Ch 60
Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy
Chapter 60
"How about some tea? A friend gave it to me as a gift, and it has a wonderful aroma."
I don't usually drink much tea, so I'm not sure if it's good or not.
I was planning to rest after lunch, but the vice principal caught me as I was leaving the cafeteria.
I was worried he might make another strange request, but he said he would give me advice about the promotion exam this Sunday, so I ended up coming to the vice principal's office.
"It's not bad."
"Have you prepared for the exam at all?"
"I've been doing supplementary classes every day, so I haven't prepared separately... I'm just planning to do my best with my usual skills."
"Really? Do you know how the A-rank exam works?"
"I heard it's conducted by conquering an A-grade portal."
"That's right. You go to an A-grade portal for evaluation, and if there are five applicants, examiners are assigned according to the number of people. One S-rank hunter also accompanies as the main examiner."
An S-grade hunter is coming too?
This is the first time I'm hearing about this.
Is it because the applicant level might be too low, or because strong monsters like Ogres might appear, making it possible for accidents to happen with just A-rank hunters?
"Then, by any chance, are you the main examiner, Vice Principal?"
"No. Since my recommendation letter went in for your exam this time, I can't do it. Anyway, with your skills, it shouldn't matter who comes, right?"
As the vice principal said, it shouldn't matter who comes, but still, it would have been a bit more comfortable if it were the familiar vice principal. It's slightly disappointing.
"Then do you know who it is?"
"Of course I know. Excluding me, there are only nine others. Want to try guessing?"
"Is it the vice principal from 2nd School that I met last time?"
"Bongpal? That guy isn't it."
"Just tell me."
"Aw, how boring. There are only a few people, why don't you try guessing?"
"Should I just leave?"
Even excluding the 2nd School vice principal, there are still eight people left, and I don't want to waste my precious lunch time.
"I'll give you a hint. It's someone related to you."
"To me?"
Excluding the vice principal and the 2nd School vice principal I met once, I've never even seen the rest... Ah, I get it.
"It must be Lee Myeong-gang."
He's the guild master of Chase Guild that Kang Shin-hyeok belonged to before coming to school.
"Oh, wrong. That guy is probably in the Middle East right now."
"You said it was someone related to me. Then who on earth is it?"
"It's Kim Dae-chan."
I was slightly surprised.
Kim Dae-chan is the master of Ares Guild, a hunter who uses swords like me, and Se-jin's father.
It seems he said I'm related because I'm currently teaching Se-jin.
"I see."
"That Dae-chan guy is quite a harsh critic. On top of that, he's extremely strict and famous for not easily passing people when he's the main examiner."
"It doesn't matter. As long as he doesn't make me fail unfairly."
He's not someone I particularly like, but that person doesn't know me, and regardless of who the examiner is, with my skills, there's no way I'd fail.
"You're overflowing with confidence. Well, with your skills, there shouldn't be any problem. Besides, if that guy has any sense, he won't treat you harshly like usual since you're his daughter's teacher."
The vice principal continued giving me various advice. While I had looked into some of it myself and knew some of the information, there was also information that only an examiner would know, such as point deduction factors from the examiner's perspective, which was quite useful.
Although my entire lunch time was gone.
After finishing the afternoon classes, eating dinner, and heading back to the sword training hall for supplementary classes.
When I went out at the scheduled time, everyone had arrived... Huh?
Teacher Hong, who was supposed to help today, and the other kids were all here, but Se-jin was nowhere to be seen again.
I told them to contact me if they wanted to rest, and thinking she might have asked the others to relay the message, I asked, but everyone said they hadn't heard anything.
Two days of being late in a row - that's not like her.
"We thought she had contacted you, Teacher... Should we call her?"
"No. I'll try calling."
When I called, her phone was turned off.
Did she fall asleep like yesterday?
It's a bit annoying that she didn't contact me, but since I told her yesterday to rest if she wanted to, I was about to proceed with class when I felt a vibration in my pocket.
I thought Se-jin was finally contacting me, but it was Teacher Kim.
"Yes, Teacher Kim."
―I'm calling about Se-jin.
"Yes? Se-jin?"
―She was found collapsed near the library during dinner time and is currently in the infirmary.
"Ah... What happened?"
―Well. Fortunately, she woke up quickly, and after a simple examination, there's nothing particularly wrong - it seems like simple overwork, so we gave her an IV.
"That's a relief, at least. So Se-jin is still there?"
―Yes. She still has IV left, but she insisted on going to supplementary class, so I told her I'd talk to Teacher Kang and that she should rest here until I get off work. If I send her to the dormitory, she'll probably not rest and go to assignments or supplementary class again.
"You did well. I was actually talking to her since yesterday about how she didn't look well and should rest a bit."
―You did? From what I heard earlier, she's been sleeping less than three hours a day recently. That's probably why she's sleeping so deeply now, completely oblivious to the world.
"Ah, I could see her condition wasn't great, but I didn't know it was that bad..."
―Third-years are at the peak of having lots of assignments right now. On top of that, she's doing supplementary classes and even student council president duties... Oh, and she said she goes out on weekends to conquer portals separately, right? Her schedule is truly murderous.
"That's why I told her to rest a bit, but she kept saying she was fine..."
―With Se-jin's skills, she doesn't need to push herself this hard, right? The kid seems too much of a perfectionist.
Rather than being a perfectionist, I think it's because of her father who has excessive expectations of her.
―Teacher Kang?
"Ah, yes."
―You were in the middle of class, weren't you? I've taken too much of your time.
"No, it's fine. I was just about to start. More importantly, Teacher Kim, I think I need to have a talk with Se-jin. When do you get off work?"
―Then I'll wait until your class ends.
"No, you must be tired."
―It's okay. I have quite a bit of paperwork to organize today anyway.
"Then I'll come to the infirmary after class."
I hung up and proceeded with class.
Maybe because my mind was preoccupied, I couldn't concentrate well, but today I wasn't sparring - Teacher Hong was the opponent and I was giving advice, so I was able to finish class without any problems.
I sent the kids off first, but Teacher Hong said she'd come with me, so we headed to the infirmary together.
"You're here?"
"Thank you for your hard work. Is Se-jin still sleeping?"
"Yes. She's on the bed in the back there. She must have been very tired - she's sleeping so soundly."
"Ah, it's almost 10 o'clock. Don't you need to go?"
Originally, unmarried teachers, regardless of gender, mostly live in dormitories, but Teacher Kim commutes because she lives with her widower father.
"I still have time, so wake her up and have your talk. Even if it gets late, Lee Seol can sleep in the dormitory, so it's okay."
"Who's going to let her sleep?"
"How petty. Then you should ask Teacher Kang to let her sleep."
"What is she talking about?"
"I find that a bit..."
"It was a joke, but your immediate rejection is somewhat hurtful."
"Haha... I'll talk while taking Se-jin back to the dormitory, so go in quickly."
"Yeah. Go quickly. Your father will be worried."
"Worried about what... Am I a child?"
Just then, there was movement from the bed where Se-jin was, and the curtain was drawn back as Se-jin walked out.
"Teacher Kang?"
She seems to have woken up because of our conversation.
"You're awake?"
"Yes. Ah... Teacher Kang, I'm sorry."
"What are you sorry for?"
"I didn't go to supplementary class..."
"I heard everything from Teacher Kim. It's not like you did it on purpose, and I told you from the beginning that it was okay to rest. How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine. Um, what time is it now?"
"A little past 9. Teacher Kang here will take you to the dormitory, so go and don't do anything else - just sleep well."
"Ah, yes."
"Your answer lacks conviction. I'm going to call the dorm supervisor and tell them not to let you turn on the lights, so rest properly."
"I have an assignment due Monday..."
"You can do it tomorrow. Tomorrow starts the weekend."
"Well, I have external schedules from tomorrow until Sunday evening..."
"External schedule? Se-jin, how are you planning to go portal hunting in your current physical condition? No way."
"Teacher Kim is right. Teacher Kang has always said it too. Rest is as important as training."
With Teacher Kim opposing and even Teacher Hong joining in, Se-jin isn't answering.
The atmosphere was about to turn strange, so I told Teacher Kim that I'd take her and talk sense into her, and left the infirmary with Se-jin.
"All the teachers are telling you not to go because they're worried about you, Se-jin."
"I'm sorry. I know that too, but since it's a pre-arranged schedule..."
"No matter how pre-arranged it is, you collapsed today and your body isn't well, so you should rest. You can just contact them and say you can't go."
"Well..."
"Is it because of your father?"
"Yes? Teacher, do you know my father?"
"It wouldn't make sense for a hunter who uses swords not to know the Sword Master. Of course, I don't have any personal acquaintance, but I'm scheduled to meet him this Sunday."
"My father? For what..."
"You know about my promotion exam on Sunday, right? The vice principal told me at lunch today that your father is the examiner."
"Ah..."
"The vice principal said he's somewhat strict and stern... Ah, is this too rude?"
"No, it's true. You're right, Teacher. If I don't go tomorrow, my father will be very angry."
"Still, Se-jin, you collapsed today... Ah, are you not telling him because you're worried he'll be concerned?"
"Even if I tell him, it won't matter. He's not someone who gives special consideration just because I'm his child. If anything, he's harsher. If I suddenly say I can't go at this hour, he'll scold me, saying it's because I'm lazy."
I was about to unconsciously say 'But he's still your father' but swallowed the words again.
Given Kim Dae-chan's personality in the original work, he would certainly do that and more.
Se-jin, who speaks so matter-of-factly as if she has no expectations at all, looks pitiful.
"I'm fine. Thanks to Teacher Kim today, I slept soundly for two hours. I got an IV too."
"If it's difficult for you to say, I'll talk to him, so rest."
At first, I tried not to interfere because it was a family matter, but that was wrong thinking.
Seeing the kid trying to smile while talking despite her obviously exhausted appearance, I couldn't just stand by.
"I'm really okay."
"What's okay about it? I'll handle it so you won't get in trouble, Se-jin. No means no."
"What if my father evaluates you poorly in Sunday's exam because of me..."
"Come on, would he really do that? Even if he evaluates me poorly, with my skills, I couldn't fail even if I wanted to, so don't worry."
I spoke jokingly, but Se-jin has a very serious expression as if she's troubled.
"You're not even my homeroom teacher... Why do you care about me this much, Teacher?"
"Do you know Hunter School Rule 10, Section 3?"
"Um... 'All hunter school faculty must prioritize the safety of students above all else.' Isn't it?"
"Oh, you know it well. As expected of the student council president. I don't think the meaning of safety mentioned in that rule refers only to saving children first when dangerous situations arise."
"Yes?"
"Even if your father recommended something with good intentions for you, Se-jin, if that thing ends up harming your health, I think it's behavior that threatens safety."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
It feels forced, but it's certainly not wrong.
No matter how much they're the parents who gave birth to you, I think they don't have the right to force their child's life.
Children are not their parents' dolls.
"Why are you curious about this? Actually, rules aside, isn't it natural for a teacher to help when a student needs help?"
"Ah... I originally didn't even take your classes, so I was wondering if I'm being too much of a burden..."
"Oh my, a burden? Even though I'm not your homeroom teacher and I'm just a supplementary teacher who only teaches two hours a day, Se-jin, you're my student who takes my classes, aren't you?"
While talking, we somehow arrived in front of the girls' dormitory.
There's no answer, so I looked at her, and somehow her face seemed redder than before.
Is it because it's gotten quite chilly?
Maybe it's because the conversation I just had was embarrassing.
"As I said before, no means no, so you're resting tomorrow. Got it?"
"Ah, yes. Then... I'll ask you to do it."
Thank goodness.
"Yeah. Just trust me."
As I patted my chest exaggeratedly, Se-jin chuckled, and my heavy heart felt a little lighter.