I Became an Unknown Professor at the Academy

“…”

“…”

The students, who had been confident of victory and were waiting for their turn, were shocked.

Even from a distance, it seemed like Kang Seok-ho’s ambush and judgment were correct. But it was blocked. Perfectly.

They stared at Kang Seok-ho, who was receiving concentrated healing from the priests waiting below the stage, and their faces hardened.

‘Does he have another plan?’

Yoon Iseul, who had been watching everything from behind, glared at the students with cold eyes and glanced at Baek Hana, who was standing next to them.

‘I was going to say something, but it seems better to stay quiet for now.’

Since they had used the same strategy from the beginning, the opponent had figured out their intentions and devised a new strategy accordingly.

If not, they would have been waiting for Kang Seok-ho’s unconventional attack and wouldn’t have been able to block it so perfectly. Well, it was a bit too obvious, to be honest.

“Min Ah-young.”

Cheon Ji-ho, who had taken control in place of Kang Hanna, who had been knocked out, called out the next student.

“Yes!”

A short-haired first-year student stood up from her seat.

Cheon Ji-ho hesitated for a moment, then approached Min Ah-young and lightly patted her shoulder.

“A certain level of tension is important, but it’s not good to be so tense that your body stiffens.”

“…”

Min Ah-young’s stiff shoulders relaxed a little.

“Good. In a match, not only the outcome but also the result of your efforts is important. So, go and show us what you’ve got.”

“I understand!”

Min Ah-young lightly patted her cheeks and ran towards the stage where Jayden was waiting.

‘Hmm…’

After one more match, they would have a break.

In other words, one more student had to go up on stage.

Cheon Ji-ho wanted to say a few words to that student, but he didn’t open his mouth in the end. The highest-ranking person who had sent him here had instructed him not to give any advice.

‘…I think I’ll be stuck on the floor like Jayden soon.’

The students’ consecutive victories made him forget his position and clap like an idiot. If he hadn’t regained his senses after the second match and warned the students, what would have happened?

Soon, their strategy would have been revealed, but at least Kang Seok-ho wouldn’t have lost, and they could have ended the first set with a perfect victory.

Cheon Ji-ho scratched his head with his remaining arm and smiled bitterly.

‘They’re idiots for not knowing after using the same tactic seven times in a row.’

This was the match called the final, where there was no strategy to speak of.

Normally, he would have felt anxious when the truth was revealed, but Cheon Ji-ho remained calm.

Thirty academies participated in the tournament, which was held in a 32-team format.

Fifteen teams advanced to the round of 16.

Normally, one team should have advanced to the quarterfinals with a bye, but in the festival, the teams that lost in the round of 32 would face each other in a captain’s match, and the surviving team would be brought back to the round of 16.

‘Even if we lose here, we still have one more chance…’

Cheon Ji-ho was certain of this as he felt the cold gaze from behind.

Among the thirty kings, their king was undoubtedly the best.

.

.

.

The first set has ended with First Academy taking the final victory.

[ The score is 237 to 218, with First Academy in the lead, but there are still two more sets left, so don’t let your guard down. ]

[ Yes, that’s right. Since we don’t know when the score will be reversed, don’t miss the remaining two sets! We’ll see you again in 30 minutes. ]

After the closing broadcast, the audience became busy.

“…”

“…”

And a heavy silence fell upon the players’ waiting room.

Baek Hana, who was tense, turned to her classmates, who couldn’t even look her in the eye, and opened her mouth.

“Good job, everyone.”

It was a pure greeting without any sarcasm, but neither the winners nor the losers could respond properly.

Especially Kang Seok-ho, who had experienced defeat, and the male student who had played the last match, had gloomy faces.

“Cheer up. You can pay them back when you face them again.”

“Well… that’s true.”

Kang Seok-ho responded in a tired voice.

Jjak!

“Ugh!”

At the same time, Kang Seok-ho jumped up with a crisp sound.

Na Joo-hee, with her eyes narrowed like a viper, had slapped Kang Seok-ho’s back with her palm, which was covered in magical power.

“What are you doing?!”

Kang Seok-ho shouted at Na Joo-hee, tears welling up in his eyes as if he was really in pain.

“Don’t act like you’re about to die just because you lost once. To begin with, your compatibility with him was bad, and if we’re talking about who’s more at fault, it’s more on the side of those guys who rushed in without thinking.”

“…”

Kang Seok-ho looked at Na Joo-hee with a slightly surprised expression.

After the grade evaluation, they had become distant and had been living like strangers. But who would have thought that she would come to comfort him?

“If you understand, get your energy back and think about how to win. Got it?”

“I’ll definitely win when we face them again.”

“Hmm, if you lose again, that’s really the end.”

After seeing that his face had brightened a little, Na Joo-hee snorted and returned to Baek Hana’s side.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

Baek Hana responded with a soft voice to Na Joo-hee, who had slightly lowered her head.

“Th, thank you…”

“…”

Na Joo-hee quickly lowered her head and hurriedly walked away, causing Baek Hana to furrow her brow.

But soon, Baek Hana regained her composure and spoke to the seniors, who had regained some energy thanks to Na Joo-hee.

“Even if you lose today, you still have one more chance. So, don’t worry and focus on the match.”

“Yes…”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Damn, you’re not even kids, why were you so excited at the beginning?”

“I mean, it’s not like we were possessed or anything.”

It was just a trivial remark, but the fact that they had one more chance left quickly helped the seniors regain their energy.

They were also confident that their king would win in the captain’s match.

“It’s said that you should do your best in everything, but this time, I’ll make an exception. This is a match, so you need a strategy. So, do your best, but it might be a good idea to keep your trump card hidden.”

“I’ll do that.”

“I don’t have a trump card, but I understand.”

“Are you suggesting a scouting battle?”

“Sigh… Instead of banging our heads in the artificial gate, we should have stuck with it.”

The seniors, who had regained their energy, started sharing their opinions, and the heavy atmosphere in the waiting room lightened.

“Hana.”

“Yes?”

Baek Hana turned around, as she had finished saying what she wanted to say and was about to eat some chocolate.

“If you’re aiming for the next match, I think it would be better for me, Yoon Iseul, and Na Joo-hee to forfeit.”

“Hmm, I don’t think it will make much difference since my abilities have already been revealed.”

“I don’t want to lose my first match.”

The three quickly changed their attitudes.

“No, no!”

“Aaaah!”

At the same time, Kang Seok-ho and the male student who had lost screamed.

But it wasn’t just the two of them.

“Hana, can’t you just use your trump card?”

“Yes! I thought about it carefully, and I think we can win if we respond calmly.”

“I have a good compatibility!”

The seniors, who had realized that the fire was burning under their feet, started to panic.

Kwang!

“Shut up, you bastards!”

Kang Hanna kicked open the door to the waiting room and glared at the students with fierce eyes.

“Be quiet and rest! Quiet! And Kang Seok-ho, Kim Seung-hyun!”

“Yes!”

“Yes, yes!”

The two, who had been screaming, quickly stood up from their seats.

If they didn’t, they felt like Kang Hanna’s fist would crack their skulls.

“You two will go to the underground training room with me as soon as we return to the hotel.”

“Yes!”

“Yes!”

Despite their loud responses, Kang Hanna’s anger didn’t subside. Rather, the crease on her forehead deepened.

“And the rest of you. If you lose, be prepared. I’ll work you to death until the round of 16, got it?!”

“Yes!”

Kwang!

Kang Hanna glared at the students with fierce eyes, then pulled the door open even harder than when she entered and left.

“…”

“…”

The students thought to themselves.

They felt that getting punched in the face by the nearby fist would be faster than the fire spreading to their feet.

· · ·

[Ah! Yoon Iseul! She seems even stronger than last year! She quickly neutralizes her opponent and claims victory! ]

[ That’s amazing. But it’s a shame that, despite that, the score remains the same. Newbie Nam Seo-hee won, followed by Yoon Iseul, but they couldn’t reverse the score. ]

[ That’s right. Even if Nam Seo-hee and the new face Baek Hana win against Jane Moore, they won’t be able to reverse the score. It’s heartbreaking. ]

And their thoughts became reality.