Chapter 7: Problem (1)

What comes to mind when you hear the word “back to school”?

Whether you’re a student or a staff member, chances are few truly welcome the start of a new semester.

Except for my daughter and me, that is.

“Hmmm~”

Awake at the crack of dawn, I hummed a cheerful tune while fixing my hair in front of the mirror.

‘Man, what a good-looking guy. Whoever his husband is, they must be lucky.’

I wasn’t the type to style my hair unless absolutely necessary, but today felt special.

It was my first day on the job, and I figured I should make an effort to look presentable.

After all, first impressions matter the most.

“Na-gyeong, breakfast is ready!”

Fully dressed and prepared, I quickly set the table with some simple toast for breakfast and called for Na-gyeong.

Normally, she was the one who made breakfast, but I was in such a good mood that I decided to take care of it myself today.

“Almost done!”

“It’s all set, so take your time but hurry up!”

“Okay!”

As I placed a steaming mug of coffee for myself and a glass of juice for her on the table, I heard the sound of light footsteps approaching.

Na-gyeong finally emerged from her room, her face glowing with excitement.

“How do I look?”

“What?”

“No, I mean, do I look okay today?”

“Ah.”

Realizing what she meant, I stepped back and gave her a long once-over.

Her hair, black and styled with thicker curls than usual, was tied into a half-ponytail accented with a ribbon.

Her Academy uniform, snug around her growing figure, paired with a noticeably shorter skirt added a mature touch.

Even her makeup seemed more deliberate, balancing her usual sweetness with a hint of sophistication.

From head to toe, it was clear she’d gone all out.

“Hmm.”

“Well? Do I look pretty?”

“Not sure.”

“What!?”

Ignoring her shocked expression, I turned away and placed her juice back in the fridge.

“I wouldn’t say pretty, but we need to get you new uniforms. Your shirt and skirt are too tight.”

There was no need for her to wear something that didn’t fit properly.

It’s not like we couldn’t afford new clothes.

“Tch. This is how everyone wears it these days!”

“Then everyone’s following the wrong trend.”

We had breakfast together before heading out.

Although I’d driven her to school a few times before, this was the first time we were heading to the same destination.

“Hmmm~”

Sitting in the passenger seat, Na-gyeong casually synced her phone to the car’s Bluetooth system.

Even though it was my car, the only devices listed in the Bluetooth connection history were hers and Choi Yeon-jung’s .


“Dad.”

“What?”

We were slowly navigating through the increasingly congested roads after leaving the parking lot.

While music played softly in the background, Na-gyeong, scrolling through her phone, spoke up nonchalantly.

“Don’t be too nice to the girls.”

“What’s this about all of a sudden?”

I turned my head slightly, confused by her sudden remark.

She, too, turned to look at me, her face unusually serious.

“Girls my age think someone likes them if they’re treated even a little too kindly.”

“Are you worried they’ll think I’m interested in them?”

“Yes.”

“Come on, who would be interested in a guy like me?”

“Oh, please. There isn’t a single thirty-something guy in this world who isn’t seen as cool.”

“Well, technically, I am still in my prime. Heh.”

It wasn’t entirely an unnecessary concern.

During the teacher training sessions over the break, this particular issue was emphasized repeatedly.

Teachers were reminded to avoid forming deep or inappropriate relationships with students—especially temporary teachers like me.

For the Academy students, explorers are figures of admiration.

Top-tier explorers, in particular, are practically idols.

And as a contracted teacher with fewer restrictions than regular staff, I was in a position that could easily invite complications.

‘Is it really that serious?’

To be honest, I thought it was an overblown worry.

It’s not like we were living in the Joseon Dynasty, where social barriers were everything. As long as both parties consented, wasn’t it fine?

Not that I had any intention of pursuing a relationship with a student.

“Anyway, you get it, right?”

“Get what?”

“Don’t get unnecessarily close to the girls, okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll be careful.”

“Hmph. Why does that answer sound so unconvincing?”

“…It’s just your imagination.”

It really wasn’t what she thought.

“See you later!”

“Yeah, see you later.”

After arriving at the Academy, we went our separate ways.

Unfortunately, our father-daughter duo had to part ways mid-campus.

Our fields of study couldn’t have been more different.

‘Good thing she inherited her mother’s talent.’

Na-gyeong, having taken after her mother, the genius magician Kim Yoo-bin , was currently enrolled in the Department of Magic.

When she was younger, she’d shown an interest in swordsmanship, but one day, her latent talent for magic emerged.

I still remember how shocked I was when, while I was delaying my return to Earth to try and revive her mother, Na-gyeong floated around the house by herself.

At the time, I was slightly disappointed when I realized her talents lay in magic.

Teaching my daughter swordsmanship had been a quiet dream of mine.

But now, I didn’t mind.

In fact, I considered it a blessing that we had different specialties.

At least this way, we wouldn’t cross paths in class.

“Good morning.”

I greeted the other Swordsmanship Department teachers as I entered the faculty office.

“Ah! Do-hyun!”

“You’re here early!”

‘!’

I spotted her sitting in the farthest corner, slightly apart from the others.

Her jet-black bob, with soft curls grazing her chin, shimmered subtly in the light.

A face no bigger than a fist held sharp, intelligent eyes framed with precision.

A defined nose and full lips gave her an unmistakable presence.

Even crouched as she was, the snug combat jersey hinted at the dangerous curves beneath.

It had been nearly a month since I last saw Chun Seo-hee, and she was just as breathtakingly beautiful as I remembered—enough to make my breath catch.

“So… uh… where was I again?”

“You were talking about feedback!”

“Oh, right. Let’s keep going….”

Distracted for a moment, I quickly pulled myself together and resumed my lesson.

Still, I couldn’t help but glance at her from time to time, eager to wrap up the explanation and find an excuse to talk to her.

“Got it, everyone? Now, let’s get into position.”

“Yes, sir!”

As soon as I finished explaining, the students began moving efficiently to their places.

Most kids dislike diving straight into practice on the first day, but these students were eager, preparing their swords with enthusiasm.

It seemed the positive first impression I’d made earlier was paying off.

I hoped the same held true for Chun Seo-hee.

Assessing Skills

There’s a saying among swordsmen: you can gauge someone’s skill just by watching how they hold a sword.

While there are rare exceptions, most of the time, a single swing is enough to form a rough assessment.

To get a sense of their general abilities, I had the students practice their swings against a dummy.

“Number 1, begin.”

“Hyaaah─!”

The first student, a male, infused his blade with mana as he swung.

‘Decent mana control, but his stance is sloppy.’

“Alright. Next. Number 2.”

“Yes, sir!”

I continued evaluating one student after another, noting the stark skill gaps between the higher-level and lower-level students.

‘The difference between the advanced class and this one is pretty significant.’

Then, finally—

‘Ah.’

Her turn came.

“…Number 28.”

It was Chun Seo-hee’s turn.

“……”

She gripped her sword silently, taking her stance with deliberate care.

Her weapon was a cheap iron sword, the kind I’d often seen in budget shops.
‘Left-handed… and using a one-handed sword.’

Her stance wasn’t just good—it was excellent.

In fact, it was the best I’d seen among the students so far, even compared to those in the advanced class I’d taught earlier.

‘Perfect arm angles, stable center of gravity… but why?’

The problem revealed itself in an entirely unexpected way.

As Chun Seo-hee raised her left arm and prepared to swing, the blade’s tip wavered uncontrollably.

“!”

With a faint clang, the strike landed weakly against the dummy, barely making a dent before rebounding.

“…Ugh….”

Absorbing the impact with her left hand, she immediately dropped the blade, clutching her left wrist tightly, her brows furrowed in pain.

‘No way….’

Something was clearly wrong with her left arm.

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