The Academy’s Unrivaled Professor - Chapter 108

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Academy Absolute Professor Episode 108
Taejeong Martial Arts Hall
Through Jo Tae-hwan’s phone came the sigh of a middle-aged woman.
— Sigh. Ah-young, I thought she was finally getting her head on straight, but her mood’s taken another dive.
“Why? Because of the class closure?”
— That’s what she says.
“What exactly is Ah-young saying?”
When Jo Tae-hwan asked, his wife answered.
— She was convinced she’d definitely be accepted in the second year’s first semester. She barely missed it this time, so she figured it’d be her turn next. But he’s already taken his second batch of students and now suddenly closes the class? What’s that professor thinking? Is he having some kind of turf war with the school?
“It’s not like that. Look, let me look into this matter, and you just try to comfort Ah-young for now.”
— All right, dear.
Click.
Jo Tae-hwan’s brow furrowed as he set the phone down.
‘The girl has every right to be disappointed.’
Since he’d been receiving constant information from the Academy network through his aide Kim, he also knew that the professor had rejected the apology from the parent.
‘This is a headache.’
The situation, in fact, wasn’t playing out favorably for Jo Tae-hwan either.
He was the chairman of the National Assembly’s Hunter Security Committee.
If he allowed the brand value of the National Hunter Academy to diminish?
He’d be stamped as incompetent immediately.
On the other hand, if he handled this crisis cleanly in this opportunity?
He could even gain the firm support of the parents.
‘And besides.’
Jo Tae-hwan’s instinct whispered to him.
‘Professor Kang Hyun.’
It would be wise to grow closer to that man in this opportunity.
The owner of Taejeong Holdings, the one whom S-rank Hunters follow around.
He mustn’t be made an enemy, and if he made an impression on him now, he had no doubt it would be a deal without loss.
“Aide Kim.”
“Yes, Assemblyman.”
“The parent association meeting. Is it still going on?”
“It is. Everyone’s in a state of distress, not knowing what to do.”
“Contact them immediately.”
“Yes? The parent association?”
A smile spread across Jo Tae-hwan’s lips as he loosened his necktie slightly.
“Yeah, I should step in myself.”

* * *
6 a.m.
Time moved unchanged at Taejeong Main Base.
Despite the class closure notice, all twenty-four of the second cohort’s Students gathered at the Practice Grounds, pouring sweat.
None of them would skip out when the professor said he’d keep teaching them despite the closure.
To be honest, they were quietly celebrating.
‘Fools.’
‘They were envious for a moment and then had a fit, and now look at them.’
‘If it closes right after we get in, that’s actually perfect.’
‘Sorry, but… we’re keeping Professor Kang all to ourselves.’
They felt as if they alone had boarded Noah’s ark in the midst of a great flood.
If there were no further admissions, no third cohort?
Their competitive edge would only grow sharper.
Of course, that didn’t mean it wasn’t grueling.
No, honestly they all limped around muttering that they were dying.
Just as the Four Heroes had in the previous semester.
All they were doing was two things.
Horseman’s Stance, and the Samjae Sword Technique.
South Korea’s greatest elites were learning the most common beginner techniques in the world, yet they felt as though they might die from the effort.
The martial arts they’d once thought so easy now seemed like transcendent divine techniques when taught by the professor.
The Students were coming to understand in their very bones that the level of a martial art is determined by the attitude the warrior brings to it.
But the pain came with sweet reward.
“See that? You brats? A sturdy lower body channels power into the blade!”
Crash!
Ma Chul-ung’s Qiankun Lianhuan Tuobai Saber unfolded in the center of the Practice Grounds.
The moment he demonstrated the first form, the Opening Sky Form, the Students’ jaws dropped.
“A spear is no different. Martial arts that kill the lower body are nothing but a dance.”
Whoosh!
Gye Mu-jin in turn demonstrated the Yangga Spear he was learning.
Beyond that, each team leader showcased their own martial techniques and offered their insights, and that alone made the value of this lesson immeasurable.
As Kang Hyun sat on the platform sipping whiskey and watched the Students training, Lee Se-ah appeared below him.
“What brings you here?”
“Are you drinking again since this morning?”
“If you’re just going to nag, leave. What do you want?”
“It’s about the Class Closure.”
“Class Closure? I said that’s final.”
Kang Hyun was serious.
He was an absolute being who had returned from the Martial World, but he was also a citizen of South Korea who wanted to uphold the law.
The life he wanted to live was not one of doing as he pleased.
“Right, it’s final, but what if instead of closing the class, we established a separate Martial Arts Hall altogether?”
“A Martial Arts Hall?”
Kang Hyun’s eyebrows twitched.
What was she talking about?
“Would you like to read it for yourself?”
Lee Se-ah waved a stack of documents she had brought.
“What is that?”
“Representative Jo Tae-hwan—the one we met at that pub back then—got involved with the Parent-Teacher Association yesterday. These documents seem to be his proposal. I received them this morning through the Dean.”
“That person?”
Kang Hyun’s expression shifted subtly.
‘He’s not a foolish man, I’ll give him that.’
For someone like Kang Hyun—who had witnessed all manner of human nature in the Martial World—to think such a thing was quite generous praise.
He rarely complimented anyone without good reason.
Swish!
As Kang Hyun flicked his hand, the documents slipped from Lee Se-ah’s grasp and fell into his.
Flip.
Kang Hyun turned the first page of the documents.
His eyes moved swiftly across the text.
The documents identified two clear blind spots in the current situation.
One: Professor Kang Hyun uses public land belonging to the National Academy.
Two: Despite being an official Academy course, the selection criteria are unclear and depend excessively on the professor’s personal discretion.
‘Correct.’
These were the very issues the parents had been harping on, and Kang Hyun had no solution for them either.
But the documents presented an ingeniously elegant workaround for both problems.
The process was as follows.
One: Separate the land behind the New Training Hall from Academy property and administratively justify its use as training grounds to be leased to external specialized institutions, thereby serving the public interest.
Two: Kang Hyun establishes a Foundation.
Three: The Foundation purchases the land at a price above appraised value. (However, a clause is attached stipulating the land can only be used for cultivating Hunter talent.)
Four: Finally, the National Academy and the Foundation enter into a Memorandum of Understanding.
“So basically… you’re selling me public land?”
“Exactly. You’re converting it from public to private, but through an agreement. That way, there’s no legal issue. There’s a long-term lease option too, but even if it’s expensive, buying is better, isn’t it?”
Kang Hyun’s lips curved upward.
‘Well, look at this.’
He’d definitely done his homework.
The man must know that I own Taejeong Holdings.
Not that he could blame him for it.
He’d never wanted to hide it in the first place; the Management Bureau was the one going to such lengths to conceal it, and after all, gathering information was simply a matter of competence.
“But why should I buy that land? And at above appraised value, no less?”
“You need to buy above appraised value to avoid complications later, apparently. And once you own it, you could bundle it with the upper slopes of Bukhansan as training grounds and sell that package, or so the Dean mentioned separately to me.”
“Is that so?”
Now that caught his interest.
He would need to buy land anyway if he ever wanted to relocate that building or rebuild it.
He’d been wanting a larger plot, and now they were offering him a mountain?
With government backing to boot?
“The Minister of Land Infrastructure and Transport, the Minister of Economy and Finance—Jo Tae-hwan will persuade them however he needs to and take responsibility for it. If you’d like, I can even speak to the director and have him provide support fire.”
Subtle anticipation colored Lee Se-ah’s voice.
“And about the second cohort’s enrollment cap—we don’t need to increase it. Just do things the way you used to, freely as you wish.”
“……But somehow it seems like you’re actually on the Academy’s side? Why do you look so desperate?”
“What? I’m completely on your side?”
Lee Se-ah planted both hands on her hips and spoke with conviction.
“Personally, though, I’d really like to see you continue teaching at the Academy. Our country’s future is finally starting to come into view, and it would be such a national loss to throw away the opportunity just because of parents’ and students’ jealousy……”
“……But if you create a foundation and go private, then you’re not technically a professor anymore, are you?”
“Oh, absolutely not! Do you know what kind of person the Dean is?”
“What kind of person?”
“Someone who absolutely hates letting others steal credit for the Academy’s achievements and contributions.”
“……That’s not wrong.”
“Dean Seo Il-hyun will never strip you of your professorship. He’ll do whatever it takes—attach you as a special appointment professor, an external professor, something—just to maintain your status. That way the students you’ve trained will boost the Academy’s reputation.”
It was a sound argument.
‘As expected.’
A person needed competence.
So when he simply said the class would close, how was it that solutions came walking back to him on their own?
“Tell him to do it.”
“Really, sir? Yes!”
She clenched her fist in triumph, excitement flashing across her face, then dashed off somewhere.
Kang Hyun couldn’t help but let out a small, incredulous laugh at the sight.
Still, it was welcome that things were unfolding without unnecessary complications.
‘Now, about the name……?’
If they were going with a public-interest foundation structure, they’d need a name.
Kang Hyun thought for a moment, then smiled faintly to himself.
Since it wasn’t going to draw unwanted attention anyway, there was no need for anything grandiose.
‘……Might as well just call it Taejeong Martial Arts Hall.’
He’d needed to set up a foundation under Taejeong Holdings anyway to handle some group expenses.
This seemed like the right time to establish it.

* * *
Time passed.
Selling public land to the private sector wasn’t a process that could be rushed through.
Kang Hyun contacted Yun Tae-jung and explained the situation; he was actually delighted.
And then.
[Notice) Information on the Closure of Special Guidance Studies and Future Measures]
A new notice appeared on the Academy network.
The class was indeed being closed, but the notice said new educational approaches were being explored.
Naturally, since this had been coordinated by Jo Tae-hwan with the parents, every student who mattered already knew.
└ Heard Professor Kang is buying all the land behind the Academy
└ ????
└ ??????
└ Is Professor Kang loaded or something?
└ Yeah apparently he’s rich
└ I heard he’s founding a whole foundation?
└ What?
└ So that rumor about him being a major shareholder in Taejeong Group is actually true;;;
Rumors were bound to spread no matter what.
The building was named Taejeong, his student Min Seo-jun was a core member of Taejeong Space, and Yun Hyun-jong had already gained a reputation as a spoiled heir to wealth.
└ Still, it’s a relief
└ So they’re definitely recruiting for a third cohort?
└ Sounds like it from what my mom said
└ Professor Kang, sorry for our complaints! Thank you for coming back!
Lee Se-ah, who had been watching the commotion, briefed him directly from his office.
“They’re in quite the uproar.”
“Didn’t I tell you? They’ve all been waiting for you.”
Lee Se-ah was excitedly rattling on about it when—
Buzz, buzz-buzz!
Kang Hyun’s smartphone on the desk vibrated.
His eyes narrowed as he checked the caller ID.
[+86 138-XXXX-XXXX]
An unknown number with China’s country code displayed.
‘Wait.’
China… that meant…
Dang So-yu?
Kang Hyun pressed the answer button immediately, and a voice came through.
– …Professor?
“Dang So-yu?”
– You said ten hours.
The voice was barely a whisper, as though things had gone wrong.
Kang Hyun rose from his seat.
“Where are you? What’s happened?”
– Ten hours. Somehow I’ll hold out for ten hours. Please keep your promise. Please.
Click.
The line went dead.
“Kang Hyun? What’s wrong? Your expression…”
Kang Hyun’s face had grown cold and rigid in a way wholly unlike him.
“Lee Se-ah.”
“Yes?”
“Trace that call. Now.”
“…Yes?”
“Quickly.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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