"That won't do."
It was an answer I somewhat expected.
Still, I wanted to hear the reason directly from Elder No.
"Why not?"
"Master Namgung is the pillar and face of our academy. There are many applicants who wish to spar with him, not just you. In fact, you could say it's everyone. But should we let every applicant spar with Master Namgung?"
"That's a great excuse. Did you prepare it in advance?"
"When you're in a position like this, you naturally get better at making excuses."
Elder No sipped his tasteless tea and smiled gently.
"Anyway, sparring with Master Namgung is not possible."
His tone was firm, but I wasn't ready to give up easily.
"Nothing lasts forever. There's no rule that says the top instructor of the academy will always remain the top instructor. Just as the waves of the Yangtze River push the previous ones forward, the flow of generational change is natural."
At my words, Elder No put down his teacup and laughed heartily.
"Are you saying you'll surpass Namgung and become the new top instructor?"
"Do you think it's impossible?"
I asked with a relaxed smile, and Elder No also smiled broadly.
"No, I think it's quite possible."
"......"
"But it's still premature. That's why it's even more impossible now."
"Are you saying I can't win against Namgung in a spar?"
"Hmm. Well..."
Elder No crossed his arms and closed his eyes, falling into meditation.
I could tell that in Elder No's mind, a virtual battle between me and Namgung was taking place.
It was a kind of mental training that masters who have reached a certain level often do.
After a while, Elder No opened his eyes with a mischievous smile like a playful child.
"Interesting."
I couldn't help but ask, curious about the result.
"Who won?"
"It wouldn't be fun if I told you."
"It doesn't matter. I know the result too."
"Oh?"
It wasn't arrogance, but confidence.
I was hiding much more than Elder No had grasped about me.
Elder No laughed like a grandfather watching his grandchild's antics and said, "I'm sorry, but your opponent has already been decided. I can't change it now."
"Then it can't be helped. I understand."
I shrugged my shoulders and nodded.
I had no intention of throwing a tantrum like a child when he said no.
Elder No smiled gently and asked me, "Do you want to become the top instructor?"
"Yes. That's why I came to the Azure Dragon Academy."
"What do you think a top instructor is?"
At the sudden question, I tilted my head but spoke my thoughts.
"An instructor who teaches martial arts the best. Someone who is recognized for that ability and trusted by the trainees, or rather, the students and the organization."
In the past, in the Blood Sect, there was no such term, but if there had been, I would have undoubtedly been the top instructor of the Blood Sect.
Thousands of trainees passed through my hands, and among them were many who later became renowned masters.
At my straightforward answer, Elder No smiled with an ambiguous expression.
"I agree to some extent. But my thoughts are a little different."
"How are they different?"
At that moment, Elder No looked at me with eyes full of wisdom and said, "Just being good at teaching, or simply being strong in martial arts, doesn't make one a top instructor. For example, what about your maternal grandfather? You can't easily find a swordsman like him even if you search the entire martial world. His swordsmanship is unparalleled. But there's only one top instructor at the Azure Dragon Academy, and that's Namgung. Do you know why?"
Of course, I knew.
"Isn't it because Namgung is young and handsome, making him popular among the students? Of course, I am too."
"...... Huh."
At my rebuttal, Elder No made a strange sound as if at a loss for words.
It seemed he wanted to teach me something, but it wasn't going as he wished, so he was frustrated.
In the end, Elder No let out a long sigh and said, "...... That's not what I wanted to say."
"Then what is it? Is there a secret to becoming a top instructor?"
"How would I know that?"
"...... What?"
"If I knew, I would have been the top instructor."
"......"
Is this man joking with me? As I looked at him with an incredulous expression, Elder No awkwardly avoided my gaze and fiddled with an empty teacup.
"What I want to say is this. You are undoubtedly a capable and confident young man. You have enough potential to become a top instructor. But... it's not easy to become a top instructor with just that."
"......"
"Don't rush, and don't be impatient. I have high expectations for you. That's why I came to see you personally."
Elder No stood up and lightly patted my shoulder.
"I know what people say about me, but I want the Azure Dragon Academy to regain its former glory. In my eyes, you are an outstanding talent I haven't seen in a long time."
"Thank you."
"But you know... When I see you, I remember when I first met Master Namgung. You resemble him."
"In what way...?"
"But I don't particularly like the current Master Namgung. Of course, he's doing his best for the academy, but... Can you guess why?"
Elder No looked at me with slightly blurred eyes.
I answered honestly.
"I don't know."
"...... Is that so."
I recalled Elder No's kindness towards me since the interview.
He protected me from Namgung, who openly disliked me, and highlighted my skills during the demonstration lecture.
And today, he came to see me personally and had this long conversation.
'Is it for political reasons within the academy? To bring me to his side and check Namgung?'
But for such a reason, Elder No was too great a person.
"Director, is there a reason you're being so kind to me?"
Elder No, with his hands behind his back, looked at me quietly and nodded.
"Before becoming a top instructor, I hope you become a good teacher. That's why I'm nagging you."
"......"
For a moment, I couldn't find the words to respond.
Elder No chuckled and shook his head.
"Sorry. I talked too much without even having a drink. I should get going."
I escorted Elder No to the entrance of the inn.
The conversation we had lingered in my mind as we walked.
"Go on in. Your friends might worry if you're late."
"They know how to drink well, so I don't need to worry."
"They're good friends, so cherish them. They were worried about you. See you tomorrow."
"...... Director."
Under the moonlight, Elder No turned to look at me.
"About becoming a good teacher... I'm not sure if I need to become one."
"...... I'm not forcing you. It's your choice."
For a moment, our eyes met.
Elder No observed my expression for a while and then chuckled.
"I'll look forward to tomorrow."
"Yes."
"Next time, let's have a drink instead of this tasteless tea."
"I'll prepare some good liquor in advance. Take care."
As I bowed my head and raised it, Elder No disappeared as suddenly as he had appeared.
I turned around and went back into the inn.
'A good teacher...'
I was one of the top martial arts instructors in the Blood Sect.
But I had never been called a teacher, mentor, or master.
Most trainees called me instructor, leader, demon, devil, enemy, or bastard.
A bitter smile crept onto my lips.
'Even those kids never called me master.'
Four children raised as secret weapons for the Blood Sect's conquest of the martial world.
Those kids, who learned the martial arts of the four masters from me, were thoroughly stripped of their personalities and trained to obey orders from a young age.
I taught them martial arts under the watchful eyes of the demon.
-Instructor!
-Instructooor!
-......
Instructor.
-Instructor......
Since I planned to escape from the Blood Sect eventually, I didn't get attached to them.
Instead, I pushed them harder than other trainees.
-If it's nagging from the heart, hoping you'll become a good teacher before becoming a top instructor, what do you think?
When I was talking with Elder No earlier, those kids suddenly came to mind. ......
The children and my devilish self who taught them.
-Instructor, it's too hard.
Can we rest for a moment...?
-You want to rest? If you die, you'll rest forever.
Should I make that happen?
-Instructor! I can't feel my arm.
Is something wrong...
Aaaah!
-If it hurts, it means it's fine.
If you whine again, I'll break it for you.
-Instructor...
Please...
-Are you all rebelling now? Get up, you bastards!!
-......
Instructor.
What happens if we give up?
-There are plenty of replacements in the sect.
You'll be discarded after being deemed useless.
-......
-Is there anything more you want to know about what you learned today?
-......
-Good.
That's the look.
Now you're somewhat useful.
No matter how much I recalled, they were all unpleasant memories.
"...... Damn it. I'm sobering up. Waiter!"
Returning to the inn, I asked the waiter for a bottle of strong liquor and drank it straight from the bottle on my way to my room.
"You're telling me to become a good teacher?"
No one in the Blood Sect ever said that to me.
I was an instructor who trained masters more efficiently and quickly than anyone else.
In the Blood Sect, that was the highest value, and I was always the object of envy and jealousy from my competitors.
-I don't particularly like the current Master Namgung.
Of course, he's doing his best for the academy, but...
Can you guess why?
In fact, I knew.
From the moment I first saw Namgung, I thought, 'Not bad.' He had some similarities to my past self.
Of course, he wouldn't handle students as roughly as I did, but his way of thinking wouldn't be much different from my past self.
To someone like me, Elder No was asking if there was another way.
"...... I've never thought of another way."
Lost in thought, I found myself in front of my room.
When I opened the door and entered, the smell of alcohol was overwhelming.
"Huh? Brother~ Where have you been~"
Akhyeonho, who was swimming on the floor, saw me and sprang up, rushing towards me.
Whoosh!
I took a step to the side to dodge Akhyeonho and formed a sword finger with my index and middle fingers, aiming for his shoulder point.
"!!"
Even in his drunken state, as a master, Akhyeonho instinctively countered when I targeted his pressure point.
Swish swish swish!
Our fingers and palms clashed, exchanging dozens of moves.
"...... Brother?"
"Are you sober now?"
I smiled at Akhyeonho, who looked at me in confusion, and then threw an empty bottle at Myeongiloh, who was snoring with his mouth open on a chair.
Thud!
I thought he would dodge or block it, but it hit his forehead squarely.
"Ouch! Who did that!"
Myeongiloh, with a red swollen forehead, jumped up and looked around angrily.
I waved lightly at him.
"...... Brother?"
"If you're awake, let's go out and stretch."
I took the two of them to the yard behind the inn.
A blue halo surrounded the moon like a cloudy mist.
It was a night when sleep seemed elusive, lost in old memories.
I looked up at the misty, blurry moon and spoke.
"This is a story I heard somewhere."
"......"
"Once, there was a man who had disciples he taught with all his heart. But the man didn't get attached to his disciples. He knew that the day they completed their martial arts, he was destined to die."
"......"
"The man had no choice but to teach his disciples, knowing this. He taught them very harshly. The disciples, stripped of their humanity, grew stronger day by day, and eventually, the day came when they completed their martial arts."
When I closed my eyes, their faces came to mind one by one.
The timid boys and girls gradually became adults, and their diverse expressions dwindled.
"...... In the end, the man had to flee to survive. It was a plan he had prepared for a long time. But the plan went awry midway, and the disciples blocked the man's path as he fled."
There was no killing intent.
Just expressionless faces trying to kill me under orders.
"The man was in a situation where he had to kill his disciples with his own hands. He had comrades by his side, and a fight broke out."
And I fell silent, unable to contain his curiosity, Akhyeonho cautiously asked.
"What happened next? Did the man escape? Did all the disciples die?"
"...... Some died, and some survived. I don't remember exactly, as I heard it somewhere."
"That's a strange story."
"It's a strange story."
Swoosh.
I drew my sword, Wolyeong.
I took the stance of the Infinite Sword's first form, then performed the Green Forest Eighteen Forms, leaping into the sky with the Ice Moon Goddess's footwork and stabbing the moon with the Mad Demon technique.
The martial arts left to me by the four masters, the martial arts I taught my former disciples, I performed them in succession, mourning them throughout the night.
The next day, we headed to the Azure Dragon Academy to take the final practical exam.