37 Chapter 36 (2/2)
Kang-hyuk stroked his chin as he observed Cheon Hae-gwang.
'The work I tasked is too much for Cheon Jogyo to do alone. I'll have to find another assistant.'
Kang-hyuk picked up the luggage Baek-gap had packed for him, and walked towards the training ground with Cheon Hae-gwang.
”Good morning!”
The first person who had greeted Kang-hyuk was Ok Hae-mi.
Upon seeing her smile, Kang-hyuk observed that she was quite a beautiful woman.
”The person next to you must be your new assistant.”
”Yes. He's a very useful assistant. Greet her, she's the Whip Martial Arts teacher.”
Cheon Hae-gwang promptly bowed at Kang-hyuk's instruction.
”It's nice to meet you. I'm Kang-hyuk Seonsaengnim's assistant, Cheon Hae-gwang.”
She smiled, returning Cheon Hae-gwan's greeting.
”It's nice to meet you as well. I'm Ok Hae-mi. I teach the Whip Martial Art to first-year students.”
”I request you to take good care of me henceforth.”
”I would request you to do the same.”
She turned to Kang-hyuk, looking at the document in his hand.
”I see you have the Samjo group…”
She had received the schedule for the field trip the day before, and had discovered something strange whilst looking over it.
Kang-hyuk, a Liberal Arts subject teacher, had been listed as travelling to the site of the field-trip with the martial teachers and students. Usually, the Liberal Arts subject teachers travelled separate from the martial teachers, and left the day before.
Therefore, she had inquired why this was so to the Principal, Eun Myeong-myeong. He had replied, saying that it was upon the instructions of the Clan Leader, and to just leave it be.
However, it was still strange.
”You can go over where there's a flag erected with 'Samjo' written on it.”
”Okay.”
”Cheon Jogyo, you can also go there with him.”
”Understood.”
”In that case, I'll see you later.”
Ok Hae-mi then went over to the other teachers that had just arrived. Kang-hyuk smiled as he watched her leave.
'She's always in a cheerful mood whenever I see her.'
As Kang-hyuk reached the location where a flag had been erected, he realized that Byeok Ae-rin had made a rather elaborate plan.
He had been placed in a group with five first-year teachers, with one of the group members being Oh-Tae.
”As a Liberal Arts Teacher, why are you here?”
His questioning was only natural.
Hwacheon Academy's field trips weren't dissimilar to an outdoor training drill, and so, physical strength and martial ability was required.
Kang-hyuk replied, ”Ok Seonsaeng told me to come here.”
”I told her to organize a decent team but…”
Oh-Tae spoke with a certain expression on his face that Kang-hyuk disliked.
”Well, you better not hold us back.”
”Of course.”
Cheon Hae-gwang tilted his head upon observing the interaction.
'He was like that before, and he's like that again, that Oh-Tae teacher definitely doesn't like Kang Seonsaengim!'
It was then that.
”Everyone, pay attention!”
Ok Hae-mi's voice resounded throughout the space.
As it was nearly time for departure, the Principal Eun Myeong-myeong stood on a podium.
He gave a simple address to the students and teachers standing in front of him.
”Well then, let's get going!”
As he moved his hand in signal, drums began to beat.
The Academy had set out for the field trip.
The sight of depart itself was quite spectacular.
***
Hwacheon Academy.
It didn't exclusively house teachers and students. As people were residing at the Academy, other people were needed for various tasks.
Such as providing the necessities of life to the students and teachers.
Therefore, there were, of course, people present at the Academy working to provide food, as well as maintaining the buildings for the students and teachers. The teachers also had their personal maids and servants that worked at their residences.
Personal servants however, were not permitted for the students.
This was due to varying differences in the social status of the students. Hiring a servant to enter the Academy with the student would be quite expensive, and so, it would only be reserved for those with a more wealthy background. Therefore, in the interests of equality, the Academy hired workers to do the students' laundry, provide them with meals, take care of their cleaning and et cetera.
”Right, let's have a bright and beautiful day!”
The location was the training ground of the Academy.
A middle aged man could be seen standing in front of dozens of people.
They were employees who worked at the Academy, and the man standing in front of them was their Chief Manager.
He then spoke.
”Firstly, I would like to introduce you all to a new worker.”
As he gestured his hand, a man wearing a small earring on his left ear stepped forth.
He was wearing a blue uniform like the other workers were.
He was also wearing an article of black clothing, something which was forbidden for workers. He seemed to have a gentle gaze.
The young man stepped forward and introduced himself.
”It's nice to meet you all. My surname is Shim, and my name is…. I'm quite a little embarrassed to say it, so you can just call me Shim-ga. My age is.... twenty-eight years.”
The other workers nodded in approval.
”Right. Shim-ga, you'll be assigned to cleaning the classrooms with Hong-ssi over there.”
”Understood.”
The young man's eyes sparkled as he heard where he would be cleaning, but this went unnoticed by others.
Shim-ga and Hong-ssi soon headed towards the direction of the classrooms. But then, Shim-ga felt as though something was a little off.
It was because the school was completely quiet.
It was around two in the afternoon.
He felt as though it was quite a bit past the time for the students to wake up.
”The school is quite quiet, isn't it?”
He had decided to ask Hong-ssi about the matter, which Hong-ssi responded with a smile.
”Ah! It's your first day here, so I guess you don't know.”
”Sorry? What don't I know?”
”The students all left today for a field trip. I think it was for four days and three nights?”
”What?”
He was taken aback.
'That means I won't see Hyung-nim for another five days? This is ridiculous!”
The young man's real name was Shim-gu, the very Shim-gu that was the former head of Hyeonmugak.
He had tried to obtain the position of Kang-hyuk's assistant as he wanted to be by his side, but had been refused.
That was why he had requested the position of a cleaner when he had met Eun Myeong-myeong in his office.
And today was the day when he had finally started work.
He had organized it so that he would be able to work as a cleaner in the classrooms in which Liberal Arts subjects were conducted.
He had also used Byeonyongsul (1) to change his appearance and name so that others wouldn't recognize him.
In this way, with plenty of planning and preparation, he had entered the Academy for the first time as a cleaner.
(1) Byeonyongsul - A technique to assume a different appearance and identity