Ch.184It Was Your Work All Along! – 2

“Here they come. The key figures behind the new joint academy.”

As soon as I saw Soohyun and Rina, I brought up what those two wanted to talk about first.

“When?”

“Huh?”

“What?”

Why are you both pretending not to know? You both want something, that’s why you’re here.

And I can pretty much guess what that something is.

‘It’s so obvious.’

Until recently, both Soohyun and Rina kept mentioning it whenever they had the chance.

They say sexual desire is equally strong in both men and women, and I guess that’s not wrong.

Actually, I’m a little grateful. I’d be too embarrassed to suggest it first.

“I’m asking when you want to do it.”

I omitted the subject since both women would have the same request anyway.

I thought both women would catch on and speak up right away.

But what I got in return were two pairs of blinking eyes that seemed completely clueless.

…What? Why is everyone reacting like this? I hope I’m not the only one making a fool of myself here?

“Um… Sole Arbiter, I wasn’t talking about ‘that.’ I was hoping we could make our sparring sessions more intense.”

“…”

Oh shit. I was right. I was the only one making a fool of myself.

Still clinging to a glimmer of hope, I turned to Rina.

She was the one who had been more demanding, wasn’t she? Yes, if it’s Rina…

“What? It’s not me either. I just want to try being a temporary instructor at the Academy.”

This can’t be happening. Rina, you’re betraying me too? And does this even make sense?

Weren’t you two the ones asking when we’d do it again just recently?

I was seriously considering a second round, but now what am I supposed to do?!

“Ugh! What were you imagining, oppa? Do it once and you turn into a beast!”

Beast?! That’s unfair! Both times, you two were the ones who came onto me!

I’ve just gotten used to it, and now you two are conspiring against me—that’s cheating!

“Well, if our Seojin oppa really wants it, I could change my mind.”

Rina says this while poking my chest with her finger.

Oh ho. So you’re saying you can’t bring yourself to say it, but if I ask first, you’ll agree?

Forget it. I don’t want to either. I might give in to others, but I won’t be dragged along by you, you little…

“I understand Soohyun, but Rina, are you serious?”

“Yes, I’m serious. Why? Is there a problem with the instructor position?”

Of course there’s a problem. Not just one, but several.

“You hate working.”

S-rank abilities come with many responsibilities.

It’s not just in Korea. It’s the same worldwide.

Especially after the Great Cataclysm, there’s even more work thanks to A-rank support.

Yet Rina still has more days off than any other S-rank.

Things got so bad that the Association President went to Rina’s parents asking them to persuade her.

When that didn’t work, he eventually came to me asking me to make her work with me.

Her strong-willed nature is one problem, but her work-avoiding personality is another.

And now Rina suddenly demands an Academy instructor position?

I’m worried she’ll just say she’ll do it but then be absent when she’s actually needed.

“Knowing that full well, you want me to recommend you to the Dean?”

“Ah! Don’t worry. I’ll really work hard this time.”

“How can I believe that?”

“I promise on my mother’s name. Good enough?!”

Why does your mother’s name keep getting dragged into this?

The good thing is that she’s never broken a promise made on her parents’ names.

“…Alright. I’ll believe you and talk to the Dean. And—”

As for Soohyun, she wants our sparring to be rougher.

Honestly, it’s not a difficult request. I could make our sparring sessions more like my real combat experiences.

If I change the atmosphere of my sparring with Soohyun that way, it should be possible.

However, doing so could put Soohyun in considerable danger.

My real combat experience involves S-rank monsters or monsters like the Elder.

If I move my body thinking about those battles, it could be disastrous.

Like Hyuk Kwak’s spear techniques or Sujin Hyun’s shadow manipulation.

I’m not sure if the current Soohyun could withstand those.

While injuries can eventually be healed in today’s reality as long as you don’t die…

I’m uncomfortable hurting a woman I’m only going to get closer to from now on.

What about Rina? She’s not in a class that could get hurt by me, so she gets a pass.

“Are you sure about this, Soohyun? It definitely won’t be as easy as…”

“I know it won’t be easy. Of course I know. You’re an S-rank, Sole Arbiter. The same S-rank as Rina Lee here.”

“Ahem. This might sound awkward, but I’m actually stronger than oppa—”

“You don’t think I’d make such a request hoping you’d go easy on me, do you?”

She smoothly ignores Rina’s words and continues with what she wants to say.

Rina fumes because of this, but it’s not important, so I’ll ignore it too.

“Alright. Then let’s have tomorrow’s sparring session after the Academy ends, at a completely different location.”

“Huh? You’re not trying to sneak off somewhere else, are you?”

“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t project your own standards onto others, Ms. Rina Lee.”

“This is ridiculous!”

Soohyun’s right about that. I’m not planning to sneak off anywhere, so just stay put.

“Anyway… thank you both. I didn’t expect you to step up like this.”

“What are you saying? You might be amazing, oppa, but we’re no pushovers either. We can do this kind of thing easily if we put our minds to it. Oh, to be precise, Soohyun just used Chairman Kang’s connections, so she didn’t actually do anything herself.”

Rina, you’re going to get a counterattack from Soohyun if you keep that up.

And then don’t come sulking to me asking me to scold her.

“That’s true. I admit it.”

But Soohyun remained calm instead of getting angry.

As a result, Rina, who had tried to provoke her, made an “Eh?” face, as if thinking, “This isn’t right!”

“That’s why I want to get stronger quickly. I want to help the Sole Arbiter with my own strength, not my grandfather’s. I’m really desperate right now.”

“The Chairman would be proud to hear that.”

It might hurt to hear that her help is no longer needed.

But if it’s Minseong Kang, the man I know, he would ultimately applaud Soohyun’s determination.

Saying she’s truly his granddaughter. A heroine worthy of the Kang family bloodline.

“As for you, Rina, I’ll talk to the Dean, but don’t get your hopes up.”

“I told you I’ll work hard! The Chairman will know that I even mentioned my parents.”

“That’s not it. If you take on instructor duties, you’ll have even less time. You already have other work, and if you do this too, won’t the Association object?”

Of course they’ll object. They’re losing valuable time from their excellent worker.

If this goes wrong, I might have to persuade not just Hakjun Ma but the Association President too.

I briefly considered telling Rina to go raise hell at the Association, but…

I soon shook my head and decided against it.

‘I have to look after Rina’s image if no one else will.’

Rina’s request was for a temporary instructor position at the Academy.

I immediately went to see Hakjun Ma to discuss it.

Of course, the expected answer would be a rejection—

“That’s fine.”

“I thought you’d say… What?”

“I said it’s fine.”

Not a rejection? What? This is unexpected.

“From your expression, I see my answer was unexpected.”

“…To be honest, yes, it was.”

“Rina’s skills are certainly not in question. It’s her personality that’s the problem.”

It sounds even stranger when someone who knows her well gives permission so readily.

Looking at Hakjun Ma steadily, he smiled and continued.

“Normally, I would have refused too. But regarding the establishment of this joint academy, S-ranks from other countries have made a request.”

“What request?”

“They want Rina to come to the joint academy in some capacity to share her skills with their juniors and train them a little.”

“…Can I interpret that as them wanting her to take them on as disciples?”

Hakjun Ma nodded immediately in response to my question.

“As you know, while Rina’s personality may be questionable, her skills are undeniable. Many have asked her to teach juniors—how much magical power to use, how strongly to throw a punch, how quickly to swing a sword—but she’s refused them all, saying it’s too much trouble.”

“In other words, they want to learn something from this opportunity.”

“Exactly.”

I understand that much. But what does that have to do with approving the instructor role? Ah.

“So you want to have her do a trial run here.”

“That’s right. To tame her personality a bit and see if she has any talent for teaching students.”

Both of those possibilities are close to zero.

Taming her personality? Rina having talent for teaching kids?

I suppose beating kids into listening could be considered a talent…

“But tell her there’s a condition.”

“A condition?”

The condition that Hakjun Ma wanted me to relay to Rina was this:

She would have to continue her S-rank duties while also working as an instructor.

She couldn’t ask the Association to reduce her workload because of her teaching duties.

“If she can keep that promise, I’ll allow her to be an instructor. As a bonus, I can cover for her if she causes a bit of trouble.”

That sounds easy, but I’m worried if Rina, who hates work, will agree.

She already has quite a lot of Association work, and adding instructor duties would mean no days off.

“Go tell her exactly that. If she keeps that condition, I’ll hire her as an instructor right away.”

“I’ll relay the message, but I’m sure she’ll complain.”

“Then she doesn’t have to do it. The choice is hers, so there’s no problem.”

I’m really curious about how she’ll react.

“Okay. Call. Give me the instructor position.”

“…?”

What? She’s agreeing so easily? Has our Rina eaten something strange?

You realize you’re diving into a work hell with no days off, right?

“Hmm.”

Rina immediately went to the Dean’s office to ask for the instructor position after hearing my message.

Hakjun Ma, who had been glancing at Rina, now turned his gaze to me.

Then, with a slight smile, he said—

“The power of love is truly remarkable.”