The Principal's Gauntlet Deal
Suddenly, it started to feel off that Hanseong Chairman—the second-gen rich kid obsessed with money—hadn't reacted at all. I need to lock in with the Academy or the Association before he screws me over... I tried to calm the rising anxiety—after all, this was him we were talking about—and turned my head. There was Instructor Park Jongcheol spilling his guts with total sincerity, and Park Jisu nodding along, scribbling notes on some memo pad that had appeared out of nowhere.
But that didn't last. As Park Jongcheol droned on past the first verse into the second and third, I caught Park Jisu's brows furrowing. My energy deflated, a chuckle slipped out, and I headed straight toward them.
Still, a familiar place would be easier to settle into.
"Loosen up that frown, kid."
"No, seriously—even after turning in the attendance sheet, now you're summoning me? Summoning?"
I hopped into the passenger seat of Instructor Park Jongcheol's car, and a whine slipped out before I knew it. At least I was only grumbling this much because Park Jisu's "ad" had turned out to be a compact car promo, not the school uniform one I'd hoped for.
"What can I do? When the big shots say jump, you jump. This is an S-rank hunter calling."
"Pfft."
"Don't worry too much, Jisu. With what went down before, the admin side probably tipped off the company already. And since you're a sponsored cadet with the Association, they'll have your back too."
The irritable mood from feeling meddled with all day—from morning till now—wouldn't lift. Thinking back to the tournament fiasco, though, it was unavoidable.
"Instructor, be straight with me."
"About what?"
"You're laying groundwork to recruit me, right?"
"...Can't exactly deny that."
"Ugh."
Just as I'd figured. But despite my curt tone, the Academy's desperation sparked calculations in my head.
Maybe I can haggle a bit? This was a face-to-face with an S-rank hunter, all about reeling me in. As the oldest among them and the Academy principal, he'd have some spare top-tier gear lying around.
Perfect timing—I was hunting for flight-related abilities or gear anyway. I could bring up that Cha Eun-woo terrorist bullshit for compensation, double-dip, and walk away with something heavy-duty. No big issues there.
"Let's get going, Instructor."
"You little shit..."
"You're stepping on it for my future glory!"
"Crazy bastard. This is how S-ranks get made?"
My sudden attitude flip narrowed Instructor Park Jongcheol's eyes and soured his face. But what could he do? Keeping me as a junior S-rank prospect—plus master-disciple ties—benefited him more.
I shot him a meaningful glance, and after drumming his fingers on the wheel, he weighed the setting sun against the rising one. No hesitation—he floored the accelerator.
"What number am I?"
"Jisu's first, so second, right?"
"Fuck. At my age, wiping my disciple's ass."
"Better a cute, easy mark like your disciple's hole than some old boomer's crusty one, no?"
"Asshole. Whatever the analogy... Fine. What do you want?"
"Can't I handle it myself? Just season it a bit."
I flashed a playful grin as he pressed the pedal. He snorted a laugh and spoke up.
"Easier than some shriveled granny tits, huh. Heh."
Knock. Knock.
"Principal, Cadet Kang San here. May I come in?"
"Enter."
With the kindly old man's voice, I opened the door and stepped into the principal's office. Sunlight poured through the window, bouncing off his shiny bald head and stabbing my eyes.
"Ah!"
"Ah...?"
"Beautiful weather. How have you been, Principal?"
"..."
Just like at the opening ceremony, he glared at me with a sour look. Grumbling bubbled up inside, but this was an S-rank hunter. Whatever I thought, he'd probably read it on my face. So I cranked my lips into a full fake-ass smile.
Better to ham it up openly, right?
We traded little glares for a bit. Maybe he found the bold pup amusing in front of the tiger—he chuckled, stood, and turned toward the guest sofa.
Squeak.
"Choi Secretary, tea and snacks for two."
Seemed like I'd hooked him easy. My mood lightened.
"Sit here, Cadet Kang San."
"Yes, sir."
I planted my ass straight-backed across from him. The secretary called Choi set out the tea and snacks, then left. Steam rose from the cups, brewing an awkward vibe.
Fuck. It's prickling my skin. In the wuxia world, even the Cheonma felt more like a bumbling neighborhood uncle than a master due to his overwhelming realm. But this principal was Fire Realm, a step up—his unmasked presence crawled over my skin, making me swallow hard.
"So... why'd you call me?"
He eyed me while sipping endlessly. Feeling the impatience, I cut straight to it. He smiled faintly, like he'd seen something in me, and replied.
"What ability did you get? Every move reeks of manifestation."
The principal jabbed right in.
"In this day and age, you spill everything? Not like I'm a villain—hell, I got terrorized by a fellow cadet."
Instinct kicked in sharp, but my pointed words made him sigh softly and nod.
"Fair. Can't argue with that guilt on my end."
"Bundle that with the Academy's offer and throw in something decent—much appreciated."
"Heh. Bold one."
Thud.
Sudden pressure surged from the principal amid the stale air. But I'd been tempered by the Cheonma ages ago. Plus, modern mana control wasn't half-bad compared to wuxia. I shrugged off his test effortlessly. First time for that reaction? His lazy eyelids snapped up, glaring.
"Got a right to be bold, don't I?"
I smirked, showing the pressure was useless. He reined in the aura like smoke.
"Yeah. Better cut to the chase than poke around."
"Shoot."
"Graduate."
"Pardon?"
"How do we teach an A-rank hunter at the Academy? So graduate."
The blunt fact-bomb shut my mouth.
"I... wouldn't mind graduating early, but... isn't this meeting to recruit me?"
"It is. So graduate and try being an assistant instructor?"
"Assistant instructor?"
Caught off-guard, I tilted my head. He sipped and continued.
"Honestly, I'd make you an instructor, but your age and resume? Too much pushback. Bear with any gripes."
"I don't sweat that stuff."
"Good. Consider it done. You're dismissed."
He wrapped it up and booted me out. Felt like getting fleeced at the market—nape tingling.
"Wait, that's it?"
"Hm? More business?"
He really seemed clueless. My future boss, this lukewarm?
A sigh escaped.
"Come on, recruitment means some haggling, a back-pocket bonus. I got terrorized."
He pondered my heated plea, nodded, then reached into empty air, channeling mana.
Vrrr.
Ripples spread from his fingertips, swallowing his arm. He flailed like a one-armer, then pulled back—item in hand.
Using it like Inventory.
As an S-rank, his world-famous spatial ability let him grasp space raw, no assist needed. Tongue-tied.
"Take it."
Strong guys default to cool handouts—he tossed it over.
"This...?"
"Jorogumo's Adae, they called it. Got it after a Japan dispatch takedown. That your 'deal'?"
Stunned, I looked down. Black leather wrapped from knuckles up the forearm like a gauntlet, thick silver plate shielding the hand. Perfect bracer type for me—but his words floored me.
S-rank on 'dispatch'? National hunters were military-grade; S-ranks tactical nukes. What crisis justifies sending a nuke abroad? What payoff?
That S-rank Gate in Japan. Fuck.
1st-2nd year Gate incident lessons flashed by—head nodding on autopilot.
"Whew, Principal—overkill. Total loyalty from me."
Snatched it before he could reclaim, shoved into Inventory. It vanished like his power. Eyes lit, he downed the dregs and dismissed me again.
"Off you go, Assistant Instructor Kang San. Duties start in a week."
"Roger! I'll crush the cadets with all I've got."
"..."
He looked like I'd veered wrong, but I stood, saluted, and bolted.
Door shut—Instructor Park Jongcheol waited, hyena-like.
"Hey, what happened?"
His sleazy vibe soured my face.
"Instructor Park Jongcheol. I like old boomers."
"Huh?"
"Business done—I'm out."
I ghosted with movement arts. His roar echoed behind, ignored. Gauntlet out of Inventory, hugged tight—I hustled off, stroking it.
This... is mine.
Reunion with my long-lost Daedalus 2nd-gen.