Episode 93: The Calligrapher Wants to Rest
[Kim Ho: Miss]
[Calligrapher:???]
[Calligrapher: (Confused pigeon emoticon)]
[Kim Ho: (polite butler emoticon)]
[Kim Ho: Miss, the morning is bright]
[Kim Ho: Miss, please get up]
[Calligrapher:!!!]
[Calligrapher: (Enlightened pigeon emoticon)]
[Kim Ho: Let’s go eat]
After a simple breakfast, we headed to class together.
There is a difference in the calligrapher’s footsteps compared to before.
The gait itself is the same as usual, but it feels somehow lighter.
In addition, sometimes the tips of my feet become blurry, as if an afterimage remains.
This means that [Feather Step] is being cast.
‘Let’s take a look.’
I plucked a leaf from a tree lining the street and let it drift away.
The leaf that had been fluttering in the air danced irregularly about an inch above the calligrapher’s head just before landing on him, and then flew far away.
It’s as if he’s caught up in some turbulent air.
It was one of the effects of the feather walk.
“… … ?”
The calligrapher reacted about three seconds after the leaf passed by.
He tilted his head and stared at me,
It seems to ask, ‘Why the leaves?’
“I wonder how well you’ve mastered the Feather Walk. You’re already a D-rank.”
“huh.”
I tried to infer the approximate rank by looking at the level of turbulence that occurs while casting the skill.
‘You learned well. As expected, you’re fast.’
It was Tuesday when I met with An Jeong-mi and decided on my future plans, and considering the time it took to get the skill book, it must have only been a few days since I acquired it.
But it’s already D rank.
I’ve felt this time and time again, but it’s truly a uniquely outstanding talent.
Of course, the talent of the person who learned is talent, but the hard work of the person who taught cannot be left out either.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
This was said not to the calligrapher, but to the back where no one was present.
Then a polite reply came back.
“I just did my job.”
Soon, the empty space rippled slightly and then An Jeong-mi appeared.
Dressed in his usual suit and holding a translucent garment in his hand.
He was protecting the calligrapher while hiding his body in a transparent ghillie suit.
An Jeong-mi bowed politely and said.
“You knew that.”
“I have a weird instinct for this kind of thing. I was hesitating, but you got it right.”
“It would be difficult to see through my hiding place if you just have a good sense. It must all be due to Kim Ho’s skills.”
An Jeong-mi seemed to want to ask how I detected the transparent Gilly, but
As for me, I didn’t really have anything to say.
‘You can tell just by looking at it.’
Even if I explain it to you like that, saying, “I’m a veteran player, so I can figure out most things just by looking at it!”, you won’t be convinced.
So, I quietly returned to the original topic.
“Looking at it, it seems like the feather steps are already D-class.”
“Yes, you achieved it over the weekend.”
An Jeong-mi’s gaze toward the calligrapher was filled with pride and satisfaction.
It was similar to the way a craftsman looks at his life’s work.
It must be admirable that a girl who was so disobedient is now following the training so well and rising through the ranks as instructed.
“I guess I’ll get to C rank soon, right?”
“Of course. At this rate of growth, I expect it to happen sometime this week.”
“It’s very good.”
“Training is also being conducted in a way that maximizes mobility—”
An Jeong-mi reported every single detail of last week’s training and future schedule.
I nodded my head, feeling very satisfied.
‘How can you be so capable?’
The curriculum was so perfectly structured that I didn’t need to interfere.
It was immediately clear that this was the result of repeated revisions to a plan that had been in place for a very long time.
The plan was made, but it was put on hold until now because the person involved, calligrapher, was not ready.
However, this seemingly perfect curriculum has one fatal flaw.
“But… … . I wonder if this isn’t too much of a forced march.”
The plan was so meticulously laid out that it was questionable whether the calligrapher would be able to complete this forced march.
Although I receive mentoring separately, I always attend classes together, so I watch my progress from the seat next to me every day. I see myself getting saggy like wet seaweed every day.
The condition is still not very good.
However, the mentoring has only been going on for a week, so there is a very high chance that problems will arise in the future.
“… … Actually, I wanted to discuss that with Mr. Kim Ho.”
“Okay. Since the parties involved are here, let’s find common ground together.”
First, I held the microphone up to the calligrapher and asked him a question.
“Please tell us. How did you feel about your week of mentoring with the butler?”
“It’s not fun.”
The calligrapher immediately stabbed the knife into An Jeong-mi’s chest.
An Jeong-mi’s body trembled slightly, but she seemed to maintain her composure with superhuman patience.
I pretended not to see anything and continued asking questions.
“It’s not fun, I see. What specifically is not fun?”
“You keep ordering the same thing.”
An Jeong-mi, unable to bear this remark any longer, intervened in a tone that seemed to be reassuring.
“Miss, repetition is the basis of all training. When you trained with Kim Ho, didn’t you repeat the same actions?”
“It’s no fun when the butler tells you to do something.”
“Then, Mr. Kim Ho—”
“Kim Ho is okay.”
“?”
“???”
An Jeong-mi and I exchanged confused looks.
Even if we do the same training, it’s not fun when the butler tells you to do it, but it’s okay when I tell you to do it?
It was something I couldn’t understand at all.
I don’t think I’ll get a proper answer if I ask this question any further.
Let’s move on for now.
He puts the fist mic back in his hand again.
“If you have any further complaints, please feel free to tell me.”
“They don’t let me nap. They keep waking me up.”
An Jeong-mi’s face twitched slightly, but she quietly closed her eyes and suppressed her surging emotions.
Mind control is almost on a par with that of a monk.
And then he calmly presents his counterargument.
“Miss, you shouldn’t nap for more than 4 hours.”
‘Honestly, that’s true.’
If you sleep for more than 4 hours, it can no longer be called a nap.
I would have woken up An Jeong-mi.
But unfortunately, the one holding the knife at this negotiating table was the calligrapher, and the right words were of no use here.
So I decided to maintain a neutral stance, at least on the surface.
Secretly send your agreement and encouragement to An Jeong-mi.
The calligrapher is again given a fist microphone.
“Well, I see. Then, what can we do to restore the young lady’s motivation?”
“I want to rest. It’s time to recharge.”
“It’s time to recharge… … .”
I had a conversation with An Jeong-mi through a few glances.
– Just let me rest.
– But the schedule… … .
– There is no other way.
As the calligrapher rests, there are slight errors in the ‘perfect curriculum’ prepared by the Hyesung Group Future Strategy Office.
There is also an increased possibility that An Jeong-mi will not be able to teach everything she wanted to teach during the mentoring period.
But as the saying goes, penny wise, pound foolish. If you try to avoid small losses, you may end up losing something bigger.
The calligraphers’ motivation is already falling sharply, so if the demands are not met, not only will there be errors in the curriculum, but the mentoring itself may fall apart.
If the super armored calligrapher just lays down and says, “It’s not fun. I won’t do it,” how can An Jeong-mi make her practice any more?
If that was the case, I should have done it a long time ago.
– ……All right.
An Jeong-mi nodded with a small sigh, and I put what the calligrapher wanted on the negotiating table.
“If you want to rest, then rest. Do you want to do nothing for a day and sleep soundly?”
“… … .”
But surprisingly, the calligrapher shook his head.
It means that the solution I proposed was wrong.
“then?”
The calligrapher stared at me blankly for a moment, then slowly opened his mouth.
The words that came out like that were something neither I nor An Jeong-mi could have expected at all.
“The downtown area. Have you been out?”
“… … !”
amusement quarters.
In addition to students and faculty, there are many other people on Dungeon Island.
There are countless people who keep the facilities of Yongsal Academy running properly behind the scenes.
The residences of these people are usually located near the outskirts of Dungeon Island, and residential areas inevitably become bustling areas with a high concentration of people.
A place with all kinds of shops and facilities lined up, with plenty of places to buy, eat, play, and enjoy.
For example, the strawberry shortcake that I was lucky enough to get at the beginning of the semester and shared with the calligrapher.
The bakery that brings in the cake is located right in the downtown area.
That is, the calligrapher’s requirements are,
“You want to go out to the downtown area and play?”
“huh.”
“I don’t think you’d have fun going alone… … .”
“Let’s go together.”
“Miss, if you go to a busy area, I’ll take you there.”
At An Jeong-mi’s suggestion, Seo Ye-in immediately shook her head.
“I get bored when I go to the butler’s house. It’s not fun.”
“… … .”
An Jeong-mi became gloomy and took a few steps back.
If it had a tail, it would probably hang on the floor.
After defeating An Jeong-mi in one blow, the calligrapher stared at me and demanded an answer.
Her gray eyes sparkle especially brightly.
It seems to shine more than when I saw the feather cushion from the random box.
An Jeong-mi also cautiously observed me while looking gloomy.
I guess he thought I shouldn’t take up too much of his time, but on the other hand, he secretly wanted me to go with him.
‘I guess I have to go.’
I have a pretty big part to play in mentoring calligraphers.
Because I was the one who coaxed him into doing something he originally didn’t want to do because it was annoying.
So, it’s right that I take responsibility for the after-sales service when motivation drops.
Besides, it wasn’t a loss even if you look at it from a practical standpoint.
Although the training time will be reduced slightly, that amount of loss can be easily compensated by picking up a few hidden pieces from the other side.
Conclusion: It’s worth investing at least one day.
I spoke to the calligrapher to make the give and take clear.
“Okay, let’s go out together this weekend. But please continue to listen to the butler and do well on your grades this week.”
“… … .”
The calligrapher turned her head and stared at An Jeong-mi.
As if asking, ‘Do I have to stay with that for another week?’
But eventually, he slowly shook his head up and down.
“okay.”
An Jeong-mi let out a silent sigh of relief.
I made at least a week’s profit because I closed the deal.
Come closer and speak quietly so only I can hear.
“I know it must be a lot of trouble, but I really appreciate you taking the time to do this.”
“No. I told you that since we’re friends, I’ll help you as much as I can.”
I also enjoy playing around in the downtown area and eating delicious food.
Still, An Jeong-mi looked moved, as if I was making a noble sacrifice for the calligrapher.
I soon made up my mind firmly.
“I will make sure that Mr. Kim Ho’s time is never wasted.”
