Chapter 41
Late morning on a spring day at a brunch café.
A woman took a seat by the window where soft sunlight was streaming in.
Her long, white hair glowed softly in the morning sun.
With an expressionless face, she looked around the café.
The bright paintings on the wall, the gentle music, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee.
The leisurely atmosphere pleased her, and she gave a light nod.
After a moment, the door to the café opened, and another woman entered.
Noticing the woman by the window, she smiled and waved.
“It’s been a while. Have you been well?”
“Yes, and you?”
Si-hyun and Ji-a exchanged light greetings.
Ji-a took a seat across from Si-hyun, her shoulder-length hair gently swaying.
“Good job with the business trip out of town.”
“Thanks, though it’s tiring even if it happens often.”
Ji-a let out a light sigh.
“Wasn’t this meeting time awkward? I’m sorry; I only had time right now.”
“No, it’s fine! You’re taking the time to meet despite being busy.”
“Still… Ah, when I’m done with my backlog, let’s go eat something nice.”
“Shall we? When will you be done?”
When Si-hyun asked, Ji-a began to lightly complain.
Si-hyun smiled softly, supporting Ji-a as she vented her stress.
Thanks to her receptive listener, Ji-a felt her stress melt away and gave a pretty smile.
Afterward, the two of them looked at the menu and cheerfully discussed what to order.
The server, after confirming their order, left.
Ji-a propped her chin on her fingers and looked at Si-hyun in front of her.
She usually wore her long straight hair down without much styling.
But today, for some reason, she had come with her hair styled beautifully.
It definitely seemed that styling her hair made her bright appearance shine even more.
“Your half-up hairstyle looks great. Did Si-yoon do it for you?”
“…Yes. She even taught me how to do it.”
Si-hyun awkwardly adjusted the part of her hair that was tied up.
Her earlobes turned red, as if embarrassed.
Ji-a chuckled at her cute reaction.
“Who would have thought you’d want to learn?”
“It… it was forced upon me.”
“’Forced,’ you say?”
“Mm-hmm…”
At Ji-a’s question, Si-hyun wriggled her knees and answered, fidgeting.
“I gave her some merchandise as a gift, and she asked if I couldn’t at least do this one thing, so I couldn’t argue…”
“Ah, I see.”
Ji-a immediately understood.
It meant that Si-hyun had sacrificed her Momobin merchandise, letting her sister treat her like a plaything.
And, she even taught her how to do it herself.
Si-yoon seemed to have handled it quite well.
Ji-a chuckled, picturing the scene clearly in her mind.
“It… it doesn’t look weird, right?”
“It suits you well! Why don’t you try styling like this from now on?”
“Well, you know… I’m aware it was bullying back then. But, I got sick of hearing things like ‘don’t show off when you’re ugly’…”
“…Ah.”
Although the subject was left out, Ji-a understood perfectly.
Ugh, that hero party again.
“No, really, you’re beautiful and it suits you well! I think you should have confidence and try styling more.”
“You… you think so?”
Si-hyun pressed a hand to her cheek as she replied.
Her slightly slouched shoulders straightened a bit.
“Yes, I’ll try little by little.”
“Great! There’s no need to rush.”
Ji-a nodded approvingly.
Si-hyun usually responded with “I’ll think about it” when she was going to refuse.
The fact that she replied this way meant she was seriously considering it.
“Here’s your food.”
The server approached and placed their dishes on the table.
The two began their meal, chatting amicably.
They talked about how Si-hyun’s life as an Academy professor was, if she had made any new friends among the faculty, and so on.
In the middle of their conversation, Ji-a checked the time on her phone and spoke up.
“Actually, when I planned to meet you today, I wanted to suggest going to a dungeon together sometime.”
“Oh, sure. As long as it’s not a lecture day, I’m good.”
For the past few days, Si-hyun had been working diligently with the Wings Guild and had almost completed her assignments.
Si-hyun gave a positive response, but Ji-a shook her head slightly.
“I had booked an A-rank dungeon with a tight deadline, but a big guild swooped in and took it.”
“…Huh? Took it?”
“It’s a high-level dungeon. Just because you apply doesn’t mean you get it; the Management Bureau considers various factors.”
“Ah, I see.”
Understanding the explanation, Si-hyun nodded.
“I was hoping to experience your buffs again…”
Ji-a slumped slightly, and Si-hyun smiled gently.
To a Support-type Hunter, this was almost the highest compliment.
“There will be other chances. How about another A-rank dungeon?”
“The timeline is generous, but it’s too far away. A day trip wouldn’t be feasible.”
“Hmm… I see.”
It didn’t have to be a day trip, but if it was too far, it would be mentally and physically exhausting.
If it was necessary to go, they’d plan it out in detail later.
The two shifted the conversation to other topics.
After finishing their meal, which served as both breakfast and lunch.
Ji-a checked the time again and spoke.
“Si-hyun, today’s a lecture day, right? Do you want me to give you a lift to the Academy?”
“Oh, would that be okay?”
“Yes, I have a bit of time. It should be fine.”
“I’d appreciate it if you could.”
Si-hyun had planned to spend the remaining time in her office since she was already out.
She gladly accepted Ji-a’s offer.
***
During the third and fourth class periods at the Academy.
The melee-type Hunter students gathered in small groups on the field, listening to the lecture.
One of those students, Kwon Jae-woo, wiped the sweat off his forehead.
“Oh, there’s that beautiful professor.”
“Where? Where is she?”
Several male students looked toward the staircase in the corner of the field.
Jae-woo also looked in that direction.
Professor Jung Si-hyun, who teaches Introduction to Monster Studies, was sitting on the steps, observing the students.
She sipped from a disposable plastic cup with a straw.
The male students who recognized her greeted her, and she smiled lightly, waving back.
“Wow, she’s really pretty. A goddess, for sure.”
“Agh! I should’ve taken the Introduction to Monster Studies course as an elective.”
“Doesn’t that class take place in the same building as ours? Every time I pass by, my heart just flutters.”
“Her voice must be pretty too, right? I’ve never heard it, though.”
“Of course, wouldn’t it be? It’d be disappointing if she had a deep or husky voice with that face.”
Although Jae-woo didn’t join in the conversation, he unknowingly nodded.
The Introduction to Monster Studies lecture room is tucked away at the end of a hallway, and Professor Jung Si-hyun doesn’t use a microphone.
If you’re not a student in her class, it makes sense you wouldn’t have heard her voice.
“You all! Take a proper break and let’s get back to it!”
“Yes, sir!”
The male students fell silent only after the professor conducting the lecture scolded them.
But it was only for a moment.
Soon the third period ended, break time arrived, and Professor Jung Si-hyun left her spot.
However, the male students started chatting among themselves again.
“They say that professor is a melee-type Hunter. Do you think she’ll teach any specialized classes later?”
“What specialized classes? She’s only a D-rank.”
The mention of ranks made the male students laugh and chuckle.
Jae-woo quietly opened and closed his mouth without saying anything.
Even though he didn’t join the conversation, he had already built a rapport with them.
He pondered for a moment.
“Honestly, isn’t her appearance the only thing she has going for her?”
“Hey, that appearance is amazing!”
“That’s true! I bet her lectures aren’t anything special. Everyone probably signed up just because of her looks.”
“…Looks like you guys haven’t heard the rumours.”
In the end, Jae-woo couldn’t hold back and joined the conversation.
He could no longer stand the way they mocked Professor Jung Si-hyun.
“Rumour has it the content in Introduction to Monster Studies is amazing.”
“Oh, really?”
“This is the first I’ve heard of it.”
They all looked surprised.
But Jae-woo didn’t care.
“After fourth period, check the community or something. I’m sure you’ll see it.”
“Do we have to?”
“Well, I’ll look it up if I feel like it.”
The male students responded indifferently.
But Jae-woo’s effort wasn’t wasted.
“Oh, I think I saw something too. A post came up in the community last week.”
“Oh, really?”
Other students joined the conversation.
“What was it? Detail? I remember someone saying it was incredible or something like that.”
“Oh, that! Was that for Introduction to Monster Studies?”
“I think so?”
“And being an Academy professor because of her looks? That doesn’t make sense.”
“…”
The students who had been ridiculing Si-hyun based on her rank grew quiet as others supported Jae-woo’s comments.
Satisfied, Jae-woo returned to listening quietly.
The students who had belittled Si-hyun based on her rank didn’t say a word until the end of the fourth period.
***
After the specialized courses for the third and fourth periods ended.
Jae-woo grabbed a light snack at the basement cafeteria in the building.
Since he was about to attend the fifth and sixth-period lecture for Introduction to Monster Studies, the timing was tight.
With nowhere else to pass the time, he went straight to the lecture hall.
And then, he saw it.
“A… monster?!”
At the front of the lecture hall, on top of a desk.
There stood a terrifying goblin!
Startled, Jae-woo quickly activated his status window and drew a weapon.
He gripped the hilt of his sword with both hands.
This was the scariest-looking goblin he’d ever seen.
Tensing up, he prepared to fight at any moment.
“…?”
Then, he noticed another figure a bit too late.
Professor Jung Si-hyun was leaning against the lectern, watching it with a playful expression.
—
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