A Veteran Teaches Very Well - Chapter 49



part 49

Yeeun pressed her finger into the cushion.

It sank in, looking much better than the sofa in my professor’s office, just as she said.

However, Jongseong and Edeline didn’t seem very satisfied.

“No, is this American style? What kind of work does the association do to present such a cheap car for guests?”

“I agree. They say it’s to prevent information leaks, but the treatment of state guests is far too inadequate, so I came out to personally escort them.”

“Indeed, as expected of the world’s greatest hero, you’re quite wise.”

To call this a cheap car was a different sense from us common folks.

Jongseong looked a bit different.

“Tsk. When I was young, 3,000 people gathered at the Japanese airport holding placards to welcome me.”

“Really? Wow!”

Yeeun looked at him as if she were seeing someone extraordinary.

Every time Jongseong shared a story from his active days, he seemed like a different person.

Jongseong was once the fourth-ranked hero in Korea.

Had I underestimated him all this time?

I truly didn’t understand why such an impressive man had been wandering around like that.

The voice of Jaybult crept into my mind.

【Yeah. Seong-woong was indeed remarkable.】

Worried he might spout nonsense again, I glared at the handle, and Jaybult hurriedly explained.

【Ah, no. I didn’t mean it like that… He was impressive as a prosecutor. There were very few who could draw out more than 70% of my capabilities.】

Seeing me in a staring contest with Jaybult, Jongseong chuckled softly.

His expression seemed to convey that he had many things he wanted to say as Jaybult’s former master.

“Isn’t it noisy, old man?”

“A little bit, yes.”

“A little bit? Oh dear, putting on airs in front of the new master. You’ll soon taste hell. Tsk tsk.”

I felt that I had indeed threaded the first button well.

I was glad I had sorted out the hierarchy in advance.

No matter how much they pretended to be pitiful, the fact remained that this was a harmful cursed sword.

The car carrying us moved forward.

Before we arrived, I decided to ask something that had been on my mind.

“Unicorn Guild Master.”

“Yes, Professor.”

“I want to know what’s happening in America. I’m curious about the crisis of humanity mentioned in the letter.”

I understood that this matter was related to the main quest, but that was all I knew.

This was not an event that players could normally participate in. Therefore, there was hardly any information about the event.

Since my greatest weapon was my knowledge of the game, the lack of information was troubling.

Edelin replied in a low voice.

“It’s classified information that can’t be known unless you’re involved.”

It seemed like she was conscious of Lee Yaeun and Jo Seongwoong, who had come with me.

We definitely needed to clarify this.

Yaeun was a clever NPC who was friendly towards players.

There was no way she would betray or unnecessarily blabber about things.

“You don’t need to worry, Yaeun. This girl is my assistant, and if you need my cooperation, it will inevitably reach Yaeun’s ears as well. And Professor Jo…”

This was a problem.

I really didn’t trust this guy.

Still, I felt that if I pushed too hard after saying this much, he would sulk, so I made up something appropriate.

“…he was an S-rank hero affiliated with Korea.”

“Hey, you! Why are you hesitating? And why is that all you have to say about me?”

Jo Seongwoong was angry, but I ignored him just enough.

This was enough to give him a bit of polish.

Edelin chuckled softly.

“No, of course I trust the professor’s party. The problem is over there.”

Edeline gestured towards the driver’s seat.

“That person is an association staff member, but they don’t hold a position that allows them to access the information.”

“Hah, so the American Association looks down on our car professor. They only sent a mere subordinate?”

As Jo Seong-woong grumbled, the staff member broke into a cold sweat and offered an explanation.

“That was never the intention. I may be a mid-level executive at the association, but the matter at hand is so serious that only those at the director level or above can access it.”

“Oh, really?”

Jo Seong-woong’s tone softened slightly.

It seemed he was somewhat pleased by the fact that the prestigious Hero Association, especially the American branch, had sent an executive as a driver.

The limousine smoothly made its way to the hotel.

It was a space more extravagant than the Baekje Hotel we had visited before.

As the association staff handed us the key card, they said, “The meeting is scheduled for tomorrow at 11 AM. I will come to pick you up at 10.”

“Understood.”

The staff member got back into the car and left.

Edeline spoke up.

“I’ll head in first. I hope you all have a comfortable night.”

“Yes.”

She immediately entered the hotel.

Even Jo Seong-woong, a veteran hero accustomed to such situations, felt the same.

“Let’s meet tomorrow.”

At the hotel entrance, only Lee Yeo-eun and I were left behind.

We wanted to go and sleep, but it wasn’t as easy as we wished.

Though it was midnight in America, it was broad daylight in Korea. There was no way someone like me, not a veteran hero like Jo Seong-woong, could adjust to the time difference.

Lee Yeo-eun said, “What should I do? I’m not sleepy at all.”

“Force yourself to sleep. From your reaction, it seems like a pretty serious issue, and we can’t afford to mess up because we’re tired.”

“Okay.”

From noble mtl dot come

After confirming that Lee Yeo-eun had entered her room, I too went into mine.

I knew it was an impressive place, but it exceeded my imagination.

The Baekje Hotel was remarkable, but this was even more so.

“Living life, and here I am, staying in a place like this.”

It was a private room that seemed like it would never have any connection to my life.

How much would it cost to stay in a place like this for a day?

At least I knew it was more expensive than the rent for my room back in reality.

“Isn’t this world worth living in, in its own way?”

I opened the small refrigerator in the room, and inside were two bottles of water.

I wondered what the water in a luxury hotel would be like.

Would it be infused with gold flakes or perhaps ginseng-infused? But it turned out to be just ordinary water.

Even the rich drink the same water.

“Hmm. I guess I’ll just sleep.”

I turned off the light and lay down on the bed.

It was incredibly soft.

Even if the water was the same, the bed was different.

“Wow, what the….”

Soft—

I relaxed my body, and it bounced back.

The springs were no joke.

Soft— Soft—

It was addictively delightful.

Lying on a bed like this and then going back to my usual one? No matter how I thought about it, I couldn’t imagine adjusting.

I’m somewhat of a well-known figure now; surely I could afford at least one decent bed?

Contrary to my thoughts that I wouldn’t be able to sleep, the high-performance bed quickly summoned slumber.

* * *

“What? When did I fall asleep?”

I opened my eyes.

I didn’t even know when I had fallen asleep. I just lay down, and my memory cut off immediately.

It was the impressive performance of the bed.

“Should I get one for my home too?”

With the help of the internet, I figured out what kind of bed it was.

The price was shockingly high, but it wasn’t beyond what I could invest in at this point.

Quality sleep has always been of utmost importance.

Alright. Let’s buy a bed.

After deciding to purchase a bed, I checked the time and it was exactly 6 o’clock in Washington.

There was still quite a bit of time before my appointment with the staff.

After a quick wash, I headed downstairs.

I met Jo Sung-woong in the lobby.

“Good morning.”

“Professor Cha, you’re up early. Shall we take a walk together?”

“Sure.”

We stepped outside and walked in silence.

The sophisticated scenery was a feast for the eyes.

The splendid fountain and the beautifully shaped plants reflected the gardener’s dedication and effort.

After a moment, Jo Sung-woong broke the silence.

“The time has come.”

“What do you mean?”

“Someone you know is playing dumb.”

Jo Sung-woong lowered his voice.

“I saw the letter that came to you, Professor Cha. Your student seems to have brushed it off lightly, thinking it was just a fuss… Americans love to exaggerate, but they don’t lie.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. At the very least, it’ll have an impact as significant as the Nest of the Devouring Dragon.”

There was a bitterness in Jo Sung-woong’s words.

He was a hero among heroes, someone who had directly experienced the Nest of the Devouring Dragon.

He was someone who knew that horrific day better than anyone else.

The mention of the Nest of the Devouring Dragon from Jo Sung-woong’s lips felt like a revelation of the resolve he was carrying.

“Do you remember what you said when we first met?”

“You said the world would face a crisis.”

“Exactly. This is the beginning.”

Jo Sung-woong’s hands trembled slightly.

“I’m scared. I have no idea what’s going to happen.”

“I understand.”

“Honestly, I didn’t want to come to America either. I was scared. But the thought of just sitting back and letting everything end was even scarier.”

After a brief pause, Jo Seong-woong spoke.

“Professor Cha, you are the hope of humanity.”

“That’s an exaggeration.”

“No, it’s the truth. I promise you. No matter what happens, I will protect you.”

“Professor Jo…”

“So if the old man happens to die… make sure you take good care of Seo-hu.”

“Please don’t say that.”

I said firmly.

“We will all return safely. Me, Yeo-eun, and you, Professor Jo.”

“Ha ha, that’s quite something.”

Before we knew it, we had returned to the entrance.

We had circled around the hotel.

“Professor?”

Lee Yeo-eun, who had come out of the lobby, called us.

“Did you two have breakfast without me?”

“Surely not.”

I immediately denied it, worried she might sulk.

But it seemed that was the wrong answer.

“Geez, just eat without me. I was planning to go eat with Edeline unnie.”

It was true that raising students was of no use. I felt a sense of betrayal.

What did that Edeline have to say to abandon her advisor?

“I’m just joking, just joking.”

“That’s not the kind of joke you make. It’s like driving a nail into your mentor’s heart.”

Lee Yeo-eun chuckled softly.

I couldn’t hate this, yet it was frustrating.

“When did you start calling the Unicorn Guild Master ‘unnie’?”

Lee Yeo-eun quickly turned her head and exercised her right to remain silent.

Now I realized she probably hadn’t even asked for permission.

Lee Yeo-eun made an excuse in a small voice.

“Wow, everyone usually calls him that.”

“Like how we call that soccer player our brother?”

“Huh? Who are you talking about?”

“Well, he’s not really our brother anymore. Anyway, can you suggest going to eat?”

Lee Ye-eun replied in a hesitant voice.

“…If the professor is left alone to eat, wouldn’t it be sad enough for him to join us out of pity?”

“Come on.”

It was a pathetic answer, but strangely persuasive.

Jo Sung-woong said.

“Your student wants that, so why not have Professor Cha say something? Let’s eat together.”

At those words, Lee Ye-eun’s eyes sparkled.

Her gaze was so earnest that it was hard to pretend not to notice.

More than that, wasn’t Jo Sung-woong just fulfilling his own desires? What good would it do to sell out my student for that?

“I’ll at least suggest it.”

“Really? Our professor is the best!”

Lee Ye-eun jumped up and down.

It felt like I was bowing down to receive a favor, but it didn’t feel too bad.

I sent a message to Edeline.

─Are you awake?

A quick reply came back.

─Edeline: Yes. I just woke up.

─Would you like to have a meal together?

─Edeline: ?

What’s with this question mark?

Does that mean she doesn’t want to eat with us?

After a moment, another reply came.

─Edeline: You’re surprisingly proactive. I don’t dislike that style.

─Edeline: Since the professor suggested it, you’ll escort me, right?

Fortunately, I had the face to see my student.

“She said yes.”

“Ajah!”

We gathered in the hotel restaurant for a meal.

The restaurant was a space that could hardly be described with enough embellishments.

The menu was also quite luxurious.

However, what weighed on my mind was the slight redness in Edeline’s complexion as she entered the restaurant.

“Um, about having a meal…”

“Is something wrong?”

“Oh, no.”

Edeline sulked as she picked at her food before returning to her room.

I felt a pang of guilt for having called her out when she seemed to be in poor condition.

Still, Lee Ye-eun looked completely delighted.

Well, that was good enough.

* * *

As the appointed time arrived, the association’s vehicle pulled up.

An employee stepped out of the car.

He was a man with a more dignified presence than the one I had seen yesterday. He also seemed to hold a higher rank.

“Nice to meet you, Professor Cha. I’m Andrew from the American Heroes Association.”

Andrew extended his hand for a handshake.

We didn’t engage in the childish act of trying to outgrip each other.

Yet, just by touching his thick, rough hand, I could feel the weight of his years.

Wasn’t he a hero who had quite a reputation during his active days?

“Please, get in.”

It was a limousine of the same kind as the one we had taken yesterday.

It might be the standard vehicle used by the American Heroes Association.

One by one, we climbed into the limousine.

Inside the car, Jo Sung-woong asked directly.

“Mr. Andrew, could you explain why you called us?”

“Yes. I’ll explain on the way.”

The response was positive.

As expected, he was a person of high rank.

“We detected unusual mana near the Pacific three months ago. But just a few days ago, it began to surge even more.”

“Surely not…”

“Yes. Early yesterday morning, a gate opened there. An SS-class gate, no less.”

“That can’t be!”

“An SS-class, you say…”

Jo Seong-woong and Lee Ye-eun were taken aback.

While Jo Seong-woong might have had some inkling, for Lee Ye-eun, the SS-class had far surpassed the worst-case scenario she had imagined.

An SS-class gate.

It was a name that left an enormous scar on humanity.

“I hope Professor Cha can provide counsel to the command as an external advisor.”

“That’s not difficult at all.”

Edeline grumbled.

“Hmph. Instead of calling it external advice, it would be better to grant Professor Cha full authority in tactical strategy. The Unicorn guarantees his abilities.”

“I’ve heard that the Unicorn Guild has benefited from Professor Cha, but… doesn’t he still lack experience? The people in command this time are top-class experts with proven results, so don’t worry.”

Andrew firmly drew the line.

The emergence of an SS-class dungeon might seem like an unmitigated disaster from the perspective of the general public, but the association viewed it differently.

They would prevent the SS-class dungeon with minimal damage.

For them, there could be no greater badge of honor.

If they successfully concluded this matter, the next election would be a free pass, and they would undoubtedly secure unconditional support for over a decade.

It was a mindset unwilling to share such a delicious pie with outsiders.

“Tsk, so that’s how it is.”

Jo Seong-woong clicked his tongue.

He realized that his earlier comment about the treatment being neglectful was not just empty words.