ch 8
Became a Swordsmanship Instructor at the Academy
Chapter 8
The duel location was set to be the spear training ground.
Of course, it wasn't my suggestion, but I agreed because if we did it at the sword training ground, it would be bothersome to clean up afterward.
There's a saying that even a mutt has some advantage in its own home, but that applies only when the skills are somewhat similar.
Looking around, there are quite a lot of people.
According to the duel rules, only three witnesses are needed, but because the incident happened in the faculty room, many people came to watch.
The vice principal who mediated earlier is here, and almost all the teachers who were in the faculty room seem to have come. Of course, there are no students.
It would be better if students were watching when he gets humiliated, but it seems the teachers have controlled that.
In fact, this honor duel is a fight where killing is not allowed, but it often involves a lot of bloodshed, with something getting cut off, so it's not good for emotional health.
"What are you dawdling for? If you're not scared, come out quickly."
He's impatient.
I smiled once at Teacher Park, who was looking at me with a worried expression, and moved to the center of the training ground with my sword.
"Everyone knows the basic rules of an honor duel. Be aware that if a dangerous situation arises or if it seems the match is decided, I may intervene to finish it."
The vice principal warned with a heavy voice, looking at Teacher Jung instead of me, which makes me think he believes I'll lose.
After both of us answered that we understood, we stood at a slight distance from each other.
With the vice principal's whistle, the duel began.
As I manipulated the true energy in my lower abdomen, my body overflowed with strength, and I felt like I could do anything.
Of course, I've been training in internal energy for less than three months.
I'm not like the protagonist who ate wild ginseng like it was regular food, but as the saying goes, "a chicken instead of a pheasant," I bought red ginseng and diligently consumed it every morning.
Moreover, my master said that unrefined magic is weaker than internal energy.
I converted all the magic I originally had into internal energy, so I don't think I'll lose.
I thought he would rush in at the start, but he's not completely amateur as he's watching and guarding against me.
Is he judging that it's better to counter because a spear is longer than a sword?
There is certainly a disadvantage due to the weapon's length, but I'm not particularly concerned.
"You confidently requested a duel, but are you planning only to defend?"
"PUHA-HA! Complete nonsense. It's a consideration I'm showing, giving you the first move because it would end in an instant if I didn't. If you're scared, why not forfeit now?"
"I don't need such consideration, so come at me."
As soon as I spoke, wiggling my fingers provocatively, he became enraged and rushed at me.
Trying not to lose the advantage of his weapon's reach and length, he drew his spear diagonally from a distance where my sword couldn't reach, which was bewildering.
It was slower and much more straightforward an attack than I had thought.
BANG—.
Still, its power wasn't something to be taken lightly, as it dug up a chunk of ground.
He continued swinging his spear horizontally and vertically, but at this speed, I could dodge even with one eye closed.
I don't know how much he's underestimating me.
I was about to tell him to do it properly, but his expression looked quite strained.
Is this really his best?
"Whew, you dodge like a little rat."
Despite breathing heavily, he still taunts me, so at least his mouth is still working.
At first, I thought he was completely disrespecting me and fighting without using his full strength because he was so slow, but it seems he was actually attacking seriously.
At this level, he's just slightly faster than the students I teach.
Of course, I'm currently using internal energy, so all my senses are dramatically enhanced, making him seem slow, but even so, this level is disappointing.
Far from skill assessment, it seems like I could cut through his defense with just a light sword strike.
I absolutely didn't think I would lose, but since this was my first real combat, I was a bit nervous, but now I've lost all tension and interest.
Perhaps this is how Cho Yu-ryang felt when he practiced with me, saying it was bothersome.
"You're so slow that I'm about to yawn. Do you call this an attack?"
"This bastard has nothing but a mouth!"
With a battle cry, he thrust his spear at me again. I could have easily avoided it, but this time I blocked it with my sword.
Maybe if our weapons clash, some of my lost interest might return.
CLANG—.
Haha... I only put 3-star internal energy into my sword, yet there was no feeling of repulsion at all.
I blocked Teacher Jung's attacks with my sword a few more times, but nothing changed from the first time.
"For a weakling, you're better than you look, but now it's over."
Does he think he's winning because I'm only avoiding and blocking?
As if it's not just a simple provocation, I don't know what technique he used, but his attacks became faster.
Even so, it's only a slight improvement.
If you think a little, you could judge who's at a disadvantage between me, who has been relaxed throughout, and Teacher Jung, who is breathing heavily.
"Is this your best? I'm disappointed. I feel sorry for the spear class students."
Far from skill assessment, this seems less helpful than practicing alone.
Since there's no meaning in fighting, I should end it now.
Of course, I have no intention of winning lightly.
Angered by my remarks, he now wildly swings his spear.
How does someone like this become a teacher?
Avoiding everything, I put a little more true energy into my sword and cut off the neck of the incoming spear thrust.
CRUNCH- THUD.
Only the shaft remained, and the blade fell to the ground.
Not just the blade, but the shaft seems to be made of metal too, but my sword infused with 8-star energy can sufficiently cut through steel.
If I had used sword energy, it would have cut more smoothly, but among hunters, only A-rank and above use sword energy, so I held back.
Just as you don't use a cow-slaughtering knife to kill a chicken, there's no need to show everything I have against an opponent like this.
Teacher Jung looked bewildered when the spear blade fell, but I had no intention of stopping here.
I stepped forward using footwork techniques and cut the middle part of the now bladeless spear, then put my sword to Teacher Jung's neck.
Of course, Teacher Jung couldn't react at all.
"It's over."
I thought about cutting off one of his arms or legs since there was a school nurse on standby who could use healing magic, but considering that not only hunters but also regular subject teachers were watching, I showed some consideration.
THUD—.
In the end, Teacher Jung threw down his bladeless and halved spear on the ground.
"The match seems decided. In my view, the winner is Teacher Kang. Any objections?"
The vice principal approached and spoke, but I still didn't lower my sword.
Because he hadn't officially surrendered yet.
Teacher Jung's face was red as if it might burst at any moment.
Did he really think he had the advantage?
"N-no objections."
Thinking it serves him right as he speaks with a face red as a radish from embarrassment, I withdrew my sword.
There was no applause or cheers, and everyone watching, including the vice principal, looked surprised, as if they hadn't expected me to win.
"Teacher Kang can exercise the winner's right."
Right. The winner's right.
Even if there's no applause or cheers, this exists.
Teacher Jung demanded that I apologize to him and Teacher Kim, but I didn't initially say what I would demand.
What should I make him do?
Honestly, I dislike Teacher Kim, who started all this, more than Teacher Jung, but an honor duel allows demands only to the loser.
Moreover, it cannot go against laws and social norms, so I can't make him do just anything.
Well, should I make him crawl on all fours like a dog, pass through between legs, and bark?
No, that seems a bit too much regardless.
With so many teachers here, if I make him do something too strange, it might damage my reputation, and if Teacher Jung commits suicide or something, that would be troublesome.
Yes. I showed my skills earlier, so now it's time to show that I'm also a decent person.
"It's fine. Well, it seemed forced from the moment Teacher Jung requested the duel, but he seemed to have stepped up because Teacher Kim is his girlfriend. Now that you've had this experience, I hope you'll know your place and understand your level next time."
"Then you're not exercising your right?"
"Teacher Kim told absurd stories to the students, but the vice principal will mediate and correct that, and Teacher Jung has already been humiliated enough. It would be pitiful to go further."
"Who needs such pathetic sympathy..."
"Sympathy? Come to think of it, didn't you say earlier that you're older than me and have longer teaching experience? If your pride is hurt, well, console yourself by thinking you received consideration."
***
I woke up to the alarm sound and checked my phone to find it was the last alarm.
After yesterday's duel, Teacher Park coaxed me into having a drink, and I overdrank a bit, so my head feels like it's going to split.
I pulled up my internal energy to alleviate the effects of alcohol, and it's a bit better.
Should I skip breakfast?
It seems a bit tight on time, but I can't give up on one of the joys of school life, which is food.
After washing up briefly and changing clothes, I headed to the cafeteria, hoping that bean sprout soup would be served this morning.
"Oh? Teacher, good morning."
"Good morning."
"Yes. Good morning."
I greeted the students casually and naturally picked up a tray.
Breakfast also offers both Western and Korean options, but for a Korean, rice is better than bread in the morning.
Today's side dishes are stir-fried sausage with vegetables, fried eggs, bean sprouts, potato jorim, and beef soup.
It's not the bean sprout soup I expected, but beef soup isn't bad either.
The other side dishes are all things I like, so I think I came at a good time. I received the food and found a corner to sit.
I took a spoonful of the refreshing soup first, then put a sausage covered in plenty of ketchup-based sauce into my mouth with white rice.
Ah, this is why I became a teacher.
School food is really the best.
After finishing my meal and arriving at the faculty room, I was fortunately not late.
I punched my time card and went to my seat, but somehow I felt eyes on me.
Is it because of yesterday's incident?
"Teacher Kang, good morning."
"Yes. Good morning."
"Good morning, Teacher Kang."
"Good morning, Teacher Kang."
"Yes. Good morning."
What's going on?
Even teachers who didn't usually greet me first are greeting me.
Of course, there are no hunters, only regular subject teachers.
Yesterday's duel must have been quite impressive.
It's a bit burdensome, but... Well, it's not bad.
I did some light organizing at my desk and then attended the faculty meeting.
There was nothing special except that Teacher Jung had applied for a leave of absence.
It seems he thought he couldn't show his face despite me not using the winner's right.
If I had known he would leave like this, I wonder if I should have shown consideration yesterday.
After the meeting, the vice principal called me separately to talk.
Not only Teacher Jung but also Teacher Kim applied for a leave of absence.
But the vice principal rejected it, telling her to explain properly and apply again.
After the meeting, I arrived at the sword training ground.
While boiling water in the pot to drink coffee, there was a commotion outside.
There were still more than 20 minutes until class started, but it seems students have already come up.
When I opened the door and looked outside, there were no other students, only Jinsu and Minhee.
"Hello."
"Not hello."
"Why not?"
"Why? Because some inconsiderate kids came early and are disturbing the teacher's precious rest time. Can't you go somewhere else to date?"
"It's not like that!"
"That's right. What nonsense is that? By the way, teacher, I heard you had an honor duel with Teacher Jung from the spear class yesterday?"
I remember there were no students, so how did these kids know?
"How did you know about that?"
"It's on Together Time."
"Together Time?"
"You don't know Together Time? Many teachers use it too, not just students."
Ahem, is it some kind of SNS?
Wait... Hold on, the duel video was uploaded to SNS?