Chapter 69

〈 Chapter 68 〉 3. Transformation isn't just for Riders! (4)

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I decided to act as a goblin.

However, that was only if I secretly wandered around on my own, not as an event for the Academy students.

So, as soon as I arrived at work in the morning, I immediately skimmed through the official notice.

[2025 March Outdoor Training Plan for Ability Development].

It was probably what people would call a 'treasure hunt,' and fortunately, the notice was accessible to all faculty members.

"Tsk."

The information I gathered from the plan was disappointing.

Even as a regular librarian, I could access it, and just by searching news about last year's treasure hunt, one could easily infer the entire process.

In other words, this wasn't a conversation that took place in the official notice.

It must have been one of the stories exchanged over drinks, dinner, or a tea break before leaving work.

'Using students to find a goblin.'

I don't know whose idea it was, but it was quite unpleasant yet plausible.

Goblins don't kill students.

If a student attacks a goblin, the goblin will counterattack, but won't actually kill them.

If I were the Academy president, I would have said something like this:

"Anyway, the students are going to become heroes. Even if they pick a fight with a goblin, the goblin won't harm them. Who knows? They might really find the goblin while searching. Hahaha!"

If it works, it's a big win; if not, no harm done.

It's like scratching a lottery ticket someone else bought for you. The 'special rule' of the treasure hunt would be to report immediately if they find a goblin, or perhaps they would receive some benefit just for providing correct information.

There are a lot of people targeting goblins right now.

"Loan, please."

"...Oh. Yoon Eui-seon, it's been a while."

In front of me, the student council president, Yoon Eui-seon, had appeared with quite a few books, waiting for them to be loaned out.

"What were you thinking about to be so spaced out? Did you think about the time we had dinner and the table broke?"

"Was I wondering where to go for the next meal?"

"Where do you want to go?"

"Maybe for beef?"

"Someone said that if a man buys you beef, it's because he has ulterior motives."

"I'm just lobbying in advance for when Yoon Eui-seon becomes a hero, hoping you'll treat me well then."

"With Korean beef?"

"Korean beef is good, right?"

I took Yoon Eui-seon's books and placed them on the scanner.

"...Huh?"

"What's wrong?"

"Eui-seon, this isn't about mana research this time?"

"No, I'm going to try researching something different this time."

The books Yoon Eui-seon brought to loan were all about our music, specifically 'Korean traditional music.'

"Is it because you're interested in Korean traditional music, or are you trying to develop a new ability with it?"

"Both. And one more thing."

Yoon Eui-seon took out her smartphone and showed me a video.

"Eui-seon?"

"My parents majored in Korean traditional music, so I learned a lot of it too."

"Can you play traditional instruments?"

"I specialize in the gayageum. ...Do you like Korean traditional music, teacher?"

"Me? Hmm...."

When it comes to Korean traditional music, all I remember is failing a test because I couldn't play the danso when I was young.

Or falling asleep during a traditional music performance for a general education report.

"I specialize in Western music. Acoustic guitar."

"...That's surprising."

"What's surprising about it? Don't all men know how to play the acoustic guitar?"

"Don't most people play the geomungo instead of the acoustic guitar?"

Another one of those Korean pride light novels.

"I like classics. When I watch old university song contests, bands come out and play guitars and sing."

"That's really old. You don't listen to music much, do you? Or maybe foreign rock?"

"...Even if I don't know the lyrics, I can still. Do you know this song?"

I took out my earphones from my bag, plugged them into my smartphone, and played a song.

"What is this? Hip-hop?"

"No. A rock ballad. It's by a famous American singer. Do you know it?"

"Hmm.... Sorry, I've never heard this song before."

"Then what do you listen to these days?"

"Jwibulnori by Ohbang Gasidan."

"......Let me search that."

I played it immediately.

And I was shocked.

'What kind of K-POP idols are these?'

All five idols were wearing hanbok and performing idol dances.

At least, they weren't wearing traditional or everyday hanbok, but rather costumes based on hanbok, which was somewhat less of a shock.

Still, it was a bit strange to see idols dancing to the sound of multiple drums instead of a drum kit.

'I better not take this music with me.'

When I return to my world, if someone asks about music, it's better to just keep quiet.

"How is it? They're my favorite idols."

"The song is good, but the costumes are a bit... too traditional."

"Isn't this a reasonable level? They even wear stockings. If you saw their hip-hop outfits, you'd be even more shocked."

"Are these costumes meant to awaken the scholar within me?"

"Yes."

Yoon Eui-seon showed me a video of Ohbang Gasidan performing hip-hop in almost 18+ rated costumes.

The costumes were.

Torn hanbok.

"Just because it's hanbok doesn't mean everything is forgiven."

"Actually, it did get censored for that reason. But some people say it's a reinterpretation of hanbok."

"Wait, the song...?"

I felt a familiar rhythm and beat.

As I tapped my fingers to the beat and tried to recall, it was a rhythm I had heard before.

"Is this a song?"

"Yes. Hwimori."

"...The Hwimori I know is a rhythm."

"It's a rap based on that rhythm. It was a controversial song because it was filled with English, which hadn't been seen in the hip-hop scene for almost 10 years."

"Controversial because it had English in hip-hop?"

"Yes. Around 2010, a trend of using Korean words in rap started. Now it's much more free, but back then it was different."

"Wow...."

The more I listened, the more I felt my limbs curling and something piercing my heart.

'Hwimori rhythm dominating the global hip-hop scene. This world is definitely crazy.'

I'll leave the music behind.

If I bring this world's music to my original world, it might change the paradigm of Korean traditional music, but I can't risk seeing five foul-mouthed grandmothers from all over Korea tearing up an American concert venue.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the hell—sure—thing! This, is, Hwimori—name—!!"

"Shut up, you dogwood ten longevity symbols!"

...I might see it once.

'I really love stories.'

When I return, I can just tell stories about my visit to this world of Korean pride and the godly nation, rather than bringing back actual items.

"Why are you like that?"

"...No, it's nothing. My head just got a bit dizzy. So, what kind of research are you going to do with Korean traditional music?"

"Hmm.... That's a secret."

Yoon Eui-seon seemed to have something on her mind, and I didn't pry too deeply.

"Thank you. Do you have time this weekend? Would you like to have dinner together on Sunday?"

"Sunday? Oh, I have a day off on Saturday, so that's fine."

"Hmm.... Saturday is a bit difficult. The student council has to support an event on Friday."

"Do the student council members have to participate in school events like this?"

"Yes. A bit... as scapegoats."

Yoon Eui-seon's voice dropped slightly.

She glanced around a couple of times, then sighed deeply and gathered her books.

"The president told us to prepare a surprise event. They've already prepared everything, but they want us to announce it under the student council's name."

"What is it?"

"There is. ...Teacher, can you not tell anyone about this?"

"Whoever told you, I'm just a quiet librarian who loans out books."

"Here it is."

Yoon Eui-seon fumbled in her bag and took out something like a poster.

"......."

The content was the 'goblin hunt' I had learned about from Baek Seul-hee yesterday and before talking to Yoon Eui-seon.

"Those who find a goblin during the treasure hunt will receive all the prizes for the top treasure hunter in each area?"

"100 million won, a five-day holiday, and a midterm exam pass."

"......A goblin is appearing?"

"Not at all. Honestly, this is a thoughtless and reckless idea. What if an accident happens?"

Yoon Eui-seon's voice was mixed with frustration and contempt.

"Making it seem like I announced it, and saying it's organized by the student council...."

"It's making you the scapegoat. If young people organize an event without thinking, the Academy's higher-ups won't get blamed, but if the Academy officially organizes such an event, they'll get criticized."

"What if the goblin really appears?"

"Exactly. If it appears, there will be chaos, and if it doesn't, there will still be chaos. But...."

Yoon Eui-seon put the books back in her bag with a helpless smile.

"Personally, I hope the goblin appears, but I don't want it to happen."

"What do you mean?"

"Finding a goblin means someone has died somewhere or a demon has appeared, indicating a serious crime."

"......."

"I have one thing I want to ask the goblin personally, but I don't want to meet him when he's executing a villain."

"What do you want to ask him?"

"......That's a secret."

After gathering her things, Yoon Eui-seon winked at me and put her finger to her lips.

"A secret from you too, teacher!"

"......."

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