Chapter 39: Why Should i Help You ?

From a distance, I saw Yang Hankil and his former disciples walking toward me.

Yang Hankil seemed to have recognized me from afar, and his expression twisted. He approached and said,

“Isn’t this the great Masked Instructor? While our president is sitting in prison and the academy is on the brink of collapse, you’ve been leisurely training your disciples?”

I replied,

“President Baek Jooseok is in prison, not because of me. He committed the atrocious act of using a dark artifact in the village and even casting Meteor. He’s also under suspicion for using the Helmunt Academy intranet.”

Yang Hankil shouted, clearly irritated.

“If you hadn’t provoked him with that ridiculous video, none of this would have happened. There wouldn’t be any useless investigations by the state either. Because of you, everything’s become a headache.”

Despite his effort to maintain a neutral expression, his face betrayed his anger. I calmly replied,

“Those who commit crimes should be punished. If a prestigious Helmunt Academy instructor doesn’t even understand such a basic principle, then perhaps President Baek Jooseok isn’t the only problem.”

-Crack

Yang Hankil glared at me coldly.

“You act all high and mighty now, but how long do you think that will last? Do you really think the world is that forgiving? Relying on nothing but brute strength with no support is foolish. You’ll soon realize that.”

I tilted my head and responded,

“No support? The disciples behind me are my support.”

“Ha. Those things?”

At that moment, Kang Eunbyeol stepped forward and spoke.

“You’re an instructor at Helmunt Academy, right? Your words are extremely rude. We haven’t said anything, yet you’re the one who started this and even hurled insults.”

“Oh, I’m scared. One of the great Masked Instructor’s subordinates, I presume? I’m terrified.”

When Yang Hankil sneered, Kang Eunbyeol’s face turned red with anger. I stepped in to support her.

“Yang Hankil, do you even know who this is?”

“Isn’t she just one of the great Masked Instructor’s disciples?”

Yang Hankil pulled a mocking face.

“Her name is Kang Eunbyeol.”

“What a pretty name. I also love the stars in the night sky.”

Yang Hankil still hadn’t grasped the situation, so I explained further.

“Kang Eunbyeol, the only daughter of the Hunter Association’s president.”

“…?”

Yang Hankil’s face went pale.

“What kind of nonsense is that? Why would the Hunter Association’s daughter become a disciple of an online instructor?”

He yelled as if it were ridiculous. Kang Eunbyeol spoke up.

“If you continue to act rudely, you’ll be held accountable. If you think you can handle it, go ahead.”

Yang Hankil didn’t seem to believe she was the Hunter Association president’s daughter, but just in case, he backed down. He muttered quietly,

“Damn… all sorts of annoying people… as if things weren’t chaotic enough already.”

“What… what did you just say?!”

When Kang Eunbyeol shouted, Yang Hankil smiled and said,

“I said it’s an honor to meet the daughter of the great Hunter Association president. I apologize if my behavior upset you.”

Kang Eunbyeol glared at him and responded,

“Be careful. I hate rude and shameless people the most.”

“Of course.”

As their conversation continued, the Helmunt Academy’s lower-tier Practical Magic class students behind them started murmuring.

Kim Siyun was the first to speak.

“Guys, isn’t Instructor Yang Hankil part of the Baal Guild? Then why does he seem so intimidated…?”

Lee Haru replied,

“Yeah… isn’t the Hunter Association president’s power on par with the Baal Guild’s leader? Are we mistaken?”

Baek Hyunseo explained quietly.

“Even the Baal Guild would struggle to suppress the Hunter Association president. The number of hunters in the association is no joke, and their combat power is impressive. If the guild leaders were to face off, of course, Choi Seunghyun, who’s also a swordsman, would have an overwhelming advantage. But if war broke out between the groups, it wouldn’t just be a fight between the guild leaders.”

Yoon Seulgi listened to Baek Hyunseo and commented,

“Th-then, if we ask this Kang Eunbyeol person for help… maybe she’d assist us? She seems nice… If we tell her we’re being mistreated by Instructor Yang Hankil…”

Kim Siyun shook her head.

“We’re not sure if she’s trustworthy yet. And what if we tell her and she ignores us? To be honest, we’re strangers to her right now. And it doesn’t seem like she gets along well with Yang Hankil, who’s overseeing us. What if he finds out we asked for help? We’re done for. It’s too risky.”

“So… does that mean we have to keep living like this…?”

Yoon Seulgi asked, her voice trembling. Kim Siyun sighed heavily, looking conflicted.

At that moment, Lee Haru asked a question, looking puzzled.

“But, now that I think about it, if the Hunter Association president’s daughter is willing to become a disciple, doesn’t that mean this Masked Instructor is even more amazing? It means she’s learning from him instead of her father, right? Doesn’t that suggest he’s better than the president?”

Kim Siyun partially agreed.

“You’ve seen the video, right? The Masked Instructor not only solo-cleared an A-rank dungeon but also discovered how to use external mana for the first time. If we’re talking about individual power, he might indeed be amazing.”

“What if we ask him for help?”

After a moment of contemplation, Kim Siyun spoke.

“Since they’re entering the dungeon with us anyway, let’s take the opportunity to observe them closely. Yang Hankil won’t be coming in, so we’ll have a chance to talk without him noticing. If the Masked Instructor seems trustworthy, we’ll ask him for help. If Kang Eunbyeol seems reliable, we’ll approach her instead. If we can’t trust either of them, we’ll stay quiet.”

As their conversation concluded, Choi Juwon intervened to settle the situation.

“Instructor Yang Hankil, why don’t we just ignore this and avoid any further conflict? After all, it looks like you’re the one who reserved this dungeon, and we didn’t come here for a childish argument—we came to enter the dungeon.”

“We feel the same. Masked Instructor, shall we proceed to the dungeon?”

Yang Hankil gestured, allowing his students to enter. I crossed my arms and watched as my own disciples entered behind them.

Yang Hankil asked me,

“Aren’t you entering with your disciples?”

“My disciples are so capable that they could clear a C-rank dungeon like this for fun. There’s no need for me to join. But looking at your students, it seems they still lack some skills. Are you sure it’s safe to send them in alone?”

“Hmmph. I’ll handle my own business. Don’t concern yourself.”

Seeing Yang Hankil’s prickly attitude until the end, I thought to myself.

‘What a useless fool. Time passes, situations change, but some people never do.’

The students of Helmunt Academy’s lower-tier Practical Magic class and Choi Juwon’s disciples entered the dungeon together, walking down a single pathway. The dungeon resembled a cave.

The lower-tier students appeared nervous, muttering among themselves, while Choi Juwon’s disciples showed no signs of fear or hesitation.

At that moment, Kim Siyun approached those next to her.

“Um…”

Park Hayeon, who was closest, looked at Kim Siyun.

“Speak.”

“Well, it’s just…”

Before Kim Siyun could finish, dozens of bat-like monsters, Rekinas, began to swarm in.

-Whoooosh-

They attacked the disciples in unison, emitting a sound like ultrasonic waves.

“It’s an ambush. Form up as the Masked Instructor taught us.”

As soon as the command was given, Seo Chanwoo, Im Sea, Min Dayun, and Kang Eunbyeol quickly formed a battle formation.

“I’ll charge from the front. The rest of you, cover me.”

Although Park Hayeon wasn’t the most powerful among the disciples in terms of magic, her instincts and movements were unmatched.

Her combat style closely resembled Choi Juwon’s.

Because of this, when they practiced together multiple times, Choi Juwon designed a formation that maximized Park Hayeon’s strengths—this was the formation they used now.

-Swoosh-

Park Hayeon enhanced her legs with mana and leaped into the air, charging at the bat-shaped Rekinas.

In midair, she chanted a spell.

[Absorb]

The SS-grade mana-responsive artifact in her possession began to glow.

At the same time, mana from the surrounding air was drawn into her. Soon after, she chanted another spell.

[Release]

-Boom-!

The explosion echoed through the cave, taking down more than ten monsters instantly.

Some Rekinas tried to attack her, but the other disciples took care of them.

-Ssshhh-

Meanwhile, some of the Rekinas charged at Yang Hankil’s students instead of Choi Juwon’s.

Instinctively, Park Hayeon raised her hand to cast a spell in their direction, but then she turned her head and looked away.

“Ahh!”

As a result, several Rekinas attacked Lee Haru. Thankfully, due to the quick response of dozens of disciples, Lee Haru only suffered minor scratches, and the situation was resolved.

Kim Siyun walked up to Park Hayeon, glaring at her.

“You… you clearly saw the monsters approaching. Why didn’t you help? Why did you pretend not to notice?”

She was visibly upset as she looked at the injured Lee Haru.

Park Hayeon, seemingly unfazed, replied,

“Why should I help you? You’re not even disciples of the Masked Instructor—you’re just strangers.”