"Okay! I'll speak! I'll tell you everything! So I beg you! Not the attendance book!"

Ok Hae-mi and Yun Hseong looked puzzled at the man's unexpectedly abrupt reaction.

'This fellow wouldn't...would he have…..'

'A phobia of attendance books?'

In the end, Heuk-sim had no choice but to reveal all that he knew to them.

He would have preferred death to being beaten by the attendance book once more.

***

Kang-hyuk, along with Yun Hseong and Heuk-sim, had moved their location. Their new location wasn't far from the cave.

As their first priority was to move the students into the cave before it started raining, Ok Hae-mi had been sent to relay the news of the suitability of the cave, and of their discovery of Heuk-sim to Eun Myeong-myeong. Kang-hyuk and Yun Hseong stayed behind to watch over Heuk-sim.

Yun Hseong hadn't been satisfied by Heuk-sim being bound up, and so, he took further action, activating a pressure point on his body to prevent him from being able to move at all. Kang-hyuk simply watched on.

"Kang Seonsaeng."

"What's the matter?"

"What is your real ident.i.ty?"

Kang-hyuk was startled by his sudden questioning, but he soon regained his usual cool composure.

"What are you talking about?"

"Honestly, you don't seem like a usual Horticulture teacher in any aspect. Your martial skills seem to be excellent as well, you managed to capture the man without a single crumple in your clothing."

"...."

"And you knew that the symbol on the man's arm is the symbol of the Black Snake Clan. Any normal citizen of Moorim wouldn't be aware of that sort of information."

Kang-hyuk calmly looked at him.

'He's sharper than I thought he'd be.'

Yun Hseong then continued talking.

"Therefore, after contemplating on it, I feel that your true ident.i.ty is….."

Kang-hyuk gulped. He had the thought that if Yun Hseong successfully managed to guess his ident.i.ty, he would truthfully acknowledge it and confess.

From the beginning of his teaching journey, he never had the intention to hide his ident.i.ty at all costs, but simply did so as the revealing of his true ident.i.ty would most likely cause unnecessary fuss.

"Are you a secret envoy of the Clan Leader?"

"What?"

"W-what I mean is...have you come to the Academy on the orders of the Clan Leader to watch over the inside's operations…."

Kang-hyuk sensed that the abrupt ending of Yun Hseong's words was due to him having run out of steam.

'There's no need to run out of steam from something like this….'

"Ahem."

Kang-hyuk coughed, then spoke.

"It-it's a misunderstanding."

"Is that so?"

Yun Hseong didn't believe Kang-hyuk. It was because he seemed too fl.u.s.tered for it to be a simple misunderstanding.

'I see! He's fl.u.s.tered because he had orders not to allow his true ident.i.ty to be discovered. That was why I approached him alone, but he's still….'

He spoke one more time carefully.

"I apologize for asking such a question, but don't worry. I'll keep this a secret."

"...?"

Kang-hyuk silently stared at Yun Hseong while he continued to speak.

"A man never goes back on his word. Therefore, you can trust me."

Kang-hyuk could sense Eun Myeong-myeong approaching, so he didn't speak further, simply nodding in the end.

This was the beginning of Yun Hseong's full-blown misunderstanding.

"It's this man?"

It was a question asked by Eun Myeong-myeong, who had just arrived. Ok Hae-mi, who had come back with him, replied.

"It is him, Princ.i.p.al."

"...."

A fierceness entered Eun Myeong-myeong's gaze. He turned to look at Kang-hyuk.

"You can return to your group now."

"Understood."

Ok Hae-mi hurriedly spoke up.

"The students are in the process of moving to the cave, so it'd be better if you went there directly."

"Thanks for letting me know."

A few moments after Kang-hyuk began walking towards the cave, he heard strange noises behind him.

*Pok-! Pokpok-!*

"Arghhh!"

Kang-hyuk was fairly sure of what was going on. However, he was confident in Eun Myeong-myeong's ability to take care of the aftermath of the situation, and so, continued on towards the cave.

"Seonsaengnim!"

Kang-hyuk's a.s.sistant, Cheon Hae-gw.a.n.g, along with Dang So-mun and Baek Mun-ji, ran towards him from the cave entrance, as though they had been waiting.

"I see you've all moved to the cave already!"

"Indeed."

Baek Mun-ji then spoke up.

"I heard that we were all moved to the cave because Seonsaengnim predicted that there would be rain."

The word had gotten out fast.

"That's why in recognition of your contribution, our group can choose the best spot in the cave."

Kang-hyuk responded in surprise at Dang So-mun's words.

"Best spot? So, we don't have to look for the best location ourselves?"

"Yes. The princ.i.p.al has forgone fighting for the best spots, he said that it was unnecessary in this situation."

Kang-hyuk nodded.

"Tsk tsk."

Suddenly, from within the cave, the sound of a tongue clicking in disapproval could be heard. As a man's head emerged, it was revealed to be Oh-Tae.

"What rain were you talking about, when the weather seems to be so clear?"

Kang-hyuk didn't respond, and simply looked up at the sky. Uncomfortable with Kang-hyuk's unresponsiveness, Oh-Tae walked towards him.

He spoke with stubborn confidence in there being clear skies.

"Around fifteen minutes are left until the time you predicted that it would rain. If it actually rains within the time you specified, I'll take half of your allotted night watching duty and add it to my own."

"Are you serious?"

Oh-Tae replied with full confidence at Kang-hyuk's questioning.

"Of course! But of course, in exchange, if it doesn't rain within your specified time, you will have to take half of my night watching duty."

"One shouldn't be too overconfident."

"There's no need for you to worry yourself whether I'm overconfident or not."

"Well if that's how you want it, I agree. I hope you live up to your word."

"Of course! A man never goes back on his word!"

Kang-hyuk grinned.

'This is the second time I've heard that saying today.'

He then reached out his hand, unfolding his palms towards the sky.

"It's raining."

"Wh-what…."

*Drop*

*Drop Drop*

Before Oh-Tae could even speak, raindrops were falling onto the ground in their mult.i.tude.

The rainfall began to grow heavier and heavier with each pa.s.sing moment.

"You said that a man never goes back on his word, didn't you?"

"...."

Oh-Tae had nothing to say in response to Kang-hyuk. He had already spoken his promise out loud, with Kang-hyuk's a.s.sistant and two students as eyewitnesses.

He had no way of backing out from the situation.

"Well, I hope you'll take care of my duties well from today onwards!"

'Dd.a.m.n it!'

***

It was raining ceaselessly.

Around an hour later, Ok Hae-mi, Yun Hseong and Eun Myeong-myeong had returned with the smell of blood lingering on them.

Kang-hyuk instinctively turned around as he immediately sensed the smell of blood.

'The smell of blood on them is rather noticeable. If the man lost that much blood, he's most likely dead by now.'

Kang-hyuk sighed.

He had first started learning swordsmanship to exact revenge for his dead brother.

In his early days, he would try to estimate how much blood his opponent would have to lose for them to die.

But after many years of experience, this was an almost instantaneous calculation. Nonetheless, he felt a little saddened by this.

'So this is my accomplishment after all these years!'

Kang-hyuk stood up, his heart at unrest.

"Where are you going? Would you like me to accompany you?"

Kang-hyuk shook his head at Cheon Hae-gw.a.n.g's query.

"There's no need to worry. I'm just going out for some fresh air."

"But it's raining outside."

"A rainy day is more beautiful than a usual clear sky."

Kang-hyuk emerged out of the cave.

As he was a teacher, the warriors standing guard outside of the cave didn't stop or question him.

Kang-hyuk took his time walking, eventually making his way into the forest.

Despite the heavy rainfall, not a single drop of rain fell onto Kang-hyuk's body.

He had applied a kind of protective raincoat to himself.

"...?"

Kang-hyuk suddenly heard the sound of movement ahead of him. Halting his footsteps, he looked ahead.

The appearance of the being was familiar to him, it was none other than the Spiritual Wolf he had saved in the cave earlier.

"What's the matter?"

The wolf bowed his head in response to Kang-hyuk's question. It unmistakeably signified his obedience to Kang-hyuk.

The wolf recalled the words of his father, the leader of the pack.

His father had told him to serve the man who saved his life until death.

There was no other reason, but this being the way of the Spiritual Wolves.

The core value of loyalty was so deeply ingrained within the belief system of the wolves that it was akin to breathing for them.

"...."

Kang-hyuk looked at the wolf and immediately responded.

"It's burdensome."

*What?*

"How can such a conspicuous fellow like you follow me around everywhere, especially within the Academy?"

Kang-hyuk spoke as such, as he was aware of the wolf's intentions.

*Whine* *Whine*

As the wolf cried out pitifully, Kang-hyuk struggled to look away.

He felt that the environment of the mountain would be best for the wolf. Kang-hyuk also didn't want the wolf to have to live out his life in a place unsuited and uncomfortable for him out of dutiful obligation.

In that moment, someone appeared out of the blue.

"Seonsaengnim! Let me tell you something."

Kang-hyuk turned around. There stood Byeok Ae-rin. He was aware that she had been following him.

"In my opinion, it's not a bad idea to take the wolf in."

"Why do you say so?"

"Didn't you always want to raise a dog?"

"I have, but there was never a dog that could handle my energy level, and I had no time to raise one, so I gave up on the idea."

"That's what I mean. You have time to raise a dog right now, and this fellow is more than capable of being able to handle your energy."

"A wolf is not a dog."

"They look pretty similar."

"Yes, but it's too big. If it was a little smaller, then maybe…."

The wolf's ears p.r.i.c.ked up at Kang-hyuk's words. It jumped up, and circled around in the air.

Within moments, the large wolf had transformed. It became small enough to hold in one's arms, and its appearance could be likened to that of a small white dog.

"It's so…..cute."

At the sight of the wolf, words escaped Byeok Ae-rin's mouth without her having even realized. Kang-hyuk looked at the wolf.

'Ahem, I guess it is quite cute.'

He sighed, then spoke.

"Well, with his new appearance, we'll be able to escape arousing unnecessary suspicion. No one will question whether the person raising him is a secret envoy of the Retired Leader or the Clan Leader."

"Sorry? Did you just say secret envoy?"

Kang-hyuk grinned at Byeok Ae-rin's confusion.

"Well, there's something like that."

Kang-hyuk turned and looked at the wolf that now looked like a dog, and asked.

"So, what's your name?"

The wolf shook its head at his question.

"Then I'll have to give you a name."

After deliberating for a few moments, Kang-hyuk then spoke.

"Since I have obtained you as an unexpected merit from the good deed of saving you, how about Gaeideuk?"

Byeok Ae-rin spoke up.

"The name's too long, it'll be annoying when you're calling him."

"Really?"

Kang-hyuk smiled.

"We'll shorten it to Deuk then."

At that the wolf, which was now named Deuk, nodded as though it approved.

Just like that, on a fine rainy day, Kang-hyuk adopted a pet wolf.

***

Oh-Tae was in a bad mood.

'Why did I have to say that!'

He was a little ashamed at having spoken so rashly. However, as the deed was already done, he was going to have to take over half of Kang-hyuk's night watching duty from tonight onwards.

'How could it have started to rain as soon as I said that?!'

He felt as though he clearly had some sort of enmity with the heavens.

Otherwise, he, who was such an excellent student, wouldn't have ended up as a teacher at the Academy, and instead would have a high-ranking post at the Hwacheon Clan.

If that wasn't enough, he was now being demeaned by a mere Liberal Arts teacher.

He was boiling in rage from within, but there was nothing he could do about that situation.

"Ah, it's Kang Seonsaeng."

Oh-Tae turned around at hearing a student's voice, and indeed standing behind him was none other than Kang-hyuk.

The place within the cave that their group was residing within was an optimum location.

It was due to Kang-hyuk, who had predicted the coming of the rain, being a member of the group. Whilst this meant that they would be able to rest comfortably, Oh-Tae still wasn't too pleased about the situation.

"Huh? Where did you find the dog?"

Kang-hyuk swiftly answered Cheon Hae-gw.a.n.g's query.

"I've decided to raise it."

"Oh my! It's so cute!"

The lone female student within the group quickly ran over at the sight of the dog.

"Does the dog have a name?"

"I've named it Deok."

"It's a nice name."

Oh-Tae pouted, clearly displeased.

"Are you in your right mind? You've brought an animal in whilst we're on a field trip! We're meant to be focusing on protecting the students right now!"

"Don't worry about that. Deuk won't interfere in the runnings of the field trip."

With Deuk really being a spiritual wolf, he was more likely to be of help than harm in the protection of the students.