Chapter 108
Chapter 108: Education (3)
It was a time when the heroes were receiving training suited to their respective positions.
All the warriors of the 3rd Class of the Hero Academy gathered in a classroom within the Hero Academy Building.
The classroom had several long tables and chairs placed around.
There, Yoo Ji-han sat alone in the empty front row.
“Ah…”
Until the instructor entered the classroom, there was nothing particular to do.
Sitting and resting, Yoo Ji-han thought about the Gwicheokgwaesamcheong that was maturing back home.
After soaking it for a day, he could tell it was properly fermenting by the smell.
In just a few more days, he would be able to consume the elixir he had been waiting for.
‘They say it’s more absorbable than eating it raw.’
The precious Gwaisam used to make the brew should bear some fruit.
It was at that moment of worry.
“…?”
Yoo Ji-han felt someone looking at him from behind.
When he turned his head in the direction of the gaze, he saw heroes sitting in their seats, staring at their mobile phones.
‘What’s this?’
He quickly looked back to the front.
But a few seconds later, he felt the prickling gaze at the back of his head again.
This time, it wasn’t just one person, but several.
At this point, it was no longer a mere misunderstanding.
‘Let them do as they please.’
He decided to think comfortably.
Not paying attention to useless matters was the answer.
About three minutes passed.
Just as the gazes from behind were nearly fading away,
“Ji-han, hello!”
“Hello.”
Go Mina entered the classroom, smiling and greeting Yoo Ji-han.
As Yoo Ji-han reciprocated her greeting, she naturally sat down beside him.
“By the way, Ji-han, do you know any good Mala Tang places around here?”
“No.”
“I had it with the party members for lunch yesterday. The shrimp and meatballs inside were plump and delicious!”
“Really?”
“The dining hall of the Hero Academy is one thing, but the surrounding area is filled with amazing food spots! You should definitely try it later.”
Yoo Ji-han continued the conversation with Go Mina.
From talking about food to the photo taken with the instructor Jin Seok-woo, they chatted about ordinary everyday things.
In that, Go Mina was mostly the one to initiate the topics.
Yoo Ji-han took on the role of responding to her.
‘Were those two that close?’
‘The rumors about him living with a girl might be true.’
As the conversation lengthened, the number of gazes piercing into Yoo Ji-han’s back increased.
Those intensifying stares mostly came from men.
Among them, there were some who had feelings for Go Mina.
“Mina really seems to love food.”
“A little bit? Don’t you dislike it, Ji-han?”
“I like it too.”
“That’s great! Then maybe later you could join me for a meal…”
Just as they were chatting away,
Bang!
The classroom front door slammed open, colliding with the wall inside.
It was such a loud impact that one could worry it might break the door.
Startled, all the heroes turned to look that way.
“Hmm? Did I scare you? I just pushed it slightly.”
The one who opened the door was a massive man.
Closing the creaking door, he approached the teacher’s desk reserved for the instructor.
‘Must be the instructor who was supposed to come today.’
Yoo Ji-han assessed his appearance.
With a confident stride and thick arms, the scars remaining here and there hinted at an experienced warrior.
Among heroes, some wear scars from battles like a badge, deliberately choosing not to erase them; he seemed to fall into that category.
Placing his mobile phone on the teacher’s desk, he addressed the heroes.
“Nice to meet you. I am Yoon Bong-pal, a Rank 2 Warrior belonging to the Warriors Guild.”
“Yoon Bong-pal? It’s Yoon Bong-pal!”
“Whoa! I recognize that guy.”
Although he was not in Yoo Ji-han’s memory,
Some heroes seemed to know him.
“Bong-pal hyung, what’s up!”
“Yeah. You guys have been hard to see lately.”
“Sorry!”
The junior members of the Warriors Guild stood up and bowed at a 90-degree angle to Yoon Bong-pal.
It resembled the courtesy of some underworld organization members.
Thanks to the strict hierarchy within the Warriors Guild.
“Today, I’m here to teach you about combat knowledge.”
“Yes!”
“Actually, I’m not a fan of explaining things with words. I’m the type to dive right in. Truthfully, I’d rather go out on the field right now, but the Hero Academy asked for these lectures for the warriors? So, here we are.”
“Yes!”
“Basically, I’m here almost as a talent donation for our guild juniors, so consider it your lucky day.”
“What an honor!”
With every end of Yoon Bong-pal’s sentences, the juniors affiliated with the Warriors Guild responded enthusiastically.
He smiled warmly at their reactions, picking up the touchpen for the electronic blackboard.
“Here’s today’s topic.”
Tap, tap.
As the touchpen glided across the blackboard, white lettering appeared.
Soon, a sentence was completed.
[In combat with monsters, what is the most important thing?]
“I have hunted countless monsters so far. Even if we combined the monsters hunted by all the heroes gathered here, it wouldn’t reach the number I’ve caught.”
“Impressive!”
“What’s most important in fighting monsters? Raise your hand if you know.”
One hero hesitantly raised his hand.
“You there. Go ahead.”
“Understanding the characteristics of the monster is crucial.”
“What kind of characteristics?”
“Whether they travel in packs or alone, what their weaknesses are, etc.…”
“Hmm. What do the others think? Do you agree?”
“Yes!”
Hearing the responses, Yoon Bong-pal smiled slightly.
“Understanding the characteristics of monsters and hunting accordingly. That’s a pleasing answer. I’m sure everyone learned it like that.”
“That’s correct!”
“But what if……. that’s wrong?”
“Yes?”
A rather textbook-like response.
Yet everyone was stunned by Yoon Bong-pal’s declaration that it was incorrect.
The hero who initially raised his hand asked carefully.
“Incorrect?”
“Exactly as I said. Understanding monster characteristics isn’t that important.”
“What do you mean…”
“Sure, there are enemies that use poison or special attacks. However, what matters most in most fights is personal strength. Simply put, as long as my strength is greater than the enemy’s, that’s all that matters! Plus, my weapon must be sharp enough to pierce the enemy’s skin, and my armor must be sturdy enough to block their attacks.”
“…….”
“The methods of tackling specific monsters and searching for easier paths have led most of those wannabe strategists to one of three fates.”
Yoon Bong-pal displayed his fingers one by one.
“All of them are weaker than me, have already retired, or are dead.”
The weak perish, and the strong survive.
Such a simple yet brute force logic!
Yoon Bong-pal was an undeniable hero who trusted solely in his own strength.
“There are only one or two things to know before fighting an opponent. Don’t rely on shortcuts; just trust yourself and build your strength. That’s what heroes should do.”
“Absolutely!”
Yoon Bong-pal’s words were almost comically absurd.
But he was a Rank 2 Hero affiliated with a large guild.
He was one of the rare heroes recognized enough to be invited as an instructor at the Hero Academy.
He truly had the power to warrant the confidence he exhibited.
“It wouldn’t be much different if it were invaders rather than monsters. So far, I’ve killed around 22 invaders.”
“Whoa….”
Crack!
Yoon Bong-pal raised his arm and clenched his fist, showcasing his muscles.
Even other heroes could admire his impressive muscles, a product of magic and effort added to a hero’s physique.
“Beastmen or Dwarves, all of them rumored to be dangerous, yet they all collapsed without managing to handle me. But honestly, I still don’t know much about those different races. I don’t even know what abilities they have or what their weaknesses are. The most I know is that among beastmen, there are those who can change parts of their bodies to resemble animals.”
Just then, as Yoon Bong-pal continued speaking,
Yoo Ji-han, who had been quietly sitting in the front row, spoke up.
“Wouldn’t knowing the opponent make combat easier?”
“Did you not hear me? In the time you spend making that effort, build your own strength. It could also be a method of finding good equipment…”
“I believe knowing is also very important. Sometimes even more than just building strength.”
“…….”
Yoon Bong-pal, standing at the teacher’s desk, looked down at Yoo Ji-han in the front row.
No matter how much he emphasized the importance of strength…
When people gather, there are always those who advocate such rational views.
“It’s always those who can’t do it that say things like that.”
“Is that so?”
Yoo Ji-han shrugged.
He preferred to fight by aiming for the weaknesses of his opponents.
That was part of why he could maintain his activity in Kim Hyun-tae’s party for so long, despite having no particularly outstanding abilities.
It was a tendency that didn’t quite match Yoon Bong-pal, who emphasized pure strength.
“Tsk…”
Yoon Bong-pal frowned slightly at Yoo Ji-han’s calm demeanor.
Yoo Ji-han’s gaze, boldly locking with Yoon Bong-pal’s, seemed to say that he wasn’t wrong.
‘At least this guy has nice eyes.’
Anyone might mistake him for a seasoned hero who had been through thick and thin.
For a mere Rank 4, nonetheless.
“What’s your name?”
“Yoo Ji-han.”
“……!”
Upon hearing his name, Yoon Bong-pal’s eye twitched for a moment.
——There’s a really cocky brat in this 3rd Class of the Hero Academy. His name is Yoo Ji-han.
It was something his fellow guild member, Lee Dong-ho, who had a connection with Yoon Bong-pal, had told him.
But to think that name would come up here.
“You said Yoo Ji-han?”
“Yes.”
“Alright… Keep that name in mind.”
Yoon Bong-pal internally repeated Yoo Ji-han’s name.
At least for the duration of his tenure as an instructor at the Hero Academy, he wouldn’t forget that kid’s name.
*
Having emphasized strength continuously to the warriors, Yoon Bong-pal returned to the office briefly during break.
After setting his belongings down at his desk, he plopped down into his chair.
‘This really doesn’t suit me.’
Although they requested a theoretical training first from the Hero Academy.
Inherently, one must experience things directly to realize something.
Once the theoretical training time requested by the Hero Academy was fully utilized, he immediately planned to take the warriors straight to the field.
He wasn’t satisfied with just the basic drills carried out in the training center.
He believed that real hands-on experience in the field was what would allow him to teach even one thing properly.
“Bong-pal, how was the training?”
Jin Seok-woo, who was sitting at a nearby desk, asked him.
It was a question about his impressions after the first training session.
Yoon Bong-pal glanced at him and replied nonchalantly.
“Nothing out of the ordinary; I’m running it in my usual style.”
“Did the trainees keep up well?”
“If they can’t keep up, then what? They have to adjust to me as much as possible.”
“Ha, you’re quite bluntly straightforward, just like the Warriors Guild.”
Heroes belonging to the Warriors Guild generally have a bold and straightforward manner of behavior.
And Yoon Bong-pal was a hero who reflected that guild’s character well.
“By the way, there happens to be an annoying one in the bunch. Right in front of me, he said his opinion was completely different from mine; he was downright cocky.”
“Teaching as an instructor isn’t easy at all, is it?”
“Hm…”
“Oh right, just a moment ago there was a directive from the Hero Academy headquarters to us.”
“Ugh, what now?”
Yoon Bong-pal made a face of mild annoyance.
He was already conducting training that didn’t quite suit his personality, so what more could they want from him?
“It’s related to the heroes you’re responsible for. It’s nothing significant, but it seems one person will be missing from training starting tomorrow.”
“Who is it?”
“It’s the hero named Yoo Ji-han from the Sweet Fun Guild.”
“Uh? That guy?”
“You know him?”
“That’s the cocky brat I just mentioned.”
“Ooh…”
Jin Seok-woo showed an interested expression.
Though he didn’t know the exact details, it seemed Yoo Ji-han left a strong first impression.
‘Well, considering he took down a Barbarian, it’s not so strange.’
It wouldn’t be strange for them to receive attention from other heroes.
Perhaps Yoo Ji-han’s other party members were also receiving good evaluations.
“Why is that guy leaving, by the way? I was planning to put him through his paces on-site soon.”
“There was a separate request from outside the Hero Academy, apparently.”
“A special treatment of some sort?”
“Not exactly, but it seems it was hard to refuse from above.”
“Where in the world did that request come from to…”
“I heard it was directly requested by Yoon Do-ha from the Dice Guild.”
“……That troublemaker?!”
Yoon Bong-pal had an expression of disbelief.
Why would a figure like that, not even belonging to the same guild, have any interest in a mere Rank 4 hero?
