ch 251
Became a Swordsmanship Instructor at the Academy
Chapter 251
Three years have passed.
"Oh... no, Principal, it's time for you to go now."
She was about to call me brother but realized there was another teacher nearby and hurriedly corrected her form of address.
"Let's go, Teacher Seo."
Today is the graduation ceremony for the first batch of trainees.
Although it was a short period of three months, all the first batch trainees had learned internal energy cultivation methods above 3-star level, Chan-seong who I paid special attention to reached 4-star level, and Bianca Rowell who showed exceptional talent even learned up to 5-star level.
The Wudang Sect's mental cultivation method develops at an absurdly slow pace, but each and every trainee here is a talent that stands out in the world.
Of course, I taught them well too.
We'll continue to accept trainees in the future, but since these trainees have to return to their respective countries and teach internal energy cultivation methods, I paid special attention to them.
When I entered the auditorium, not only the trainees but also more people had come compared to the entrance ceremony... no, it seemed like even more people had come.
The President didn't come, but the Prime Minister and the Minister of Hunter Affairs along with political figures, chairmen of companies supporting the Academy, ambassadors from the trainees' countries, and various guild officials filled the auditorium to capacity.
I could see Se-jin in the crowd too.
I met Se-jin's parents five days ago, and although they were very worried, I received their permission relatively easily.
Se-jin was already known publicly as having that kind of relationship with me, and previously Kim Dae-chan had come to me separately asking me not to discriminate against Se-jin because of him.
Of course, when I mentioned Eun-seo's story, he looked at me with an expression as if he wanted to kill me completely.
Still, perhaps because I had experienced it once before, I didn't cower and stated my beliefs, and eventually received permission.
I wanted to greet them, but since all eyes were focused on me, I only exchanged light eye greetings and stepped onto the platform.
"It feels like yesterday that I met all you trainees here, but three months have already passed. First of all, thank you all for your hard work over the past three months. There were trainees who had considerable positions outside or were even my colleagues, but not a single one of you asserted authority or complained, and you all followed the Academy curriculum well to stand here today. I am proud of you trainees. You have worked hard."
Applause poured out.
I raised my hand to calm them down and continued speaking.
"Most of the trainees will return to their respective countries and work to pass on what they learned at the Academy. The future I have seen was quite grim. Countless people will lose their families and loved ones, and the world will fall into great chaos. However, your future is not set in stone. This Principal will do his best to change such a future, and if the trainees here also work hard, I believe we can definitely change the future. Saving more lives, and furthermore saving the world - all of this depends on your hands."
I was a little nervous, but since I had practiced several times since yesterday, I think I did quite well without major mistakes.
The trainees' reactions were all quite encouraging too.
If there had been any trainee fooling around or making indifferent expressions, I would have been a little disappointed, but I couldn't see a single such person.
"Finally, trainees, although you graduate from the Academy today, your training is not yet over. You still have infinite possibilities for growth open to you. You'll be very busy after today, but if you don't forget what you learned at the Academy and continue training steadily, you'll make further progress. I wish you all success."
I bowed and came down from the platform.
To shake hands with each trainee one by one and encourage them at the end.
This opinion came up during the faculty meeting, and I opposed it because I felt it was a bit cringeworthy, but everyone else agreed so I had no choice.
Still, actually shaking hands with each person one by one wasn't too bad.
There were trainees with solemn expressions, trainees with tears welling up in their eyes - all different types, but not a single person had a playful expression.
I also finished the graduation ceremony with a somewhat sentimental feeling.
After exchanging greetings with foreign guests and being caught by reporters to answer questions, I returned to the principal's office.
The first thing to greet me was a mountain of documents piled up.
No matter how much I do, that pile never decreases.
Still, since I also held a graduation ceremony today, should I leave work a little early?
Not only the regular teachers but even the administrative staff are all leaving work today.
I won't be able to have a date with Eunseo for once.
Starting today is her vacation, and tomorrow is the weekend, so Eunseo said this morning that she would meet friends she hasn't seen in a long time.
Then Se-jin... won't work either.
After the graduation ceremony earlier, she said she was busy, greeted me briefly, and left right away.
Then today I should go to Master, buy him something delicious for lunch, and play with Luciel.
Looking at the piled up documents makes me feel a little guilty, but just as I was thinking I should do a little work before going, I heard a knock.
"Come in."
I thought it might be Eunseo, but the one who opened the door and entered was Chan-seong with a large backpack.
"Chan-seong student? Didn't you return to school?"
"They contacted me saying there's a lot of traffic so it will take time. More than that, I... wanted to express my gratitude to you, Teacher."
"Huh? What's with the sudden formality."
"No. I'm really grateful!"
He bows his head almost 90 degrees.
"What's wrong?"
"Actually, I was filled with negative thoughts until I came here."
"Huh?"
"I was really grateful that you saved me, Teacher, but I felt like I alone was too far behind. When I awakened before, I was apparently good at both studying and magic, but there were no memories or traces left at all, and the friends I knew were all different from my memories. Most crucially, that bastard Lee Ji-sung was a nasty guy who used to bully me, but he was close with my friends..."
...I expected it, but it seems he suffered a lot mentally because I borrowed his name.
"I felt a lot of self-loathing and felt so pathetic. Although Ji-an and other friends helped me a lot, I felt like I couldn't keep up at all and was about to return to middle school, and that's when you gave me the Academy admission notice, Teacher."
"Was the education very difficult?"
As far as I know, Chan-seong took not only martial arts but also general subjects taught at Hunter School.
Since general classes were elective, there weren't many students, so they were conducted almost in a 1:1 education format, and all the teachers praised him saying he was really diligent.
"Honestly, it would be a lie to say it wasn't difficult, but I don't care. Your admission notice, Teacher, this Academy itself was like a ray of light, salvation itself for me. I'm really grateful. Now that I'm returning to school, I don't know when I'll be able to see you again, Teacher, so I really wanted to convey these words."
The emotion I felt earlier when shaking hands with the trainees came back.
I admitted Chan-seong to the Academy and took care of him a little as compensation for using his name without permission, but I didn't specifically look after his martial arts or anything like that.
If I had done that, there might have been gossip about only taking care of Korean students.
But even so, coming to find me separately to express gratitude like this makes me a little embarrassed... and on the other hand, it's rewarding and fulfilling.
"I will definitely repay this kindness later..."
"You don't need to repay me. When you grow up, Chan-seong, if you help other people, that's enough."
"Yes! Just like you helped me, Teacher, I'll become a wonderful Hunter who can help other people too."
Chan-seong answering with a voice full of confidence is really admirable.
"Good, Teacher will also look forward to it."
"Then I'll be going now..."
"You're leaving already? You said it would take some time for Hunter School to pick you up because of traffic, didn't you?"
"That's true, but you seem very busy, Teacher..."
Oh my, now I see he also noticed the mountain of documents piled up behind me.
"I am a bit busy, but it's not urgent... Good, I'm in a good mood. Is that all your luggage?"
"Yes? Yes, that's right, but..."
"Teacher will take you to school."
It's not just anyone but Chan-seong, so I can provide this much service.
I grabbed the bewildered Chan-seong's hand and used teleportation magic.
"T-Teacher? Where is this..."
He's much more flustered than before at the suddenly changed environment.
"It's First Hunter School. First, let's go to the faculty office and report that you've returned."
I took Chan-seong to the faculty office, but since it was still class time, most seats were empty.
Still, it's not like there's no one at all, but I don't recognize any faces.
Most of the teachers just make surprised expressions but no one talks to me.
This is a bit awkward.
"Why are you all like that... Huh? Could it be Teacher Kang? Teacher Kang!"
At the familiar voice, I turned around and it was Teacher Park who had been with me for two years.
"Teacher Park, it's been a long time. This is Chan-seong, a first batch trainee from our Academy. The school was supposed to pick him up, but they said there was a lot of traffic, so I brought him myself."
"If he's an Academy trainee, then you must be Chan-seong? You're in my class."
"Huh? Really?"
"Yeah. I'm the homeroom teacher for 2nd year class 10. Wait a moment."
He sat down and started typing on his laptop.
"Your dorm is room 204. Go there, unpack, and eat lunch. All the textbooks should be in the dorm. You can rest for a day if you're tired, but if you're okay, you can join afternoon classes too."
"I'll join the afternoon classes."
"You're full of enthusiasm. Good."
"Um... Teacher, thank you."
He bowed to me once more and Chan-seong left the faculty office.
He's a really polite kid to the end.
"How long has it been."
"That's right. Teacher, that child Chan-seong was always a diligent trainee at the Academy too."
"Really?"
"He doesn't have much memory due to the previous terrorism incident, so he's not as genius-like as before, but he's incredibly hardworking. He also took general subject classes at the Academy, so he won't be too lacking, but since he couldn't be with you from the beginning of the semester, please pay attention and look after him well so he can adapt well."
"You must have grown quite attached over three months. I got it. Whose request is this."
***
I returned to the dorm and started unpacking.
Since classes haven't ended yet, I'm alone in the dorm, which feels a bit awkward.
When I went to the room they told me about, my name was really there.
The kids sharing the room are all names I don't know, so I'm a bit worried, but I opened the door first.
Some kids use their rooms roughly, but fortunately it seems our room kids aren't like that.
As the teacher said, textbooks were organized in the desk bookshelf.
It's really amazing.
Just a little while ago I was at Hunter Academy in Gangwon Province, but in the blink of an eye I came to first Hunter School.
Hunter Kang Shin-hyeok seems really amazing.
I finished unpacking and climbed up to the second bunk of the right bed.
The bedding packaging hasn't been opened yet, and there's no dust or anything, as if the kids had been managing it.
I finished setting up and lay down for a moment.
I'm getting a bit tired... should I have just said I'd rest today?
No, I can't do that.
There's something I need to do right away when I return to school.
I checked the time and it was lunch time, so I got up again and left the dorm.
Classes must have ended because students were gathering in groups of three or five and heading toward the cafeteria.
Should I have hurried a bit more?
Let's not be impatient. I decided to attend afternoon classes anyway... Huh?
I feel someone putting their hand on my shoulder from behind.
"It is Min Chan-seong, right? I heard you were graduating today, but when did you come?"
It's Lee Ji-sung, and there's also a really handsome boy with him.
"I came a little while ago."
"Chan-seong, hello? Oh, I said you couldn't remember, didn't I?"
"This is Do-hyun."
"Do-hyun? Oh, hello."
I don't remember, but I've heard a lot about him from Ji-sung and Ji-an.
"You don't remember, I see. Well, it doesn't matter. We can become close again."
He grins and extends his hand, and like I heard, he seems like a kid with a good and kind personality.
"Hey, how was the Academy? There were a lot of 10-stars and 10-strengths there, right?"
"Chan-seong, are you taking a complete break from classes today? Oh, right. You're in class 10. Same class as us again this year."
This guy really talks a lot.
"Um, then do you happen to know which class Ji-an is in?"
"You bastard, looking for Seong Ji-an as soon as you arrive. Ji-an is in the same class too."
"She's coming over here now."
Looking in the direction Do-hyun pointed, Ji-an and Ji-hyeon are coming this way.
Being in the same class as Ji-an is really fortunate.
"Min Chan-seong...? Min Chan-seong!"
Ji-an also spotted me and runs over calling my name.
I also moved toward Ji-an.
"I heard you were coming today, but you should have contacted me when you arrived."
"Oh, that's... Hunter Kang Shin-hyeok brought me, so I came a bit early."
"Really?"
I've run through simulations in my head hundreds of times, but now that I'm actually facing her, I'm nervous and can't speak easily.
"I missed you."
Along with the words, Ji-an hugged me.
"Kek... J-Ji-an?"
People around are murmuring 'ooh' but Ji-an doesn't seem to care at all.
"I missed you so much. Didn't you miss me?"
I've also thought about it dozens of times over the past few days... but I'm no match for Ji-an.
"I missed you a lot too."
"Ch... Chan-seong?"
I was originally planning to say this when we were alone together, but is there really a need to do that?
There's advice that brother Heinz, who's fourteen years older than me from Germany and shared the same room at the Academy for three months, gave me.
He said at my age, I don't need to think about many things.
If I really like someone, I should confess right away without weighing anything.
"Ji-an, I like you so much. Let's go out."
"Whiiik!"
"Ooh, Min Chan-seong!"
"A public confession? You came back as a complete alpha male!"
Everyone's making a big fuss, but I don't care about the surroundings.
I only looked at Ji-an.
"...Good."
I hugged Ji-an first this time as she answered with tears welling up in her eyes.
***
Three years have passed since then.