The Academy’s Unrivaled Professor - Chapter 79

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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 079
Time for a vacation.
[National Hunter Academy Global Exchange Tournament delegation confirmed. Escorting professor: Chief Professor Jin Myeong-hun!]
The special report had aired, but public reaction was lukewarm.
That’s how it always goes.
Look at the World Cup.
People get excited only when you pull off the miracle of reaching the semifinals. When you slip up in the preliminaries every time, public interest naturally cools.
If you don’t deliver real national glory, busy modern people won’t bother carving out the time.
It just becomes a gathering for industry insiders alone.
Last year’s exchange tournament hadn’t yielded much honor for the Korean Academy either, so expectations hitting rock bottom was hardly unreasonable.

* * *
Departure day.
Rumble, rumble, rumble.
A limousine bus idled in front of the New Training Hall, its engine churning.
Twelve delegation Students in crisply pressed uniforms stood assembled.
Their Qi was sharp, yet every face bore the same dull expression.
Why?
“Ahem, ready?”
Because of Jin Myeong-hun, that’s why.
“Remember always that you are the Republic of Korea’s finest elite. Never lose your nerve, even abroad.”
It was a short, punchy speech, but the Students’ response was halfhearted at best.
‘Why Professor Jin again?’
‘Where’s Professor Kang?’
‘…The professor himself should be more confident, though.’
They didn’t feel reassured.
Worry gnawed at them—what if a foreign professor picked a fight?
Jin Myeong-hun certainly wasn’t blind to their feelings.
‘These brats are comparing me to Kang.’
The inferiority complex he’d been drowning in liquor bubbled up again.
‘I’m the one who got screwed over!’
In truth, he’d been caught off guard when the assignment came through.
He’d naturally assumed Kang Hyeon would go.
“Stop standing around gawking, everyone! Get on the bus now! Cha Yu-sik, you take charge!”
“Yes, Professor.”
At Cha Yu-sik’s gesture, the Students filed aboard one by one.
Most of the twelve were disciples of O In-bang and Kang Hyeon, but four others had been mixed in as well.
Im Jin-uk and Ryu Ji-eun from the 19th cohort.
Kim Chul-su from the 20th.
Namgoong Seo-ha from the 21st.
Third-year Im Jin-uk was a rising prospect on the verge of graduation, with his contract to BigStar—one of the three major guilds—already secured.
He volunteered for the exchange tournament despite having no real need to make an appearance.
It was curiosity about O In-bang that drove him.
‘What on earth happened in just one semester that transformed their Qi like this?’
Second-year Kim Chul-su felt much the same.
His name was ordinary, but his effort was second to none—a workhorse who’d earned the nickname among peers.
He’d come on this trip with every intention of enrolling in the Special Instruction course next semester.
And then there was first-year Namgoong Seo-ha.
She was the very person who’d taken a single punch to the abdomen from Do Jeong-hyeok in the midterm championship final and collapsed, retching.
For that reason, she understood better than anyone.
Though she carried the title of current 21st cohort’s second-place, the real second-place was Han Tae-ho.
And so her admiration for Kang Hyeon burned hotter than anyone’s.
Wasn’t she following the professor whom even the monsters Do Jeong-hyeok and Han Tae-ho obeyed?
‘I want to become a monster too. I should ask the seniors about it during this exchange tournament.’
Finally, there was Ryu Ji-eun, a Special Department Student sitting by the window midway down the bus.
She had her nose buried in a World Monster Compendium, pushing thick horn-rimmed glasses up the bridge of her nose.
‘Impressive, really.’
Baek Yu-yeon, sitting beside her, was practically at a loss for words.
A severe monster fanatic.
Then again, that degree of obsession was practically a baseline requirement to be selected as a Special Department delegation representative.
Look beside you.
Min Seo-jun is still scribbling something in his notebook, isn’t he?
‘I should’ve brought some books along.’
Actually, there’s no need.
It’s all already in my head.
Vrooooom!
The bus, brimming with anticipation for the Global Exchange Tournament, finally pulled away from the curb.

* * *
Incheon Airport.
The students were going through check-in procedures under Jin Myeong-hun’s direction.
Perhaps it was the uniforms, or the way they drew stares — everyone wore masks regardless.
“Oh!”
Baek Yu-yeon’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Master?”
At her call, every student’s head snapped toward the same point.
“As expected of my disciple. You recognized me right away.”
There stood Kang Hyeon, dressed quite differently from usual.
Comfortable linen shirt, cotton trousers, and dark sunglasses.
And behind him stood Lee Se-ah in casual attire, a far cry from her usual polished appearance.
“Oh!”
“Professor!”
“What brings you here? Surely you’re not seeing us off?”
As the students’ stiff expressions brightened, Kang Hyeon lowered his sunglasses and replied.
“Seeing you off? No, I’m heading on vacation.”
“Really? A vacation?”
“It’s break time. Gotta take some time off.”
Each time he spoke, the sound of glass clinking came from the backpack on Lee Se-ah’s shoulders.
‘Surely not.’
Baek Yu-yeon’s expression grew peculiar.
Could that really be filled with nothing but alcohol?
It shouldn’t be possible, should it?
Aviation security law wouldn’t permit an individual to carry that much liquor aboard.
Of course, the students didn’t know that Kang Hyeon was an exception.
To begin with, Kang Hyeon wasn’t even subject to security screening under Hunter Law.
Code name: Black.
Classified as a state secret of the highest order, whenever he departed the country, a hidden section of the airport opened just for him.
Moreover, items in his possession were treated as government-cooperative goods and given free passage.
“Ah, Professor Kang! You made it?”
Jin Myeong-hun, who had finished his own check-in, greeted him warmly from ahead.
His expression was far removed from his usual stern demeanor.
“You’re taking a vacation? Where to?”
“Paris.”
“Paris!”
Jin Myeong-hun’s face lit up with relief.
This year’s Global Exchange Tournament was being held in Paris, France, after all!
‘Of course! The Director wouldn’t just leave it at that. He’s coming along as backup after all!’
He felt reassured.
How many nights had he lost sleep since taking on this escort duty?
Back at the Korean Academy, he could walk around with his chest puffed out as the senior professor, but the professors from foreign academies were uniformly arrogant monsters.
They subtly intimidated through presence at banquets, made cutting remarks about their own students’ caliber, and their territorial hostility was such that stomach cramps were already setting in at the thought of managing them.
‘Professor Kang…. Fine, I’ll admit it. I honestly need you a lot right now.’
“Since you’re coming to Paris, you’ll naturally be attending the Global Exchange Tournament as well?”
“Well, I might as well swing by and watch. I do have students competing, after all.”
“Ha ha ha! That’s wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!”
Jin Myeong-hun’s laughter echoed through the departure hall.
But Kang Hyeon quickly drove a nail in to correct the misunderstanding.
“Don’t worry too much, though. I’ll just be observing as a tourist. I won’t interfere in the slightest with your leadership and direction as the official escort.”
At Kang Hyeon’s declaration, Jin Myeong-hun’s expression grew uncertain.
No interference?
No, come on, touch it!
Please, just touch it!
Can’t you just take charge of everything yourself?
“Hmm, I suppose…”
Jin Myeong-hun would have liked to grab hold of his pant leg, but face was more important to him than life itself.
At least not in front of the students.
“Still, when you’re abroad, professors can help each other out. If something comes up, I can contact you, right?”
“Well… the moment I arrive, I’m planning to drink myself silly, so I’m not sure I’ll be able to answer my phone.”
“…What?”
“This trip to Paris is just a vacation. I’d appreciate it if you considered me absent. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
“Wait, hold on. Professor Kang! Just a moment—!”
Jin Myeong-hun reached out, but Kang Hyeon was already walking toward the lounge.

* * *
The Global Exchange Tournament would run for two weeks, beginning with the opening ceremony tomorrow morning.
Students from the Special Department would hold academic forums, while Combat Department students would fiercely compete through Artificial Dungeon conquests, each academy staking its honor.
Kang Hyeon was curious about that Artificial Dungeon, so he made his way to the Paris Academy as soon as he arrived.
Since the sky had darkened, it was a nighttime survey.
“Huh.”
An enormous dome-shaped structure loomed at the academy’s perimeter.
“That’s the Ark Field I explained to you on the plane.”
Lee Se-ah offered the explanation like a proper guide.
“It’s called the pinnacle of the World Hunter Association’s technological prowess. An enormous amount of Mana Stones went into it.”
“So it seems.”
He was already spreading his Ki Perception, and his entire body tingled with the sensation.
How many high-grade Mana Stones had they embedded here?
‘Remarkable.’
It was something unimaginable in the Martial World.
To recreate a real dungeon’s environment using Mana Stones.
What expression would the old masters wear if they witnessed the greatness of modern science?
“The Ark Field was the minimum requirement for hosting the Global Exchange Tournament. Someday, Korea will bring one in too, won’t it?”
‘That should happen.’
If Min Seo-jun helped, couldn’t they build something far more advanced than this?
Since the night had grown late, they decided to end the tour here.
Tomorrow would offer plenty of time to see it.
“Let’s head to the accommodation.”
“Yes, it’s just nearby.”
The reserved lodging was a five-star hotel near the Paris Academy.
It was quite expensive, but Tae-jeong Property had already paid for two rooms for the week.
Now even Kang Hyeon had no objections.
When it came to booking accommodations, he’d moved past the stage of wondering how much it would cost.

* * *
Kang Hyeon emerged from the shower, unpacking his luggage while wrapped in a robe.
He could never live in the Martial World again now.
Warm water flowed freely, the bed was soft—how wonderful it all was.
He was about to sit on the sofa, cross his legs, and recall the incantations of the Extreme Yang Heart Method.
Ding-dong!
The doorbell chimed.
From the aura, it was the rookie.
Click!
Kang Hyeon opened the door with a wave of his hand, his tone blunt.
“What is it this time?”
“What do you mean?”
“Since you’ve come all the way to Paris, shouldn’t you go out and have some fun? See the Eiffel Tower, do some shopping on the Champs-Élysées. You said it yourself—you’re on vacation too.”
“Vacation? Don’t say such reckless things.”
Lee Se-ah muttered with a dismissive snort.
“A top-level national asset is alone in a foreign country… vacation, my foot.”
If Kang Hyeon caused any trouble, the nation would pin the responsibility on Lee Se-ah.
After all, she was part of the Special Operations team and was solely responsible for managing Black.
“I won’t cause any trouble today, so don’t worry and go have fun.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Just in case, I brought this — want to eat it all by yourself?”
Lee Se-ah brought over the tray she’d set outside the door.
It was escargot from the hotel and Cognac, France’s pride.
Pop!
As the cork came free, a deep, sweet aroma of distilled grapes rushed forward.
“Sit.”
Kang Hyeon unfolded his crossed legs and took a seat at the table.
“I knew you’d say that.”
Lee Se-ah deftly poured two glasses of Cognac.
With the gentle clink of tableware, an elegant drinking session began.
“By the way, Kang Hyeon.”
“What?”
“You really won’t interfere at all during the tournament? I saw Professor Jin’s expression and he looked like he was about to cry.”
“I won’t.”
“But what if your students lose?”
“If they lose, they lose.”
Whether they win or lose, it belongs to them.
Even if they’re devastated by defeat, finding the seeds of growth within that despair — that is the true warrior’s way.
Kang Hyeon had no intention of spoon-feeding them from the sidelines.
“And what’s the point of winning anyway?”
“What do you mean?”
“What good is it to boast after winning?”
It won’t even help when the time comes to face Asura.
“…… Then you won’t watch the matches either?”
“I’ll watch the matches.”
Not just our students’ matches, either.
He intended to take in every single match of all the students gathered here from nations across the world.
Gulp.
As Kang Hyeon swallowed the Cognac smoothly, his expression hardened with resolve.
‘In Paris this time, I will find all the seeds of the Seven Luminaries.’

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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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