A Veteran Teaches Very Well

part 8

—He looks really young.

—Is he really the professor? He’s so handsome.

—Oh my gosh! I think he just made eye contact with me!

The whispers among the students were particularly loud. My face was indeed a deception. I had made a strong first impression solely based on my looks.

Standing at the podium, I scanned the classroom. There were unfamiliar faces, as well as some I recognized.

Among them were two: Ahn Se-ri and Seo Da-yoon. When our eyes met, Ahn Se-ri smiled brightly, while Seo Da-yoon lowered her gaze. A few girls let out small squeals.

Heh.

Seeing this made me chuckle.

These kids aren’t something difficult to deal with; they’re just kids.

The group of students had seemed monstrous at first glance, but upon closer inspection, I realized they were nothing special. Well, that was to be expected.

After calming my racing heart, I opened my mouth.

“I will call the roll.”

* * *

The first week of the first semester, a time when freshmen, filled with dreams, enjoy their academy life.

However, the atmosphere in the combat magic class was nothing short of dreadful.

“…So, mana is a complicated thing. Do you understand?”

It was the lecture for “Understanding Basic Magic,” a required course for all freshmen in the major.

The mood in the classroom had grown icy.

It was partly because the professor had filled the first class with dense material, but that was a secondary reason. The real cause of the atmosphere was the boy sitting at the front of the classroom.

“Does anyone know what to do here?”

The professor asked, but there was no response. It was the first day, so everyone might have been shy, but it was still too quiet.

This was Florian Academy, where only the top awakened individuals in Korea could enroll. Naturally, there were many geniuses eager to show off their skills. The question was basic enough that most should have known the answer. Yet, no one spoke up.

“There are extra points for correct answers. Does anyone know?”

The young professor tried to encourage student participation naturally, but there was still no answer. He clicked his tongue and turned his gaze to the boy in front.

With no other choice, the professor pulled out his trump card.

“Song Seok-hwan, you’re the student who entered as the second-best, right? I’ve heard a lot about you from the professors. Do you happen to know the answer?”

Asking someone who seemed likely to know.

Even the shyest of students usually wouldn’t keep quiet when directly asked.

The young professor thought this would go as intended. However, Song Seok-hwan’s reaction was unusual.

“Am I a genius? Haha, I’m not a genius, so I wouldn’t know.”

“Uh, huh?”

“Ask her. The real genius is sitting right here.”

Song Seok-hwan pointed with his chin at Seo Da-yoon sitting next to him. At that, Seo Da-yoon’s eyes widened noticeably.

While the professor was flustered by the unfamiliar situation, Seo Da-yoon quietly replied.

“…You just need to let the mana flow slowly.”

“Right, that’s the answer.”

At that, Song Seok-hwan clapped loudly.

“Impressive! Genius really is different, isn’t it? You know everything. Don’t you all think so, huh?”

“Uh, um….”

“Then clap for her with respect!”

The awkward sound of clapping echoed in the classroom. Each time Song Seok-hwan got angry, the clapping grew louder, until eventually, everyone in the room was clapping. With each clap, Seo Da-yoon’s head sank deeper. Only the professor blinked, seemingly confused.

‘It’s scary…’

Seo Da-yoon felt a wave of fear. All week, Song Seok-hwan had sat next to her, creating a strange atmosphere.

Isn’t this bullying?

Was it because An Se-ri asked to take the class together at the entrance ceremony? Did that scratch Song Seok-hwan’s pride? Am I out of my league, mingling with a princess?

As Seo Da-yoon held back her tears, the class ended. After the professor left, Song Seok-hwan sarcastically asked if the genius didn’t need to focus on class.

Naturally, no one stepped up for Seo Da-yoon.

Again.

She felt a sense of powerlessness, just like when she almost got hit by the girl at the entrance ceremony. Everyone just stared blankly, and no one intervened.

As the sorrow of having no one on her side welled up, tears burst forth.

“Ah, ah— why are you crying? Who made you cry?”

As Song Seok-hwan growled fiercely, Seo Da-yoon’s tears stopped abruptly. A massive fear swallowed her sorrow.

“I-I’m sorry… I was wrong…”

Seo Da-yoon desperately apologized, but Song Seok-hwan just smirked. He soon turned to the boy who had clapped earlier.

“Wow, you clapped earlier, didn’t you?”

“Ah, no, it’s just that… Aah!”

Thud!

It was a merciless kick. The boy screamed, but Song Seok-hwan continued to beat him. It felt less like hitting a person and more like striking a punching bag.

Seo Da-yoon couldn’t bear to watch and covered her eyes with her hands. But Song Seok-hwan forcibly pulled her arms down.

“Why are you looking away? I’m avenging our genius who got hurt.”

“I’m sorry… I was wrong…”

“Shut up and look straight!”

As Song Seok-hwan shouted, Seo Da-yoon’s body froze in place. This atrocity only ended after a few more were dragged out and beaten.

“Don’t you dare make our genius cry.”

It was a warning directed at Seo Da-yoon.

A malicious threat that promised to thoroughly torment not just her, but those around her as well.

It was a clear case of assault, yet no one reported it. No, they couldn’t report it.

The opponent was the heir of the Emergency Guild. In this world, the highest power is, without a doubt, a hero. The Emergency Guild could be considered the pinnacle of that power. To fight against Song Seok-hwan was akin to striking a rock with an egg.

“Ugh, sob…”

After Song Seok-hwan left the classroom, Seo Da-yoon quietly wept. There was no one to comfort her. No one had the courage to stand up to Song Seok-hwan.

One by one, the combat magic students slipped away, leaving Seo Da-yoon alone in the classroom.

The sound of her lonely sobs seemed to echo even louder.

After a moment, a janitor, who had been there for who knows how long, quietly entered the classroom.

“Um, student. Is something wrong?”

“Just… just something bad happened.”

Before the janitor could speak again, Seo Da-yoon quickly gathered her things and left. A wave of sorrow and shame washed over her.

She hurried into the restroom and burst into tears in a corner stall.

She just kept crying.

* * *

“…It seems this is how things have turned out.”

“Really? Good work.”

Ahn Se-ri sighed after receiving the report from her subordinate.

There had been a strange chill since Seo Da-yoon started avoiding her, despite their smooth friendship. So, she had her subordinate investigate, only to uncover unimaginable events.

Why had things turned out this way when she had only wanted to build a friendship with a talented girl?

“I knew that guy was crazy, but to act like this within the academy? At this rate, even the guild master himself could come and deal with him.”

“Miss, it’s dangerous.”

Yes, if he intended to attack, he could indeed be dealt with.

However, the problem was that retaliation would be even harsher. There was nothing to gain, but far too much to lose in this fight.

If it became known that Ahn Se-ri had intervened, the relationship between the Emergency Guild and Geum-ok could be irreparably damaged. If that happened, Geum-ok would abandon Ahn Se-ri. The heir of Geum-ok was Ahn Se-hyun, after all.

“…Do you really think that would happen? I was just saying it.”

The reason that thunderous fool was acting out was obvious. He was angry because Ahn Se-ri had praised Seo Da-yoon at the entrance ceremony.

Then he must know that Seo Da-yoon had Ahn Se-ri backing her, yet he dared to act this way? It was unforgivable. This was clearly a challenge to Ahn Se-ri.

“Still, I have no intention of letting this go.”

“Miss, I understand that you’re upset because your friend was treated that way, but…”

“Who’s my friend! I’ve never cared about someone like that. They’re just a pawn. But touching my horse is an act of disrespect towards me.”

One of the subordinates whispered softly, “You’re not being honest,” but that wasn’t true at all. She wasn’t a leader soft enough to develop feelings for a pawn.

“Is there any way we can move those who got beaten without that b*stard knowing we were involved?”

“They won’t do it out of fear of retaliation. If we actively protect them, it’ll leave a trace.”

“Annoying.”

Was there no pawn to move?

One that obeyed well, had skills, and wouldn’t reveal any ties to this side…

There was one.

“Right. You were the one who introduced them to me.”

“Excuse me?”

“Yeah, this is good. There must be something going on for them to ask me to make them attend their class, right? Hehe…”

In any case, she didn’t like that person either.

Pitting the two against each other and having one of them die wouldn’t be a bad idea. Just imagining it thrilled her.

“Using barbarians to control barbarians. Let’s see who wins.”

She still hadn’t received the price for babbling about Ahn Se-hyun in front of her. If she could boost her pride, she’d be willing to forgive a debt.

If Cha Eun-woo could defeat Ahn Se-ri, there was no way he would easily fall to that thunderous fool.

“I’ll be looking forward to it. But… it won’t be an easy opponent, I’m sure?”

* * *

Generally, the first week is a period for adjusting course registrations, so attendance isn’t counted. Therefore, it wasn’t unusual for students to miss classes during the first week.

However, Florian was special.

As the top educational institution in Korea, everyone attended from the very first week.

They called the roll, pretending to memorize the students’ names and faces, but it was a meaningless act. Many of them were already familiar figures.

When playing a game, high-ranking NPCs naturally become recognizable. This meant that quite a few of the new students were noteworthy.

Especially Song Seok-hwan and Baek Seol-hwa. Their appearances were unexpected.

A strategy guide I had written in the past came to mind.

─ Don’t pick Song Seok-hwan. That’s a trap card.

The top scorer of the entrance exam was definitely Park Seo-hu. But was Park Seo-hu the best character at the start? That wasn’t the case either.

Park Seo-hu’s talent was in swordsmanship. It goes without saying that his main weapon was a sword.

To put it simply, swords are not friendly weapons. Engaging in close combat with enemies requires precise control from the player. Beginners, lured by the claim that Park Seo-hu was the strongest, often ended up cursing after trying it out for themselves.

—

But what about magic? Just keep your distance and shoot away. In short, the difficulty was incredibly easy.

Song Seok-hwan was the second-best student in the entrance exam, a skilled player right after Park Seo-hu.

Moreover, he had the backing of the Emergency Guild, something Park Seo-hu lacked. For that reason, in the early stages, Song Seok-hwan was a better character than Park Seo-hu.

─Academy Song Seok-hwan? Of course, he’s a cheat. But that’s all he is.

Ordinary talent, magic potential of 95, and all other potential abilities below 90.

Of course, he shouldn’t be underestimated. With those stats, he could stand shoulder to shoulder with heroes ranked in Korea, like the Chancellor or Jo Seong-woong.

But that was all. For a so-called final growth of a playable character, being no better than a named NPC was practically garbage.

─To see the ending with that? It’s infuriating. Final boss battle with Song Seok-hwan? No way he could win. If he wanted a fighting chance, he’d have to bring along Park Seo-hu and Seo Da-yoon as allies.

For that reason, even I saw the ending with Song Seok-hwan almost at the very end.

The characteristic of Florian Rhapsody was that the early difficulty was relatively easy, making it good for growing a character like him, but as the game progressed, the difficulty increased, rendering characters with an expiration date utterly useless.

Next was Baek Seol-hwa.

Ranked third in the entrance exam, she was a skilled player right after Park Seo-hu and Song Seok-hwan. I found it remarkable that the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th ranked freshmen were attending my class.

Baek Seol-hwa’s typical descriptor was a lower-tier version of Park Seo-hu. She wielded a sword like him and had a well-balanced overall build. As a side note, her name also shared the same initials, ‘ㅂㅅㅎ.’

In summary, she was a character that could contribute more than one serving, like a hearty bowl of soup. Unlike the time-limited Song Seok-hwan, Baek Seol-hwa continued to play her role even in the later stages.

If the conditions allowed, she was definitely worth having on my side.

After calling the roll, I declared to the students.

“Talking too long on the first day would be boring for everyone. I promise to wrap this up in 30 minutes.”

No sooner had I finished speaking than a small cheer erupted. Ending early was the orientation manner. I didn’t want to act like some of the rude professors.

“Some of you may have read the syllabus, while others may not. I’ll explain briefly. Your goal is to become heroes after graduation, right? To achieve that, dungeon exploration is essential. The purpose of this class is to assist you in your future. It’s about tackling dungeons more comfortably and intelligently.”

The students showed various reactions. Some listened intently, some half-heartedly, others stubbornly stared at their phones no matter what I said, and a few were even sprawled out asleep.

At least there were no loudmouths, which was a relief.

Only now do I apologize to the professors I met before. I often read web novels on my smartphone during lectures, but experiencing it firsthand felt like a terrible thing to do.

“You will tackle a total of five dungeons. Starting next week, for a total of 15 weeks, you will spend three weeks on each dungeon learning how to conquer them. How much you can apply what you learn will depend on your efforts.”

Fortunately, the overall response was not bad.

Those who weren’t paying attention continued as before, but most focused on my words. I also managed to proceed smoothly without any mistakes.

Contrary to my initial worries, the short orientation time flew by in an instant.

“Any questions?”

Though I said this, it was merely a formal closing remark. It was natural that there would be no questions since I had explained everything without leaving anything out.

Just as I was about to conclude the lecture, Song Seok-hwan raised his hand eagerly.

What the hell? What does he want to ask? One eyebrow involuntarily arched up. Inside, I was quite flustered, but I pretended to be calm on the outside.

—

“Seok-hwan, what are you curious about?”

“Ah—it’s not me who needs to ask questions. Our genius here has something to inquire about.”

Song Seok-hwan spoke with a sardonic smile. Genius? What nonsense is that? My instincts rang alarm bells. I was caught up in something troublesome.

The person Seok-hwan pointed to with a nod was Seo Da-yoon.

“Hey, you said you had a question earlier.”

I couldn’t see Seok-hwan’s expression because he was turning away, but I could guess. Seo Da-yoon trembled, as if terrified, when her eyes met Seok-hwan’s.

The lackeys from the Combat Magic Department who had come with Seok-hwan snickered quietly. They had been watching her since she had lost focus on the lecture.

“Why are you silent? Hurry up and ask your question.”

His tone was flat, but the atmosphere was anything but ordinary. I had a rough idea of what was happening.

I discreetly shot a glance at An Se-ri.

If my assumption was correct, she nodded slightly.

An Se-ri wore a mask of nonchalance, but she couldn’t completely hide her emotions. I could hear the faint sound of her legs shaking under the desk. That was a habit of hers that surfaced whenever she felt anxious.

“Enough.”

Fine.

Kids can grow up fighting among themselves. But this wasn’t a fight. It was one-sided bullying.

“Song Seok-hwan, stand up.”

Seok-hwan chuckled softly. His relaxed demeanor seemed to ask who would dare to touch him.

Indeed.

In the academy, no, in all of South Korea, who would dare to touch the Prince of Ascendance? At least, it wasn’t something a mere professor would do. That’s why he acted so recklessly.

“Why? I’m not the one with questions. Hey, genius, stand up.”

As Seok-hwan began to mock, his lackeys snickered even more. With each laugh, Seo Da-yoon’s head dropped lower, and the atmosphere in the classroom grew unbearably cold.

The students from the Combat Magic Department, along with the others excluding An Se-ri, began to murmur quietly.

─What’s going on?

─I don’t know. Are they fighting?

─It’s not a fight; it’s bullying.

─How childish to come to the academy and do this…

─Shh! That’s Song Seok-hwan. Shut up and look away.

I could hear Seo Da-yoon’s soft sobs.

It was the kind of bullying or ostracism that was common if not trivial.

I was neither a hero of justice nor a teacher with affection for the children. That’s just how it was. I had never once wished to be a professor or a teacher. I was merely a powerless citizen, concerned only for my own safety.

—

So, I couldn’t just stand by.

“I told you to get up, Song Seok-hwan.”

It was a simple weighing of options.

Seo Da-yoon was a talent destined to become the strongest in the world, while Song Seok-hwan was a mediocre talent who would grow ambiguously. It was obvious who I should take as my ally.

Talent, charisma──.

The mana heart within me began to stir.

Only then did Song Seok-hwan’s previously carefree expression harden. The other lackeys, sensing danger, let out short whimpers.

“You’re going to need personal guidance. Everyone else, get out.”

No sooner had the words left my mouth than the students scrambled to gather their things and rushed out of the classroom. Perhaps they were intimidated by the pressure radiating from talent. I felt a little sorry for them.

Inside the classroom, only Song Seok-hwan, Ahn Se-ri, and I remained.

“Se-ri, I told you to leave, didn’t I?”

I understood why Song Seok-hwan had signed up for my class. He probably hadn’t been aware of what Seo Da-yoon was taking from the start.

The information likely came from Ahn Se-ri. After grasping what was happening in the Combat Magic department, she must have aimed to draw me in. It was too risky for her to confront Song Seok-hwan directly, so using me to protect Seo Da-yoon was her best option.

Then, being here was a foolish move.

“Why would you go through the trouble of cutting off your tail only to reattach it?”

If Ahn Se-ri stayed here, it would mean acknowledging her connection to me. That would make her an enemy of Song Seok-hwan.

Ahn Se-ri spoke nonchalantly, as if it were nothing.

“I just… feel stifled, like I’m stuck somewhere. I need some relief.”

“Tsk, don’t blame me.”

“Excuse me, Professor. What is this all about?”

Song Seok-hwan shrugged, as if in disbelief.

This must be the first time he’s experienced something like this, having always done as he pleased.

Having grown up like that, it was no wonder he turned out this way.

Could an ideal educator reform even someone like him through education? Of course, it had nothing to do with me. I wasn’t an educator.

So what?

Even if I’m not an educator, I can still teach a lesson.

You need a bit of discipline. Usually, a single session of physical therapy would do the trick.

* * *

“I told you to get up, Song Seok-hwan.”

When Cha Eun-woo growled lowly, the atmosphere shifted dramatically.

—

An Se-ri had heard such stories before. It was often said that the strong unconsciously radiate mana, overwhelming those beneath their level.

Though An Se-ri had met various heroes affiliated with the Golden Jade, she had never felt such a sensation. After all, there would be no fool who would recklessly reveal it in front of the guild leader’s daughter.

Facing the unrestrained power of the Master head-on, she felt a suffocating pressure.

‘It’s similar to the pressure I felt when my father was furious… no, it’s even more than that.’

If she felt this way, what about the others? As An Se-ri looked around, everyone was trembling. Especially Seo Da-yoon, who could barely breathe.

“Hey, pull yourself together. The professor will handle everything somehow.”

After An Se-ri tightly embraced Seo Da-yoon and whispered that it was okay, the trembling finally ceased. She was such a bothersome child, anyway.

“Um, um… I…”

“Stop. It’s all that madman’s fault.”

She wanted to comfort her more, but there was no time for that. Cha Eun-woo had issued an expulsion order to all the students.

After passing Seo Da-yoon off to her subordinate outside, An Se-ri remained in the classroom.

“Se-ri, I told you to leave, didn’t I?”

In the midst of it all, she heard Cha Eun-woo’s concern. Why? She thought he would be angry upon realizing he had been used, but his reaction was unexpected.

Now that she thought about it, why was she still here? She had no loyalty to become Cha Eun-woo’s accomplice. Her mouth spoke words she hadn’t even consciously thought.

“I just… feel stifled, like something is blocked. I need some soda.”

I don’t know anymore. Whatever will be, will be.

The thunderous child, Song Seok-hwan, looked utterly confused.

“Excuse me, professor. What are you trying to do?”

Indeed, what was that man trying to do?

An Se-ri only intended to inform them of what was happening to Seo Da-yoon today. After that, she had planned to slowly set a trap and kill him, but she hadn’t expected Cha Eun-woo to act this way.

She had thought he was a strategist who meticulously designed schemes and traps, yet he had an unexpectedly emotional side…

“What you’ve been deprived of. This is proper education.”

Cha Eun-woo unfastened his wristwatch and placed it on the lectern, then tightened his tie.

Seeing this, Song Seok-hwan burst into laughter.

“Ha ha! What are you, a teacher from an old movie? Are you going to hit me? It won’t go as you wish!”

Song Seok-hwan boldly pulled a small wand from his bag. Compared to a proper staff, it had fewer memorized spells, but it was enough to unleash a lethal spell.

The fire bolt began to unfold. A massive fireball, more than capable of engulfing a person, started to shimmer.

That madman, is he really trying to use magic on a person?

“Don’t!”

—

Just before An Se-ri could intervene, Cha Eun-woo was faster.

Bang—!

“Gahhh!”

As he grabbed his arm, Song Seok-hwan screamed. No, he grabbed the place where his arm used to be.

In an instant, the magic had severed Song Seok-hwan’s arm.

“How… how…!”