I’ll Retire After Saving the World

Chapter 28: A Nonsensical Dream (3)

TL: SHW

There are many creative works that change the past. Movies, novels, comics…

There are a few that I quite enjoyed.

Usually, in such works, the protagonist who returns to the past has something they want to change. Something like a mistake or a wrong decision they made.

There are some works where everything is resolved well, leading to a happy ending, but there are also ones where things get worse.

That’s how life goes.

However, sometimes, while watching such works, I wonder why people regret their own choices instead of being unhappy due to someone else’s actions. Especially if it was a choice that everyone else advised against, but they insisted on taking.

There’s usually a reason why others advise against something.

If you brush off all those warnings and choose your own path, shouldn’t you at least stand by that choice with pride?

A person cannot choose their parents, and they cannot predict the chance of being struck by lightning while walking. If it’s not such an unavoidable misfortune… one should accept it with humility. After all, it was the path you chose.

In that sense, I have never thought of wanting to change my past.

This does not mean that I always made the right choices. But I always believe that I did my best. Even if I chose the wrong path, at that time, it was the best path for me.

But being human, I sometimes blame others. But listen. Isn’t it unfair if I suffer for something that’s not my fault? It’s their fault, not mine. That’s not blaming others, it’s rightful criticism.

“Please take me as your disciple!”

Well… right.

Was it my fault that South Korea, the world, was destroyed? Would it have not happened if I had raided the Bangi-dong Dungeon as Yoo Ji-eun insisted?

Bangi-dong Dungeon was the first to break, but even if we stopped that, could we have prevented other dungeons from breaking?

Don’t be mistaken. The ones that destroyed Seoul that day weren’t just the centipedes. There was also the one that walked around, dropping fire everywhere.

I couldn’t do anything, so I just did what the mysterious item told me. If I had known it would send me to the past, I might have thought more about it.

…Actually, I don’t think it would have changed even if I had thought about it. I couldn’t do anything in that situation anyway.

Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that fundamentally, all these things happening now are not my fault.

It’s not my fault that I’m playing the role of a teacher, or that I’m listening to the crazy talk of young Yoo Ji-eun.

None of this is my fault.

“Please! As your disciple!”

But why am I suffering this pain?

“Take me as your disciple!”

“What?”

“A disciple!”

“Who?”

“Me!”

“……”

If it wasn’t me but old man or at least Yoo Ji-eun who had returned to the past, they would have done better. Those two had something like a sense of mission.

“So…”

Why, out of all people, am I here doing this?

“It has to be you, teacher!”

Let’s think rationally, rationally. The reason I am quietly staying at this school. It’s to foster talents who would prevent the future destruction and ensure my comfortable retirement, right?

Park Seo-hyun. Oh Hyun-wook. And Yoo Ji-eun?

All of them are guaranteed geniuses. If they come running to me like this, I should accept them.

“As a disciple.”

“Yes.”

“Me?”

“Yes!”

“You… I mean.”

So, the physiological repulsion is… my personal… personal issue… I should overcome, overcome it… I shouldn’t put personal feelings into work… I shouldn’t…

No, but!

Of all people, it’s Yoo Ji-eun!! That ill-mannered ajumma!!!

Whether it’s Yoo Ji-eun or young Yoo Ji-eun, Yoo Ji-eun is Yoo Ji-eun.

I never wanted any version of Yoo Ji-eun near me.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Why would I take on a disciple when I’m not even a mage?”

“But you teach unnie and oppa! Take me as your disciple too!”

Stubbornly insisting like that is just the same. That woman who was obstinate with me until the end.

I sighed.

“I’m a teacher here who gets paid, and they… do you guys pay tuition here?”

The eight children shook their heads in unison.

“You don’t pay tuition, but you’re still students attending this school. I get paid to teach students, so I should teach you.”

“But….”

Yoo Ji-eun puffed out her cheeks. Her face, still with baby fat, looked even younger.

“You’re sixteen, right? Just graduate middle school in half a year and then come here.”

I can’t just take away old man’s prized disciple.

“That takes too long!”

What does that have to do with me…?

Well, having a passion for learning is a commendable attitude for a student… but I can’t take away the old man’s prized disciple.

Besides, if I arbitrarily accepted Yoo Ji-eun as my disciple, what would I say to Hong Seok-young?

Kim Chae-min, who was supposed to be keeping an eye on me, looked quite interested though.

I sighed.

“Hey, you said your name was Yoo Ji-eun, right?”

“Yes….”

“I understand you’re excited since you just awakened, but you need to stay calm in times like these. The principal will be back soon, so why don’t you talk to him then?”

“But still….”

“Rushing things won’t make them happen….”

The image of a high school girl in a school uniform with a sad smile appeared before me.

And also the face of a strong hunter who raided dungeons without wavering.

Yoo Ji-eun is different from Park Seo-hyun or Oh Hyun-wook.

Park Seo-hyun and Oh Hyun-wook became a witch and a pig under the old man.

A witch who covered her face with her bangs and muttered incomprehensible words with a sneer, and a pig who got fatter from being immersed in alcohol.

Although the fundamental cause of Park Seo-hyun and Oh Hyun-wook’s transformation, the Myeong-dong Incident, no longer existed, look at Park Seo-hyun. One can’t be complacent. Who knows what might cause the kids to turn into witches and pigs again.

“As a student, I’m sure you’ll become a great hunter.”

But Yoo Ji-eun overcame it herself in the future. At least that’s how it seemed to me. If I meddled with Yoo Ji-eun for no reason, who knows what might happen. If I just left her to the old man… she would grow the same way.

A solid, rock-like woman who tackles dungeons no matter what others say.

“But… but.”

Yoo Ji-eun bit her lip.

Whether it’s the grown Yoo Ji-eun or the young Yoo Ji-eun, her stubbornness is the same. She never understood after being told just once.

“They say the first month after awakening is the golden time.”

“Golden time?”

“…You have to use mana to cleanse the impurities from your blood vessels within three days of awakening.”

What is this kid saying now?

When someone says something utterly absurd, it becomes unimportant.

“That way, you can become stronger….”

The young Yoo Ji-eun spoke cautiously, watching my reaction.

Cleansing blood vessels with mana? Like a fictional story?

What the heck is that?

That’s something from a novel, and mana doesn’t work that way in reality. Even if it were possible, doing that would burst your blood vessels and you’d die. If you’re lucky, you might only end up paralyzed.

“Everyone?”

Yoo Ji-eun mumbled.

“On the internet….”

What kind of era is 2021?

How did the awakeners of this time even survive?

I grabbed my head and groaned, then looked at the other kids just in case. I didn’t think there would be any idiots who believed that, but you never know.

“Do any of you believe that?”

“Uh….”

“Have you heard of it before?”

They all shook their heads.

However, one kid, hesitating, opened their mouth.

“I’ve heard of it….”

“Han Eun-young? Where?”

“I’m not sure about after awakening, but they say cleansing impurities from your blood vessels with mana can extend your lifespan… something like that.”

“Who said that?”

“It’s not like someone specifically said it… Just a moment!”

Han Eun-young ran to the container and came back with a piece of paper.

“I got this while waiting for the teacher this morning. I didn’t have anywhere to throw it away, so I just put it in my bag.”

The background was dazzling with rainbows, and tacky oversized letters were printed boldly on the flyer.

Mana’s efficacy. Cleansing blood vessel impurities. Extending lifespan. Purifying the soul.

Perfect nonsense. I examined the flyer thoroughly.

I pressed my eyes tightly and then looked at the kids. Even Kim Chae-min, sensing the unusual atmosphere, gulped nervously.

“If someone who gives you this asks you to go with them, never go.”

“…Of course.”

“And you, Yoo Ji-eun?”

“Y-Yes?”

Yoo Ji-eun, whose sister hadn’t died, was a completely different person. Maybe the Yoo Ji-eun I knew had a time when she was this innocent too… but she was gone before I ever met her.

So, let’s not think about it anymore.

“Don’t believe everything you read on the internet.”

“Okay…”

Yoo Ji-eun replied dejectedly.

“For today… just wait until your sister’s class is over.”

I pressed my temples as I spoke.

“Wait for the principal to come for your awakening registration. He’ll be here soon.”

“Are you taking me as your disciple?”

“No.”

Yoo Ji-eun’s shoulders slumped.

“Ask the principal instead.”

“Ugh. Uncle Hong said he has no intention of taking any disciples.”

That will change once Yoo Ji-eun enters Pilot High School.

I pretended not to hear Yoo Ji-eun’s mumbling and redirected my attention.

“Alright, you’ve had enough rest? Class is starting! Teacher Kim, please take her. It’s best if she’s next to her sister.”

Kim Chae-min took the sulky Yoo Ji-eun away. Yoo Hye-eun bowed her head apologetically at me from beside her. I waved my hand dismissively.

“Think of it as observing what kind of classes are held at Pilot High School.”

“She’s going to not want to enroll…”

Lee Seung-yeon pouted. I raised my eyebrows.

“She might find it interesting.”

“This?”

“I find it fun. Don’t you guys?”

I scoffed.

“It’s just because you’re still weak.”

* * *

Whether or not Kim Chae-min contacted him, Hong Seok-young returned that night. Was it because of Yoo Ji-eun’s awakening?

Resting in the dorm, I was called out right away. Kim Chae-min was also with me. Hong Seok-young took us to a neighborhood pub with no people around.

Despite coming for the news of Yoo Ji-eun’s awakening, his expression wasn’t great. Or was it because of a dungeon? Did they find something in Bangi-dong Dungeon?

But that dungeon had been calm for twenty years since it first appeared. I didn’t think that would have changed now.

Hong Seok-young ordered a beer and spent a long time contemplating before speaking.

“Ji-eun awakened?”

“Yes. I heard you already knew her, Hunter Hong.”

“We’re not total strangers… but I’m just looking out for two kids who are in a tough situation.”

Hong Seok-young scratched his chin as he answered. Kim Chae-min nodded.

“Anyway, the kid’s quite bold. As soon as she saw Teacher Woo, she insisted on becoming his disciple…”

“Disciple?”

Hong Seok-young’s eyes gleamed. They were the same eyes as a disciple’s.

“She didn’t give up even after seeing how Teacher Woo trains the kids. It’s the first time I’ve seen him so flustered.”

Kim Chae-min burst into laughter, clearly enjoying the memory.

I observed Hong Seok-young. It seemed best to divert his attention before he got any troublesome ideas.

“Look at this.”

It was the flyer that Han Eun-young showed me earlier. The one that was talking nonsense about mana.

Even a quick glance revealed suspicious content. It sounded like something a cult would spout.

That’s correct.

This is the method Ark uses to recruit members.

“No, let me go first.”

But Hong Seok-young pushed aside the flyer I handed him without even looking at it.

He took out a few photos from inside his jacket.

A man lying on the ground. Pale complexion. A face twisted in agony.

I don’t have a weak heart that would be startled by a dead body. I just don’t understand why he’s showing it to me.

“This is a body we found in the Songpa District Dungeon.”

There was a reason my younger self noted it in the diary. Smart kid.

“Is this a face you recognize?”

Of course, I didn’t recognize the face, but I pretended to examine it closely out of courtesy.

After a short while, I responded.

“I don’t know him.”

“Really?”

“Yes, I don’t know him.”

Hong Seok-young nodded.

“This is Mr. Kim who risked his life to help get you out of Ark. Are you sure you don’t know him?”