Ch 69
Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy
Chapter 69
I hadn't heard that he was serving as the Vice Chairman of the World Hunter Federation, but since the vice principal called him an honored guest earlier, it can't be someone with the same name.
"By any chance, are you one of the Ten Stars...?"
"That's right. Hey, why are you making such a difficult introduction? Just saying 'I'm one of the Ten Stars' would be fine."
So it really is him.
"Since you entered the school under UN affiliation, wouldn't it be proper to introduce you that way? Besides, I don't particularly like that childish title 'Ten Stars.' We're not kids."
"That's unexpected. I thought everyone liked being called that. But you weren't let in because you're UN-affiliated - it's because I know you and Ju-hyeon vouched for you. Otherwise, you wouldn't have had a chance."
"I'm grateful that you let me through, but honestly, I don't really understand Korea's policy. Our British Hunter education facilities are completely open and have much better facilities too."
"What? I graciously let you in for old times' sake, and now you're bragging about your own school."
I didn't know that the vice principal and Conrad knew each other since they never met in the original work, but seeing them chat so casually, they seem quite close.
"Sir, even if you knew each other before, you both have your positions now... Please watch your words."
"What positions? That guy was crying his eyes out when he lost to me at WHCU - feels like it was just yesterday."
"Senior! What ancient history are you talking about? And who was crying...? I never cried!"
"You cried on the plane ride home - it even made the news."
"AHEM. When we met at the competition, I was a first-year and you were a third-year, weren't you?"
"So what? I still won in the end. Your daughter won this year and the year before too, didn't she?"
"GROAN, if you want, we could go again right now... No, I should just keep my mouth shut."
"Why stop mid-sentence? I'm always up for a match."
"I won't fight you, senior."
I already knew the vice principal's personality, but Conrad's first impression seemed quite dignified... Seeing them bicker like this, they both seem childish.
But why did they call me here?
"Both of you, please stop."
"Ah, right. I made a fool of myself. Both of you, please forget what just happened."
"No... Ju-hyeon, you heard him disrespect our school first."
"It sounded more like showing off than disrespect... Can you tell me why you called me here?"
"Not disrespect but showing off? HAHA. Teacher Kang really has a way with words."
"Showing off? I doubt you could say that after actually seeing our British Academy."
"Enough. I called Teacher Kang here because this guy requested it. He says he has something to buy from you."
"From me?"
"I'll explain directly. I heard that an item I was looking for is coming up for auction, and after inquiring around, I found out you hold the largest share, so I came to find you like this."
"An auction... Ah! Are you perhaps looking for the Great Sand Worm carcass?"
"That's correct."
"Great Sand Worm? Teacher Kang, is that what you caught during yesterday's evaluation? I know it's quite a rare monster... You were lucky."
"HAHA..."
"I'll be direct. Instead of proceeding with the auction, could you sell it to me privately?"
"Pardon?"
"I asked the auction company, and they said private sales are possible with the consent of you, who holds the largest share. I'll pay generously - how about 500,000 pounds, double the most recent transaction price?"
"500,000 pounds? In Korean won, that would be..."
"It comes to just under 800 million won."
Director Cha next to me does the calculation.
Giant Sand Worms are rare monsters worldwide, and this one is in very good condition, but 800 million won is much more than I expected.
The auction company representative I met during settlement said I could get at most around 500 million won if the auction goes well.
It would definitely be more profitable to sell, but somehow I feel uneasy about it.
"You could potentially buy it cheaper by participating in the auction, so I don't understand why you'd pay extra for a private purchase. May I ask the reason?"
"It's not for me - I'm buying it as a gift."
A gift?
Who would he give such a hideous monster carcass as a gift to?
I don't know who, but they certainly have a unique taste.
Ah! I heard that rare monster carcasses are sometimes purchased by magicians for research purposes, so he probably wants to give it as a gift to a magician acquaintance.
"Are you stupid? It's not even for you, it's a gift - why pay more?"
"Senior, when giving gifts, the content matters, but timing is equally important. Giving it at the right time would make the recipient happier, wouldn't it?"
It's not wrong, but isn't the amount too large?
The auction is scheduled for next Wednesday, so he's essentially burning an extra 300 million won because he can't wait 5 days.
Plus, the shipping costs to Britain won't be cheap either. Is 300 million just pocket change to one of the Ten Stars?
Well, someone who buys an 800 million won gift lives in a different world from me.
If it were me, no matter how much money I had, even for a lover, I couldn't give such a gift.
If it were a family like a wife or child, it might be different... Wait, family?
Don't tell me...
"Conrad, is the person you're giving the Giant Sand Worm carcass to perhaps your daughter?"
"Oh, how did you know?"
"Ah... Well, rare monster carcasses like Giant Sand Worm are usually bought by magicians, and the magician closest to you would be Bianca, so I thought maybe..."
"You're quite perceptive. About a month ago, our Bianca became quite dejected, saying she needed it for magical research but couldn't obtain it. She even said she'd go out and find it herself during winter break if she couldn't get it, so I've been looking everywhere."
‘Damn it. I was praying it wouldn't be for his daughter…’
"HAHA... I see."
"This Thursday is my daughter's birthday, and thanks to you, I'll be able to get her the gift she wants most for her birthday. Thank you."
I haven't even agreed to sell yet, but seeing him say this, he doesn't seem to think I'd refuse at all.
The reason Bianca didn't participate in the WHCU competition in her third year was because she ran away from home to find research materials.
Of course, the original work didn't specifically state that the material was a Giant Sand Worm carcass, but listening to Conrad, there's a strong possibility it was a Giant Sand Worm carcass.
"I stopped by the auction company before coming here and discussed everything. Just sign this contract and 500,000 pounds will be deposited to the auction company immediately. There are no auction fees, and my side will cover all storage fees and export tariffs up to now, so please read it and sign."
Having already visited the auction company, he seems determined to buy it no matter what.
If I sell the carcass to Conrad here, Bianca won't run away from home, so she'll participate in this year's WHCU.
For Se-jin's victory, I absolutely shouldn't sell it, but it seems difficult to refuse now.
I already agreed to proceed with the auction, and suddenly saying I changed my mind and won't sell doesn't make sense.
Moreover, it's not just anyone but one of the Ten Stars who came prepared like this to buy it for his daughter - I don't know what kind of backlash I might face if I don't sell.
SIGH... I'm completely caught between a rock and a hard place.
Should I endure being disliked and use fairness as an excuse to proceed with the auction?
No, even then, I probably can't win the bid anyway.
I'm not exactly poor, but I can't match Conrad's wealth.
"Teacher Kang, what percentage is your share?"
"About 80%, I think?"
"Then that's almost 600 million, but even after 10% tax, it's still 500 million. You've completely struck it rich. Are you going to buy pizza again like last time?"
"HAHA... Well, I'll consider it."
I'm troubled thinking about what to do, but this vice principal doesn't know my feelings and is just talking about pizza.
I pick up the contract to read it, but it's so perfect without anything to nitpick that I can't help but sigh.
"There are no auction fees and no losses for you, so please sign quickly."
"HAHA... Still, I should at least read through it all."
"I have other appointments, so I'd appreciate it if you could hurry."
"Right. That guy wouldn't play around with something like this, so just sign quickly."
With everyone looking at me and urging me on, I reluctantly signed the contract.
"Thanks to you, I can give my daughter a wonderful gift. Thank you."
He's grinning with joy, but I feel terrible.
"Don't just say it - why don't you have a match with him? Teacher Kang uses a sword too."
‘What nonsense is this duel-addicted old man spouting?’
"Oh, you're a swordsman too? Then just a moment..."
"Vice Chairman, didn't I tell you there's a dinner at the Hunter Association later? Even if we leave right now, it'll be tight."
"Is that so? What a shame. Here's my business card - if you ever have business in London, come visit my mansion. I'll give you a tour of our British Hunter Academy as well as a match."
‘Will I ever have business in London?’
Even if I do go to London, I have no intention of visiting, but I accepted it since he gave it to me.
"Well then, I'll be going... I need to prepare for supplementary classes."
"Right. Teacher Kang, good work."
I greeted them and left the faculty office, but I'm really going crazy.
I accepted the bet thinking Bianca definitely wouldn't participate, but how did things get so twisted...?
Lamenting my fate, I returned to the swordsmanship training hall.
I had made detailed training plans including the vacation schedule, but it looks like I'll need to revise everything.
The training plan I made was based on the assumption that Bianca wouldn't participate.
First, I need to find out about Bianca's capabilities, so I turned on my laptop.
I went to a portal site and searched for the WHCU competition - there were too many videos, so when I added Bianca to the search terms, it narrowed down considerably.
Starting from the first video, I spent 30 minutes systematically examining all of Bianca's match videos from this past January.
And I despaired.
None of Bianca's matches lasted more than 5 minutes.
When facing magician opponents, she finished them with high-speed casting, completing magic faster than her opponents, and even when opponents completed similar magic, she immediately showed multicasting, using Dispel and attack magic simultaneously.
When facing swordsmen or spear users, she used moving casting and high-speed casting simultaneously - something even decent A-rank magicians find difficult - to restrict her opponents' movements while finishing them with other magic.
In short, every match was a complete domination.
Still, unlike other participants, Se-jin was the only one who managed to break free from binding magic.
Of course, she couldn't respond to the subsequent magical bombardment and was defeated...
Bianca is at least A-rank Hunter level or above - it's hard to believe she's a high school student.
On the other hand, our Se-jin is at best upper B-rank level.
In reality, when a B-rank Hunter fights an A-rank Hunter, there are cases where the B-rank Hunter can win, but unless the A-rank Hunter is extremely careless or it's a case like mine, the possibility is virtually non-existent.
Today is December 2nd, and the WHCU competition is scheduled for late January, so there's less than two months remaining.
I need some kind of special countermeasure.