Chapter 94
Chapter 94
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Supplementary Lessons (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
- Weakness? As if I had something like that.
I remembered thinking that one day.
Chu Un-hwi was staring blankly into the air with a sigh.
A unnecessarily cheerful voice came from beside him.
"Hehe. Instructor. Here's another one."
A pile of red papers stacked on one side.
They were disciplinary notices.
Looking at the notices piled up like a small mountain, Chu Un-hwi muttered gloomily.
"What did I even do wrong?"
"The notices that came today say this. 'Oops. My mistake.' You were caught lurking near the girls' dormitory where the female students stay?"
"I just got lost. That's all."
Officially, anyway.
'In truth, I got caught while checking how tight Silver Hall's security was.'
Anyway, officially innocent, so not guilty.
"Oh my. Instructor. Again today? Yesterday it was 'Ahh. Smells delicious' while you barged into the girls' exclusive cafeteria."
"I just followed the delicious smell by mistake."
That's the official excuse, at least.
He admitted his inner thoughts were a bit dark, but his hastily made excuses were reasonable, so they should let it slide.
'Those narrow-minded Silver Hall bastards.'
To think such petty creeps lived under the same sky as the ladies.
Unaware of his gloom, another cheerful voice rang out.
"Wow. What's this? An extra-large disciplinary notice."
"Sister. It says 'No need for Demonic Cult Leader intrusion in mock training.' 'Same for chain explosion magic.'"
"Oh dear. Unfortunately, 'Repeatedly submitting prank applications greatly damages an instructor's dignity.'"
"Wow! Ten demerit points. The highest score ever. Clap clap clap."
His spirit drained away, Chu Un-hwi lifted his head dispiritedly.
"You two look happy."
"Oh my. Must be a misunderstanding."
"No way. It's just your imagination."
Baek Ri-seol huffed and insisted.
"Cheer up. Even if you're fired, a lifetime job awaits."
Yes, that was fine.
No matter how low he fell, he had no intention of becoming the Baek Family's outcast.
"Happy? As if I'd think something like 'That villain who leads students down the path of extreme ruthlessness, making them live dry lives without friends or tears—serves him right.'"
...So that's exactly what she thought.
His mood plummeted further.
"Ughhh."
It was truly pitiful not having anyone to share his sorrow with.
Even if a warrior's path was lonely, wasn't this too much?
"I can't just get fired like this!"
He had finally made it into Silver Hall; he couldn't go down without a fight.
He just needed to succeed in heading out into the Murim world somehow.
Then clever Dokgo Ryul would help him no matter what.
Showing some motivation, Baek Ri-seol clapped her hands.
"Oh! Finally motivated? Well, you've been neglecting us too much lately. I was about to get really upset."
"Right, Instructor. Someone with real talent, but your mind's always elsewhere. Anyway, shall we first look into wooden dummies to make up for lost points?"
"Nah, not that."
Making up points was important, but right now, something else was more urgent.
"What I desperately need is someone to vent on."
Where are those newbies?
Where are the ones who'll help me make up my points!
The place he found by asking around was a new training ground.
The atmosphere was a bit different from the one where he'd held supplementary lessons before.
Surprisingly, despite being a training ground, there was a pond on one side with clear water bubbling up, and even koi fish swimming inside.
'This insane facility is still the same.'
After walking for about the time to eat a meal, familiar faces finally came into view, huddled together in a corner.
As he approached, Jegal Tan was the first to acknowledge him.
"You've arrived?"
"Teaching them well?"
"Doing my best, but..."
Rubbing his eyes, Jegal Tan replied.
"It's more stagnant than expected."
"I managed to make them memorize Murim common sense somehow."
Jegal Tan spoke faster.
"But who knew it'd take ten days just to memorize half a book?"
"Shouldn't you memorize it after reading it once or twice?"
"You have to recall it fitting the situation right away, and that's not easy either."
"Sigh. So frustrating..."
Thwack.
Jegal Tan clutched his shin and started hopping around.
"Wh-why?!"
"Just."
Because he was pissed.
Thud!
Chu Un-hwi kicked the other shin, finally laying Jegal Tan flat, then turned to Nangong Yun-ho.
"So, what are you doing now?"
"Learning trap detection techniques."
The trap in Nangong Yun-ho's hand looked smooth and sturdy, like a well-crafted work of art.
He'd especially shown talent in trap setting, and now he was reaching artisan level.
'On the other hand... this one...'
It was total crap.
Even something made by a child would be better.
"Hey, kid."
"...At least drop the 'kid'?"
"Depends on what you make."
He plopped down in a suitable spot and watched Nangong Yun-ho's instruction.
"Alright. Now, trap installation methods."
"You have to know how to install them to detect them."
"If it's a good spot for traps, enemies will watch it too."
Nangong Yun-ho's instruction wasn't bad.
But looking at their deadpan faces, they didn't seem to get it at all.
As expected, the most short-tempered one, Un Ho-seung, exploded first.
"Why do I have to learn such trivial stuff!"
Un Ho-seung ruffled his hair in frustration.
"I get bargaining and money now. Common sense, I'll learn."
"But this is making my head explode!"
"Distinguishing toxic herbs from medicinal ones, trap detection—too much."
"Guessing lightness skills from footprints? What?"
"And lofty hero lines from Murim tales?!"
One explosion led to a chain reaction. Not just the Jeok brothers, even the biggest klutz Dang Gan kept grumbling.
"Can't do it! We're not that delicate!"
"Right! Hard enough checking faces, now watch walks and calluses? On men?"
"This is weird! In the Dang Family, one glance and they recite history you don't even want to hear!"
It was truly pathetic complaining.
But hard to blame them entirely; even the most sensible Im So-jeong looked fed up, confirming these idiots had hit their limit.
Un Ho-seung was now mumbling like he'd lost his mind.
"Isn't 'Nice to meet you' when meeting, 'See you later' when parting enough? What's 'The four seas are brothers. Let's meet again someday'? And before fighting villains, choose 'Wicked scum! I'll punish you here!' or 'Repent your sins and fall!' What?!"
Turning, the twins echoed blankly.
"They want dual breathing recitation."
"With a 'stern shout' feel."
"Totally incomprehensible."
Turning again, Jegal Tan—now recovered—replied curtly.
"Personal taste of the supplementary exam instructor. Must memorize basics."
Good thing he came.
Now he saw the problem.
"Jegal. You aiming for perfect scores with these guys?"
"Why take the exam if not for perfect?"
Chain perfect-scorer mentality.
Thwack.
To Jegal Tan sprawled on the ground, he said.
"Moderation. High expectations poison failing students."
"As skilled assistant, you told me to teach diligently..."
"Enough."
Chu Un-hwi cut him off and proposed a compromise.
"Lower goals as much as possible."
Look at this guy. Bad personality, and his brain seems worse?
Impossible.
Start with just barely passing.
Un Ho-seung's eyes revived at the persuasion.
"Temporary Instructor. We're a mess now, but don't underestimate us."
As Un Ho-seung tried to rise, Baek Ri-seol smiled sweetly.
"Young Hero Un. Your vital energy is so vibrant, even a rat-like rude demeanor is endlessly welcoming. Got it?"
Un Ho-seung sat back down at the dignified greeting.
His confused face showed he hadn't understood a word.
'Well, of course. It's refined scholar speech.'
Purpose rude, but raised with noble Baek Family education.
'Weather nice? Even rat bastard's speech and face feel welcoming sometimes.'
Very Baek Ri-seol-like meaning.
"Ahem. Pretty good line."
This one was wrong, though.
"Little one. Nice to see you too. Thanks for the welcome. Is that... right?"
Turning, Jegal Tan nodded.
"I'll give up on perfect."
"You think so too?"
"What? Why!"
Un Ho-seung and the group protested, but Chu Un-hwi continued.
"Easy path. Mock training's highest point item?"
"Obviously 'Sudden Event': Fight instructor after creating it. Survive time or win for pass."
"Simple. Nice."
But Jegal Tan seemed negative.
"Not as easy as said."
Surveying the group, Jegal Tan spoke gravely.
"From start, lacking any means no fight with instructor."
He summarized mock training in four words.
- Adaptation. Evasion. Detection. Survival.
Adaptation.
Quickly adapt to mock field using common sense.
Evasion.
Use Murim knowledge to evade or break traps.
Detection.
Sense or intuition to spot enemy.
Survival.
Fight and survive.
Fail any, can't proceed.
Fail adaptation, can't enter field.
Fail evasion, eliminated before detection.
Fail detection, no 'Sudden Event', no fight.
"That's why max bonus points during exam."
Worst case, can't reach hidden instructor detection, but bonuses avoid fail.
Solid strategy, but Chu Un-hwi differed.
"Wrong direction."
"Where?"
"From start. Why adapt?"
To grumpy Un Ho-seung, Chu Un-hwi said.
"Ignore and charge."
"Haha. My specialty."
"But shut up and charge. No deductions for dignity talk."
"......"
Un Ho-seung's face soured.
Jegal Tan also frowned.
"Good to aim highest points, but as said, stages."
"Why stages?"
Chu Un-hwi simplified.
"Evasion? Unneeded. Just follow others."
"If frontrunners fall to traps?"
"Chance! Step on their bodies and advance."
"Eliminate rivals full force from start!"
All faces turned to disbelief at explanations.
Dang Gan, mouth agape, asked back.
"Telling us to trail and sneak chances slyly?"
"Yeah."
"Words of an instructor?"
Un Ho-seung, twins joined.
"This isn't just cowardly!"
"Even failing, some honor to uphold."
"Warriors have pride. Jokes have limits."
Despite supplementary status, strong self-esteem; heated denunciations.
Stopped by hitherto silent Im So-jeong.
"Instructor."
"Yeah. What?"
"Even if success, another problem."
Silent, her eyes narrowed.
"Issue is us detecting—hidden instructor—for 'Sudden Event'."
Smart kid. Pinpointed plan's flaw.
Finding disguised instructor no easy task.
'Exactly as intended.'
Smirking inwardly, Chu Un-hwi cast the noose.
"I have a plan."
Gesturing, quiet Im So-jeong approached softly.
Un Ho-seung, twins, Dang Gan followed.
To them, Chu Un-hwi said.
"Observing everyone isn't easy. Unfamiliar to you who've only seen bootlickers."
"Mock training has over a hundred participants."
"Right. Hard to scrutinize all delicately."
"Especially short on time."
Scanning chattering kids with a smile.
"Fine. Way to get used quick."
"Such a method...? Ugh!"
Questioning Dang Gan collapsed.
Clutching solar plexus.
"Instructor. You. Huff."
Im So-jeong gulped at fist stopped before nose.
Swish.
Hair flung by fist wind settled late.
To her, he said.
"Start with sensing aura and intent delicately."
Learn by sensing mine first.
Crack.
Five froze at knuckle-cracking.