Chapter 39

## Chapter 39. I'm late, I'm sorry.

"Hasn't that guy arrived yet?"

Although it was a casual question, Akyunho felt a cold sweat run down his back.

Because the person who asked the question was the student supervisor, who was even feared by other lecturers at the Blue Dragon Academy, and this was already the third time he had asked.

"Hehe. He'll be here soon."

Akyunho, who received Maegyullem's sharp gaze, awkwardly laughed and replied.

Maegyullem frowned, seemingly dissatisfied with the answer.

"You've been saying the same thing all along. Didn't you say you don't even know where he is?"

"Well, that's... "

Akyunho felt wronged.

'Why is he giving me a hard time when the one who's late is his own grandson?'

Though he had many complaints, he couldn't argue with the student supervisor and could only give a poor excuse.

"He just said he'd be gone for a few days due to personal matters... "

"Maybe he ran away because he was afraid?"

"...Absolutely not."

"Hmph. We'll see."

As Maegyullem walked away to the other prospective lecturers, Akyunho let out a deep sigh.

'If he's any later, it'll really be dangerous...'

The practical exam for new lecturers at the Blue Dragon Academy had already started.

Up ahead, the previous candidates were giving demonstration lectures to selected students on the podium.

"Hem. According to the principles of Taiji... "

"Each sect interprets Yin-Yang and the Five Elements slightly differently, and this affects how they explain martial techniques. In such cases... "

"The predecessor of the Blood Sect is the Heavenly Demon Sect, which disappeared hundreds of years ago. The first leader of the Blood Sect gathered those who opposed the relocation of the Heavenly Demon Sect... "

Everyone was enthusiastically presenting their martial theories or sometimes demonstrating their skills on the podium.

However, the students' reactions were either indifferent or mischievous.

"Phew. I'm so sleepy."

"Wow, is that all the lecturer can do?"

"Wait a minute. What you just said, isn't that a bit biased and personal?"

Akyunho swallowed hard, watching the students' reactions.

'Wow, these kids are something else.'

Among them were students not much younger than Akyunho.

Unlike Akyunho, who had practiced martial arts without question as he was told, the students at the Blue Dragon Academy would immediately challenge anything they didn't understand or didn't like.

'...I'm a bit envious.'

On the left side of the podium, the head of the Blue Dragon Academy, the deputy head, and the existing lecturers were writing notes and evaluating the new lecturer candidates.

"Phew..."

Akyunho handed a water flask to Myeongiloh, who had just finished his demonstration lecture.

"Brother Myeongiloh. You must have worked hard. How was it?"

"Don't even ask. The kids are trying to tear you apart, and the lecturers are watching you like hawks... Did I make any mistakes?"

"You did the best among all the candidates I've seen so far."

While it was a bit exaggerated, Myeongiloh's demonstration lecture was indeed quite stable.

"Your evaluation from the students and lecturers will probably be good too."

Relieved by this, Myeongiloh looked around and asked.

"By the way, is Brother Baek still not here?"

"No sign of him."

"This is bad. He really needs to come now..."

Meanwhile, Akyunho's turn was approaching, and the next one after him was Baek Suryong.

The two of them anxiously looked towards the entrance of the Blue Dragon Academy.

Squeak...

At the main gate, a stray dog was barking and defecating, but there was no sign of a human.

"...He still hasn't arrived."

Maegyullem, who had briefly gone to check on the students, was approaching the two of them.

His face showed disappointment, and his voice carried a faint anger.

"Perhaps the apple doesn't fall far from the tree..."

A cold aura emanated from Maegyullem's body.

The lecturers waiting for their turn shivered at the sudden chill.

Maegyullem said coldly.

"From what I can see, he doesn't intend to come. I'll mark Baek Suryong as disqualified."

"Wait, just a moment!"

The words came out before Akyunho could think.

Stepping forward, Akyunho met Maegyullem's sharp gaze like a sharp sword and swallowed hard.

'You damn guy! What are you doing to be so late?'

While blaming Baek Suryong in his heart, Akyunho tried to buy some time.

"Teacher Supervisor! Brother Suryong will be here soon. Please wait a little longer."

"I've heard that four times already. When will he arrive? After the exam is over?"

Akyunho let out a deep sigh.

"To be honest, I don't know when he'll arrive. Something must have happened. But he definitely didn't run away."

"How can you be so sure? You haven't known him for that long, right?"

"That's..."

Akyunho paused, recalling Baek Suryong's brazen face.

The face that said he would build the White Dragon Academy opposite the Blue Dragon Academy and surpass it within ten years if they rejected him.

"...This is for the future of the Blue Dragon Academy."

"The future of the Blue Dragon Academy?"

"Brother Suryong said that if you reject him, he'll build the White Dragon Academy opposite the Blue Dragon Academy. He said that within ten years, the students of the White Dragon Academy will surpass those of the Blue Dragon Academy."

"Huh? What did you say?"

"If you disqualify him now, he might start looking for a location tomorrow."

The absurdity of the statement made the other prospective lecturers burst into laughter.

Even the lips of the student supervisor, who seemed to never move, twitched.

Maegyullem suppressed his laughter and muttered.

"He's as bold and confident as my daughter."

"Excuse me?"

"Nothing."

Though Akyunho couldn't understand the sudden change in mood, it wasn't a bad sign.

Maegyullem's voice softened slightly.

"I've already given him a lot of leeway. If he doesn't arrive by his turn, I'll have no choice but to disqualify him."

"Teacher Supervisor."

At that moment, Myeongiloh stood beside Akyunho and cautiously said.

"Could you perhaps move Baek Suryong's turn to the end?"

As expected, Maegyullem's eyes flared up.

"Are you kidding? Do you think this is a game?"

"It's not that... "

"If you say that one more time, I'll... "

Just then, someone who had been watching their argument from a distance interjected.

"Is there a problem?"

Everyone turned to see Namgung Su and Gwak Chulwoo walking over.

Namgung Su, aware of the attention, crossed his arms and smiled gently.

"The students are quite tired, so we decided to take a short break."

"..."

Most of the new lecturer candidates looked at Namgung Su with admiration or envy.

However, Akyunho was neither. He looked at Namgung Su with a somewhat uncomfortable gaze.

'Why is he here?'

Namgung Su, without even glancing at Akyunho, asked Maegyullem.

"Teacher Supervisor, is there a problem with your work? I came because I was worried about the commotion."

"What's there to worry about?"

Maegyullem waved his hand and continued in a calm tone.

"It's nothing. We're just discussing whether to disqualify a candidate who hasn't arrived yet or wait a bit longer... "

"Is that candidate Baek Suryong?"

"...Yes."

At that moment, a gentle smile appeared on Namgung Su's lips.

To Akyunho and Myeongiloh, it looked very ominous.

"Seems like he had an emergency. He wouldn't run away because he's afraid of giving a demonstration lecture... And he wouldn't run away because he's afraid of losing a sparring match... "

"..."

It was a clear taunt, though not explicitly stated.

Simultaneously, veins popped on the foreheads of Akyunho, Myeongiloh, and Maegyullem.

"He didn't run away."

"Brother Baek isn't that kind of person."

"...So you say."

Namgung Su, slightly taken aback by Maegyullem's cold gaze, still didn't back down.

"Hem. How about this. Since it seems like something happened to Baek Suryong, why don't we move his turn to the end?"

"But that would be unfair..."

Namgung Su cut in before Maegyullem could object.

"Of course, only if the last candidate agrees."

"I, I'm fine with it!"

The candidate, whose face had turned pale, raised his hand and shouted.

"I'll give up my turn! I'll give it up anytime!"

"..."

With the candidate's active response, Maegyullem found it difficult to say anything more.

Namgung Su had quickly turned the situation to his advantage.

"Then let's do that. Deputy Head, I took the initiative, but don't we need to show some leniency to the candidates for the sake of our academy?"

"Ah, of course. Do as you please, Namgung. The Head won't care anyway."

Gwak Chulwoo, who had followed Namgung Su, nodded enthusiastically.

'Even if he's the best lecturer at the Blue Dragon Academy... it's hard to tell who's the superior here.'

Namgung Su, having secured the approval of the superior, turned to Akyunho and smiled.

"Good for Baek Suryong. He almost didn't make it because of some... personal matters. We've shown him this much leniency, so he should arrive on time, right?"

"..."

Akyunho didn't respond, just staring intently at Namgung Su.

'He planned this from the beginning.'

The last turn.

If Baek Suryong didn't show up by then, he would be branded as a runaway by everyone. Even if he did come, he would have to give a demonstration lecture under immense pressure and scrutiny.

The later the demonstration lecture, the greater the pressure.

Most students and lecturers were starting to find the demonstration lectures boring.

But Namgung Su found even this waiting time enjoyable.

'Soon, it'll be the last turn.'

Baek Suryong.

The country bumpkin who dared to provoke him during the interview.

He had been looking forward to the boy's demonstration lecture, but it seemed he wouldn't show up after all.

"The last demonstration lecture will be on the basics of external martial arts! It will start in a quarter of an hour, so the students participating should take their seats. And Baek Suryong, please come to the podium!"

Students who had applied to observe the external martial arts basics class began to take their seats.

'Hmm?'

Namgung Su was a bit surprised.

Among the students taking their seats were Pang Sahyeok, the president of the club federation, Xian Yuanqiang, a notorious troublemaker, and Tang Xiaoxiao, the vice president of the student council, all of whom were looking excited.

"Why are those kids... "

"They're not the ones who need to learn the basics."

"Exactly."

The other lecturers shared similar doubts, but the quarter of an hour passed quickly.

Gwak Chulwoo, who had checked the candidate's application, shouted.

"Baek Suryong! Hasn't he arrived yet?"

There was no response. Akyunho, Myeongiloh, and Maegyullem looked anxiously at the main gate.

Murmurs began among the students, who found the situation strange.

Namgung Su's lips curled into a slight sneer. He said, feigning disappointment.

"Seems like he's not coming after all."

"What a disappointment. We even changed his turn."

"Tsk tsk..."

"Just a big talker, it seems."

The lecturers clicked their tongues, and the waiting students grumbled and expressed their dissatisfaction.

Seeing this, a thin smile of mockery appeared on Namgung Su's lips.

'So that's all he is.'

Gwak Chulwoo, having confirmed the reactions around him, put down the application and said.

"We've waited long enough. The Blue Dragon Academy has done its part. Baek Suryong is... "

At that moment, the head of the academy, Ro Junseong, who had been quietly watching the main gate, spoke.

"Deputy Head, wait a moment."

"Head?"

"Something is flying this way."

"...What? Flying?"

Following Ro Junseong's gaze, Gwak Chulwoo, Namgung Su, and everyone else looked up at the sky.

Whizz!

A small dot was flying towards the Blue Dragon Academy in a parabolic trajectory. The speed at which it was cutting through the air was truly terrifying.

"What, what is that... "

Namgung Su's mouth dropped open as he watched.

A moment later, the dot grew larger, revealing itself to be a person.

"Is, is that a cannonball?"

"It's going to fall here! Move aside!"

"Aaah!"

The new lecturer candidates, who had been gathered in one place, panicked and scattered in all directions.

Whirl!

The figure, falling headfirst, performed a graceful somersault in mid-air and landed lightly on the ground.

Thud!

"Phew..."

A handsome young man, like a painting, brushed his wind-tousled hair back.

Everyone was speechless, staring blankly at him.

Baek Suryong, looking around, smiled awkwardly.

"I'm late, I'm sorry. I'm Baek Suryong."

With a more intense impression than anyone before, the last new lecturer candidate arrived.