Class 1

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In a tranquil November park, a robust gentleman perched on a bench, promptly responding to his ringing phone.

He sported a casual tracksuit, wore a black eyepatch over one eye, and had a sword resting next to him on the bench. In an era where monsters and mana had become commonplace, his attire emanated an unusual fusion of roughneck and mobster aesthetics.

From the mobile device held in the man’s hand, a male voice resonated.

[So, Sang-ho,]

“Yeah?”

[Have you considered pursuing a career as a teacher? I mean, becoming an educator.]

“Not interested.”

Kang Sang-ho, the man occupying the bench, wasted no time in responding. The voice on the other end of the line carried a note of surprise.

[Hey, I made an effort to secure a position for you…]

“I’m not the teaching type.”

[So, you’re going to remain unemployed?]

“I receive a veteran’s pension.”

[Listen, you can’t support a family on just a thousand a year. Pensions are fixed, but prices rise, and you never know what might happen…]

The man made various arguments in an attempt to persuade Sang-ho, but he remained resolute.

“I’m good, buddy.”

He gazed at the park with a disillusioned expression.

“What can I do with this body?”

At 22 years old, he was still quite young, but Sang-ho’s body had suffered severe damage. Although he appeared fine at a glance, his physical condition was evident when he attempted to walk.

Limping.

That’s why he leaned on his sword like a cane.

“Disabled in one leg due to an injury. Kids would obviously gossip. I can’t do that.”

[It’s Ye-hyeon Girls’ High School, an all-girls’ high school. It could brighten your spirits…]

Sang-ho scoffed.

“If it’s so great, why don’t you go, pal?”

[I wish I could, but I can’t leave my position as vice president of the Hunter Association…]

The voice on the other end, Seo Do-hyun, chuckled. He, too, was a war veteran and had served in the same special forces unit as Sang-ho.

Seven years ago, during the ‘Opening,’ monsters and mana had emerged, causing tectonic upheavals.

Six years ago, the ‘Otherworld War’ had erupted between humans and monsters.

After the war, society had a pressing need for strong individuals. Thus, the Korean Monster Hunter Association, known as the ‘Hunter Association,’ had been established.

Do-hyun held the position of vice president within the Hunter Association.

[Why would an old guy like me go? Kids would prefer a young man like you.]

“I can’t handle it; it’s too stressful.”

Sang-ho expressed his disgust, though Do-hyun couldn’t see his gestures.

“I’ll just live like this. I can’t and won’t be a teacher.”

[Kid…, fine. Live your life unemployed.]

Do-hyun clicked his tongue.

[If you change your mind, let me know.]

“Just find someone else.”

[Cold-hearted bastard… I’m hanging up.]

The call came to an end.

Sang-ho stowed his phone and idly toyed with his sword.

‘How could I be a teacher? I don’t know how to deal with kids, let alone teach them.’

When the ‘Opening’ occurred, he was only 15, and the war broke out when he was 16. There was no chance for him to attend school after the ‘Opening’; he was simply struggling to survive. Skipping school during the chaos of war was a given.

Consequently, he had no experience with teenagers and no frame of reference, as he had spent his own teenage years in a haze.

Teaching presented a significant challenge for Sang-ho. His knowledge was derived from the battlefield, honing skills where the consequences were often life or death. Even if he were to instruct with wooden swords, the least of the outcomes would be a fracture.

The control over his own strength was a skill he had never mastered. If he were to inadvertently strike high school girls, it could land him in jail.

‘It just doesn’t add up no matter how I look at it,’ Sang-ho thought, shaking his head as he rose from the bench. Even standing up required effort, and he leaned on his sword for balance.

His left leg throbbed, even when unburdened. His body could no longer handle running or simple jumps. Even employing a martial arts technique that made him feel as light as air couldn’t alleviate the constant pressure on his legs and the unrelenting pain.

‘How can I teach with a body like this…’

The sun had slipped below the horizon unnoticed. Limping, he made his way back home.

***

While walking through his neighborhood on the way home, Sang-ho noticed something intriguing. Next to his modest apartment, a high school girl in uniform swung a sword with occasional kicks at a tree. It seemed she was attempting to trim its leaves.

In the backdrop of the evening sunset, a lone high school girl engaged in training—a sight that evoked memories of classic manga. To cut down fluttering leaves, the sword had to be wielded with finesse, moving fluidly in all directions and extending its tip farther than one might expect.

Yet, it was worlds apart from real combat. Cutting leaves had its intricacies, but it was a far cry from battling flesh and blood.

‘But well, I’m not here to teach her how to fight or anything.’

Interfering with a stranger felt old-fashioned and bothersome. Nevertheless, her swordsmanship displayed remarkable talent. Watching her was captivating, so Sang-ho stood idly, propped on his cane-sword, and observed the girl slicing leaves.

When the girl kicked the tree, four brown-streaked leaves descended.

Swish, swish.

The leaves were cleaved in half instantly.

Impressed by her unexpected swordsmanship, a smile graced Sang-ho’s face. Even though the girl had no connection to him, he felt an odd sense of pride. If his hand wasn’t on his sword, he might have instinctively clapped.

The only disappointment was that one leaf had fallen to the ground uncut.

“Ah…”

The girl seemed disappointed, trembling her sword’s tip. Then, she sensed someone’s presence and turned her head toward Sang-ho, who had been observing her. She appeared startled.

“Ah! Who, who are you?”

“I was just passing by.”

Sang-ho approached the girl, limping with his cane-sword. Upon closer examination, she was a girl with large, innocent eyes and natural, shoulder-length black hair. She exuded an overall modest demeanor.

Noticing Sang-ho’s limp and eye patch, her eyes widened. Sang-ho spoke before she could.

“Your swordsmanship is quite impressive. Did you learn it at school?”

“Huh? Ah… yes.”

“Which school?”

“Ye-hyeon Girls’ High School.”

Coincidentally, it was the very school Do-hyun had mentioned to him.

Sang-ho moistened his lips.

‘Is this fate?’

“Do they have a good teacher there?”

“No, um, I just learned from textbooks.”

Sang-ho was genuinely impressed and chuckled. Even without formal instruction, the girl displayed impressive skill. With proper guidance, she could improve rapidly.

“What was that just now? School assignment? A performance test?”

“No, it’s a training method I devised.”

The girl awkwardly twirled her hair with her index finger.

“Just… I’m doing it for personal reasons. I have an important mission.”

“An important mission?”

“Like escorting? Being a bodyguard? Protecting cargo from monsters, anyway.”

“I see, I see.”

Sang-ho nodded.

“When’s this mission?”

“In a week.”

“But that sounds like a job for professional mercenaries. Is it okay for a student to take on such a task?”

“I don’t have money.”

The girl mumbled softly.

“I’m doing it without the school’s knowledge. I need the money.”

Sang-ho found her words peculiar. Usually, kids would say they’re doing something without their parents knowing.

“What about your parents?”

“They’re not around.”

Sang-ho fell silent.

He, too, had lost his parents during the dawn of the new age. And at a young age, he had gone to war. He started fighting earlier than most, facing life-and-death situations.

This girl seemed destined to walk a similar path.

Perhaps recognizing a reflection of his own past in her, Sang-ho unsheathed his sword.

“Hey, could you kick that tree for me?”

Confused, the girl delivered a powerful kick to the tree.

Leaves began to fall, some quickly, some slowly.

A total of seven leaves.

Sang-ho’s sword emitted a blinding light.

Thump, thump, thump.

The leaves exploded as the tip of his sword touched them, disintegrating all seven.

Witnessing this, the girl was astonished.

“Wow…”

“You need to adapt to this speed. Otherwise, you’ll end up injured like me.”

Sang-ho tapped his eye patch with his index finger.

“And cutting things like this won’t teach you much. It’s too different from real combat. You should focus on stabbing.”

“How do you do it so quickly?”

“If you get hurt a few times, your body learns to fight back.”

That’s how one learns the art of combat.

He sheathed his sword and inquired.

“Do you know how to utilize internal energy? Can you emit sword energy?”

“Yes, though it’s not very strong…”

As the girl drew her sword, a faint red aura encircled it.

“If you look closely, you can see it.”

“That’s quite good.”

Sang-ho believed she had more potential than he did when he started his journey.

‘Perhaps it is fate after all.’

Of course, he hoped that she would face real-world challenges after becoming stronger, but he wouldn’t object since she had her own reasons for choosing this path.

“I may not have much to teach you… Just train diligently. You have talent, and you’ll gain something from it.”

“Yes.”

Hearing that she had talent, the girl’s face lit up with hope.

Sang-ho turned away and started walking but then had a sudden thought. He glanced back at the girl.

“When does your escort mission finish?”

“It’s a three-day job, so it ends in ten days.”

Sang-ho retrieved his phone to check the time.

“Then, take a day off when you return and come back here at this exact time. Let’s see how much progress you’ve made.”

The girl appeared contemplative for a moment before asking,

“Will you teach me swordsmanship then?”

“Swordsmanship?”

This time, Sang-ho hesitated, rolling his eyes before finally nodding.

“Well… if you insist, I can teach you.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

A warm smile brightened the girl’s face.

“See you later then.”

“Sure, see you then.”

Sang-ho turned around and continued on his way.

‘Teaching a student… might not be such a bad thing.’ 

***

[Breaking News: Near Samcheong City, on the old East Sea Highway, merchants illegally transporting goods and their accompanying mercenaries were all killed in a monster attack. It’s assumed that this disaster occurred because they recklessly proceeded on a road that has yet to be secured. Now, let’s connect to our field correspondent…]

Sang-ho, enjoying a bowl of Yukgaejang at a restaurant, went silent as he watched the TV.

Exactly one week and one day had passed since he met the girl.

He alternated his gaze between the Yukgaejang in his bowl and the TV, then put down his spoon.

‘Damn, what rotten luck…’

On the television, some sword-wielding Hunters were shown on the outskirts of the road. They seemed to be intentionally avoiding showing the gruesome accident scene. The correspondent spoke into the microphone,

“We cannot broadcast the scene live due to its graphic nature. We hope for your understanding. Police and rescue teams are currently recovering the bodies. The hunters you see are providing escort.”

“Have there been any survivors located?”

“No, the vicious monsters left no survivors. It is presumed that everyone perished instantly during the attack…”

The restaurant’s staff expressed their dismay.

“Oh dear, it’s such a tragedy…”

“Why did they venture onto such a perilous road…”

“You’re a Hunter too, young man?”

Sang-ho nodded.

“Yes.”

“Don’t take unnecessary risks, young man. Staying alive is the most important thing.”

“I can’t really fight anymore, anyway.”

As he tapped his eye patch, the staff clicked her tongue.

“Well, at least you’re still here.”

Images of the pixelated accident scene continued to appear on the TV.

Sang-ho found it impossible to eat any more Yukgaejang.

“I’d like to settle the bill.”

Leaning on his sword, he left the restaurant.

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