(104)
Is it because it is a place to start or return to?
A place called an airport always seems to have charm and romance that excite people.
“Sensei Kang, what are you doing? Aren’t you going?”
“Yes, I am going.”
In fact, if you think realistically, it’s not just such a romantic and charming place.
Duty-free shops are cheap, but the food is filthy expensive and there are quite a few people who talk loudly.
Above all, Incheon Airport here is too far from Seoul.
I told the principal that I wanted to go even if I paid my own money, but after I got all the consent forms, I was officially included in the number of people who had to go on a preliminary field trip, so I went on a free trip with school expenses.
Of course, considering the price of chicken and pizza I spent on the kids when I was told to come here, it’s absolutely not free, but rather a deficit… .
Since I was in the red, I should have added some of my own money and boarded a plane from Gimpo to Haneda.
That would have saved me a bit more time.
Since I was going for security, I ended up going from Incheon to Narita without any hesitation.
The seats are also economy.
Of course, it doesn’t take long to get to Japan, and Narita and the airport aren’t too bad.
In my previous life, I was a third-rate writer without money, so I only took the 1,000 yen bus every time, but I know that there is a subway (?) that goes to downtown Tokyo in about 40 minutes with a little more money.
Well, now it doesn’t matter if you just call a taxi from the airport to the hotel and take it.
“Does Mr. Kang have only one luggage?”
“It’s 2 nights and 3 days, but this one is enough.”
I only brought clothes in my carry-on carrier, but the two teachers I went with brought a large carrier.
“Then, when I return, can I put it on the plane and send some luggage in Mr. Kang’s name? I have a lot of things my wife wants me to buy. I want to buy another carrier locally.”
“Yes. it’s okay.”
After checking in the luggage and getting the boarding pass, I looked at the departure hall and it was very crowded with people even though it was Friday morning.
I still have more than an hour left until departure time, but it seems to take a little longer than I thought.
“There are so many people.”
“It’s Friday.”
“Does Mr. Kang speak some Japanese? Didn’t you say you went to a foreign language academy every weekend?”
“It’s a Chinese academy.”
“Oh, was it Chinese?”
“Well, since Japan also uses Chinese characters, the meaning seems to be similar, but… .”
“There was something that even Teacher Kang couldn’t do. I still have JLPT level 3.”
“Ah yes. You’re amazing. Then you just have to trust Mr. Park.”
“uh? It’s been a while since that was different, but… Well, if you do, you’ll remember.”
“I don’t have a license either, but I go to Japan a lot and have casual conversations. Trust us.”
“It’s really reassuring that you two are here.”
I give him some compliments, so both of them shrug their shoulders, but I try to laugh without knowing it.
To be honest, I also spent a year in Japan on a working holiday in my previous life, so I speak Japanese quite well.
But that’s a past life anyway. Kang Shin-hyeok has never been to Japan.
Besides, if I say I know how to do it, I’m the youngest, so I might be able to do everything myself.
“Then doesn’t Mr. Kang know Japanese at all?”
“Oh, what… Just what everyone else knows… .”
“Then do you know what they say when they ask each other to have more children?”
When I suddenly asked, I can’t remember.
“I do not know. Do you know Mr. Jeong?”
“I don’t really know because I only do things like normal conversations.”
“There are many families, onegaishimasu.”
“Puhahahaha! What is it? I really need to know Mr. Park’s sense of humor. Multiple families?”
I was forcibly holding back my true colors, but Mr. Jung burst into tears.
Anyway, the old men… .
I think my kids would feel this way too if I did a gag from time to time… Mirror therapy is confirmed.
Well, it’s comforting to see that he doesn’t laugh at gags like this.
“Seeing that Mr. Kang doesn’t smile, it seems he really doesn’t know Japanese at all.”
“Ah yes.”
It’s better to pretend not to know at all.
The line doesn’t show any signs of shrinking.
“Has there been an accident before? Why isn’t it getting smaller?”
“So, are you going to catch a plane today?”
“We fall off little by little, so if we wait, our turn will come someday.”
“Mr. Kang is an S-rank hunter, so there’s no such thing as a free pass privilege?”
“Yes? No, the airport is not a school cafeteria, so what kind of free pass privileges are there?”
“Really not? You are the name of the Hunter Association, yes, this, four, sir.”
“Ugh, why are you like that? embarrass people. I’ve never heard of such a privilege. If there was such a thing, wouldn’t they have let it through sooner?”
I don’t think there was anything like that the last time I left for London for the WHCU competition… .
Of course, I wasn’t an S-rank hunter at the time, but the vice principal and Kim Dae-chan were with me.
“You never know.”
It’s not that there’s no point at all, but back then, the line wasn’t as long as it is now, so I might have just walked in.
“Maybe he didn’t recognize him because he was wearing sunglasses. Just in time, the staff is right there in front of you. Go and ask.”
I don’t like waiting either, but I think it would be quite embarrassing if I didn’t ask… .
“Are you afraid you’ll be embarrassed if I say no? Mr. Kang, it’s not embarrassing to ask questions you don’t know. I’m afraid to ask because I’m afraid of shame, and I’m ashamed to live without knowing.”
I don’t think that’s what I use when I’m like this… .
“yes. You have to go down to see it. Let’s take a look at the director.”
In the end, I couldn’t win the notice of the two teachers, replied that I knew, and took out my cell phone.
“Why are you calling?”
“It would be more accurate to ask the secretary than to ask the staff.”
“Oh, as expected, Director. Let’s walk quickly.”
I told him to stop teasing and called the secretary’s office.
―This is the secretary’s office of the Hunter Association. How can I help you?
“This is Kang Shin-hyeok.”
―Yes, Director Kang. What are you doing?
“Uh, over there… I’m at the airport right now, and the line at the departure hall is a bit long. Is there any benefit? Like diplomats, going through without formalities… .”
It’s a bit embarrassing to ask such a thing.
―Of course there is.
Of course there is?
“Yes? Then what should I do?”
Can I just tell the staff that I am Kang Shin-hyeok?
―Did you not receive information from the airline when you checked in?
“I didn’t say anything… .”
―For foreign airlines, all departures from Korea are applied, so there’s no way… . Oh, didn’t you make the reservation yourself?
“Yes. The plane ticket was canceled by the school. Does the benefit apply only if I make a direct reservation?”
―It’s not like that, but if you make a reservation directly, the airline is supposed to guide you.
“Yes. So how do you apply benefits? .”
―All you have to do is show your passport to the airport staff at the departure hall, which is strange. Director Kang is so famous, he would have guided me just by looking at his face.
“I guess I didn’t recognize him because I was wearing sunglasses. Thank you for answer.”
-No. It is our job to help the directors. So, good trip… Ah, since you said that the school gave you a ticket, it must be a business trip. Have a safe trip.
“Ah yes. thank you.”
Also, the office staff are very friendly.
“Sensei Kang, are you there?”
“Yes. They say there is.”
“What did I say? Because I knew something like that would happen.”
“Ohh, as expected Isa Kang.”
Both of them have blushes on their faces.
“Then I will go.”
“yes.”
I must have been confirmed by the secretary’s office. I approached the employee with a comfortable mind.
“Hey man, you shouldn’t cut in the line. Please return to your seat.”
“It’s not that I’m trying to cut in line, it’s because I found out that I don’t need to go through the procedures… . Here you go.”
I felt like I had to hand over my passport and show my face as I spoke, so I slightly lowered my sunglasses so that only the staff could see.
“What is that… Go, Hunter Kang Shin-hyeok?”
“Yes. Can I get right past you?”
“Sure. This one is complicated, so let’s go that way. You can use the diplomatic passage.”
Oh, as the secretary’s office said, it’s completely free pass.
“Hey, I have a group.”
“Party? Are you family?”
“It’s not my family, it’s my co-workers… .”
“I’m sorry, but it’s difficult to pass through together if you’re not an immediate family member.”
“ah… okay.”
“What would you like to do?”
“Then wait a minute. I will go to my friends.”
I went back to where the two of us were.
“Is it okay if I just follow Mr. Kang?”
“Are you going down the diplomatic aisle?”
I’m sorry that both of you are looking forward to it very much.
“They say you can’t pass unless you and your immediate family.”
“Oh yeah?”
“I can’t help it. Then we will have no choice but to wait together.”
“All together?”
“Ah, Mr. Kang… Are you going to go alone without loyalty?”
“Mr. Park too, would Mr. Kang abandon us?”
“We don’t have to suffer together. I will go first and wait.”
“Go, Mr. Kang?”
“no… Teacher Kang!”
If I didn’t know, I would have waited together, but now that I know, I can’t help it.
* * *
“Oh, I’m dying to ride the bus for five hours. I don’t get motion sickness, but it feels like the ramen I ate earlier is coming up.”
“Yeah. Drink in moderation yesterday.”
“Wasn’t yesterday the last night? You should enjoy it while you can.”
Three days have passed since I came to Japan.
The schedule is set according to the schedule of the school trip, as it is a preliminary field trip.
The school trip is a total of 4 nights and 5 days, and the preliminary field trip is 2 nights and 3 days, so it’s not exactly the same, but I still have to visit as many places as possible, so the schedule is quite tight.
Of course, most of them just stopped by and took a few pictures, so it wasn’t that I didn’t have much time.
But as of today, the schedule is really tight.
I had to go all the way to Nagoya, where the Black Temple is located, more than 300 kilometers away from Tokyo.
In fact, if you take the Shinkansen, you will arrive in less than two hours.
However, the price of the Shinkansen is so wicked even with a group discount, so on school trips, it is decided to go by bus, perhaps because of cost savings.
Expensive is expensive, and we have a short schedule… I just wanted to travel by Shinkansen, but I couldn’t.
After all, we were on a field trip.
So I got out early in the morning and took the bus.
First of all, if we can ride and ride, we will just take the bus and say that it will not be possible, but they say that we will change to the Shinkansen or plane… Do you know if you have to ride this?
“I heard that Nagoya is a place I go to every year, but shouldn’t I leave it out when I go to a place like this in advance?”
“Who is it? I think all the kids will hate it too. What do you think, Mr. Kang?”
Teacher Park asked with a jingling expression on her face, but to be honest, the 5 and a half hours on the bus is hard for me too.
When I go on a school trip, I rent a chartered bus, so it cuts down on about an hour, but it’s still four hours.
Even if I had a little more money, I would take a plane or Shinkansen.
If it doesn’t work, even my classmates would just take the Shinkansen and move.
No bus ever.
“It seems a bit far.”
“It’s not a little bit, it’s five and a half hours. Why the hell do I go there every time… . I heard there’s not much to see.”
“Why why? It’s because of the principal. You include it in your schedule every year to show off your achievements.”
“I heard rumors like that, but were they true?”
“The Black Temple is not a place anyone can enter. It is set as a restricted area by the Japanese government and is specially managed. As we will see later, there are a lot of CCTVs and they are all soldiers. The security is so strict that even Japanese cannot enter without permission.”
“yes? How can such a place be included in a school trip itinerary? .”
“Your vice-principal got a stake in the portal from the Japanese government because he played an active part in the attack on the Black Temple. If the vice principal agrees, anyone can go. When I went last year, there was even a statue of the vice principal at the entrance.”
“The rumors are true.”
“right. But last year I went to Osaka in three hours… .”
“Hey, why don’t we all decide to go with just one person on our rock-paper-scissors? For the rest, take a break near the airport.”
“Oh, that’s a great idea. You don’t have to go to all three. Does Mr. Kang agree?”
It seems that both of them do not want to go for a while.
“Then should I just go alone?”
“Oh, Mr. Kang… Will you?”
“Wow! After all, Mr. Kang is the best.”
In the original work, Lee Ji-sung and Kim Do-hyun got a chance even though they were together with numerous students and teachers, so there is no big problem even if they go together.
But it’s more comfortable to be alone.
The teachers said they would take care of my luggage, so I left it with the teachers, and as soon as I arrived in Nagoya, I took a taxi.
After running for about 20 minutes, you will see a very large portal entrance in front of you.