Ch 58
Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy
Chapter 58
I looked around worried that someone might overhear and misunderstand, but fortunately, no one was there.
"Huh? No, with a student it's a bit..."
"Once I graduate it won't matter, right?"
"No, still..."
"I'm joking. You're cool, Teacher, but there's too much competition."
"The teacher is quite popular."
She made an incredulous expression and then chuckled, seeming to feel a bit better.
We arrived at the shop and bought various snacks including cup noodles before heading outside.
While waiting for the cup noodles to cook, we talked quite a bit, but I didn't bring up Jinsu.
If I brought it up hastily, it might backfire and she might choke on her food.
After finishing our meal, I carefully brought up the topic while buying her an ice cream for dessert.
"You said earlier that you scolded Jinsu a lot. I heard Jinsu felt he did something wrong and wanted to apologize..."
"He's probably just saying that because you scolded him, to get out of the situation. He was the one telling the boys who took his side that he didn't do anything wrong."
Whew, her expression instantly froze and her words were covered with frost.
"But you're in the same class. You both attend supplementary lessons and you're both majoring in swordsmanship, so you'll keep running into each other for more than two years. Won't it be uncomfortable?"
"He's an invisible person to me now, so it doesn't matter. If you're going to keep doing this when you said earlier you weren't going to force us to reconcile, I'd rather leave."
"That wasn't my intention, but I'm sorry if it felt that way. But Minhee, I don't think Jinsu was completely joking."
"What?"
"Could someone confess in front of so many people just to embarrass you if they had no feelings at all? That's not usually the case."
"That just shows how malicious he is."
Sigh, it's so frustrating that I want to tell them that in the original novel, you two were a couple who constantly displayed affection at all times and places, making everyone's eyes sore.
"I think what happened this time is definitely Jinsu's fault, but I don't think Jinsu himself is that bad of a person. Don't you know that too?"
"I don't know. Even if Jinsu really had feelings for me as you say, it doesn't matter now."
"Why doesn't it matter?"
"He told everyone that his confession was a joke, making me look like a fool. Even if he now says it was real, everyone will think he's just saying that to make me feel better... I'm going now."
I thought about stopping her by saying why does others' opinions matter, but I let her go.
It's easy to say don't mind what others think, but in reality, it's not that simple.
It would be even more difficult for Minhee, a teenager with rich sensibilities in the closed environment of the Hunter School.
Minhee's face looked like she was about to cry as she spoke.
Phew, what was Jinsu thinking, pulling such an absurd stunt...
I regret not giving him a few knocks on the head earlier.
Should I just leave it alone?
It's not my love life, and even during class earlier, although the atmosphere wasn't good, it didn't interfere with teaching.
Also, if there's such a thing as the "forced power of the original story," they'd somehow reconcile anyway, so maybe leaving it alone is the answer...
But I just can't do that.
Even if it doesn't cause problems with teaching, I don't like the uncomfortable atmosphere.
Both Minhee and Jinsu have helped me a lot as class representatives.
For my cherished students, I think I'll try being Cupid of love.
***
After finishing afternoon classes, I had dinner.
I was planning to call Jinsu a little earlier than supplementary lesson time to talk, but when I arrived at the swordsmanship training hall, he was already waiting.
He seems to have skipped dinner... This kid must be really anxious.
"You're early. Didn't you eat?"
"I didn't feel like it. More importantly, Teacher, did you talk to Minhee?"
"Yes. Minhee is very angry. She said she's going to treat you like an invisible person."
Jinsu's expression darkens rapidly.
"What should I do?"
"Like I said earlier, there's nothing to do but beg until she accepts."
"If she's treating me like an invisible person, that means she'll ignore me and won't even accept my apology."
"I'll help you."
"Really? Teacher..."
He tried to cling to me out of gratitude, but I stepped aside to avoid him.
"But first, let me ask you one thing."
"Ask me anything!"
"Was your confession to Minhee really 100% a joke?"
"Ah... Well..."
"If you don't tell the truth, I won't help you, so think carefully before answering."
"The confession was really a joke, but Minhee... Honestly, I do like her. If I just hadn't told the others it was a joke..."
I knew it.
"That's enough. That's all I needed."
"So you'll help me?"
"Tomorrow, I'll end class earlier than usual. How about confessing in front of everyone again then? Say that you truly like Minhee but you said it was a joke because you were embarrassed."
"Um... Doing it in front of everyone is a bit..."
"Lee Jinsu, is this the time to be worrying about that? You still haven't come to your senses."
"No, but then I would..."
"Minhee was made to look foolish in front of everyone because she said she liked you after your fake confession. Shouldn't you be thinking from Minhee's perspective rather than your own?"
"But I don't think Minhee will accept. She might get upset thinking I'm joking again..."
"Have you developed psychic powers? How would you know without trying? Are you okay with being treated as an invisible person by Minhee forever?"
"No, I don't want that..."
"What are you afraid of? That she won't accept because she thinks you're joking? That's the karma for what you did."
"..."
"Those who make problems should solve them. You need to resolve what you caused. If you don't even try because you think it won't work and don't take action, nothing will change."
"Y-yes, that's right."
"Make a serious confession so Minhee won't think it's a joke, so she can feel your sincerity."
I felt like I was cringing while saying this, but Jinsu's expression was very serious.
Since he didn't look like he was going to answer right away, I told him he could skip today's supplementary lesson, and to contact me after organizing his thoughts.
There's a bit of a tendency to push too hard, but dragging it out won't do any good.
I hope he contacts me by the end of today.
I went into the office to do paperwork, and when I noticed the noise outside, I checked the clock and realized it was already time for supplementary lessons.
Thinking how time flies so quickly, I went outside.
"Teacher, Jinsu and Senior Se-jin haven't arrived yet."
I can excuse Jinsu since I told him to rest today, but it's surprising that Se-jin, who always arrives first, is late.
"Jinsu came to see me earlier and said he wasn't feeling well, so I told him to rest. I haven't heard anything from Se-jin though. Eunsu, could you call her?"
"I tried while waiting earlier, but she didn't answer."
She's not answering calls either... I was worried because she didn't look well this morning.
I was about to ask Eunsu to try calling again when I saw Se-jin running from a distance.
"I'm sorry I'm late. I accidentally fell asleep..."
"You're not that late. It's fine."
"To think my sister would be late... So you're human after all."
"Ah, I'm sorry."
"It's fine, really. I would've given penalty points to the others, but since Se-jin always comes early, I'll let it slide this time."
"I'll make sure to come early from now on."
"Sister, don't worry too much. There's someone who didn't even come, using a fake illness as an excuse."
That's Minhee taking a jab at Jinsu while pretending to comfort Se-jin.
Come to think of it, Eunsu and Eunseo are friends with Minhee, so they must know about the Jinsu incident.
Without the boys who took his side during regular class, he would have felt very uncomfortable if he had come.
I'm glad I told him to rest today.
Hoping that the kid would make a decision quickly, I started the supplementary lesson.
Teacher Hong isn't at school because the second-year students are on a field trip, and it seemed inappropriate to call Teacher Kim right after the retreat ended, so there are no teachers helping today.
So I conducted the lesson by having one-on-one sparring while the rest of the students watched.
I sparred with Eunsu first, then Eunseo and Minhee, but somehow all three of them were disappointing.
As usual, I didn't use any internal energy and only used the swordsmanship from the school textbook, but none of them could keep up.
Especially Minhee, her troubled mind was clearly reflected in her sword to the point where she was performing terribly.
"Everyone’s performance is disappointing. Did you all lose your touch after just three days off? If this continues, I might have to increase supplementary hours?"
"No... Teacher, did you suddenly raise your level?"
"That's right. Your sword seemed faster than before."
"What do you mean faster? I'm at exactly the same level as before. If it feels faster, that's your problem."
I was at peak level before and I'm at super peak level now, but since I'm matching their level, there shouldn't be much difference, so it's just an excuse.
Even if there is a difference, I can't lower my level any further here, so the students need to overcome it themselves.
"The speed of the sword isn't the issue. I adjusted to a speed you all could react to and only used swordsmanship from the textbook. If you had done as you learned, you would have had the advantage. What went wrong? Does anyone know?"
When I posed the question, all three became as silent as mice who ate honey.
I was about to click my tongue and give the answer when Se-jin raised her hand.
"Go ahead, Se-jin."
"All three used the Breaking Form, but maybe because they weren't familiar with it, they sometimes reverted to textbook swordsmanship in between."
"I almost said 'As expected of Se-jin.'"
"Pardon?"
"The kids say this is trending these days? You're right that unconsciously using textbook swordsmanship was the problem, but that's not the exact reason."
Her expression changed from confused to indignant; her competitive spirit is really something.
I asked again if anyone knew the reason, but the three showed no signs of answering, and even Se-jin seemed not to know.
"It's not because you're unfamiliar, but because you weren't concentrating."
"But I was concentrating."
"I was concentrating too..."
Oh, these kids...
When I said they were only half right earlier, I was partly joking, but I became serious afterward, yet they don't seem to grasp the mood.
"Who can't just say words? I always tell you: when sparring, always approach it as if it's a real battle. If you were properly concentrating, why did you use textbook swordsmanship instead of the Breaking Form?"
When I spoke in a deep, serious voice, they finally seemed to understand the atmosphere as the smiles disappeared from their faces.
"Seong Eunsu, you said you were concentrating, so tell me."
"Um... Well, I think I unconsciously used familiar swordsmanship while trying to block too hastily."
"If you were concentrating, why are you saying 'unconsciously'? That's contradictory. Next, Seong Eunseo, you also said you were concentrating."
"I don't think I was concentrating properly. I'm sorry..."
Both Eunsu and Eunseo are hanging their heads.
"And Kim Minhee."
"Yes? Teacher, I didn't say anything..."
"If you didn't say anything, doesn't that mean you weren't concentrating? You were the worst today. I understand your situation, but if you're going to perform like today... Why not take a few days off?"
"Ah, I... I'm sorry."
Minhee looks like she's about to cry. Actually, I had thought about letting Minhee off.
But as someone who teaches everyone, I can't give Minhee special treatment.
Still, I was originally going to tell her to quit altogether, but I toned it down a lot.
Seeing the dejected kids makes me feel bad.
Although I caused it by scolding them, as the saying goes, "whip a running horse," I did it out of care for my cherished students, hoping they would all improve.
Personally, I prefer praising over scolding, but I believe some scolding is necessary for development.
I don't know if the kids understand my intentions, but I think I'll end early today and buy them some snacks.
If you use the whip, you should also give a carrot.