Ch.44Episode 9. Parent-Teacher Conference (4)

“Yeon Muhui. So you were here.”

The black-haired man approaches Yeon Muhui with a leisurely gait.

There’s an intimidating presence in his steps. Even in the simple act of walking, one can feel a chilling pressure that raises goosebumps.

He flutters his gray and black martial arts uniform. On the back, the Chinese character ‘延’ is emblazoned. It was Yeon (延), his family name.

“You’re training quite diligently in such a shabby facility.”

The cold hostility seeping through his red eyes, identical to Yeon Muhui’s, dominated the atmosphere of the training hall. Stopping at a certain distance, he lifts his chin and looks down at Yeon Muhui.

“…And why have you come to this ‘shabby facility’?”

“‘You’? That’s not how you should address your father, is it? Are you going through delayed puberty?”

Yeon Muhui grits her teeth at his dry tone.

Her face, usually devoid of emotion, now contorts as if filled with ten thousand different feelings.

“Why are you here?”

“I see you’ve lost your manners after all this time. Ask politely with honorifics.”

“What?”

“I don’t mind if you want to be educated in such an embarrassing way in front of all these people.”

The sword she’s gripping trembles. She was tasting humiliation from Yeon Hwaryong.

“Right. Don’t try to maintain your petty pride. You can’t escape my grasp anyway.”

“What…?”

Yeon Hwaryong spoke calmly with his arms crossed.

Though he seemed unbothered, each word was a massive insult to Yeon Muhui who was listening.

“What? Are you going to manipulate me like you did with Mom?”

“…Your mother developed an unnecessary stubbornness after giving birth to you. I tried to dissuade her many times and warned her. She was the one who ignored me.”

“That woman…? You piece of trash…! Don’t call Mom that!”

As Yeon Muhui was about to lose her reason and charge at him, I stepped between them. Seeing me, she hesitates and barely regains her composure.

“…Calm down.”

“Instructor.”

“…Who are you? Why are you interrupting when I’m talking to my daughter?”

The father and daughter’s gazes turned to me.

“I was surprised by your sudden visit, Mr. Yeon Hwaryong.”

I tried to lighten the mood with a smooth response.

However, his brow furrowed, seemingly displeased with my intervention.

“I asked who you are. I don’t like repeating myself.”

As I’ve felt since reading the novel, he’s really a difficult person to get close to.

As an S-rank hero who has never lost a battle against villains, many people respect and follow him. Not a few hero aspirants consider him their role model.

But that admiration is only possible because they don’t know him well.

Certainly, he carries responsibilities commensurate with the rights he enjoys.

He never neglects his duties as a hero.

But that’s only as a hero.

Dig into his private life, and there’s no shortage of malice coming from him.

“I’m Yujin, the instructor in charge of the special class I contacted you about before.”

“…Ah, so you’re that guy.”

That was his only comment. I can sense displeasure in his eyes as he glances at me.

“I understand. Now step aside. This is a family conversation. There’s no place for a third party.”

“I understand you have a lot to say, but I’m concerned Muhui might not be able to think rationally. Would it be alright if I joined the conversation?”

I spoke as respectfully as possible.

I know the easiest way to deal with him is to overwhelm him with superior force. However, I couldn’t forget that he was a parent.

After all, I’m one of the educators at the academy.

“Didn’t I tell you not to interfere?”

As he glares, the air seems to come alive, trembling. Air itself shaking with killing intent? That’s quite impressive.

But that was all.

To assert my rights against him, I couldn’t be intimidated. Even if it led to a fight, I had to say what needed to be said.

“…So—”

“Instructor. I’m fine.”

Yeon Muhui pulls my arm and speaks.

Her face is as indifferent as usual. Thankfully, she doesn’t look like she’s about to lunge at her father.

“So… why did you come?”

She steps in front of me and asks.

“I came to see my daughter who enrolled in the academy against my teachings. As a father, I should have at least that right, shouldn’t I?”

“…That’s none of your business.”

“Look at how you speak. Living alone has made you think you’re something special?”

“I don’t need your teachings anymore.”

Yeon Muhui glances at me as she speaks. Does this mean she wants to receive my guidance instead?

“You’ve learned to say amusing things. You truly don’t need my teachings? Then why did you enroll in the academy saying you’d surpass me, only to end up in the special class filled with problem students?”

“That’s…”

Despite his calm questioning without a hint of agitation, Yeon Muhui was being completely led by his pace.

There were two issues here.

First, Yeon Muhui wasn’t doing well in academy life, and second, there was no instructor who could nurture her talent as well as her father could.

She probably regretted enrolling in the academy after realizing this.

Her father’s teachings would have been more beneficial for improving her skills than the education at the academy.

But to go back and ask for her father’s guidance would require her to abandon all her pride, not to mention it would be shameless, so she had no choice but to stubbornly persist.

“Don’t tell me you’re trying to boast about that? If so, you’re not just tarnishing the Yeon family’s reputation, you’re trampling on it.”

“If reputation is so important, just remove me from the family registry. I don’t need such a family either.”

“Such rebellion. Just look at yourself training in this corner. What difference will that training make? Do you think you can defeat me?”

“…”

Yeon Muhui couldn’t deny it.

She knew it herself. That she couldn’t defeat her father.

“Do you know how many people in Korea want to receive my teachings? Being born as my child, you could effortlessly enjoy special privileges and inherit immense talent from me. Without even being grateful for that, do you think you can defeat me?”

“That’s—!”

“Absolutely not! You’ll never catch up to me. Never!”

“No…!”

“If not, then prove it.”

Sling.

He draws his sword. It was a sharp Japanese sword with a black blade identical to Yeon Muhui’s.

Revealing clear killing intent, he pressures Yeon Muhui.

Her legs tremble, seemingly overwhelmed just by facing his tremendous spirit.

“Kuk!”

Proof.

It was what Yeon Muhui wanted to show her father. That stage was now set.

But already overwhelmed by the conversation, she couldn’t easily say anything. She clenches her fist, suppressing her anger.

“Proof…”

I murmured quietly, looking at Yeon Hwaryong.

I couldn’t defend Yeon Muhui’s placement in the special class as it was the consequence of her own actions.

However, as someone who knows Yeon Muhui better than anyone and as her instructor, I understood and accepted her, knowing that all her actions weren’t simply to rebel against him.

“The special class is no longer a class for problem students.”

I said, holding Yeon Muhui’s shoulder. She turned to look at me, having been biting her lower lip without any rebuttal.

“…What?”

“The special class is a ‘special’ class gathering talents who will make a name for themselves in the hero industry. The students I’m in charge of are unique and excellent, and in a few years, they’ll be on the same level as you. And this proof will be the ‘prelude’ to that.”

“That’s quite an exaggeration.”

“Whether it’s an exaggeration or not, we’ll see from now on.”

I gestured to Yeon Muhui, who was staring at me blankly, to draw her sword.

“Let’s show him what we’ve trained for.”

Though it was a short time, she had received proper training from me. Still inexperienced, but she could now release her power.

“…Is it okay?”

“What is?”

“Defeating father is difficult. I can’t prove it.”

“Who said anything about winning? Just need to bring down that high nose a bit. That’s enough. And.”

Thwack!

I flicked her forehead.

“Ouch!”

Yeon Muhui, with a puzzled face, startles and presses her forehead. She frowns and makes a tearful expression.

I’m seeing all her expressions in one day.

“W-Why suddenly…”

“Since when did you start saying such weak things? Should we just listen to what that man says without objection? Can you accept that?”

…Hmm. Is it appropriate to refer to a parent as “that man”?

“But…”

“It’s okay. You can do it. If it’s you, Muhui.”

I spoke with conviction. Her eyes gradually widen.

She must understand the feeling of someone believing in her.

After all, these were the words her mother used to say to her whenever she cried during the difficult training from her father when she was young.

“…Yes. I’ll try.”

With determination, she draws her sword. It wasn’t much different in design from the one Yeon Hwaryong was holding.

If there was a difference, it was that Yeon Hwaryong’s sword handle was red while Yeon Muhui’s was black.

“I’ll mediate.”

“Thank you, Yujin.”

She took a step forward and said.

Wow, I didn’t expect to hear words of gratitude from Yeon Muhui.

“You’ve become quite talkative. Come at me when you’re ready.”

Yeon Muhui’s blade turns red. In contrast, Yeon Hwaryong’s remains unchanged.

As I expected, he didn’t seem to intend to go all out, wanting to gauge Yeon Muhui’s skills.

I was grateful for the opportunity to give him a proper lesson.

Taking a deep breath, Yeon Muhui assumes her stance, and after a moment, dashes toward Yeon Hwaryong.