40 Chapter 39 (1/2)
Oh-Tae massaged Namgoong Min's shoulders.
”It's okay. Today's loss is tomorrow's victory. Use this experience as a stepping stone.”
”....”
”Go and get some more firewood.”
”Yes.”
As their previous camping spot, where they had already stacked up firewood, had been taken, they needed to procure some more.
The three other students that were to accompany Namgoong Min sighed. They were all heading towards the mountains to collect firewood, with Oh-Tae following behind them.
He was accompanying the students due to the potential dangers lurking in the mountains.
”Kang Seonsaeng, could you set up camp?”
”Sure.”
Kang-hyuk nodded his head and watched Oh-Tae as he left.
'Really…'
Observing the way he cared for his students, Oh-Tae really didn't seem to be a bad person.
Kang-hyuk felt that it was a shame that such a man was on a path of self-destruction.
What he felt was more pitiful were the reasons behind why he was on this path.
Kang-hyuk knew many people like Oh-Tae. They were people that wanted to protect the last bits of pride they had remaining.
He remembered that none of those people had a particularly pleasant ending.
'If he continues like this, his ending won't be pleasant either.'
This was why Kang-hyuk felt that it was necessary to show him what the true meaning of self-worth and pride was.
Filled with the hopes that Byeok Ae-rin's plan would assist Oh-Tae in realizing this, Kang-hyuk walked over towards their camping spot.
”I'll get started on setting up!”
***
Holding a tea cup, Byeok Ae-rin seemed to be gazing at something. The object of her stare was Kang-hyuk.
”Erm, would you like another cup of tea?”
Baek-gap, who was sitting next to her, spoke up cautiously. She nodded her head.
He poured the boiling tea into her cup.
”It looks like the sun is setting. We'll be seeing a starry night soon.”
”That's true.”
”I've heard that the view of the stars from here is incredibly beautiful, is that really the case?”
Byeok Ae-rin nodded her head at his query.
”It's true. Whilst the landscape of the mountain is famed for its beauty, the true gem of this place is the view of the night sky. But alas, we won't have a chance to see the stars tonight.”
”What? Why not?”
Byeok Ae-rin pounded her legs in response to Baek-gap's question.
”Aigoo, my joints. Being old isn't very easy…”
”...?”
”Judging by how my joints are aching, it's definitely going to rain tonight.”
”A-ah, I see. Shouldn't we inform Seonsaengnim of the rain?”
Byeok Ae-rin shook her head.
”He most likely already knows. He has the Rain Bead in his possession.”
Baek-gap's eyes widened.
”I-it can't be. The Rain Bead?”
Byeok Ae-rin grinned, then looked over to where Kang-hyuk was again. She then looked up at the sky and muttered under her breath.
”Coming here again reminds me of the old days. I wonder where the cave is. I'm sure there was a cave somewhere around here?”
”How do you know there's a cave here?”
”We had a mission in this area before. If I hadn't been here before, how would I know about the beauty of its night sky?”
”I-I guess that's true. What kind of mission were you on?”
Byeok Ae-rin smirked at his question.
”Why? Are you that curious?”
”Well, it's just…”
”We were fighting a group known as the Blood Horse Thieves. We killed all of them in the end, not a single horse was left alive.”
”....”
***
Kang-hyuk looked over at the campsite and began to think about how he could set things up in a way that they would be able to have a decently comfortable night.
'We'll have to start with the uneven ground.'
He then began to look over the small stones littered all over the ground.
'Hm?'
All of a sudden, a bead hanging from Kang-hyuk's waist began to change in colour. The bead was known as the 'Rain Bead'.
It was an artefact that could predict rainfall. When the bead's original colour of white changed to blue, it indicated that rain was going to fall within two hours.
The bead had turned blue.
'The spring weather is usually fickle in nature, but rain, and now of all times!'
He acknowledged that encountering rain whilst camping could be a useful experience for the students, but it didn't change the fact that it was very uncomfortable and annoying.
Sleeping on ground saturated with rainwater would be unpleasant, and starting a fire with damp firewood would also be quite difficult.
'If we can't start a fire, the cold weather of early spring will make it hard for the students to maintain their body temperature.'
The news of the Academy being on a field-trip had spread. Thanks to it, there had already been an attempted attack on the students.
In the worst case scenario, if they were suddenly attacked, they could be defeated.
'In this sort of situation, it'd be best to take shelter in a cave, I wonder if there's a cave around here….'
Kang-hyuk began to scour the surroundings, until he remembered that there was indeed a cave near where they had set up camp.
The Goseon Mountain had in truth, been Kang-hyuk's private property.
After having a mission in the area, he had become smitten with the spectacular mountain scenery, managing to purchase the mountain for a large sum.
When Mu-jin had become the new Clan Leader, he had given the property to him as a congratulatory gift. Kang-hyuk's experience of the mountain meant that he had a good idea of its topography.
'Alas, I am taking part in a group activity right now.'
He realized that he would have to accept outer help.
He chose to speak to the teacher who had a more pleasant personality and a bit of influence, Ok Hae-mi.
He ran over to her as soon as he located her.
”Ok Seonsaeng!”
Ok Hae-mi turned around in response to his call.
”Ah, Kang Seonsaengnim, what's the matter?”
”It's going to rain around two hours from now.”
”Sorry?”
Ok Hae-mi looked a little perplexed at Kang-hyuk's sudden proclamation.
”Rain? But the sky looks clear at the moment though?”