I Became a Swordsmanship Instructor at the Academy 47

Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy

Chapter 47

“Senior, good morning.”

“Not really. Waking up at 6 on a day off…”

“I bought you Korean beef yesterday.”

“That’s why I came out.”

I pulled my hat down once more, started the engine, and departed.

Our destination was Paju, where the orphanage is located.

Choi Seo-ra had complained that traffic might be heavy due to the holiday, but surprisingly, there wasn’t much congestion, and we arrived in about an hour.

It’s quite rural, away from downtown Paju, but the facility looks decent enough.

“You’ll help carry the luggage too, right?”

“I should at least provide that service.”

While I was moving the groceries we bought yesterday, children came running toward Choi Seo-ra.

“Sister Seo-ra!”

“It’s Sister Seo-ra!”

“Hello, kids.”

She said she had been volunteering here for a long time, and they seem quite close.

“Is he your boyfriend, sister?”

“He’s handsome.”

“Thank you.”

“Oh? I think I’ve seen this guy on TV.”

“Seo-ra, welcome.”

“Ah, Director, have you been well?”

“Thanks to you. And this person… Oh? Hunter Kang Shin-hyeok?”

Probably because of the recent incident, both the children and the director recognize me.

“Hello. I’m Kang Shin-hyeok.”

“Nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you from Seo-ra. You look much better in person!”

“Ah, thank you.”

I’m not sure exactly what she told them, but it doesn’t seem like she spoke poorly of me.

“Why did you buy so much?”

“It’s a holiday. I bought ingredients for pancakes and songpyeon, along with fruits and some meat for the kids.”

“Always so thoughtful. Haven’t eaten breakfast yet, right?”

“No. Senior hasn’t eaten either, right? Let’s at least have a meal before leaving.”

“Oh? Is Hunter Kang leaving?”

“Ah, I have lunch plans…”

It feels awkward.

Maybe I should have just dropped her off and left right away?

I said I was fine since I wasn’t particularly hungry, but I agreed to eat before leaving due to Seo-ra’s persistence.

After moving all the luggage, we went to the dining room where there were many children.

Are most of them elementary school students?

There are also older kids who look like middle and high school students, and very young ones who seem like they would attend kindergarten. The age range is diverse.

“It’s Sister Seo-ra.”

“Hello.”

“Is the man next to you your boyfriend, sister?”

“No, it’s not like that. He’s a teacher at the same school who gave me a ride here today.”

“This man is handsome.”

The compliment is appreciated, but why is Choi Seo-ra called “sister” while I’m called “mister”…

I thought about saying something, but it might seem petty, so I silently picked up my spoon.

The food is quite good.

Though not as good as school meals, there are meat side dishes, vegetables, and hearty soup.

It might be better because of Chuseok, but in Kang Shin-hyeok’s memories, most orphanage meals were mostly vegetables and small portions.

This orphanage seems better.

Not just the side dishes, but the children’s expressions are bright.

The director I saw earlier also seemed like a good person.

“Aren’t the kids cute?”

“Huh? Well… Yeah.”

“So, can’t you stay a bit longer after eating?”

After insisting I eat before leaving, is she trying to make me pay for the meal?

I do have lunch plans, but if it takes the same amount of time to get back as it did to come, I do have some time.

“Should we make pancakes together?”

“Ah, could you even do that, senior? Just play ball with the kids.”

….

In my previous life, I lived independently for 9 years starting from age 20, and Kang Shin-hyeok has lived alone for 5 years, yet she underestimates me too much.

I was about to say I could do it, but instead I said I’d leave.

“Is it because of your appointment? It’s not even 9 o’clock yet…”

“The traffic might be heavy on the way back.”

Choi Seo-ra had a slightly disappointed expression, but I pretended not to see it and finished my meal.

“Do you wash your own dishes after eating?”

“You can dump leftovers over there and soak your dishes. But are you really leaving?”

“The kids probably wouldn’t want to play ball with someone they barely know.”

“That’s just an excuse…. Fine, let’s go.”

A long time ago, I watched a documentary about orphanage volunteering.

It was about volunteers who came, did well, cared for the children, and showed affection, but when they returned next time, the children pretended not to know them and acted awkward, which was disappointing.

Some cunning children would deliberately appear nice and approach well-dressed volunteers to get the gifts they wanted.

Of course, there must be children who aren’t like that.

No, I think there are many more children who aren’t like that.

I don’t think children living in orphanages are bad.

At the end of the documentary, there was this story:

The children in orphanages were most disappointed when volunteers who had been visiting and treating them well suddenly stopped coming.

The children had already experienced painful wounds once, and this repeats that experience.

That’s why they don’t easily give their affection to volunteers.

Of course, children would open their hearts to persistent volunteers like Choi Seo-ra, but I’m not confident I could do that.

To begin with, I don’t think all children living in orphanages seek pity.

In fact, even though I was with Seo-ra, only children who seemed to be in lower elementary grades or preschool spoke to me.

Children who appeared older neither spoke to me nor approached me.

I told Choi Seo-ra, who still looked disappointed, that I’d see her later and returned to the car.

***

It’s not like I’m asking him to cook food together, just to play with the kids a little. What’s so hard about that?

Too cold-hearted.

After finishing the meal, we all gathered to make pancakes and songpyeon with the children.

After shaping them all and about to steam them, the director beckoned to me.

I asked if there was anything else I could help with, but she shook her head and handed me her phone.

I thought maybe adopted children had called because of the holiday, but it wasn’t a call but a text message.

[(Web sent)

Hanseo Bank 08:58 68****12-10 Deposit 10,000,000 won KD National Kang Shin-hyeok]

“Kang Shin-hyeok has left, right? I was busy with the kids and just saw this, but he sent 10 million won to our donation account.”

“I was surprised too. Seems he didn’t tell Seo-ra either.”

“Ah, yes.”

I was surprised too.

I was thinking he was cold-hearted for not staying to play with the kids, but a donation…

I feel somewhat sorry now.

“We’ll need to issue a donation receipt… Can you give me his contact information?”

“Ah, yes. But… Let me call him first.”

I excused myself to the director and moved to make a call.

—Huh? What is it? Did you leave something in the car?

“That’s not it… Senior, what is this?”

—Hmm? What is what?

“The donation. You sent 10 million won.”

—Ah, so it’s confirmed right away.

“Such a large amount all of a sudden…”

—I saw that the kids’ clothes were quite worn out. Use it to buy them new clothes, and if there’s any left, buy them snacks.

“You could have at least told me beforehand. You really have a talent for surprising people.”

—It’s not that much. You must have donated a lot too. Hey, the director there wouldn’t embezzle it, right?

“If that was her intention, would she have told me? Besides, she’s not that kind of person.”

—She did seem that way. If she had looked like a bad person, I wouldn’t have donated either. Anyway, is that why you called?

“Yes. Oh, the director will call you about issuing a donation receipt.”

—Donation receipt? Tell her not to bother. It’s too troublesome. I already have enough expenses for tax deductions anyway.

***

—Senior seems a bit cool.

She was so disappointed earlier.

“You just realized that now?”

—What? Senior, you’re really…

“Really cool? I know. I’m driving, so I’ll hang up now.”

“Sigh, alright. Have a good holiday.”

—You too, rest well during the holiday, and see you later.

***

That Seo-ra, she seemed quite surprised.

I might not be able to volunteer regularly like her, but I can at least donate.

When I arrived at the dormitory, it was past 10.

Even though it’s a day off, waking up early and driving for over two hours has made me a bit tired.

I need to go out again soon, but I can probably rest for about an hour.

I returned to my room and immediately jumped onto the bed.

To prevent myself from falling asleep, I set an alarm and lay down again, feeling much better.

As I rolled around thinking about what to eat and do with Teacher Min, my phone rang.

I thought ‘It’s not even 11 yet, already?’ but the caller wasn’t Teacher Min.

“Hello, Teacher Kim.”

—Teacher Kang, are you at the school dormitory now?

“Huh? Ah, yes.”

—Have you eaten? The school won’t serve meals during the Chuseok holiday.

“That’s true, but I just went out and ate something casual.”

—You’ll be staying at the dormitory throughout the holiday, right?

“Huh? Well, I guess so… Why do you ask?”

—I’m heading to the school now.

“What?”

—I wanted to bring you some Chuseok food.

I hadn’t thought of this at all, and I’m a bit touched… No, wait a minute.

“Did you make it yourself?”

—Yes! Of course I made it myself.

I’m in trouble.

“Um… Teacher Kim, it’s okay.”

—Come on, there’s no need to feel burdened.

“No, I have an appointment and need to go out soon. Just your thought is appreciated…”

—I’m almost there. Please wait a bit.

….

Fine. It’s not like we’re eating together, I’ll just accept it and not eat it.

Sorry, but it can’t be helped.

I agreed and hung up.

About 20 minutes passed?

While preparing to go out again, I received a call from Teacher Kim saying she had arrived in front of the dormitory.

When I went down to the first floor of the dormitory, I saw Teacher Kim holding a shopping bag.

“Teacher Kang! Over here.”

Judging by the size of the shopping bag, the amount seems substantial… When I took it and held it, it was heavy, indicating she put a lot in.

“I’m really grateful, but you didn’t have to go to this trouble…”

“Come on, we’re colleagues. You said you weren’t going anywhere for the holiday, so I thought of you and packed a few things.”

That’s not a few, you…

“There’s braised short ribs, some pancakes, a few vegetable dishes… Oh! I also included kimchi. The kimchi was sent by Lee Seol’s mother, and it’s delicious.”

Then the kimchi might be okay? At least I’ve found one edible item.

“I’ll enjoy it. Thank you.”

“It would be better if you eat it right away. Do you have lunch plans?”

“Ah, yes. There’s a teacher who also didn’t go home during the break, so together… Oh?”

Speak of the devil, it’s Teacher Min.

She seems to have been shopping, as she’s holding a large plastic bag.

“Oh? Teacher Kang, I was just about to call you… Health Teacher?”

“Hello. It seems Teacher Min didn’t go home either.”

“The holiday is short, and my parents nag too much. But doesn’t the Health Teacher usually commute?”

“I came to bring Teacher Kang some holiday food.”

“What? Ah, you two went hunting together in the summer, right? How lucky for Teacher Kang.”

Lucky, my foot.

Teacher Min just doesn’t know about Teacher Kim’s cooking skills.

If she knew, she definitely wouldn’t say such things.

“Oh? Then you planned to have lunch with Teacher Min today?”

“Yes.”

“Did you make any specific reservations?”

“Not really… Why do you ask?”

“Then would you like to eat this together in the lounge? It’s not very tasty when reheated later.”

No way, you devil.

“Um…”

“Oh, is that okay? You were trying to look after Teacher Kang.”

“It’s better if we all eat together. The portions are generous, so it’s fine.”

“That sounds good to me. I was actually craving holiday food.”

Teacher Min, please no…

“Is that okay with you, Teacher Kang?”

I’m going crazy.