Ch 86
Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy
Chapter 86
When I opened my eyes, I saw a familiar ceiling.
I seemed to have gone to bed quite late yesterday, but my body felt light, the sunlight was very warm, and even the sound of birds chirping was...
Wait, bird chirping?
I quickly searched for my phone and turned it on to find missed calls from Teacher Park and several other teachers.
The time was 9:30.
I was late.
I roughly washed my face, changed clothes as quickly as possible, and ran to the faculty office with all my might.
Being late on the first day of work in the new year...
I had forgotten to set an alarm yesterday.
At least it was during the operational council period when only teachers come to work, so I thought it was fortunate as I carefully tried to open the door, but the door swung open.
"Huh? Teacher Kang, don't tell me you're just coming to work now?"
Damn, I take back what I said about it being fortunate.
What rotten luck, of all people to run into, it had to be the vice principal.
"I forgot to set my alarm... I'm sorry."
"Well, that can happen. Be more careful next time."
"Yes? Oh, yes. I'll make sure this never happens again."
I thought I'd get at least 10 minutes of nagging, but to think it would pass this lightly.
Is the effect of making Se-jin win still lingering?
Thinking it was fortunate, I came to my seat and the teachers around me approached.
"Teacher Kang, long time no see. When you didn't answer your phone, I wondered if you were quitting... Overslept?"
"Yes. I forgot to set my alarm... I'm sorry."
"Teacher Kang, you're really not quitting? If it were me, I would have quit right away."
"I'll work until I can receive my pension."
"Tsk, rich people are even worse."
"Really?"
When I said I really wasn't quitting, the teachers grumbled and each took out a 10,000 won bill and handed it to Teacher Park.
Looking at it now, they seemed to have made a bet, and except for Teacher Park, everyone bet that I would quit.
"Teacher Kang, how about pork belly with soju after work today? Thanks to Teacher Kang, I made some good money, so I'll pay for Teacher Kang's portion."
"Ah... I was already late today, so drinking is a bit..."
"You weren't usually like that. There are no classes today anyway. Oh, now that you're a building owner, you don't want to hang out with commoners like us?"
"That's not it at all. Understood. I'll make sure all the money you earned today goes to meat expenses."
"We're going to an all-you-can-eat place though?"
"Then I'll make you spend it all on alcohol."
"As much as you want."
"I'll treat tomorrow."
"Teacher Choi will?"
Teacher Choi was someone who always struggled because his wife gave him too little pocket money, so what's this about?
"I didn't earn as much as you, but we all bet on Se-jin."
"I believed in our Teacher Kang."
"If you really believed, you should have bet all 1,000 dollars. You only bet 800,000 won, didn't you?"
"That was from scraping together my emergency fund. And Teacher Park, shouldn't you treat for two days? You bet with your wife, brother-in-law, and eldest daughter."
"I'll treat for two days, no problem."
"Excuse me, teachers, my opinion is..."
"There are no classes this week!"
It seems my liver will suffer quite a bit this week.
I was worried they might distance themselves or think badly of me because I earned a lot of money, but it seems I worried for nothing.
Of course, their true feelings might be different, but I'm grateful that they at least don't openly ostracize me.
Come to think of it, Teacher Min also said she'd buy me a meal to thank me, so I should ask during lunch since the times might overlap.
"Oh, right... Since you're moving this afternoon, it would be good to organize things roughly in the morning."
"Did the grade assignments come out?"
"They did. Check the work contacts and you'll see. You're in charge of 2nd year this year."
The assignment of which grade a teacher will handle is decided by consultation between the vice principal and principal, but it's not done randomly.
In December of the previous year, we submitted applications writing down which grade we want to handle up to our second choice, and I wrote 2nd year as my first choice.
2nd year is busier than 1st year because they go on practicum from the second semester, but I have to handle 1st year next year no matter what.
Of course, it's not impossible to handle the same grade for three consecutive years, but most teachers tend to avoid the difficult 3rd year and prefer 1st year, so the competition is quite fierce.
Well, I also find it convenient to continue teaching the kids I've been teaching, and I've grown quite attached to them.
I thought I might be assigned to 3rd year since I achieved the result of Se-jin's WHCU victory, but fortunately that didn't happen.
"I got my first choice. What about you teachers?"
Actually, there's another biggest reason I chose 2nd year as my first choice.
The school trip.
Just as 1st year students go to Gangwon-do every year for their training camp, 2nd year students' school trip also goes to the same place every time.
The location is Japan, and of course within Japan they sometimes go to Tokyo, Osaka, or Fukuoka, but there's one place they never fail to visit.
'Black Temple'.
Located near Nagoya, it's the world's largest fixed portal, half the size of Jeju Island, and although there are no restrictions now, it was said that up to a thousand people could enter even before it was conquered.
It's all barren desert terrain so it has no resource value, but there's a huge temple in the center.
It's called the Black Temple because it's built entirely of black rock, and inside the temple, various murals and unknown languages were discovered.
It was a completely new language never found anywhere on Earth, but after long research by the world's famous linguists, two sentences were deciphered.
In the original work, the protagonists obtain their second opportunity there.
Looking at the deciphered sentences, there seems to be some great secret hidden, so the Japanese government strictly controls the entry of not only foreigners but also its own citizens, but there are exceptions.
When the portal was first discovered, four of Japan's top guilds gathered to attempt conquest but failed miserably.
Half of the participants died, and three out of four S-rank hunters died.
They tried once more later but failed again with massive casualties, and Japan, judging that conquest was impossible with their own power, eventually called for help from the World Hunter Association.
Hunters from around the world gathered, and although there were quite a lot of casualties, the conquest was finally successful after a month.
After conquest, it was revealed to be a fixed type, and hunters who played a big role in the conquest received shares of the portal, and one of those hunters is our vice principal.
Thanks to that, our school students always visit the Black Temple once when they go to Japan for their school trip.
"I'm the homeroom teacher of 2nd year class 3, Teacher Choi is class 4, Teacher Jung is class 7. Teacher Yeon was assigned to 3rd year."
"I applied for 2nd year too..."
"That's unfortunate. I was worried there might not be anyone I know if I went to 2nd year, but fortunately there are three of you going together."
"You worry about everything. Teacher Kang is our school's most popular guy."
"What popularity... Please take care of me this year too, everyone."
"Yeah, let's do well this year too."
"I'll also ask for your help, Teacher Kang. But will you be okay?"
"Yes? What do you mean?"
"Teacher Kang is the homeroom teacher of class 10, right?"
"Homeroom teacher? But I'm only in my first year?"
Although there's no specific regulation, it's customary not to assign homeroom duties before the second year when you become a regular teacher.
"Now that you mention it, that's right. Teacher Kang came in last year. You've become so familiar that I forgot you were new."
"That's right. Well, they probably assigned it because Teacher Kang is capable."
"What capability do I have..."
"Why are you like that? Teacher Kang, you're good at it."
"I overheard the conversation between the head of academic affairs and the vice principal earlier, and the vice principal strongly recommended you."
The vice principal again...
Really, did that man have some grudge against me in a past life?
"Why do you look so gloomy? Being a homeroom teacher isn't anything special."
"That's right, stop being dramatic. Really, it's nothing special. Just think of it as adding class management to what you were already doing."
"...Isn't that class management difficult?"
"It might be a little difficult at first, but I think Teacher Kang would do it well enough. You get about 20 more in allowance when you become a homeroom teacher."
I don't need that measly 20, so I don't want to do it...
"If you just meet good kids, it won't be that difficult, so don't be too scared."
Sigh... I thought about going to complain, but since the class assignment is already out, they probably won't change it...
Wait, was the lenient treatment of my tardiness earlier also because of this?
Sigh, I really hate the vice principal.
***
I left the faculty office right after the meeting ended.
If it were before, I would have gone straight to the swordsmanship training hall, had a cup of coffee, and leisurely prepared for class, but from this year I don't have that luxury.
Homeroom teachers have to conduct morning assemblies.
The 2nd year classrooms are on the 4th floor, so even excluding assembly time, I lose at least 15 minutes a day.
There's also a lot of work to do at the beginning of the semester...
‘Maybe I should have just quit’, I thought as I walked, and before I knew it, I had arrived in front of the classroom.
When I opened the door and entered, I saw students chattering away.
"Everyone stop talking and sit down, we're going to have an assembly."
There didn't seem to be any absences since there were no empty seats, but I called each name one by one.
They say calling attendance makes it easier to memorize names, and although it's only been one day since school started yesterday, there are only twenty students in one class, so I think I've memorized them all and can just check visually from tomorrow.
"Everyone's here. Now for announcements. The magic class should go to Practice Room 2 from today since the interior construction of Practice Room 2 was finished yesterday evening... Oh, after 8th period today at 5 o'clock, we'll elect class president and class officers. Those who want to run should prepare separately."
"Yes!"
"Good. Any questions? Teacher's leaving."
"Excuse me, teacher! When can we apply for clubs?"
"Clubs? I haven't heard anything specific... Students who were in clubs last year can probably continue as is, and those who want to join new ones can inquire with the clubs they want to join."
"Don't you supervise a club, teacher?"
"I want to join the teacher's club."
"Me too."
Oh, am I more popular than I thought... Like hell.
It's probably because word got around that I often buy snacks for the kids.
"I'm not going to do it."
I'm already busy with homeroom duties, so I don't have time for that kind of thing.
"Aww."
"All the other teachers do at least one."
"Really? Then should I make a Physical Training Club? Running for the full 50 minutes, doing push-ups, sounds good?"
"Ew... Teacher, who would join a club like that?"
"It's what you do all the time anyway..."
So leave me alone.
"That's unfortunate. Everyone, have a good class and see you later."
After greeting them and leaving the classroom, it was already 8:30.
When I arrived at the swordsmanship training hall, it was 40 minutes past.
I should do some paperwork if I don't want to work overtime, but if I turn on my laptop and open Hangul, it'll be class time.
"Teacher Kang, have a cup of coffee too."
A teacher with bulging muscles handed me a canned coffee - Jung Eun-sik, who newly came from 3rd Hunter school this year.
Although my image has changed 180 degrees, I'm still distant from the hunter teachers, but unlike other hunter teachers, he doesn't seem to keep his distance from me, perhaps because he's new.
"Thank you."
"You must be busy with homeroom duties too. Usually teachers like us who teach at external facilities don't get assigned homeroom duties."
"There's someone who's dying to work me to death. I'll buy some after lunch too."
While drinking coffee and chatting, it got noisy outside, so it seemed like class time was almost here.
When I went outside, I saw 1st year students who still looked very young and innocent.
Our kids were like this last year too.
"Wow, that teacher is really handsome."
"That's Teacher Kang Shin-hyeok, right?"
"Right. I saw him on TV. He's much more handsome in person."
You kids at least know how to judge people.
The 2nd year training area is a bit higher up, so after walking for about 3 minutes, I saw familiar faces.
I've been seeing them for the past year, so I don't expect praise or anything... These kids are busy talking among themselves without even pretending to see me.
‘Maybe I should have just continued with 1st year?’
If I had said I'd quit unless they didn't assign me to 1st year on the way back from the competition, I probably could have been assigned to 1st year...
"Everyone here? We're going to stretch and run right away, so get ready."
"Teacher, there are still 3 minutes left until class time."
"Don't you know the teacher's style? If everyone's here, we start. Jinsu, you run one extra lap."
"Why only me..."
"Want to run two more laps?"
The 2nd year class isn't much different from 1st year.
Although 2nd years do go on portal conquests, practicum doesn't start until late April.
Come to think of it, I have to go with them too...
Ugh, I really hate it.
After finishing the morning class and going to eat lunch, I felt a vibration in my chest.
I took out my phone and saw it was Do-hyun's mother.
What could it be at this time?
"Yes, Do-hyun's mother."
―Teacher Kang, is it okay to talk?
"Yes. It's lunch time so it's fine. What's the matter?"
―I got a call from school a little while ago, saying our Do-hyun hit a friend...
"Do-hyun did?"
―They want me to come to school tomorrow, and when I try to ask Do-hyun what happened, I can't reach him. I'm really sorry to ask for this favor when I'm always receiving help... Could you please look into it a little?
‘Do-hyun's personality wouldn't lead him to hit a friend... Oh, could it be that?’
"Excuse me... Mother, by any chance, is the name of the friend Do-hyun supposedly hit Lee Ji-sung?"
The most glorious one chose the path of corruption to prevent destruction.
...Chosen one, obtain everything and stand tall above destruction.
[2-10]