Episode 35

There are festivals called the Flowers of the Academy.

An exchange match where you compete with other academies.

And a unity match where professors and students show off their skills.

Originally, the unity match unfolded with each grade banding together to compete.

But not anymore.

Freshmen compete with upperclassmen to gain experience.

Sophomores either fight with freshmen to help them gain experience or with juniors to gain their own.

Juniors help freshmen and sophomores gain experience in a ‘guidance’ format.

Here, those confident in their skills prove themselves by defeating upperclassmen.

However, the current juniors were called the golden generation.

When they were sophomores, they defeated most of the juniors, and as juniors, they excelled in external missions, taking on more than one person’s work.

However, this year’s freshmen are even more exceptional than those golden generations.

Moreover, this event has garnered even more attention because someone rose to the status of a professor while still a student.

“Isn’t the eldest son of the Iron-Blood Sword Clan said to be exceptionally talented in teaching?”

“Like father, like son. The young tiger is already baring his fangs. It’s already chaotic outside the Academy, and if not for the principal—if the Iron-Blood Sword Clan were the one leading, there would have been dozens of kidnapping incidents by now.”

“Just changing one magic circle increased the efficiency of magic by more than 60%. A genius mage in England is seeing an efficiency increase of more than 120%. That alone tells us a lot. Han Seojin must be recruited at all costs.”

Most of them decided to come as spectators to observe. They couldn’t afford to miss Han Seojin because they came to confirm his ‘talent’. So, they must look at his students.

If he truly has a talent for ‘education,’. He had to be recruited before others were able to obtain him. If possible, they’d use more devious methods, but this place is the domain of a transcendent, the principal.

Rather than her power, she’s more famous for her other abilities. That’s why they didn’t have any confidence in recruiting Han Seojin without her noticing. Therefore, the scouts could only use legitimate methods.

With their eyes focused on spotting potential talents, the scouts began wandering around to observe the students.

“After a long time, I will see my son.”

Meanwhile, the head of the Iron-Blood Sword Clan also made his appearance.

Before the unity event begins.

Standing where the players gathered, I observed the students.

Most of them were on their way out because of me.

‘I did push them quite a bit.’

I focused on Nam Hyerin for the past month.

However, that doesn’t mean it didn’t affect the other kids.

“Someday, you will receive your karma.”

“Karma? Is that why you’ve become so weak?”

“How cowardly to rely on underhanded tactics to win…”

Yoo Eunchae gritted her teeth.

“How undignified.”

“Better than a kid whining in front of their master.”

“When did I ever whine!”

“Let’s all calm down and get ready.”

“It’s unbearably noisy when you have the Problem Child here.”

“What the. Who are you calling Problem Child?”

“Problem Child Yoo Eunchae. I’ve disliked you since before. Shall we have a match?”

“I just learned something interesting, and a perfect target has shown up. Stay behind after the unity event.”

“Fine. Let’s settle this today.”

…So noisy, all of you.

My head is starting to hurt.

Not just one or two, but all the noisy ones gathered here.

They all are problem children.

“But you look nice today.”

“Huh?”

“Your hair is tied up.”

“Oh, this?”

My hair had grown a bit longer, so I tied it back slightly, and Yoo Eunchae looked at me sparklingly.

“That looks really good on you. You should keep it tied like that.”

Feeling annoyed, I untied my hair.

“What, are you some kind of contrarian?”

“Never mind. Eat this instead.”

I took a wooden box out of my pocket.

Click.

As I opened the box, a fragrant smell and ten colorful pills were revealed.

All were good for recovering stamina and mana.

I made them from things I pilfered from the principal.

The different colors matched the students’ characteristics, unique traits, or the nature of their internal arts.

“You’re well-prepared.”

“Do you think your teacher is as foolish as you?”

“What are you saying? You were the one who slipped on nothing earlier.”

“…”

There was a brief commotion, but all the students ate them.

Munch munch.

Chew chew.

Gulp.

The first to react was Yoo Eunchae.

“I feel so energetic! It seems like I’m at about 80% of my usual condition. You had it all planned, didn’t you, Master?”

“Really? Then, Yoo Eunchae, you can go out without releasing your iron rings.”

“Ah, even the iron rings!”

Click.

Thud! Thud!

Before I could finish speaking, everyone else had released their iron rings.

Their eyes were wide open.

“Was my body always this light?”

“It seems the effect is better than expected?”

“It’s temporary, so adjust your senses accordingly. You can do that much, right?”

“We can do it. It’s easier than when we were blindfolded and fighting against straw dummies with telekinesis.”

“That’s a pity.”

“…”

If they said they couldn’t do it, I planned to take them aside later for extra training.

Wi Gunak sighed in relief at my words.

Everyone’s senses sharpened.

“Hehe, with this, we can smash that annoying third-year’s face.”

“I’ll take on the president.”

“You’re going to fight that monster?”

“Yeah. I think I can win now.”

“Because Seon Woohyeon has grown tremendously.”

“But Professor, is it okay for you to be here?”

“Wi Gunak, what are you talking about?”

“Aren’t you supposed to be preparing?”

“…………………………………Ah!”

Professor Alves realized his situation only after a while.

Looks like he’s completely forgotten he’s supposed to be a professor.

“Then, Professor, I’ll go and prepare.”

“Yeah, do well.”

“I will definitely win.”

“Good.”

His confidence is nice to see.

Professor Alves brushed back his hair and went outside.

I’m not worried about the other kids, but I am a bit worried about him.

Among the professors, mages are at a somewhat disadvantage.

‘Well, he’ll manage somehow.’

Most of the students have become significantly stronger.

Nam Hyerin has grown the most by far.

My intensive management played a big part.

But if I were to name someone else…

‘It’d be Professor Alves.’

Is it because he’s been using strange magic formulas day and night? Once he broke through, he grew unimpeded. No, it’d probably be more accurate to say that it’s because he started on the correct path.

“Shall we also head out now?”

“Yes.”

Nam Hyerin nodded at my words.

The other students were assigned to later positions, but Nam Hyerin was assigned to an earlier one.

We went outside and walked towards the stadium.

“Are you nervous?”

“Yes, it’s been a while.”

“Relax. I’d like to say that, but it won’t work in this state.”

“Still, I will win.”

“You’ll get yourself into trouble. Just do as you’ve been taught. I didn’t teach you carelessly.”

Saying that I stared at one side.

Because there were kids openly harboring hostility toward us.

It was Namgoong Miryeo and the instructor.

“Are you well-prepared?”

“I did well.”

“Hmm… You really do teach well.”

The instructor said, looking at Nam Hyerin.

Compared to a month ago, everything about Nam Hyerin had changed.

Her posture and physique.

Those two things had changed drastically.

The enhancement of her internal energy didn’t improve her significantly.

Feeding her a spiritual elixir was an option, but since it takes quite a long time for someone other than me to digest it, I didn’t feed it to her.

‘The issue is also with the internal art.’

From the essential internal arts, she learned how to directly handle the Emperor Sword Form.

Azure Heaven Cosmic Godly Technique. She mastered the technique rivaling Shaolin’s Yi Jin Jing and Mount Hua’s Violet Mist Godly Technique.

Since it’s difficult to master properly, feeding her a spiritual elixir here would be too much of a good thing.

“I don’t know about other things… but it seems you weren’t confident in your teaching ability for nothing.”

Namgoong Miryeo’s eyes filled with caution.

It means Nam Hyerin looked that dangerous to her.

Both of their eyes are not bad.

Indeed, is it because they are both from Namgoong?

‘This is why prestigious families are quite fearsome.’

Even if they fall into decline, the knowledge they possess continues to be passed down.

“Truly befitting of a head professor. If it weren’t for that unfortunate incident last time, we could have retained a friendly relationship.”

“It’s fine. Seeing that your disciple hasn’t grown much compared to the last time, it seems like you’re raising them as if they’re a precious jewel, but compared to you, my disciple is naturally superior.”

They deliberately used honorifics.

These types of people really love it when you gently scratch their pride.

“…Such great confidence. Everyone has their own walls to face.”

“Isn’t it the duty of a teacher to help break down those walls? If the disciple is lacking, it’s only natural that the teacher should be competent. Ah, is it the opposite in your case?”

“…Our Miryeo is indeed an exceptional disciple. But aren’t you afraid?”

“Afraid of what?”

“Of course, in the first professorial duel at the unity event.”

“Ah.”

“……But don’t worry. Aren’t we both professors? I’m also the chief instructor……and Han Seojin is the chief professor. I’ll make sure to go easy on you.”

“This is really appreciated. Did you hear that, Hyerin? Be nice to Namgoong Miryeo.”

“…Are you asking me to be nice to Nam Hyerin now?”

“Huh? Are you getting it mixed up? Or is the novice asking the expert to go easy on her?”

“…”

The eyes of the martial arts instructor and Namgoong Miryeo were filled with murderous intent.

Wow, look at that intense murderous intent. It’s not the skill of someone who has buried just a few people.

Grinning, I patted the martial arts instructor on the shoulder.

“Don’t worry too much. I’ll be lenient.”

“Grunt. It seems nice words won’t work with you.”

“This is going to spoil. You don’t have to worry too much.”

Waving my hand, I went outside.

I took Nam Hyerin with me.

“How does it look?”

I looked at Nam Hyerin.

Her eyes, trembling a moment ago, became infinitely bright and clear.

“Namgoong Miryeo has been tormenting me since I was young.”

“Really?”

“It’s not to the point of PTSD. But it’s not like I’m not scared whenever I see her.”

Nam Hyerin wore an endlessly cold expression.

“She looks very small now.”

“Really? Then let’s go.”

That was enough.