Chapter 22 - Business Ethics (1)

Chapter 22: Business Ethics (1)TL: SHW

[Lee Mi-seon – A Cass]

[Main Weapon – Sword]

[Master of Guild Daseon]

[Board Member of Hunter Academy]

[Chairman of Seungyeon Scholarship Foundation]

[Standing Committee Member of Pacific Dungeon Joint Countermeasures Committee]

[Chairman of Hunter Rehabilitation Hospital]

……

…

* * *

“So, today….”

The eyes of the three mages sparkled.

…Honestly, Park Seo-hyun’s eyes are hard to see. Sometimes, there are days when she lifts her bangs, but today doesn’t seem to be one of those days.

On the other hand, Kim Chae-min’s whole body is screaming for runes to be taught right now. Considering how she acts with Hong Seok-young, I should be grateful she’s not grabbing me by the collar.

“…Since all three of you are now familiar with the concealment runes and support runes, I thought I’d teach you a new rune.”

“Yes, teacher!”

Kim Chae-min raised her hand high.

“…What are you curious about, Ms. Kim?”

“How many runes do you know?”

“Why is that important?”

“As a student, it’s natural to be curious about the skills of the teacher!”

“Teacher, you say.”

I cringed.

“Please don’t say scary things. I’m not a mage, so I can’t be your teacher, Ms. Kim.”

At my words, Kim Chae-min made a hurt expression. Her eyes were smiling though. That’s why mages are….

The relationship between a mage teacher and student is a legally binding contract. There’s a reason why it’s trendy for mages to find students among their relatives.

“And as I keep saying, I don’t know the principles of runes. I’m just sharing what I know.”

“That’s more than enough.”

I replied and looked towards the back of the classroom.

Most of the kids who realized that rune classes weren’t as fun as they thought ran away after the first lesson. No wonder, since the whole class was about mages copying the runes I drew on the board.

Lee Seung-yeon still showed up a few more times but stopped after the third time.

Unexpectedly, Oh Hyun-wook kept attending the rune classes. He didn’t show any particular interest nor did he listen attentively, but he showed up regularly. Even when I tried talking to him, he would only give short answers and leave, so I couldn’t figure out what he was thinking.

Ah…. Teenagers in puberty.

Was I like that too? No, I wasn’t.

Anyway, Oh Hyun-wook attended the rune class again today.

Hong Seok-young was sitting next to Oh Hyun-wook. Ever since Kim Chae-min joined, there were days when he didn’t feel the need to watch over the class. Probably because having Hong Seok-young in the room meant all other classes would be disrupted. Today, he attended my class after a while.

Probably…. I shifted my gaze from Hong Seok-young.

Pop.

The annoyingly loud sound of gum chewing.

Pop.

“…….”

When Lee Mi-seon met my eyes, she was startled and swallowed the gum.

“Sorry. It’s a habit. I won’t disturb you.”

Ah, okay….

My stomach twists at playing this unfamiliar role of a teacher. I barely managed to do the mandatory education for the Awakened.

No….

If I think negatively, I’ll just get endlessly depressed.

Let’s think positive thoughts. Remember your initial goal. Isn’t it going smoothly?

Even, there’s a glimmer of hope to enter that damned Bangi-dong Dungeon!

“…Teacher?”

“Ahem.”

Let’s focus and get on with the lesson.

“The rune I’m teaching today… I call it the shadow rune.”

I glanced at Park Seo-hyun. This is a rune she developed. It’s just like her to create a rune like this.

“Let’s draw it first.”

* * *

‘This man?’

Late at night.

When Lee Mi-seon first saw him in the closed training center, her first thought was,

‘…He’s handsome?’

Is it because of her father’s nagging lately to meet a man? With all the work she has, why a man? Besides, the men her father or mother brought as potential partners were all businessmen. Lee Mi-seon had no interest in men weaker than her.

‘No, that’s not it.’

It was inevitable she’d be curious about the man her cute nephew kept talking about every day.

In a moment of life and death, he sacrificed himself to save my nephew. It’s not hard to understand why my young nephew is so infatuated with him. Still, she wish he had some sense of caution. The way her brother and sister-in-law doted on him shows in moments like this.

She’s not ungrateful for him saving her nephew.

But that’s one thing, and this is another.

Even though Hong Seok-young praised him for saving students while escaping from Ark, calling him a decent guy… But that old man is known for his generous praise, so it’s hard to believe.

A guy from that organization suddenly became good-hearted? Saving students?

‘Isn’t that suspicious to anyone?’

Honestly, one of the reasons Hong Seok-young trusts others so easily is his skill. Who would dare think of swindling the best Hunter in South Korea? Even Lee Mi-seon wouldn’t dare.

Ah. Still, the story about his younger brother was unexpected. Hong Seok-young hadn’t shared that information with me until Lee Mi-seon heard it in the underground of the training center.

It’s suspicious if a guy who worked as an enforcer in an illegal organization saves kids for no reason, but it makes sense if there’s a motive.

Especially if it’s to save his young brother? That’s a motive anyone can understand instantly. It makes too much sense, which is why she still can’t shake off her suspicion.

‘Mi-seon.’

‘What.’

‘You distrust people too much. Sometimes there really are people who do good out of pure goodwill.’

‘Who’s saying otherwise?’

‘I’m telling you to trust people.’

Even her brother said something like that once.

Lee Mi-seon was chewing her gum out loud when she met eyes with the man in question, Woo Hwijae.

‘…What?’

Is he picking a fight with me?

Lee Mi-seon, frowning, realized her mistake when she saw the two young mages and even Kim Chae-min watching her.

Embarrassed, Lee Mi-seon swallowed her gum.

“Sorry. It’s a habit. I won’t disturb you.”

Only then did the eyes turn away from her.

‘Speaking of runes…’

She had come all the way to this remote place because of Ark. As if she wasn’t busy enough, they called her here for just that. She was boiling with annoyance.

‘What’s so great about a rune?’

Even dragging out people connected to Ark? Because of Hong Seok-young’s stubbornness, the cleanup always falls on her.

Still, the fact that Kim Chae-min was attending the class kept Lee Mi-seon there. Seeing the Archmage like this, there must be something to it.

“The rune I’m teaching today… I call it the shadow rune.”

Woo Hwijae began slowly.

He had a tall frame with broad shoulders. Not exactly a sculpted handsome guy, but not someone you see every day. He was wearing shabby sweats that looked like he bought them from a market, but overall, he looked more suited for desk work than wielding a sword. If he were dressed properly and stood as a secretary, he would fit right in without any awkwardness.

Even though the Hunters in the guild were well-groomed, they were all fighters, so none of them quite met the mark. If even half of what my nephew said about Woo Hwijae was true, she’d want to scout him for the guild….

‘…No, stop getting sidetracked.’

Stress from not finding satisfactory new recruits for the guild was no small thing.

In fact, that was the real reason she supported Hong Seok-young’s pilot school project. While her nephew’s education was part of it, she wanted to stably nurture talent. Soon Soon-jin was a child she had personally raised from a young age.

‘Focus, focus.’

When was the last time she sat in a classroom? It’s been over ten years, so it’s no wonder she can’t remember. Even back then, she avoided studying, and now to be in a class again…

Woo Hwijae drew a complex diagram of shapes and symbols on the blackboard. Just looking at it made her head spin. This is a rune? Not just random scribbles?

But Woo Hwijae spoke lightly.

“Easy, right?”

“You know that sounds annoying, don’t you?”

“Easy and difficult are relative concepts.”

Woo Hwijae didn’t flinch at Kim Chae-min’s complaints.

“Isn’t it simpler compared to the concealment rune and support rune?”

“Well, when you put it that way, it is.”

“You’ll find it’s easier than you think once you start drawing it.”

“What effect does it have?”

“Try drawing it first.”

“What effect does it have?”

“Just draw it.”

“Can’t you just tell us?”

“That would spoil the fun.”

Woo Hwijae casually addressed not only Kim Chae-min but also the other young mages.

“What are you all standing around for? Start drawing.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Yes!”

Their voices sounded oddly disciplined. Maybe he’s a stricter teacher than she thought.

Woo Hwijae glanced back. Their eyes seemed to meet, but it happened so quickly that she couldn’t be sure.

‘Come to think of it, that man was an illegal Awakened.’

Since he didn’t even have a proper identity, it’s understandable. So then.

‘How skilled is he?’

Lee Mi-seon shook her head as she recalled her nephew’s testimony. She loved her nephew dearly, but he was at an age where he might make things up. The exploits of someone who saved his life would be blown out of proportion.

If his skills were worth remembering, Hong Seok-young would have mentioned them.

Of course, Lee Mi-seon never dreamed that Hong Seok-young might not have checked such basic details.

“How is it? Manageable to draw?”

“Well… yes.”

Choi Jin-woo answered with a reluctant face.

“Since it’s a simple rune, you should be able to draw it in one go.”

Though she could only see their backs, somehow the young mages’ postures seemed to speak volumes.

“There are so many runes you’ll be learning. You can’t spend days practicing each one, right? You’re used to drawing runes by now, aren’t you? Then you should practice doing it quickly.”

“Yes….”

“Draw the support rune over it. That’s the final step for all runes.”

The mages groaned as they drew the runes. It was a fascinating sight for Lee Mi-seon. Seeing mages drawing runes so diligently. By this point, she was starting to wonder what they were going to show.

Once the runes were completed, Woo Hwijae got Park Seo-hyun to stand up.

“Activate the rune.”

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Woo Hwijae said this rune was called the shadow rune. Lee Mi-seon watched with my arms crossed. While she didn’t have high expectations, there had to be a reason why Hong Seok-young insisted on having her sit here.

So then….

“How is it? Do you understand its effect?”

Lee Mi-seon blinked. Somehow, Park Seo-hyun appeared to have faded compared to her surroundings. These were the eyes of an A-rank hunter. It wasn’t her imagination that only Park Seo-hyun looked darker.

Woo Hwijae turned off the classroom lights and went to the window to lower the blinds. In the container classroom, there was no other light source. The room quickly darkened.

“Still don’t get it?”

Woo Hwijae seemed to be enjoying this. Lee Mi-seon rubbed her eyes. Her vision was strange, like the time right before sunset when everything appears oddly dark. Especially Park Seo-hyun, holding the rune, blended into her surroundings as if her outline was erased.

“Simply put, this rune lets you blend with your shadow.”

“Shadow…?”

Choi Jin-woo spoke with an uncertain voice.

“It’s not very noticeable in bright places…. But when it gets dark, the effect is dramatic.”

Woo Hwijae raised the blinds. Park Seo-hyun became visible again.

When Woo Hwijae took the rune from Park Seo-hyun and tore it, the change was even more pronounced. Park Seo-hyun looked at her own hand in wonder.

“How do you think you could use this rune?”

“Um….”

“Ms. Kim? You must have an idea, right?”

“Well….”

“Park Seo-hyun?”

“I’m… I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s okay not to know. That’s why I’m here as a teacher. You’ll learn gradually.”

“I’m sorry….”

“It’s fine, really.”

Lee Mi-seon pondered Woo Hwijae’s words. Blending into one’s shadow? At first glance, it seemed useless, but the key was not in the light but in the dark. In a lightless dungeon….

Chewing her nails, Lee Mi-seon suddenly raised her head. There was something that caught her attention.

“Excuse me, Mr. Woo.”

“Yes?”

“There’s something I’m curious about.”

“Yes?”

“What is the concealment rune you mentioned earlier?”

“…It’s the mana concealment rune.”

“Mana concealment rune? Does it, by any chance, conceal mana?”

“Yes. It hides mana, just as its name suggests.”

Woo Hwijae turned the question back on Lee Mi-seon.

“Didn’t Seung-yeon tell you? It’s what I used to save them in Myeong-dong.”

“…”

Lee Mi-seon slowly inhaled.

She remembered her nephew’s face, awkwardly changing the subject whenever he talked about what happened in Myeong-dong. She had been searching for a doctor who treats Hunters, thinking he might have trauma…!

Lee Mi-seon abruptly stood up and grabbed Hong Seok-young by the collar.

“You’ve already silenced my nephew?! You old man with no business ethics!!”