A Veteran Teaches Very Well

part 61

“It would have been easier if that were the case. We could just line them up by admission scores. But we have to balance it with the other groups.”

She had to complete the new A-party before the next class, but she hadn’t even read half of it yet.

Moreover, she had to provide supplementary classes for those students separately, and she was busy with all sorts of things.

An Se-ri spoke up.

“Speaking of which, doesn’t it remind you of when we first created the lecture?”

“Oh, that time.”

It was the day before the entrance ceremony.

It was still in the professor’s office.

She had been brainstorming the lecture, but no one was showing up, so she had called An Se-ri.

“People are truly fascinating. Back then, we were just trying to increase the six attendees to twenty-two, and now over 800 are flocking in, and we’re trying to cut it down to five.”

“Right? I thought it was a guaranteed failure, but look how big it’s become.”

“That’s a bit harsh.”

“Hehe.”

Honestly, I never expected it to turn out this way.

I didn’t know my lecture would grow this large, nor did I anticipate my students would flourish like this.

An Se-ri.

She has grown so well over these past two months.

The first time An Se-ri followed me was because of her clairvoyance.

I confessed a shocking truth to An Se-ri.

“Se-ri, to be honest, I never intended to give you clairvoyance.”

“…What?”

An Se-ri blinked in surprise and asked back.

I explained slowly.

“Being recognized by Cheonri-an is a very demanding task. I thought that even if I gave you Cheonri-an, you wouldn’t be able to handle it. But I guess I was wrong.”

An Se-ri was momentarily lost in thought.

What could she be thinking? Does she feel betrayed by me?

The response I received was truly unexpected.

“Oh, right. Cheonri-an. I had forgotten about that.”

…My heart sank.

What is this?

The person involved had forgotten, and I was the only one who had gotten overly invested? It’s a bit embarrassing.

An Se-ri said.

“Still, I’d appreciate it if you could tell me where it is.”

She added a slight explanation.

“Actually, that’s true. I used to want to cling to things like that, but now it’s different. I’m confident I can inherit the guild without it.”

An Se-ri smiled, revealing her bright white teeth.

It was a truly lovely smile.

“That kind of thing doesn’t matter to me anymore. I’m just here to listen to the professor’s class.”

Those words tugged at my heart.

Is she trying to make me cry? Is this what it means to be a mentor?

“What are you talking about? Stop with the inside jokes; it makes the listener feel excluded.”

Just as I was about to indulge in my feelings, Song Seok-hwan interrupted.

What an oblivious brat.

I responded appropriately.

“It’s just as I said. When I first opened the lecture, there were only six of us.”

“Oh, who were they?”

“Um….”

It wasn’t hard to recall.

“An Se-ri, Baek Seol-hwa, Nam Hye-joo, Lee Bong-nam, and two kids whose names you don’t know.”

“Lee Bong-nam?”

An Se-ri tilted her head in confusion.

I was so taken aback that I asked again.

“You don’t even know your friend’s name? She’s in your group, right?”

“Huh?”

An Se-ri and Seo Da-yoon exchanged glances and shook their heads in unison.

“Someone like that… Ah!”

Seo Da-yoon clapped her hands.

“There’s Abraham! His real name is Lee Bong-nam.”

“Ah-ha.”

Abraham? What on earth does that mean?

“What does that even mean?”

“His name is Abraham.”

“Abraham? But it’s Lee Bong-nam.”

“He wants to be called Abraham.”

“What a peculiar kid.”

Song Seok-hwan interrupted the conversation.

“Anyway, you guys see your professor is busy, right? So go out and play. Shoo, shoo.”

Song Seok-hwan waved his hands dismissively, signaling us to leave.

An Se-ri snapped back and shouted.

“Song Seok-hwan, you come out too!”

“What? Why me?”

“You’re just as much of a distraction!”

Nice one, Se-ri.

Thanks to An Se-ri’s efforts, we managed to send all the distractions away.

Finally, a conducive environment for concentration was created.

Honestly, I was just feeling lazy and wanted to leave everything to Lee Ye-eun and run away, but she had already bolted.

Life is truly strange.

Knock, knock—

“Ah, damn.”

Just as I was about to focus, a knock echoed through the room.

The heavy knock was indistinguishable, its owner a mystery.

That meant it wasn’t someone who came often.

“Come in.”

As my permission was granted, the door opened.

“Ha ha. Professor Cha, it’s a pleasure.”

An unexpected guest had arrived.

Why was this person here?

Park Seo-hu’s mentor.

The Sword Master, Jo Seong-ung, stepped inside.

* * *

Sword Master Jo Seong-ung.

The relationship between him and me was somewhat delicate.

We had some common ground and held no particular animosity towards each other, but calling us close would be a stretch.

To exaggerate a bit, it was a more uncomfortable relationship than with a complete stranger.

“What brings you here?”

I couldn’t fathom why Jo Seong-ung would seek me out.

He responded with an awkward smile.

“Ha ha! Professor Cha, what a hurtful thing to say! Do we need a reason to meet? If I want to see you, I just come!”

“Our relationship? What kind of relationship is that?”

“Oh! Aren’t we colleagues who’ve shared sweat and blood in the training grounds, raising our students together? Seo-hu and your child are quite close too. Heh heh.”

Park Seo-hu and Baek Seol-hwa are close? That’s news to me.

Setting that aside, what did he mean by raising students together?

He had drawn a line, telling Seo-hu not to approach first.

“Don’t say things you don’t mean.”

“Oh come on, why don’t you understand my sincerity?”

Jo Seong-ung cleared his throat twice and got to the point.

“Actually, I ran into your kids on my way here.”

He must be talking about Ahn Se-ri, Seo Da-yoon, and Song Seok-hwan, who had just left.

“They said you’re very busy selecting students right now?”

“Yes. I am busy.”

“Hmm, so I came to offer you some comfort…”

Why did someone who knows that come here?

Cold words slipped from my lips.

“If you know I’m busy, please don’t disturb me and just go.”

“Oh, come on! You’re really impatient, just like a typical Korean.”

Jo Seong-woong finally got to the point.

“I wanted to recommend one of my favorite students to help you. What do you think? It’s an enticing offer, isn’t it?”

Talking about a favorite student, huh?

This person only has Park Seo-hoo as a student.

I could see the outline of why he came.

He just wanted to push his student, Park Seo-hoo, onto me.

My eyes turned into those of someone looking at maggots.

In that moment, Jo Seong-woong looked as disgusting as the maggots.

Perhaps sensing that atmosphere, Jo Seong-woong desperately tried to explain.

“Ah, no, wait! Just hear me out!”

Hear what?

This guy threatened me last time not to covet his student.

And now that I’m doing well, he’s changed his tune and come to butter me up for a lecture.

A scene started playing in my mind.

“Do you know what the handle of a millstone is called?”

That’s right. It was absurd.

“Don’t worry. I remember everything you said last time.”

“Uh, what?”

“We made a promise, didn’t we? Not to cross each other’s lines.”

As I smiled, Jo Seong-woong’s face turned pale.

He spoke urgently.

“Wait, just a moment! I’m sorry! I’m really sorry!”

“What for?”

“For what happened last time, and anyway, I’m sorry for everything!”

Thud!

Jo Sung-woong knelt and bowed before me.

Then, he sobbed and spoke.

“Please, just think of it as saving a life! Huh? If Professor Cha keeps being this heartless, the president will kill me!”

Ryu Jeong-ah, the president? Why is she involved here?

I decided to listen a little longer.

“Why would the president do that?”

“I never intended to come here in the first place! Of course, I wanted to give our Seo Hoo the best lecture in the world, but there’s such a thing as decency!”

“That’s true.”

“When I said that, the president actually tried to kill me! She told me to go to Professor Cha, apologize by splitting my belly, and get Park Seo-hu into the class! Please, just save me!”

I understood the situation.

From the moment Ryu Jeong-ah told me to accept a new student, there had already been a designated candidate.

It was Park Seo-hu.

They had planned from the beginning to assign the academy’s top talent to me.

“Hmm.”

I was annoyed with Jo Sung-woong for being so shameless, but honestly, there was nothing wrong with accepting Park Seo-hu.

In fact, it would only bring benefits.

What I looked forward to the most was Park Seo-hu’s swordsmanship, which could be enhanced by a mentor’s talent.

For now, Edelin’s skills were the best, but if he could make it safely to the latter half, Park Seo-hu would grow into a swordsman superior to Edelin.

The additional experience points were a given.

To balance the class, a solid focal point was necessary.

Just looking at Group D, the leader’s capabilities were lacking, always keeping them at the bottom.

The only student who could stand against An Se-ri and Baek Seol-hwa was Park Seo-hu.

Alright, decision made.

Let’s accept Park Seo-hu.

“I’m sorry.”

But I pushed back once more.

Since it had come to this, I intended to take in everything I could.

Jo Sung-woong now clutched my legs with both hands, begging.

In the midst of it all, his grip was incredibly strong.

My leg caught in his grasp went numb.

“Am I sorry? Huh? Professor Cha, please!”

What should I ask for?

The most coveted was Jo Seong-woong’s swordsmanship.

The skills he had built over a lifetime could not be bought with money.

“Then pay me with your life.”

“L-life for what?”

“Give me Professor Jo’s vision of swordsmanship.”

“……!”

Jo Seong-woong’s expression instantly turned fierce.

Of course, he would refuse.

Jo Seong-woong was that kind of man.

He might offer his life, but he would never part with his swordsmanship.

“Professor Cha, do you mean you want to be my disciple?”

“No. I only want the secret texts.”

“That’s ridiculous! It’s an insult worse than death!”

In any case, even if Jo Seong-woong refused, I was planning to acquire the swordsmanship soon.

Jo Seong-woong’s techniques were inherited by Park Seo-hu.

If I could gain Park Seo-hu’s swordsmanship as a mentor, that would be Jo Seong-woong’s vision of swordsmanship.

I felt a bit guilty, but it was all for the sake of the world.

If not me, then who would protect this world?

“Understood. If that is your wish, please return now.”

“W-what about me? If I go back like this, the president will….”

“That’s for you to figure out.”

“Professor Cha! Don’t do this, please!”

Asking for something greater than what you want and then gradually chipping away at it is the essence of negotiation.

This was the beginning of the real stage.

“If you insist that much… fine. Just give me a sword.”

“A sword?”

Perhaps thinking it was a better offer than teaching swordsmanship, Jo Seong-woong’s eyes sparkled.

“The sword you used when you were active.”

“…Are you talking about Jaybult?”

“Yes.”

The cursed sword, Jaybult.

It was a weapon obtained from the lair of the annihilating dragon, the most heinous and dreadful calamity humanity had ever faced.

The spoils taken from the lair of the annihilating dragon were distributed fairly—favoring the great powers—among the nations.

Among the treasures acquired by Korea, the greatest prize was undoubtedly the cursed sword, Jaybult.

There’s a saying among swordsmen: a sword is a black life.

For a sword master like Jo Seong-woong, it was an undeniable truth.

It wouldn’t be strange for him to love his sword as much as he loved his lover.

I didn’t expect to receive it gracefully.

Surely, a rough and treacherous path awaited me, but I would definitely claim Jaybult…

“Alright, Juma.”

“I figured as much. But for me… Yes?”

“Should I bring it to you right now?”

…What the hell.

What is this?

“Isn’t Jaybult one of the most renowned swords in the world? To just give it away so easily…”

“What does an old retired man need with a good sword? A renowned sword should be used to slice through monsters in a dungeon.”

“Can’t you sell it for a high price?”

“Do I look like I’m in need of money? What would I do with the sale?”

“Then at least you could pass it down to Seo-hu…”

“He’s too kind-hearted to handle a cursed sword like that.”

Well, Jo Seong-woong was right.

A cursed sword is a weapon that reveals the user’s true nature, and it wouldn’t suit Park Seo-hu.

Wait, does that mean I’m a bad guy who deserves a cursed sword?

Hearing that made me feel uneasy.

“Anyway, you’re the one who brought it up! Don’t think about changing your mind. If you do, this Jo Seong-woong won’t forgive you.”

“Ah, yes.”

In any case, I had nothing to lose.

There was no way I could complain about receiving both Park Seo-hoo and the magic sword Jaybult at the same time.

“Hahaha! It’s a relief to get rid of one headache.”

What bothered me a bit was how strangely he seemed to enjoy it.

For some reason, seeing that reaction made me feel like I had lost out.

…It must be an illusion, right?

* * *

“Now, this is the magic sword Jaybult.”

The sword that Jo Seong-woong brought was rather unassuming in appearance.

Of course, the appearance of a weapon didn’t really matter.

It wasn’t a decorative item, and what good would a weapon that slays monsters be if it sparkled?

What bothered me was that the magic swords I had seen in games were incredibly flashy.

Doubting whether this was really the magic sword, I looked at Jo Seong-woong, and he said,

“Jaybult can change its appearance according to the user’s wishes. I find it comfortable to keep it like this.”

That made sense.

Certainly, since it was the swordsman’s preference, it felt more vintage than plain.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave.”

“Since you’re here, why not have a cup of coffee before you go?”

“No thanks… I don’t want to be around that guy any longer.”

I muttered the last part so quietly that I barely heard it myself.

After Jo Seong-woong left, I grasped Jaybult.

“It’s ordinary.”

The grip felt average.

Well, sword handles, the grip is pretty much the same everywhere. What was I expecting?