Ch 87
Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy
Chapter 87
―I didn't hear the name. Our Do-hyun isn't the type of kid to do that kind of thing….
"Don't worry too much. I'll look into it."
Kim Do-hyun, the original protagonist, and Lee Ji-sung stick together like a needle and thread throughout their school days and even after graduation, but the truth is their relationship wasn't good from the beginning.
No, rather, at first they were completely enemies - it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say their relationship was that bad.
The reason comes out in an early scene where Lee Ji-sung looks at Kim Do-hyun and recalls past memories.
The first time the two become classmates is in their third year of middle school, and a fight breaks out when Kim Do-hyun tries to stop Lee Ji-sung, who was acting like a delinquent at the time.
Lee Ji-sung picked the fight first and threw the first punch, but the winner of the fight was Kim Do-hyun.
In a normal school, a model student like Kim Do-hyun would be one-sidedly beaten by a delinquent student like Lee Ji-sung, but this is Hunter School.
The more model a student is, the better they are at fighting.
Moreover, Kim Do-hyun was in the swordsmanship class, so he had been doing intense physical training since middle school, while Lee Ji-sung was in the magic class and attended classes haphazardly, so he was no match at all.
Lee Ji-sung got beaten up miserably with both nostrils bleeding, and both Lee Ji-sung's mother and Kim Do-hyun's mother were called to the school.
Lee Ji-sung's mother is a typical chaebol family madam.
Until now, she had come because her son caused trouble every time, but this time, hearing that he got beaten up, she aggressively pushed to have the other party expelled.
While Kim Do-hyun's mother knelt down and pleaded, and the homeroom teacher and other teachers tried to dissuade her, Lee Ji-sung's father, who was relatively normal, found out about this situation and things got sorted out.
Knowing that Kim Do-hyun's family situation wasn't good, he didn't even receive compensation and it seemed to end well, but that wasn't the case at all.
There's no way Lee Ji-sung, a notorious delinquent, would just let it go after getting his nose bloodied.
As soon as he returned to the classroom, he mocked Kim Do-hyun saying he only went easy because he was a beggar, and continued to pick fights with him afterward.
He even picked fights with kids who talked to Kim Do-hyun, isolating Kim Do-hyun and turning him into an outcast.
He could have beaten him up again if they fought, but Kim Do-hyun was quite shocked after seeing his mother kneel and plead because of him, so he endured it silently.
This incident made Kim Do-hyun completely hate Lee Ji-sung, and later when Lee Ji-sung was possessed, he recalled this and cursed tremendously while struggling incredibly hard to repair their relationship.
The reason I asked to be sent two years before the original story began was because of these kinds of problems.
I had no idea I would become Kang Shin-hyeok instead of Lee Ji-sung though.
Anyway, since he won't be expelled, it seems like there won't be any major problems even if I don't intervene….
After thinking for a moment, I called Choi Seo-ra, Kim Do-hyun's homeroom teacher.
In the original story, Lee Ji-sung supports Kim Do-hyun's family as a means of repairing their relationship, but I've already helped with that, so if Lee Ji-sung and Kim Do-hyun become enemies as in the original, there's a high possibility it will be difficult to recover.
His mother also asked me to help.
―Senior, I'm busy right now.
"Is it because of the kids fighting?"
―How did you know? Did the rumor already reach high school?
"That's not it. I'm personally sponsoring Do-hyun. His mother contacted me and told me. She said Do-hyun wasn't answering his phone."
―Do-hyun is writing an incident report in the faculty office right now. But Senior, you're sponsoring Do-hyun? How do you know him?
"I made a donation to the middle school in February, remember? I said I wanted to personally help if there were students in difficult situations, so they connected us. The student who fought with Do-hyun is Lee Ji-sung?"
―That's right. I haven't seen the incident report yet, but from what the kids are saying, it seems the fight started when Do-hyun tried to stop Lee Ji-sung from bullying another kid. That damn delinquent had to come to our class….
"How is Do-hyun?"
―Do-hyun? He's completely fine, but that delinquent broke his nose bone. The health teacher would have healed it with magic, so he's probably fine now.
"I see. You told both mothers to come tomorrow?"
―Ah, you said his mother was contacted. I didn't do it, maybe the student supervisor did?
"So what happens to Do-hyun?"
―Once he finishes writing the incident report, I'll send him to lunch.
"Not that, I mean disciplinary action."
―Well, if it's like the kids said, Lee Ji-sung was the one who did wrong first, but one side got beaten up so one-sidedly that a disciplinary committee might be convened.... If the parents come tomorrow and have a good discussion, it might just pass, so we'll have to see tomorrow.
"Please take care to make sure it gets resolved well."
―Senior making this kind of request... What's this about?
"The kid happens to be in swordsmanship class and has talent too. His personality isn't the type to hit people carelessly...."
―I haven't seen the incident report yet, but all the kids can't be lying, so that delinquent must have caused it. Don't worry too much. Even if a disciplinary committee is held, it'll probably just be a few days of school service.
"I hope it ends with just that, but I heard Lee Ji-sung's mother is quite extreme."
―Senior really doesn't know anything. I just found out too, but his own child has caused much more trouble until now and it all passed, so this will be resolved well. Senior, let's talk later.
"Alright. Please contact me if anything happens."
Fortunately, Choi Seo-ra seems to be on Do-hyun's side.
I called his mother again to explain the situation and told her I would call again in a bit.
I think I've done everything I can do for now.
Later when this is finished, Lee Ji-sung might retaliate, so I should ask them to pay more attention to Do-hyun.
I finished lunch and the afternoon classes.
I went to the faculty office to do some paperwork, and before I knew it, it was 5 o'clock.
I still had a lot to do, so thinking it would be overtime again today, I headed to the 5th floor.
When I entered the classroom, it was noisy and bustling - even though it was right after 8th period ended, everyone was full of energy.
"Everyone sit down, and candidates who want to be class president, please raise your hands."
Two people raised their hands.
"Minha and Eunseo, just these two?"
Since I've been watching both of them in swordsmanship class for a year, it would be convenient for me if either became president, but I was worried other kids might feel I only favor the swordsmanship class, so I asked if there were other recommendations, but there were no volunteers.
"If there aren't any, shall we hear the candidate speeches? First, you two come to the front."
"Yes."
"Yes!"
Eunseo looked a bit nervous, but Minha was full of energy, probably because of her usually lively personality.
"The order is... Um... By student number, which of you two is earlier?"
"Me!"
"Minha? Then shall Eunseo go first?"
"Huh?"
"Sometimes it's okay to go backwards."
Eunseo seemed a bit nervous, so I thought about giving her time, but doing it later might make her even more nervous.
There's also a saying that it's better to get hit first.
Though she showed a bit of nervousness and was somewhat clichéd, Eunseo's speech was better than expected.
She naturally appealed her experience as vice-representative of the swordsmanship class in first year, student council activities, and participation in martial arts competitions - it seemed like she prepared a lot.
"Alright. Now it's Minha's turn."
"Everyone, who am I?"
"Park Minha!"
I thought she was outgoing... But she's much more of a social butterfly than I thought.
Though Eunseo has also become quite bright lately despite being introverted, Minha's energy level is completely different.
"That's right. I, Park Minha, won't speak at length. Everyone, please close your eyes once. Teacher too."
I don't know what she's thinking, but I closed my eyes as instructed.
"What do you see?"
"I don't see anything."
"What is it?"
"What you're seeing right now is the dark future of our class when I don't become class president."
Laughter burst out among the kids - that's quite a good line.
"Now please open your eyes and turn around once. Teacher, you don't need to this time."
When most of the kids turned around, she cheekily asked if they saw that, saying this was her leadership.... It's absurd but original.
Well, when I was in school, there were kids who burned their indoor shoes with lighters saying they'd run so hard their feet would catch fire.
"If I become class president, I will do my best so that everyone in our class can have fun and enjoy school life. Finally, I'll do a two-line poem with 'milk' (u-yu), so please cheer for me."
"U!"
"Who is our class president?"
"Yu!"
"Thank you. I'll work hard."
"Crazy, Park Minha...."
"So funny."
Looking at the kids' reactions, the result seems already decided.
When we held the vote, the result was 13 to 7 - Minha became class president and Eunseo became vice-president.
I was worried Eunseo might be discouraged if the vote difference was too large, but fortunately it wasn't.
After hearing the acceptance speech and selecting the rest of the class meeting officers and club members, about 20 minutes were left.
"About 20 minutes left. Let's use the remaining time for self-study."
"Aw... Teacher, what self-study."
"Won't you tell us about your first love?"
"Oh, first love."
"What first love? Everyone's so energetic, maybe you want to run laps on the playground?"
"Teacher! What running...."
"There's only 20 minutes."
"20 minutes is enough to run three laps if we go down now. Should we all sweat a bit before dinner?"
It became quiet instantly. Should have done this earlier....
I had them self-study until the closing ceremony and returned to the faculty office.
Many teachers were leaving work even though there's a lot of work at the beginning of the semester.
Will I be able to do that once I adapt....
"Teacher Kang, not going home?"
"Teacher Park, please go ahead. I have a lot to do."
"Then let's go eat dinner together."
"I'm planning to eat a bit later. But are you eating at the cafeteria? Did your wife go to her parents' house?"
"No. My wife made a whole pot of curry, so I've been eating curry morning and evening for three days straight."
"Haha.... But today's dinner menu is curry udon."
"That's Western food, right? I can eat Korean food."
"Korean food is curry rice."
"Ugh, that damn curry. I should convince Teacher Choi to go eat army stew. Good work."
"My stomach's not feeling well, so I'm skipping it. Please go ahead."
I gave casual greetings to the teachers leaving and was doing paperwork when I felt a vibration in my chest.
I took it out and saw it was Se-jin.
"Yeah, Se-jin."
―Teacher, where are you?
"Me? At school. Um... Se-jin, since it's the beginning of the semester, the teacher has quite a bit of work, so can we spar next time?"
―It's not about sparring, my father contacted me a little while ago....
Kim Dae-chan contacted her? Wasn't he completely cut off from her life?
He didn't even come to graduation, so what does he want to do now....
"Don't answer it."
―If I had known, I wouldn't have answered, but the call came through my mother's phone so I didn't think it was father....
"What did he say?"
―He said he'd pay the penalty fee, so quit the guild now and come to Ares Guild....
"What?"
Irritation surged up.
He clearly agreed not to interfere if Se-jin won the WHCU, but this is a clear breach of contract.
Haha....
I'm so dumbfounded I let out a hollow laugh.
Even if he's trash, he's a well-known S-rank Hunter, so I never thought he'd come out so unreasonably like this.
Sigh, I should have properly settled things after winning.... I think I was too complacent.
She officially stated in the return interview that she wouldn't go to Ares, and the Antiroider Guild that Se-jin currently belongs to isn't a top 10 guild, but since the principal is an honorary guild master, there are connections.
Even though Kim Dae-chan is an S-rank Hunter with wide connections, I thought he wouldn't do anything rash since there are those connections.
Moreover, Se-jin has even learned martial arts, so with a little more time, she might be able to defeat Kim Dae-chan directly, or like in the original story, Kim Do-hyun might get involved with Se-jin and step forward.
"So what did you tell him?"
―Of course I said no. But he said if I refuse, you won't be safe....
"I won't be safe?"
―Yes. That's why I called because I was worried.
Did he get dementia because things aren't going his way?
When we dueled last time, he clearly confirmed who had the upper hand.
"Your teacher isn't afraid of your father at all. Don't worry."
―But it didn't seem like he was just saying it. It seems like he found some weakness or something....
Se-jin's voice over the phone is full of worry.
―You're busy but because of me.... I'm sorry.
"What are you sorry for? You didn't do anything wrong. The teacher doesn't think he's perfect, but he hasn't lived cowardly enough for such weaknesses to exist."
I can be confident that I haven't done anything shameful, both as Kang Shin-hyeok and even as the third-rate writer Lee Min-chan in my previous life.
"If your father touches me, this time the teacher won't stay still either."
―Ah....
"So let me ask just one thing. Do you still think of your father as family?"