NOVEL NEXT Chapter 2
What? Applying for a position as a teacher? What in the world is this nonsense?
“Isn’t it?”
If you speak in riddles, how am I supposed to understand? Just explain it simply, will you?
“Up until now, my father has been calling people here and there to teach me.”
Ah, so there was a teacher before?
“Yes, there was.”
Not ‘there was’ but ‘there has been.’ Oh, this is just fantastic! Anyway, this kid is free right now, so…
Of course, there’s another meaning behind that statement. Maybe it was because her talent was so exceptional that the previous teachers couldn’t teach her?
“Why are you staring at me like that??”
Or maybe they ran off in shock from her attitude?
“I don’t think I should have to show respect to an adult, but isn’t it a bit much to react so sharply on our first meeting?”
“I don’t need a reason to impress you, so why should I?”
“Because I might become your teacher.”
“Isn’t everyone here because of my father’s money? If that’s the case, I’m not interested.”
“I don’t even know who your father is.”
“Hmm.”
Now she’s finally showing some interest! The girl stared at me for a moment before chuckling and turning away.
“Even so, nothing will change. Even if you are in the position of my teacher, I won’t respect someone I don’t recognize.”
Oh, she truly is something!
But that’s fine with me. What I want is this kid’s talent. Making that talent bloom and clearing quests is all that matters to me. Until then, I can smile and overlook her attitude.
Besides, the world looks different depending on your perspective, right? If I think of her attitude as a bit ‘quirky,’ it might even become a moe element!
“Well, the discussion seems over, so let’s go see your father. But… what’s your name? Ah, by the way, I’m Lee Hyun.”
“Sowol.”
“…What?”
Her name sounded familiar. I stared at her and asked.
“Is your father Sow Joong-yang? The head of the Eastern Trading Company?”
“What? You know about my father?”
Wow, what a coincidence! I knew this kid—or rather, to be precise, I knew about this kid ten years later!
That’s because she was the antagonist in the first protagonist’s route, and a mid-boss in the story!
Sowol’s house.
To be accurate, I was heading to the home of Sow Joong-yang, the head of the gigantic Eastern Trading Company.
Ragnarok – The Traveler of Three Stars unfolds around three main characters. Each character has their own main story, and each route has its own bosses.
Sowol is an antagonist from the route of the male character, Ligon, tormenting him from the beginning to the end of the story, and stubbornly tripping him up until the last moment.
She’s a pretty character but has a quirky personality and resorts to countless evil tricks, ranking among the worst three!
I never thought I’d see the ten-year-younger version of that character!
“Why are you taking so long to catch up?!”
I’m troubled. The first talented kid I meet ends up being Sowol! What if I raise her wrong and mess up the Ligon route?
Should I bail now?
“Don’t you want to go? Then don’t.”
“…I’ll go. Let’s go.”
But I quickly changed my mind. No matter how I thought about it, I probably wouldn’t meet another talented kid like her.
And even if I messed up the Ligon main story by raising Sowol, I have other characters to work with—two of them, no less!
If worse comes to worst, I could just abandon the Ligon route and take a different character’s route. What’s important is to see the true ending!
And there’s no need to get hung up on the male character’s true ending, right?
“You seem to have changed your expression all of a sudden?”
“I’m just trying to do this properly.”
I know the basics of Sowol’s story. She, as the head of the Eastern Trading Company, will enter the academy and quickly dominate its darkness, using it to attack Ligon.
Now, if she has such a powerful figure as Sow Joong-yang behind her, has she taken over the position at such a young age?
That’s because Sow Joong-yang was assassinated when she was young! If I prevent that assassination, Sowol won’t become the head of the Eastern Trading Company, which means her mischief at the academy will likely decrease!
Sowol won’t appear in the main story of other characters.
But her leading the academy’s darkness would have influenced the other protagonists, causing them trouble.
So, if I guide Sowol correctly now, the future ten years from now could be easier!
Abandoning the Ligon route and thinking things would be easier in ten years? This seems better.
Of course, things might not go according to my plans, but I’ll figure that out when the time comes. Usually, it’s better to deal with such matters as they come rather than over-planning them.
“…What’s with that look?”
I gazed at Sowol warmly, and she returned my look with a disgruntled expression.
Yeah, buddy. I’ll help you become a decent person!
I gave Sowol a light pat on the back and stepped ahead.
“That’s not the way.”
“Is that so?”
Following Sowol, we entered the town and headed toward the biggest house. As I stepped into a massive estate with an Eastern-style design, I noticed several guards casting wary glances at me.
But I didn’t care. I spotted a man standing in the center of the courtyard with his hands behind his back.
That man is the head of the Eastern Trading Company, Sow Joong-yang!
“Father, a new teacher candidate has arrived.”
“Hmm? We’re not looking for anyone yet. Who is it?”
“Haha. I’m Lee Hyun. I came from afar because I heard Sowol’s talent is truly exceptional and I wanted to see it for myself.”
Of course, that was a lie.
But perhaps it was because I praised his child that a smile appeared on Sow Joong-yang’s face.
“Cough. It’s just that our child isn’t putting in enough effort, but she does have incredible talent.”
“Haha, yes. Being the precious child of the Eastern Trading Company, she should have at least that level of talent!”
“Is that so?! Hahaha! Naturally, it must be! Who’s daughter are we talking about!!”
”I’ve heard many teachers have come and gone through your daughter.”
“Eh… that’s, well. It’s not countless, just a bit many.”
After a few exchanges, I started to understand what Sow Joong-yang was thinking. He’d invited many teachers for Sowol, but they’d all left without a proper teaching session due to her attitude or lack of effort.
So, here comes the money line.
“There’s a saying: ‘great talent takes time.’ The moment I met Sowol, I knew. This child will grow into a great vessel. I think it’s not even worth talking about those who couldn’t wait for her to grow.”
“I’m just grateful that you think so. But… I’ve never heard of someone named Lee Hyun…”
Of course, he wouldn’t know.
Though I had gained much during my time, my activity level wasn’t that high. In Ragnarok, famous figures wouldn’t even bother with someone of low fame.
If a gigantic trading company head like Sow Joong-yang were to chase me off without a second thought, I honestly couldn’t complain. The reason we could even talk like this is mostly because Sowol brought me here and the compliment I gave.
I smiled at Sow Joong-yang, who was staring at me with deep eyes, thinking to myself, they say a smiling face cannot spit!
“I’m not someone that great that rumors would spread; I just know a few magics, some martial arts techniques, and swords, and I’ve read a few books.”
“Haha. I wonder if I can entrust my daughter to someone like that. If you don’t mind, could we see your skills?”
“Of course.”
“Baek Musae! Are you there?!”
A giant called Baek Musae came out as if he’d just been waiting for that call.
“Should we do it with martial arts? Swordsmanship? Or magic?”
“Do what you prefer. We’ll get to the conclusion quickly.”
He’s elegantly mentioning he’ll knock me out if my skills are mediocre! Then I need to put in my best effort!
I took off my coat and threw it at Sowol.
-Thud!
What?! She dodged it! That rascal!
Instead of catching my coat, Sowol walked to the side, crossing her arms and watching me.
Great, not a single friendly face in this house!
“I’ll let you go first.”
“I won’t decline. Then…”
I raised my hand, preparing the most powerful magic I could use.
“Lord of Fire!”
“Whoa!!”
A massive flame erupted from my hands.
Seeing the enormous fire that could burn down a whole building, both Baek Musae and Sow Joong-yang looked genuinely surprised.
“Not magic! Let’s do it with swordsmanship!”
“I’ll do that.”
Did they think I’d incinerate Baek Musae in one shot? Sow Joong-yang hurriedly shouted in shock. Nodding to him, I unsheathed the sword at my waist.
“I’m coming!!”
Maybe because of the earlier magic, their disdainful glances had vanished. But confidence was still evident as Baek Musae drew his sword and charged at me.
-Clang!!
As soon as our swords clashed, Baek Musae’s sword broke. I moved my sword and held it against Baek Musae’s neck.
So, I passed the skill test, right?