Ch 94
Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy
Chapter 94
I thought about contacting her again after leaving the main gate, but after walking a bit, I spotted Se-jin's car.
She had changed her car to an imported SUV after receiving the prize money, and Se-jin had bought the exact same brand and model as mine, so I recognized it immediately.
"Hello."
"It really feels like it's been a long time. Have you been well?"
"Yes. I'm sorry. I didn't contact you and then suddenly showed up like this..."
"It's fine. That's how life is. Should we talk while we go somewhere?"
"Ah, yes. Where should we go?"
"If we go straight and turn left toward the commercial district, there are many restaurants. What do you want to eat?"
"I'm fine with anything. Please eat whatever you'd like, Teacher."
"Really? Then let's go and look around first."
After driving for about 15 minutes and looking at restaurants, we came to a Japanese restaurant that I had visited twice before with Teacher Park.
It's not an amazing restaurant, but it's decent enough and has private rooms, so we can eat comfortably without worrying about other people's attention.
We ordered and were waiting, and maybe because it's been a while, it feels a bit awkward.
"How's guild life? Are there any difficulties?"
"Nothing so far. Everyone takes such good care of me that it's great."
"That's a relief. So, what kind of worries brought you here today?"
"Huh?"
"Don't pretend otherwise. You only contact me when something's wrong."
"Ah... I'm sorry."
"I was just joking, so why are you apologizing again?"
"My father contacted me yesterday."
"Really? What did he say? Don't tell me it was something strange like last time..."
"No. He said he called because he wanted to apologize and say he was sorry."
Hmm, considering the media interview too, has he really changed his mind?
"And he asked me to come to Ares Guild after my contract ends in a year."
"Huh?"
"He said if I come, he'll transfer all his shares to me and retire from the guild master position."
"Are you sure? I don't mean to be rude, but your father is a bit... Hard to trust..."
"He said if I want, he'll write a written pledge and even announce it to the media."
Going that far?
I wondered if he might have some ulterior motive, but it seems he's really come to his senses.
"So what did you say?"
"I said let's talk about it later since there's still a lot of time left on my contract."
"It sounds like good conditions? You said before that you wanted to make your own guild. If you inherit all of your father's shares, wouldn't you become the guild master of Ares?"
"That's true, but Ares is a huge guild. If I suddenly become guild master, I think many guild members will quit, and it doesn't seem right..."
"So what? Not everyone will leave. As long as your father doesn't interfere, it would be much better than starting from nothing, right?"
"Do you think so?"
In the original story, Se-jin also goes to find Kim Dae-chan with Do-hyun to teach him a lesson, and not long after, merges with Ares Guild.
"Of course. There's even a saying that the position makes the person."
"Actually, it's not just about the guild, but if I accept that proposal, it would mean forgiving my father..."
"So what? Didn't you tell me last time that a father is still a father?"
"You were disappointed when I said that."
As expected, she noticed.
"Not disappointed, but honestly, it was a bit frustrating."
"If it weren't for you, Teacher, I would still be suffering terribly... I'm sorry."
She bows his head deeply as she speaks, so it must have been weighing on her mind.
"Again with the apologies. From now on, if you say sorry, I'll charge you 100 million won as a fine."
"O-one hundred million won?"
"The fine is a joke. What is there to be sorry about? I didn't say anything like 'don't get close to your father,' did I?"
"You don't like my father."
"Honestly, it would be a lie to say I don't. But I think that's separate from whether you forgive your father or not."
"Huh? I thought that if I forgave my father, you would hate me too..."
"Why would I? I helped you a little, Se-jin, but telling you to forgive or not forgive would be overstepping my bounds. The right to decide whether to forgive belongs to the victim."
"So you won't hate me even if I forgive my father?"
"Of course I won't hate you. How much does Teacher like our Se-jin that I'd hate you for such a reason?"
"L-like me?"
What's this? This kid's face suddenly turned bright red.
"Was my expression a bit strange? I mean you're my most cherished student."
"R-right."
"Well, if you were to say something like 'Please forgive my father and get along with him!' then I might hate you a little?"
"I wouldn't make such a request..."
"Then there's no problem. Is your worry resolved now?"
"Um... Actually, my father asked me to tell you he's sorry too."
"Really? He didn't contact me. You didn't make that up, did you?"
"No. He said he didn't have the face to call you directly, so he asked me to tell you."
"Okay. I'll believe you."
It doesn't make sense to be friendly now, but if he doesn't bother me or Se-jin in the future, I don't plan to do anything more either.
***
"You want to take a vacation?"
"Why are you pretending to hear this for the first time? I've been saying I'd rest a bit after this job is done."
"No, that's true, but... How long are you planning to rest?"
"About three months?"
"Listen, Bennett... Isn't three months too long? I don't think it'll get approved from above."
"That's why you old man needs to talk to them well."
"No, no matter how well I talk, three months is..."
He didn't say it was completely impossible, but this bastard is glaring at me like he wants to kill me.
"Fine. Then two months. I won't accept anything less than that."
"Hmm, if it's two months... Alright. Well, you've worked hard and finished this job well, so I'll talk to the higher-ups."
"What? I feel completely had... How about two and a half months then?"
He was glaring like he wanted to kill me earlier, but now he's smiling with his eyes.
"Two months is the maximum. Other executives don't even rest for a month after missions end..."
"So have they achieved as much as I have?"
"That's not the case, but still, two and a half months seems difficult..."
"Stingy old geezer. Fine, but I'm resting starting tomorrow, so don't look for me for the next two months."
"Starting tomorrow? And don't look for you - are you going abroad or something?"
"I'm going to visit Korea for a bit."
"Korea? What are you going to do in that dictatorship... Oh, you're mixed race. Is Korea your origin? I've been thinking it was China all this time."
"China? Old man, do you want to die? Who are you calling a Chinaman? And I'm going to South Korea, not North Korea."
"Really? I said that because there are many Chinese people. I'll apologize if you were offended."
"Be careful."
"I got it. So you'll be in Korea for the entire two months?"
"Probably, why?"
"Why? I need to report to the boss."
"What report? I absolutely hate being bothered during vacation, so don't do it."
"That seems difficult. At the global meeting at the end of last year, we agreed to notify the relevant country when key executives enter other countries to avoid unnecessary friction."
"Since when have we been so diligent about following such things? Don't do it. I'm really going to rest. I already bought a fake passport."
"Still..."
"If Antas Korea finds out I'm coming, will they leave me alone? They'll whine and ask me to do this and that. Do whatever you want, old man. If they bother me, I'll kill them all. If a war breaks out, it's your responsibility. Okay?"
"Why are you so extreme? Geez, fine. So you'll really rest quietly and come back?"
"Yeah. Have I ever caused trouble during vacation? I don't think I've even taken a vacation before."
"I said I got it. But then you must keep basic communication available."
"Okay. I can call when I get there, right? Then old man, see you in two months."
***
The honorary director inauguration ceremony was less significant than I had expected.
It was just receiving the appointment letter and S Rank Hunter certificate from the association president and giving a brief acceptance speech, so it ended early.
But the real thing came after the inauguration ceremony.
A banquet was prepared with the attending S Rank Hunters and guild masters from various guilds, and there were so many people talking to me that I couldn't focus at all.
I think today might be the day I talked the most in both my past and current lives combined.
After the banquet ended, I came to the director's office to catch my breath, but not long after, someone called the honorary director's office secretary came in saying they would explain the work duties.
They talked very specifically for almost 30 minutes, but to summarize simply, I just need to attend quarterly meetings.
They said they might also call me for association-hosted events, but they said I don't have to go if I don't want to, so I plan not to go unless necessary.
"Is there anything you don't understand?"
"I understood everything. Is the explanation all finished?"
"Yes. Director, how is the room? We decorated it arbitrarily because we didn't have time, but if there's anything you don't like, we can redo it..."
"I'm not really the type to care much about such things. If the explanation is finished, please go and take care of your work."
"Yes. Understood."
As soon as the secretary left, I loosened my tie and lay down on the sofa.
It looked quite expensive when I first came in, but lying on it directly, it's so soft and feels really good.
Now I feel like I can live a little.
I took out my phone to check the time and it was already 2 PM.
Since all the schedules are finished, I could go back to school, but I should take a nap.
Thanks to the official document sent by the association, I got today off, but it would be awkward to go rest at the dormitory during work hours.
I got up and used the intercom on the desk to ask them not to let anyone in, then lay back down on the sofa.
I set an alarm and was about to really take a nap, but the phone I left on the table rang.
Looking at the screen, it's the vice principal.
This person really doesn't get along with me.
I thought about ignoring it, but I'd probably get scolded later, so I pressed the call button.
"Yes. Vice Principal."
"Where are you right now?"
"I'm still at the association. What's the matter?"
His voice is urgent, unlike his usual self.
"I just received a call that there was an accident during the 2nd year practical training."
"An accident? What do you mean?"
"I didn't hear the details, but they said the hunter who went with them died and the students were seriously injured."
"O-our class students were hurt? Who... No, which group?"
"I think it was Group 6. They're at Korea University Hospital right now, so I'm heading there. Come there when you have time."
Group 6 is the group I was originally supposed to accompany, with our class president Min-ha, Yeon-su, and Jae-hyeon - three of our kids.
"I'll go right away."
I rushed out of the director's office and headed to the underground parking garage.
Korea University Hospital is quite far from the association and traffic was heavy, so it took some time, but those 30 minutes felt like 30 years...
I parked roughly and entered the emergency room to see the vice principal talking seriously with a doctor.
"Vice Principal, are the kids okay?"
"Oh, you're here? They say there's no threat to their lives, but..."
No, this person really...
He said they were seriously injured, so I was extremely worried that something might happen to the kids.
I almost had an accident rushing here... I really wanted to hit him, but I exercised patience and barely held back.
"What exactly happened?"
"It's poisoning from magic."
"What? There are no monsters that use magic in F-grade portals... Don't tell me the hunters who went with them did this?"
"That's not it. According to what I heard from the least injured student, it was an E-grade portal when they entered..."
"Even in E-grade portals, there are no monsters that use poisoning magic. Wasn't it the work of the accompanying hunter?"
"It is a bit suspicious. The magician who treated the kids said it was at least B-rank level poisoning magic, but the B-rank hunter who accompanied the children is a martial artist, and the other hunter is a C-rank magician. But his condition is the worst."
"Then what on earth is it?"
"I don't understand it at all, and even the less injured student is only relatively better - they're not uninjured. I think we'll have to wait for the other students to wake up to know the details."
"Sigh, anyway, it's a relief that there's no threat to their lives."
"It's not a relief. The other students are fine, but Min-ha from your class..."
"Our Min-ha? What's wrong with Min-ha? You just said there's no threat to the kids' lives!"
"There's no threat to her life, but she lost her right arm."