Chapter 103
Chapter 103
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: House Arrest Life (4)
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The inspectors who rushed over from the academy lit up their eyes upon hearing about the incident.
"Hoo. So this is the guy."
"The one who dragged us into an internal audit when we're dying of work."
"If he walks right into the lion's den, that's something to welcome."
The leader of the inspection team, who had brought along the smirking academics, clapped his hands.
"Ahem. This is purely a formal procedure. Put personal opinions aside and judge accordingly."
Murderous intent gleamed in his eyes, brimming with personal grudge, but the leader feigned ignorance and began the inspection.
"Hoo. Young Master Jegal? Long time no see."
"Indeed. Inspector An."
"I never imagined the one who once turned Silver Hall upside down would defend someone pulling off such an absurd stunt."
"...There are circumstances."
Sparks flew between them at those words.
The inspection leader struck first.
"The mock training ground is required to maintain its circular shape by rule."
"I admit that. However, there's no specific regulation on the degree of circularity."
"Even if not written down, common standards are universally accepted without needing to spell them out."
"The regulation simply states 'maintain a certain circular shape.' 'Common standards' is a new one to me."
Sharp clashes flew from the outset.
The leader pressed relentlessly as if determined, but as expected of the Jegal family's prodigy, he held firm.
"No external items were brought in. All equipment used was made by us during training."
"Axes and fishing rods too?"
"The axe was made by splitting riverside stones. The fishing rod from gathered branches. The line from twisted vines, the hook from ground shell fragments."
Well done. On our side.
Not yielding a single word.
In the end, the leader took a step back.
"Why on earth make such things?"
"It's listed in Temporary Instructor Chu Un-hwi's training log."
"I've seen that insane log. Utterly half-hearted. Such a training plan is invalid."
Jegal Tan countered flawlessly.
"The training goal was survival after stranding in Sichuan. With nothing available, surviving by one's own methods—so it wouldn't suit you. We were impressed by the instructor's approach of maximizing autonomy to teach survival techniques."
He repackaged the instructor's lazy blank log as brilliant consideration.
The exasperated academy head latched onto another issue.
"Enough. What I question isn't the teaching method, but the need for this structure."
"Training aids created during the exercise can be preserved as exceptions, correct?"
"That's so later classes can compare and reference their predecessors' achievements..."
"Making a hideout in a swamp with bare hands. Could there be greater proof of achievement?"
After prolonged verbal sparring, the leader conceded defeat.
"Tenacious. I yield."
"Thank you for your generous understanding."
The academy scribes who had been yelling retorts now spoke with deadened eyes.
"Logic is impeccable."
"Pure logic. Such sophistry I've never heard."
"Dragging out dead clauses we didn't even know existed..."
Sighing alongside the gloomy academics, the leader cupped his fists toward Jang Cheol-sim.
"The Academy Affairs Office will not pursue this Sichuan Incident."
Jang Cheol-sim, who had been listening, was surprised.
"Then you'll leave that hideous thing standing?"
"What choice do we have if it complies with regulations?"
The leader lowered his voice.
"Lately, even the Chief Supervisor, Chief Instructor, and One-Eyed Divine Sword have emphasized teaching practical knowledge for extreme situations."
Stirring trouble now would only invite backlash.
"......"
Jang Cheol-sim shut his mouth.
"Then we're off."
Watching the trudging academy inspectors depart, Jang Cheol-sim seethed inside.
Not only had this happened in his own territory under his lenient oversight, but things hadn't gone his way, gnawing at his guts.
'...Lucky bastard.'
His gaze caught the aerial house suspended from the great tree.
Looking quite comfortable, the thought of the temporary instructor lounging there, rubbing his belly, filled him with fury.
"Good thing you chased off those scary academy folks. Congratulations, temporary instructor."
Turning away—that was all Jang Cheol-sim could do.
For now.
Sticking out his tongue at Jang Cheol-sim's retreating back, Chu Un-hwi gave Jegal Tan a thumbs-up.
"Well done. Our Jegal."
"...From now on, could you please act with some common sense?"
"We protected our house from the savage landlord."
Rejoicing like refugees who barely escaped demolition after trials and tribulations, Chu Un-hwi smacked his lips.
"Too bad we couldn't do the siege warfare."
He had gathered piles of stones.
At those words, Moyong So-hye finally exploded.
"If we had, we'd be chased out stark naked with no excuse!"
"Joking, joking."
There was no helping how grating the instructor's banter felt today.
"Lalala..."
Plop.
Whistling idly as he shook the rod to cast the bait far, Nangong Yun-ho approached.
"Today's lesson ends here."
"Good work. Skilled assistant."
Without turning around, dismissing him casually, the grumpy Un-ho-seung cut in.
"Hey, temporary instructor."
"What?"
"Is this really enough for us?"
"What's the problem?"
Always full of complaints. Truly, the ones who demand the most attention are those you dislike most.
But Un-ho-seung yelled undeterred.
"One week until the makeup exam! It's the last chance! Fail this, and returning this year is a pipe dream!"
So what?
"Don't you have to do something as our instructor?"
"Quite ambitious."
When nothing had even been assigned.
But Un-ho-seung had a trump card.
"If we flunk, the temporary instructor's in hot water too, right?"
"...What do you mean?"
"You're only responsible for us students."
"Ugh."
Struck right at the core.
Un-ho-seung grinned smugly, rubbing his nose.
"Your performance review looks like a mess already, and with no achievements..."
Exactly as Un-ho-seung pointed out.
His reputation among instructors was only worsening, with disciplinary reports piling up in the corner of his quarters.
'Surprisingly perceptive.'
Brutish in personality and actions, yet unexpectedly sharp instincts.
"Well, I haven't been completely idle."
"Completely idle."
Sharp one.
In such cases, the best defense is a good offense.
The one who shat first gets mad, and common sense dictates backing off from the filth!
"This is all part of my grand scheme."
"Scheme my foot."
Not buying it.
Then, demonstrate prowess.
"Better late than never... Huh?"
Grumbling Un-ho-seung suddenly widened his eyes and leaped into the air with footwork.
"Hoo?"
One step forward, and Un-ho-seung toed the ground, flipping his body.
Tap tap.
Two steps, flipping in midair, he slammed his fist into the ground.
Boom.
Using the rebound, Un-ho-seung flew backward, creating distance before stopping.
"Huff! Huff!"
Eyes glazed over, he instinctively assumed a horse stance and unconsciously hid his fists behind him.
"You're getting used to reading my intent."
Lightly tensing his toes, he drew back his right hand and extended his left.
A slight torso shake, and startled Un-ho-seung distanced himself again.
"What about the others?"
Turning and beckoning with a finger, Im So-jeong reacted first.
Whoosh.
Im So-jeong, who had been sitting casually regulating her breath, startled as if seeing a ghost and slammed her sheath into the ground.
Thud. Rattle!
Her robes fluttering, she inverted herself on the sword, dropped to the ground, and toed the sheath.
Crack! Slash!
The kicked sheath soared, scattering dirt clouds.
Boom boom!
Not mere disruption.
Infused with qi, a massive dust cloud engulfed the view once more.
Followed by a faint whoosh.
Pak.
"Good. Obscure the enemy's sight with dirt when needed. Throwing the sheath was a clever move."
Pat pat.
Whirling the retrieved sheath, thunk thunk—darts embedded.
The enemy had seized the gap to fire.
"Darts are useful when obscuring vision."
Next, flashing sword light pierced the dust.
The twins' coordinated strike.
"Cowardly ambush. Excellent."
Tap.
By the time he rolled his foot back, the airborne dirt rained down like hail, kicking up more dust.
Moo...
Beyond the settling dust, Un-ho-seung muttered dazedly, still locked in his stance.
"Wh-what just happened?"
"You did it. Why ask me?"
"I reacted that fast?"
The result of pain etched into his soul and marrow.
"Still think I'm lying?"
He provoked them, but Un-ho-seung and the squad couldn't hide their joy.
Even Im So-jeong, who usually dozed through most situations, beamed without restraint.
Watching them, Chu Un-hwi smirked.
'Not just the makeup exam—they won't die stupidly to a blade.'
Instinctively sensing an expert and reacting on spinal reflex.
Simple in words, but how many in vast Silver Hall possessed such innate crisis detection?
Someday, they'd realize just how fortunate they were.
'Of course, the absolute best is avoiding crisis altogether.'
Having confirmed his growth, Un-ho-seung seemed immensely excited.
"Hahaha. Landslide victory. Now I can smash the noses of those who looked down on me."
Im So-jeong reined in his boisterous voice.
"Even so, if you can't trigger a 'sudden event' by reaching the enemy detection stage in the mock grounds, it's all for naught."
"Psh, that much."
Even the twins piled on Un-ho-seung.
"At least make it to the innermost part of the mock training ground without mistakes."
"Right. Sometimes there are nasty traps that cull most early on."
"Leave poison weeds to me. Trap detection's a bit tricky."
Un-ho-seung, who would have sulked and grumbled before, was purely upbeat today.
"Good. Shall we check weak points once more? Even that cursed 'heroic line' from before."
Perhaps the effect of freshly confirmed progress.
"Why not aim for the top?"
"Heh. Not bad."
"Good. Now everyone..."
Having felt results firsthand?
Now the squad buried their noses in Jegal Tan's manual, studying frantically on their own.
Baek Ri-seol gave a curt assessment.
"Finally, those noisy fools are growing up."
If only they'd pass or whatever and get lost.
"This is pretty fun."
Fishing, his recent obsession, was quite enjoyable.
Impale bait caught in the swamp, cast it—plop! Ripples spread.
Fun precisely hitting the spot, but the greatest pleasure was guessing underwater conditions and waiting.
Staring blankly at the drifting water, awaiting the bite—it was a delightful anticipation.
'Never had such a leisurely hobby before.'
Past life was cutthroat, this one endlessly busy.
First time ever sitting still to enjoy a pastime.
"This is nice."
Basking in warm sunlight, feeling the gentle breeze—pure peace.
If lucky, tasty fish.
Catch fish stocked with others' money.
Abundant dinner a bonus.
'Who knew such a luxurious hobby existed.'
When he found his bride and eloped, buy a house by the river?
Full creels, bride welcoming with bright smile—floats blissfully in mind.
"Pretty good..."
Lost briefly in joyful fantasy.
Screech.
The lazily swaying rod suddenly bent sharply.
"Feels insanely heavy. Biggest catch yet?"
Reel.
Wrist flick to pull, but the weight was no joke.
No skill to reel dragons.
Splash.
More force, and finally, a massive catch surfaced.
"Whoa."
Hauling it ashore in one go, Chu Un-hwi furrowed his brow.
"Didn't expect to hook a mermaid."
What the hook had pierced was a pale-faced boy who had fainted.