A Veteran Teaches Very Well

part 30

Even after retirement, rather than indulging in wealth and fame, he earned the respect of many heroes by nurturing his disciples at the Florian Academy.

However, for the past few years, he had not opened any lectures or taken in any disciples, effectively being treated as a retired hero.

So, to the new students these days, his name might be somewhat unfamiliar.

I, too, found the hero Jo Seong-woong to be a stranger. By the time the game began, he had already been retired for quite some time.

Yet, recently, Jo Seong-woong had come out of seclusion and taken on the role of Park Seo-hu’s master, resuming his teaching activities.

“Seo-hu! Didn’t I tell you to warm up?”

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

“Sorry? What kind of frozen death apology is that! You little… Huh?”

Jo Seong-woong looked at me, his eyes widening in surprise.

Park Seo-hu spoke as if Jo Seong-woong knew something about me. Perhaps he might know details about my character that I was unaware of.

I took the initiative to greet Jo Seong-woong first.

“Professor Jo, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Cha Eun-woo, a professor in the Department of Convergent Awakening Research.”

“Cha Eun-woo? Huh.”

A sound of air escaping came from Jo Seong-woong’s mouth.

I felt a complex mix of emotions.

This man clearly knew something about me.

“Ah, nice to meet you.”

Whoosh—

Jo Seong-woong tightly grasped Park Seo-hu’s wrist and left for somewhere.

“M-Master?”

“We’re going to train.”

“W-What? We usually train here in the practice yard.”

“Today, we’re having a special training session.”

He blatantly avoided the topic.

—

It seemed like Baeksulhwa had the same thought and spoke to me.

“Professor Jo Seong-woong, doesn’t it seem like you’re in a hurry? Almost like you’re trying to avoid something…”

Baeksulhwa clapped her hands, as if she had figured something out.

“Aren’t you scared of the professor? You know, like, worried that if you both have class in the same place, you’ll be compared.”

What a ridiculous thing to say.

I considered giving Baeksulhwa a playful smack on the head but held back.

“Don’t say things like that elsewhere. You’re making me look bad.”

“But the professor is amazing, too.”

I could barely recite a few game settings, but Jo Seong-woong was a hero among heroes, someone who had even visited the lair of the dragon.

Not only was he skilled, but his lectures were also renowned.

Objectively speaking, I had nothing to boast about. The excessive praise only made my face flush.

Still, I was curious about why Jo Seong-woong was avoiding me.

To find out, I had no choice but to confront him directly.

“Seolhwa, does Professor Jo Seong-woong and Park Seo-hu always train here?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, got it.”

Generally, professors have their own designated spaces.

I, too, had a research lab where I taught graduate students. Although it was a space solely used by Lee Ye-eun.

However, Jo Seong-woong wouldn’t have a training ground to go to right now.

He returned it when he went into seclusion but hasn’t reapplied, so he keeps coming here.

That means.

There are plenty of opportunities to make my presence known.

* * *

Three days later. Training ground.

“Professor, Seolhwa.”

From the entrance of the training ground, Park Seo-hu was waving at us.

Baeksulhwa quickly turned her head and didn’t even respond. Feeling sorry for her, I gave a small wave.

“You rushed out right after class and came here, huh?”

“…….”

“How about coming together next time?”

—

“Don’t want to.”

As the kids chattered away, I glanced at my wristwatch.

It was about time for Jo Sung-woong to arrive.

“Seohwoo, where are you… Hmm.”

As expected, Jo Sung-woong’s expression crumpled when he spotted me.

“Seeing you again today.”

“That’s right.”

He sighed and then spoke to me.

“What do you want with me?”

“Just curiosity. I’m wondering what Professor Jo thinks of me.”

“Ah, that loose-lipped b*stard must have said something… Well, since we’re at it, I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to lay it all out.”

He could have avoided me if he really wanted to, but it seemed he wasn’t that inclined.

We briefly asked the kids for their understanding and moved to a different spot.

A resting area in the corner of the training ground.

Jo Sung-woong pulled out a cigarette and lit it.

He offered me one as well, but I declined. I felt averse to smoking itself.

Jo Sung-woong took a deep drag, exhaled the smoke, and then began to speak.

“First off, let me clarify that it’s not so much that I’m avoiding Professor Cha, but rather, I just don’t want to get involved.”

“I’m curious about the reason.”

“Professor Cha has a lot of enemies around him, you know?”

“……”

“Jeon Tae-jin. And Song Ji-hyuk.”

The top professor of the Department of Magical Studies, Jeon Tae-jin.

He was the one who recently caused a minor uproar at the Magic Tower.

That infuriating name came up again.

And then there was Song Ji-hyuk.

There are countless Song Ji-hyuks in South Korea, but over 90% of the population would think of one man when they hear that name.

The father of Song Seok-hwan and the leader of the Emergency Guild.

As Jo Sung-woong said, touching Song Seok-hwan was an act of turning him into an enemy.

“You seem surprisingly timid. Are you afraid of getting burned?”

Though he threw out a provocative remark that could be considered somewhat rude, Jo Seong-woong snorted dismissively.

“That’s a boring joke. Do you think I’m afraid of those guys?”

Jo Seong-woong exuded confidence.

Both of them were undeniably remarkable individuals, acknowledged by anyone.

Yet Jo Seong-woong was also someone who would be second to none in terms of being extraordinary.

“Then what are you afraid of?”

When I asked, Jo Seong-woong pointed a finger at me.

“You, who boldly challenged them. Professor Cha. You’re a dangerous one.”

“Dangerous, you say?”

“Yeah. You give off a scent that’s too dangerous for you.”

It was quite an amusing joke.

Me, dangerous? That couldn’t be true. Quite the opposite, in fact.

I was the only one who knew the future, the one who could save the world. I was someone who had no connection to the word ‘danger.’

“You’ve got it wrong.”

Before I knew it, the cigar Jo Seong-woong was holding was almost burnt down.

He extinguished the cigar, pulled out another, and lit it.

“I took a look at your paper.”

“Paper? Ah, you mean the thesis.”

The strategy guide for the game I had written before I became possessed.

It felt a bit embarrassing to call it a thesis, but it could be quite useful.

Still, I felt a desire to have it validated by someone like Jo Seong-woong, a hero who had reached the pinnacle.

“What did you think?”

“…Is that even a question?”

There was a sharpness to Jo Seong-woong’s words.

A hint of anger, as if he were slightly annoyed.

I didn’t understand.

Why was he getting angry over such a question?

“If you don’t want to share, that’s fine.”

“Hmph. This is why I dislike geniuses.”

The unnecessary long-winded chatter could stop now.

—

It would be nice if you could just get to the point.

As I continued to gaze silently into Jo Sung-woong’s eyes, he clicked his tongue.

“Young friend, with many days ahead, you seem impatient.”

Jo Sung-woong said, puffing out his chest, in a serious tone.

“I have a feeling. Soon, the world will face a great crisis.”

It was a sharp intuition.

Just as he said, the world would soon plunge into chaos.

The beginning of the main story of the real game.

Beings like gods or demons that created the gate would descend upon the earth, turning the world into a sea of flames.

Dungeons that would make even the worst dungeon in history, the Nest of the Destruction Dragon, seem trivial would continue to appear, and soon the world would be on the brink of annihilation.

Those who, like Jo Sung-woong, had transcended certain realms would have sensed it too.

But while they knew a crisis was coming, no one knew what would happen or how it would unfold.

Only I was aware of the impending crisis in this world.

“But with my frail body, I can achieve nothing… No, even in my prime, it would have been the same.”

Jo Sung-woong belittled himself.

If someone had heard him, they would have strongly denied it, saying it was nonsense.

It was unimaginable that the invincible swordsman of Korea would be powerless before an invader.

“But my disciple is different. Park Seo-hoo. That kid will save the world.”

His words dripped with love and faith for his disciple.

He might not know that, like me, Park Seo-hoo was one of the playable characters with the greatest potential, but at least he seemed to have noticed that Park Seo-hoo was special.

“Isn’t Professor Cha of the same kind as me? I knew it the moment I saw you.”

He was right.

Essentially, he and I were not different. I too was nurturing students for the crisis that lay ahead.

“But Professor Cha’s method is the complete opposite of mine. I kept Seo-hoo hidden, but you, Professor Cha, revealed the children to the outside world.”

“So you think.”

“I acknowledge the difference in methods. Professor Cha’s way might be a bit faster. But it’s too dangerous.”

Suddenly, Jo Sung-woong revealed a massive hostility, as if he were a different person from before.

“But I have no intention of exposing Seo-hoo to such a dangerous environment. If anyone dares to lay a hand on Seo-hoo, I might just kill Professor Cha.”

The air deflated a bit.

So this man was afraid that I might overshadow his disciple.

Should I say I love my disciple too much, or that I have a delusion of persecution?

In any case, Park Seo-ho had no intention of taking him from the start.

Without needing to think, I answered.

“Let’s do that.”

“Thank you.”

Jo Seong-woong withdrew his hostility and returned to his original self.

By that time, all his machismo had completely burned out.

“Since you’ve granted my request, I’ll give you a small gift. Jeon Tae-jin is preparing something.”

“Is that really true?”

I feigned surprise, but I had expected it.

Jeon Tae-jin was a tenacious man, like a viper. There was no way he would have given up that easily.

“The rookie is just pretending to save face.”

I thought it was a decent performance, but when Jo Seong-woong saw right through it, I felt a bit awkward.

“If I may offer some advice, don’t do anything unnecessary. He’ll self-destruct on his own.”

Jo Seong-woong tossed the cigarette butt he was holding and left.

I watched his back and said,

“Please throw the cigarette butt in the trash.”

Jo Seong-woong returned with an awkward expression, picked up the butt, and really left.

* * *

─This concludes the report.

“Good job.”

Florian Academy, Professor’s Office on the 9th floor of the Magic Department.

On the desk lay a nameplate inscribed with the three characters ‘Jeon Tae-jin.’

Jeon Tae-jin opened the report with a pleasant feeling.

Since the information was obtained by hiring a capable private detective, it was reliable.

The detective had brought good news to Jeon Tae-jin.

Heh, just as I thought.

No matter how upright a person is, how could they come out completely clean?

Moreover, what was caught from this guy was not just a speck of dust.

It was astonishing how he had managed to hide such a massive flaw.

“Ha ha, ha ha ha! This little brat thinks he can lecture me while pretending to be a champion of justice? Go ahead and have your expectations, Professor Cha!”

A mere new professor was making too much noise.

Within the academy, there might be professors more capable than Jeon Tae-jin, but none had his extensive connections.

Jeon Tae-jin formed a group with the professors, pushing the young ones in the group while gradually taking credit for their achievements to maintain his own reputation.

Cha Eun-woo, who had just become the youngest professor, quickly came under Jeon Tae-jin’s radar.

In a bid to foster camaraderie, he had given him Lee Ye-eun, who had been a thorn in his side, but to his surprise, this madman had taken off with her.

It was clearly a challenge to Jeon Tae-jin.

To protect his honor and dignity, he had to retaliate.

“I’ll kill him.”

Jeon Tae-jin dialed the phone of the newly appointed junior professor.

A short ring followed, and then the connection tone sounded.

─Oh! Professor Jeon, what brings you to call?

With an exaggerated reaction, Jeon Tae-jin smirked.

Right. This was the proper behavior for a new professor.

“Professor Yoon Seong-yeop. I have a favor to ask.”

─A favor?

“Yeah. If things go well, that research you’ve been eyeing will be yours.”

─…What’s the matter?!

A voice filled with greed came through the receiver.

Jeon Tae-jin did not exploit his subordinates unilaterally.

He made fair deals, giving them what they desired.

Why couldn’t that arrogant brat see that this was an unparalleled opportunity for the new professors?

“I’ll send you an email, so check the details for yourself.”

─Understood.

This was Jeon Tae-jin’s way.

He never acted directly.

He always had his subordinates do the work to achieve what he wanted.

If successful, it was a jackpot. If it failed, he would only lose a pawn.

This was not a transaction; it was war.

—

In a transaction, fairness is the principle, but in war, treachery is the best offense.

“Ha ha, ha ha ha!”

Jeon Tae-jin laughed heartily at the ignorant rookie who dared to oppose him.

Chapter 4. National Secrets

The week after the exam, the atmosphere in the classrooms varied greatly from group to group.

The division of seating by groups made the contrasts even more pronounced.

—Did you see the Griffin expedition yesterday?

—Yeah, yeah. It was so much fun!

First, Group C, who scored the highest.

The kids in Group C couldn’t wipe the smiles off their faces throughout the class.

The group’s atmosphere was harmonious, and during breaks, they were seen chatting and mingling with each other.

—Hey, I missed one. What was the note about earlier?

—Here.

Next were Groups B and D.

They hadn’t bonded as much as Group C, but the atmosphere wasn’t too awkward.

At least there was a sense of being in the same group.

The problem was Group A, who scored the lowest.

Song Seok-hwan.

All the group members sat far away from him, casting wary glances.

—…….

—…….

In a typical situation like this, it would seem like one member was being bullied by the others, but in reality, it was the opposite.

Here, Song Seok-hwan was isolating all his group members.

It was a funny expression, but it was actually happening.

Even from a distance, a cold air surrounded Song Seok-hwan.

He was like a wild beast ready to pounce if approached.

“Why are you sulking like that?”

“Get lost.”

Even An Se-ri, who had some rapport with him, received only a cold response.

“Don’t be so dramatic just because you flunked one exam. You should think about putting in more effort; do you think sulking will change the classroom atmosphere?”

—

“Shut up.”

“Yes, yes.”

Ahn Se-ri returned to her seat.

In the distance, the members of Group A were whispering.

— What are we going to do about our group?

— I don’t know. I’m scared…

This was quite a dilemma.

If Song Seok-hwan remained in that state, Group A was doomed.

It was true that I focused on nurturing a few students, but as a professor, I had no intention of neglecting the rest.

The other students also had the right to receive fair education.

That was how I would fill my experience points. This was no joke.

Checking my wristwatch, I saw that the break was over.

* * *

After the lecture, I called Song Seok-hwan aside.

“Sit down. It seems you have a lot to say.”