Chapter 137 : Chapter 137
Chapter 137: Rome Academy (9)
"Te, Teacher!"
"……."
Seeing Yoo jin standing beside him at some point, Jin-ho’s expression darkened.
While there was no major change in his expression, the Model student also could not take his eyes off Yoo jin.
"I told you guys not to cause trouble, geez."
"Ah, this is, well…… hey, you say something too."
"……."
Jin-ho tried to pass the buck, but the Model student still didn't utter a single word.
"Forget it, I get the gist of it."
Yoo jin immediately shouted toward Tae-wook and Leo, who were in the middle of combat.
"Hey, hey! Brats, pay attention here for a second."
At Yoo Jin's voice, the sword and ice spear that were cleaving through the air stopped.
"Teacher…?"
"What, how are you here? There's no way the sound leaked outside."
The gaze containing blue eyes turned into arrows and aimed at Tae-wook.
"You, don't tell me you meanly told the teacher…."
"Don't say such nonsense. Do I look like that kind of guy? But what is it? I was careful not to get caught……."
Though they were speaking in small voices amongst themselves, Yoo Jin caught every word.
"You punks, am I just any teacher? No matter how much you brats hide it, you're all in the palm of my hand."
At the sight of Yoo jin twisting one corner of his mouth up, both Tae-wook and Leo realized that excuses were no longer of any use.
"If we kept going, a victor could have been decided."
"What victor? You should thank that teacher. Otherwise, your body would have been cut in two by my sword."
"You're the one who should thank our teacher. You would've been turned into a skewer."
The combat had stopped, but their battle of nerves remained as strong as ever.
"Don't worry. Don't worry. Keep doing what you were doing. I just came to be the referee."
Yoo jin gave a thumbs up.
Yoo Jin's eyes became clearer than ever, and he wore an expression that was almost innocent.
"I expected it but. Seriously…… he's consistent……."
"……."
Jin-ho let out a hollow smile, and the Model student stared blankly at Yoo jin.
It was the same for Tae-wook and Leo, who were close by due to the fight.
"No… I’m thankful you’re not stopping us. But is being a referee right? When students are fighting?"
"……."
At the incomprehensible looks directed at him, Yoo jin shrugged his shoulders.
"Why? Isn't it a good opportunity? Opportunities to spar with an S-Rank are rare. Especially an S-Rank high schooler of the same age. And from Leo's perspective, the other academy students here are obviously great, but Tae-wook over there—aside from having a bit of a prickly personality—is South Korea's top prospect. He’s probably the strongest among the Korean brats. Isn't he a sufficient opponent?"
Because Yoo Jin was speaking so seriously, no one could talk back.
"It will be a good experience for both of you."
As Yoo jin concluded firmly, Leo’s eyes trembled slightly.
He wasn't telling them to stop the fight, nor was he intervening.
"You're going to referee?"
Is he really a teacher?
Leo showed a bewildered look for the first time.
"Why……."
The words slipped out involuntarily.
Leo bit his lip.
"Do you mean to say you don't care if a student gets hurt?"
"You said this is the world's number one Rome Academy. There must be decent facilities and the best healers. And since I’m refereeing, nothing majorly bad will happen."
Yoo jin said nonchalantly.
"……."
Leo lost his words.
"And to be honest."
Yoo jin muttered while putting his hands in his pockets.
"Because I roughly know why you’re doing this and what you’re trying to share in this fight."
No one understood what those words meant.
Except for one person, Leo.
His pupils trembled ever so slightly.
Yoo jin’s gaze briefly, very briefly, brushed past Leo.
What was held in those eyes was the gaze of a true teacher.
"……."
The blue eyes stopped very clearly.
As Leo’s state changed,
"What is he sharing?"
"More than that, Teacher, do you know why Leo hates us?"
"……."
Yoo Jin's disciples poured out questions.
Yoo Jin was about to say something but then took a moment to catch his breath.
This was because he concluded that it wasn't right for him to speak with his own mouth.
That answer was something Leo had to say himself.
Yoo jin’s gaze turned back to Leo.
"Then continue. I’ll referee for you. Fight with all your might. I'll intervene on my own when it gets dangerous. Pour everything out."
Yoo Jin smiled as he said that.
Leo’s pupils, reflecting that smile, sank deeper and deeper into a bottomless pit.
A small trembling began.
Grit.
Leo bit his lip and, unable to control his anger, turned his body around.
"What, where are you going? We're just starting!"
"The mood is ruined."
Leo put his sword into its scabbard and began to leave the sparring room.
"How boring."
"Hey, where are you going? Where's the sense in quitting just because the teacher came! He said he'd referee. Or are you scared of me?"
Kang Tae-wook possessed not just martial power, but also high intelligence and cleverness.
Therefore.
"S-Ranks are nothing special either, I guess."
To him, provocation a self-imposed outsider was easier than eating rice cake while lying down.
The footsteps of Leo heading toward the door stopped.
Leo turned back toward Kang Tae-wook, who was wearing a twisted smile.
"You, don't be mistaken. If I had exerted my true power, you wouldn't have lasted even a minute."
"Yeah, yeah. Anyone can talk."
"……."
Leo’s eyes twitched.
Irritation was bursting through his skin.
His plan was ruined by the teacher's appearance.
The mood was completely killed by the words from his mouth.
He was annoyed that his vulnerability had been seen.
His patience had completely bottomed out.
That was why.
"Do you think you are strong?"
"What kind of bullshit is—"
"You are not strong. I don't understand in the first place why you were the first to step forward and raise your voice. The strongest among you isn't you, but……."
The cold blue eyes moved.
"That guy."
Leo’s eyes pointed toward the Model student.
The expressions of Kang Tae-wook and Jin-ho froze.
"What does that……."
"……."
Leo wore an 'I knew it' expression and opened his mouth.
"Because you can't even gauge the magnitude of power. That is why you are weak. Failing to grasp the strength of the one closest to you."
The gaze that had been fixed on the Model student sank low.
It was the same for Jin-ho as well as Kang Tae-wook.
Because they couldn't believe it.
No, they wondered what on earth this suddenly meant.
That the Model student was the strongest…….
However.
The existence who could give the most definitive answer at a time like this happened to be right here.
Thus, the gazes of Jin-ho and Tae-wook moved in unison.
Toward their homeroom teacher.
Toward the Returnee, Yoo jin.
"……."
Scratch, scratch.
Yoo Jin was scratching his cheek with a troubled expression.
Due to that reaction, Tae-wook and Jin-ho could be certain.
That the words coming out of Leo's mouth were the truth.
"Well… ah…… I’ve been caught……."
***
Yoo Jin recalled the first day he came to Taewoon High School.
And he was facing the moment he first encountered the children in Year 2 Class A.
Kang Tae-wook, who was wearing a mask.
Ye-na with orange hair and sparkling eyes.
Seong-hyeon, who was looking out the window with dead eyes.
Jin-ho, whom he thought of as fate.
And.
With an appearance that could be found anywhere.
A single male student sitting quietly, permeating among the children.
Like an extra.
Like the children who become the background for the protagonist.
A child blended among the students without a presence.
However.
Yoo Jin could tell as soon as he laid eyes on him.
That this child was the strongest.
No, beyond just being strong.
Yoo jin could clearly feel it.
Though he was hiding, erasing, and suppressing it.
Before coming here, he had met Lee Si-wang, the No. 1 A-Rank. No.
Than the Ignis Guild Master, who was ranked No. 2 in South Korea.
This child would be stronger.
The image of the first meeting blurred.
The sparring room appeared in Yoo jin’s vision again.
And in his view stood the protagonist of his memory.
The Model student was standing there.
Looking at it like this.
It truly is full of mysteries.
Though he had felt that way several times until now.
He felt like he was missing the most essential thing.
Even active Awakened.
Even the outstanding beings among them.
Principal Ma Jae-min.
A-Rank Lee Si-wang.
S-Rank Cho Sang-geun.
Even though such beings were at the closest proximity, why did no one notice?
And.
The identity that even such beings could not notice…….
"How did you know? The others didn't even notice. Even the pros."
Yoo jin’s gaze turned toward Leo.
And at that gaze and voice, the mouths of Kang Tae-wook and Jin-ho hung open.
It wasn't just a matter of being surprised.
It was something they hadn't even imagined.
However, though it was unbelievable, given the situation, it was clearly true.
Because of that, the shock was quite large.
Kang Tae-wook lowered his head while frowning because of his chest which strangely grew hot.
Jin-ho had a different emotion, but because of his chest which was strangely tickling, he just stared at the ground.
He was concerned about them, but that wasn't the priority right now.
Yoo Jin was curious.
How on earth this child knew what even active professional Awakened did not know.
"I didn't know it. Excalibur simply told me."
Following his gaze, Yoo jin’s gaze went to Leo’s waist.
A golden sword embedded with jewels.
A holy relic of Rome.
An artifact bestowed by God.
The strongest sword, called the world's best renowned blade, was there.
"The sword told you?"
"Yes, Excalibur is a treasure of Rome, a holy relic. And at the same time, it is a living sword."
"……."
"Anyway, that's all for my answer. I'll be heading back for today."
Leo gave a slight nod of the eyes and left the sparring room.
The sparring room that Leo had left.
Yoo jin.
Kang Tae-wook.
Jin-ho.
Model student.
There were as many as four people, but for some reason.
Not even a small sound was echoing there.
***
The next day.
"This place is heaven!"
"I love it!"
"Senorita!!!!"
The voices of Jo Seong-hyeon and the twins echoed loudly.
Thus, the second day of Rome Academy.
The tour of the Magic Department began.