Chapter 12: Homeroom Teacher Assignment
The top floor of the Ignis Guild located in Goyang City.
The innermost part of the dazzling Guild Master’s office that was reminiscent of a penthouse.
A mobile phone was held in the hand of Cho Sang-geun, who was sitting at the desk where the nameplate saying Guild Master was placed.
― Team Leader Kim Gyu-il
Brother, why is there no reply!
At least let me know the progress to some extent.
I have to report too.
Surely you didn't fail to butter up the Returnee, right?
What do we do?
Should we report that it wasn't a Multi-Dimension Portal first, and that it was an error?
Then our heads will go slice!
I won't say unlucky things, so give me a reply quickly.
I can't even eat.
Cho Sang-geun, who was looking at the text messages aimlessly, sighed.
Adjusting the glasses perched on his sharp nose bridge, he made an agonized expression and…….
“What should I do.”
He was weighing what would be better.
He has to report to the Hunter Association.
Because if he doesn't, problems will arise later.
However, if he reports everything truthfully, the higher-ups might barge in.
Moreover, it is a Returnee.
Perhaps not only the Association executives but even the President might interfere.
If that happens, he himself who was scheming behind the scenes, the Ignis Guild, and even Kim Gyu-il who helped with the work would be finished.
That is why the contemplation became long.
As he told the secretary, he will delay the report as much as possible.
Since it seems the Returnee still needs time.
He will grant all his requests.
If he can buy even a little favor by doing so, he will do it.
Because Cho Sang-geun has a goal he must achieve.
Corner of the desk.
Cho Sang-geun’s gaze moved to the standing picture frame.
The smiling Cho Sang-geun and Lee Si-wang.
And two women putting their arms around their shoulders next to them.
Cho Sang-geun’s expression, which contained the photo, sank.
“You won’t be able to stay at school for long anyway. Since the world won’t let it be. And neither will I.”
Whether it was a monologue.
Or words speaking to someone in the photo, it was unknown.
Cho Sang-geun kept his gaze on the women in the photo for a long time.
At that moment.
Ding―.
Another text message came to his mobile phone.
“What is it?”
Cho Sang-geun, who opened the message, had his expression stiffen.
“Ah…… Ah…….”
The secretary who was standing far away approached Guild Master Cho Sang-geun.
“Guild Master, is there any problem.”
Cho Sang-geun, who could not hide his crumbling expression and touched his forehead.
“Secretary Kim. First, go to the school.”
“If it is the school, are you speaking of Taewoon High?”
“Yes.”
“The Vice Guild Master should be there. Did something happen?”
Cho Sang-geun tightly bit his trembling lips and thrust his mobile phone at Secretary Kim.
Secretary Kim slowly brought her face closer to the screen.
In Secretary Kim’s vision, the message from the Vice Guild Master was seen.
― Vice Guild Master Lee Si-wang.
Guild Master, I…… am sorry…….
Below the one line of message that implied many things.
One attached photo.
“Oh my god.”
Three students lying on the floor were seen.
***
Afternoon after all classes ended.
Taewoon High.
The infirmary located in Academy City.
Although it was called an infirmary, the scale was large enough to tell a decent large hospital to go away.
Since it was a school for the early education of Awakened in the first place, there were bound to be many practice sessions for combat in addition to classes and educational programs, so top-tier medical equipment and healing-type Awakened were deployed.
And in that place.
Kang Tae-wook opened his eyes.
Kang Tae-wook who opened his eyes slowly.
The pupils beneath the softly curled eyelashes did not move much.
As if he knew where this place was and what had happened before coming here.
He was calm.
Without showing any movement of not accepting the fainting situation or any torrent of emotions.
He was accepting this situation calmly.
Even though a secretary of the Ignis Guild, whose face he didn’t even know, was together with the doctor who thrust a flashlight first.
Even when that secretary introduced herself and explained what happened before he fainted.
And even though the Vice Guild Master of Ignis Guild, Lee Si-wang, whom he only saw on television, was wearing sunglasses that didn’t suit the indoors right next to him.
Kang Tae-wook was calm.
While he was listening to the explanation, Chan-sol and Min-jun who were together woke up and threw a fit, but even then Kang Tae-wook was calm.
“I will sue!”
“I will tell everything to the broadcasting station too.”
“Do you know who Tae-wook’s dad is? An Association exec…….”
One hospital room in the infirmary that became noisy as other children woke up.
Only then did Kang Tae-wook break the silence for the first time.
“Stop.”
“…….”
At his voice, the noisy nursing room became a little quiet.
However, there were still those who did not close their mouths.
“Do you think a teacher will be safe after touching a student?”
“Using violence when it’s not even a training situation? Do you know how much the Hunter Law…….”
“I said shut up!”
At Kang Tae-wook’s shout, the mouths of the lackeys who were babbling closed.
As it calmed down a little, the secretary of the Ignis Guild and Lee Si-wang approached the front of Kang Tae-wook.
“We will proceed with all physical compensation. Besides that, if there are any mental problems, please tell us everything. We will make the utmost effort…….”
The secretary was speaking calmly, but she lowered her head as much as possible and spoke in a low stance.
Money?
The Ignis Guild has it overflowing.
Law?
Honestly, if they wanted to cover it up, they could silence it somehow.
However, regardless of what the facts were, this matter was clearly Yoo jin’s fault.
If it leaked out of the school and became known to the public, Yoo jin who caused trouble unconditionally would not be able to avoid public flogging.
Moreover, there was the state of still hiding that he is a Returnee, and the position of the Ignis Guild dealing with that Returnee.
And the biggest reason for taking this low stance was.
“We have not contacted the parents yet. Although you are minors, this matter happened inside the school, and first, since it is a matter that happened between a student and a teacher, if possible, quiet…….”
At that moment.
“It’s done.”
“Yes?”
The secretary’s eyes became round.
“I said it’s done. We don’t need to settle. I won’t tell my family either.”
At Kang Tae-wook’s voice, Secretary Kim and Lee Si-wang met each other’s eyes.
It wasn't just them who were surprised.
“What are you saying? Tae-wook! We have to make sure that teacher can’t set foot in the school!”
“If it’s your dad’s power, a teacher like that is…….”
“Hey.”
Short voice.
At Kang Tae-wook’s serious voice, the mouths of Chan-sol and Min-jun gradually closed.
“I said I’m fine.”
“…….”
“…….”
“Are you babbling with your snouts even while knowing that I hate saying the same thing twice the most?”
Min-jun and Chan-sol, who were half-raising their bodies on the bed, looked at each other’s cues and soon lowered their gazes.
“Uh….”
“Sorry….”
When affirmative answers came out from the children, Kang Tae-wook moved his gaze to the secretary and Lee Si-wang who came from the Ignis Guild.
“Just go. Since I won’t do anything later with today’s matter.”
The moment the secretary, who was reading the room, tried to open her mouth to speak once again.
Lee Si-wang blocked the secretary and shook his head.
“Let’s go.”
Lee Si-wang and the secretary bowed their heads and exited the hospital room.
“Just in case, I will leave a business card. Then, please take care of your body.”
Until the sound of footsteps of those leaving the door leaving the last words drifted away and could not be heard, Chan-sol and Min-jun could not say anything while only looking at Kang Tae-wook’s cues.
Kang Tae-wook put his head on the pillow and lay down smoothly.
Turning his back so the children could not be seen.
Clench.
His fist was trembling.
The feeling of resentment does not disappear.
Even now, whether using the broadcast immediately, or writing a post on the internet to bury him socially.
He wanted to do anything, but he didn’t.
No.
Actually, he couldn't.
Although he suffered violence.
Rather, if this incident grew bigger, the one with the biggest damage was himself.
Of the name called Dad.
Cheat key.
Killer move.
Because that fake weapon which was only a shell might be discovered.
‘I have only one son. If you want to become my son, prove that you are even a little useful to me.’
The school he entered because of that one word.
Everything was perfect.
And it was going according to his thoughts.
If he becomes the Student Council President, he can be acknowledged.
If he enters a better guild than his brother before graduation, he can be acknowledged.
Although there is a difference in rank, since he possesses the ability of the nature attribute which is the highest among the personal Unique Skills of Awakened.
If he accumulates learning and makes a Hunter debut with the best impact when graduating.
‘Then to Father…….’
Just a little, just a little more forward.
Not much was left.
Kang Tae-wook buried his face strongly into the pillow.
“Not once…… there was never a time it didn’t work…….”
A strange person appeared.
A strange teacher who saw through his secret, and on whom his power didn’t work.
***
Next day.
Morning assembly time.
The pride of Taewoon High.
The whole student body was gathered in the dome-shaped gymnasium.
The whole student body assembly that happens once a month.
However, the expressions of the gathered students were mostly dark.
Perhaps because they were less awake, people dozing off while standing were also seen.
It was understandable.
Since they had to gather here one hour earlier than usual classes, the students lacked sleep.
And another thing was that it was a quite far distance from the dormitory where students lived to here.
Anyway.
Just this much was enough to explain the shade seen on the students' faces, but.
In fact, there was one more biggest reason why the students' expressions were dark.
Above the platform the students were looking at.
A man appeared.
Upper body that seemed about to burst and an impression full of confidence.
And slicked-back hair that was swept back so much that light reflected beyond just flowing gloss.
The Principal of Taewoon High.
It was Ma Jae-min.
“Eh, it is already the day of the March entire assembly. Everyone knows who I am, right?”
Small sighs flowed from here and there.
If one had to nitpick, from the lines where the 2nd and 3rd years stood.
Because they are the ones who have seen this repertoire for over a year.
Principal Ma Jae-min, who was standing on the platform, opened his mouth.
“Oops, I forgot that 1st years were here. If I were to speak about myself, as the Principal of the prestigious Taewoon High, the current Republic of Korea A-class Ranking 5th! Exceptionally for a martial arts faction, I rank at the top…….”
The fact that the principal's instructional speech is long will not change in the past or now.
Just because it is an Awakened school, it wouldn't be much different.
However, the reason the children were making such dark expressions.
Taewoon High Principal’s instructional speech time.
Because this time was the Principal’s self-boasting time.
Actually, he could boast about himself.
The problem was simply that he did it for a long time.
Too, too long.
The line of Year 2 Class A students.
Small voices went back and forth between them.
“How long will it take again today?”
“Was the shortest time last year forty minutes?”
“If it ends in just that much, I would have no wish. Every time he does it for the first time, it basically takes an hour.”
“Is this right? Making us gather a whole hour early. If he just let me skip the 1st period, I wouldn’t be this annoyed.”
“But where did the teacher go?”
“Homeroom teacher? True. Why isn’t he here?”
“Must have gone to the restroom. Or is he at the back.”
“Ah…… to think I have to listen to that boasting for another hour seriously. I memorized all the lines now.”
“Same for me. Ah, won’t a meteorite fall. Or even a Dungeon Break.”
“Hey hey, watch your mouth. If something like that happens here, we all die.”
“Maybe dying is better.”
“Just think of other things. Since there won’t be an occasion where the principal puts down the microphone anyway.”
At that moment.
Commotion arose from here and there.
The gazes of the Year 2 Class A students who were whispering at that sound moved, and soon headed to the platform.
“Hull…….”
“Oh my god.”
“Is this a dream?”
The students of Year 2 Class A could not believe the event that happened in front of their eyes.
Because there had never been a time like this even once.
The Principal’s instructional, no, boasting time where the shortest time was forty minutes.
But a time not even 2 minutes after the Principal grabbed the microphone.
Taewoon High’s Principal Ma Jae-min was putting down the microphone while reading someone’s cues.
At that appearance, the children’s expressions were dyed with shock.
Because they couldn’t even imagine that a day like this would come.
That a day would come when that Principal who lives for the taste of self-boasting wraps up this shortly.
At that moment.
Thud.
Thud.
The sound of footsteps was heard above the platform.
The sound of footsteps started from the right corner.
The place where the Principal was looking at the cues.
Someone was walking out from there.
The expression of the Principal reading the room.
And the timing of putting down the microphone.
Anyone decent could know everything.
The reason the Principal’s self-boasting ended with a shortest record.
Probably because of the owner of the footsteps.
Thud.
Thud.
The heads of the students gathered in the gymnasium stopped all at once at the center.
At that place where the Principal stepped back, someone lifted the microphone.
“Ah-ah. Can you hear? I am Yoo jin who came to take charge of Year 2 Class A as homeroom teacher starting today. Please take care of me.”
First impression.
Since a person is 1st person, whenever they see another existence for the first time, they always judge that person with their own thoughts and draw a picture.
It can’t be helped.
Since the mind is not something that can be seen either, people usually remember that person by recalling the appearance seen at the first meeting, or the situation encountered for the first time together.
Even to the students gathered here, Yoo jin’s first impression floated up as one line in their heads right now.
The teacher who stopped the Principal’s self-boasting that would have continued for an hour for the first time in history.
Therefore.
‘He is a savior.’
“Waaaaah!!”
The students’ cheers filled the gymnasium.
“Uh, uh, yes, I’m glad to meet you too.”
Although he didn’t know the reason, Yoo jin was just feeling good at the students’ welcome.