Chapter 31: The Academy’s Secret Schemes

Muguengeomgyeok Catch-Up Ver. 1.2
The Great Forest Speedrun.

“What kind of a game is this? It’s infuriating,” grumbled Dahye, usually so patient. And it was hard not to sympathize.

The speedrun course had been designed to follow Muguengeomgyeok’s swift journey through the Great Forest, meant to see if an average player could even come close to matching his record. The guide, Inmyeon Jiju, moved based on Muguengeomgyeok’s pace, pulling far ahead so fast that even her voice often faded into the distance. Sometimes, she’d disappear entirely.

“Where am I even going? Somebody help!”

– Hahaha, we’re scared, unnie!
– Can’t see anything in the dark.
– Your future: pitch black!
– Wow, Inmyeon Jiju is dropping AOE damage on 3,000 people at once; such a terror.
– Why? My screen is so bright and cozy, like home. Huh?
– If the pitch-black screen feels like home, you’re in the wrong place. Get out now.

Being left alone in the dark was terrifying. Just the act of moving forward required courage.

“Wasn’t this supposed to be a horror game!”

– Lol, we’re all experiencing the same thing.
– This mode is legendary.
– Gildong just dropped a nuke on the streamer scene.
– Forget the record, we can’t even find the way forward!

This wasn’t a sword fight but a speedrun, and Dahye was struggling, as was Haechan, her Season 1 Hall of Fame rival, and even the course’s creator, Gildong—all ending up lost in the forest.

“Ah, my feet won’t move.”

– Another failed try, huh.
– Nah, we were doomed the moment Inmyeon Jiju left us in the dust.

[Personal Rankings]
[RANK 01. LostDahye]
[Time Record 490 seconds / Progress 13% / Mired 49%]
[Cause of defeat: Surrendered due to bog entrapment]

The end goal was the mythical hermit’s cabin, but it seemed unlikely any streamers would even get to see the finish line.

While the Great Forest Speedrun was sparking a new trend on VTube, Haeeung was holed up in her room, staring blankly into space. With a body that neither needed food nor sleep, she had spent an entire week lost in thought.

Joo Ahyeong: “Unnie, you remember you said you’d do me a favor, right?”

A request. Of all things, it was a request that finally broke her trance.

‘A single favor led me here in the first place, and now she wants another?’

Had it been a command, it would have been easier. The life of a puppet, obeying orders mindlessly, without hesitation. A blood puppet—mind, spirit, and soul bound by orders. In moments like this, she wondered if those days of thoughtless obedience had actually been better.

Joo Ahyeong: “Unnieee, please reply soon! I have something important to ask!”

She shook off the morose thoughts. Though time slipped past her now without notice, there were still connections in this world she couldn’t entirely let go. Unlike those desolate days in the Blood Sect, when she had lost all relationships and was overcome by despair, things were different now.

A Request.

Promises. She swallowed yet another bitter pill, the poison of obligation, and ventured out into the bright, bustling city streets.

‘So quiet today… Is it Thursday? Or Friday? Not that it matters.’

After losing all sense of time, she found herself adrift, carried along the tree-lined avenue. The crisp scent of the trees brushed against her, prompting her to glance up.

Inmyeon Jiju, weaving her way through the treetops, seemed like she might swoop down to greet her any moment, strands of silk trailing in the air.

‘You were right. I really am a fool.’

A genuine smile was always out of reach, but a bitter one came so easily.

The sound of leaves rustling in the breeze mingled with the fluttering of falling autumn leaves.

“Wow, is there a photoshoot happening?”

“Whoa!”

“Hey, doesn’t she look familiar?”

Passersby paused, mesmerized, caught in a moment that would etch itself into their memories. As usual, unaware of her own allure, Haeeung only managed to calm herself once she saw Joo Ahyeong waving enthusiastically at her from afar.

“Unnie! It’s been so long!”

[It’s only been a week,] Haeeung signed.

“A week is long enough!”

To Ahyeong, an extrovert who loved the outdoors, a week felt like an eternity—her greeting was as warm as if she’d reunited with long-lost family.

“Are you still playing instruments these days?”

[Not at all.]

“Aww, what a shame! You were practicing so hard.”

[So, what did you want to ask me?]

“Remember? You promised you’d do me one favor, anything.”

Just what kind of favor could she be so excited to ask for?

“Please, be a guest instructor for a day at the Awakened Academy!”

Whether it was a grand favor or not, it certainly hit like a bombshell.

“I’ve been asking you for ages! Just once, please teach at the academy.”

[Why me, of all people?]

“Because, out of everyone I know, you’re the strongest! Stronger than any of our instructors, even!”

[Isn’t it impossible to teach without an Awakened License?]

“You can be a guest instructor! Sometimes they invite martial artists or theory experts, even if they’re not Awakened.”

Clearly, Ahyeong was determined—none of the usual excuses would work.

“Or… was my request too much to ask?”

Hesitating, Ahyeong’s expression showed her apprehension.

– I only wanted to be friends… Why does this have to be so complicated?
– Must humans and half-yōkai be destined to hurt each other?

They looked worlds apart, yet her desperation was unmistakable. The vulnerability and hope in her eyes mirrored another time, another person.

[Alright. If it’s just for one day.]

“Yay! No take-backs!”

Haeeung let herself be pulled along by her eager younger friend. Her calloused hands, rough from practice, felt oddly comforting.

Despite their bruised palms and bandaged hands, neither of them seemed to mind. For both, it felt just right.

Weekday morning.

6.

At the Awakened Academy’s administrative office, the receptionist looked at them in disbelief.

“You’re here to apply as a guest instructor?”

[Well, I might have something to teach about martial arts.]

“A woman, mute, without an Awakened License, no record of any tournament wins, just walks in with a sword and applies as a guest instructor?”

Joo Ahyeong’s anxiety showed. “Oh… is that a problem?”

She hadn’t intended to embarrass her, and now she felt guilty for putting her in this position. Yet it was Haeeung, the one on the receiving end of the receptionist’s judgment, who gently patted Ahyeong’s hand, reassuring her it was fine.

The receptionist laughed, “Of course, you’re welcome! Guest instructor roles are usually filled quickly since most people don’t last long in them.”

[That’s a relief.]

“Heh. Just don’t regret it. Instructors who lack skill often end up disrespected by the students. Better to quit now if you’re going to,” the receptionist added, openly doubting her capabilities.

Haeeung silently accepted the guest instructor badge.

“Unnie, you can quit if it gets too awkward. I didn’t think the admin office would be like this,” Joo Ahyeong mumbled, embarrassed.

[It’s fine. That much pride likely means they have skilled students here. I’m actually curious.]

If they had such strong pride, their skills must be impressive. Unlike her brief encounter with Inmyeon Jiju, perhaps this relationship with the students could last longer. Despite herself, she couldn’t help but feel a spark of anticipation.

‘Maybe I was worried for nothing? After all, my unnie isn’t just anyone,’ Ahyeong thought with a smile.

In the upscale interiors, with a blend of sleek decor and occasional glimpses of artifacts, the Awakened Academy’s hallways could be overwhelming. Yet Haeeung, clad in her distinctive, historical attire, strode forward confidently, leaving others slightly awed by her presence.

“Oh wow, quite the outfit. I’m Steven Kim, been a full-time instructor here for three years. I teach heavy weapons.”

[I’m Haeeung, the guest instructor for today. I thought I’d share a bit about swordsmanship.]

In the academy’s faculty office, a sprawling space filled with personal workstations, computers, capsules, textbooks, and lesson materials, around twenty faculty members prepared for their classes.

‘Modern education really is something,’ Haeeung observed. Unlike traditional martial arts training with wooden dummies and direct combat, the mid-21st century had optimized training with advanced theoretical classes and high-end, virtual simulation courses—all worthy of the academy’s high tuition.

“If teaching gets rough, give me a call tonight. You could stop by, and we could draft a syllabus together.”

‘Does this Westerner think he’s making a move on me?’ she thought, feeling a spike of irritation. Glad she couldn’t speak, she simply ignored it.

A nearby instructor in magic studies chuckled, “Steven got rejected? Heh, that’s a tough one for the record. Serves him right for overdoing it. Women like her have a bit of pride, you know.”

“Last month, didn’t you almost get caught dating one of the students, Mr. Choi?”

“Oh, so we’re airing dirty laundry now? Don’t think I don’t know you’ve been cozying up to the guest instructors too. Let’s play nice here. Just because I gave you a bit of a ribbing…”

As the magic studies instructor headed off to the lecture hall, Steven clicked his tongue behind his back.

‘He thinks we’re on the same level just because we’re both instructors?’

Unlike Mr. Choi, who held onto his position by default due to a shortage of qualified magic instructors, Steven had an extensive background in martial arts. He was practically second-in-command among the academy’s martial arts instructors and even had his eyes on the head instructor role someday.

‘If I were serious, I wouldn’t leave my lectures to these fill-in instructors.’

Still, he had his reasons for often assigning guest instructors to cover one of his sessions. He enjoyed watching new, attractive female instructors — women who, despite their skills, typically couldn’t quite match the full-time instructors in power, making them prime targets for his attention.

‘Smart men always know how to win over the beautiful ones.’

The groundwork was already in place. Some of the students he took on as assistants subtly influenced the instructor ratings, ensuring male instructors were weeded out, while the female ones were scored just low enough to feel a bit of pressure and come to him for guidance.

His trap was set, primed for his plan to lure in these new, unsuspecting beauties without drawing attention.

‘She can prepare as much as she wants for her session, but hopefully, she doesn’t do too well.’ He smirked. If even the students rated her poorly, he wouldn’t get much time to “enjoy” her company before she’d be dismissed from the academy.

‘Just don’t try too hard,’ he mused as he leisurely prepared for his next class, his devious intentions hidden behind a nonchalant expression.

Meanwhile, in the training hall:

“Wow, how did he even pass for an instructor?”

“This is what real martial arts are supposed to be? So what exactly have we been learning all this time?”

“Oh no… if I learn from her, there’s no going back to my old self!”

Steven’s assistants, who had been secretly assigned to rate down her performance, were now captivated by her extraordinary skills, completely forgetting their original mission. They were too mesmerized by the prowess of the new, striking guest instructor to even think about docking her points.