Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy
Chapter 21
“Haah… I’m dying.”
“Me too. But today the teacher said we’d finish earlier than usual.”
“I guess Jinsu and Minhee are both done.”
“No, we have a little left.”
“Me… Me too.”
Although I had defeated all the monsters in VR, I lied because if I said I was done, I didn’t know what more they would make me do until the others finished.
In the past, the teacher used to joke around a lot and tell interesting stories, so I used to look forward to swordsmanship class every day, but recently classes have become too intense.
Every day they say it’s for our skill improvement, but I suspect the teacher got upset when the students made too much fuss about the YouTube video that was uploaded last time.
It seems like Group B students don’t have it as intense as we do, which is unfair.
“I know you’re all done, so follow me. Jinsu, you too.”
“Teacher, I really… If I do anything more here, I’ll die… OW!”
Jinsu guy tried to resist but ended up getting a knock on the head.
“People don’t die that easily. Okay, Jeong-hui, you’re done too, right? You too… No, two people should be enough. Tell the students who are finished to stay put and rest.”
“Yes.”
Jeong-hui looks at us with pitying eyes.
I want to rest too, but I don’t want to get a knock on the head like Jinsu for speaking up.
“Teacher, where are we going?”
“Something I ordered is about to arrive at the main gate. Since you two are the representative and vice representative, help me out.”
It seems like teaching materials have arrived… SIGH, at times like this, I really hate being the representative.
If it weren’t for the extra points, I wouldn’t have done it…
“Um… Teacher, wouldn’t it be easier with more people?”
“The three of us should be able to carry about 40 pizzas.”
“Pizza?”
I was surprised because I naturally thought it would be teaching materials, but it’s pizza.
And 40 of them at that…
“Teacher, if I didn’t mishear just now, did you say pizza? Dough that’s been fermented, topped with tomato sauce, cheese, and various toppings… OW!”
Jinsu got excited at the mention of pizza and started showing off, only to receive another knock on the head from the teacher.
“Stop fooling around and let’s hurry. Pizza with cheese that stretches is tastier than cold pizza, right?”
“Of course. The life of pizza is the cheese!”
Jinsu excitedly walks ahead.
I thought it was pathetic, but actually my steps quickened too.
It can’t be helped.
Although the school snack bar sells pizza bread and sometimes quesadilla pizza is served for lunch, this is the first time we’re having real pizza since the semester started.
***
When we returned with the pizzas, the students went completely wild.
“Kang Shin-hyeok! Kang Shin-hyeok!”
“Teacher, did you win the lottery or something?”
“What lottery? The final exams are coming up soon, so I bought these to encourage you to do well.”
“We’ll enjoy it.”
“Thank you.”
It feels good to see the students happily eating.
Just watching them eat is supposed to make me full… Yeah right… There’s actually none left for me.
I ordered one pizza per person, thinking there would be leftovers since lunch was coming up soon.
But not only the boys but even the girls look like they’ll finish a whole pizza each.
When I asked if they’d be okay since lunch was soon, they said that was rice and this was a snack, so it was fine.
I’ll have to order one more pizza per person when I buy for Group B in the afternoon anyway.
***
After finishing the afternoon classes, I came to the faculty office.
I’d already finished all the paperwork during breaks today, so I was about to swipe my card and leave when the department head approached me.
“Teacher Kang, let’s have a chat.”
Since this person is also a hunter, we normally don’t talk much… What’s this about?
“What do you need?”
“I heard you bought outside food for the students today, is that true?”
“Yes. The students have good attitudes in class, and with finals coming up, I bought it to encourage them to study hard.”
“Hmph, do you think you did the right thing?”
“Pardon? I used my own money to buy pizza for my students, what’s the problem with that?”
As far as I know, there’s no rule against deliveries in the school rules.
“The school provides a balanced diet considering the students’ growth and development, but you think feeding them unhealthy outside food is really for their benefit? Moreover, the school meals are made with taxpayers’ money and sponsorships from various guilds. Tsk, tsk.”
Since when did the school care about such things?
It feels like they’re just nitpicking and picking a fight.
“I’ve heard other teachers occasionally buy snacks like ice cream, candy, or drinks for the students? I don’t understand why you’re only coming after me.”
“What?”
“I didn’t force anyone who didn’t want to eat, and I told them to eat moderately since they need to eat lunch too, but they all said snacks are just snacks and they would still eat their lunch well. Kids these days eat well.”
“Ahem, anyway, it’s unhealthy food, isn’t it!”
“What? Is there poison in the pizza? It’s not like they eat it often, just once in a while.”
I didn’t even order from some nameless shabby pizza place, but from a decent brand pizza shop… This is ridiculous.
“My, my, you keep talking back. Think from the students’ perspective. Have you considered that if you only buy for the swordsmanship class, other students might feel a sense of alienation? Why are you so short-sighted!”
Other class students might be envious, sure.
But alienation? Isn’t that going too far?
This is really petty.
“I didn’t think about that aspect. I understand.”
“Do you think other teachers don’t buy things because they don’t have money? Anyone watching would think only Teacher Kang cares about the students.”
They seem to think I’ve backed down… Ysk tsk, they’re wrong.
“If other students feel alienated, then there’s no problem if I buy for everyone, right?”
“W-what?”
“I’ll order 300 pizzas to be delivered to the school by 8 PM tomorrow.”
The 42 pizzas I ordered today cost a little over a million won, so 300 pizzas would be about 10 million won?
It’s not a small amount, but if it can shut up the department head who’s picking a pointless fight and make them look foolish, it’s not that much money.
“Oh, if we only take care of the students, our teachers might feel alienated too. Teachers, would anyone like pizza tomorrow? It’s on me! You can even stop by the shop on your way home and take some to go.”
The practical skills teachers look dumbfounded, but the reaction from the general subject teachers is quite enthusiastic.
Some teachers ask if I won the lottery, and I can hear whistling too.
Nobody dislikes free stuff.
The department head clearly didn’t expect me to respond this way, as their face has turned completely ashen.
“I followed a friend into stock investing and made some profits. Oh, department head, you won’t eat because it’s unhealthy food, right?”
***
“Teacher Kang, I enjoyed the pizza yesterday.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Teacher Kang, thank you for the pizza.”
Just like the students in the cafeteria earlier, everyone in the faculty office is thanking me.
I respond with a smile and return to my seat.
The department head picked a fight with an absurd excuse, and I spent money out of spite, which feels a bit wasteful now that I think about it, but still, it feels good to receive thanks from everywhere.
“Teacher Kang, I also enjoyed the pizza yesterday thanks to you.”
“But Teacher Park, you said you don’t like cheese.”
“I may not like it much, but the kids and my wife love it, so I took some home on my way back. And when I tried a slice, it wasn’t bad. Did it cost a lot?”
“It’s fine. It was less than I expected.”
I thought it would exceed 10 million won, but the pizza shop owner said he always gives discounts for large group orders, so it was a little over 8 million.
“As a thank you, how about a drink tonight? My wife is taking the kids to her parents’ house today and staying until the weekend.”
“Ah, I have plans tonight, so I don’t think I can.”
“Really? That’s a shame. I found a killer pork skin place and wanted to treat you.”
“Let’s go next time.”
This time, it’s not a lie.
I arranged to meet Choi Seo-ra at the physical training room this evening.
We’ve hardly been in contact since the Antas issue was resolved, but last night I received a message asking if we could meet this evening.
I happened to have some things to discuss regarding vacation plans since the break is coming up soon, so I replied that I would.
I was doing paperwork when the faculty meeting started.
There was nothing special today, and as I was about to head to the swordsmanship training hall after it ended, the vice principal approached me.
“Teacher Kang, see me for a moment.”
“Ah, yes.”
Did the department head say something negative about the pizza distribution?
They’re not the type to listen to such nonsense logic.
I haven’t even done anything wrong, but being called by the vice principal makes me feel like I’ve committed a crime.
Hoping it’s nothing serious, I followed the vice principal.
As soon as we arrived at their office, they offered me a seat, so I sat down.
“Would you like some tea?”
“I’m fine. I need to go up soon to prepare for class… What did you want to see me about?”
“There’s still 30 minutes left, Teacher Kang, you’re really diligent.”
“Not at all.”
“Well… Then let’s get straight to the point. Would you take a look at this?”
Along with these words, the vice principal pulled out a pile of letters.
“What are all these?”
“They’re all addressed to you.”
This many letters came for me?
Wait, letters are supposed to be delivered to the dormitory.
Since they said they came for me, I open one at random… Ah, wait. Is this what I think it is?
According to the taxi driver I rode with to Incheon yesterday, I’m quite popular among kids who aspire to attend hunter schools, so are these fan letters?
Haha… They must have sent them to the school since they don’t know my address.
This popularity.
If this many fan letters come, it would be troublesome for the school too, so I should probably start SNS and post an address where they can send letters.
“What are you doing, not reading them?”
“It might be awkward to read them here… I’ll take them and read them later.”
“I don’t mind. So what will you do?”
“I’ll make sure it doesn’t cause any trouble for the school.”
“So you’re accepting all the duels?”
“Of course… Wait, duels?”
“All these letters are duel challenges addressed to you. Did you think they were fan letters or something?”
Did I drink too much kimchi soup? My head is buzzing.
I never dreamed these would all be duel challenges, not fan letters.
I really never imagined it.
“You really thought they were fan letters, I see. They’ve decreased a lot since the channel was deleted and the video was taken down, but quite a few still come in these days. Many are from the same person.”
“Did I do something wrong?”
I really don’t understand.
“It’s not that you did anything wrong, it’s just the obvious reason. You became famous when the video was uploaded, so people want to defeat you and claim that fame for themselves.”
“I see.”
“The fact that you’re from a non-hunter school background probably contributed to it too.”
So they think I look easy because I’m from a non-hunter school?
Well, not long after the video became a hot topic, the fact that I was from a non-hunter school background also became known.
It was probably spread by one of the practical skills teachers at the school.
Since then, false rumors circulated that the school deliberately had the student council president match their level to promote the teacher, and negative comments increased considerably.
Since the video was taken down anyway, I wasn’t paying attention to it.
What do I do about this…
Honestly, I’m not confident.
Ah, of course, I’m not confident about losing.
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