Ch 54
Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy
Chapter 54
As soon as the signal ended, the male teacher holding a spear threw it at me, and I easily avoided it by taking a light step.
THUD!
The sand in the field is scooped out.
The power behind it seems quite decent, but the trajectory of the attack is too obvious.
Moreover, the speed seems too slow.
I feel like I could dodge attacks like this with my eyes closed.
The female teacher, probably a magician, began chanting, and the man who had provoked me, unlike the spear practitioner, was gripping his sword and glaring at me.
I thought they'd both rush at me as soon as we started, excluding the female teacher who is a magician.
Is this what an A-rank is supposed to be?
They seem quite cautious.
"Both of you, move aside!"
With the female teacher's sharp voice, a fireball about the size of an adult's head came flying. Judging by its form, it seems to be a magic spell called Fire Burst.
The swordsman who had been looking for an opportunity moved simultaneously, and a sword with blue aura rippling around it flew toward my abdomen, seemingly planning a time-delay attack.
If I hadn't broken through the wall yesterday, I might have felt somewhat threatened by this fairly decent joint attack, but to me now, it's just ridiculous.
I cut through the fireball with my sword and caught the incoming blade with my left hand.
"Wha... What the?"
Unlike the Fire Ball used by low-rank hunters, Fire Burst is quite troublesome magic that explodes and delivers a full impact even if split with aura.
However, the fireball disappeared without exploding, as if it had never existed in the first place.
Of course this happened because I cut through the magic flow that constituted the magic itself.
"How did you catch my sword with your bare hand...?"
The man who thrust his sword in the time-delay attack also has an expression of disbelief.
Who said I caught it with my bare hand?
Of course, I raised sword energy in my left hand.
Even a supreme master, let alone a supreme master's grandfather, couldn't catch a sword filled with aura with bare hands.
TSK, TSK, they must have thought that as a swordsmanship instructor, I would only use a sword, but to think this is what an A-rank hunter is like—it's truly pathetic.
"The sword is an extension of the hand. If you can make an aura blade with a sword, of course you can make one with your hand."
I could use sword energy even before breaking through the wall.
Though back then, I couldn't create it this quickly.
He applied force trying to pull out his sword with a panicked look, but it was futile.
CLICK.
Using sword energy, I simultaneously shattered the blade and turned around to grab and throw the broken sword fragment.
STAB!
"ARGH!"
It hit directly in the abdomen of the teacher who was picking up his spear, and he collapsed with a scream.
"Did you think you wouldn't be detected sneaking around like that? And why did you throw your weapon in the first place?"
I didn't infuse much internal energy, but he seemed completely unprepared as there was a lot of blood and his condition looked bad, so Teacher Baek quickly declared a stop and evacuated the spear practitioner from the field.
"I'll also stop here. I concede."
The swordsman, completely discouraged, declared his surrender.
The sword wasn't completely broken... Tsk, tsk, no fighting spirit.
Well, it might be wise, but if he were truly wise, he wouldn't have challenged me in the first place.
"What about Teacher Kim...?"
"I will continue."
Two people have already dropped out, plus she's a magician who is physically disadvantaged... Ah, is it because I said I wouldn't leave the circle?
At least her fighting spirit is the most impressive.
Of course, continuing is certainly not a good decision.
As the duel resumed, the magic on the field began to fluctuate severely.
It seems she's preparing a powerful spell. I was contemplating waiting, but decided to end it quickly by lightly releasing sword energy.
TING.
CRACK!
Oh, I'm a bit surprised.
The sword energy that was flying well disappeared with a sound as if it hit something.
It seems she had cast a barrier spell in advance, but it was invisible and the magic was fluctuating so much that I couldn't detect it.
"Our Teacher Kim's Invisible Barrier can't be penetrated by aura!"
Oh? It seems I made a wrong judgment at first.
Since Invisible Barrier is a spell used by A-rank hunters, it seems the A-rank was the magician, not the swordsman.
Since he was provocative and fidgety, and his name was announced as Kim Jeong-hyun at the earlier meeting, I naturally thought the swordsman was the A-rank hunter...
Come to think of it, Jeong-hyun isn't exclusively a male name.
It doesn't change anything anyway.
Even bulletproof glass can stop bullets but not cannon fire.
If sword energy can't penetrate it, then I'll just use sword force.
I raised sword force in my sword and directed it toward the female teacher.
The female teacher moved her body urgently, and my sword, filled with sword force, flew at a fast speed, but due to the considerable distance, it narrowly missed her.
Judging by the magic in the air that's still fluctuating irregularly, it seems she can use moving casting.
Moving casting itself isn't a difficult technique, as even average students can do it, but I've heard that the difficulty increases dramatically with higher-level magic.
I'm not sure exactly what spell it is, but considering the long preparation time and the magic fluctuating in the air, it must be quite high-level...
So she didn't just get her A-rank through trivial means?
The expression of the female teacher, who was chanting, brightened considerably compared to before.
Since she dodged the sword and I can't leave the circle, she seems to think she's won... She's being too careless.
Ah, of course, I mean she is, not me.
***
I was genuinely surprised to see the aura blade, as I never expected to witness it.
I had heard rumors about him using an aura blade, but I thought people had exaggerated after seeing a slightly stronger aura.
But what I just saw on the flying sword was exactly the same as the aura blade I had seen only once before.
When he said to attack him together with all the teachers from our school, I thought he was being reckless, but it could have been a disaster.
Without the penalty of not leaving that circle, I couldn't guarantee the outcome even if everyone had attacked together.
But the opponent was too complacent.
The spell will be completed soon...
BOOM!
As the shield broke, a magic backflow seemed to occur, and I sat down from the shock.
What's going on?
I don't understand the current situation at all.
I definitely dodged the sword, but...
Could it be that another teacher from the 1st Hunter school intervened because their colleague was about to lose?
Despite it being 3 to 1 with a penalty, this is a legitimate honor duel since he agreed to it before the duel began.
I was appalled at how they could do something so cowardly and tried to get up, but I couldn't.
A sword with blue aura blade rippling was pointing at me, ready to attack if I moved even slightly.
And it was floating in the air by itself.
***
Everyone might have thought it missed, but my sword didn't miss.
No, it couldn't have missed in the first place.
I made the sword, which was flying in a different direction, suddenly turn to break the barrier and target the female teacher.
"How did you do that?"
"How can a sword on its own...?"
Everyone is utterly astonished.
I learned the theory and techniques from my master long ago, but until now, I lacked the internal energy to even attempt this skill.
The martial art I used is Yigieogeum (Using Ki to Control the Sword), which allows me to freely manipulate a sword from a distance using ki and mental focus.
"I concede."
As soon as the declaration of defeat was made, I recalled my sword.
The sword, still emitting a deep blue light, slowly flew back to me and settled in my hand.
I thought I wouldn't lack internal energy after becoming a supreme master... But the consumption of internal energy is significant.
Although it's recovering quickly, from what I can feel, about 1/3 of my internal energy was consumed in just that brief use.
In terms of efficiency, the Heaven Demon Sword Technique might have been better, but I was slightly annoyed by what those guys said earlier, so I overdid it a bit.
Actually, I was planning to cut off an arm as I finished.
Since they had provoked me earlier saying that their school's teacher was good at healing magic, I thought it wouldn't be too difficult to reattach it if I cut cleanly with sword force.
It's not particularly because she's a woman, and I've already drawn blood once, and anyway, we'll have to perform instructor duties together for the next three days, so I ended with just a threat.
"The... The winner is Teacher Kang Shin-hyeok from the 1st Hunter school."
The duel ended with the declaration of Teacher Baek, who was judging.
"As expected, Teacher Kang, you're amazing. That technique just now, what was it...?"
"It's nothing special."
As I expected, none of the other teachers except Teacher Baek even spoke to me.
"By the way, about the education director ..."
Does Teacher Baek have ambitions too?
I was about to say I don't care and they should discuss it themselves, when the three teachers from the 2nd Hunter school whom I had dueled approached.
The teacher who was using the spear earlier seemed to have quite severe abdominal bleeding, but it seems their boast about being good at healing magic wasn't a lie because he looks completely fine now.
I hope they're not asking for a rematch?
That's why I told them to all attack at once from the beginning.
"Um... Teacher Kang Shin-hyeok."
"Yes?"
"We were very rude at our first meeting."
"We apologize for speaking harshly without properly knowing you."
An apology is so unexpected that I was momentarily taken aback.
I thought they would refuse to accept it and ask for a rematch...
"Ah, I think my words were excessive too."
I apologized as well.
Although the first impression wasn't good, they conceded defeat cleanly, and these are people I'll be performing instructor duties with for two nights and three days... Ah, suddenly I had a good idea.
"You're Teacher Kim Jeong-hyun, right? Why don't you become the education director ?"
"What? No... Teacher Kang, what are you saying? You won the duel."
Teacher Baek asks with a surprised expression.
"I'm fine with it."
Teacher Kim also looks confused.
"I had already decided to yield it since I wasn't interested. I was impressed by your fighting spirit to continue even after the other two gave up. It would be good if students could learn such spirit from you as the education director during this retreat."
Of course, that's nonsense. The real reason is that I dislike the teachers from our school.
I clearly stated before the duel that I wasn't interested and would yield the position, but I never said I would yield it to a teacher from our school.
***
Today is finally the retreat.
Since it's a training retreat and not a school trip, I heard we'll be doing some education-like activities rather than just having fun, but it should still be better than regular classes.
Above all, it feels great to leave the school after such a long time.
"Jinsu, hurry up and get ready. We're supposed to gather at the field by 6:30."
"Ah, right."
"You were the last one to wake up. Hurry up and get ready."
Looking at the time, it's already 6 o'clock, so only 30 minutes left.
After quickly washing up, changing clothes, and putting on my backpack, I went to the field where everyone was already boarding the buses.
As I was looking for our class bus, I suddenly felt a jab in my side.
"Kim Minhee, so early in the morning..."
"The class representative is late, how fitting."
"No, it's not that late..."
"Our bus is over there, so hurry up."
Rubbing my side, I arrived at the bus, but the homeroom teacher wasn't there.
"What? The teacher isn't here yet?"
"The homeroom teacher is an instructor, so they went ahead yesterday."
"That's right. So is our class taking the bus by ourselves without a teacher?"
"Were you sleeping when the explanation was given on Friday? Our class is sharing a bus with Class 6."
"Minhee, have you finished the headcount?"
"Yes. Everyone from our class is here."
After double-checking the headcount, the bus departed.
We ate the prepared kimbap for breakfast and chatted, and soon the training center came into view.
"This seems to be the place."
"The buildings look quite rundown."
"There are probably tons of cockroaches."
"Being in the mountains, there might be other bugs too."
The girls don't seem to be too pleased.
Just as I was thinking this might be fun, the bus stopped and the door opened.
"Now, starting from the front, please exit slowly..."
"Hello. Teacher, please go ahead. From now on, we will control and escort the students. The faculty accommodation is in the building near the entrance."
"What? Ah, yes."
A man wearing a military uniform with a red cap and sunglasses entered and sent the teacher from Class 6 out.
His red cap says "Instructor" on it, and his face is hard to see because of the sunglasses, but he doesn't seem to be a teacher from our school.
"Nice to meet you, students of the 1st Hunter school. Right now, gather your belongings, get off the bus, and form two lines in front of the bus. I'm giving you exactly 3 minutes."
"3 minutes?"
"Doesn't his way of speaking seem strange?"
"Yeah, just like a soldier."
"Everyone, no chatting. If you don't want to duck-walk to the field, move quickly!"
The intimidating manner made me feel a bit uncomfortable, but as instructed, we got off the bus and lined up the students. The instructor who had been watching quietly approached again.
"Why are you so slow! The instructor clearly said we would give you 3 minutes, but now you've exceeded the time by 2 minutes!"
"How can we line up in 3 minutes?"
"Yeah, isn't this already fast?"
"That person is weird..."
Everyone expresses complaints while moving.
It seems like the instructor can hear everything... I'm anxious.
"You two over there, what did you just say? Didn't the instructor say no chatting?"
"We're... We're sorry."
"We apologize."
"This time, considering that we haven't had the entrance ceremony yet, I'll let it go with a warning, but I won't be lenient after the entrance ceremony. Put your bags down right where you're standing and follow the instructor."
Somehow this seems very different from the retreat I had in mind.