Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Proof of Ability (3)
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Chu Un-hwi's mood soured.
"Jegal, smile. Come on, smile. People are running away from you."
"My face always looks like this."
"Oh dear? My fist always looks like this too."
As the fist rose, Jegal Tan pushed up the corner of his mouth with his index finger, groaning in effort.
He seemed to be trying hard, but given his wretched appearance, it didn't look like it would improve anytime soon.
On the contrary, Chu Un-hwi turned his head away, his mood growing even gloomier.
"Nangong."
"Yes, Instructor."
"You're not thinking about anything right now, are you?"
"I was just thinking the weather is nice."
"Oh, really?"
This one was a bust too.
Was he down to just those two after all?
Fortunately, Baek Ri-seol and Moyong So-hye were greeting the students quite brightly and proactively.
"Hello! Hello!"
"Hey, you there! Seniors! Listen for a sec!"
The two, smiling radiantly and cutely, seemed likely to win some favor.
"You, the one who looks like tofu smashed against a wall. Your face and skills both look like they need some seasoned assistant instructor guidance."
"This isn't an opportunity that comes every day. For real~!"
"Haa-. Fine, you there. If not today, there's no way you'd get someone like me anyway."
Their hawking words were unbearably arrogant.
Especially from Baek Ri-seol's side.
"Why is everyone running away?"
Yet she herself seemed utterly clueless as to the reason.
'No helping it, huh?'
In Silver Hall, full of nothing but spoiled brats, her Baek Family background was in a league of its own.
And having lived her whole life as a golden child, she wasn't used to blunt words.
'On the other hand...'
Chu Un-hwi's gaze turned to one side of the training ground.
"Line up! Please line up!"
There, Yeo Mae-hong was breaking a sweat amid a crowd of students.
Those gathered here were students in need of special attention.
Meaning, ones expelled for flaws in personality or attitude.
However, some had simply lacked talent despite their efforts, earning failing grades.
Unlike Silver Hall's overbearing instructors, they flocked toward Yeo Mae-hong, who brimmed with passion.
"Um, excuse me..."
"Could you take a look at my swordsmanship for a moment?"
Of course, the passionate instructor Yeo Mae-hong didn't turn them away.
"Would you mind showing me your forms?"
"Ah, your sword deployment speed and footwork are a bit off."
"Here, snap your wrist like this."
"Whoa-! You're doing great!"
Under her enthusiastic guidance, even the students who had been standing around awkwardly began to gather hesitantly.
Before long, she was instantly surrounded by students.
"Ahh! Too many!"
"I'll look at one at a time!"
"Line up! Please line up!"
Still, the students seeking guidance kept coming, to the point where even the watching squad leaders and Instructor Jo Hyeon had to join in.
It was truly a moving, beautiful sight.
'Well, that's not the only reason.'
Chu Un-hwi's eyes fixed on two objects exuding an overwhelming presence.
'She said she couldn't sleep from nerves, rushed in half-asleep.'
Freed from the bandages' prison, they now boasted tremendous weight.
Following their passionately bouncing owner, those fervently moving assets silenced the male students who had been grumbling.
Some even looked like monkeys fresh from a ten-hour hot spring soak, their philtrums lengthening as they quietly joined the line.
"No cutting."
"No commotion."
"This class must not end."
Going further, they began policing the mood themselves, forming a long, orderly line like meek sheep.
It was hard to believe these were the same people dragged here from remedial classes for overflowing personalities.
This side was drawing flies, while that side was swarmed with popularity.
At this extreme contrast, Baek Ri-seol gnawed at her sleeve.
"Urghhh. Those bust monsters."
"Sister. The opponent is too big. We can't win. We can't compete."
Moyong So-hye was right.
Today's Yeo Mae-hong was overwhelmingly powerful. Absolutely invincible. The best in the world.
"Nangong... no, never mind, you're out."
Ignoring Nangong Yun-ho tilting his head, she asked Jegal Tan.
"Isn't there some way?"
She hoped the Nangong Family's trickster might have a clever scheme.
"The gap is too vast."
"I've attended remedial classes frequently in the past, but this level of enthusiastic response is a first."
"Even if the Murim Alliance Leader showed up, they wouldn't get this kind of reception."
Only bitter reality dawned.
Baek Ri-seol stomped her feet.
"Ahh. What do we do? Our plan to lure in clueless students early and rack up results is failing."
"Oof, that stings."
It was a scheme Dokgo Yul had specially crafted for her.
'Our current lord has nothing to flaunt.'
'Moreover, the more one sees her as an instructor, the more irritating she is, so we must go all-in early.'
'The first encounters with naive approaching students are the key.'
'Draw attention upfront, then capture incoming students by any means necessary.'
'And if they want out, threaten them to bring three friends.'
The infamous multi-level referral hell scheme.
The loyal subordinate's long-prepared plan was hitting snags right from the start.
"Ugh. Now what."
As she groaned miserably, Moyong So-hye piped up.
"It was an impossible plan from the beginning. How could an instructor with no friends, no boyfriend, not even popularity suddenly become a popular instructor?"
"......"
"Zero social skills. Eats alone. Looks like she'll live out her days as a lonely old spinster, yet dreaming of popularity? Dream big. Waaah."
Hey, that's pretty harsh.
She wanted to retort, but the truth hurt too much.
"Lonely old spinster?!"
"So-hye. Aren't you going too far?"
"Instructor definitely said I'd take care of her, right?"
For now, Baek Ri-seol should just stay quiet.
Listening made her feel like rice balls were forming in her chest.
Anyway, the plan and mood were now total wrecks. Worries were piling up into mountains.
"What to do..."
As she pondered,
a Silver Hall instructor who had been watching from a distance approached.
"Temporary Instructor Chu Un-hwi?"
"What's the matter?"
"There's an error on the official assistant roster. They want you to come correct it."
"An error on the roster?"
No way.
'Dokgo Yul made it because I was too lazy.'
Flawless Dokgo Yul wouldn't make a mistake.
Puzzled, he sized up the other, finally noticing something off.
Clearly the youngest, young face. And a subtle hesitance.
Guessing the situation, Chu Un-hwi smiled.
'This might be an unexpected opportunity.'
Swallowing a secret chuckle, Chu Un-hwi replied.
"Oh my. We can't have mistakes on official documents."
"R-right. You get it."
"I'll fix it right away. Where to?"
"Follow me."
"Let's go."
As he took a casual step, Chu Un-hwi glanced back.
And mouthed toward his dear students.
- Take care of things here.
Nod.
The four nodded in unison, understanding the lip movement.
"He gone?"
"Gone."
The Bronze Hall instructors' eyes fixed on one side of the training ground.
As the last clinging instructor vanished, the training ground's atmosphere subtly shifted.
"Shall we get moving?"
A strange tension drifted over the training ground.
Yet amusingly, the Silver Hall instructors reacted predictably.
"Ahem. Time for rounds."
"I need to check the equipment room."
"Back in one incense stick—thirty minutes."
One by one, the instructors slipped away.
The rest turned their backs on the training ground, pretending ignorance.
The students got the message.
'They're going to pretend not to see anything?'
'Haven't had them lay out the stage this openly in ages.'
'Heh. Time to cut loose after so long.'
This small change amid the boredom stirred the groups occupying every corner of the training ground.
"The atmosphere feels off."
Surprisingly perceptive Nangong Yun-ho instantly sensed the training ground's mood shift.
Baek Ri-seol, with her keen senses, looked displeased too.
"The sticky gazes have increased. How dare those filthy things peep at whom?"
"At least now people are finally paying attention to us."
Jegal Tan agreed with Nangong Yun-ho.
"Now Instructor's intent is starting to take hold."
Glancing at the temporary instructors still mobbed by crowds, he added.
"We can ignore that side for a while."
"Now to imprint our presence since we've got their attention?"
How?
As Nangong Yun-ho asked, Jegal Tan crossed his arms and nodded toward his chin.
"Well. We might not even need to start it ourselves."
"What do you mean?"
Then Moyong So-hye whispered quickly.
"Over there and there. Heading this way."
"Oh my. Do these sheep think grouping up changes anything?"
Unlike Baek Ri-seol's venomous tongue, Jegal Tan recognized them and relaxed.
"Jinju Eon Family's Un-ho Seung? Not a bad opponent."
"Not bad...?"
"Unlike Bronze Hall, Silver Hall has a clear power hierarchy. Even an unofficial ranking chart."
"Meaning targeting the higher ranks is more effective?"
"Yeah. Plus, he's got skill, and a clean personality. Strong competitive spirit, but not petty."
"Perfect matchup."
Jegal Tan affirmed, adding,
"But don't let your guard down. Jinju Eon Family's strong fists are famous. The woman from Geom-gak is skilled too. Though the Sleeping Sword Maiden's personality means she won't step up herself. The problem is Bi-yeon Sword Family's twins? Heard their joint techniques are formidable..."
Baek Ri-seol frowned at the explanation.
"So what's the point?"
"Un-ho Seung from Jinju Eon Family is yours, Yun-ho. The twins are mine."
"What about me?"
"Cheer us on!"
At Moyong So-hye's quick bail, Baek Ri-seol furrowed her brows deeply.
"I wanted to help boost Instructor's popularity..."
"Cheering fabulously helps."
Dragging Baek Ri-seol along, Moyong So-hye winked slyly with one eye.
'Sister's dangerous.'
Jegal Tan winked back in kind.
'This woman who doesn't know restraint might backfire.'
Hearts aligned without words.
But their efforts didn't lead to action.
Because new arrivals entered the scene.
Bang!
A loud crash echoed at the training ground entrance. Heads turned to see people kicking over wooden sword racks as they entered.
All rough-looking, especially the older faces.
"What? Still practicing with wooden swords like kids?"
"These guys are no joke. Tsk tsk."
"Whoa. Takes me back."
Six students entered boisterously and disrespectfully.
The eye-catcher was the one leading.
Could Divine Martial Academy uniforms look like this?
His front completely undone to expose his chest in a decadent manner, a pale man swaggered in.
"Hoho. For real. Hilarious."
A voluptuous female student even clung to his side.
Jegal Tan groaned at the sight.
"Hoo. How did that guy..."
"You know him?"
As Nangong Yun-ho asked, the approaching Silver Hall students answered.
"Lewd Flame Mad Dog Eom Ho."
"Isn't that Jeomchang Sect's lecher? Why's he here?"
"Yeah. Heard even if he causes trouble, Jeomchang Sect babies him so no failing grades."
Ignoring the murmurs, he strode across the training ground, tossing a glance this way.
"Oh! It's real."
She's an incredible beauty.
He headed straight toward them.