The Academy’s Unrivaled Professor - Chapter 34

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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’s Absolute Professor Episode 34
Don’t buy that.
Pamphlets lay scattered outside the Auction House.
She picked one up and read it—an advertisement for the Five Tigers Severing Gate Blade was featured prominently.
“Wow, what is this!”
Lee Se-ah gasped.
“What now?”
“This is a Grade 2 Wanbo-ja item! No wonder—even for the Daesung Market, I was starting to wonder if this many people could fit in one place!”
“……Wanbo-ja?”
Kang Hyun tilted his head in confusion, and Lee Se-ah launched into an explanation, her eyes bright with excitement.
“They’re Chinese hunters with a special ability. They’re called Wanbo-ja because they can see through the grades of ten thousand martial arts techniques.”
“There really is every kind of person. What rank is Grade 2?”
“Grade 9 is the lowest, and Grade 1 is the highest. But honestly, Grade 1 might as well not exist in the secret manual market. So Grade 2 is effectively the highest rank that actually appears. And today, that exact Grade 2 item came up for auction!”
“That’s impressive.”
“Impressive doesn’t even begin to cover it. All of South Korea’s current S-rank Hunters are only learning martial arts graded Grade 3 and below by Wanbo-ja standards.”
So Grade 2 and above belonged to the world stage, it seemed.
‘Fair enough.’
The Five Tigers Severing Gate Blade deserved that distinction.
As the secret martial art of the Habei Peng Family, it had earned respect even in the martial world, so by Kang Hyun’s measure, a Grade 2 ranking was fitting.
“But why am I hearing about a Wanbo-ja for the first time?”
“It’s not officially recognized worldwide. No matter how powerful China is, they don’t really want it acknowledged, do they?”
“It’s not that they don’t want it acknowledged—they’re refusing to acknowledge it.”
“Only you would say something like that!”
He understood.
Especially since his country would never accept a standard arbitrarily set by China without protest.
“Let’s go in anyway.”
Kang Hyun had no intention of purchasing this secret manual.
Partly because only two hundred million won remained in his reserves, but mainly because he already had everything memorized—why would he need to buy it?
‘But.’
He wanted to observe how expensive secret manuals were sold.
After all, he’d be having Lee Se-ah handle the sales from now on.
Even entry required procedures.
They had to wear random masks and use voice-modulating microphones—ostensibly for confidentiality.
‘A clever system.’
In the martial world, excellent secret manuals always brought bloodshed in their wake.
These minimal precautions existed to prevent theft and targeted crimes.
After all, wealthy people needed reason to open their wallets.
Kang Hyun was methodically committing every aspect of the market’s systems to memory, his eyes sweeping the surroundings, when—
Thump, thump!
The ground shook.
Curious, he turned to see an enormous man walking toward them.
‘What?’
No matter how large someone was, the mere act of walking shouldn’t make the earth tremble like that.
Was he wearing thousand-pound weights as he walked?
“Gasp.”
“Eek.”
Lee Se-ah and Baek Yu-yeon simultaneously caught their breath at the sight of the giant.
The other people scattered nearby instinctively lowered their gazes and discreetly moved out of his path.
Kang Hyun was genuinely startled.
‘Wow, what a face…….’
How could a human being look so sinister?
His gait resembled a bear walking on hind legs, and his exposed skin was covered in coarse dark hair.
His face was menace incarnate.
If appearance could reach enlightenment, this man would have already achieved transcendence with his face alone.
“……That’s Ma Cheol-woong.”
Lee Se-ah approached and whispered softly.
“One of South Korea’s seven S-rank Hunters. He’s infamous for his vicious temperament. Since his main weapon is a blade, he’s probably come to bid on this item today.”
“But he’s heading straight toward us.”
“……That’s what worries me. Why is he coming this way, looking so scary?”
Ma Cheol-woong, footsteps heavy and deliberate, came to a halt directly in front of the three of them.
Baek Yu-yeon had turned to stone in shock, while Lee Se-ah let out a small exclamation as if she’d just understood something.
And Kang Hyun….
“What are you trying to pull?”
It was a reflexive response, pure instinct.
Such was the way of the martial world.
Some nobody walks up with killing intent blazing? Right in front of you?
That was as good as a silent petition to cut their throat.
‘Crazy. Absolutely crazy.’
Baek Yu-yeon’s jaw fell open.
Now that she thought about it—our professor!
He kept drinking whisky the whole way here in the car, didn’t he?
No wonder he was throwing money around so freely and picking up the entire tab so generously!
He had to be completely drunk.
There was no other explanation for how he could talk that way to an S-rank Hunter.
But then.
Snap!
Ma Cheol-woong’s massive hand seized Kang Hyun’s wrist firmly.
Kang Hyun could sense there was no killing intent behind the gesture, so he remained still.
“……Benefactor!”
“What?”
“That’s right! My benefactor!”
“What am I… your benefactor?”
Just as Kang Hyun tilted his head in confusion, Lee Se-ah whispered urgently.
“The Leviathan operation……!”
Of the two S-rank Hunters who survived!
Ma Cheol-woong here was one of them!

* * *
“Come this way for a moment.”
Ma Cheol-woong led Kang Hyun with an easy manner toward a quiet corner away from the crowd.
The two women remained some distance behind.
“Ha ha! To think we’d meet like this!”
There was no malice whatsoever in Ma Cheol-woong’s voice.
Despite his menacing first impression, his demeanor carried a peculiar lack of pretense, which made Kang Hyun chuckle inwardly.
In the martial world, someone with a face like that would have ended up in the dark path or banditry nine times out of ten.
The harsh visage would have saddled him with every manner of unjust misunderstanding and led him astray.
But was it different here?
Judging a person by first impressions was the same in the martial world as it was anywhere else.
Normally, one battered by the world’s prejudices would grow bitter or go wrong—yet this giant’s presence was remarkably clear and genuine.
Kang Hyun appreciated that about him.
It meant he had navigated through all manner of trials without losing himself.
‘Or maybe not.’
On second thought, that might not be the case.
How many people in the world had the audacity to pick a fight with someone wearing a face like that?
Most would instinctively back down the moment they saw it.
Perhaps the peace born from that reaction had shaped his character.
“I heard you’d awakened, but Director Kim Hyung-seok kept you so tightly under wraps that I had no way to pay my respects. Please, allow me to greet you properly now.”
Slowly.
He bowed respectfully.
Kang Hyun had no memory of it—he’d been unconscious during the incident—but Ma Cheol-woong had witnessed it with his own eyes.
A sea monster that five S-rank Hunters couldn’t defeat, destroyed with a single palm strike.
“There’s no need. I don’t even remember it.”
Kang Hyun waved a hand dismissively.
‘A ferocious man, is he?’
Lee Se-ah’s words came to mind, but he scoffed inwardly.
A man who came of his own volition to bow in gratitude couldn’t possibly be that fierce.
The world had jumped to conclusions after seeing only the surface, spreading unfounded fear.
“But forgive me for asking—how old are you, if I may?”
When Ma Cheol-woong asked carefully, Kang Hyun answered without hesitation.
“Thirty-three.”
“Hah! So you really are older than me, after all!”
“……What?”
Kang Hyun’s eyes widened in a way that was quite unlike him.
Had he misheard?
That face looked younger than thirty-three?
It seemed as though he’d weathered the storms of time head-on.
“I’m thirty-two! Since I owe you my life, I’ll treat you with proper respect as my elder! Kha-ha-ha!”
“Who said you could call me that?”
“Well now, seeing as you already dropped the formalities with me, doesn’t that mean you’ve accepted me as your younger brother?”
“I speak casually to young people by default.”
Kang Hyun drew a clear line, his displeasure evident, but Ma Cheol-woong’s gaze remained earnest.
He wanted to maintain this connection with Kang Hyun, no matter what.
“By the way, what brings you here?”
“You?”
“Ah-ha, I came because of that Five Tigers Severing Gate Blade up for auction today.”
Ma Cheol-woong scratched his head as he spoke.
“Don’t tell me you came for that too? Hmm, if you were after it, naturally I’d have to yield, but frankly, someone at your level of mastery wouldn’t need a martial technique like that, would they?”
“I’m not bidding. I’m just here to look.”
“Phew, that’s a relief!”
Ma Cheol-woong exhaled a genuine sigh of relief.
“Then, come with me, will you?”
“Why?”
“There’s VIP seating reserved exclusively for S-rank Hunters. If you come with me, we can watch comfortably from there.”
He saw no reason to refuse, so he nodded.
“Fine.”
“It’s an honor! Do you know how frugally I’ve had to live to get even one second-grade martial art?”
Two women watched from a distance as Ma Cheol-woong began chattering away with boyish excitement.
‘This doesn’t make sense.’
Baek Yu-yeon especially hadn’t composed herself yet.
Ma Cheol-woong never showed this side of himself unless it was to a very small circle of acquaintances.
He was known for stonewalling reporters’ questions and even walking off the set during broadcasts if something displeased him.
Yet here he was, smiling broadly in front of the professor?
‘And a benefactor……?’
How on earth does one become the benefactor of an S-rank Hunter?
‘What exactly…… is your real identity?’

* * *
Following Ma Cheol-woong’s lead, they entered the VIP seating on the second floor.
The front was made entirely of special glass, offering a clear view of the Auction House on the first floor, and what pleased him most was that whiskey was being served.
– Well then, let us begin the formal auction!
In the opening rounds, lighter merchandise moved quickly through the bidding.
Cores from monsters, expensive equipment.
As Kang Hyun watched, he asked questions whenever curiosity struck.
“How do they guarantee the authenticity of the items?”
“The name of Daesung Market is the guarantee itself. If something’s proven to be counterfeit, the Daesung Group compensates at three times the final bid.”
Lee Se-ah and Ma Cheol-woong took turns answering his various other questions.
After the miscellaneous items’ auction came to an end,
– Now, after your long wait. Here comes the main event that will crown today’s special auction!
The lights dimmed, and a spotlight fell on the center of the platform.
A worn old manuscript, carefully enshrined within a glass case.
– The legendary martial technique unearthed from an S-rank Dungeon in Colorado, USA, against astronomical odds! The original Secret Manual of the Five Tigers Severing Gate Blade, graded as a Wanbo-ja two-star piece!
A stir ran through the auction floor.
Ma Cheol-woong too edged forward on the sofa, his throat working as he swallowed.
– This Secret Manual has been authenticated by the American Hunter Association. For your informed judgment, we will display the first five pages of the original on the screens!
Flash!
The front pages of the manuscript appeared in high definition across the large screens that covered the auction floor’s walls.
The Hunters and Guild personnel on the floor widened their eyes, each scrutinizing the contents.
Ma Cheol-woong too, having apparently studied classical Chinese, read with such intensity it looked like his eyes might pop from his head.
“Hngh!”
He marveled.
“You can feel the ruthless power just from reading the opening incantations, can’t you? This is exactly my martial art!”
Ma Cheol-woong was trembling with excitement.
‘Hmm?’
Kang Hyun’s brow furrowed.
‘What is this?’
The opening passages were written convincingly enough.
But.
‘This isn’t the Five Tigers Severing Gate Blade.’
Kang Hyun had memorized every character of the Five Tigers Severing Gate Blade down to his bones—he couldn’t be deceived.
The Five Tigers Severing Gate Blade consumed enormous amounts of energy and struck the blood vessels violently, so practicing it carelessly could cause Qi Deviation and death from the body rupturing.
For that reason, the genuine Five Tigers Severing Gate Blade’s opening section had to contain a mandatory warning.
[To unfold the Five Tigers Severing Gate Blade, you must first cultivate the foundational Heaven-Earth Continuous Chain Soul-Stealing Blade to at least eighty percent mastery and expand your Qi Pathways before training!]
But the Secret Manual displayed on the screen contained no such content, and the opening section itself was completely fabricated.
Kang Hyun let out a dry laugh.
– We’ll begin the bidding at ten billion won!
As the auctioneer’s cry rang out, the hall erupted in frenzy.
– Twelve billion!
– Fifteen billion!
– Twenty billion!
The lights flashed across the panel as prices shot up vertically.
Ma Cheol-woong, his eyes bloodshot, frantically jabbed the bidding button.
– Twenty-five billion!
“Hmph, thirty-two billion is my limit.”
Ma Cheol-woong was prepared to pour out his entire fortune.
Kang Hyun sat in silence, sipping whiskey and deliberating.
‘Should I tell him?’
There was an iron rule in the martial world.
Interfering carelessly in another’s transaction was forbidden.
If someone was throwing money at a counterfeit without knowing, that was their own foolishness.
But Kang Hyun’s gaze lingered on Ma Cheol-woong’s rough, scarred hands.
A moment earlier, this bear of a man had called him his benefactor and addressed him respectfully as his senior.
Kang Hyun could plainly see how much effort this fool must have expended to scrape together that money.
‘It’s meddling, but.’
Kang Hyun spoke quietly.
“Ma Cheol-woong.”
“Yes, sir! Wait, just a moment. The bidding is so fierce right now—thirty billion!”
“Ma Cheol-woong.”
At the quiet tone, Ma Cheol-woong flinched.
“What is it, sir?”
“You’ve been treated well and given a good seat, so I’ll give you a gift.”
“A gift?”
“Don’t buy that.”
At Kang Hyun’s sudden words, Ma Cheol-woong’s eyes went as wide as saucers.
Lee Se-ah and Baek Yu-yeon beside him also stared at Kang Hyun in shock.
“Pardon? What do you mean? That’s been my lifelong dream. You’re telling me not to buy it?”
Toward the bewildered Ma Cheol-woong, Kang Hyun delivered his words flatly.
“It’s a fake.”

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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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