READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 46 - The Duty of a Teacher
Translator: FenrirTL
Editor: KYSOIWDI
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[ Chapter 46: The Duty of a Teacher (3) ]
“Kuh, ku-kuh kuh…”
Hong Seok-young lowered his head and his shoulders shook.
“……”
I looked at Hong Seok-young.
“Ku-kuh, puh, ku, ku-kuh kuh.”
I couldn’t understand why this man was acting this way.
Still, I waited, considering the time we had spent together. If it had been someone else, I would have just kicked him.
“Kuh…”
“……”
It was only after a long while that Hong Seok-young finally managed to stop laughing.
“Ku, you said you have no, no talent?”
Hong Seok-young asked, panting. Just as I was about to answer, he asked again.
“What was your main task in Bangju?”
I narrowed my eyes. Why was he asking this? Was he testing me again?
I answered cautiously.
“I did a variety of odd jobs…”
“No, I know that. But you must have had a main task.”
“…Just.”
“Preaching?”
What was he talking about?
“Don’t look at me like that. Haven’t you ever gone undercover to gather information?”
He seemed to be enjoying himself.
That sight twisted my insides.
“That wasn’t my job.”
“Huh.”
Hong Seok-young chuckled briefly.
“Then, dungeon-related?”
“…I did a bit of everything. Yes, there are resources in dungeons…”
“Bangju missed out.”
“……?”
“My goodness. Don’t worry and just, you know, go there. Nationwide.”
“It’s called the Korea New Mind Spiritual Association.”
“Try attending a lecture. Go listen to what they’re saying.”
I worried about Hong Seok-young’s hearing and memory. He was at the peak age for a Hunter, but if his memory was already failing him, it was concerning.
“I can’t do it.”
“Don’t worry.”
Hong Seok-young started laughing again.
“You’re well-suited for it.”
“Excuse me?”
“You have talent.”
What on earth was he talking about?
“You’re someone who can do it. Why don’t you believe in yourself?”
“……”
“If you can’t believe in yourself, then believe in me.”
A person I absolutely couldn’t trust was spouting nonsense.
His face was serious. His eyes were earnest. No matter how great a Hunter he was, he couldn’t be completely free from aging. The wrinkles around his eyes added to his gravitas.
If only he kept his mouth shut, he looked quite believable. Many people were deceived by that face.
But not me.
“Judging by how well you handle kids, there’s no problem. You’ll do fine.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“It has everything to do with it.”
His face was filled with amusement.
Even going back in time, he was still the same man. A person with a nasty personality who enjoyed teasing others.
When he acted like this, it was impossible for me to win against his stubbornness. What could I do? I, being the more mature one, had to give in a little.
“Oh. But will it be alright? If you come into close contact with Bangju, someone might recognize you.”
“……”
That was true.
“Perhaps I shouldn’t…”
“You must have prepared for that.”
“……”
“Right?”
His unwavering eyes were fixed on me.
In a fleeting moment, many thoughts crossed my mind. I swallowed hard and nodded.
“It’s not exactly preparation.”
“Then?”
His gaze didn’t waver. The same eyes that always looked at me since I was adopted. Familiar yet different.
But it was always a face that listened no matter what I said.
“…There aren’t many people who know my real face, so it should be fine.”
“Ah, ahh. Right. You said you wear a mask?”
“It’s better that way for free movement during external activities. Since I travel around various Bangju institutions.”
“Travel around? Why?”
“For some, I did work similar to an inspector.”
“You really did everything, didn’t you?”
His eyes moved away from my face. It became a bit easier to breathe.
“Even though this Hunter is also investigating, it’s good to have diverse methods of contact. Don’t push yourself too hard; just get a feel for it and get out. There are other ways, so there’s no need to take unnecessary risks.”
“Yes.”
“And take this opportunity to get a cell phone. Seriously, in this day and age, how do you still not have one? What do you do after work?”
What do I do?
I rummage through the magic clock, checking for useful information.
So far, my results haven’t been great.
“…I’m working on the curriculum.”
“Curriculum? Classes?”
“How can you teach the kids without a lesson plan? Dungeon raids aren’t just about fighting well.”
“Hmm….”
“You’ve done a lot of dungeon raids. Just explaining how the raids are conducted would help the kids.”
“I’m not good at explaining things like that….”
“Do you think anyone is good from the start? Believe in yourself. You can do it.”
Hong Seok-young avoided my eyes and pretended to check the time on his cell phone from his inner pocket.
He was trying to escape.
“Do you think the kids will learn dungeon tactics just by rolling around in the dirt? At least teach them the weaknesses of different monster types. You can do that, can’t you?”
“Well, that comes with experience….”
“It’s a Hunter training school, isn’t it? This should all be part of the curriculum.”
“There aren’t enough teachers yet….”
“Then you should have postponed the dungeon raids. They’re right around the corner….”
“Ahem. Ahem.”
Hong Seok-young cleared his throat loudly.
“I-I forgot I have an appointment. I’ll be back before the kids finish school, so take care of the classes.”
“Do you really have an appointment?”
“Of course!”
Hong Seok-young raised his voice in a defensive manner. It made me even more suspicious.
“Recently, I’ve neglected dungeon raids…. Ah, I really have an appointment! So, take care of the class! As you said, the raids are approaching.”
“……”
I didn’t exactly disagree. He had started from scratch, relying solely on instinct for battles, even now.
If I suddenly asked him to give a theoretical lecture,
‘Well… Let’s see. First, you enter the gate.’
‘Enter?’
‘Then, smash everything in sight! Eventually, the dungeon core will reveal itself.’
Spouting nonsensical comments like that, he really experienced it firsthand.
That’s why he sent the kids to practice at a guild in Myeong-dong. He outsourced it because he wasn’t confident in his teaching.
…If I had outsourced it, would I have learned it more easily?
“This conversation isn’t over yet.”
“*Ahem.*”
“You’re the principal; you need to listen.”
“*Ahem!*”
I sighed.
* * *
June 15, 2021.
“So when are you planning to make contact?”
“Well….”
I stretched lightly and tilted my head to the side.
“Probably after this raid… don’t you think?”
Kim Chae-min lightly tapped my shoulder in admonishment.
“Of course! Today is the raid day!”
“Well, you know….”
“Aren’t you being a bit too relaxed? You weren’t even planning to do it, right?”
The equipment given to me wasn’t anything special. Just a light leather armor. We’re only going into a C-rank dungeon; what kind of armor do I need?
I was originally planning to go in unarmed, but Hong Seok-young stopped me.
‘An inspector is going to show up, but if you’re not wearing at least some armor, it’ll look suspicious. Do you forget what your current rank is?’
…It was a rare moment of logic from Hong Seok-young.
“Honestly, it’s cumbersome.”
“Teacher Woo, be honest. What’s your real rank?”
“What?”
“Your real skill level. Even if you’re an illegal Awakener, you should have a rough idea.”
I shrugged, pretending not to know.
“You’ve seen my license. I’m a D-rank.”
“Oh, come on!”
Kim Chae-min glared at me with a pouty face.
But then he relaxed and chuckled.
“Right. That’s why Bangju wouldn’t suspect you. They say this Hunter worked hard to create your background.”
“What is that person exactly, to fabricate an entire life story for someone?”
“I was curious and asked once…”
“And?”
“They said it’s better not to know.”
“……”
Thinking about Lee Mi-sun twenty years from now, it made sense. She didn’t become that person overnight.
The Korea New Mind Spiritual Association. The attempt to establish a connection with Bangju was postponed due to the raid. During that time, Lee Mi-sun quickly crafted a plausible life story for Woo Hee-jae, a D-rank Hunter. She said adding details to the groundwork already laid wasn’t difficult.
Since Bangju was likely to investigate me, it was a race against time.
“…Anyway!”
Kim Chae-min waved his hand in front of me.
“The kids are probably ready. Let’s wrap this up and head out.”
“Hmm….”
I put my foot on the desk, revealing the mana controller. Kim Chae-min grumbled as he tapped the controller.
“Why do you look so glum?”
“I’m not good with these mana tools….”
“But you’re a Grand Mage.”
“Grand Mage doesn’t mean I’m good at everything!”
“The Grand Mage I know….”
“Does that Grand Mage even exist?!”