Academy’S Gumiho Is A Magical Genius [EN]: Chapter 30

Academy Gumiho is a Magic Genius – Episode 30

Efnell’s Flower Garden (5)

“Can I call you Master!”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Get rid of the monster in front of you.”

“But, how can I *not* call my master, Master?”

After teaching him how to use an ax a few times, this guy has been annoyingly clinging to me. I don’t really care about that.

Because I don’t plan to see him after today anyway.

However, calling me Master is a completely different matter.

Master is not a title that can be used lightly.

At least, not for me.

“I’m not Hong Gil-dong [a Korean folk hero who rebelled against the social hierarchy]. Can’t I just call you Master?”

“Why am I even your master in the first place? All I taught you was how to use an ax.”

A master is not just someone who teaches skills.

If that were the case, I would have to call all the professors at the academy masters.

The relationship between master and disciple shouldn’t be such a formal relationship.

A guide who leads the disciple on the right path.

That is the image of a true master that I have in mind.

I also studied under such a master.

“You taught me that, so I must revere you as my master!”

“At that rate, you’ll be calling all the academy professors masters.”

“No, professors and masters are different.”

“What’s the difference?”

“Well, the sincerity is different. The academy professors don’t even pay attention to me properly.”

The best of the best elites from all over the world.

Chilseong Academy is where the best and brightest gather.

Every year, 2,000 new students enter, and none of them transfer or drop out. On the other hand, the number of professors is limited.

They believe that it is more efficient to focus on teaching only the most promising students among the best.

Therefore, professors encourage competition among students.

Among the shining students, there are bound to be those who emit a more intense light. Professors give those students a lot of teachings and privileges.

An educational system suitable for nurturing powerful players who will elevate the academy.

Yes, it may be efficient.

But it can never be called ‘education.’

“You were the first, Master. The lectures are great, but no one paid attention to me personally.”

“I’m not your master.”

“Even if I can’t serve you as my master, can’t I still revere you?”

“……Sigh, I can’t believe this is happening just because I taught you how to use an ax.”

It was an unexpected reaction.

I didn’t think he would act this way, considering how rude he was.

If I taught him some advanced techniques, he would probably give me his liver and gallbladder [a Korean idiom expressing extreme devotion].

What should I do?

I am not someone who deserves to be called Master by anyone.

Even if I have knowledge to teach, I don’t have the ability to guide them on the right path.

‘I’m different from Master.’

The person who taught me the sword.

I can still see him clearly when I close my eyes.

A sword engulfed in red flames and my master. On the days they went to the battlefield, the whole place turned into a fiery hell.

Unlike that fiery fighting style, he always patiently taught and guided me.

Unlike that master, I have neither the character nor the ability.

“Um… Master.”

“If you call me Master, you’re dead.”

“…Assistant, can I ask you just one question?”

I threatened him because he kept calling me Master.

I am not someone to be called that by others.

I never want to hear the word Master.

Then, Lee Ji said he wanted to ask me a question.

I nodded.

“Then, can I call you by a different title?”

“What, how are you going to call me?”

“Would ‘Teacher’ be okay?”

Assistant is too stiff, and I don’t like Master.

He suggested Teacher as a compromise.

Certainly, the title of Teacher is less burdensome than Master.

Of course, there *is* one teacher who has guided me in my life.

I can tolerate Teacher.

Some students call the assistant ‘Assistant Teacher’ or ‘Assistant Professor’.

“Okay, then call me that from now on.”

“Awesome! No taking back later.”

“Okay, now deal with the monster in front of you. You’re going to get hit.”

“Yes? Oh, wait a minute…!”

*Thump*, a giant turtle-like monster swung its front paw with clumsy movements.

Nevertheless, it had tremendous physical power due to its weight.

Lee Ji dodged to the side and fought desperately, throwing his hand ax.

While I was enjoying watching their fight.

Something came into my sight.

The shadow flickered as it moved, but the end was a little strange.

“Hmm……”

A strange presence felt from the shadow.

In fact, I already knew it through my senses.

It is even more certain when I see it with my own eyes.

‘It seems like the bait has been properly taken.’

I need to set the stage properly.

Thinking that, I moved towards Lee Ji.

He was holding a hand ax in his right hand, breathing heavily.

Next to him was the corpse of a giant turtle. The thick shell was smashed, probably by splitting it with a magic-infused hand ax.

“If you’re done confirming the kill, let’s go.”

“Ah, yes, Teacher.”

At my words, Lee Ji calmed his rough breath and stood behind me.

Now that I think about it, it feels like I have a loyal puppy.

I moved, grasping the location of the ‘traces’ engraved in the cave.

A confident step.

Lee Ji, who was questioning that fact, asked.

“Um, Teacher. By the way, where are we going?”

“Didn’t I tell you?”

“No, you didn’t say anything.”

I said calmly as I walked towards the cave.

“To clear this dungeon.”

“Yes? But isn’t this a dungeon that hasn’t been cleared for 4 years?”

Efnell’s Flower Garden, one of the three uncleared dungeons in Korea.

Now it has been reduced to a low-level dungeon where beginners collect herbs, but this place has a history of being impregnable.

Even S-class players and A-class guilds who came in with determination could not clear this place.

Even though they killed all the monsters and burned all the plants at the time, it had no effect on the dungeon. There is a record that the ecosystem regenerated itself a few days later.

Unless the entire dungeon is erased.

‘Efnell’s Flower Garden’ has a legend that it cannot be cleared.

Behind that is an old conversation with Eve.

“Hey, how about a growth-type dungeon?”

“Again, that novel story. Can’t you stop now?”

I was standing guard with the other members.

My partner, Eve, was warming herself by the campfire, talking about the novel she was writing. I was so tired of hearing it now.

“Of course not. I’m trying to create a dungeon now, and I just came up with a good idea.”

“What is it?”

“You can only clear it by growing the dungeon.”

Eve didn’t seem to have any intention of shutting her mouth.

Even if I tried to close it by force, she would slip away with her unique magic.

As I gained experience, I realized that it was more efficient to just nod along appropriately. Seriously, having the wrong friend makes every guard duty terribly difficult.

“What are you talking about again? What are you growing?”

“To be exact, you grow the monsters inside the dungeon and feed them to the entire dungeon.”

Eve said with a smile.

Somewhere, a mischievous and innocent smile.

It was a rare expression to see on a battlefield full of death and bloodshed.

That day, I just blankly nodded and stared at her.

* * *

There were eyes watching Lee Ji and Baek Seung-woo from the shadows.

The three pairs of eyes grasped their movements without missing anything.

In order to find the perfect moment.

─First Shadow, what should we do?

When Baek Seung-woo was burning Wolruhwa, one shadow spoke to another shadow. They were communicating secretly, not with voices, but directly in their minds.

─Second Shadow, wait. It’s not time yet.

The instruction from above is to subtly drive the Lord into a crisis situation. Subtly and cleverly, so that the Lord cannot blame the Elders for the sudden accident.

That is the key to this operation.

─But First Shadow, what’s the big deal about that kid that it’s not time yet.

─You’re stupid, look closely. Where does that uniform look like it’s from?

─Isn’t it Chilseong. Why should we even care about the academy in the first place?

*Swoosh*, the shadow stretched out long and became a sharp scythe.

The scythe secretly aimed at Lee Ji’s blind spot. It was in a position to blow his head off at any time.

─If you’re stupid, just stay still!

─Ugh…….

Right then, First Shadow shouted.

The shadow scythe that was aiming at Lee Ji scattered due to the intense shout that made his brain ring. Second Shadow looked at First Shadow with a resentful look, but his gaze was icy.

The instructions from above are only to threaten the Lord’s life.

It’s okay to make light scratches, but it’s a big deal to attack with fatal or permanent injuries.

─We are shadows. We must not do anything other than what we are ordered to do.

Assassins do not judge for themselves.

They only follow the orders of their master.

In that respect, Second Shadow lacks the qualities and experience as an assassin.

If he targets an academy student, there is a high possibility that the Lord will notice something strange. Not only that, but he could also become enemies with Chilseong Academy.

─It would be nice to just take care of both of them neatly…….

─Haa, you still need more training. Second Shadow, you stay still.

First Shadow grabbed the back of his neck at Second Shadow’s tone, who still hadn’t come to his senses.

He is too emotional for an assassin.

He vowed to train him separately later, and First Shadow followed Baek Seung-woo’s shadow of Lee Ji.

Second Shadow followed behind with a reluctant expression.

Third Shadow, who had been watching the scene without saying a word.

─…….

He didn’t say anything.

He was silent, as if he were a wooden statue.

It’s a natural posture in a way.

The shadow does not need a mouth.

The same goes for the intellect to think and judge for oneself.

The shadow just has to follow the master’s movements.

That is the shadow’s duty and reason for existence.

Third Shadow tracked Baek Seung-woo and Lee Ji without thinking.

He was just waiting for the moment when the two split up and Baek Seung-woo was alone.

Meanwhile, Baek Seung-woo was walking towards the cave.

Lee Ji followed him closely.

A remote place far from forests and fields.

It’s just damp, and there are no special plants to be seen.

Even though he was moving towards such a gloomy cave, Lee Ji kept following.

It seems like he will keep following.

Baek Seung-woo asked a question as he watched the scene.

“Do you know about Gu [a type of cursed poison in Chinese folklore]?”

“What is that?”

“If you don’t know, you should close your eyes.”

Lee Ji tilted his head at Baek Seung-woo’s question.

He had never heard of the name ‘Gu’.

Therefore, Lee Ji confidently said he didn’t know.

Well, it would be strange if a child like him knew.

He knows because he heard about the original work.

It is natural that ordinary people would not know.

“We’re going to find it now.”

“Weren’t you here to clear the dungeon, Teacher? Ah, is there a clue in this cave?”

“Well, if I had to say it, clearing the dungeon is just a side effect.”

Baek Seung-woo’s goal in coming here was only one from the beginning.

Clearing the dungeon is just a byproduct. The most valuable thing you can get here lives in this underground.

I want to take him right away, but I can’t squeeze blood out of a flea [an idiom meaning you can’t get something from someone who has nothing].

To eat my fill, I need to fatten him up.

It’s a good opportunity since three good prey came into the cave on their own.

I chuckled inwardly and moved deeper into the cave.

‘That guy’ lives deep in the cave, so I have to bring the prey to him.