Chapter 64: The Hero’s Teaching Method (Part 3)

“Head coach?”

Shihyun’s amber eyes widened. Her blinking pupils soon curved into a subtle crescent, forming a refreshing smile.

Kang Seunghyun, the head coach of ML Masterpiece, felt his heart skip a beat at that smile.

‘This is…no joke. Seeing her in person…’

Kang Seunghyun swallowed hard.

Despite being married with a family, it was natural to blush at the sight of such a beautiful woman smiling.

Though it was a bit unbecoming of him.

“Dad, what’s wrong?”

Only after his seven-year-old son tugged at his clothes did Coach Kang Seunghyun come to his senses. He patted his son’s back with an awkward expression.

“Uh, uhm? Nothing. Jihoon, Daddy needs to talk to this…person for a moment. Can you go play somewhere else?”

“Okay.”

Only after sending his son to another section could Coach Kang Seunghyun properly look at the person in front of him. Of course, there was no emotional meaning behind it.

Such a beautiful woman would never look at him seriously, and he was here as Kang Seunghyun, the head coach of ML Masterpiece, not as Kang Seunghyun, the individual.

“Yes, I’m with ML Masterpiece.”

“Ah, 2.5 billion.”

2.5 billion?

Kang Seunghyun tilted his head at the unexpected words, but soon remembered that it was the annual salary offered to Sung Shihyun by the front office.

‘This is awkward.’

While 2.5 billion won was certainly a memorable amount, was it a good thing to be remembered by that number alone?

Kang Seunghyun swallowed again and spoke,

“I never imagined meeting you here, Shihyun. Do you live nearby?”

“Something like that.”

“What a coincidence.”

“Indeed.”

“…”

“…”

A cold sweat ran down Kang Seunghyun’s back.

‘Kang Seunghyun, you idiot. What are you even saying?’

A coincidence? So what? Was he going to ask her to join ML Masterpiece just because of a coincidence? Out of the blue?

‘And to someone who rejected 2.5 billion won?’

It was a mistake.

He must have been disoriented by the unexpected encounter. Otherwise, there was no explanation for him stopping her like this.

‘And in a place like this, not even a cafe…’

They were sitting at a table in the middle of a bookstore. To propose a meeting, not even a formal one, to someone who had already rejected their offer…it was a crazy move driven by clouded judgment.

“Um, if you don’t mind, could I ask you a question?”

But even so, Kang Seunghyun didn’t stop.

No, he couldn’t stop.

Because he was curious!

‘Why did she reject 2.5 billion won?’

2.5 billion! Not 100 million or 200 million, but 2.5 billion!

It was a salary that most pro gamers could only dream of. And it was just the starting salary. Considering her skill, it was obvious that her salary would increase even further in the future. And the contract period wasn’t even long!

‘Why did she turn down such an opportunity?’

He was so curious that he couldn’t stop himself.

“A question…?”

Shihyun tilted her head. Kang Seunghyun fidgeted with his hands on his lap and took a small breath.

‘Damn it.’

Honestly, it was a question that deserved an immediate rejection.

So, Kang Seunghyun didn’t have high expectations.

“Well, as long as it’s not about personal information, it’s fine.”

However, Shihyun didn’t seem to mind.

As she readily nodded, Kang Seunghyun’s eyes widened.

“Ah, ah. Yes, yes. I wanted to know why you rejected ML Masterpiece’s offer. You simply sent a rejection notice without any explanation…”

“The reason for my rejection?”

“Yes. It was quite a good offer, after all. Do you not have any interest in going pro?”

It wasn’t just a good offer, it was a great offer.

Why did she refuse it?

Shihyun looked thoughtful for a moment, then a subtle smile touched her face. Her lips parted.

“It’s not that I’m not interested in becoming a pro gamer. It’s just that I wanted the life of a streamer more.”

“A streamer… But you can still stream even if you’re a pro player, can’t you?”

“That’s a pro gamer who also streams, not a streamer.”

Kang Seunghyun’s eyebrows twitched.

It was a very subtle difference.

‘A streamer and a pro gamer who also streams.’

At first glance, they seemed to have the same meaning.

But it seemed to be a crucial difference to her.

While Kang Seunghyun couldn’t fully understand her feelings, he could grasp why she rejected ML Masterpiece. In short, Sung Shihyun wanted a life focused on streaming.

“I see…”

“Yes. Has your curiosity been satisfied?”

“Well, I don’t fully understand, but I think I get the reason.”

Shihyun’s eyes narrowed. Her long eyelashes fluttered, like a scene from a movie.

“Then can I ask you a question as well?”

“Yes?”

Kang Seunghyun was momentarily taken aback by Shihyun’s sudden question, then nodded. He had asked her a question, so it was her turn. That’s fair exchange.

Of course, he had no idea what she was going to ask.

‘What is she going to ask?’

Just as Kang Seunghyun swallowed hard,

Shihyun spoke.

“A coach’s role is to teach professional players, correct?”

“Uh…yes, that’s right.”

“Then are you also knowledgeable about teaching methods?”

“Teaching methods?”

What is this all of a sudden?

‘Teaching methods?’

Was that the word for how to teach? Kang Seunghyun blinked, momentarily forgetting the meaning of the word. Shihyun’s question was that unexpected.

Suddenly asking about teaching methods…

He felt puzzled for a moment, but Kang Seunghyun soon came up with an explanation.

‘Is she planning to open an academy?’

It was a plausible guess.

‘Well…she did score higher than Choi Sangcheol on the test.’

Choi Sangcheol is the undisputed number one pro player.

If someone better than him at Arfellium Saga were to open a swordsmanship academy, it would surely succeed. And with such a beautiful woman as the head instructor? There wouldn’t just be an increase in students; there would be lines forming at the entrance.

Kang Seunghyun nodded internally and slowly answered.

“I wouldn’t call it ‘pedagogy’ or anything grand, but I’d say I know a thing or two about teaching.”

After all, a coach’s job is to maintain and improve a player’s skills. While calling himself a teacher or mentor might be an overstatement, calling it guidance would be appropriate.

Naturally, he had learned how to teach.

“Really? That’s great.”

Sung Shihyun’s eyes curved into crescents at Kang Seunghyun’s answer. Seeing Shihyun’s smile, Kang Seunghyun realized that contrary to her seemingly cold appearance, she smiled quite a bit.

But what was so great about it?

“Uh…”

As Kang Seunghyun tensed up, Shihyun’s eyes crinkled into half-moons.

“Then…”

“…”

“Are you interested in a side hustle?”

“A side hustle?”

“Hum hum hum.”

I hummed even before arriving home.

It was a strangely lucky day.

‘To run into a professional team coach by chance…’

And not just any coach, but the head coach of ML Masterpiece, a team with which I had a connection!

If it had been a coach from another team, they wouldn’t have recognized me, and we wouldn’t have had that conversation.

“Or maybe not?”

Anyway,

Thanks to that encounter, I was able to make Coach Kang Seunghyun a decent offer. To teach me how he teaches professional players.

‘Learning how to coach pro players will be a great help in teaching Ji-eun swordsmanship.’

Fortunately, Coach Kang Seunghyun readily accepted my side hustle offer. I suspected it was because of the decent pay I offered.

Of course, I wasn’t relying solely on Coach Kang Seunghyun’s coaching.

‘I should also watch some swordsmanship lessons on YouTube.’

There are many videos uploaded by swordsmanship academies for promotional purposes, and quite a few vlogs and experience videos uploaded by streamers.

If I absorb all of that and read all the swordsmanship books I bought today, even I, with my lack of teaching experience, should be able to teach Ji-eun swordsmanship.

‘Besides, Ji-eun isn’t a complete beginner in swordsmanship.’

She had already attended an academy and learned from Kim Kuma. It took me, a complete novice, about a year to fully grasp swordsmanship, so shouldn’t a couple of months be enough for Ji-eun?

‘Reaching Diamond tier should be sufficient.’

Ji-eun’s goal was to pass her Diamond promotion matches.

Two months should be enough time for that.

Of course, that’s the minimum goal.

‘Since I’m teaching her anyway, it would be good to help her become a proper swordswoman.’

I’m a former Hero, after all. Ji-eun would become my apprentice in a way, and a Hero’s apprentice can’t be satisfied with just Diamond tier.

“She should at least reach Master tier.”

Wouldn’t that be more fitting for the apprentice of a Hero?