Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Unexpected Family Visit (4)
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As soon as he stepped into the instructor's office, a burst of energetic greeting rang out.
"Instruuuctor!"
She looked like a flashy peacock on the outside, but her overly spirited demeanor was like a wild mountain cat from the southern ranges—its tail tip freshly stepped on in real time.
"Meeting—! Charge—!"
Chu Un-hwi flicked her forehead as Baek Ri-seol came rushing at him with her arms outstretched.
"Ow."
"The instructor's office is a place for sound sleep. Making a racket is a huge nuisance."
"Hehe. Sorry."
Hm? A place for sound sleep?
As if the night-shift instructors would agree with that, she craned her neck like a northern fox on reconnaissance, but he ignored her.
"You here to apply for a meeting too?"
"Hehe. I heard about it from So-hye. I want to apply too."
"Hmm. The Baek Family gives me pause..."
The Baek Family, of all places.
Not long ago, during the family visit, he'd beaten the family head black and blue and wrecked their house.
'To walk right into a place like that on my own two feet.'
Even if he lived without overthinking, it was hard to shake the reluctance.
On the other hand, Baek Ri-seol acted like it was no big deal at all.
"It's fine. Dad deserved the scolding from the start."
True enough.
"Besides, this time it's Elder Baek Ri-seon-ho of the main house personally inviting you. Even the family servants, let alone my father, wouldn't dare act out of line there."
"You never know."
"Then I'd just become the family traitor that day."
A strange air of confidence emanated from the beaming Baek Ri-seol.
She was utterly self-assured.
If she was making such bold claims, there was no real reason to refuse.
"Alright. The meeting permit..."
"I already got the meeting permit. Instructor, just stamp here."
"Oh. Quick on the uptake?"
Delighted at skipping the tedious paperwork, he dipped his thumb in ink and stamped.
But then, still smiling, Chu Un-hwi asked.
"Unless my eyes deceive me, this isn't a 'meeting permit'—it's a 'marriage registration'?"
"Oh dear, how pitiful. They say exhaustion makes you see things, so maybe you should rest?"
"You little..."
As his stamping hand balled into a fist, Baek Ri-seol tapped her own forehead.
"Oops. Must've been my mistake."
She stuck out her tongue and winked, then pulled out another paper.
"Here. Stamp stamp. That's all."
Baek Ri-seol glanced away slightly and clicked her tongue.
"Tch."
Chu Un-hwi flicked her forehead again.
Thwack.
"Ow! That's too much!"
"Quit screwing around. Go pack your bags."
"Yeeees!"
Snatching the meeting permit, Baek Ri-seol scampered off.
Once Baek Ri-seol was gone, Instructor Jo Hyeon approached.
"Amazing. First time I've seen Student Baek Ri-seol talk like that."
As if.
"She's louder than cicadas screaming in midsummer."
"Hoho."
Instructor Jo Hyeon looked utterly unconvinced.
"No way. If she were really like that, she'd be nicknamed the Snow Woman of Bronze Hall."
Instructor Yeo Mae-hong chimed in agreement.
"Instructor Jo is right. Her personality is so icy and she's so quiet, some kids are even scared of her."
Which world, which Baek Ri-seol were they talking about?
As he wore a thoroughly baffled expression, passing Instructor Yang let out a hearty laugh.
"Hahaha. You're on such good terms with the student, it's enviable."
"Good terms?"
"Just be careful. Sometimes instructors get tangled in scandals with students and end up retiring."
"Kids aren't my type."
"Haha. Then you're fine."
As they chatted boisterously, other instructors gathered around.
"Wow, Baek Ri-seol really acts different around you."
"How'd you do it? I can't get close to the students at all and it's worrying..."
"Yesterday, the students were calling me 'bald instructor' behind my back. I'm jealous."
Even the instructors he'd grown close to lately joined in the lively banter, drawing envious glances from those left out.
But one person wasn't pleased.
"Instructor Chu. Care for a word?"
It was Yeom Gwang.
Out in the hallway, Yeom Gwang got straight to it.
"You haven't forgotten the Nangong Family's invitation, have you?"
"Ah, slipped my mind."
"You..."
"Come to think of it, something felt off."
"Wh-what's off about it?"
Yeom Gwang averted his gaze, pretending ignorance, but Chu Un-hwi smirked inwardly.
He could read the man's intentions plain as day.
Still playing dumb, he pressed on.
"Inviting me late at night rubs me the wrong way."
"Nangong Student jumping at the chance for a meeting is weird too."
"And lately, the Southern Heavenly Sword's been showing up at the training grounds. Do I really need to go?"
Yeom Gwang feigned ignorance at the barrage.
"Are you mad? It's an invitation from Great Hero Nangong. If something's fishy, just go ask him."
"It's not even a proper request through channels, and I'm an instructor. I should side with the students."
"You..."
Fuming, Yeom Gwang launched into a lecture.
Do you know the Nangong Family's prestige?
How dare you slander a great hero like the Southern Heavenly Sword?
Do you plan on surviving in society?
From nitpicking to personal attacks, the gist was simple.
- Go to the Nangong Family, no matter what.
So straightforward.
'Your intentions are way too obvious.'
The rambling arguments went without saying, and he couldn't even meet eyes properly—clearly guilty conscience.
Pretending not to notice was getting tough.
"I'm warning you. If you brush off my words, the aftermath..."
"Hey, Yeom Gwang."
"Wh-what?"
Chu Un-hwi whispered in the startled Yeom Gwang's ear.
"You punk. What's with the casual tone?"
"You've been pissing me off with that half-assed informal speech. Lost your mind?"
"Keep talking if you wanna die."
Gape, gape.
Yeom Gwang's mouth flapped at the brutally monotonous threat.
"I-Instructor Chu. You..."
But with his voice so low and a sunny smile plastered on, passersby just tilted their heads.
"What's wrong?"
"You—no, you! Seriously."
As he seemed ready to explode again, Chu Un-hwi growled lowly once more.
"Ah. Can't just squash this bug bastard."
Shiver, shiver.
Whether from rage or fear, Yeom Gwang began trembling like an aspen leaf, drawing odd looks from onlookers.
That was when it happened.
"What's going on over there?"
A low, intimidating voice echoed from down the hall.
Deep yet dignified, a righteous tone brimming with power that could vanquish evil on its own.
"Great Hero Dokgo!"
Thud. Thud.
A presence like a towering mountain arose from the end of the corridor.
Thud. Thud.
With each step, those around gasped and bowed their heads, holding their breath.
An absolute aura that dominated the space merely by existing.
"Gr-Great Hero Dokgo!"
Like a man grasping a lifeline from the jaws of death, Yeom Gwang brightened.
"What's this? You look like you've seen a ghost. As a squad leader instructing instructors, maintain proper composure. Set an example."
"Insolence! I've been subjected to insolence."
"Insolence?"
Dokgo Ryul's aura surged explosively.
"Kuhk!"
"Gah!"
"Gr-Great Hero Dokgo! Your aura..."
The overwhelming presence swept the hallway, making passing instructors and students cough and choke.
"My apologies. I was rude. So, who committed this insolence?"
"It was that one over..."
As his trembling finger pointed, Dokgo Ryul spoke.
"Right. What insolence was it? Any evidence? We can report straight to the Divine Martial Academy's inspection department."
Frozen stiff.
Evidence? As if.
"N-No evidence."
"What are you saying? Insolence undermines the academy's hierarchy—grave sin. Don't worry. I'll handle it."
"......"
"What? No evidence? Witnesses work too. Anything. We must expose wrongdoing."
Witnesses? None.
No, nothing happened.
No one but him had seen this vile bastard's true colors.
'Damn. Mistake. Got too complacent, forgot the fallout.'
Sweat trickled down.
Dokgo Ryul spoke in a disappointed tone.
"Tch. Disappointing."
"I-It's not a lie."
"I don't want to hear it. Can't even manage a young instructor, whining about insolence and begging—know some shame."
Cowed by the piercing glare, Yeom Gwang trembled and collapsed to his knees.
Looking at him pitifully, Dokgo Ryul said.
"Instructor Chu. Care for a word?"
They soon arrived at a quiet clearing.
Confirming no one around, the man whose mere presence suffocated—righteous pillar of the orthodox sects, Lone-Eyed Divine Sword Dokgo Ryul—dropped to his knees swiftly.
"My lord. Sorry for butting in."
"Nah. You did good. He was being such a pain, I was debating smashing his head."
Would've regretted it after, probably.
Dokgo Ryul's intervention was perfectly timed.
"Anyway, what's up? Thought you were busy scouting Silver Hall."
Dokgo Ryul had been holed up in Silver Hall lately, aiming to infiltrate the Divine Martial Academy's core.
Why back so soon?
Dokgo Ryul answered.
"Infiltrating key Silver Hall positions is going smoothly. But I witnessed something peculiar and had to come to you."
Something peculiar.
What could make an embedded Dokgo Ryul seek him out?
"There were people targeting you, my lord."
"Huh? Me?"
"A few Silver Hall instructors, backed by someone, were plotting to assassinate you."
"Ha. Figures."
Now it clicked why Yeom Gwang had been so persistent.
"That bastard Yeom Gwang pulled in Silver Hall instructors."
"Same thought here."
"Ha. Me. What a creative fucker."
Crossing the line.
'Should I go kill him now?'
Sensing the killing intent, Dokgo Ryul cautiously offered.
"Killing Yeom Gwang—that wretched old orthodox dog—is child's play. But the one backing him has considerable influence in the Murim Alliance and Divine Martial Academy."
"Old dog or young, boil 'em in the pot, same meat."
"Rotten meat at that. They've disturbed you, so they deserve death. I'd love to hack off their limbs, dry half into jerky for dog food, grind the rest into fish bait."
"Hey. You're supposed to be an orthodox hero. Pick prettier words."
"...I agree on killing them unpleasantly, but drawing attention would be trouble, no?"
"Yeah, definitely a hassle."
Silver Hall had self-closed for nearly a month after an instructor murder.
Another death, and it'd turn into a hornet's nest.
'Hate the hassle, but letting it slide doesn't sit right...'
As he pondered, Dokgo Ryul devised a plan.
"How about this?"