Chapter 20
Swaying, swaying.
Yeom Ja-ryang felt like he was dreaming.
Walking with floating steps as if treading on clouds.
He had never seen such a beautiful woman in his life.
An innocent face with breasts that seemed ready to burst and snow-white thighs.
Just looking at her gentle smile made his legs go weak.
And she was kind too!
Could it be that a celestial maiden had descended?
As he walked in a daze, he suddenly heard murmuring sounds from over there.
Coming to his senses, he saw Gok Bo-ok’s group laughing and chatting near the main gate.
‘Ah, the fees!’
Only then did he remember that he was going around collecting fees and hurriedly searched his clothes.
Heavy.
Fortunately, the fees were well stored in his clothes.
The fees filled with silver coins were quite heavy.
Fortunately, most of the students had paid their fees without trouble.
The students who hadn’t paid their fees yet were either those with strong rebellious feelings toward their homeroom instructor, or those who truly had difficulty raising the money.
Among them were Gok Bo-ok’s group.
They had been treating him somewhat coldly since Yeom Ja-ryang had turned friendly toward Sa Bigang.
Therefore, Yeom Ja-ryang hesitated for a moment but soon approached them.
Just then, Gok Bo-ok saw Yeom Ja-ryang and offered a greeting.
“Oh, isn’t it Brother Yeom? Have you collected many fees?”
“Fortunately, most of the students have paid their fees.”
Yeom Ja-ryang nodded and replied.
“Speaking of which… it would be good if Brother Gok and the others could pay their fees soon.”
“Ah, of course we have to pay the fees. It’s a Martial Arts Study Journey that we’re all taking together, so we can’t be the only ones not paying, right? I was actually planning to give it to you when I met you, Brother Yeom.”
Surprisingly, Gok Bo-ok readily paid his fees.
Then the other students also handed their fees to Yeom Ja-ryang as if they had been waiting.
‘I guess I worried for nothing.’
Yeom Ja-ryang inwardly sighed in relief and checked the fees.
Everyone had paid exactly the designated amount.
Yeom Ja-ryang performed a Cupped Hands Salute.
“Thank you for cooperating like this.”
“Don’t mention it. If we can’t even help each other as fellow students, isn’t this much basic?”
“But… have you perhaps seen Student Yeon U-gyeong?”
“Ah, Brother Yeon.”
Gok Bo-ok clapped his hands as if he had forgotten.
“This works out perfectly. We were just on our way to meet Brother Yeon. Let’s go together.”
“Ah, then that’s fortunate.”
Yeom Ja-ryang started walking without thinking, then stopped short.
Weren’t the students trying to leave through the main gate?
Gok Bo-ok turned around and tilted his head.
“Hmm? What’s wrong?”
“Where are you going?”
“We’re going down to the village below. Brother Yeon is waiting at the village tea house right now. Come, let’s go.”
“Hmm….”
Yeom Ja-ryang made a rather troubled expression.
Going down to the village tea house wasn’t the problem, but he had too many fees stored in his clothes.
If he went outside the academy and lost the fees, it would be quite troublesome.
Finally, Yeom Ja-ryang shook his head.
“I’m sorry. I’ll have to collect from Brother Yeon next time.”
“Hmm? Why? Do you perhaps not want to hang out with us?”
Gok Bo-ok showed an openly disappointed expression.
Yeom Ja-ryang quickly waved his hands.
“Ah, it’s not that. It’s just that I’m storing the fees right now….”
“Haha! If that’s all it is, what’s there to worry about? We’re all going together anyway, aren’t we?”
“But if I accidentally lose them….”
“What? Are you worried we might do something to those fees?”
“Ah, I absolutely don’t mean that.”
“Then in the end, you don’t like hanging out with us?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Then what’s the problem? Brother Yeom just needs to be a little careful. Come on, don’t be like that and let’s go. Brother Yeon said he wanted to get close to Brother Yeom.”
“Is that… really true?”
“Of course it’s true. Brother Yeon thinks highly of Brother Yeom’s spirit.”
Yeom Ja-ryang was conflicted for a moment.
‘Maybe I should leave the fees in the dormitory…. No, that would be more dangerous. It’s safest to carry them with me.’
Finally, he decided to follow Gok Bo-ok.
What could happen during a brief trip to the village anyway?
“Alright. Let’s go.”
“Haha. Good thinking, Brother Yeom. We’re all together anyway, so what’s there to worry about?”
***
This is a disaster.
When you’re unlucky, even falling backward can break your nose.
Yeom Ja-ryang stepped back cautiously while surveying the masked men.
All three of them.
Their eyes were smiling.
“I told you to quietly hand over what you have.”
The one holding a sword cracked his neck bones side to side and spoke in a hoarse voice.
On either side of him, two people holding slightly curved sabers were slowly closing the distance.
Yeom Ja-ryang gulped.
‘Damn, isn’t Brother Gok here yet?’
It was when they had reached the village outskirts following Gok Bo-ok.
Suddenly three masked people appeared.
The bastards attacked the students without warning.
The panicked students scattered and ran away.
Gok Bo-ok, who had stayed until the end, ran off somewhere saying he would bring Yeon U-gyeong.
The village was much closer from here, so returning to the academy was impossible.
But there’s been no news from those who left.
‘Could it be….’
Was all this planned?
While hoping it wasn’t, he also thought it was possible if it was Yeon U-gyeong and Gok Bo-ok’s group who were uncooperative with Sa Bigang.
But there was no evidence anywhere.
Only suspicion.
Yeom Ja-ryang looked around at the masked men and said coldly.
“I’m just a student. I don’t have anything.”
“Kekeke. We’ll know that after we search you.”
“Well, it would be better if you handed it over before we search you. Keke.”
The masked men giggled.
Yeom Ja-ryang gritted his teeth.
Behind him was a large tree trunk, leaving no more room to retreat.
“I really don’t have anything to give you.”
“Then let’s search you once!”
Finally, the two masked men with sabers charged at him simultaneously.
In an instant.
Swish swish swish!
Yeom Ja-ryang executed the Cat Path Steps, narrowly dodging the blades rushing toward him.
He drew the dagger from his waist and slashed diagonally upward.
Swooosh!
“Kyaaak!”
One of the masked men grabbed his thigh and collapsed.
Yeom Ja-ryang spun his body and took a low stance.
The masked men’s pupils shook.
‘What? This guy. His martial arts are stronger than we thought?’
If they underestimated him because he was young, they could be the ones getting hurt badly.
So what if he whined and complained? He’s still a student of Yongcheon Hall, isn’t he?
Meanwhile, Yeom Ja-ryang was also surprised by his own reaction speed.
He could clearly see their blade tips until the very end.
His internal energy also moved more freely.
Was it worth doing the extreme training in the cold water?
Or was it because Sa Bigang had done something to his body?
In any case, his body felt light.
He even thought he might be able to handle this.
But the fees stored in his clothes were quite a concern.
If he dropped the fees during intense movements, it would be a disaster.
Just then.
“Don’t get cocky!”
The masked man with the saber rushed at him with fierce momentum.
‘I can see it! Clearly!’
Yeom Ja-ryang moved his steps like flowing water and spun his body in a circle.
His opponent’s blade tip barely grazed past the back of his neck.
Yeom Ja-ryang used the rotational force to stab directly at his opponent’s back of the hand.
Thud!
“Kyaaaak!”
Clang!
The masked man dropped his saber and hurriedly backed away.
“Huff, huff.”
Yeom Ja-ryang took deep breaths.
Though his movements weren’t extensive, he was breathing heavily due to being extremely tense.
‘Real combat really is different from the start in terms of energy consumption.’
That’s when it happened.
“Stupid fools.”
The one holding the sword spat out coldly and approached step by step.
Sliiiing.
He slowly drew his sword.
“Let’s see you show off some more tricks. Let me see your cute performance.”
Yeom Ja-ryang held his breath for a moment.
Different.
This person was somehow different.
It wasn’t just because he was holding a sword.
The very sense of intimidation he felt from him was different.
His spine went cold.
The masked man smirked.
“Then shall I go first?”
Whoosh!
The next moment, the masked man shot forward.
***
“I’m telling you, it’s already a decided matter!”
Deung Bu-hyeong blocked Sa Bigang’s way and raised his voice.
But Sa Bigang was obstinate.
“Get out of my way! I cannot accept this!”
“I’m telling you, it’s not a matter of whether Instructor Sa accepts it or not.”
“In any case, the Special Purpose Class is my sole responsibility! Didn’t I already tell you I would teach according to my own discretion?”
“So do that as you wish. But this is a completely different matter!”
Sa Bigang, who had been walking while almost pushing Deung Bu-hyeong aside, stopped abruptly.
He glared at Deung Bu-hyeong with gritted teeth.
“What’s different about it? If there’s an assistant instructor, they might raise objections to my teaching methods….”
“No, I told you they absolutely won’t interfere with that! So please go back.”
“No. I can’t go back. I absolutely will not accept an assistant instructor!”
“Good grief. You’re not being reasonable.”
“Then why did you do such a thing without even reporting to me?”
“Report? You seem to be mistaken, but the authority to appoint instructors lies with the Dean! It’s not a matter of reporting to Instructor Sa!”
“In any case, I cannot accept it! I alone am sufficient as the Special Purpose Class homeroom instructor!”
Finally, the two reached the front of the Dean’s office.
Deung Bu-hyeong desperately blocked the way.
“Wait! This won’t be resolved by arguing about it. Calm down, Instructor Sa.”
“Get out of my way! I said I can’t accept it!”
“Oh my, this person!”
Unable to bear it any longer, Deung Bu-hyeong reached out and pushed Sa Bigang’s chest.
But Sa Bigang didn’t budge at all.
It felt like reaching out to a rock wall.
‘What kind of body is this…!’
Inwardly surprised, Deung Bu-hyeong subtly applied his internal energy.
Even so, Sa Bigang didn’t even blink an eye as he stared at Deung Bu-hyeong.
“Step aside. You might get hurt like this.”
The moment his spine went cold, Deung Bu-hyeong involuntarily flinched and removed his hand.
Feeling embarrassed, he sighed and grumbled.
“Really, I’m telling you this won’t be resolved by arguing….”
Regardless, just as Sa Bigang was about to throw open the door.
Creeeeak.
The door opened first and Ju Yu-cheon happened to walk out.
Ju Yu-cheon recognized Sa Bigang and spoke to him.
“Oh? Instructor Sa. This works out perfectly. I had someone to introduce to you.”
“I know. It’s the assistant instructor, isn’t it?”
Ju Yu-cheon glanced back, and Deung Bu-hyeong briefly bowed his head.
Ju Yu-cheon, who had roughly grasped the situation, nodded.
“That’s right. I finally found someone to take on the position of Assistant Spear Instructor.”
In fact, the position of Assistant Spear Instructor was a job that any renowned martial artist wouldn’t even glance at.
Especially these days, spear techniques were hard to gain recognition as a military discipline, and since it wasn’t even a full instructor position but an assistant instructor, the avoidance was even more severe.
Ju Yu-cheon continued.
“Of course, this person’s main martial art isn’t spear techniques, but they readily agreed to take the position of Assistant Spear Instructor. Of course, they have sufficient skill in teaching spear techniques, so I’m very grateful as the Dean.”
“You’re going to assign that person as the Special Purpose Class assistant homeroom instructor?”
“That’s right. It would be a waste to employ such talent as just an Assistant Spear Instructor.”
“Whether they’re talented or not, I don’t need them. Didn’t I tell you from the beginning? I would teach the Special Purpose Class according to my own discretion.”
“Hmm…. So you’re saying it’s difficult to accept them as assistant homeroom instructor?”
“That’s right. There’s no academy rule that says every class must have an assistant homeroom instructor, is there?”
“Of course, that’s true but. I had already spoken about it….”
“I cannot accept it.”
“Huh. This has become quite awkward for her. Our position is rather….”
“It can’t be helped. Even if it’s awkward, she… Hmm? Then that assistant instructor is a woman….”
That’s when it happened.
The door opened and a woman walked out gracefully.
“Oh my? Who….”
A voice like rolling jade beads.
The Dean’s voice overlapped from above.
“Ah, this is the Special Purpose Class’s Sa Bigang instructor I mentioned earlier.”
“Oh my, hello.”
The woman smiled gently and bowed her head.
“……”
Sa Bigang couldn’t even think of closing his mouth.
Incredibly ‘sexy.’
Yes. In the Demon Realm, that’s how they would describe such a woman.
Sexy.
Truly nationally sexy!
No other expression came to mind.
Softly rising breasts and legs stretched out white as snow.
Following the curves of her body with his gaze up to her face, it was innocence itself.
This is cheating.
Such a face with such a body!
“This person is the newly appointed Assistant Spear Instructor.”
Sa Bigang nodded.
Meanwhile, Ju Yu-cheon cleared his throat and spoke with difficulty.
“Ahem! Miss Mae. I’m sorry, but it seems the assignment as Special Purpose Class assistant homeroom instructor will be canceled….”
“Hello there!”
The person who suddenly shouted and approached was none other than Sa Bigang.
He grabbed Mae Seol-lan’s hand and beamed with a bright smile.
“Special Purpose Class homeroom instructor! Sa Bigang! I enthusiastically welcome you! Miss Mae!”
