hyeok, could you abandon your wives?"
...I was suddenly struck speechless.
Of course it's impossible.
Luciel, Se-jin, and Eunseo are the reason for my existence and everything to me.
"Isn't there another way?"
"Well. There might be another way. But since I haven't walked that path either, I can't say for certain."
So this is why Master didn't teach me more martial arts.
I realize it now, but does this mean I can't develop any further from here...
Right now I'm busy with many things I've started and the academy is still in its first term so I'm very busy, but once things settle down and I have some leisure time, I was planning to devote myself to martial arts training...
"I know well that you're busy with various things to prepare for the future that's coming, Shin-hyeok. But as I said before, you don't need to shoulder everything by yourself. Don't you have this Master?"
Master, unusually for him, patted my shoulder a couple of times and went into the camping car.
Those are very reassuring words and I trust Master, but somehow my heart doesn't feel at ease.
***
"Thank you for your hard work."
"You worked hard."
I half-heartedly received the trainees' greetings and returned to the principal's office.
There's a pile of documents stacked up, but I didn't even glance at them and immediately changed clothes.
Eunseo didn't come to work at the academy today.
When she wasn't visible at the morning faculty meeting, I inquired and was told she took leave.
When I contacted her, she said she was in the middle of talking and would try to persuade them well, but it seems her parents are still very much opposed.
I'm preparing to visit right after work.
If today doesn't work, tomorrow, if tomorrow doesn't work, the day after, I plan to keep visiting until they give permission.
Honestly, Eunseo is an adult and permission isn't strictly necessary, but if we proceed that way, Eunseo's heart won't be at ease.
I finished changing clothes and was about to call Eunseo to confirm if both father and mother are home, when I felt vibration from my pocket.
I thought it was Eunseo, but it's an unknown number.
I was about to ignore it but pressed the call button.
"Hello?"
—Is this Hunter Kang Shin-hyeok's phone?
It's a familiar voice.
"Ah... Father?"
—Yes. It's me. Could we meet today? If you're busy, please let me know when you're available. I...
"Ah... No sir. Yes. It's possible. Should I come to your house then?"
—No. I'd like to meet just the two of us separately. I'll send you the location.
"Yes. I understand."
Not long after hanging up, a text message arrived.
When I searched for it, it's a restaurant not too far from Eunseo's house.
Father said it would take about 30 minutes, but I left immediately.
Arriving by teleportation magic and taxi, it's quite a large-scale Japanese restaurant.
When the staff asked if I had a reservation, I gave them Eunseo's father's name and was guided to a private room.
I checked my appearance in the mirror and started running countless simulations in my head.
The fact that he wants to meet separately like this means he's probably still opposed.
How can I change the parents' minds? I was thinking of all sorts of things when the door opened.
"Oh? You came early. I should have arrived first. Traffic was quite heavy."
"Ah... Not at all. It's rush hour, so that's perfectly understandable."
"You haven't eaten yet, right? Let me order first."
"Yes."
He rang the bell and a server came in to take our food order.
After the server left, an awkward silence flowed.
"Um..."
"I..."
"Please speak first."
"Yes. Then I'll go first. After Teacher Kang left yesterday, I had a long talk with Eunseo. It seems Eunseo really likes Teacher Kang very much."
"I like and love her much more."
"I thought about it a lot. Yesterday and today too - I couldn't focus on work at all."
"I'm sorry."
"No. Honestly, I still have doubts about whether you can love two people simultaneously and equally, but..."
"There will absolutely be no discrimination. I really..."
"I haven't finished talking yet..."
"I'm sorry."
"I can see that Teacher Kang is sincere. On one hand, I also thought whether it's right for me to oppose it unconditionally when Eunseo likes you so much. Even though I'm Eunseo's father, it's not right for me to decide Eunseo's life as I please."
"Ah... Father."
"All I want is Eunseo's happiness. Your answer yesterday was quite impressive too. My wife still seems displeased, but what she wants is also Eunseo's happiness, so I'll talk to her well."
"Does that mean...!"
"She's lacking as a daughter, but please take good care of our Eunseo."
Father's hand holding mine tightly as he spoke was really warm.
"Really... Thank you. As much as you've entrusted her to me, I'll do my absolute best to make Eunseo happier than anyone else in the world."
***
"Let's conclude today's meeting with this."
"Yes. Thank you for your hard work."
"You worked hard."
The first opening ceremony feels like it was just yesterday, but before we know it, the graduation ceremony for the first batch of trainees is approaching in a week.
Most of today's meeting content was also related to the graduation ceremony.
There's still a week left, but with many reporters and dignitaries coming, there are many things to prepare.
Right after the graduation ceremony ends, the second batch of trainees is scheduled to enter two days later.
Besides that, I also need to check on the global shelter construction situation and portal detection radar system sharing progress that Se-jin brought.
Including Korea, construction is actively progressing in most developed countries, and support funds for developing countries have accumulated sufficiently and execution has been completed.
Currently, construction companies from all over the world are sending love calls to Se-jin to handle developing countries' shelter construction.
I hear the lobbying attempts are no joke either, since handling just one country would mean profits of at least hundreds of billions.
When I returned to the principal's office, documents were piled up like a mountain as usual.
Sigh, I wonder if I'll really die from being overwhelmed by work.
I thought work would decrease a little as time passed, but there's too much to do.
Being this busy, I haven't been able to spend proper time with the girls, let alone go on dates.
I can't even remember when we last went on a date.
Looking at the amount of piled documents, it seems like overtime is confirmed today too.
I sighed once and sat down to examine the documents when I heard a knock.
"Come in."
The door opened and Eunseo entered.
"Teacher, dinner tonight... looks difficult, doesn't it?"
"It probably will be."
"I'll tell dad and mom that I can't come because I have a lot of work."
"What? My mother-in-law and father-in-law called for you? Then I should make time somehow."
They say there's no parent who can beat their child, and that saying was right.
Following father's permission, from the next day Eunseo officially came to work, and mother also eventually gave permission.
The day after meeting father, both father and mother came to visit the academy.
I thought they came to talk again because of father's persuasion, but it wasn't that - it was because of Eunseo's lie.
This Eunseo in front of me, grinning innocently, told an outrageous lie that she was pregnant with my child.
Thanks to that, father who had spoken positively and given permission the previous day was also greatly angered, saying this wasn't right and that he'd reconsider, and mother was furious asking how this could happen - it was really bewildering.
In the end, Eunseo and I went to the obstetrics and gynecology clinic together to confirm that it wasn't true.
Of course, that incident helped me get permission as mother felt very sorry toward me.
It worked out well in the end, but even now when I think about that time... whew, it's chilling.
"Brother? Why are you suddenly shivering?"
"It's nothing."
"You've confirmed the final list of second batch trainees, right?"
"Yeah. Your sister is in the second batch?"
"Even when I told her I'd teach her personally, she insisted she wanted to learn from brother. I'll have to work her really hard when she comes."
"Haha..."
"Um... Brother, I can teach her the advanced course too, right?"
Eunseo asks while carefully watching my expression, but I don't know why she's worried about something like this.
"Of course you can. She's not just anyone, she's family. Not just Eunsu, but I'd be fine with teaching father and mother too."
"Thank you."
She hugs me and gives me a kiss on the cheek.
Looking at this, Eunseo has really changed a lot.
Before, she was really shy and embarrassed about everything.
Of course, whether it's the old Eunseo or the current Eunseo, I like both the same.
"You two there, what are you doing right now?"
At the familiar voice, I turn around to see Se-jin standing there with an armful of documents, having arrived at some point.
"Sister, Se-jin?"
I thought she had already left this morning...
"Didn't you say you'd only work at school?"
She approaches me with a sideways glance.
"No, this was just like a greeting..."
"Since when did Korean greetings become cheek kisses?"
Right, Eunseo. I know you're flustered, but that's too unreasonable an excuse... Huh?
"Then I should greet you too."
As soon as Se-jin finished speaking, I felt a soft sensation on my lips.
"Sister, that's cheating. I only did it on the cheek."
"Cheating? If you're upset, you can kiss him too, Eunseo."
Haha... I think I could die now without any regrets.
"You don't have plans tomorrow evening, right?"
"Tomorrow? I don't have any schedule tomorrow, but why?"
"Why do you think? I told you my brother is coming home tomorrow. I want to talk to him too. You weren't planning to not visit our house, were you?"
"No... Of course not. I understand. I'll prepare."
The first time is hard, but the second time should be a bit better.
Still, I can't help but feel nervous.
"Sister, fighting! What I told you last time..."
"Oh, that? I'm planning to bring it up depending on tomorrow's situation."
"What are you talking about?"
"I told her that if there's strong opposition, I'll also say that Teacher got me pregnant like Eunseo did."
"Th... That's not right!"
"Why not? According to Eunseo, this method is the best."
I take back what I said about dying without regrets.
I might really die tomorrow.