The Academy’s Unrivaled Professor - Chapter 87
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Academy’s Absolute Professor Chapter 87
Ariana Ashford (1)
The next morning.
The lobby on the first floor of the Paris Academy dormitory.
“Ugh…”
Professor Jin Myung-hoon lay crumpled on the sofa, groaning softly.
After Kang Hyun had left yesterday, he’d pushed through to the third round of drinks, and the hangover was far from mild.
He would’ve preferred to collapse into bed and stay there, but as the accompanying professor, he couldn’t miss the closing ceremony—so he’d dragged himself out anyway.
The students, meanwhile, were a different story.
They were eating breakfast with easy appetite and chatting animatedly, their conversation circling around one main topic.
What had Professor Kang taught them this semester?
Im Jin-uk, Kim Chul-su, and Namgung Seo-ha were leading the charge, peppering O In-bang with questions, and he answered each one plainly according to his temperament.
“If you’re curious, apply next semester and pass the entrance exam. Then you’ll naturally find out.”
“During the break, practice the Horseman Stance for three hours straight. Once you’ve got that down, we’ll move straight into the Samjae Sword Technique. Oh, and you’ll need to do hill sprints every day—just pick the highest peak in your area and run up it as hard as you can.”
“Murderous Intent Endurance is crucial. Absolutely crucial.”
The three who’d asked didn’t take the answers at face value.
Usually these kinds of martial tales came with exaggeration baked in.
The problem was that O In-bang had said only what was literally true.
He hadn’t even mentioned that this was just foundational training, or that individual instruction would be necessary for further growth.
When the appointed time arrived, the students finished checking out and gathered in the lobby, and Jin Myung-hoon—who’d skipped breakfast—barely hauled himself to his feet.
Kang Hyun and Lee Se-ah, who were staying at a different hotel, had probably headed to the Dome Stadium early.
“…Let’s go.”
The closing ceremony was about to begin.
* * *
The Dome Stadium hosting the closing ceremony was far more crowded than it had been for the opening.
Fans and journalists from around the world had gathered to see Ariana Ashford’s speech.
“Wow.”
“…Insane.”
The students moved to their assigned seats, feeling the overwhelming energy wash over them.
But then—
“Oh, Team Korea!”
“Aren’t those the ones who cleared the Tyrant’s Colosseum?”
“Yeah. Their fundamentals were solid. They’ve got real potential.”
“Go! Korea!”
The Korean students were drawing considerably more attention than they had at the opening ceremony.
Students from other nations sent supportive looks and cheers their way.
“Hey, hey, did you see that?”
Gwak Do-jin jabbed Han Tae-ho in the ribs with his elbow, grinning widely.
“See that blonde girl over there? She just winked at me.”
“Senior… I think that was aimed at me?”
“What are you talking about!”
While the two bickered, a few foreign students sitting nearby extended their fists.
“Nice play!”
“You guys are all awesome!”
The Korean students smiled and bumped fists lightly with them as they passed.
Being recognized was certainly sweet.
With just one dungeon clear, the world’s most promising talents were giving them respect.
Fire kindled deep in their chests.
‘I want to do better.’
Right now they stood in the position of having barely cleared the Tyrant’s Colosseum and basked in applause, but someday they wanted to be applauded with overwhelming skill that surpassed these American and Chinese students.
And somehow, Professor Kang Hyun seemed like he could make that happen.
He’d produced this result in just one semester of teaching!
Once the students settled into their designated area, grand music swelled and the award ceremony—the highlight of the closing ceremony—began.
The Global Exchange Tournament didn’t officially rank the teams.
Instead, it awarded category prizes to nations that had excelled in their respective fields.
Highlight reels played on the large screens, building the atmosphere as the awards progressed.
Best Strategy!
The Outstanding Tactical Award goes to the Pentagon Academy of the United States!
Best Coordination!
The Best Teamwork Award goes to Tianshan Academy from China!
Best Recovery!
Those who showed remarkable response in a crisis situation—Paris Academy from France!
Most Popular Team!
The team that received the most love from the audience—the British Royal Academy!
Each time a team was called, the students from that country cheered and rushed onto the stage, hoisting their trophies high.
And.
Throughout the entire exchange tournament, Korea had not lifted a single trophy.
“And now, for the final award!”
The arena announcer’s ringing voice echoed through the Dome Stadium.
“This award is given to the team that delivered the most intense and unforgettable impact to the audience at this year’s exchange tournament!”
In that instant, a new image appeared on the massive screen.
Boom!
It was the finale—Do Jeong-hyeok launching into the air and shattering the Tyrant’s head.
The arm hair of every Korean student standing there rose straight up.
A chill ran through them.
“Yeaaaah!”
“Crazy boy!”
“Yeah, you can’t argue with that!”
“Go Korea! Go Korea!”
A thunderous roar erupted from the stands.
“W-what? Really?”
Do Jeong-hyeok’s face flushed crimson in an instant—he hadn’t heard any news about receiving an award.
Jin Myung-hoon’s jaw dropped especially wide.
“The Rookie Impact Award goes to the National Hunter Academy of South Korea!”
Jin Myung-hoon, overcome with emotion, trembled as he pressed his hand to his mouth.
Was this a dream or reality?
Were they really receiving an award at the exchange tournament?
Their Academy?
An honor that only five nations out of all forty-eight countries could claim?
“Let’s go!”
“Come on!”
“Professor too!”
As the students and Jin Myung-hoon took the stage, tens of thousands of spectators watched, and camera flashes erupted in a shower of light.
Their bewildered faces were caught on screen.
Jin Myung-hoon received the trophy and microphone from a World Hunter Association executive and turned toward the audience.
Why was it?
He could clearly see Kang Hyun sipping a drink far off in the distance.
‘If he hadn’t been there… would I ever have made it to this stage?’
Absolutely not.
Of course, he couldn’t mention Kang Hyun here, but Jin Myung-hoon’s gratitude toward him was genuine.
“Thank you! Thank you very much!”
He first offered his thanks, then stated that he had done nothing—that this award belonged to the students who had fought fiercely without giving up, no matter how difficult the dungeons that appeared.
* * *
At that very moment, the domestic news media was flooded with reports from Paris.
[Breaking: National Academy Wins “Rookie Impact Award” at Global Exchange Tournament!]
[Special Report: What Kind of Dungeon Is the Tyrant’s Colosseum That Our Proud Korean Students Destroyed?]
[Trending: Breaking Free from the Shame of 0% Clear Rate! The World-Captivating Feats of Our Students!]
[Trending: Can a Perpetual Hunter Underdog Nation Finally Hope for Something?]
Naturally, AcaNet erupted into chaos as well.
└ Wait, Korea won an award?
└ Not just any award—it’s the Rookie Impact Award, given at the very end. Even the US and China struggle to get their hands on that one.
└ Wow, they actually went insane lol
└ Did you see Professor Jin Myung-hoon’s expression? lol He looked like he had everything in the world
└ He’s practically crying… crying…
└ This is definitely Kang’s little arrow lol
└ Kang’s little arrow?
└ The small arrow shot up by Professor Kang Hyun lololol
└ Hahahaha
└ Hahahahahaha
└ I mean, it’s honestly insane. Professor Kang’s been here just one semester and all the students taking specialized instruction are flying around now.
└ I’m definitely signing up next semester???
└ Basically a whole new academy has sprouted up inside the Academy
Stream.
It was a sampling of comments flowing in live.
And Seo Il-hyun, watching the broadcast from the Director’s Office, burst into hearty laughter.
“Hahahaha! He’s gone and done it! Done it! Hehehehe!”
The bitterness of those years when he’d been pressured by the government and the Association to cut budgets at the end of each exchange tournament felt thoroughly washed away by that single trophy.
“I’ll need to arrange the display case in the New Building Lobby first.”
The students had brought back a glorious trophy—it needed a proper place to honor it.
He was planning to construct a handsome platform, cover it with bulletproof glass, and flood it with lighting twenty-four hours a day.
A place where any Academy student could see it.
* * *
Back at the Dome Stadium.
“And now, the grand finale of this Global Exchange Tournament!”
An excited voice tore through the speakers.
“One of the world’s top five hunters! Guardian of the British Empire and radiant goddess! We’re honored to present the closing remarks of Ariana Ashford!”
“Oh, oh oh oh oh!”
Lee Se-ah bounced from her seat.
“Come on, Kang Hyun! She’s here! She’s actually here!”
She was practically breathless—you’d think she was a longtime superfan.
“Settle down, will you?”
Kang Hyun’s reply was lackluster, but truthfully he too wanted to witness the level of a world’s elite hunter.
He’d expected an absolute master—but he harbored a hope that she might be even more.
When Asura finally moved in earnest and beasts came pouring out, these hunters would need to stand together.
Click.
The surrounding lights cut out, and a dazzling spotlight flooded the center of the platform.
“Waaaaaa!”
A woman walked out amid the thunderous roar that shook the very ground.
“……Hmm.”
“Wow, she’s incredible.”
Gasps rippled through the nearby audience.
She was a typical English beauty.
Blonde hair, a tall frame standing effortlessly straight, fine features sculpted as if by a master’s hand.
“……Is beauty truly a Western standard?”
Someone’s breathless murmur was audible.
‘What?’
Kang Hyun was surprised too, though not because of her appearance.
From the woman’s dantian, an absolutely staggering energy fluctuation was radiating outward.
With an energy fluctuation that volatile…… she couldn’t be merely an absolute master.
‘The Transformation Realm.’
An absolute realm that only the rarest few in the Martial World ever attained.
“Baby chick.”
Kang Hyun’s voice dropped to an unusual quietness.
“Yes?”
“How old is that woman this year?”
“Twenty-six! Crazy, right? One of the world’s top five hunters at that age. So talent really is a thing. Ah, the gods are unfair. They give out talent and beauty like that. How is it even possible?”
Kang Hyun let out a hollow laugh inside himself.
The Transformation Realm at just twenty-six?
Even by Martial World standards, it made no sense.
Even Kang Hyun, born with the Heavenly Martial Body—a physique that comes once in a thousand years—could not have reached the Transformation Realm at twenty-six.
Though he had lived longer than his years by using the formation of an ancient monster.
“……Hello, everyone.”
Ariana, standing on the platform, took the microphone and spoke.
At her soft, graceful voice, the entire audience fell silent in an instant.
“Over these past two weeks, I have been deeply moved by the dedication and passion shown by promising talents from around the world. You are the future of humanity…….”
As everyone else sank into her closing remarks, goosebumps began to spread across Kang Hyun’s entire body.
Based on everything Kang Hyun knew, there was only one possible explanation.
‘Sword Light’s grandfather.’
The strongest of the seven old masters who had taken it upon themselves to teach Kang Hyun.
That grandfather who practiced the Absolute Yang Scripture—boasting an absurd constitution that defied all reason!
If Sword후’s Nine Yin Severed Meridians was a severing of the meridians caused by Yin energy, then Sword Light’s Nine Yang Defeated Meridians was the opposite—a constitution where Yang energy flowed so abundantly that the meridians remained perpetually open.
And what did that mean?
Inner energy accumulated with every breath, cultivation advanced with every step.
No meditation technique was needed.
Breathing itself was the supreme method of the world.
‘Ha.’
A dry laugh escaped from deep within Kang Hyun.
Why had he only been searching for such talent among the students?
Someone with the Nine Yang Defeated Meridians should have been sought among the world’s greatest hunters!
‘But.’
The Nine Yang Defeated Meridians, like the Nine Yin Severed Meridians, were destined for a short life due to their very nature.
“Master.”
It was then that Baek Yu-yeon, sitting behind him, lowered her head and called out to Kang Hyun carefully.
She had observed Ariana’s condition on the stage through her Heavenly Vein Eyes.
“Yes.”
Kang Hyun nodded.
“That woman has only days left.”
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————