I’ll Retire After Saving the World

Chapter 46: A Teacher’s Duty (3)

TL: SHW

“Keuk, kekeuk….”

Hong Seok-young lowered his head and his shoulders shook.

“…….”

I looked at Hong Seok-young.

“Kekeuk, pfft, keuk, kekekeuk.”

I couldn’t understand why this man was acting this way.

But considering the time we’d spent together, I decided to wait. If I were someone else, I would have just kicked him.

“Keuk….”

“…….”

It took a while for Hong Seok-young to finally stop laughing.

“Keuk, you said, you have no talent?”

Hong Seok-young asked, gasping for breath. Just as I was about to answer, he asked again.

“What kind of work did you mainly do in Ark?”

He narrowed his eyes. Why is he asking this? Is he testing me again?

I answered cautiously.

“I did various odd jobs….”

“No, I know that. But there must be a main task you did.”

“…Just.”

“Evangelism?”

What is he talking about?

“Don’t look at me with that sour face. Didn’t you ever sneak in somewhere to get information?”

He seemed oddly delighted.

That look twisted my insides.

“That wasn’t my job.”

“Huh.”

Hong Seok-young let out a short, mocking laugh.

“Then, related to dungeons?”

“…I did a bit of everything. Well, yes. There are resources in dungeons….”

“The Ark must have been blind.”

“……?”

“Geez. Don’t worry about it. That… there. National. There.”

“It’s the National New Heart and Spirit Association.”

“Try attending a lecture. Listen to what they say.”

I worried about Hong Seok-young’s hearing and memory. He’s at his peak age as a Hunter, but if he’s already having memory issues, what will he do?

“I told you I can’t do it.”

“And I told you not to worry.”

Hong Seok-young started chuckling again.

“I think it’ll suit your aptitude well.”

“What?”

“You have talent.”

What on earth is he saying?

“You’re more than capable of doing this. Why don’t you believe in yourself?”

“…….”

“If you can’t believe in yourself, then believe in me.”

A completely untrustworthy person is talking nonsense.

A face without a hint of a smile. Serious eyes. Even Hunters can’t completely escape aging. The wrinkles around his eyes add to his earnestness.

He looks credible as long as he keeps his mouth shut. Many people are deceived by that face.

Of course, I am not fooled.

“Judging by how you handle the kids, there’s no problem. You’ll do well.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“It has a lot to do with it.”

He grinned broadly.

Even back then, he was still like the old him. A bad-natured person who enjoys teasing others.

When he acts like this, it’s impossible for me to win against his stubbornness. What can I do? I have to be the more mature one and concede.

“Ah. But will it be alright? If you make close contact with the Ark side, there might be people who recognize you.”

“…….”

Right. There’s that.

“As expected, I shouldn’t….”

“You must have prepared for that.”

“…….”

“Right?”

His unwavering eyes were fixed on me.

In a fleeting moment, many thoughts crossed my mind. I swallowed and nodded.

“Not preparation, exactly.”

“Then?”

His gaze on me didn’t change. The same but different look since I was adopted.

But it’s a face that always listens to whatever I say.

“…Not many people know my real face, so it’s fine.”

“Ah, ah. Right. You said you wore a mask?”

“To move around freely outside, it’s better that way. Since I roam around various Ark institutions.”

“Roam around? Why?”

“For a bit of auditing.”

“You really did do a bit of everything, huh?”

His gaze moved away from my face, making it a bit easier to breathe.

“Hunter Lee is also investigating, but it’s good to have various methods of contact. Don’t push yourself too hard, just get a feel for it and get out. There’s no need to take unnecessary risks when there are other ways.”

“Yes.”

“And while you’re at it, get a cellphone. Seriously, in this day and age, how do you not have one? What do you do after work?”

What do I do?

I fiddle with my Mana Watch, checking if there’s any useful information.

So far, the results haven’t been great.

“…I’m working on a curriculum.”

“Curriculum? For classes?”

“How can I teach the kids without a lesson plan? Dungeon raiding isn’t just about fighting well.”

“Hmm….”

“You’ve raided a lot of dungeons, haven’t you? Just explaining how raids proceed would help the kids.”

“I’m not good at those kinds of explanations….”

“Do you think anyone is good at it from the start? Believe in yourself. You can do it.”

Hong Seok-young avoided my gaze and pretended to check the time on his phone from his inner pocket.

He was trying to escape.

“Do you think kids will learn dungeon raiding methods on their own if you just roll them around in the dirt? At the very least, teach them the weaknesses of different monster types. That’s something even you can do.”

“That, that will come with experience….”

“This is a Hunter training school. We need to teach this.”

“We’re still short on teachers….”

“Then you should have postponed the dungeon raid. It’s right around the corner….”

“Ahem. Hrmm.”

Hong Seok-young let out a loud fake cough.

“I, I forgot I have an appointment. I’ll be back before the kids finish school, so please handle the class.”

“Do you really have an appointment?”

“Of course!”

Hong Seok-young raised his voice defensively, which only made me more suspicious.

“I’ve been neglecting dungeon raids lately…. I do! So handle the class well! Like Teacher Woo said, there isn’t much time left before the raid.”

“…….”

I can understand. This old man himself started from the bottom and relied solely on his instincts in battles. Even now, it’s the same.

Suddenly asking him to give theoretical lessons,

‘Well… right. First, enter the gate.’

‘And then?’

‘You smash everything you see! Eventually, the dungeon core is bound to appear.’

He would say something like that. I’ve experienced it myself.

That’s why he sent the kids for practical training to some guild in Myeong-dong for practical training. He outsourced it because he couldn’t teach them well.

…Would I have learned more easily if I had been outsourced too?

“This conversation isn’t over yet.”

“Ahem.”

“You’re the principal, so you need to listen.”

“AHEM!”

I sighed.

* * *

June 15, 2021.

“So, when are you planning to make contact?”

“I don’t know….”

I stretched lightly and tilted my head to the side.

“Maybe after this raid.”

Kim Chae-min lightly tapped my shoulder in reproach.

“Of course! Today is the raid day!”

“Well….”

“Aren’t you a bit too relaxed? You weren’t even going to do this originally, right?”

The equipment I have isn’t much. Just light leather armor. For a mere C-rank dungeon, what kind of gear do you need?

Originally, I planned to enter unarmed, but Hong Seok-young stopped me.

‘There will be an inspector. If you don’t wear any armor, it’ll be suspicious. Have you forgotten what your rank is?’

…It was one of Hong Seok-young’s rare logical arguments.

“Honestly, it’s cumbersome.”

“Teacher Woo, tell me honestly. What’s your real rank?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean your real skills. Even if you’re an illegal Awakener, you must have a rough idea.”

I shrugged, feigning ignorance.

“You saw my license. I’m D-rank.”

“Oh, come on!”

Kim Chae-min glared at me with a sullen face.

But soon, she relaxed and chuckled.

“Right. That way, Ark won’t suspect anything. Hunter Lee worked hard to create your background, Teacher Woo.”

“What kind of person can just whip up someone’s life like that?”

“I was curious too, so I asked once….”

“And?”

“She said it’s better not to know.”

“…….”

Thinking about Lee Mi-seon twenty years from now, that seems plausible. That Lee Mi-seon wasn’t made overnight.

The National New Heart and Spirit Association. The attempt to create a connection with Ark was delayed a bit due to the raid. In the meantime, Lee Mi-seon quickly fabricated a believable life story for Woo Hwijae, the D-rank Hunter. Since there was already groundwork laid, adding details wasn’t difficult.

Given that Ark was likely to investigate me, time was of the essence.

“…Anyway!”

Kim Chae-min waved her hand in front of my eyes.

“The kids are probably ready by now. Let’s wrap up and head out.”

“Hmm….”

I put my feet up on the desk. The Mana Regulator was exposed. Kim Chae-min groaned as she tapped the regulator.

“Why the long face?”

“I’m not good with these Mana devices….”

“But you’re an Archmage.”

“Archmages aren’t omnipotent!”

“The Archmage I know….”

“Does that Archmage even exist?!”

I chuckled and nodded. Kim Chae-min pouted.

Still, Kim Chae-min effortlessly unraveled the formula engraved on the Mana Regulator. Just before the final step, she suddenly asked,

“Do you think the kids will succeed in the raid?”

“If they can’t clear a thinned-out dungeon, they might as well die.”

“But Teacher Woo, you didn’t teach them the raid strategy properly, did you?”

What a false accusation.

“I taught them everything worth teaching.”

“Come on… You didn’t teach them the crucial parts. You didn’t even teach them how to choose a leader.”

“Do I really need to teach that?”

I answered indifferently.

“Quite a few of them have already been in and out of dungeons. Lee Seung-yeon and Sun Sun-jin should know.”

“What would they know? They probably think they’re just out for a trip since Hunter Lee is looking out for them.”

If they have such a carefree attitude about becoming Hunters, they should quit now.

“Besides, we have someone from a guild background.”

Seo Han-seong.

He probably wasn’t treated well in the guild, and it’s hard to say he successfully led any raids, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t learn anything. Moreover, despite seeing that situation, he still chose to join this specialized school to become a Hunter. He should show some tenacity.

Didn’t Hong Seok-young say this was a test? Regardless of performance, that’s what matters to students.

“Oh… That’s true.”

Kim Chae-min quickly agreed.

According to her, she doesn’t have much experience in dungeon raids, but she’s still an Archmage. A Hunter. She must know well how the ecosystem inside a dungeon operates.

“Han-seong and Hyun-wook too….”

Oh Hyun-wook?

“They wouldn’t be completely clueless about dungeon raids.”

“…Student Oh Hyun-wook?”

“Yes? Oh, you didn’t know? Hyun-wook also comes from a guild.”

“……Really?”

Was that so? Really?

That pig?

I couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh.

The pig was a guild slave?

No, it’s not that it’s funny… He was like that and yet he acted like shit to the guild members and got stabbed twice?

Isn’t he a complete joke?

Clack.

“All done!”

“Good job.”

I lowered my feet from the desk. I lightly kicked the floor with my toes. Even though I had removed it while avoiding Hong Seok-young’s eyes, it felt different to have it removed legally.

“Then, please take care of the kids.”

Without replying, I grabbed Yoo Ji-eun’s sword that Hong Seok-young had returned. I could feel the mana pulsating through the sword.

I still shook my head as I headed towards the playground where the kids were waiting.

“Teacher!”

I saw Park Seo-hyun looking back at me with a bright smile. A completely different appearance from when she was a budding witch.

A bit away from Park Seo-hyun stood a skinny boy glaring at me. Oh Hyun-wook. That pig. Piglet.

Fine.

I’ll make sure you remain human, not a beast. That’s a teacher’s duty, isn’t it?