Chapter 9: A-Rank Kang Tae-wook (1)
“Teacher?”
“You mean…… a teacher?”
The eyes of the students who were holding onto Jin-ho from both sides shook.
It was understandable given just the current situation.
Because it was to the extent that no excuse would work.
Bullying of 3 against 1.
Because one could confirm at a glance who was the evil and who was the weak without looking at the circumstances.
“What is this situation? I think I need to hear an explanation? Let's just say the reason is, because I'm a teacher.”
The students holding Jin-ho met each other's eyes.
The man who newly appeared introduced himself as a teacher.
And starting today at that.
They couldn't believe a stranger's words at once, but conversely, because he was a stranger, those words spat out about being a teacher from today added persuasiveness.
The children who were making anxious expressions were trying to slowly release the hands that bound Jin-ho.
That was when.
“Ah? You were a teacher?”
Kang Tae-wook's voice rang out.
The students' gazes moved to Kang Tae-wook.
And their eyes that drew an arc in an instant.
One could no longer find anxiety or the like in their expressions.
Who is the person in front of their eyes?
The person with the best image in Taewoon High School, and the student called the future of Taewoon High.
“I am Kang Tae-wook, the class president of Year 2 Class A. And these are my friends.”
“Kang…… Tae-wook?”
No matter if he was a teacher appointed to the school for the first time today.
There was no way he wouldn't know Kang Tae-wook's name.
Because the principal, or at the very least other teachers, would have told him.
Special Management Student.
A small number of gifted students who received an Awakening Grade of A-class or higher, and among them, possessed a concentration of mana and Unique Skills higher than even Hunters fighting on the front lines, meaning they possessed overwhelming talent and potential.
The 3 Special Management Students in Taewoon High.
One of them was Kang Tae-wook.
And even looking from a friend's standpoint, Kang Tae-wook was truly…….
A child who was good at wearing a mask.
“We were in the middle of voluntary training together.”
A smiling expression.
It was pretentious, but he was showing perfect acting to the extent that it didn't feel like pretense at all.
Like the method acting of actors.
Because Kang Tae-wook was like that too.
He was genuinely thinking that way.
That he was a student who became a model for others, and the future of South Korea.
An upright talent who would become the hope of people.
It was acting, but if one believed it to be real, it became real.
The students who were holding him from both sides smiled smirked and nonchalantly tapped Jin-ho's shoulder.
“Ey, the teacher is misunderstanding, Jin-ho.”
“Yeah, loosen up your expression. Seems like it's his first time at a hunter school.”
Jabbering like that, the students raised Jin-ho from his spot.
However, Yoo jin, who was containing them in his eyes, scratched his eyebrows with a sunken expression as if something didn't please him.
“You said voluntary training?”
“Yes.”
The answer heard immediately.
Kang Tae-wook lifted a finger so Yoo jin could see it well.
Crackle!
One finger frozen while emitting cold air.
Kang Tae-wook made eye contact with Yoo jin, then brought the finger to his own shoulder without a single change in expression.
“This is my Unique Skill. It's an ability that allows me to use the ice of Absolute Zero freely. Well, if you look at just the situation, you could misunderstand, but what I was trying to do was, I practiced control ability to the extent of not causing harm to people while manifesting the ability.”
Kang Tae-wook poked his own shoulder with the frozen finger.
As if telling him to look closely.
“.......”
But the expression of the man who appeared saying he was a teacher was still dark.
“Since it seems you can't believe me yet. Well, then.......”
Kang Tae-wook slowly moved his steps toward the student with a bowl cut.
Distance decreasing.
As Kang Tae-wook's steps stopped at a distance where his hand could reach, the student with the bowl cut rolled his eyeballs rapidly.
His lips were sealed, but his shaking eyes were already asking a few words to the existence in front of his eyes.
“Don't worry.”
Kang Tae-wook, who spoke so only the bowl cut student right in front of him could hear, poked the bowl cut student's shoulder with the finger manifested to the point where cold air was visible in the vision.
Crunch.
The bowl cut student's body flinched.
To not let out a groan as much as possible.
If he let out a groan now, he didn't know what kind of things he would suffer from Kang Tae-wook after that person called a teacher disappeared.
So he endured.
He intended to endure even if his flesh was torn off.
But, what is this?
The bowl cut man slowly opened his eyes and moved his gaze to his shoulder.
Hiss!
Crackle!
The finger still creating mist in the air while emitting tremendous cold air.
However, there was no pain whatsoever on the shoulder that finger was touching.
The uniform didn't freeze either.
Surprise turned into relief, and next, it revealed itself as admiration.
“Oh.......”
Kang Tae-wook letting out a laugh while lifting the corners of his mouth further at the bowl cut student's reaction.
“You saw it, right? Although it was reflected like a situation worth misunderstanding a little, I, no, we were absolutely not doing anything like what Teacher thinks. And to add, I absolutely have no intention to hurt a friend with my ability. I intend to use my power only for people in danger.”
Kang Tae-wook faced Yoo jin and smiled softly.
It was Yoo jin who almost applauded at that subtle smile and the voice full of uprightness and sincerity.
Anyone would do that.
Such a young student.
And a student with an ability that looked quite strong at that, stating he would use that power to help people without getting drunk on that power or having an ounce of conceit.
Isn't it truly amazing.
Like a protagonist appearing in a movie.
Yoo jin nodded and slowly moved his gaze.
The bowl cut and the other student next to Jin-ho were smiling as if they were impressed.
Well, whether that was because of the boy named Kang Tae-wook's words, or if there was some other reason, he didn't know.
And the rest.
Jin-ho was.......
Containing only Kang Tae-wook in his eyes with dead eyes.
Like any extra envying the protagonist.
However, those eyes that knew he could absolutely never become a protagonist like that even if he died and woke up again.
The eyes of emotion that were cut and cut, and worn down, were staring only at Kang Tae-wook.
And Yoo jin moved his gaze to Kang Tae-wook again.
Protagonist.
This child definitely spat out words like a protagonist.
His smile was like a protagonist too, and his facial features were truly handsome.
His ability looked strong too.
Really a protagonist who would only come out in a movie.
A child who had everything.
So.
Truly.
“You are weird.”
Kang Tae-wook's eyes shook at the voice that came out of Yoo jin's mouth.
A spasm occurred at the corners of his eyes, but he tried not to get caught by giving strength as much as possible.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Like some movie protagonist. Everything is perfect.”
As incomprehensible sounds continued from Yoo jin's mouth, the corners of Kang Tae-wook's mouth gradually fell.
“If it's perfect, it's good.......”
“No. It can be moderately perfect. But it can't be as perfect as you. So... unless you deliberately made it up.”
At Yoo jin's voice, Kang Tae-wook's expression disappeared in an instant.
A time of a split second.
That short moment engulfed only in silence.
Inside Kang Tae-wook's head, one young child crying trapped in a small room came to mind.
Grind.
The child who filled the small drawing paper disappeared from inside the head.
And Kang Tae-wook's expression changed completely differently from until now.
“Just do it in moderation and leave. If you confirmed there's no problem. Interfering further is... crossing the line, even for a teacher.”
He pressed down and contained the heart that felt like it would go crazy.
Because the image he had built up until now was a waste.
And
The moment he expresses this anger.
Because he has to see the end.
Actually, there is a way to not get caught.
But, to do that.......
Because he has to make the man in front of his eyes unable to do the job of a teacher ever again.
Therefore.
“Let's go.”
Enduring the anger like that, Kang Tae-wook turned around.
The two lackeys including the bowl cut, who were only reading the room, tapped Jin-ho with their elbows, then moved closely behind Kang Tae-wook all together.
It seemed to end like that.
Kang Tae-wook too.
The other children too.
Thought just that.
Because other adults all stopped here.
Watching Tae-wook's mood, no, looking at Tae-wook's family background.
And using Kang Tae-wook's image as an excuse.
Because they protected themselves with the pretext of being an adult.
“Hey.”
So that one word.
Crumpled Kang Tae-wook's brow.
“Leave that kid behind. Because no matter how I look at it, it seems Jin-ho doesn't want to go with you guys.”
Snap.
“Ha....... Even though I gave you a chance.......”
Soliloquy flowed from his mouth.
The face of Kang Tae-wook who turned his body had changed coldly.
“Since you said you're a teacher here starting today, Teacher must be a Hunter too. So... I assume I don't need to explain how strong the Hunter Association's power is.”
At Kang Tae-wook's voice, the two lackeys who practically confined Jin-ho giggled.
A smile of victory.
A smile that knew what the picture behind this would be.
“Do you know who my dad is?”
The same expression as them was built on Tae-wook's face too.
These children were certain.
Because this method had worked unconditionally until now.
Therefore, they think Yoo jin is the same too.
Because teachers and adults are cowards who worry about their own safety the most.
And to power, to money, to authority.
Because they are existences who submit first.
So Tae-wook and his friends had no choice but to laugh.
Because Tae-wook's father was practically a cheat key.
Kang Tae-wook, who filled his self-esteem at the lackeys' gazes like that, spat out words like a cheat key.
“My dad is an Association Executive.......”
“Did your mom not tell you?”
“......What?”
Kang Tae-wook's expression sank.
The lackeys' expressions too.
Because an impossible thing happened.
Until now, not even once.
There wasn't an adult on whom these words didn't work.......
Yoo jin said while picking his nose with his little finger.
“I asked if your mom didn't tell you who your dad is. How would I know your dad, punk.”
At the opponent they were experiencing for the first time, Kang Tae-wook and the lackeys could not make any reaction.