Chapter 14
You’re Finally Starting to Lose That Mangy Mutt Look
After class ended and everyone had left, only Kwak Dojin remained.
Kang Hyun sipped his whiskey as he looked at him.
His eyes were different from usual.
They were the eyes of someone who had already made up his mind.
“Professor.”
“What? Craving another drink already?”
“Thank you… for the whiskey the other day.”
“If you’re only here to thank me without even paying for the liquor, then leave.”
Despite the gruff joke, Kwak Dojin bowed deeply.
Kang Hyun understood immediately.
He’s made his decision.
He had finally decided to throw away that ill-fitting disguise of a third-rate thug and return to who he used to be.
That’s more like you.
Far better than barking like some pathetic stray.
“Thank you sincerely for everything you’ve taught me. Because of you, I finally understand what a true foundation is… and what I’ve been missing all this time.”
It sounded less like gratitude…
And more like a farewell.
So he’s prepared to be expelled.
Rather than watch Baek Yuyeon continue to be manipulated…
He had decided to leave the Academy himself.
Kang Hyun neither questioned nor tried to stop him.
Interfering with a decision someone reached after agonizing over it…
Was disrespectful to a martial artist.
“So.”
“Looks like you’ve finally made up your mind.”
“…Yes.”
Kwak Dojin bit his lip.
He had no regrets.
Only…
One lingering disappointment.
Watching Kang Hyun’s Three Talents Sword Art earlier had reignited something in his heart.
It reminded him of the overwhelming power he had dreamed of reaching the first time he’d ever picked up a sword.
“May I ask you something?”
“Go ahead.”
“If I’m no longer an Academy cadet…”
“Could I still continue learning from you?”
Silence lingered for a moment.
Kang Hyun took another sip of whiskey before answering.
“So…”
“First you don’t pay for my liquor.”
“And now you want to attend my classes without paying tuition?”
“That Cha Yusik brat said something similar.”
“None of you have any shame.”
“You told me I was an exception.”
“You said I wasn’t allowed to skip your classes.”
“I was taught that a man shouldn’t speak with two tongues.”
Truthfully…
No matter how famous the professor was…
Kwak Dojin had never wanted to continue attending anyone’s lectures.
But Kang Hyun’s classes were different.
He wanted to keep learning.
For the first time…
He understood why private tutoring was so popular.
Even if he had to give up his Academy diploma…
Remaining Kang Hyun’s disciple felt more valuable.
“You seem to be mistaken.”
“You mutt.”
“…Huh?”
“When exactly have we ever held class during official lecture hours?”
“…!”
Kwak Dojin’s eyes widened.
The Academy’s official class was every Saturday at ten.
Which meant…
Any lessons outside those hours…
Didn’t require someone to be an enrolled cadet.
“…Thank you, Professor.”
“Then…”
“I’ll be going.”
He quickly turned around before Kang Hyun could notice his reddening eyes.
Of course…
There was no way Kang Hyun would miss it.
Tsk.
A grown man crying.
Behind the women’s dormitory.
Someone cautiously approached Kwak Dojin, who was leaning against a wall.
A baseball cap pulled low.
A white face mask.
“What did you call me here for this time, Senior?”
It was Baek Yuyeon.
One glance told him she was deliberately avoiding someone.
Oddly enough…
That made him feel relieved.
She hasn’t signed it yet.
Otherwise…
There’d be no reason for her to keep avoiding Hwang Minwoo.
“I told you already.”
“Stop interfering.”
“Why do you keep looking for me?”
“The contract.”
Kwak Dojin asked calmly.
He wanted confirmation.
“…Sigh.”
Baek Yuyeon let out a quiet sigh.
A sharp pang of guilt stabbed her heart.
The senior who ruined his life trying to save mine.
She couldn’t bear to see him expelled.
Nor could she continue watching him become a delinquent.
“Listen carefully.”
She steeled herself.
“I owe you my life.”
“So as long as I can…”
“I’ll do everything possible to make sure you graduate safely.”
“That’s my responsibility.”
“My obligation.”
“…”
“So please…”
“Live your own life.”
“Stop acting like this.”
“Stop going down the wrong path.”
“Attend your classes.”
“If not for yourself…”
“At least think about your grandmother.”
After a brief silence…
Kwak Dojin replied.
“I won’t.”
“…What?”
“I won’t go down the wrong path anymore.”
“I’ve decided.”
“So answer me.”
He stepped closer.
“Did you sign that ten-year slave contract?”
“…That.”
Baek Yuyeon hesitated.
“I didn’t.”
“You didn’t?”
“…Actually…”
“I couldn’t.”
There was a world of difference between didn’t and couldn’t.
“How?”
“Did Hwang Minwoo just let you go?”
“I was literally about to stamp it.”
“But…”
Her face filled with bewilderment.
“You know that new contract professor?”
“The one who’s always carrying whiskey?”
“Professor Kang Hyun?”
“Yes.”
“Him.”
“He suddenly stumbled out of nowhere…”
“Said, ‘Whoa, I’m drunk!'”
“And spilled his whiskey all over the contract.”
“…What?”
Kwak Dojin’s eyes became as wide as saucers.
“And that wasn’t all.”
“Hwang Minwoo got furious and printed another contract.”
“But somehow…”
“Professor Kang appeared again.”
“He said he slipped…”
“And accidentally tore the contract clean in half.”
“…”
Kwak Dojin’s heart pounded violently.
“Because of that, Hwang Minwoo is absolutely furious right now.”
“Since the professor interrupted twice…”
“I figured maybe fate was telling me something.”
“So I’ve just been making excuses and running away.”
As he listened…
Kwak Dojin’s mind went completely blank.
Professor…
He had no idea Kang Hyun had taken an interest in Baek Yuyeon.
Naturally…
He misunderstood.
His nose stung.
…He was helping me.
His chest swelled with emotion.
After calming himself…
He finally brought up the real reason he’d called her.
“I’m leaving the Academy.”
“…What?”
Shock filled Baek Yuyeon’s eyes.
“Senior!”
“What are you talking about now?!”
“I’m leaving before they expel me.”
“I told you I’d stop it somehow.”
“Exactly!”
His voice rose.
“That’s precisely why I’m leaving.”
“If you sign that damn contract…”
“Do you really think I’d be grateful?”
“Senior!”
“My life is mine to deal with.”
“If I leave the Academy…”
“Hwang Minwoo won’t have any reason to threaten you anymore.”
“…Doesn’t it make you angry?”
“It used to.”
“But not anymore.”
He truly meant it.
Life was unpredictable.
If his own life hadn’t fallen into the gutter…
Would he ever have met Professor Kang Hyun?
Would he ever have attended his classes?
“I’ve already found my own path.”
“So…”
“Please.”
“Think about yourself for once.”
“Stop ruining your future using me as an excuse.”
Just as the tension between them reached its peak—
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
Slow applause echoed through the alley.
“My, my.”
“What a touching youth drama.”
Both of them turned.
A man emerged from the darkness.
His expression was stone cold.
Hwang Minwoo.
He looked absolutely livid.
“So…”
“That makes me the villain, huh?”
“Fine.”
“I’ll play the villain properly.”
He walked forward crookedly.
Jealousy had completely overtaken him.
Looking at Kwak Dojin, he sneered.
“So you’re leaving the Academy on your own?”
He snorted.
“Don’t get the wrong idea, Mad Dog.”
“You think life gets easier outside?”
“Expelled or withdrawn—it doesn’t matter.”
“Even if you crawl outside trying to survive as a Hunter…”
“You think our guild’s influence won’t reach you?”
“…”
“And you.”
He pulled out a perfectly crisp contract.
“I had to reprint it after that drunk professor ruined it twice.”
“This time…”
“I even had it laminated.”
“But after watching the touching little reunion between you two…”
“I’m in a really bad mood.”
His eyes filled with malice.
“Let’s revise it.”
“Not ten years.”
“Fifteen.”
“You’ll rot in our guild’s medical division for fifteen years.”
“Otherwise…”
“I’ll make sure this bastard can never work as a Hunter again.”
“I’ll cut off his arms and legs.”
“Y-You…!”
Baek Yuyeon’s face turned pale.
Only then did Kwak Dojin finally speak.
“Hwang Minwoo.”
Unlike before…
He wasn’t angry.
He had already decided.
He wasn’t going to live like a thug anymore.
“I was originally planning to leave quietly.”
He cracked his neck.
Crack.
The sound echoed through the alley.
“But after thinking about it…”
“I changed my mind.”
“…What?”
“I’ll make sure I get expelled.”
“What the hell are you talking ab—”
Before Hwang Minwoo could finish—
Bang!
Kwak Dojin crossed the distance in a single step.
The lower body he had painstakingly trained planted firmly into the ground.
The force surged upward—
Through his waist.
Through his shoulders.
The professor said…
If your feet leave the ground…
Your sword is already dead.
Power begins from the earth.
“Senior, don’t!”
Baek Yuyeon reached out in horror.
Too late.
His fist had already torn through the air.
Even if someone wanted to live like a thug…
They still needed real strength.
To begin with…
Kwak Dojin had always been far stronger than Hwang Minwoo in actual combat.
Now…
With the perfect balance Kang Hyun had taught him—
BAAAAAAM!!
Hwang Minwoo’s head snapped violently to the side.
One punch.
That single, crushing blow shook his brain.
He couldn’t even scream before losing consciousness.
Silence fell over the alley.
Baek Yuyeon covered her mouth with both hands.
“…Phew.”
Kwak Dojin let out a relieved sigh.
“There.”
“You saw that, right?”
“That’s definitely expulsion.”
“No self-defense.”
“I punched him on purpose.”
“S-Senior…”
“What are you going to do?”
“So…”
“Don’t ever even think about signing that garbage contract.”
It was the declaration…
Of the martial artist Kwak Dojin.
Watching everything from the rooftop…
Kang Hyun smiled faintly.
Now you’re finally starting to lose that mangy mutt look.
A short while later.
The infirmary doors burst open.
Everyone inside—
Cadets.
Nurses.
All turned toward the entrance.
Standing there…
Was Kwak Dojin.
The Academy’s infamous Mad Dog.
“Gasp…”
“What…?”
Over one shoulder…
Hung an unconscious Hwang Minwoo.
He looked like nothing more than a sack of rice.
Behind him…
A deathly pale Baek Yuyeon hurried after him.
“Senior!”
“Please don’t do this!”
THUD!
Kwak Dojin roughly tossed Hwang Minwoo onto an empty bed.
“What happened here?”
Hearing the commotion, a woman in a white coat hurried out from the examination room.
Professor Hwang Yerim.
“Kwak Dojin?”
“You caused trouble again?”
“Yes, Professor.”
Standing perfectly straight, he answered proudly.
“I beat him.”
“It wasn’t self-defense.”
“I punched him because I didn’t like looking at his damn face.”
“…What?”
“So.”
Kwak Dojin looked directly into Professor Hwang Yerim’s eyes.
“Please treat him.”
“And then…”
“Call the disciplinary committee.
