Star Instructor, Master Baek-Chapter 387: What Did He Say Just Now?

The peace was short-lived. As soon as the Azure Games resumed, the Blue and White Teams clashed fiercely upon returning to their respective camps, burning with competitive spirit as if they hadn't shared a meal amicably just moments before.
"Show no mercy!"
"From now on, we are enemies again!"
Several unforgettable memories were created in the process.
Namgung Su dribbled past five people and kicked the ball into the Blue Team's goal without dropping it even once during the Football Match.1
Baek Suryong scaled a sheer cliff in one breath without using inner arts and snatched the opposing team's flag in the Rock Climbing Competition.
Geo Sangwoong and Ya Suhyeok each defeated ten Blue Team members and roared in triumph after the Sumo Wrestling Match.
Tang Soso received a perfect score in the Hidden Weapons Throwing Contest for hitting a small candy on Baek Suryong's head with her eyes closed.
Ak Yeonho and Myeong Il'oh set an overwhelming record in the Game of Charades, demonstrating the perfect synergy of a married couple (?).
Hyonwon Kang misunderstood the rules and kicked the ball toward the Blue Team, earning a slap on the back from Yeo Min.
Wiji Cheon smiled brightly despite having flour all over his face.
All this time, the Azure Dragon Academy's Art Club quickly captured these scenes on paper and compiled them into an art book for sale. (Later, the book became so popular that it was impossible to find a copy.)
Before long, the last event of the Azure Games ended, and only the winner announcement remained.
"...All our hard work was worth it," Dokgo Jun rasped, looking around emotionally at the students and spectators filling the grand training ground.
He recalled last year's Azure Games, a lackluster sports day with low attendance where it was difficult to see joy on any of the participating students' faces. Bang Baekhyun, the Student Council President at the time, had tried to boost morale, but the students' reactions were lukewarm at best.
This year, on the other hand, the students were so excited that at one point, the Student Council had to beg them to calm down.
It's hard to believe that our school spirit could improve so much in just one year. If I told my graduated seniors that, no one would believe me.
Dokgo Jun felt that he would have no regrets even if his term as the Student Council President ended today.
No, there's one more event.
Dokgo Jun glanced at the Student Council members. " Let's ride this momentum all the way to the Heavenly Martial Festival! We'll show the entire murim that the Azure Dragon has taken flight!"
""Yes, President!""
The Student Council members nodded vigorously, their eyes filled with pride and purpose.
Just then, one of the members approached Dokgo Jun hesitantly. "President, we have a problem. A very big problem."
"...Did Mr. Baek Suryong or Mr. Namgung Su break something again?" Dokgo Jun asked. The two teachers had already broken a considerable number of things during the Azure Games.
The student council member shook his head. "It's not that... The score sheet has disappeared."
"What?!" Dokgo Jun's face paled. "Are you talking about the piece of paper with each team's score? It vanished without a trace!?"
"I'm sorry. I'm sure I had pressed it down firmly with a paperweight..."
"What do we do now...?"
Dokgo Jun's heart raced. He had to announce the final results of the Azure Games soon, but since the Student Council had assigned slightly different points for each of the numerous events, even if they remembered who won what, no one could recall the overall scores.
The officer in charge of the score sheet bowed his head in dismay. "It vanished without a trace while I went to the privy... I'm really sorry."
"It's alright," Dokgo Jun said, trying his best to remain calm. "More importantly, does anyone remember the actual scores?"
Everyone shook their heads anxiously.
"I don't know the exact scores."
"If Senior Tang Soso were here, she would definitely remember..."
"The scores were very close, too..."
The competition between the Blue and White Teams at the Azure Games was fierce. Each team's victory in one event was counterbalanced by the other team's win in the next. This resulted in similar scores.
"Of all times for this to happen..."
Dokgo Jun grit his teeth. Considering the two teachers' personalities, if he didn't show them proof, the loser would never admit defeat.
"Hoho! It seems you're in a difficult situation," a familiar voice suddenly said.
"Principal?"
The students turned around to see Noh Goonsang, who had just switched shifts with Mae Geuklyom.
Noh Goonsang entered the Student Council tent with his hands clasped behind his back. "I happened to overhear that you've lost the score sheet while I was passing by."
"We'll find it soon. I'll just tell everyone to wait a little longer..."
Noh Goonsang smiled genially and cut off Dokgo Jun, "There's no need for that. I will announce the results."
"Pardon?" Dokgo Jun blinked in confusion.
Before he could do anything, though, Noh Goonsang turned around and ascended the stairs to the main stage.
Seeing the Azure Dragon Academy Principal, the students and instructors who had finished the games and were resting all turned their attention toward him.
"Everyone has worked hard, running around all day. I will now announce the final winner of the Azure Games, so the Commanders of the Blue Team and the White Team, please come up onto the stage!" Noh Goonsang announced, his low but powerful voice silencing the noise in an instant.
Baek Suryong and Namgung Su climbed onto the stage from opposite sides, all the while shooting murderous glances at each other.
"Namgung Su. Did you come up prepared to be humiliated?"
"Baek Suryong. Have you still not learned humility even after being defeated so badly?"
At the sight of the two still burning with competitive spirit, Noh Goonsang laughed heartily. "Oh dear, but I'm afraid you two won't be able to settle this score today. Because this year's Azure Games... has ended in a DRAW!"
"...What?" Baek Suryong's jaw dropped in shock.
"A draw, you say?" Namgung Su spat in disbelief.
The students of the Blue and White Teams, the instructors, and the many spectators were all similarly taken aback.
"A draw? Seriously?"
"I think we both won and lost a similar number of events..."
"Still, didn't the Blue Team win more?"
"What are you talking about? The White Team won more."
Murmurs broke out as opinions were divided among both the participants and spectators.
Noh Goonsang continued, "Of a total of twenty competition events, the Blue Team and the White Team each won ten. I thought the winner would be decided by the detailed scores, but what do you know? They had the exact same score!"
That's a lie, though.
Noh Goonsang smirked inwardly. If Dokgo Jun had said the same thing, they would have asked him to show proof, but who would dare question him, the Azure Dragon Academy Principal and a great senior of the murim?
"A draw..."
"This is unfortunate."
A wave of disappointment spread among the spectators.
Noh Goonsang laughed heartily and threw the bait. "The Azure Games will be held next year as well, so wouldn't it be fine to come and see the two instructors settle their score again then?"
"...!!"
Would a sports day this crazy be held again next year? Perhaps they wouldn't have been interested if they hadn't known from the start, but now that they had gotten a taste of it, how could any of them possibly pass up on next year's Azure Games?
The spectators' initial frustration instantly turned into anticipation. The result wasn't that important after all. They were incredibly lucky just to have been able to watch the Azure Games and join in the fun.
"Of course! We will definitely come again next year!"
"Make sure to settle the score next time!"
"Do you sell advance tickets? I intend to buy several..."
Noh Goonsang smiled gently as he looked at the spectators. Although he was usually just a kind old man who went 'hoho', at important moments, he was still the Azure Dragon Academy Principal.
"Hoho! Thank you all! Now, could we please have a round of applause for our Azure Dragon Academy students and instructors, who showed great skill and passion today?"
Unified applause and cheers erupted for the competitors in the Azure Games.
Baek Suryong grumbled, "Fuck, I failed to account for this sly old fox of a Principal..."
"...Let's postpone the match until next year," Namgung Su said firmly.
Surprisingly, the two rivals accepted the draw meekly, glaring at each other one last time before descending the stage.
"Now, I hope you will all throw off your headbands and enjoy the rest of the festival together!"
With Noh Goonsang's closing declaration, the Azure Games ended.
Dokgo Jun stared at Noh Goonsang as the old man left, chuckling to himself.
Don't tell me... Was it him? Did the Principal steal the score sheet? Well... does it really matter?
Watching the students who had been at odds just a moment before wrap their arms familiarly around each other's shoulders, he smiled in satisfaction.
"A draw doesn't seem so bad either."
The Azure Games had come to a close, but the cultural festival had just begun. The traps on the grand training ground were quickly cleared away to make room for a performance stage, tents, and food stalls.
Soon, the main Azure Dragon Festival was in full swing.
"Come watch us! The Martial Dance Club will perform at 7 pm!"
"The Art Club, also known as Paparazzi,2 will draw your portrait! We also take commissions!"
"Selling sky lanterns for tomorrow's lantern festival! Fifty percent off if you buy NOW!
"We'll read your fortune! Come with your lover and get your fortune told!"
The visitors who came to Azure Dragon Academy for the Azure Games gladly stayed for the rest of the festival. Time flew by as they watched eye-catching performances, ate food made by students, and looked at unique items for sale.
During the two-day festival, a bar was permitted to operate inside the academy. Age verification was conducted, of course, but the older Azure Dragon Academy students eagerly jumped at the chance to make handsome profits.
"Wahahaha! Let's drink!"
The Azure Dragon Academy's new instructor gang convened at this outdoor bar. During the Azure Games, students often clashed with students, and instructors with instructors, so they had all fought valiantly today.
"Kaaah! What a pity! Baek Suryong charged at me on his horse, and the difference was razor-thin. If I had turned my horse just a little to the left, he would have fallen, not me," Kwak Duyong boasted.
Ak Yeonho, whose face was as red as a beetroot, rolled his eyes at the ridiculous bluff. "Cut the bullshit! I saw you get knocked out in one hit with my own two eyes!"
"Oh my, if it isn't our dear Mr. Ak Yeonho. Is your head alright? It looks kind of shiny today..."
"Who are you calling bald?!"
"What are you talking about? No one called you bald..."
A fight instantly broke out. Ak Yeonho and Kwak Duyong grabbed each other by the hair, Myeong Il'oh tried to stop them, while Jaegal Soyeong giggled to herself dreamily.
There was, however, one new face here.
"Haha, you four really are entertaining!" Jin Euihyeop exclaimed.
He was one of the instructors who fought for the White Team. He passed the temporary instructor exam in third place, but his presence faded as Baek Suryong and his colleagues began to stand out. Nevertheless, his amiable eyes and gentle demeanor made him well-liked by almost everyone in the academy.
"Hahaha! Right? You lose track of time when you drink with these guys," Kwak Duyong replied, feeling the need to entertain the guest he had invited. "When we went to the Namgung Clan together..."
Jin Euihyeop sighed. "Here we go again..."
He and Kwak Duyong had grown close while fighting together on the White Team, so when he was invited to a drinking party, he readily agreed.
Unfortunately, the person he most wanted to talk to wasn't here.
"By the way, where's Mr. Baek Suryong? Is he busy?" Jin Euihyeop asked naturally.
""!!!"" Ak Yeonho, Myeong Il'oh, and even Jaegal Soyeong, who had seemed lost in her own thoughts, all twitched imperceptibly.
"Oh, Hyung-nim? What did he say just now..." Ak Yeonho made an expression as if trying to recall what Baek Suryong had said, while surreptitiously observing Jin Euihyeop's face. "Oh, right! He said a few rats had gotten into his house, so he was going to go and catch them for a bit."
"Oh my, rats?" Jin Euihyeop sighed regrettably. "I hope he catches them quickly. If he leaves them alone, their droppings will dirty the house!"
Translator's Note:
Someone draw the artbook, I need to see it!
Football: In ancient Chinese football (蹴鞠, Cuju), two teams compete to kick a ball into the opposing team's goalpost without using their hands or letting the ball touch the ground. This same game is called Kemari in Japan. ↩
Paparazzi: 파파락지(pa-pa-rak-ji) in Korean. The hanja is 波波樂志, or Happy Waves Magazine/Newspaper. They call themselves an art club, but they're actually some kind of journalism club. Anyway, these guys will be back around 100 chapters from here, so remember them and stay tuned! ↩