A Veteran Teaches Very Well - Chapter 48



part 48

But when she screamed, it became quite high-pitched. It was a rather cute sound.

“Are you in pain?”

“I’m not in pain, but… why, why do you ask?”

“If you were attacked during battle and felt pain, that would be problematic.”

“When it’s thinly sliced, I hardly feel anything, so it’s fine… Huh! Please don’t squeeze that!”

“Got it.”

As soon as I let go of the mass of mana, Baeksulhwa scattered it.

Once again, the mana returned, thin as a thread.

“I think if we research a bit more, we could use it in various ways?”

“That’s a relief.”

“Hehe, just wait and see.”

My gamble had successfully paid off.

A new skill I had never seen in the game.

This is just the beginning.

From now on, Baeksulhwa will run on a path unique to her, one that no one has ever experienced.

I had no certainty that the outcome would be better than the way I had played.

Even so, I wanted to hold onto hope for Baeksulhwa’s future endeavors.

Chapter 4. Main Story

It has been nearly three months since I entered the game.

Looking back, a lot has happened.

It all started with the inexplicable professor’s inauguration ceremony.

A large auditorium filled with strangers.

That was when the connections and misfortunes began.

Receiving the appointment letter from President Ryu Jeong-ah, I met Professor Yoon Seong-yeop.

My encounter with Yoon Seong-yeop was a misfortune, but thanks to that, I was able to meet Lee Ye-eun. For that alone, I was grateful to him.

I even had the reckless plan to become a professor and train an elite party to clear the game.

In hindsight, it was indeed a foolish plan.

To gather playable characters through the lectures of a newly appointed professor—this was all thanks to An Se-ri.

My chance meeting with An Se-ri was nothing short of a fortuitous event for me.

I started as a newly appointed professor whose name no one knew, but so much has changed in the past three months.

I was no longer an ordinary new professor.

A professor who can exert some influence on the world.

That was my current position.

▶ You are invited.

This morning, an ornate letter arrived before me.

You might think, what kind of fool sends a letter in the 21st century, but the emblem drawn on the letter dispelled that thought in an instant.

A golden eagle’s head, with two crossed rifles behind it.

It was the emblem of the American Hero Association.

“Wow! What’s going on? The American Hero Association is looking for you, professor!”

My teaching assistant, Lee Yea-eun, was bouncing on her feet.

I was curious too.

Why were these people looking for me?

“Wait a minute. Let’s read it first.”

As I opened the golden envelope, an ornate letter was inside.

The paper, adorned with embroidery at the corners, looked incredibly luxurious. Given the sender, it looked even more so.

Flap—

─To Professor Cha Eun-woo.

─We are the ones who fight to protect humanity.

“Ooh.”

From the very first sentence, confidence overflowed.

A grand statement about protecting humanity, not just the nation.

Given who the sender was, it made sense.

America was the strongest nation in the world, like the police of the Earth.

─Humanity is facing an unprecedented crisis.

─To protect the world, unity is necessary. We will be waiting.

“Hm.”

If I were to summarize the lengthy, flowery letter, it would boil down to this:

A crisis has arisen, so please come help us.

Lee Yea-eun grumbled.

“Pfft, this is just America’s usual line. Helping them is equated with helping the world’s justice. Their pride is something else.”

No.

This situation is a bit different.

There was a sense of why I sent this letter.

The time has come.

Finally, the wheel of fate, hidden behind the world, has begun to turn.

“The prologue is about to end.”

“Excuse me?”

The main story is about to begin.

Originally, the first scenario should have started much later.

From noble mtl dot come

But with the appearance of Bonivatus, the progression of the game I knew has already been somewhat twisted.

So the world is forcing itself to hastily conclude the prologue, even if belatedly, to follow this distorted narrative.

Yeeun may not know, but according to the game’s setting, the phrase “a crisis like never before in America” has only been used once.

That was when the great catastrophe that turned the world upside down occurred, with the emergence of the SS-class dungeon, the Nest of the Destruction Dragon.

“A crisis is coming soon.”

The end of the prologue.

Originally, this was not an event that players in the academy could involve themselves in.

Players could only watch the end of the prologue through a cutscene.

It was a unilateral defeat for humanity.

But if I step in now.

As the prologue ends, if I can save the heroes who would originally die without reaching the main story.

Countless possibilities will arise for humanity’s future.

“Yeeun, get ready.”

“Ready?”

“We need to go to America, so hurry and pack your things.”

“Me too?”

Yeeun showed a slightly bewildered reaction.

It was clear she didn’t seem keen, as it looked like there would only be bothersome tasks ahead.

There’s a perfect method for situations like this.

“I’m a bit skeptical about Cheon.”

“Right! Ahem, the only one who can help the professor is his apprentice.”

It’s easy, very easy.

—

Assistant Instructor Cheon, I’m sorry for selling you out.

But I was sincere when I said I couldn’t trust you.

“Inform them that you’re going on a business trip to the academy, pack your things, and come. It’s okay if you don’t have a passport. The meeting itself is private, so the American side will take care of it.”

“Yes!”

Lee Yae-eun quickly left.

I should start preparing too.

The first thing I looked for was a box stored in the corner of the professor’s office.

“Haa…”

A sigh came out naturally.

Is it right to break the seal on this? I felt conflicted.

But I received it to use at times like this.

I closed my eyes tightly and opened the box.

Wooong─

As I opened the box, a trembling white stick appeared.

It was Jo Sung-woong’s magic sword, Jaybilt, wrapped tightly in bandages.

As I grabbed Jaybilt to unwrap the bandages, a noisy voice pierced my mind.

【New master! How could you do this to me! Isn’t this too much?】

Hearing Jaybilt’s whining made my heart soften a bit.

After all, it’s a weapon with a consciousness, so I wondered if I had treated it too harshly.

【You tied me up tightly and locked me in a narrow space, making me beg… You’re quite the assistant instructor. Master, you’ve made the sword cry quite a bit, haven’t you? Hmm, you might get addicted to this kind of play…】

Alright, decision made.

My past self was right.

Let’s just seal this back in the box and find a new, intact sword.

I shoved it back into the box.

Jaybilt whined.

【Huh! Wait! I don’t want to be in the box anymore! It’s dark and cramped, and I’m scared!】

“Shut up. I hate it even more.”

【I’ll sue you! The master must guarantee the rights of the sword!】

“Rights? Don’t make me laugh. You’re not even an animal, where do you get rights?”

【No, I don’t want to!】

—

—

Jaybult struggled to break free from my hand, but it was just a sword without a master.

Now, it was impossible to overcome my strength, which rivaled even that of mid-tier heroes.

“Go in gently.”

【No, I don’t want to! Why are you doing this to me?】

“Then promise me. You won’t spout nonsense again.”

【Nonsense? Are you taking away my right to speak now?】

Negotiations broke down.

As soon as I began to assert my power, Jaybult finally raised the white flag.

【I know, I get it! I-I lost, so please, just stop with the box!】

Indeed, it was crucial to firmly establish who was in charge from the very beginning.

Especially if it was a cursed sword with a mind of its own.

【Ugh, I’ve surrendered. This isn’t an ego sword; it’s more like a knight’s role…】

* * *

The departure schedule was set quickly.

2 PM.

To leave for the United States, I, Lee Ye-eun, and Professor Jo Seong-woong gathered.

The reason Jo Seong-woong was included was due to President Ryu Jeong-ah’s consideration.

“Getting older just means more worries. Seong-woong, you might not like seeing an ugly face, but bear with it. Still, he’s good with a sword, so he’ll at least fend off minor disputes.”

“No, sir. Why am I the ugly one?”

Ryu Jeong-ah clicked her tongue and said.

“Seong-woong, what do you think when you see that kid’s face?”

“He’s incredibly handsome.”

“Now look in the mirror.”

“There’s a little octopus in there.”

“Right?”

Ryu Jeong-ah laughed at Jo Seong-woong with a bright face.

At that, Jo Seong-woong was outraged.

“Sir, how old do you think I am to be compared to Professor Cha? I was quite the catch when I was young. You know I’ve had a truckload of confessions from girls, right?”

“You fool. It’s not because they like you; they’re just flocking to you for your money. How long has it been since you got bitten by a gold digger, divorced, and lost all your wealth, crying and wailing? And then you went into hiding.”

“Ugh! S-stop! Why are you saying such things in front of the kids!”

—

A shocking statement escaped from Ryu Jeong-ah’s lips.

So this gentleman had been in seclusion for that reason?

Lee Ye-eun’s expression turned strange, as if her image of Jo Seong-woong had plummeted.

The already low evaluation of Jo Seong-woong hit rock bottom.

The more you dug, the more curses came out; he was quite the remarkable man.

Could it be that Jaybuilt ended up like this because of him…?

Jo Seong-woong, his face flushed bright red, changed the subject.

“Enough of this nonsense! Let’s hurry to America! Come on!”

“Are we heading to the airport now?”

Lee Ye-eun asked with an innocent face.

Ryu Jeong-ah replied.

“At this rate, when will we even get to America? It takes a whole 14 hours, you know.”

“What? Then how…?”

Flash!

Light burst forth from Ryu Jeong-ah’s cane.

The most immense mana I had ever seen surged up.

It was the power of a witch who had protected Korea for 150 years.

Lee Ye-eun gaped in astonishment.

“Huh?”

“Hehe. It’s too early to be surprised. The teacher’s true power is far beyond this.”

The colossal mana enveloped the three of us.

At our feet, a small magic circle barely large enough to contain a single person appeared.

Yet the amount of mana contained within that tiny circle was as vast as the ocean.

“Teleteleteleport!”

The naming sense was the worst, but the power of the magic was exceptional.

I felt a weightlessness as my body floated.

Soon, we were greeted by an unfamiliar landscape.

A room completely different from the president’s office we had just been in.

It was an incredibly spacious area, but there was nothing inside.

A space whose purpose was unknown.

Lee Ye-eun asked.

“…Where is this?”

“Long-distance teleportation boasts incredible power, but it comes with a few limitations. Most notably, there’s a tendency for errors in the arrival coordinates, so a medium to serve as a landmark is necessary.”

The one who answered the question was neither me nor Jo Sung-woong.

It was an American who appeared from behind, a familiar face.

“Professor Cha, welcome to America.”

“Unicorn Master.”

Edelin Pierce.

The strongest hero of humanity.

She was a person who shone as brightly as if she had brought the sun itself.

“I didn’t expect the Unicorn Guild Master to come out personally to greet me.”

“I’m not someone who moves at any time, but you’re someone worth that effort.”

It was a pleasant remark.

It meant that I had become a figure significant enough to move the world’s greatest hero.

“Uh, uh…”

My disciple beside me couldn’t close her mouth.

Lee Ye-eun whispered from behind me.

“Is, is that really Edelin?”

“Is there a fake Edelin that I don’t know about?”

“Eek! To see the world’s greatest hero up close…”

Lee Ye-eun peeked out from behind me, her face barely visible.

Edelin chuckled, perhaps finding the sight adorable.

“Are you Professor Cha’s student?”

“Yes. She’s my researcher.”

“Oh my.”

Edelin clicked her tongue with a look of pity.

Even in different countries, the perception of researchers seems to be the same.

“Come here. Let me give you an autograph.”

“R-really?”

Lee Ye-eun stepped out, her posture stiff.

It was incredibly awkward.

Edeline naturally took out a pen and a Post-it note with familiar movements.

“What’s your name?”

“It’s Lee Ye-eun…”

“Here you go.”

“Thank you!”

Lee Ye-eun’s expression brightened.

In this world, heroes had pushed aside all celebrities to take their place.

For A-class heroes and above, there was hardly any privacy, and S-class heroes were treated with a level of respect that even the president couldn’t afford to disregard.

There was even a joke that to become president, one needed to be close friends with several S-class heroes.

In such a world, what was the point of even mentioning Edeline’s influence?

While there might be people who didn’t know the name of their own president, everyone knew Edeline’s name.

That was the weight carried by the name of the top hero.

Perhaps it was only natural for Lee Ye-eun to react this way.

Beside us, Jo Seong-woong licked his lips with a look of regret.

Edeline sensed the atmosphere and suggested first.

“Shall I get a signature for the professor next to you as well?”

“What’s an old man doing asking for a signature? Hmph, still, I can’t ignore the kindness of the offer, so I’ll graciously accept it.”

Even so, it seemed a bit pathetic for this gentleman to act like that.

He looked like an uncle fan chasing after an idol the age of his daughter.

Edeline turned to me and said.

“Should I get one for Professor Cha too?”

“I’m fine, thanks.”

However, Edeline’s perception of me was not good.

To put it bluntly, it was the worst.

The reason was due to Edeline’s behavior shown in the game.

Still, since she had granted me the skill of swordsmanship, I held no personal grudge.

“We have some time until the meeting, so let’s head to the hotel first.”

We followed Edeline to the vehicle.

“Get in.”

The vehicle that Edeline guided us to was a limousine from a brand that anyone would recognize.

We opened the car door and stepped inside.

The interior was spacious and cozy.

It could easily be mistaken for a small studio apartment’s living room.

I had never been in a car like this before.

Though I didn’t show it outwardly, it was an incredibly fresh shock.

Yeeun, perhaps feeling similarly, whispered to me.

“Wow. The cushions here are even softer than those in the professor’s office.”