Chapter 23
23 – Those Who Outshine Me.
Swoosh,
Flames flicker around my body.
Within the ring formed around my heart.
It quietly exudes a presence.
Hyukjak Yeomhwa, the Scorching Flame.
This power is different from other powers.
Wolgong Bingcheon.
It’s the power that annihilates the opponent.
A magic that restrains the opponent, vividly making them feel the agony of their body freezing.
It, unlike other magic, possessed dreadful destructive force and excruciating pain.
The Bingcheon in the original Wolgong was like that.
The Bingcheon I created wasn’t much different.
Regardless, Wolgong Bingcheon was known for its dreadful destructive force and the excruciating pain it inflicted on the opponent.
“It’s become stronger because it embraced these flames.”
The world tree of flames.
Or rather, inspired by what’s known as the world tree of healing.
It was a time when I had just started learning magic.
I saw it in the elven village where my elven mentor, who was a Annihilation Master, guided me.
The moment I saw the World Tree, inspiration struck me like lightning.
With that inspiration, I created a new magic ritual called “Hyeokjak Yeomhwa.”
Since then, I was able to learn the “Ice of the Moon” as well.
Anyway, Hyeokjak Yeomhwa is different from other magics.
This magic holds the power of healing.
And the power of harmony as well.
It’s a fire magic.
That’s why I was able to combine it with the Ice of the Moon.
“I should have learned it first, originally.”
But I learned the Ice of the Moon first.
Because Hyeokjak Yeomhwa is not an offensive magic.
If I had learned Hyeokjak Yeomhwa, I wouldn’t have been able to easily kill Nokgwi or Heuksa.
I might have chosen to flee in the fight against Abel.
And I might not have been so confident in the fight against the evil spirits.
“Hoo-oo-oo.”
I breathe.
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Pure energy closest to Taeho.
It clings to my heart, igniting the flames.
I inscribe the spell in a circle.
I do not use the circle ritual that others use.
If others’ use of circles involves continually expanding rings from one link,
My circle forms one single circle.
That is my circle.
As if creating an altar for myself.
I formed a massive circle within my heart.
“Understanding comes.”
Why did the Seven-Colored Tower desire only my research results?
They and I had different perspectives.
Their aim was to transcend through magic.
There existed an Eighth Circle, but nothing beyond it.
The Nine Circles, passed down as legend.
That was their goal.
However, with one circle, I demonstrated an equivalent sovereignty.
Perhaps when I killed the Dragon King, I reached the Ninth Circle.
So, from their perspective, I might have seemed like the correct answer.
And I also believe.
That I am closest to the right answer.
“Phew.”
Flames flickered in my breath.
Evidence that magical symbols were being engraved into the circle.
When the revolutionary painting was completed, the more it was finished,
Wol Gong Bing Cheon began to react as if he had found his other half.
And before long.
“I’ve completed it.”
The revolutionary painting nestled in the circle.
*
I hold the position of a professor.
At the academy, the position of a professor is higher than that in an actual university.
Like an elementary school teacher, handling each class.
It’s forbidden to torment students without reason.
However, according to the principal’s words, if it’s for training, it’s permissible to discipline them as much as you want.
The students want that too.
So, even if I were granted the right to handle students as I please, it wouldn’t apply to them.
“But they’re different.”
I scanned my surroundings.
Those who, like me, bear the title of ‘professor’ are abundant here.
“Are you the new professor over there?”
A gentle voice.
As I turned my head, there was a woman with pink hair, a white shirt, and an H-shaped skirt.
She seemed somewhat embarrassed.
“Who is it?”
“Ah, I’m Huh Yeh-ji, a martial arts instructor.”
“Han Seo-jin.”
“Ah, Mr. Han Seo-jin.”
Huh Yeh-ji smiled brightly at me.
I sat in my place, whether I liked it or not.
I felt the gazes around me.
Eyes that seemed impure.
And eyes filled with vigilance and jealousy.
“How amusing.”
Well, I didn’t expect a warm welcome.
Because I am just a rolling stone.
I must have seemed strange to the professors, coming in as a student right after applying to be one.
Or maybe some might think I got lucky with the magic test I showed.
“Do you know what we’re doing here today?”
“I heard it’s a meeting.”
“That’s right. We’re having a meeting. It’s led by the headmaster, and the instructors and professors follow suit.”
“But I’ve been wondering, what’s the difference between an instructor and a professor?”
“hahahaha, it’s a bit tedious, but basically, those who teach martial arts are called instructors, and those who teach magic are called professors.”
Truly tedious.
It was a more absurd reason than I had thought.
“Does Miss Hyeji not have a backbone?”
“…Excuse me?”
“No, suddenly becoming a professor and being so polite to someone spewing informal speech.”
A man who looked like a professor said with a malicious intent.
‘Look at these people.’
Are they trying to pick a fight?
*Sigh.*
I leisurely yawned and sat on the chair prepared in the meeting room.
They’re not worth bothering about anyway.
‘They don’t even deserve a sense of shame.’
The nature of strength and teaching is a bit different.
However, when it comes to a sense of shame, the story changes quite a bit.
‘Even if you can’t teach, authority comes with it.’
And when it comes to a sense of shame, one can become a presence that etches oneself into the world.
Just saying that such a presence teaches makes that teaching valuable.
‘Not without flaws, though.’
Establishing one’s own standards too distinctly.
When those with a sense of shame start teaching, it becomes a problem.
However, it’s better than what the middle school teaches.
“What are you thinking?”
“Feeling bad? It’s a bit uncomfortable for someone to come to my side without a hint and startle me.”
“Heh. Looks like I made a mistake~ Sorry, sorry.”
Despite my grumbling, the girl was smiling brightly.
Only then did the people around us rise with astonished expressions.
“Welcome, Headmaster!”
“Yeah, yeah. Hello, everyone.”
Without any warning, a girl appeared in the center of the conference room.
“…Please, come in, Headmaster.”
The top seat.
The professor sitting next to it politely greeted the Headmaster.
“Hmm, everyone seems full of energy today as well.”
Suddenly, the Headmaster’s gaze turned to me.
With sparkling eyes, he looked at me.
“You’ve grown up again.”
“I’m just a little smarter.”
I shrugged my shoulders.
Testing me was the first thing he did as soon as he arrived, and pretending to hide it was quite disgusting.
“Feel free to speak up about anything. Oh, and if our secretary has any opinions, feel free to share~.”
Our Seojini, what is she thinking?
“Well, she exists, but…”
Now is not the time for me to show off.
Because I haven’t proven myself yet.
To bring something, you need strong achievements.
“It’s one way to yield through strength, but…”
All the professors here can yield.
But that’s too ignorant of an approach.
Deep in my heart, I had to imprint the existence of me.
“At least one person.”
I need someone to prove a sudden surge in strength.
So Yoo Eunchae was the most suitable.
“Maybe he’ll become that guy called Wigoonak.”
Or someone like Nam Hye-rin.
As for Sun Yoo-hyun, he’s inherently strong, so even if I raise him, he’s the kind of guy who blames it on Sun Woo-hyun.
“Well then, what topic shall we discuss in the meeting this week?”
“Before that, there’s a topic I want to talk about.”
The professor who had just argued with Heo Ye-ji raised his hand.
“Hmm, fine. What’s the topic Professor Gazelle wants to discuss?”
“There’s a professor diverting students.”
“Wow.”
I was genuinely impressed.
Taking away the students? What did I do wrong?
Probably just because she can’t teach properly.
Professor Gazelle shot me a glare at my reaction.
“What’s with that reaction?”
“Well, your behavior is so childish for a professor~. Headmaster, I’m not good at teaching, but there’s a professor who teaches so well~ What should I do~ How embarrassing, right?”
“Tsk.”
Huh Yeji covered her mouth with her hand, desperately holding back a laugh.
“You, you… “
Professor Gazelle glared at me as if she could kill me.
But what can she do with her skills?
She seemed infuriated as she smirked.
To think a professor would display such emotions.
“…So, I oppose someone so shallow sitting in the position of a professor.”
Tch.
This time, I laughed for real.
A foolish person who believes that authority comes from making the other party uneasy.
I looked at the principal.
The principal still wore a pure smile.
“Well, you could think that way.”
When the principal said that, Professor Gazelle’s face brightened.
“Gazelle, did you happen to see our Seo Ji-ni’s class yesterday?”
“…I was busy yesterday and couldn’t see it.”
“Is that so? Too bad. If you had seen the class yesterday, your opinion might have been different.”
The principal gestured into the air.
Out came a stamp and a single document.
“The title of ‘professor’ doesn’t suit Han Seo-jin.”
“…!”
As the principal echoed his opinion, the professor’s eyes brightened.
The principal spoke with a cheerful smile.
“Rather than the title of professor, Senior Professor suits better. If Han Seo-jin asks for help, everyone will assist willingly.”
With a firm stamp, he stamped the document.
“Why would that guy…?”
He muttered in a futile voice.
*
“But what’s a Senior Professor?”
“A Senior Professor has the authority to command other professors.”
“Ah, is that so?”
There didn’t seem to be anyone immediately helpful around.
Han Seojin looked at Heo Yeji.
“At least she seems better than the others.”
Martial arts instructor, Heo Yeji.
She looks somewhat capable.
However, there’s a sense of familiarity from somewhere.
Who was it?
“Thunder, was it?”
When dealing with Nokgwi and Heuksa, the one who appeared like lightning crossed his mind.
It seemed to be a sibling relationship, maybe.
“Well, if there’s something to do later, I’ll call you or something.”
“Are you calling me?”
“There doesn’t seem to be anyone else around who looks useful.”
Saying that, Han Seojin walked away briskly.
“You’re really someone who does whatever you want.”
A female colleague professor approached Heo Yeji.
“But why does Yeji treat you so well, dealing with you so confidently? Is Yeji perhaps fond of you?”
“No, that’s not it.”
“But why then?”
“I don’t know, really.”
“You don’t know?”
Her colleague professor was perplexed by Heo Yeji’s response.
“It’s just that it feels very familiar. It’s like when the principal calls us by our first names, we don’t say anything, right?”
“No, but why compare it to the principal.”
Heo Yeji just smiled at her colleague’s words.
She didn’t know why she was compared to the principal.
But her intuition was not ordinary.
“Even my sister praised it.”
Gwangnoi, Heo Yoonji.
A famous hero affiliated with the association.
Such a sister praised her intuition as special.
He trusted Heo Yeji’s intuition more than Gwangnoi’s.
So Heo Yeji believed in her intuition.
And that intuition.
“Never be hostile.”
She was shouting like that.
Meanwhile, behind them, Professor Gazelle was watching Heo Yeji with a grim look.
“Hmm.”
Everyone fell for his damn scheme.
—
**As Expected, This Is Why Women Can’t Be Trusted.**
They say my face showed a bit of hesitation, and they go on to condone that damned behavior.
“Not attending the first class, is that the reason?”
Classes, as if I don’t teach far better myself.
Students are entities to be enlightened.
I am the one guiding such students.
That’s why.
“A little early, but shall we start?”
I can only hope the students’ eyes will truly open.
If not, it’s just death.
Professor Gazelle smiled.
Brighter than anyone else.
*
A class must face crises.
But even if the class becomes a crisis, it should never threaten lives.
That’s the principle I uphold while teaching someone.
“This class will be about dungeon exploration.”
“Dungeon exploration?”
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No, to think a dungeon in an ordinary class…
“Well, unique environments do open new perspectives.”
—
However, is there a need to train in the dungeon?
New experiences are good.
But new variables should always be approached with caution.
That’s why I don’t particularly enjoy dungeon exploration.
Why?
“Because it’s an uncontrollable variable.”
I don’t know what danger that variable might bring back.
“But.”
Do these guys have a trick up their sleeves more than I do?
Still, it’s an academy event, so they must have prepared to some extent.
Just in case, I’ve prepared something too, so it should be fine.
*
“Attack, it’s an attack!”
I knew it would come to this, damn it.