The Japanese thug, a few tis Renkas size, that had just got slapped out of nowhere froze from the sudden situation and,
This, this bitch! You wanna die?! Do you even know who I!
he shouted getting up but,
Slap!
This ti he got slapped on the right cheek with the back of her hand.
That must hurt.
Renkas slaps looked painful, even from a distance. Although the scene was refreshing, I couldnt understand Renkas actions and it caused doubt.
Wait, why is she here?
Why was Renka beating up these bullies? Wait, was it for ?
But common sense told , there was no way a Japanese person, let alone soone from the Japanese aristocracy like Renka, would take the side of a Joseon person like .
Of course, last night, after defeating the monsters, she had amicably asked for a handshake and my na. But that probably wasnt her showing favour to a Joseon student like , it was her just being nice to a fellow student.
As a matter fact, hadnt she suddenly let go of my hand as soon as the union mber shout that I was a Joseon person?
After that, when and her union mber were facing each other, it was natural to think that her stopping her union mber was more to save the image of such a large guild rather than to side with .
If I thought about it like that, then the reason Renka had just slapped the bully wasnt to help either.
Then why?
Just because she doesnt like them?
Now that I thought about it, between the things these Japanese thugs had been saying to pick on us, they had also said those Joseon guys, and now with a girl and Joseon people, whether theyre n or won, are a nuisance.
It seed that they had mistaken us all, including Renka, to be Joseon people when we were speaking by the doorway.
And there was no mistaking that Renka, having suddenly been insulted whilst getting called Joseon-jin, had gotten pissed off.
Thats it.
As proof, Renka was saying this to the thugs.
I dont care who you are. However, what you said earlier, take it back.
What?
Your words about Joseon people.
Renkas voice was as cold as ice. Getting treated as a Joseon person must have seriously angered her.
What? Hmph! Great Japanese n dont say two things with one mouth! Do you think Ill take back what Ive already said?! Im Murasaki! My father is inspector Murasaki, chief of the Jongro Police Departnt! I dont give a shit who you
Is that so?
Slap!
The guy that was claiming his father was the police chief got slapped by Renka once again.
Damn it! This bitch! I wont take you lightly!
As the guy that had just been slapped was about to grab the sword he had on his waist, another guy from the gang said, as if he had just seen a ghost.
Shi Sh-sh-sh-sh Shi Lady Shimazu?
Hearing this, the guy that was about to draw his sword was startled.
What?
Shi Shimazu family! The aristocrats! Shes Lady Shimazu Renka!
After hearing this, the guys face got pale and his expression froze. The other guys pushed him towards the door.
L-lets leave, Murasaki!
.
L-Lady Sh-Shimazu! Were sorry!
After saying that, the gang of thugs hurriedly left the restaurant, and only silence remained.
In the midst of all the silence, Renka turned to face , flicking her long hair. And with a smile,
Im sorry for causing such a fuss.
she said.
Are you nuts?
After looking at her slapping the police chiefs son saying she had been offended, and then soon after smiling as if nothing had happened, I was convinced.
Shes insane as well.
I will go on ahead first, Shirabayashi-san Ah!
Renka, as if she had just rembered she had sothing to tell , turned towards ,
I forgot to tell you this. Regarding yesterdays Magic Gate incident at the Myeongryunjeong 2-jeongmok intersection, I believe that your initial response helped in preventing much collateral damage in the surrounding area, and it also helped our Shimazu Gumis operations to go ahead more easily.
she explained, softly. And then, she bowed her head slightly.
I wanted to thank you myself, as the Shimazu Gumis Gyeongseong branch headThen, as I have a busy schedule, I shall go on ahead first.
After saying this, Renka turned her body and walked out of the store. An attendant waiting outside opened the back door of a luxury car for her, and after Renka had climbed into the seat, the car moved away, climbing the mountain trail.
.
Coming out of the store, watching the scene for a while, said to Song Byung-oh, who was still standing frozen.
We should go as well.
Ah, we-we should.
As I entered the mountain path towards the school past the arched structure with the sign that read Gyeongseong Yeopsa Vocational School, I thought, looking up to the spot where the car carrying Renka had disappeared.
That was so fucking scary, shit.
The thug from earlier was the son of a police chief. And, even worse, of the notorious Jongno Police Station A man of such position was sure to be rather powerful, but Renka had casually just slapped his son silly.(note: the Jongno Police Station was notorious for cris against Koreans during the Japanese occupation)
How strong is this clan/guild nad Shimazu Gumi? Or is it that the Japanese nobility are above the law?
The thugs were one thing, but I thought itd be better to keep my distance from that girl, Renka. Before she left, she bowed to to thank , but I just couldnt take it as a show of favour considering the actions she had shown just a few seconds before that.
A noble lady that completely beat up the police chiefs son just because she was being called a Joseon person! It wouldnt be too much of a hassle for soone like her to just remove a Joseon student like if I upset her.
No matter what happens, lets not get involved with her.
***
With what just happened, surely I earned his trust, right?
Renka, sitting in the back of a luxury Buick climbing up the mountain path, grinned and muttered. Getting asked this sudden abrupt question, Takahiro, the attendant at the wheel, asked back.
Trust, my Lady?
Renka, burying her back into the crimson leather seat, said.
Im talking about Shirabayashi-san.
Why would my Lady worry about a Joseon
Takahiro, looking back at Renka through the mirror, hurriedly changed his wording at Renkas sharp gaze before continuing.
student like him?
Renka answered back with confidence.
He has sothing.
Baek Cheol-yeon. This boy definitely had sothing.
Unlike herself, he was just a regular cadet, and a Joseon person at that, but Baek Cheol-yeon faced the monsters with a high level of confidence and skill, as well as she could.
That scene was like having her 17 years of life being born into a samurai family and training diligently from a young age to finally reach this level being denied.
After witnessing Baek Cheol-yeons actions, and being shocked from that, she couldnt bear it without finding out what kind of person he was and how he had developed those skills.
If I dont find out!
Thats why she had decided to approach him naturally under the guise of friendliness. For nobility, like her, it was as easy as taking candy from a baby..
But, if there was one obstacle, it was
The fact that he is from Joseon.
Even though he was the son of a pro-Japan family, that had even received the Japanese surna Shirabayashi, he kept on using Baek Cheol-yeon, his Joseon na. He even said his Joseon na first when he introduced himself yesterday.
This was evidence that he had great pride in being from Joseon, and the fact that Renka was of the Japanese nobility could prove to be disadvantageous in building a relationship with him.
But on the contrary, I could use that to my advantage.
Great pride, in turn, could be exploited as a weakness. For example, just a mont ago, she purposely showed up at the restaurant Baek Cheol-yeon was in because of that.
By showing Baek Cheol-yeon that she was a person who would go to humble Joseon restaurants, even though she was a noble, would make a good impression on him and ease up his wariness.
On top of that, she even showed him respect, despite her social standing, by bowing her head to him to express gratitude on behalf of the Shimazu Gumi for the past days events.
Since she had made such an effort, he probably had gotten rid of his prejudice against Japanese aristocrats and started to see her amicably, as well as even feel grateful towards her.
Well Although my Lady does say that.
Takahiro asked.
That guy, Murasaki, was there any need to do such a thing to the son of the chief of the Jongno police chief?
It was not part of my plans, but might have worked out even better. Through todays actions, I will have convinced Shirabayashi-san that Im a person that works for the people of Joseon, even if it is just this much.
When she entered the store, it was a good opportunity for her to hear sarcastic remarks about Joseon people.
She has punished a guy that despised Joseon people in front of Baek Cheol-yeon, soone who had great pride in being from Joseon, and this would have increased his trust in her.
And, anyway, he is just the son of the police chief? Hes not even the son of the head of the Governnt General Police Departnt. What can he do?
Well, I guess you are right, my Lady.
Takahiro nodded in agreent. To be honest, it was exactly as Renka had said.
Compared to Shimazu Gumi, an association that was so large it had branches in Joseon and Manchuria, not to ntion the status of nobility of the Shimazu family in the Empire, the Jongno Police Station was nothing but a small precinct station that was in charge of a part of Gyeongseong, a small city in the Empire.
A thug that hung out with such petty bullies, on the back of being the son of the chief of such a small police station, was not even sothing she would ever be interested in.
The only thing that interested her was Shirabayashi, Baek Cheol-yeon.
Shirabayashi-san, Ill uncover your secrets.
Renka thought, looking at her reflection on the car window.
Even if I have to use your strong sense of pride as a person of Joseon against you.
***
Maybe I should just hurry up, escape Joseon and move to Arica, damn it.
It had been 10 minutes since they started walking up the mountain path in the warm spring weather of early April.
I kept on cursing why did they have to build a school in such a mountain?, and as if I was getting dragged to the reserves troops training grounds in a military uniform, every step felt heavier than the last.
Even if I graduate from this school, it wont change that this is still hell-Joseon. What kind of dream am I supposed to be chasing, walking up and down this path every day for three years. And getting bullied by Japanese kids as well.
Maybe just going to Arica three years earlier and starting a laundry
As I thought this,
Wow!
At this mont, the slope began to beco gentle, and as the panoramic view of the school built deep on Bukhansan was revealed, I forgot about how hard it was to get there and couldnt help just admiring it.
Thats rad. How did they build this so deep into the mountain? This is crazy.
It was deep into the mountain, and because of the era I was in, I thought it would just be a few buildings made out of cent bricks like military barracks, sothing that just said Im a school, but what I encountered was just sothing else.
First of all, the main building. The magnificent brick coloured building, with ivy creeping on its walls, looked majestic. Other than that, there was a large auditorium, several smaller detached buildings, and to add to that, the other several buildings like the dormitory or the research buildings all over the site made this look like a historic university campus.
Of course, in this era a vocational school was more of a quasi-college-level higher education institute, but it was impressive that a vocational school, which was obviously more of a technical school than a university, was this big.
It was simply a scene that was worthy of the dignity of the Hunter Academy.
Im nervous
You say that as if it were your first ti here. Stop looking around! Youre embarrassing .
Song Byung-oh, walking beside , gave a talking to whilst pulling his hat down, but I couldnt help looking around and admiring everything. I an, I cant help it. I dont rember coming to school on the day of the preliminary call-up.
And anyway, now that weve co through the school gate you should,
Song Byung-oh continued, straightening his clothes up.
start speaking in Japanese. Obviously youll do well by yourself, but Im afraid youll get caught speaking in the Joseon language.
Ah. We were in the Japanese occupation period, and nearly towards its end. It may not be so outside of school, but it was an era when the use of Japanese was forced in schools.
The pain of losing your country, again.
Even so, such a periodical tragedy was not sothing that would bring down. To be honest, I was too full of anticipation to feel like that.
Looking back, in the 21st century I had a normal and boring school career. Thats why it was so exciting to be able to co back to my youth and start school all over again! And on top of that, this ti it wasnt just a regular school, it was a Hunter Academy!
Even though my ntal age was well over 30, and no matter the fact that this was a world where the Japanese ruled, I couldnt help but look forward to and feel excited about my future school life.
I think we should go stand there. Lets go.
Okay.
We mixed in with the students that were headed to the field in front of the main building, and lined up facing the stage according to the teachers instructions.
On top of the stage, a banner saying The 34th Freshman Entrance Ceremony of Gyeongseong Yeopsa Vocational School hung, and a line with various national flags were hanging down towards the field.
Alright.
This was the start.
Starting today, I would be a student of the Gyeongseong Yeopsa Vocational School. If we were using terms from the 21st century, I was about to beco a student of the Hunter Academy!
Of course, I wasnt the only one excited. It was to be expected that the road ahead would be bumpy.
Although I hadnt been able to attend the Hunter Academy of the 21st century in my past life, I knew that there were many cases of students getting injured along the way, or in so cases even getting killed.
Even if we were in a different period, this would be the sa. No, it could even be even worse. The past being what it is, there would be no sense of security, and there would be no safety devices made through the advanced mana engineering that existed in the 21st century.
But in my previous life, I was an active Hunter who had fought going through gates.
Compared to that experience the Academy would be nothing. Monster response training? Practice thats almost the sa as the real thing? For soone like , who had cheated death several tis, it was nothing.
And, like in the morning, the national contempt and discrimination from my Japanese classmates would be at best just a joke from 17 year-old kids. It was just sothing like childs ga to , an adult who had endured a lot of discrimination and neglect from fellow Hunters.
It just ant that I had the confidence to overco any difficulties and get my graduation diploma.
Ah, ah-. Before we begin the entrance ceremony
As the students had all line up and gotten ready for the entrance ceremony, a middle-aged teacher, who seed to be the spokesperson of the event, finally stepped onto the podium and spoke to the microphone.
Before the begin the entrance ceremony, there will be a kyujo-yohai. Right face!
Wait, what? Were doing what?
Kyujo-yohai()? Thats saluting by bowing to the Japanese emperor. I knew that this was sothing that was done during the colonial era, but did I have to do this?
There was nothing I could do so I turned right at the instruction, migimuke migi (right face), and faced towards the east. And as soon as I took off my hat according to the instruction,
Kyujo-yohai, saikeirei-!
Was said, and I thought it ant to bow. As the other students were doing, I stood at attention, both of my hands next to my thighs, and bowed my head 90 degrees.
Solemn music flowed from the speakers. I did as I had been told to do, but this was very uncomfortable inside, so I kept telling myself.
I pledge, in front of the proud Taegeuk flag, allegiance to the Republic of Korea (note: South Korean pledge of allegiance)
Naore(at ease)!
We finally got to get up, but it still wasnt over.
Next, we will hold a silent prayer for the fallen ard forces of the Empire.
This ti I bowed my head. Like earlier, music flowed for a bit and then I lifted my head at the at ease instruction. Phew. That was long. At least its over. Theyll surely now start the entrance ceremony.
Proclamation of the Oath as Subjects of the Imperial Nation!
Now whats this? At the teachers lead, the students repeated.
One! We are imperial subjects, and we will repay our country with loyalty!
Two! We, imperial subjects, by cooperating with each other
Three! We, imperial subjects
Seriously, they do all kinds of things. I just barely murmured, burying my voice in the compound of other students, the way a sergeant about to get discharged from the military would. I didnt even know the oath, and even if I did, I didnt want to put it in my mouth.
The entrance ceremony hadnt even begun, but I was already exhausted. The worst part was that this was just an appetizer.
It just ant that this morning ritual would repeat, not only for this entrance ceremony, but for every morning assembly, or at the very least every ti there was an event.
My vow to overco any hardship and graduate from this school had already beco difficult.
I have to do this shit for three years?
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