82 Chapter 81 (2/2)
The students blinked in response.
When they had heard that they would be engaging in public service the day before, they expected their work to be sweeping the streets of the village, or do some maintenance work.
But never did they expect that their task was to go and remove insects.
This was a shocker out of the blue.
”Did you just say…bugs?”
”Is there a problem? If there is, please say it right now.”
The students remained silent.
It wasn't because they had no problem, but because Kang-hyuk had wordlessly raised his fist.
'I-it already hurt so badly from being thrashed by that attendance book.'
'Let alone his fists…'
'We could actually die if that happened….'
Kang-hyuk grinned as the students put away their complaints.
”Follow me.”
”Yes.”
After that, they walked towards some farmland, not far away from the inn.
The barley in the field was growing verdantly green as it was bathed in the rays of the spring sun.
The field was so wide that it seemed endless.
Nevertheless, there was a problem. That problem was caterpillars.
There were around three to four caterpillars attached to one stem of barley.
”Right. What you all need to do is catch those bugs.”
A student raised their hand at Kang-hyuk's instruction.
”Seonsaengnim. Those bugs are also lifeforms. Is it really okay to remove these lifeforms carelessly?”
Kang-hyuk replied in response.
”Damn! Think about it, you rascal! You receive a single pancake after being starved for three days. Would you give that pancake away to the insect, and starve to death yourself?”
”That, well….”
”That's right, stop saying things that will cause you to be beaten to death by farmers, and focus on catching the bugs! I'm going to be monitoring how many all of you catch individually, so don't even think of fooling around.”
Kang-hyuk lifted his fist and continued to speak.
”The fellow who catches the least will undergo an hour long special training session. Also, I think all of you already know what will happen if any of you break any barley stems.”
The students recoiled in fear.
They had toiled like dogs until yesterday in the name of training. They didn't wish to experience such training once more.
'Receiving training again….'
'I might even die…'
They rushed into the barley field one after another, carrying sacks.
They brought out chopsticks with them to pick the caterpillars of the barley stalks, but they soon found out that there was no need for them.
The fastest way to remove the caterpillars was by hand.
”Ahh! Ten thousand hands!”
”Huh! How petty! Do you think we could use the Geumnasu [1] technique?”
”Do you think I couldn't use anything? Thousand hands, blossom!”
As Kang-hyuk watched the students go to the extent of using various martial techniques to catch the caterpillars, he turned to look at the village chief, Pyeongsan.
”What do you think?”
Pyeongsan spoke, bowing his head.
”To be honest, I was initially a little uncertain about their bug-catching abilities, but right now, I'm just surprised.”
”Hahaha. Is that so?”
Kang-hyuk muttered under his breath whilst stroking his chin.
”As I thought, it's good to mobilize the people of Moorim to partake in farming work.”
He grinned at Pyeongsan, who looked touched by his words.
”Ae-rin-ah. What do you think of officially including farm work in my curriculum?”
Byeok Ae-rin simply smiled in response.
”It's a joke.”
However, Kang-hyuk had overlooked the fact that there were two loyal people by his side that could easily make his words into a reality.
Byeok Ae-rin and Shim-gu's eyes glistened.
'If that's what Seonsaengnim wants, it should definitely happen.'
'It's something that Hyung-nim wants! If that's the case, it should indeed go ahead.'
Unaware of the thoughts of the two elders, Kang-hyuk gazed at the five students' busy working with a look of satisfaction on his face.
The work of catching the insects had finished earlier than anticipated.
They had some lunch and snacks in between, but the task sped up because of the students' use of martial techniques.
Therefore, they were able to finish before dinner, and Pyeongsan, joined by the farmers, thanked them with gratitude.
That evening.
The five students, who were having their evening meal, looked proud.
They had initially considered catching bugs an absurd task, but as of present, the grateful expressions of the farmers still lingered in their minds.
The martial techniques they had utilized weren't that particularly complicated.
Even though that was the case, they felt renewed that they had been of some help to the farmers.
They began to ponder about what kind of life was really worth living.
”You're all tired, aren't you?”
The students looked up at Kang-hyuk. They collectively replied, ”No, not at all!”
”What do you mean you're not? I can see how tired you all are by your faces. You've all worked hard. Eat your dinner, then rest well in your rooms.”
”Thank you!”
After having given the students free time, Kang-hyuk emerged from the inn. His gaze changed as he entered a deserted alley behind the inn.
”Seonsaengnim.”
Standing in front of him was Byeok Ae-rin.
”Your expression doesn't look too good.”
”I've felt it ever since we entered the village. I can smell blood.”
Shim-gu, who had left the inn with Kang-hyuk, chimed in.
”There's a cow slaughterhouse over there….”
*Pok!*
Kang-hyuk struck the back of Shim-gu's head.
”Ah! Th-that hurt!”
Kang-hyuk's movement was so fast that the action was almost invisible.
”Damn it! I've been wielding weapons for so many years now, do you not think I can differentiate between animal and human blood?”
”Ah, you're right. It is human blood.”
Shim-gu sighed.
”Honestly speaking, I could also smell human blood and was thinking that it was a little weird. It's difficult to produce such a strong scent of blood like this as well.”
[1] Geumnasu is a martial technique where the opponent is taken down using the force of one's hand.