Ch 73
Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy
Chapter 73
She looks quite flustered for some reason.
"Teacher Hong and Teacher Kim came and talked about it during the supplementary class the day before yesterday."
"Ah, I thought they would take turns coming and going while conquering portals, but I didn't know both of them would be absent at the same time..."
I thought it would be good since I could teach martial arts more comfortably without Teacher Kim and Teacher Hong, but now that I think about it, being alone together might be burdensome for Se-jin.
"If it's a bit awkward, how about you rest at home for about 3 days too, Se-jin? We haven't even entered the highway yet, so we can turn the car around."
"Ah... No. I'm fine with it."
Despite her words, she seemed to be worrying a lot, so I asked again, but she said she was really okay, so we entered the highway as planned.
The atmosphere became slightly awkward, but it got better after we stopped at a rest area to buy snacks and talked about school.
After driving for two hours like that, we finally arrived at the village near the pension.
"Wow, it's completely rural."
"Still, there's a convenience store and restaurants and a mart - everything you need is here."
"Have you been here before?"
Of course I've come here often.
Most of the things I bring to my Master are bought in Seoul before departure, but when I forget something, I buy it here.
"I came a few times when I was in the guild before. I also passed by here recently when we came for the training camp."
"Ah, I see."
"The pension is just about 10 more minutes away, so let's do some shopping here."
I came to a different mart since I thought I'd be recognized if I went to the one I usually frequent.
I pulled out a cart and looked around the mart, first putting three bundles of 6-bottle water packs that were at the entrance.
Anyway, when Teacher Kim and Teacher Hong come, we'll shop again, and we decided to mostly eat out, so there's no need to buy a lot right now.
There are no restaurants around the pension, but we can come out here to eat, so should I just buy some ramen or instant rice for breakfast?
"Is there anything you want to eat?"
"I eat everything well, so I'm fine."
"If you talk like that, I'll just buy ramen."
"I really don't pick my food. I like ramen too."
"Then you'll eat only ramen for all 3 days?"
"Huh? Uh... That's fine."
"Anyone can see that's not fine... I'll choose what to buy."
"Oh? You can make pasta too?"
"Why, don't you like it?"
"It's not that, but isn't pasta difficult to make?"
"What's difficult about it? You just stir-fry garlic and bacon in oil, then add the boiled noodles and sauce, and it's done."
Since coming to this world, I've mostly eaten cafeteria food or bought food, but I used to live alone for over 5 years before, so I can make most dishes.
Usually when living alone, people order a lot of delivery or go out to buy food, but for a poor writer, delivery food was a luxury.
"You can cook too... Teacher, there's really nothing you can't do."
"It's nothing special, don't exaggerate. Nothing comes out even if you praise me like that."
"I can't cook at all..."
"So what? Se-jin has other talents instead. Just earn a lot of money and eat food others make for you. You could also meet a man who cooks well."
"Someone like Teacher..."
"Huh? What did you say?"
"Ah... Nothing. Teacher, you're good at everything."
"You haven't even tasted it yet. Well, it probably won't be inedible at least."
While talking and putting various things in, the cart was full before I knew it.
I tried to buy just a little, but maybe because it's a rural mart, there's almost nothing portioned like in Seoul, so the quantity is quite a lot.
It seems like there would be leftovers even if we cooked everything for 3 days... Well, it's better than running short.
"I think we've bought everything, so if there are any snacks you want to eat, choose them."
"I don't really like snacks much, so I'm fine."
If they were first-year kids, they would have excitedly tried to fill another cart with just snacks.
"Really? Then shall we each have an ice cream?"
"In this weather?"
"When eating ice cream, you don't consider the season."
After buying two ice creams, we came to the checkout counter.
"Young man, do you need bags?"
"Yes. About two 20L bags should be enough."
"I haven't seen your face before, are you here for sightseeing?"
"Haha... Well, something like that."
"You don't seem like a married couple... A couple? Both the young lady and gentleman are good-looking. If you have children later, you could make them actors."
This lady is saying something that could cause big trouble.
"Oh no, that's not it. We're not in that kind of relationship."
"We're not."
"You don't seem like siblings, so are you in that stage of dating or something? Anyway, young people these days make dating so complicated. In my time, we just started dating right away if we liked each other and got along."
"No, that's... Never mind. Just please process the payment."
When I frowned and spoke, she stopped talking and processed the payment.
I think I reacted a bit sensitively, but I had a hard time because of the incident last summer, so I can't just let it slide.
If I tried to explain by saying we're student and teacher, she might think strangely again, and it would be bothersome to explain that again too.
Next time, I should go to the mart I usually visit.
"Really, causing all kinds of misunderstandings. Let's go to a different mart next time."
"Y... Yes. I'll carry something too. Please give me one."
"It's fine. The car is right in front."
We loaded the groceries into the car and drove about 10 more minutes to arrive at the pension.
There are several buildings around, but there seems to be no one here as ours is the only car in the parking lot.
Even when I went to the place marked as the management office, no one was there, so I called and they said they were in town, so after waiting about 10 minutes in the car, the owner arrived.
"Oh my, sorry. Did you wait long?"
His hair is a bit balding, but he looks really nice.
"Not at all. We didn't wait long."
"During peak season, I'd be at the pension too, but during off-season there are no customers, so I'm usually at my house in town. But you made a reservation for 4 people, yet there are only two..."
"Two people will come in 3 days."
"Really? If more people come, I should charge extra, but since you're long-term customers during off-season, I won't charge you."
"I don't think more people will come, but thank you anyway."
After a brief explanation, we received the key and entered the pension.
It's a two-story structure with as many as 4 rooms, all with beds, 2 bathrooms, and a spacious living room.
It's well-cleaned and seems quite nice.
"How is it? The owner said there are no other people, so it'll be quiet and good for martial arts training."
"Huh? Ah, yes."
"There are rooms on the second floor and first floor, so use whichever is comfortable."
"Then I'll use the second floor."
"Okay. First organize your luggage. Let's eat first."
We did buy snacks at the rest area on the way, but they were literally snacks, not a meal, so I'm a bit hungry.
"I'll help you after I finish quickly."
"Take your time. I need to organize my luggage too."
***
I stopped my mental cultivation technique practice at the loud alarm sound.
Every time I practice, I feel this, but after practicing the mental cultivation technique, my body feels lighter and my mind clearer.
It's not just a feeling, but actually true.
Just looking at the sparring we had before dinner earlier, I was able to block and dodge most of Teacher's attacks.
Of course I couldn't win, but Teacher said he matched the level like during the martial arts tournament supplementary class, so I've become much faster and stronger than before learning the mental cultivation technique.
When Teacher first told me about it, I thought it was really nonsensical...
Thinking about it now, I feel so sorry.
I came down to the first floor to drink some water and practice the mental cultivation technique again.
Seeing as there's no sign of anyone, hasn't the Teacher come back yet?
Earlier during dinner, he said he had somewhere to go and might be late, so he told me to practice the mental cultivation technique and sleep first before leaving.
He didn't tell me the reason, so I just said I understood, but if I knew he'd be this late, I should have asked where he was going.
I came out to drink water and get some fresh air, but it's so dark I can't see even an inch ahead.
He's not staying out all night, is he?
I didn't hear any car sounds either, so I went back inside the pension.
At first, I thought it was good because there were no other customers so it was quiet, and the pension was spacious, but the pension owner also lives in town, and there are no other guests, so it's a bit eerie.
Actually, when I heard earlier that it would be just Teacher and me for 3 days, I was a bit burdened.
Even though he's a Teacher I see every day, I never thought we'd be staying alone together at a pension in a quiet rural place away from school.
Both Mother and my friends always say that all men are wolves.
I think Teacher is different, but I was a bit worried.
Teacher also seemed to sense that I was a bit uncomfortable, asking if I'd like to rest for 3 days if it seemed uncomfortable, but since there's less than a month left until the competition, I said it was fine.
I was the one who first requested to start from the closing ceremony.
Thinking about it now, it was such a foolish worry.
Even though it's the same pension, we're not staying in the same room, and Teacher didn't seem to care at all about being alone together, acting just like his usual self.
Teacher purely thinks of me as a student, but I alone made too much of a fuss, so I feel sorry and embarrassed.
I think this is all because Father said Teacher was interested in me.
Of course I thought it wasn't true, but still, I thought very slightly that he might think of me specially.
He's been continuously caring for me, and he's teaching me martial arts that he said he hadn't told anyone else about.
But I think I was completely mistaken.
Earlier at the mart we stopped at on the way to the pension, when the lady at the checkout mistook Teacher and me for lovers, Teacher's expression was really bad.
Even though the lady was being nosy, he could have responded appropriately and moved on, but Teacher even frowned and cut off the conversation.
As soon as we came out, he said let's go somewhere else next time, showing complete disgust... Am I that unappealing?
It's natural to say no to something that isn't true, but I feel a bit hurt... Wait. Do I perhaps like Teacher?
I think that might be the case... But Teacher is so popular that someone like me probably doesn't even catch his eye.
Our Teacher is perfect with looks, skills, kindness, and even cooking ability.
Not to mention the other students Teacher teaches, even Teacher Hong and Teacher Kim who helped during the supplementary class seemed to have favorable feelings toward Teacher.
But I've never been called ugly even though I've only focused on swords and studies, and I'll be an adult in just a few days...
TTIK!
I heard the door opening and Teacher came in.
"Oh? You're still not sleeping?"
"I was practicing the internal energy mental cultivation technique."
"Until now? You don't need to overdo it."
"It's not overdoing it. But where did you go?"
"Huh? Well, just... First, I need to wash up."
"Ah, yes."
He went straight to his room, seeming like he didn't want to talk much, so I also went up to the second floor.
I thought about practicing the internal energy mental cultivation technique some more, but lay down on the bed.
I think about 20 minutes have passed since I closed my eyes, but I can't fall asleep.
KNOCK! KNOCK!.
"Se-jin, are you sleeping? If you're not sleeping, can I come in for a moment?"
Teacher?
I immediately got up from the bed.
"Ah, yes. Please come in."
***
"T-Teacher... Isn't it too big? How can something that big..."
"Big is good. It'll hurt at first. But you'll get used to it after some time, so just bear with it a little."
"Uh... How much will it hurt?"
"Well. The pain is just for a moment, so you don't need to worry too much."
They say it's different for each person, so honestly I don't know how much it will hurt either.
Se-jin looked too anxious, so I comforted her once more and pulled Se-jin toward me.
"Oh, Teacher, I'm not mentally prepared yet..."
"What mental preparation? I said it's fine."
"Really raw..."
"Of course it's raw. You don't need to worry so much. Don't you trust Teacher? There won't be any problems, and even if problems arise, I'll take full responsibility."