Chapter 39
Chapter 39
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Why Should I Help You Guys?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
From a distance, I could see Yang Hangil approaching with his former disciples.
Spotting me from afar, Yang Hangil scowled. He came closer and said to me,
"Isn't this the great Masked Instructor? After dueling you, our president ends up in jail, the academy's on the brink of collapse, and here you are, leisurely training your disciples?"
I replied,
"President Baek Juseok didn't go to jail because of me. It's because he used a dark artifact in the academy—on top of that, he unleashed a meteor in an outrageous act—and now he's suspected of tampering with the Helmont Academy Intranet."
Yang Hangil shouted irritably,
"If you hadn't provoked him with that ridiculous video, none of this would've happened. There wouldn't have been all this pointless investigation from the government agencies either. Everything's gotten a headache because of you."
Yang Hangil was trying his best to keep a straight face, but his anger was plain as day. I answered calmly,
"If you've committed a crime, you deserve punishment. It's only right. For someone from the prestigious Helmont Academy not to know that basic principle... looks like the problem isn't just with President Baek Juseok."
-Crunch
Yang Hangil glared at me coldly.
"You, strutting around like hot stuff now—but how long do you think that'll last? You think the world is a walk in the park? Relying solely on your brute strength with no backing at all... you'll soon realize how foolish that is."
Tilting my head at his words, I replied,
"No backing? The disciples right behind me are my backing."
"Ha. What, those punks?"
At that moment, Kang Eunbyeol stepped forward from behind me and spoke up.
"You're an instructor at Helmont Academy, right? That's awfully rude. We haven't said a word, but you pick a fight first and start hurling insults."
"Whoa, scary. So you're one of the great Masked Instructor's forces? I'm terrified."
As Yang Hangil sneered, Kang Eunbyeol's face started turning red. I chimed in from the side,
"Mr. Yang Hangil, do you even know who this is?"
"One of the great Masked Instructor's disciples?"
Yang Hangil twisted his face into a mocking grin.
"Her name is Kang Eunbyeol."
"Pretty name. I happen to love the stars in the night sky too."
I gave a more detailed explanation to Yang Hangil, who still hadn't caught on.
"Kang Eunbyeol, the only daughter of the Hunter Association President."
"...?"
Yang Hangil turned pale in an instant.
"What kind of nonsense is that? Why would the Hunter Association President's daughter join some no-name internet instructor?"
Yang Hangil yelled as if it were the most ridiculous thing. Kang Eunbyeol opened her mouth.
"If you keep being rude, you'll pay for it. Try it if you think you can handle the consequences."
"..."
Yang Hangil didn't seem to fully believe Kang Eunbyeol was the president's daughter, but just in case, he backed down for now. He muttered under his breath,
"Fuck... what a bunch of shitty assholes... I'm already stressed out enough."
"Wh-what did you just say?!"
Kang Eunbyeol shouted, and Yang Hangil smiled as he replied,
"I said it's an honor to meet the esteemed daughter of the Hunter Association President. If I caused any disturbance, I apologize."
Kang Eunbyeol glared at Yang Hangil and shot back,
"Watch yourself. I can't stand rude, shameless people."
"Wouldn't dream of it."
As their exchange continued, the Helmont Academy Practical Magic Lower Class students behind them started murmuring.
Kim Siyeon was the first to speak up.
"Guys. Instructor Yang Hangil's with Baal Guild, right? Then why does he look so intimidated...?"
Lee Haru replied,
"Yeah... Aren't the Hunter Association President and the Baal Guild leader about equal in power? Are we missing something?"
Baek Hyunseo quietly explained,
"Even Baal Guild couldn't easily take on the Hunter Association President. The association has a ton of hunters under it, and they're no slouches in strength. Sure, if it came down to the guild leaders clashing, Choi Seung-hyun the swordsman would have the edge with his higher realm and class—but if it escalated to all-out war between the groups, it wouldn't end with just the leaders fighting."
Yoon Seulgi, having heard Baek Hyunseo, said,
"Th-then... what if we ask that Kang Eunbyeol for help...? She seems nice... If we tell her Instructor Yang Hangil's treating us unfairly...?"
Kim Siyeon shook her head firmly.
"We don't even know if she's trustworthy yet. And what if we ask and she just brushes us off? To be blunt, she's a stranger to us right now. Plus, she doesn't seem to get along with Yang Hangil, who's in charge of us... What if he finds out we asked for help? We're done for. We can't just gamble like that."
"S-so... we have to keep living like this...?"
Yoon Seulgi asked, her voice trembling.
Kim Siyeon let out a frustrated sigh.
Then Lee Haru asked, puzzled,
"But think about it—the Hunter Association President's daughter became his disciple, right? Doesn't that make the Masked Instructor even more impressive? She's learning from him instead of her dad... so doesn't that mean he's better than the president?"
Kim Siyeon nodded partially in agreement.
"You saw the videos too, didn't you? The Masked Instructor solo-cleared an A-rank dungeon and was the first to discover external mana usage. Pure combat power-wise, he might be on that level."
"What if we ask him for help?"
After some thought, Kim Siyeon said,
"...For now, they're entering the dungeon with us. Let's observe them closely then. Yang Hangil's not going in, so we can talk without him noticing. If the Masked Instructor seems trustworthy, we ask him. If Kang Eunbyeol does, we ask her. If neither, we stay quiet."
As their conversation wrapped up, Choi Juwon stepped in to wrap things up.
"Instructor Yang Hangil. No need to get heated—why not just ignore each other? Looks like you reserved this dungeon anyway. We're here to clear it, not bicker like kids."
"Same here. Masked Instructor, let's head in."
Yang Hangil gestured for his disciples to enter. I followed suit, arms crossed, sending mine in from behind.
Yang Hangil asked me,
"Not entering with your disciples?"
"My disciples are so capable, they can clear a C-rank dungeon like it's nothing without me. No need for me to go in. Your students seem a bit lacking in realm though—sure it's okay sending them in alone?"
"Tch. I'll handle it. Mind your own business."
Watching Yang Hangil stay prickly to the end, I thought to myself,
'Hopeless bastard. Time passes, situations change, but some people never do.'
The Helmont Academy Basic Class students who entered the dungeon, along with Choi Juwon's disciples.
They were all walking down the same passage. It was a dungeon that resembled a cave.
The Basic Class students murmured a bit, showing signs of fear, while not a single one of Choi Juwon's disciples looked nervous or scared.
That's when Kim Siyeon spoke to those nearby.
"Um..."
The closest one, Park Hye-yeon, looked at Kim Siyeon.
"Speak."
"That is..."
As Kim Siyeon started to say something, dozens of bat-like monsters—Lekinas—came flying in.
-Whiiiirrr
Like they were emitting ultrasound waves, they attacked the disciples all at once.
"Assault! Form up like the Masked Instructor taught."
No sooner had the words left her mouth than Seo Chan-woo, Lim Sea, Min Da-yoon, and Kang Eunbyeol swiftly formed their positions.
"I'll charge the front. Everyone else, cover me."
Park Hye-yeon didn't have the highest magical talent among the disciples. But in terms of instincts and movement, no one could match her. Her combat style resembled Choi Juwon's. That's why, after several mock trainings, he'd devised a formation that maximized her strengths—the one they were using now.
-Pop
Park Hye-yeon used mana to reinforce her feet and leaped into the air. She charged straight into the center of the bat-like Lekina swarm.
And in midair, she chanted,
[Absorb]
The artifact from Choi Juwon in her bosom—the [SS] Mana Resonance Crystal—began to glow.
At the same time, the mana in the air was sucked toward Park Hye-yeon. And moments later, she chanted again.
[Release]
-KABOOOM!
With a sound that shook the cave, over ten monsters dropped instantly.
The Lekinas lunging at her were handled by the other disciples.
-Screeech!
Among them, some Lekinas went not for Choi Juwon's disciples, but for Yang Hangil's.
Park Hye-yeon instinctively raised her hand toward them to cast a spell. But she stopped herself and looked away.
"Kyaaah!"
As a result, a few Lekinas attacked Lee Haru. Thanks to the dozens of disciples reacting quickly, Lee Haru only suffered minor scratches, and the incident settled down.
Kim Siyeon stomped over to Park Hye-yeon, glaring as she said,
"You. You clearly saw the monsters coming—why didn't you help and pretend not to notice?"
She vented her anger while looking at the injured Lee Haru.
Park Hye-yeon replied as if she couldn't comprehend,
"Why should I help you guys? You're not the Masked Instructor's disciples—you're just strangers, aren't you?"