I Became a Swordsmanship Instructor at the Academy 49

Became a swordsmanship instructor at the academy

Chapter 49

“Teacher Kang, you’re early today.”

“Ah, Teacher Park. I haven’t finished entering the students’ grades yet.”

The midterm exams finally ended the day before yesterday.

Being a swordsmanship class doesn’t mean we only evaluate practical skills, so from creating theoretical exam questions, reviewing test content, practical evaluations, to entering grades—there’s just too much work.

I had originally planned to finish yesterday, but some students asked me to check their scores saying something was wrong.

When I checked, they had all either filled in their OMR cards out of alignment or made marking mistakes.

After confirming one by one like that, I couldn’t finish entering all the grades.

“As long as you finish by today. You probably haven’t eaten either.”

“Missing one meal is fine.”

As Teacher Park says, I could do it after classes end, but today is Friday.

Skipping breakfast is much better than working overtime on a Friday.

Still, thanks to coming in early, I’m almost done, so if I finish the rest after lunch, it should be complete.

“By the way, the retreat schedule came out yesterday evening, but I didn’t see your name?”

“Ah, I didn’t sign up.”

“Huh? Why? Is something wrong?”

The principle is that only homeroom teachers attend the retreat, but even if you’re not a homeroom teacher, you can go along if you’re in charge of first-year students.

In reality, teachers don’t have much to do there, so unless there are special circumstances, everyone tends to join.

If I hadn’t met my master, I would have gone along just to find out the portal location, but I found it a long time ago, so I said I wouldn’t go.

Of course, I still have to come to work even if I don’t go, but it’s “sweet as honey” when there are no classes.

After the Chuseok holiday ended, we were swamped with work for the midterm exams, so I’m thinking of taking a proper rest and enjoying some free time.

“They said non-homeroom teachers don’t have to go. I’m too tired these days…”

“But it would be fun if you went. The training center is in the mountains, so the air is good.”

I breathe that good air every weekend.

I declined Teacher Park, who was suggesting I should apply even now, saying I really had no interest, and as I continued working, it was time for the faculty meeting.

The meeting ran longer than usual because there were changes related to the retreat.

An official document came down from the education office this morning saying there had been incidents at some school retreats.

The directive is not to entrust students entirely to external companies due to numerous problems such as safety accidents or external staff treating students too harshly.

Since reservations had already been made, it was decided that some teachers would serve as instructors along with the company staff.

I was worried that I might get dragged into this, but thanks to having already declined attendance, I was excluded, and some of the teachers going to the retreat were assigned as instructors instead.

Timing really is everything in life.

I had some time to spare and was planning to enter more grades before heading to the swordsmanship training hall when the grade level head approached me.

“Teacher Kang, the vice principal asked to see you for a moment?”

“Huh? What for?”

“How would I know? Anyway, I’ve delivered the message.”

Somehow I had a bad feeling, but I headed to the vice principal’s office.

After a light knock, I heard a voice telling me to come in, so I opened the door.

“Oh. Teacher Kang, come in.”

“The grade level head said you were looking for me… What’s the matter?”

“Are you very busy? There’s still some time until class. This isn’t a conversation to have standing, so please sit down.”

His smiling while speaking makes it even more suspicious, but I sat down on the sofa as instructed.

“You know that preliminary rounds for the martial arts tournament start next month, right?”

“Yes. Four of my students said they’re participating, so I signed their application forms yesterday.”

Since Eunsu and Eunseo, the representative and deputy representative of Class B, said they would participate, Minhee and Jinsu’s competitive spirit was also awakened, and they brought their application forms for me to sign.

“Oh, four students from the first-year swordsmanship class are participating?”

“Honestly, I’m not sure if they can make it to the finals, but whether they win or lose, I thought it would be a good experience for the students.”

“That’s a good idea. Youth should certainly take on challenges.”

“So what did you want to say?”

“Do you know about the supplementary classes for students who applied for the martial arts tournament?”

“Yes. I saw it on the homepage notice. It said they’re held in the evenings and on weekends… Wait. You’re not asking me to teach those supplementary classes, are you?”

“You’re quick on the uptake. I’d like you to take charge of the swordsmanship class students.”

I felt uneasy for a reason…

“I’m new, wouldn’t it be better for a third-year or second-year teacher to do it?”

“Actually, Teacher Choi from the third year said he would do it, but to be frank, isn’t your skill much better?”

“Just because someone has good skills doesn’t mean they’re a good teacher. If there’s a volunteer, I think it would be better to let them do it.”

“Are you that reluctant? Four of your students are participating? The third year only has Se-jin alone, and the second year has no participants at all.”

I’m trying to find a way out, but this old fox is persistently holding on.

“Our students are participating for the experience. I think it would be better for the teacher who taught Se-jin, who’s a championship contender, to take charge.”

“I’ve already spoken with Se-jin. She said she’d prefer you to supplement her training rather than Teacher Choi. The supplementary pay is quite substantial, and if Se-jin wins, there’s also a victory bonus.”

“I’m fine, thank you.”

“But I’m not okay with that. Alright, let’s make a deal like last time.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Why?”

What do you mean why, man!

The words “Don’t you remember how stubborn you were when I beat you in our duel last time?” rose to my throat, but I barely held them back.

“I really don’t want to do it.”

“Just hear me out first. I heard from Seon-hwa that you haven’t fulfilled the conditions for the A-rank promotion examination yet, is that right?”

“So what?”

One of the conditions for taking the A-rank promotion exam is clearing B-grade portals more than 100 times.

If they had recognized my overseas experience, I would have fulfilled it with this summer’s hunting, but since they only recognized domestic experience, I’m a bit short.

It’s not much left, but there’s a fourth quarter examination before winter break starts, so it’s impossible this year.

I’m planning to finish fulfilling the requirements during winter break and apply in March next year.

“If you get a recommendation from an S-rank hunter, you can take the promotion exam even if your portal clearance count is insufficient.”

Oh, so there’s such a system.

“With your skills, you’ll certainly pass, won’t you? The third quarter exam happens to be two Sundays from now. What do you think?”

I was absolutely determined not to do it, but it’s quite a tempting offer.

First of all, once I become A-rank, my rank allowance will increase.

The difference between A-rank and B-rank allowances should be quite substantial. The first promotion exam next year is in March, and now it’s October, so even if it’s reflected from November’s salary, I can receive the A-rank hunter allowance five months earlier.

Aside from the allowance, if I become an A-rank hunter before winter break, I can form a party with Ms. Seol and Teacher Kim to go to A-grade four-person portals.

“How many hours of supplementary teaching per week would I need to do?”

“So you’re interested after all. Based on last year, about two hours after classes on weekdays? And about five hours each on weekends.”

“Weekdays are one thing, but isn’t five hours each on both weekend days too much?”

I was thinking of giving them about an hour after classes and maybe three or four hours on one weekend day, but there wouldn’t be a single day off at this rate.

I need to visit my master on weekends too, so I can’t do it with such a tight schedule.

“You can coordinate the time with the students yourself, can’t you? As long as the students agree, there shouldn’t be any problem if you just fulfill about 15 hours a week.”

If that’s the case, I could do two hours each on weekdays and until Saturday morning, it seems doable.

“Alright. I’ll take charge of it. Please write the recommendation letter right away.”

“Good decision. I knew you would accept, so I wrote the recommendation letter in advance.”

What a sly old fox.

The vice principal went to his desk and brought an envelope.

“The supplementary classes should start from next Monday. Don’t forget to apply for the A-rank promotion exam starting next week too.”

I said I understood and reached out to take the recommendation letter the old fox was handing over, but he quickly pulled his hand back.

“What are you doing?”

“Ah, I just remembered there was one more thing to discuss.”

“I’ve agreed, so please give me the recommendation letter first, then we can talk.”

“No, hear me out first. This recommendation letter is really valuable. It’s not something an S-rank hunter can write anytime; they can only write three in their lifetime…”

The sudden increase in words suggests he’s thinking of adding one more task.

We already reached an agreement, and this is extremely petty.

“What is it?”

I briefly thought about just refusing, but I should at least hear what he has to say.

“You’ve heard that the retreat will be conducted differently than before, right?”

Retreat?

“Yes. I heard during the meeting earlier that an official document came down from the education office.”

“Right. In the meeting, it was said that some of the teachers accompanying the retreat would serve as instructors, but I noticed your name was missing from the instructor list.”

“I’m not going to the retreat.”

“Why? Do you have some situation?”

“Not really, but I was told non-homeroom teachers don’t have to go, so I asked to be excluded.”

“That’s true, but if you don’t have any special circumstances, wouldn’t it be good to go along? You won’t have much to do at school anyway. You could serve as an instructor while you’re at it.”

“If you’re talking about instructors, they’ve already been decided, and you know my circumstances, don’t you?”

Given the nature of the retreat, which involves demonstrations and a lot of physical activity, all the instructors are practical teachers who are hunters, and I don’t have a good relationship with the practical teachers.

“Are you still not getting along with the practical teachers?”

“They still dislike me, so what can I do?”

After school started, some teachers did greet me, and some even apologized, but we don’t hang out afterward, so there’s no one I can call a friend.

To begin with, I don’t intend to get close to them either.

“These teachers, I swear… Anyway, as you probably know, first-year students from the 2nd School in Incheon will also be joining this retreat.”

I’m not entirely sure since I wasn’t interested in the retreat, but I think I heard it during the meeting.

In the original work, it wasn’t the 2nd School, but they went with the 3rd School from Busan… Well, it’s nothing special.

“So what?”

“Since some teachers from our school will serve as instructors, some teachers from the 2nd School will also serve as instructors. I don’t know if you’re aware, but our school and the 2nd School haven’t had a good relationship for a long time.”

Not having a good relationship…

Like rivals?

It’s absurd considering they’re not even in the same area.

“Please get to the point. What does the poor relationship with the 2nd School have to do with me not going to the retreat?”

“I think there might be trouble when serving as instructors together, and from what I can see, our school seems to be at a slight disadvantage. It would be good if you could go and serve as an instructor.”

The reason is extremely flimsy.

“No matter how bad the relationship is, we’re not going there to fight but to serve as retreat instructors, so why would anything bad happen?”

Moreover, all the instructors assigned this time are practical teachers, so why would I care about them?

If trouble arises and they get into difficulties or face embarrassment, it would actually be good.

“You’re new, so you don’t understand.”

“I still don’t want to.”

“Come now, don’t be like that. Teacher Kang, I heard there’s one A-rank hunter among the first-year teachers at the 2nd School. To balance things out, shouldn’t our star, you, be there?”

“Star? What do you mean… I’m not a celebrity. I decline.”

“Don’t you need the recommendation letter?”

This old fox, really.

“Didn’t we already finish the deal for the supplementary classes? It’s troublesome for you to do this now. So if I serve as an instructor at the retreat, does that mean the supplementary classes are off?”

“No, Teacher Kang, isn’t this too petty between us? If you help when trouble arises, it might be an opportunity to improve your relationship with the practical teachers.”

“I don’t care if I don’t get close to them. Anyway, one plus one doesn’t work.”

“Are you really going to be this stubborn? I even sent a video for you during that last controversy, didn’t I?”

“I’m still grateful for that, but other people and students also stood up for me, and since I didn’t do anything wrong, it would have been revealed naturally…”

“Fine, I get it. How can someone not give in even once? I’ll grant you one favor next time, so please go.”

Although I said it would have been fine without the vice principal’s video, I was genuinely grateful for his help last time, so I agreed.

I don’t have any requests right now, but if I had resisted a bit more, I felt like I might get hit.

Even if not hit, the vice principal might get upset and say something unfavorable to Teacher Kim.

Well… As they say, even a rotten croaker is still a fish. The vice principal is an S-rank hunter, so wouldn’t there be a day when I can make use of him?