Chapter 34
“Today’s lecture ends here. The timing is just about right. Thank you, everyone, for your hard work.”
The two-hour lecture wrapped up.
Si-hyun announced the end of the lecture and powered down the equipment.
The students stood up one by one, leaving the lecture hall.
A few students remained seated, chatting among themselves.
Among them, Areum hurriedly stood up and stopped Si-hyun, who was about to leave.
“P-Professor…!”
“…Hmm, yes?”
Si-hyun turned around with a neutral expression.
With a nervous expression, Areum adjusted her glasses and spoke.
“I-I-I have a question…!”
“…Ah, I see.”
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Si-hyun’s previously expressionless face.
Without noticing this change, Areum asked her question based on today’s lecture.
There was a brief exchange of questions and answers.
After answering all of Areum’s questions, Si-hyun observed her expression and asked,
“Did you understand?”
“Yes, yes, absolutely! I understood everything perfectly!”
Areum’s response was slightly timid but filled with enthusiasm.
Si-hyun nodded, smiling softly.
She had entered the lecture with various thoughts—whether any students would approach her during breaks with questions, what questions she might hear, and if she could answer them well.
Thanks to this earnest young student, she genuinely felt like a professor, and it lifted her spirits.
Areum unconsciously stared at the professor’s face.
With a smile on her once expressionless face, it felt like the surroundings brightened up.
Without realizing it, she spoke.
“P-Professor…”
“Do you have more questions?”
The response came in a gentle tone.
Areum blinked, confused.
Why did I call the professor? What was I going to ask?
“Uh… well… Ah, ah! I saw on the site that you’re listed as a Holy Knight. What kind of role is that?”
Areum, flustered, blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
Fortunately, the professor didn’t seem bothered by it.
“A Holy Knight is a tank role among melee-type hunters. I can also use some support-type skills.”
“S-Support-type skills too?! Wow…”
Areum’s eyes grew wide.
She imagined what a Holy Knight would look like—protecting allies from the front while also providing support as needed.
If this were a game, wouldn’t that be like an all-rounded character?
‘That’s… so cool!’
Areum looked at Si-hyun with sparkling eyes.
Enrolling in Introduction to Monster Studies had truly been a stroke of luck.
“I’m actually a support-type hunter! C-Could I maybe… ask you more questions if I have them in the future?”
Support-type hunters were few in number.
So few that she was the only support-type hunter among the new students this year, with no assigned professor.
Because of this, despite the ‘pseudo’ label, Professor Jeong Si-hyun seemed incredibly impressive to Areum.
“Support-type… I see, you’re a student.”
Si-hyun’s eyes widened slightly.
She had heard that there was only one support-type student among the new admissions this year.
She remembered the Academy Principal expressing regret over the sharp decrease in numbers compared to last year.
So, this student had been attending her lecture.
For Si-hyun, Areum was also the first support-type hunter she’d encountered since returning to Earth, sparking her curiosity.
“Your name is Go Areum, correct?”
“Yes, yes!”
Oh my gosh, the professor remembers my name!
Areum’s mouth dropped open in awe.
“The end of the second-floor hallway in the professor’s building is where my office is. Since I’m often out, it’d be better to contact me before visiting.”
“Yes!”
With Areum’s energetic response, Si-hyun smiled broadly and left the lecture hall.
Watching the professor’s retreating figure, Areum couldn’t help but smile goofily.
From a distance, Eun-byul, who had been lying on a desk, finally raised her head.
She approached Areum, who was standing there in a daze.
“What did you ask the professor about?”
“Lecture stuff… and her role?”
“Her role?”
Eun-byul squinted, deep in thought.
What was the professor’s role again…? Oh, right, Holy Knight.
“That’s unique, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, right?”
Eun-byul’s interest didn’t go much further.
Although she acknowledged that today’s lecture had been rich, it hadn’t piqued her curiosity beyond that.
Of course, what mattered was that today’s lecture had been incredible.
Eun-byul glanced around the lecture hall.
Most of the students had already left, but a few remained, watching the professor and Areum.
Eun-byul approached a tall, handsome male student sitting by the aisle.
“Hello?”
“…? Yes, hello.”
They exchanged introductions.
The male student, Kwon Jae-woo, looked at Eun-byul with a hint of curiosity.
Eun-byul spoke nonchalantly as if it was no big deal.
“I’m planning to check out today’s lecture content in an actual dungeon. What’s your role, Jae-woo?”
“I’m a melee-type hunter.”
“Just as I thought! I’m a magic-type, and my friend here is a support-type. Want to form a temporary party?”
“Hmm…”
“…Huh?”
Jae-woo thought for a moment.
And Areum looked at Eun-byul, surprised.
“A d-d-d-dungeon?!”
“You said you’ve never been, right? Let’s go together this time. Don’t you have free time after today’s classes?”
“W-Well, y-y-yes, but…”
“As long as we have enough people, E-rank dungeons aren’t a big deal! Right, Jae-woo?”
Jae-woo nodded lightly.
Compared to the sharply increasing difficulty from D-rank dungeons, E-rank dungeons were manageable as long as you didn’t let your guard down.
Actually, Jae-woo had been forming temporary two-person parties and entering E-rank dungeons every day.
All thanks to the assistance of his Awakening and the Status Window.
“Eun-byul, you have experience with dungeons, right?”
“Yes! Not every day, but I go regularly.”
“Good, let’s go.”
Having a Support-type Hunter with them was concerning at first.
But her role made up for everything.
Jae-woo accepted Eun-byul’s proposal.
Areum looked at the two of them with trembling eyes.
She didn’t want to go, but the atmosphere made it impossible to back out.
“Ugh…”
She lowered her head helplessly.
‘Well, I knew I’d have to go eventually…’ she consoled herself.
***
“Oh! So your trait is Regeneration – you’re really sturdy!”
After a round of battle inside the E-rank dungeon,
Eun-byul observed Jae-woo with fascination.
Areum, who had been hiding at a distance, dashed over and used her skill on Jae-woo.
Combining with Jae-woo’s trait, his wounds healed in an instant.
“With a tank and a healer, our stability is amazing! Right?”
“Yes, it seems that way. You’re skilled too, Eun-byul.”
“Thanks.”
Eun-byul gave a bright smile as Jae-woo praised her in a calm tone.
“This feels good. We’ll need a few more runs to be sure, but want to make this a regular party for now?”
“Eep…”
Areum looked at Eun-byul with a pale expression, as if she’d heard something terrifying.
But Eun-byul spoke with a firm tone.
“Areum, you’re an Academy student. You need to adapt.”
“Yeah…”
Areum nodded meekly.
Not every Awakened person lives as a Hunter.
Many stop at E-rank and live an ordinary life.
Being Support-type doesn’t change that fact.
Enrolling at the Academy meant she’d chosen to live as a Hunter.
Eun-byul was pointing that out.
“If we had one more Melee-type Hunter, we’d be set. Hm…”
Eun-byul looked thoughtful, satisfied with the situation.
Meanwhile, in Areum’s case—
During the battle, she stayed back and only observed,
though it was scary, she realized one thing.
The goblins’ movements were exactly as described in the lecture!
There were individual differences, but they weren’t major.
It was like seeing the lecture material unfold before her.
The more she observed, the more she saw that Professor Jeong Si-hyun’s words were spot on.
Not only that, both Eun-byul and Jae-woo seemed to be mindful of the lessons from today’s lecture in their fighting.
‘This is more valuable than my major classes…?’
Professor Jeong Si-hyun’s credibility was soaring in Areum’s mind.
She’d only signed up for Monster Studies thinking it was essential knowledge.
If she’d missed this class? She’d regret it for life.
Areum nodded deeply in admiration.
She was so glad she’d decided to take this lecture.
***
Click, click—
I walked leisurely toward the Academy’s main gate.
I felt like today’s lecture went really well.
I was practically floating with satisfaction. Hehehe…
And that shy student who asked a question at the end!
I really appreciated that passion.
I believe those who make an effort deserve a reward.
If she reaches out to me later, I wouldn’t mind giving her private lessons.
I’d get to satisfy my curiosity about Support-type Hunters too.
It would be beneficial for both of us.
‘Did I arrive a bit early?’
Before I knew it, I’d reached the main gate.
I took out my phone to check messages; it seemed the Wings Guild’s car would arrive in a few minutes.
With time to spare, I took out the student roster.
Up until now, I’d only focused on names and faces for attendance purposes.
Seeing student Go Areum made me think, ‘Should I check their basic traits?’
“Hm…”
There’s a Magic-type Hunter student here too?
It must be that girl who was resting her chin and yawning at the beginning of class.
Her diligent note-taking halfway through was quite cute…
‘Hmm?’
Kwon Jae-woo. Melee-type Hunter, trait: Regeneration.
Regeneration, regeneration…
Why does that sound familiar?
…Ah.
I remember now! He’s Subject Number One for observation!
The E-rank Hunter who looked like a total novice.
So he’s an Academy freshman and even enrolled in my lecture?
He didn’t act familiar with me during the two classes.
Well, just because we went through a dungeon together once doesn’t mean much.
Honestly, I might have done the same.
Still… that ability is enviable.
I’d forgotten about it, but now that I recall, I feel a bit envious again.
Please, let me Awaken too…
Honk!
I was lost in thought when a car horn sounded, making me turn my head.
A van had stopped a bit further away, with the passenger-side window rolled down.
“Si-hyun!”
“Oh, hey.”
It was a Wings Guild member.
I approached the car and got into the back seat.
“Hello!”
“Hello.”
“Thanks for joining us today!”
“Yes.”
I replied casually and looked around at the people.
Including the driver and front passenger, there were five men in total.
One of them was Han-gyeol.
Today’s dungeon party would be one C-rank and four D-ranks.
It represented half of the Wings Guild’s combat power.
After taking in the situation, I leaned back in my seat.
Just then, Han-gyeol, sitting beside me, spoke up.
“Si… Si-hyun. Thank you so much for being with us today.”
“…No problem. It’s work, and it’s part of the contract.”
“But still! You took time out of your busy schedule to help us, right? Ji-han got a bit hurt this time, so I feel like I need to get used to things quickly.”
“…I see.”
So Ji-han’s the one who got hurt.
I gave a slight nod, and then I heard voices from the back.
“Hey, have you seen this?”
“What is it? Oh, a video of Hunter Kim Ji-a.”
“Ji-han recommended it to me, and wow, it’s amazing.”
“Should I check it out?”
…A video of Ji-a?
I became slightly curious and listened in.
“Man, she’s seriously cool.”
“Yeah—totally amazing! Are there more videos like this?”
“Wait a sec. Ji-han saved a bunch of her videos for me to watch later, and now I get why.”
“Haha, that guy’s so enthusiastic.”
The men were singing Ji-a’s praises.
I nodded with satisfaction.
Yes, yes. I understand that sentiment.
I’ve been through dungeons with her, and I’ve seen those recommended videos too.
Her graceful spear handling is an art.
Especially when her hair flows with each movement—
“Her hair swaying like that, seriously… wow.”
“Play the next one already!”
These guys know what’s good.
—
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