Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Chapter 8: The Third Student (3)
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Jegal Tan swaggered over and slung his arm around Nangong Yun-ho's neck.
"Hey. Long time no see. How've you been?"
"...Jegal Tan."
"Man, things worked out better than I expected. I just sent one instructor packing on a stretcher and figured I'd come down here myself."
"...Is that so?"
At the curt response, Jegal Tan's expression hardened as he brushed the dust off Nangong Yun-ho's clothes.
"Hey. What kind of mess is this for the noble heir of the Nangong Family? Did you fight a war or something? You look like you rolled in a dirt pit."
"Something like that happened."
"Well, if you don't wanna talk about it, I won't pry. Anyway."
Jegal Tan's roving gaze landed on the small girl and the figure kneeling before her.
Even though it was thrown on haphazardly, he recognized it as an instructor's uniform, and Jegal Tan grinned slyly.
"This the one?"
"Jegal Tan. Watch your mouth."
"I haven't acknowledged her as my instructor yet, so don't get on my case."
The person who had just laid out a Silver Hall instructor.
As if amused by his own words, Jegal Tan chuckled, shoulders shaking, and Nangong Yun-ho squeezed his eyes shut.
His friend had no idea.
How much of a monster stood before him.
"Heh heh. Quite the brave one."
The quiet Baek Ri-seol was pushing up her sword with her thumb.
'I have to save him.'
Grab him by the scruff and drag him out, or strike a pressure point to knock him out right now.
'That's the only way he'll live.'
Just as her hand twitched reflexively, an unexpectedly calm voice rang out.
"What brings you here, Student?"
It was a gentle, kind tone unlike her usual self.
'Did she eat something funny?'
As Nangong Yun-ho doubted his ears,
Jegal Tan snickered and spoke up.
"You're the instructor picking your own student?"
"Yes, Student. That's correct. Student."
"Then let me take that test. I wanna try."
"I'm sorry, Student. Applications are closed."
"What? Closed?"
"Yes, that's right. Student."
Still kneeling on one knee without even glancing his way, Chu Un-hwi fiddled with Moyong So-hye's hand.
"Eek, eeek!"
As Moyong So-hye flinched in surprise, Chu Un-hwi continued.
"The third student spot has been taken by the Invincible Divine Beast Moyong So-hye. Student."
It was unnecessarily soft.
Especially tacking on "Student" like he was mocking him.
Nangong Yun-ho, who had observed this instructor for some time, sensed it was a bad omen.
But Jegal Tan, receiving this peculiar treatment for the first time, scoffed.
"You're passing on me for some worthless student?"
"Ugh... ughhh."
Moyong So-hye shrank under the icy glare.
Chucking at her terrified look, Jegal Tan took a step back.
"Eh, that's enough for today."
Gazing at Chu Un-hwi, who didn't even turn his head, he added coldly.
"I get you wanna save face in front of the other students. I'm not heartless enough to crush you on day one, right?"
Pat pat.
Patting the frozen Nangong Yun-ho's shoulder, Jegal Tan waved as he walked away.
"Instructor. Next time, make a wiser choice. I don't wanna have to beat up a Bronze Hall instructor and see blood. Heh heh heh heh. Kra ha ha ha!"
Nangong Yun-ho moved to follow him, intending to warn him somehow.
But first, he had to stop Baek Ri-seol, who was drawing her sword to pursue.
That was when it happened.
"Ghost of Bronze Hall."
A chilling voice called out.
"That's your friend?"
Nangong Yun-ho squeezed his eyes shut at the voice sending shivers down his spine.
'Ah, he's dead.'
Squeeze. Squeeze.
Moyong So-hye fidgeted at the sensation of her hand being toyed with and spoke up.
"Um... Instructor. Is this okay?"
"What do you mean, Wooden Dummy Savior?"
Invincible Divine Beast had become Wooden Dummy Savior now.
The result of fixing three straw dummies to verify her skills.
'Whatever.'
Moyong So-hye cautiously glanced at Chu Un-hwi and said,
"Shouldn't we do something about that guy? Letting him go like that?"
She could tell at a glance.
Just from a quick look, she knew he was on a level incomparable to hers.
Moreover, she'd heard the rumors.
Instructor Hunter.
The madman who beat up disliked instructors in Silver Hall until they were carried out had become known even in Bronze Hall.
They said he unleashed merciless violence until the opponent lost consciousness?
'If that's really the Instructor Hunter Jegal Tan, the instructor's in danger.'
There was no need to pick a fight with someone dangerous over someone like her.
But the response was surprisingly nonchalant.
"No need to worry, Wooden Dummy Reviver."
The title changed again.
This time to Wooden Dummy Reviver.
A nickname that blatantly revealed why he'd accepted her.
"Try moving it."
"Pardon?"
Moyong So-hye wiggled her suddenly freed hand, her eyes widening.
"My hand feels so light."
A cool sensation flowed through every joint, and the pain from gripping the sword was completely gone.
'It's amazing.'
She felt like she could swing the sword endlessly now.
He really was the weird instructor from the rumors.
"Looking forward to working with you."
"Yes, Instructor! Please guide me well!"
And so, the third student was decided.
A chill hung over the Bronze Hall instructors' room.
Because of the news from Silver Hall.
"Hall Master. Is this any way to run things? Sending a troublemaker from Silver Hall down to Bronze Hall?"
"Shouldn't they just expel him outright?"
"Why accept a precedent like this?!"
Among them, Yeom Gwang was the one with veins bulging on his face, fuming.
"You do know about the 'Instructor Hunter,' right?"
"How could I not?"
Bronze Hall Master Chung-hyun added with a troubled look.
"But it was a personal request from the Silver Hall Master. We can't just refuse outright."
Refuse, my foot.
He'd jumped at the chance to curry favor with the Silver Hall Master.
Yeom Gwang shot back gruffly.
"What now? Do we really have to deal with that walking disaster?"
"No choice. But think about it. Guiding a wayward student back to the righteous path is an instructor's duty, isn't it? Look on the bright side."
"Hah. Sure."
Easy for him to say since it wasn't his problem.
Yeom Gwang seethed inside.
The reason was simple.
Bronze Hall Master Chung-hyun had assigned him as the handler for Jegal Tan.
'I absolutely have to avoid taking on that thunderbolt rascal.'
For an ordinary student, it wouldn't be a big deal—even to the point of throwing a fit, Yeom Gwang could just crush them with force and authority as always.
But Jegal Tan was his natural predator.
With the mighty Jegal Family backing him, he couldn't just squash him recklessly.
Handle it with skill?
Though overshadowed by his genius siblings as one of the Jegal Family's all-time greats, Jegal Tan was a prodigy in his own right.
'Of course. Without talent, he couldn't be an Instructor Hunter in the first place.'
In Silver Hall, no less.
Unlike Bronze Hall, where even third-rate warriors could become instructors with solid backgrounds, Silver Hall instructors had to meet strict standards.
At minimum, second-rate to qualify.
And the ones Jegal Tan had taken down were first-rate instructors with some renown even in Silver Hall.
Even Yeom Gwang couldn't be entirely optimistic.
His power stemmed from iron-fisted control.
Exerting authority as Squad Leader, expelling riffraff with martial might.
If someone rebelled against that?
His authority would crumble, and the discipline he'd built in Bronze Hall would fall apart.
'I have to shove him off onto someone else, no matter what.'
Fortunately, his loyal instructors were already clamoring as he directed.
"Guiding a student requires character first."
"Exactly! Striking a teacher like heaven itself? Jegal Tan is irredeemable trash!"
"We shouldn't accept vermin like that!"
As Yeom Gwang and the instructors ranted,
Bam!
The door shattered open with a bang.
"Who's kicking the door?!"
Yeom Gwang whipped his head around, eyes bulging.
"Kekeke kekeke."
A young man covering his mouth with a fan strode into view.
"Irredeemable trash."
The room froze.
Jegal Tan smirked at the frosty atmosphere in the instructors' room.
The moment he appeared, silence fell.
It was always like this.
They'd fawn over him to his face, but badmouth him behind his back.
'Vermin calling who vermin?'
Seeing these cowards who couldn't speak up now judging him—it was so pathetic he couldn't even laugh.
Just watch.
"J-Jegal Tan, Student?"
The one who'd just called him irredeemable trash was now desperately forcing a smile.
'Always the same.'
Not surprising anymore.
Thud thud. Jegal Tan walked straight to the Hall Master and rummaged in his bosom.
Then he flicked out a wooden plaque.
Thud. Roll roll.
Chung-hyun frowned at the plaque rolling to his feet.
"J-Jegal Tan, Student? What's this?"
"They said it's an admission plaque."
"I-Is that so? But why throw it?"
"My hand's shaking a bit, so I slipped. Understand, yeah?"
"H-Hah. If that's the reason, no helping it."
As Chung-hyun reached for the plaque at his feet, Jegal Tan turned his gaze sideways.
There stood Yeom Gwang, face flushed, trying to force a smile.
"Squad Leader Yeom, right?"
"Y-Yes. That's me, Yeom Gwang."
"Looking forward to working with you."
"R-Really?"
Yeom Gwang's face brightened at the unexpectedly meek response.
Gazing at him, Jegal Tan added,
"I've got a bit of a fiery temper, and I don't control it well."
"What?"
"Sorry in advance for the trouble I'll cause."
This guy?
As Yeom Gwang scowled,
One instructor who'd been watching stepped forward.
"Jegal Tan, Student! Aren't you going too far? Everyone here is at least your senior in the martial world, or your teachers at largest!"
"Teachers?"
"Yes! Though the master-student bond is brief, imparting knowledge makes them temporary teachers. Show some respect!"
"Kekeke kekeke. Teachers? Teachers, huh."
Jegal Tan's face darkened for a split second as he covered his mouth with the fan, chuckling.
"Do teachers these days treat disciples like trash?"
"You brat! How dare you talk back!"
Jegal Tan didn't flinch as the instructor raised his fist.
Instead,
He snapped the fan shut and pointed it at the instructor's chest.
"If a teacher picks a disciple, the disciple has the right to pick a teacher. Mind if I check if you're qualified to call yourself one?"
"What?"
"I'm looking for my handler instructor, after all..."
Flashing a refined yet savage smile, Jegal Tan curled his lip.
"You? Think you can handle me?"
"Th-This...!"
The singled-out instructor could only howl, not daring to charge.
Inevitable.
His opponent was the "Instructor Hunter" Jegal Tan.
A man who'd挑衅 instructors like this multiple times.
The aura he exuded was no joke, freezing the instructor in place.
"What? Not confident?"
"Jegal Tan, Student! That's too much!"
Just as Yeom Gwang stepped forward,
Bang!
The door splinters flew as someone entered.
"Hall Master! Fixed all the dummies!"
The familiar face, with two dummies tucked under each arm, looked around and tilted his head.
"Huh? Why's the mood here a total mess again?"