Chapter 172:
Chapter 172:
Chapter 172:
First of all, as you said, I had to tell the academy that I was running late What else is going on today?
Kwak Chun-sik scratched his floppy ears and asked why he was called to the warehouse in the morning.
He had initially asked why he had to mentor me on a day when I had academy classes, but.
It seems that your disciple needs some help.
Really?
As usual, the word Master threw him off and he came to me.
Anyway, the first years of the academy will be away for Gaegwacheonsun, so you should be able to help, dont you think?
I was going to stay and sip coffee with the juniors and see how youre doing, but I heard youre having a hard time, so Im here.
He grumbled that it was a bother, but he still came.
I could tell he was really thinking about me.
Its just like I said on the phone. There are children who need your help.
Huh? Not you? Other kids?
Yes.
I turn my head and look toward the warehouse.
Latte had already instructed Han Seo-joon to take over before she left for work at the cafe.
I wonder how Han Seo-joon, the secretary and former National Intelligence Service officer, handles the kids?
Let me treat you to a cup of coffee, old man.
I walk into the warehouse with Kwak Chun-sik, still puzzled, and am greeted by a huge space.
The only difference is that its strangely quiet inside, compared to yesterdays overly noisy atmosphere.
I wonder if theres no one there, so I go a little deeper.
Ah, hello, Master. Mr. Chun-Sik.
Han Seo-joon, who was standing in front of the children, turned his head this way and bowed while the children greeted me with the same bow.
When I was puzzled by the completely different atmosphere, Han Seo-joon spoke as if it was no big deal.
The kids are more attentive than I thought. Agent Latte must have worked hard last night.
You didnt do anything?
I dont know, I just did a little training as I was taught.
He shrugs his shoulders and the kids start to shiver.
I dont know what the hell hes done, butthey seem to be good listeners for now.
Its been a long day, go to the car and rest for a while.
As you wish.
With that, Han Seo-joon bowed his head and left.
Standing in front of the children, I spoke as if making an announcement.
First of all, what you called a circle is now broken.
?
What?
What?
The kids were more serious than I thought.
It means its gone, and you dont have to pay to be in the circle anymore.
The kids are stunned as they finally understand.
Its fun to watch them open their mouths.
You mean, all those people are gone?
No. Uh, how?
Well, you dont need to know how, and anyway, theyre gone, so you dont have to be afraid anymore.
And thats not really the point.
Okay, I know thecircle is gone, but whos that guy behind you? I think I recognize him.
Han Ji-yeon, the girl in the sweatshirt, first recognizes Kwak Chun-sik and asks.
Oh, really? I think I recognize him.
Is he a celebrity?
The elderly man begins to laugh, as if he was pleased with the childrens reaction to recognizing him.
Eugene, you see, Im like this. There are no kids who dont know me, just. Hehehehe.
Of course. Youre not just anyone, youre a hero of Korea.
After giving the old man a curt answer, I turned back to the children and continued.
This is my teacher, Aura Master Kwak Chun-sik. I brought him here for no particular reason, but to educate you.
What? Education?
An Aura Master? Oh, you dont mean the one from !
Oh my God, am I going to learn that Aura thing or something?
Huh? What are they all talking about?
Why would you want to learn Aura?
Thats mine.
Youre not learning Aura, youre learning manners.
Ah.
The three kids stiffen at my words.
Sir. These guys used to beat people and steal money in the past, so can you teach them some manners the old-fashioned way?
Huh? How did you know? They call me the manners injector.
Of course they do.
How many people have been victimized by your manners injector?
Well, first of all, these are the subjects of my Gaegwacheonsun and I still have about an hour before school, so can you do me a favor?
Well, youre asking me to help with academy activities, so I cant really say anythingeh.
As he said that, he raised his forearms, and the compressed muscles and blood vessels hidden under his clothes began to sprout and prove themselves.
Lets keep it simple and start with the Four Books of the Three Sages.
Hee hee!
Brother, Ill be a good boy, okay? Please!
Yeah. No way.
Another reason he was called the manners injector.
It was because he was having the most fun and its so sincere about teaching manners that there was even a post about this in the community.
[Title: Dude, do you know what a walking human disaster in CS is?]
[Author: nikonocotin]
[Subject: What is a new event?]
I thought it was some kind of new event, so I was watching it, but he just grabbed me and preached to me for an hour.
I dont know if the producers intended it or not, but it was like a fucking joke]
[ : Oh, I heard thats the official setting of the producers. If you get caught by Kwak Chun-sik while committing a crime, youll be punished]
[nikonocotin: What kind of shitty setting is that?]
[Ang : You must have gotten lost in the shuffle again with a request]
[deepblackblindness : ].
[ : : : : : ]
It made me even more evil.
Oh, man, Im getting PTSD just looking at that.
As I slowly turned to leave the warehouse.
Come on, Eugene, this is something that will help you too, so sit down and listen.
Im sorry, I had a sudden emergency, so
Stay
ah.
I couldnt escape.
* * *
After the kids left for school I was in the passenger seat of Kwak Chun-siks car, staring blankly out the window.
Thats strange, why would you want to go to the academy when you could be resting?
Because I have a lot of things to do that dont involve classes.
Haru and her International Trade Club had been doing most of the work, but the influx of clubs that had been struggling with the economy, as well as those that had become expendable, was paralyzing.
It was yesterday that I contacted Haru with concern..
I havent slept in about three days.
You mean youre not sleepy? I dont know, I think Im actually numb to sleepiness.
I probably have caffeine coursing through my system instead of blood, boo hoo hoo.
I realized she was losing her mind and decided to do something about it.
I grabbed the coffee and desserts I bought from Lattes cafe and went to the International Trade Clubs meeting room.
Welcome to International Trade Club eh?
A staff member with a tired look on his face was surprised to see me.
Looks like youve been busy.
Oh, no, Im not, Ill get the president in here quickly.
I remember him looking down on me when I first met him, but now that I see him moving so quickly, I feel a sense of satisfaction.
Obviously, there are many differences between when I first came here and now.
Back then, I was just a kid who hadnt built anything.
After waiting for a while, I saw a tired-looking Haru walking towards me, rubbing her eyes.
Welcome to master.
You look like youve been working hard.
Still, I guess its worth it when you see the results, and thats?
Oh, I thought you might need it.
With that, I hand her the coffee and slice of cake Ive packed for her.
Harus eyes sparkle in response.
Apparently, the coffee I was drinking was all gone and I had to go buy some new ones, but thank you very much.
Bowing, she accepts the coffee and immediately starts handing it out to the club members.
Then, like ravenous hyenas, they quickly disappeared with the coffee.
Holding the last coffee, Haru takes a sip and looks at me with eyes that are a little wiser.
This tastes familiar, I think its similar to the coffee we used to have at your mansion.
It is, isnt it? Im glad you seem to like it. By the way, where are those papers you said you couldnt handle?
Ah. You mean those.
Nodding, she turns and says.
Ive filed them away in my office, if youll come with me.
I followed her to her office.
As is typical of her personality, there are neatly organized bookshelves and dcor, and a squeaky clean floor.
However, we were greeted by a mountain of papers on her desk, a mess that hadnt been there before.
Youve been doing all of this by yourself?
I distributed it to the other members, so I guess that means your plan worked.
With that, she walked to her desk.
Hmph.
Holding up a stack of papers, the only one of them organized, Haru gently sets them down on another desk next to hers.
These are the papers I was talking about.
All of them?
All of them.
Its a pretty substantial stack.
No, a little bit, given the papers on Harus desk.
Do you want to get started right away?
Sure.
Still, it didnt take me long to go through the papers, perhaps as a result of Consiglieres recent training.
Apparently, most of the problems are clubs that dont make a profit on their investments, or organizations with ridiculous plans.
Even I, an outsider, cant see a single possibility, so Im done.
While I was organizing the preliminary waste packages one by one.
Huh?
A piece of nonsensical planning paper with a familiar club name caught my eye.
This is
On the Development and Utilization of Strategic Weapons Using Magic Stones.
The title was mouth-watering.