Instructor Lee So-ra! # 1
Instructor Lee So-ra! # 1
As soon as I opened my eyes.
"Hyup!"
I rose like a vampire from its coffin, pushing myself up just with my heels—swoosh.
Today is the heart-thumping day I go gear shopping with Instructor Lee So-ra. I gathered a bunch of info just for this. I'm going to buy everything we need. I'll empty Woong-cheol's wallet, that bastard.
Powerful heroes make killer salaries, so I've got nothing to worry about.
—Whoosh!
After getting ready in a flash, I went out and knocked on Si-hoo's door.
"Ah, Geun-cheol. You're leaving now?"
"Yeah. You little shit, you're up early?"
"Mm... I woke up somehow. Have a good trip. Don't pick anything weird. The instructor will smack you."
"With the Instructor there, why would I pick weird stuff? Heh heh heh. Alright, I'm off."
After saying goodbye to Si-hoo, I left the dorm.
About a twenty-minute walk.
She said she'd pick me up at the stop over there.
I'm so fucking excited I could go crazy.
I've got a weapon Leona bought me, but no armor. So if I can just get good armor, my actual combat power will skyrocket. Just thinking about it makes my heart want to explode.
But I'm not sure I can buy everything. Most stuff should be manageable, but I can't get hundreds of millions as emotional damage compensation.
Anyway, I went to the stop.
"Oh."
The instructor's black car caught my eye.
Hyper Hyundai Corporation... they always slap "Corporation" on here. Must be globalization, I guess.
Anyway, I ducked into the convenience store right next to it, bought two coffees, and was about to go to the car when I saw it looked empty. Wondering what was up, I looked around.
"Oh! Instructor!"
She was walking out of that alley!
"You're here, Kim Geun-cheol."
As we exchanged greetings, I saw she was dressed no differently than usual. White shirt, black suit set. Always looks tough.
She's just impossibly cool...!
Especially when she was beating the shit out of Woong-cheol, she was even cooler!
"Heavens! This is unreal! Instructor! How on earth are you like this!"
"What?"
"How can someone look this awesome...! Isn't the whole suit thing too damn cool! I've never seen anyone so cool in my life!"
"Pfft... you little..."
As I poured out my true feelings, the instructor pressed her forehead and spoke.
"Just being next to you, Instructor, your swag sort of rubs off—I feel like I'm becoming a stylish guy myself. Heh heh heh."
"Good grief. You're absolutely high on excitement, aren't you?"
"How could I not be high when I'm out with you, Instructor?"
"Enough sucking up. Just get in the car."
"Oh no! Sucking up, you say! Instructor, you see, honor students naturally tend to be close to their teachers."
"Put some spit on your lips before talking, you punk! One more word of flattery and I'll turn you into Agent Ham Woong-cheol!"
"Hurk! Yes, ma'am!"
—Thwump!
Immediately boarded the passenger seat!
Seat belt securely fastened!
"Heavens, I never imagined I'd hear such things first thing in the morning. I heard several months' worth of praise in just a morning greeting. What kind of speech technique is this?"
"Just honest and straightforward speech."
"Truly astonishing... You'll definitely be loved by your superiors."
"Hurk! Does that mean! Could it be you find me lovable too, Instructor!"
—Thwump!
At that point, as I got too cheeky, the instructor gripped the wheel with her left hand, kept her eyes on the road, and thrust her right fist toward me.
"Do you see what this is?"
"It's the peerless surgical instrument that gave the wicked Agent Ham Woong-cheol a proper re-education. Your treatment skills are so good they put the Great Immortal to shame, Instructor. Honestly, that fist is so damn cool— Ow! Aaah!"
—Grip!
The instructor suddenly yanked my ear!
"Even well-deserved praise hurts the ears if you keep it up, don't you think?"
"Praise, no matter how much, is still not enough!"
"Hah, talk away."
Anyway, the instructor let go of my ear, and the car got moving.
"Instructor. I brought coffee. I didn't know if you'd prefer black or latte, so I bought both."
"This kid knows a thing or two. Set down the latte."
"Yes, ma'am. Wait, you like sweet things, Instructor?"
"Is that a problem?"
"A gap charm, seriously, a gap charm. You literally smash everything blocking your path and then a nice sweet latte."
"Shut it, shut your trap. Please."
"What do you mean, Instructor? It's common sense that the passenger seat shouldn't have dead air. Turning off the audio? That's just nonsense."
It makes no sense.
"Huh, really. For a student to know such etiquette... Kim Geun-cheol, the more I see of you, the more interesting you are."
Huh?
When you get a ride!
You buy coffee!
You chat away beside them!
Isn't that the proper thing to do!
When I'm driving, I shut my mouth, but when I'm not, I tend to keep it open.
"It's not interesting, Instructor. You see, when you're next to someone as great as you, proper manners naturally install themselves. It's all thanks to you, Instructor, all thanks."
"You really are astonishingly talkative. How does flattery just pour out the moment you open your mouth, Kim Geun-cheol? What kind of life do you have to live to talk that much? I've heard more bootlicking today than in my entire life."
"Heh heh heh, you just gotta be honest. Just be honest."
So, while sipping coffee with the Instructor, we zipped right along to the professional gear shop.
The instructor drives really gently.
"She was an absolute artist of violence, an artist. I've never seen anyone beat the shit out of people so well. That punching was in the realm of art... she's a straight-up violence artist."
Even thinking back, it was beautiful.
The scene of the punch slamming into Agent Ham Woong-cheol's face.
"Leona and Yu-ri can throw down pretty well, but they're no match for you, Instructor. How did you beat Agent Ham Woong-cheol so perfectly?"
"As you may know, I used to work in the Special Operations Division. When you work there, you end up like that."
"That's seriously brutal."
"Heh, you call that brutal, Kim Geun-cheol? Back then... it was violence that didn't even count as brutal."
"Wait! So you're saying you beat him nicely?! That's too much!"
"No matter what, I can't leave a fellow agent crippled, can I."
"Well, yeah."
Much of a bastard as he is, crippling him is a no-go.
"Hmm... anyway, since we're on the subject, Kim Geun-cheol. Where did you learn such vicious cursing? It was shockingly sharp."
Ah, that.
Even for me, getting called out for those vicious family insults by a good teacher makes me embarrassed. Heat is rising in my cheeks.
"Well, it's nothing. I mean, I couldn't actually beat the crap out of Ham Woong-cheol there. And I couldn't win a fight, right?"
"Well, I suppose."
"So... I, uh. I resorted to verbal violence to deal as much damage as possible. Kids these days don't budge at regular swearing, you know? So that's why."
"I see."
The instructor answered calmly.
"Still, if possible, use foul language only on villains."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Villains don't have human rights, but people do."
"True enough."
She's right.
"There, we've arrived. That's the country's largest equipment store."
"Ooooh...!"
The building catches my eye. But it wasn't some insanely huge, luxurious building like I imagined. I was picturing some kind of fortress.
—Clunk.
After parking in the lot, we got out together.
"Kim Geun-cheol? Have you eaten breakfast?"
"Not yet."
"Then let's start with a meal."
"I'll treat you to a full-course meal. What's the best thing here?"
"Cut the bullshit and follow me."
"Yes, ma'am."
I quietly followed behind the instructor and looked around.
—Murmur.
I'd noticed it already when the parking lot was crammed full, but there were a shit-ton of people in the store. Heroes and hunters laden with gear and luggage were moving about everywhere.
It was like a warzone.
—Whirr.
—Clank.
Among them, quite a few were wearing powered suits, and the sheer variety made it fun to look at, like a museum.
They say those vary a lot by generation and manufacturer.
Just then.
"Uh, uhh!"
Suddenly, an armed person looked our way, eyes wide, and shouted. What's this? Some kind of tout?
The moment I thought that.
"Lee So-ra!"
The guy straight-up called her name.
"It's Lee So-ra! It's Instructor Lee So-ra!"
"What? No way!"
"It's Lee So-ra!"
At that, people from all directions started calling the instructor's name and acting familiar... Ah. Come to think of it, the instructor's a celebrity.
"Kyaaaah! This is my first time seeing her in person!"
"It's Lee So-raaaaa!"
"Aaaaagh! Aaaaagh!"
"Waaaaaaagh!"
And her fame was beyond anything I imagined—people came swarming in like a cloud and screaming! They're acting like people who just spotted Seo Taiji!
"Aaaaaagh! Aaaaaaaagh! Aaaaagh!"
"Tch... This is why crowded places are a pain. Kim Geun-cheol, just follow me close."
"Aaaaaaaaaaagh! Aaaaaagh!"
"What in the world are you doing?"
"I was screaming along with the mood, ma'am."
"Do it one more time and I'll give you a punishment."
"Ah, yes, ma'am!"
Instructor Lee So-ra's punishment, how terrifying...!
"Stick close. I'm going to ignore them all and go in."
"Understood!"
—Thump, thump.
The instructor completely ignored all the people asking for autographs or interviews and strode forward, and the crowd parted like the Red Sea under Moses.
"I got ignored! By Instructor Lee So-ra!"
"Me too! I got ignored too!"
"I want to be ignored more, more!"
"Ignore me more! More! I said ignore me more!"
Crazy.
"Instructor? Looks like some villains and monsterkin are mixed in here."
"Don't mind them..."
I'd like to.
"But who's that guy behind her!"
"Could he be her boyfriend?!"
"I'm posting this on social media!!!"
"Shocking! Agent Lee So-ra dating scandal explodes!"
What a goddamn mess.
"Instructor! Big trouble! They're calling me your boyfriend!"
"Truly astonishing... I'll have to get the Special Operations Division to scrub it."
Still, as if used to this, she ignored everything and we finally went into a restaurant. Turns out it's a general food court. One for deep-pocketed heroes.
The instructor ordered on her own. While we talked, ignoring people's stares somewhat, an automatic serving robot brought the food.
"Eat."
"What's this?"
But what came was a cute tray with dainty tableware on it.
"It's the Hero Kid's Meal."
"Why this?! I'm not a little kid!"
"Quiet. Is it proper to make a ruckus at the table?"
"Oh, come on! But this is!"
"Kim Geun-cheol. So you're saying you won't eat what I bought you?"
The instructor said that with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Khuh."
So the instructor has a hobby of teasing people.
At my age, a kid's meal is beyond embarrassing.
