Chapter 10: Became a Master (2)

Yoon Cheon-woo stood firm before me, though his legs were trembling.

It was a severe injury that would have made any other child burst into tears.

If it hurts, he should go home and get treatment, so why is he stopping me?

“Are you okay?”

“It doesn’t hurt!”

Yoon Cheon-woo’s eyes were filled with strong resolve.

[Yoon Cheon-woo is impressed.]

‘That Heavenly Demon is impressed by something like this?’

[Currently, Yoon Cheon-woo is influenced by the mental state of a child.]

Ah, right, that’s how it was.

Yoon Cheon-woo bowed deeply.

“I apologize for being rude to you in the past, Great Hero!”

Rude… Actually, when you think about it, it was Kim Seo-geon who did it?

All Yoon Cheon-woo did was watch from the side.

“Don’t worry about it, I’m not offended by that much anyway.”

Yeah, if I’m going to scold someone, it should be Kim Seo-geon.

Even though I’m acting like a thug, I’m planning to smack Kim Seo-geon’s head someday.

Yoon Cheon-woo’s eyes sparkled as if he was deeply moved by my words.

At this time, I didn’t know.

What it meant for a martial artist to bow to an adult.

If I had known, I would have stopped Yoon Cheon-woo.

“I, Yoon Cheon-woo, wish to become your disciple!”

The watching residents buzzed with excitement.

“So… you want to become my disciple?”

“Yes!”

His eyes were full of determination, not caring about the surrounding gazes.

I grabbed the back of my neck.

‘Why are you talking about that where there are so many people!’

The residents seemed to think it was just a child’s game and sent unspoken pressure for me to accept.

He’s the Heavenly Demon, but he currently has the mental state of a child.

In Yoon Cheon-woo’s current state, there might be something I can teach him.

‘Actually, this is a good thing.’

This means I’ll get closer to Yoon Cheon-woo, right?

I covered my smiling mouth with my hand.

“Alright, I’ll accept you as my disciple.”

What a stroke of luck.

Yoon Cheon-woo, who had no idea about my plans, had a look of deep admiration.

+++

Name: Yoon Cheon-wo0

Characteristic: Heavenly Demon

Trust: 20%

[Stats]

Strength: 8 Agility: 12 Stamina: 16 Magic Power: 2 Senses: 19

Investment Limit: 0 -> 10 points

Current Investment Points: 0 -> 0 points

+++

★★★

Inside a warehouse filled with discarded items.

A roughly kicked can fell to the floor.

“Damn it!”

Kim Seong-bae shouted, venting his frustration.

Because of the incident at the market, their influence had drastically decreased.

Originally, they were planning to expand their influence starting from this backwater village.

“Damn it, if it weren’t for that bastard.”

Kim On-yu, a teacher at Lava Elementary School.

“I thought he was just another low-level Hunter, no matter how good he was!”

The area near his chest, where he had been hit by the guy, still ached.

If it weren’t for the Hunter’s excellent recovery ability, he wouldn’t have avoided being hospitalized.

“Why is there a Hunter in this kind of backwater place!”

He once had the opportunity to fight an S-class Hunter right after awakening.

The pressure he felt then was similar.

“Could he be a high-level, or maybe even an S-class Hunter?”

No, if he was an S-class, there’s no way I wouldn’t know his face.

He’s probably a C-class or D-class.

“What are you going to do?”

“Of course, I have to get revenge on him somehow!”

He had no intention of just letting it go.

He wasn’t an S-class, but he seemed to be a high-level Hunter.

But even if he wanted revenge, a low-level Hunter couldn’t beat a high-level Hunter.

That was the sorrow of Hunters who couldn’t grow after awakening once.

“No… there is a way.”

“What way?”

No matter how strong he is, the people around him probably aren’t anything special.

If they took his acquaintances hostage, there’s no way he could do anything about it.

“He cherishes the children of Lava Elementary School. So if we take the children hostage…”

The reason why high-level Hunters come to this kind of backwater place is usually to live quietly.

Nevertheless, he attracted unnecessary attention.

To protect his students.

“Are you really going to take the children hostage?”

Han Ga-sang hesitated.

“Hey, Han Ga-sang. We have nothing more to lose. If we back down any further, we’ll die.”

“…That’s right.”

A deep venom settled in Kim Seong-bae’s eyes.

“But are you really sure he’s a high-level Hunter? There are a lot of strange things about him.”

“…That’s true.”

They kept digging into Kim On-yu, but they couldn’t find anything out.

“No matter how much information we dig up, we can only find his name.”

It felt like someone was deliberately hiding Kim On-yu’s information.

It felt like they were digging up something they shouldn’t.

“Who cares. All we have to do is kidnap the children of Lava Elementary School…”

“Can you tell me about that too?”

An unfamiliar voice.

Only Kim Seong-bae and Han Ga-sang were in the warehouse right now.

No other residents would come here.

“Who… are you?”

It was a young man with fiery red hair and green eyes.

The man, who was squatting right next to them, grinned while twirling a dagger in his hand.

It was a face they had never seen in this town.

Kim Seong-bae reflexively stood up and drew his sword.

“I was just saying hello, do you have to be so cold?”

The man covered his face with his hands as if he was disappointed.

They were just standing in front of him, but their muscles tensed up like prey in front of a predator.

The pressure was the same as an S-class.

‘I didn’t notice him approaching at all.’

It was as if there was an insurmountable wall between the man and Kim Seong-bae.

“I came to a strange town and wanted to make friends, but it’s not working out.”

The man was laughing as if it was fun, with his fingers spread apart.

He was tearing his mouth so wide that it was creepy.

“Hey, what the hell are you!”

“Hmm… but maybe two friends are a bit too many?”

“What the hell are you talking about…”

A short time that split a second several times.

Before they could react, the man passed by them with a single leap.

Red blood splattered around.

Kim Seong-bae’s face turned blue as he felt nauseous.

Han Ga-sang’s head, whom he had been working with for a long time, was rolling on the floor.

“Han Ga-sang…? Why is your head on the floor…?”

The man licked his lips and wiped the blood off his dagger with his clothes.

‘That man, could he be an unregistered Hunter!’

In terms of strength, he was strong enough to receive an S-class.

But he had never heard of a man like that among the S-class.

Unregistered Hunters are basically people who enjoy killing.

Even the Hunter Associations of each country classify them as criminals.

The man in front of him was the same.

Otherwise, how could he smile so happily after killing someone?

‘Why is an unregistered Hunter here!’

“If that’s the case, there’s one friend spot open, right? So, will you be my friend?”

He couldn’t win.

If he tried to escape, he would be caught and become like Han Ga-sang.

Clang-!

Kim Seong-bae threw his sword on the floor and signaled his surrender.

He had to try to get out of this by appeasing her as much as possible.

“I like you.”

The man burst into laughter and put his arm around his neck in a friendly manner.

The pungent smell of blood made the tension linger from head to toe.

“I’m interested in the teacher and children at Lava Elementary School, you see? So, will you tell me what you know? Since we’re friends.”

★★★

“Teacher, what are you holding?”

“…I don’t know either.”

I want to know too…

There was a cardboard box and plastic bags hanging from both arms.

I shouldn’t have stopped by the market on the way to school.

Is this the generosity of the countryside?

“Everyone, can you see this? Take it as you please.”

It’s hard for me to handle it alone.

There were various foods such as dried squid and various traditional snacks.

“Is it really okay to take it?”

“Yeah.”

They’re not going to keep giving me this every time I stop by the market, are they?

If they did, I’d definitely get fat.

“Teacher, please have some of this.”

Ah, right, he was here.

Yoon Cheon-woo, who was holding out bread to me, was shining his eyes.

“Teacher? Pfft! Since when did you become a disciple of such a bum?”

Kim Seo-geon, who had been waiting for an opportunity, burst into laughter.

Even if he was acting like a thug, how could he call an adult a bum?

[“Ah, damn it… I’m a person from a Confucian country, I can’t get used to using this kind of language!”]

Even though he was laughing on the outside, his true feelings were different.

I’ll let it go because his nature seems to be kind.

“Don’t call my teacher a bum! He’s a wonderful person, unlike you!”

“That guy? If that’s true, I’ll burn my hand.”

The two’s argument started and gradually turned into a war of nerves.

Only after blocking the two did Kim Seo-geon click his tongue and turn his head away.

‘By the way, why does Kim Seo-geon have to act like a thug?’

Even if he was possessed by a book, why does he have to keep acting like a thug while suffering?

There might be a reason why he can’t stop acting like a thug.

Maybe it’s a matter of life and death.

‘Eh, maybe I’m going too far?’

I wish I could read that book too.

Then I could know what’s going on with Kim Seo-geon.

‘My head hurts.’

I looked at the children except for Seong Tae-yoon, who had left for a while, leaving Kim Seo-geon behind.

Han Yu-seong is originally a taciturn guy, so I’ll let it go.

Shin Ah-yoon, who was looking at me from afar.

Why is she in the corner while sending me eyes that she wants to eat the food?

“Shin Ah-yoon, aren’t you going to eat?”

When I called her, Shin Ah-yoon sneaked up and snatched the food.

Then she quickly returned to the corner.

‘Do I hate her that much?’

She’s kind of like a cat.

She’s just like a cat, wary of me as I try to approach her.

I tried to break down the wall in her heart, but it’s still not working.

‘She ignores me every time I talk to her, so I don’t even know what to do.’

I need to gain trust to increase the investment limit… This is driving me crazy.

There were guys with similar personalities among my disciples.

In my experience, time is the answer to opening their hearts, but…

“Teacher!”

Seong Tae-yoon came in urgently.

His mouth was stiff as if something had happened.

“What’s wrong?”

“…The principal has arrived.”

At the end of Seong Tae-yoon’s words, the children made disgusted expressions.

Even Han Yu-seong, who always maintained a poker face, frowned.

The principal came, and that’s the reaction?

“I don’t feel well.”

Eugh, Kim Seo-geon, who burst out a voice, put down the bread he was eating.

I heard that the principal has been working here for four years.

It was enough time to become friends with the children.

Could he be a strange person? Since he’s the principal of Lava Elementary School, there’s a good chance.

“And he wants to see you in the principal’s office.”

Me? He wants me to come to the principal’s office right away?

I would normally go right away, but I’m uneasy.

Kim Seo-geon also looked at me with pitiful eyes, as if he felt sorry for me, at the word that the principal was calling me.

“Teacher. Please come back alive.”

Thank you… but it’s not comforting?

The principal’s office was located far away on the opposite side of the children’s classroom.

All sorts of thoughts came to my mind before entering the principal’s office.

I expected the principal to have a scary impression like a former gangster.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Shin Han-tae, the principal of Lava Elementary School.” “…Kim On-yu.

The first impression was different.

‘He looks just like a kind old man from the countryside.’

Were the children trying to tease me by showing that reaction?

“Mr. Kim On-yu, you came from the Hongyeom Guild, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

I answered casually.

Since he’s the principal, he’ll know where I came from.

He smiled, drawing a soft curve around his eyes.

“Are you enjoying your life here?”

“The residents are also friendly, and I’m satisfied.”

The problem is that too much attention is focused on me.

At that time, the principal hesitated to speak.

Usually, in this case, it’s a request.

“I’m ashamed, but would it be okay to ask you for a favor?”

He didn’t deviate from my expectations.

“What is the favor?”