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 [Chapter 185]

[Academy Guest Instructor (3)]

<Seol-chang > Ryu Yeon-hwa.

She could be considered a player already evaluated as S-class in terms of skill.

Although the Pandora Clan's rank was low and there weren't many high-difficulty requests for the clan, keeping her at A+ rank.

Her performance during the Seoul invasion was deeply imprinted in people's minds.

Some even treated her as a potential next Twelve Seats dealer.

"─Your shoulders are too tense. You don't need to be that nervous when just doing light sparring."

"Yes! Thank you, Instructor!"

As such, she was also greatly admired by the students.

Advanced practical combat skills lecture.

Ryu Yeon-hwa fought with the students and pointed out their shortcomings.

Students were almost lining up to receive her feedback.

"Your foot spacing has narrowed. Be careful not to tangle your steps in the next move."

Adding to her reputation as <Sin-chang >'s disciple.

Yeon-hwa's lectures aroused curiosity not only from students but also from guest instructors.

So much so that a guest instructor who was teaching students even licked his lips and said:

"Player Ryu Yeon-hwa. Could I spar with you later?"

"...Yes, please line up and wait."

The guest instructors, forgetting their roles, really lined up and waited.

Even the academy's swordsmanship instructors came to observe Yeon-hwa's lecture after hearing rumors.

"...Instructor Lee Guk-jong?"

"Yeon-hwa. No, Player Ryu Yeon-hwa. Could I learn a thing or two as well?"

""""...""""

Eventually, even the instructors sheepishly asked her for lessons.

As a result, Yeon-hwa's lectures became a spectacle with new intruders appearing every time to request sparring.

At this rate, it might be difficult to recruit students....

While sparring with the instructors.

Yeon-hwa had such thoughts.

She was also glad that she could learn something herself and be helpful to someone.

However, she also had to think about her purpose for coming to the academy.

As a result, Yeon-hwa made many connections through sparring, but she couldn't approach students personally.

But how should I approach them?

How did Eun-ah become friends with me?

She was originally the type who was awkward with people.

Because of this, unlike No Eun-ha and Jin Seo-na, she was just sparring day and night.

However, contrary to her concerns─

"─Wow, she hasn't lost once so far. She's really amazing."

"She doesn't seem to use much magic, but how much stronger would she be if she fully utilized <Ice Flower>?"

"The Pandora Clan has gathered only the best. <Seol-chang >, <Shadow >, <Fairy >. How could they take all the promising rookies from the 027th batch?"

Although Yeon-hwa hadn't properly conversed with the students.

People watching her sparring admired <Seol-chang >'s skills while looking up to the Pandora Clan.

She was greatly contributing to raising people's perception.

Of course, Yeon-hwa didn't know this.

"Phew.... It seems there's about 10 minutes left, is there anyone else who wants to spar?"

Eventually, time passed.

That day's sparring ended relatively early.

Usually, once the lecture started, she had to swing her spear without a moment's rest.

But today, there was 10 minutes left after dealing with people.

""""...""""

Yeon-hwa lifted her long hair and wiped her nape with a towel.

Sweat droplets turned into small ice particles due to the influence of the gift <Ice Flower> and scattered away.

It created a mystical atmosphere.

People, regardless of age or gender, stared at her wiping sweat as if enchanted.

"Is there no one else?"

""""...""""

She asked again.

Those who had been enthusiastically beaten by her shook their heads.

They seemed to no longer remember being beaten by her.

They were completely absorbed in the atmosphere Yeon-hwa exuded.

At that moment─

"─Can I ask for a lesson too? I'd like to see how well Seong-un taught you."

With heavy footsteps.

There was one more intruder who climbed onto the sparring ground and requested a match.

However, this intruder had an even higher reputation than those who had intruded so far.

""""...!!""""

The living legend, <Sword Empress> Hwang Jin-hee.

Everyone was shocked when they recognized her.

Yeon-hwa was no exception.

Soon, Yeon-hwa carelessly put her towel on her bag and said.

"─No. Rather, I'm the one asking for guidance. <Seol-chang > Ryu Yeon-hwa requests guidance from <Sword Empress>."

☆

The guest instructor duties were less burdensome.

This was because they could spend time leisurely as long as they gave at least 4 lectures per week.

Of course, guest instructors trying to meet as many students as possible and form connections with them couldn't afford to be leisurely.

Most of them were participating in multiple lectures.

"─This is really unfair. You're resting comfortably while I'm just working, what's this about?"

"I'm doing my work too. It's just that you, Seo-na, are working hard."

Eun-ha didn't belong to the majority.

If anything, he was an exception.

He was resting while performing the minimum required lecture quota given to guest instructors.

What's the use of getting to know many promising rookies? At most, only about 10 promising rookies will enter the clan anyway.

He also roughly knew who would make a name for themselves in the future.

And he already had enough promising rookies he was keeping an eye on.

So Eun-ha could afford to be leisurely.

Of course, from Jin Seo-na's perspective, who was building relationships with Ains, Eun-ha's behavior wouldn't have been pleasing.

This could be why she snapped at Eun-ha when she met him after finishing her lecture.

"By the way, are you making any progress? How is it? Are the skills of the students you've been eyeing good?"

"They all have good skills and nice personalities. Although one of them being overconfident in their abilities is a flaw, they'll probably improve gradually as they gain real experience."

"If that one isn't overwhelmingly outstanding, remove them from the recruitment candidates. It'll take time to educate such kids, and it'll just be a waste of mental energy."

The Pandora Clan was in a situation where they lacked manpower compared to the workload.

Although the new recruits who joined this year were starting to pull their own weight to some extent, they were still swamped with work.

So Eun-ha wanted people who could be immediately deployed in the field.

Jin Seo-na agreed with this.

"Okay, I'll do that. Out of five people, only one or two will end up joining the clan, so I'll just remove one person. But it would be a big problem if the person I've picked doesn't join our clan and goes somewhere else..."

"You'll manage well enough. So? Among the kids over there, are there any you've got your eye on?"

"They're all there."

Eun-ha pointed to the window overlooking the grand auditorium.

Ain students were having a class in the grand auditorium.

Jin Seo-na nodded.

Then she pressed her forehead against the glass window and pointed to them one by one.

"Do you see the girl sitting in the third row from the front where the A group sign is? The female student with goat horns. That's Kim Mary."

"Oh, I see her. The telepath that you and the kids said you absolutely want to recruit, right?"

"Yeah, Mary is a bit shy but polite and kind. Her skills are awesome too."

Eun-ha found a light gray-haired female student with two horns on her head.

She was an Ain that Eun-ha remembered too.

He had occasionally hung out with her when he was attending the academy.

Above all, she was─

─Called by the alias <Healing Notes>, wasn't she?

She was a telepath who became quite well-known in his previous life.

She got a job at the Mana Management Organization and used to broadcast telepathy to players with her soft voice.

As a result, although her appearance wasn't well-known, her voice was very familiar.

<Healing Notes> is good. But I wonder if she'll actually join our clan?

On the other hand, Eun-ha had doubts.

Whether she would join the Pandora Clan depended entirely on the clan's recruitment ability.

So aside from Jin Seo-na's efforts.

Eun-ha focused on her personality.

<Healing Notes>' personality was as gentle as her voice.

She didn't have a temperament that liked combat.

He wondered if <Healing Notes> would show interest in a clan rather than the Mana Management Organization despite that.

To this, Jin Seo-na said─

"─Only Parang oppa doesn't know this, but it's famous among us that Mary likes Parang oppa."

"Oh my..."

"It seems Mary really wants to join our clan because of Parang oppa."

Eun-ha clicked his tongue.

He never thought that <Healing Notes> would have romantic feelings for Parang in this life.

Then he smiled bitterly.

A wolf and a sheep....

What a strange combination.

It seems oddly fitting too.

Anyway, if that was Kim Mary's feelings, he decided to welcome her with open arms.

He couldn't miss the opportunity to recruit <Healing Notes>.

"Then definitely bring in Kim Mary, and you recruit the remaining person, Seo-na. You'll be working together, so someone who works well with you would be good, right?"

"Hmm.... Considering those who match my personality and seem like they'd blend well with the clan, maybe two people?"

"Then choose one of those two."

"Which do you think would be better between dog ears and cat ears?"

Dog person or cat person.

She pointed to the students she had noted and asked.

A boy with dog ears.

A girl with cat ears.

Eun-ha chuckled this time too. Then─

"─If I had to choose, I'd say I'm a doggy person."

"...!!"

Eun-ha touched her fox tail.

It was worth touching because the fur was fluffy.

Jin Seo-na, startled for a moment when her tail was grabbed, turned around fiercely.

Her triangular ears were standing straight up.

"I told you not to call me doggy.... And don't touch other people's tails without permission, okay?"

A growling fox.

Nevertheless, Eun-ha grinned.

"Don't be so cold between friends. If I had a tail on my butt, I'd let you touch it too."

"Oh really? Stick out your butt then. I'll give it a good rub." 

"A tail and a butt are different."

"!#@$#ㄸ[email protected]#$!!"

Squish squish.

He kept kneading her tail until Jin Seo-na was about to use force.

When she tried to scratch him with her nails, he ran away at full speed.

"You stop right there!?"

"Bye bye! Beep beep! Peep peep!"

Jin Seo-na hurls curses.

The fire chicken looks dumbfounded.

It's natural for mental age to regress when going to school.

☆

The sparring between Ryu Yeon-hwa and Hwang Jin-hee.

It was impossible to judge the outcome in less than 10 minutes.

"─Let's stop here."

"...Thank you for your guidance."

""""...""""

After exchanging a few blows.

That's how the sparring ended.

Hwang Jin-hee suddenly distanced herself and sheathed her sword.

While people were feeling disappointed.

Yeon-hwa was lost in thought for a moment before bowing her head.

"It seems Seong-un taught you well. I don't think there's anything I can teach you. You've already completed Seong-un's spear technique and seem to be honing it in your own way."

"I will continue to strive. Thank you, <Sword Empress>."

""""...""""

The <Sword Empress> was stingy with praise.

Students who had received her teachings were surprised to see her praising Yeon-hwa.

Nevertheless, Yeon-hwa didn't show any particular reaction to her praise.

She just thanked her.

At that moment─

"─However, there's some hesitation." 

"..."

Hwang Jin-hee expressed regret.

Yeon-hwa's eyes widened.

Then she nodded slightly as if she was aware of it too.

"An emotion, whether it's hesitation or not, is dulling your spear."

"...Yes."

"I don't know what you're hesitating about, but if such an emotion is affecting your spear, it's better to resolve it quickly."

"...Yes."

"Or purely accept the hesitation you're carrying."

"..."

"You could reach the state of unity between body and spear, but that feeling is preventing you from fully entering it."

Unity between body and spear.

Through Hwang Jin-hee's evaluation, Yeon-hwa could confirm her position.

But as Hwang Jin-hee was saying, she was blocked by a wall.

"Generally, unity between body and spear literally means your body and mind becoming one with the spear, but right now your mind is wandering."

"..."

"So next time, I'd like to spar again when you've truly decided how to deal with your hesitation."

Leaving those words.

Hwang Jin-hee turned around.

Yeon-hwa gripped her spear shaft tightly and bowed her head to the departing woman.

"..."

Resolve it or accept it.

Yeon-hwa repeated her advice over and over.

Meanwhile, Hwang Jin-hee, who had left the place─

"─Both Eun-hyeok and Seong-un's disciple... It's strange that they joined under No Eun-ha."

After confirming Yeon-hwa's character and skills.

Hwang Jin-hee muttered quietly while walking through the campus.

"I really don't understand that guy. What on earth is he thinking..."

<Crimson Wing> No Eun-ha.

The hero who saved Seoul.

But she focused more on other aspects of No Eun-ha.

"What should I do about that guy..."

No Eun-ha had almost grasped mythology.

So it would only be a matter of time.

If the fame of the Eun-ha religion spreads widely.

And if he comes to accept his existence as it is.

His mythology will truly be completed.

Then he will be able to embody mythology and manifest it in the world.

"..."

Then what should she do, who had kept her mouth shut so that people couldn't carelessly embody mythology?

Will she keep her mouth shut so that he never realizes?

Or will she let him realize?

Or─

"─This country doesn't need a monarch. One fairy is enough as a central figure."

Will she eliminate him, who has ample potential to become a monarch, while she has the chance?

Hwang Jin-hee's thoughts deepened.

☆

It wasn't just people Eun-ha had transferred who were at the academy.

There was also On Tae-hee who entered the high school academy this year.

And Seon Mi-ye, No Eun-ae's friend and Seon Gi-jun's daughter.

Since I came to the academy after a while, I should have a meal with them.

Seon Mi-ye and On Tae-hee got along well.

This was because Eun-ha had asked Mi-ye in advance to help Tae-hee adapt to academy life.

As a result, the two became close and apparently had lunch together occasionally.

So Eun-ha decided to call the two and have lunch together.

Where are they?

They said they've already arrived....

Academy Cultural Center Cafeteria.

Eun-ha looked around.

Nodding briefly to students greeting him.

Eun-ha wandered around looking for the two.

 Actually, it was three people.

According to Tae-hee, a friend in the same grade had to eat alone, so she asked if they could eat together.

If she's friends with Tae-hee and Mi-ye, it's fine to eat together.

It's not like I don't have money....

Eun-ha readily agreed.

So he was looking for the three of them.

However, it was difficult to find the three because the place was crowded with people.

"Ah, there they are! Eun-ha oppa!" 

"Eun-ha oppa! We're over here!"

On the contrary, Eun-ha was very noticeable.

This was because he had a fire chicken sitting on his head and was attracting students' attention.

In the end, the three found Eun-ha first and waved their hands.

Mi-ye has grown a lot.

Tae-hee seems to have gotten taller too.

Eun-ha waved back at them.

Then he noticed a woman wearing a hood between the two.

She must be On Tae-hee's friend.

Eun-ha approached them, intending to greet her.

But─

─Huh?

She seemed strangely familiar.

It wasn't just déjà vu.

Eun-ha could only realize when he pushed through the crowd and approached the three.

"Eun-ha oppa? What's wrong?"

"Are you okay?"

"..."

On Tae-hee and Seon Mi-ye.

While the two looked at Eun-ha with worried faces as he stood there blankly.

Eun-ha stared at the woman who was hanging her head.

Under the hood, hair that seemed altered by mana peeked out.

Rustle rustle

Green hair.

And a female student wearing a mask.

Soon, the female student wrote something on the sketchbook she was holding in both hands.

「Hello. I'm Son Ga-yeon, a 1st year of the 35th batch of the high school division, aiming to be a sniper.」

In his previous life.

<Mute > Son Ga-yeon, who was in charge of sniping for the Misty Flower Party.

It was Eun-ha's meeting with her.