Ch 27
Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy
Chapter 27
I was startled because I had just been cursing the Vice Principal in my mind a moment ago.
As far as I remember, there was no mention of the Vice Principal having a daughter in the original novel.
The health teacher didn't appear either, I think.
Since it's a school, there must have been one, but I don't think there was any scene specifically mentioning one.
I don't remember a character named Kim Seon-hwa written on the gown.
"Ah, please consider what I just said a mistake and pretend you didn't hear it. No one at school knows."
Is she worried about being treated like a parachute appointment (i.e., someone placed in a position from outside, not through usual processes)?
Even as a health teacher, she would need a certain level of ability to get in here, so it shouldn't matter much.
Besides, she says it was a mistake but her face is smiling.
It seems like she deliberately let it slip, but why?
"I understand. Um, but I'm really fine..."
"Does my presence make you uncomfortable?"
That's not what I meant.
"I just feel like I'm being a burden."
"I told you earlier. The Vice Principal told me to leave you once curfew came, but I stayed. Actually, I'm a bit interested in you, Teacher Kang."
"What?"
"I was slightly interested even before today's duel, but you were really cool today. Honestly, the Vice Principal... Well, since you already know. I never thought you could fight with my father like that."
"Thank you. How did the duel turn out?"
"Ah, that..."
Seeing that she can't answer right away, it seems the Vice Principal won.
Although I certainly landed a sword wound at the end before fainting, did that stubborn old man insist it wasn't a valid attack?
Even if that wasn't the case, the referee would have been on the Vice Principal's side... Well, whatever.
If he has any conscience, he'll exempt me from the training.
"Since I fainted, I assume the Vice Principal won."
"Yes. Teacher Baek, who was refereeing, declared that you fainted and my father won."
"I see."
I'm slightly annoyed, but I expected it.
"But I don't think you lost. The attack you showed at the beginning was really amazing. I'm sure many people think the same way I do."
Oh, of course I think so too.
Old man, at least you raised your daughter well.
She's quite nice, both in personality and appearance, making me wonder how such a daughter came from such a brutal-looking Vice Principal.
"I think so too, but if we had fought formally without conditions, I would have lost anyway. If he has any conscience, I hope he'd exempt me from the training."
"Training exemption?"
Didn't the Vice Principal tell her?
"Actually, I accepted the duel because I was told that becoming an outstanding teacher would exempt me from the training that new teachers attend."
"I see there was such a story. That's quite interesting... Although it's called training, once you get past the first week of theory, there's nothing rigid. Everyone gathers to talk and can become friends. I attended it two years ago."
Well, that's because you're from a Hunter school.
"I'm not from a Hunter school, so I didn't think I'd have a good experience going there."
"Ah... Teacher Kang, not all Hunters at this school dislike you."
"I'm not sure. Given what I've experienced so far, that's hard to believe."
Silence falls as she seems to have nothing to say.
I wonder if I was too prickly, since it was the Vice Principal who was being unreasonable, not the health teacher.
"This isn't exactly accurate since I only heard it, but I heard there was talk among the practical instructors to avoid speaking with Teacher Kang outside of work, so many teachers might be hesitant to approach you because they're conscious of that."
I thought they might be saying bad things behind my back, but to completely avoid talking to me...
Even the kids don't ostracize others like this, but these so-called teachers...
"I don't care about such things, but since I'm always in the health room, I never had a chance to meet you."
"Ah, yes. That's fine."
"But things will be different next semester. There won't be any fools who ignore a skilled person like Teacher Kang just because they're not from a Hunter school."
"I'm not so sure. People who have been that way all along, even if they change now, I won't find it very welcoming. Honestly, I don't think I'll feel good about it."
"But if you're going to stay at school, wouldn't it be better to improve relationships?"
"I don't particularly want to be friends with them. The school doesn't just have practical instructors."
"Ah, you do seem quite close with the female teachers."
She says this while rolling her eyes, which makes me confused.
What on earth is she basing that statement on?
The person I talk to and get along with the most is Teacher Park, who sits next to me.
The only female teacher I'm close enough with to have contact information is Teacher Min, and even that was only because of meeting notifications. We've only talked a few times afterward because of YouTube, but we don't have any personal contact.
"I don't think that's the case... I get along well with general subject teachers regardless of gender."
"I'm jealous. I'd like to be close with you too, Teacher Kang."
"What? Ah, then let's be close from now on. You can deposit the friendship fee on payday every month."
Although it's slightly concerning that she's the Vice Principal's daughter, I'm perfectly okay with a beautiful teacher like her.
We exchange contact information and have a light conversation, and I start to feel strength returning to my body.
"I think I can move now."
"That's good."
Teacher Kim smiled broadly and suddenly took off her white gown.
Wait, why is she removing her clothes...
Come to think of it, she did say earlier that she was interested in me...
Oh my, this popularity of mine.
"Um... Teacher, I really just meant being friends... No matter what, this doesn't seem right."
"What's wrong? Did I make a mistake...?"
"This is a school. And we just talked for the first time today, so this seems too sudden."
"Pardon?"
"Please put your clothes back on quickly."
Regardless of anything else, even if her daughter made the first move...
It's horrifying just to think about it.
"I was just taking off my gown because you said you were feeling better and I was about to leave... What were you thinking?"
....
I wish there was a hole I could crawl into.
"I, I was just joking..."
"That didn't seem like a joke. Did you really think I was trying to do something to you?"
"I'm sorry."
"You have a bit of a naughty side despite appearances. Ah! You really are like a wolf."
Suddenly, why a wolf?
Is she saying all men are wolves?
No, wolf or whatever, she could have been offended, but seeing her smiling and joking, it seems fortunately she's willing to let it go.
"What do you mean by wolf?"
"As we talked today, I got the feeling that Teacher Kang is somewhat like a lone wolf."
A lone wolf? That makes me cringe.
"Me?"
"Yes. Now I see you're not a lone wolf but a naughty wolf."
"I'm really sorry."
"It's okay. I won't spread any rumors, but in exchange, you'll waive the friendship fee, right?"
As she says this with a grin, I think she has not only a good face but also a nice personality.
"Do you have any free time during the break?"
"Oh my, are you asking me out on a date now? Yes. I'm completely free during the break."
She seems to be the type who jumps to conclusions easily.
***
The end-of-semester ceremony seems like it will end later than I thought.
Of course, there are no classes at all, just awards for outstanding students of the first semester, the selection of outstanding teachers, and the principal's speech.
The awards came first, and the Vice Principal seemed to have some conscience left as I took the outstanding teacher award.
Of course, some practical instructors complained in the morning about why Teacher Kang, who couldn't even win, was selected as an outstanding teacher, but the Vice Principal apparently brushed it off saying that Teacher Kang was the only one who requested a duel, so what could he do.
They must have been really upset that I got the outstanding teacher title despite being knocked out by the Vice Principal.
If they're unhappy, they should have applied themselves.
And earlier, several female teachers from the practical staff came to speak to me.
It wasn't anything special, just a light morning greeting.
I maintained an indifferent appearance while returning their greetings, but I was quite surprised inside.
Although I heard about it from Teacher Kim yesterday, I honestly didn't think there would be such an immediate change.
But honestly, I don't feel good about it.
By the way, when on earth will this speech end?
All he needs to say is to stay out of trouble during the break since it's vacation, but it's amazing how he can stretch it out so long.
Is this a passive skill you get when you become a principal?
"Finally, students, let me say one last thing. The vacation..."
I've lost count of how many times he's repeated that "last thing."
The other teachers also seemed bored... But the principal's speech, oblivious to our circumstances, continued, and finally the end-of-semester ceremony ended right at 10 o'clock, the scheduled time.
"Are you leaving too, Teacher Kang? Want a ride?"
"No. I received treatment yesterday, and it was late, and my body was aching, so I couldn't pack my things."
I'll have to come back next semester anyway, and I barely have any belongings to pack.
But if I leave now, it will be very crowded with cars picking up students, so I plan to leave at a more leisurely pace.
As I'm about to go to the faculty office with Teacher Park, familiar faces approach.
"Congratulations on becoming an outstanding teacher, sir."
"Are you feeling better?"
"You were really cool yesterday."
"None of us in the swordsmanship club think you lost, Teacher."
It's Eunsu, Eunseo, Jinsu, and Minhee in order.
"Thank you all. I'm fine. You should go home soon too."
"Dad said there would be traffic. By the way, Teacher, we're planning to go to the beach during the break. Would you like to come with us? Ouch!"
I was about to give him a light tap on the head, but Minhee beat me to it.
"Why did you hit me?"
"'Would you like to come with us' is informal speech!"
Tsk tsk, this kid Jinsu is asking for a beating.
"That's right. Lee Jin-su, yesterday you were also calling the teacher's name without saying 'teacher.' Is the teacher your friend?"
"Jinsu, you're so rude."
Eunsu and Eunseo each added a comment. Well... I don't even need to step in.
"No, I just... Anyway, Teacher, will... I mean, are you coming?"
"Teacheeer, come with us. Pleeeease?"
Minhee speaks with a cute lisp.
"Minhee, as I told you before, do that to Jinsu."
"Teacher, I don't like it either. Jung Min-hee, what did I tell you? I told you not to do that because it has the opposite effect."
"You told me to do it earlier. You want to die?"
Jinsu runs away, and Minhee chases after him, leaving only Eunsu and Eunseo.
"Are you two going together?"
"Yes. Minhee's uncle runs a pension in Jeju Island. You're coming too, right, Teacher?"
"I'm sorry, but I have a lot of work during the break."
"That's a lie. We already heard you don't have to go to training."
"Who said that? It's a false rumor. I'm going to the training."
It's not a lie.
Originally, becoming an outstanding teacher meant not having to attend training.
But unfortunately, starting this year, the Hunter Management Bureau changed the regulations, saying that even outstanding teachers should be evaluated, so I have to go for two days for theory and practical evaluations.
The Vice Principal said he didn't know about it either, but I couldn't help feeling cheated. Still, it's fortunate that the three-week training was reduced to two days.
"The new teacher training? Didn't you say you only have to go for two days because you're an outstanding teacher? And that you're lucky because you can commute?"
"No, Teacher Park, when did I..."
I quickly tried to give him a signal, but the water was already spilled.
Sigh... Is he really that oblivious?
"Well, I should get going before the traffic gets worse."
Teacher Park, you're cut off next semester.
"Teacher?"
"So you're coming with us, right?"
"I still can't. I have a lot to do during the break, I'm telling you."
I do have plans and appointments, but honestly, I'm not that busy.
The plans aren't even definite.
If it's one or two days, depending on timing, it might be possible, but I don't think it would be much fun to join kids who are playing among themselves.
I feel like I'd just end up cleaning up after them.
I don't think other students would ask a teacher to go on vacation with them.
These kids seem to think of me too comfortably.
"Ah, Teacher, please come with us."
"Alright. If I come along, we'll do morning jogging, 20 laps every day. Everyone will participate, right?"
"We'll go by ourselves."
"We'll go by ourselves, sir."
Seeing how quickly they back off at the mention of jogging, I should have done this earlier.
"Okay. Have a good break, and I'll see you healthy next semester."
"The jogging was a joke, right? We'll contact you before we go on our trip, so join us if you have time! Have a good break, Teacher!"
"Have a good break, Teacher."
It wasn't a joke... I waved lightly to the kids as they left after saying goodbye, then stopped by the faculty office to clock out.
While organizing my things, I felt a vibration from my phone.
I checked it and saw it was Teacher Kim, with whom I exchanged contact information yesterday.