Ch.8Episode 2. Watching Silently (2)

“I won’t be in the classroom this afternoon as planned. Please take care of the students as much as you can, but don’t push yourself too hard.”

I said this to the two teachers who came to the special class as it approached 1 o’clock.

“Understood.”

“Very well. We’ll handle the class properly.”

“…Excuse me.”

As I was about to leave after finishing what I had to say, one of the teachers stopped me.

“Yes?”

“Instructor Yujin… how do you plan to educate those children?”

Is she asking for advice?

Unfortunately, having never been a teacher myself, I had no advice to offer.

I was merely manipulating the situation to my advantage based on novels I had read.

“…Except for Jung Iyeon, those children were selected by the Academy solely for their abilities. Rather than forcing them to study, it would be better to help them develop their powers.”

The reason I forced them to attend classes wasn’t to torment them or to hinder their ability development.

It was about minimal mindset improvement.

If they couldn’t even follow the Academy’s rules now, it was obvious they would act however they pleased once they became heroes in society.

Since hero activities are ultimately a form of social service, they needed to learn to follow the law at minimum.

A hero who doesn’t obey the law is no different from a villain.

Besides, if left unchecked, they would become villains for various reasons. Shouldn’t I at least prevent them from turning to villainy all at once?

After all, the greatest quality of a hero isn’t power, but the ‘mental strength’ to persevere in any situation.

“But we’re teachers. We can’t help them with their abilities.”

“Then just show them some interest. You don’t need to do anything special. A word of encouragement, a small gesture of attention is enough.”

Even as I said this, I knew teachers busy with regular students wouldn’t pay much attention.

Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much.

“You’re quite different from the other instructors we’ve seen, Instructor Yujin.”

“Different?”

“Most instructors recognize the danger of these abilities and tend to be forceful in their approach.”

“Hmm.”

Being forceful isn’t necessarily bad.

In some cases, it can be efficient.

But if everything is done forcefully, resistance is inevitable.

“Being forceful isn’t wrong. It’s the most effective and direct way to maintain an instructor’s dignity and authority. However, if an instructor ever loses to a student, it’s over. No one would trust that instructor anymore.”

No student would listen to an instructor weaker than themselves. Maybe a few naturally good-natured students would, but that’s it.

It would likely lead to the instructor’s resignation.

In fact, there had been several instructors who were severely humiliated while trying to control the special class. They all resigned from their positions, doubting their own abilities.

No wonder the other instructors placed bets on how many days it would take before I resigned when they heard I was taking over the special class.

I’m sorry I couldn’t meet their expectations, but the only way I would resign is when all five special class students graduate safely.

Considering the Academy is a three-year program, there are at least six semesters left.

But Akcheon will start extending its influence to the Academy from this year.

So I needed to prepare in advance. Starting with building rapport.

“I’ve gone off on a tangent, but I’ll leave the class in your hands.”

I bowed politely and then headed to my destination as planned.

* * *

A training hall as large as a high school field.

Inside that massive building, I could see a female student swinging a sword alone. She was wearing the Academy’s training uniform.

Whoosh!

The movement of her sword through the air seemed to have precise purpose and intent.

Her movements were swift, she showed restraint by not wasting unnecessary energy, and she flexibly aligned her body with the direction of her sword.

It was truly a state of oneness with her weapon.

To me, it looked like a “Yeonmu” – a martial dance.

Judging by her sweat-soaked appearance, with her bangs and side hair sticking to her face, she must have been swinging the sword for quite some time.

Did she start right when lunch break began?

As I watched quietly, she performed a final horizontal slash and sheathed her Japanese sword.

“Skipping lunch to practice, huh?”

Noticing she had finished her practice, I deliberately made my footsteps audible as I approached her.

“…Instructor? Why are you here?”

She wiped the sweat from her chin with the back of her hand and spoke with a prickly tone. I came for you, you idiot.

As I approached, I picked up a white towel carelessly strewn on the ground and tossed it to her.

She caught it expressionlessly, wiped the sweat from her face and neck, then draped it around her neck.

“Why did you come?”

“Just curious about why you’re so dedicated to swordsmanship that you’d skip class.”

“…You already know.”

“I suppose I do.”

I responded glibly, raising and lowering my eyebrows once. Displeased with my response, her eyes narrowed slightly.

“What’s your angle?”

“No angle at all. If I had to say, I’m just one citizen who respects a hero protecting South Korea.”

“Respect…? That garbage?”

Calling her own father garbage…

“Something must have happened.”

I said quietly.

Belatedly realizing she had said something unnecessary, she bit her lower lip.

“You don’t have to answer.”

“Don’t you already know everything?”

Correct.

But I have no intention of confirming it. There’s no reason for me to put myself at a disadvantage.

“How would I know about your family affairs when we’ve just met?”

“…”

Her expression remained unchanged, but her suspicion didn’t waver.

Keep doubting and staying interested. That way, when problems arise, you’ll come to me first.

“So, why did you come?”

“Good job attending class this morning.”

“…I didn’t attend.”

“Just sitting there was enough.”

She was someone who casually ignored teachers and instructors, rebelling against educational authority.

Even though she just sat there doing her own thing during the morning, it was still significant progress.

Of course, I had engineered things to turn out that way.

Eventually, she’ll do it voluntarily, so I’m not worried.

“You came just to say that?”

“Well, yes. I don’t intend to interfere with your training, so just ignore me and continue.”

“Are you trying to copy my swordsmanship?”

“My ability isn’t swordsmanship, you know? Though I can fight with a sword if needed.”

Destruction or Lightning Release could be activated through any weapon as a medium, so the tool didn’t really matter.

But I preferred using my fists when possible. To prevent unintentional killing, if nothing else.

“…Didn’t you say you had important business this afternoon?”

“I’m doing that important business right now.”

“…?”

She reflexively tilted her head, then seemed to understand the meaning as she flinched.

If this were a game, there would be an exclamation mark above her head.

“Watching me train is important business…?”

“I am your instructor, after all.”

“That reason doesn’t make sense.”

“Even if it doesn’t make sense, that’s the real reason.”

“Fine. You’re not going to tell me the truth anyway.”

But it is the truth.

I was planning to just observe for the next few days.

In my opinion, Yeonmu Hee was the most problematic student in the special class. Yoo Ari had issues too, but at least she was somewhat mindful of others.

But this one was like a bulldozer.

“Fuck everything. If you get in my way, I’ll cut you.”

That kind of attitude made her the student I needed to watch most carefully.

“Then, take this.”

She threw a sword at me.

It was the spare sword she had been oiling in the classroom instead of attending lessons.

I partially unsheathed it.

She had cleaned it so meticulously that the blade gleamed.

“…Why—”

Clang!

Yeonmu Hee had suddenly closed the distance and swung her sword. I blocked it with my half-drawn blade.

“Fight me right now.”

I expected such a proposal…

But this is too blatant. She’ll clearly demand I stop interfering with her training if she wins. Do I have any reason to accept this duel?

“No.”

I pushed her away. But she approached again and swung her sword. I twisted my body to avoid the sword’s trajectory, then kicked off the ground to retreat.

“Will you listen to me?”

Though she was swinging her sword at me, she didn’t seem genuinely intent on killing me. She had been more murderous in the classroom.

“Scared?”

“As if.”

I shrugged my shoulders.

“Refusing a duel is tacitly admitting you can’t win.”

“Think what you want. I didn’t become an instructor to fight students.”

While I don’t take pride in my skills, I’m certain I wouldn’t lose.

“Your tone is too confident. Makes me want to knock you down a peg.”

“…Is that so?”

Would she look down on me if I backed off too much?

I briefly placed my hand on my chin and considered.

“Then, if you attend classes for 13 days and get your penalty points below 100, I’ll accept your challenge then.”

“You promised. No backing out.”

She answered as if she’d been waiting for this. Ah, somehow I feel like I’m getting the short end of the stick.

“Fine.”

I handed the sword back to her. As I got closer, I could feel her warmth and a subtle floral scent. Rose, perhaps?

“I’m going back to training now. Get out.”

She pointed toward the entrance with the tip of her sword.

“I’ll stay here.”

“What?”

“It’s not like I’m wearing you out just by looking.”

“You’re in the way.”

“Don’t mind me. I’ll just stay here quietly.”

I walked to a wall a bit away from where she had placed her belongings and leaned against it.

“…Haah.”

As I stood there with my arms crossed, smiling, she let out a helpless sigh.

“Don’t interfere.”

“I won’t.”

Realizing I wouldn’t leave no matter what she said, she stopped trying to chase me away.

She gave me an annoyed look, clicked her tongue, and took three steps further away. After closing her eyes and taking a calm, deep breath, she began swinging her sword again.