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Chapter 43
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The video ended just as the fifth period concluded, and break time arrived.
As Si-hyun left the lecture hall, students began chatting excitedly.
Even students without close friends couldn’t hide their excitement and logged onto internet forums.
[Title: Wow, Introduction to Monster Studies is insane!]
[ㅇㅇ]
After watching today’s lecture video, the professor’s skills are seriously awesome.
―――
As soon as the student posted, cyber-Specters quickly responded.
– What skills are you talking about?
└ The professor fights monsters like a total pro LOLOLOL
└ Really?
└ Yeah, their charisma and verbal skills are just insane LOLOLOLOL
– Are they really that good at fighting? Now I’m curious LOLOL
– Show me what you’ve seen too!
[Title: This person should be brought in as a Swordsmanship professor]
[ㅇㅇ]
Honestly, the Introduction to Monster Studies professor seems stronger.
– What nonsense LOLOLOL
– Do you think a B-rank professor is Jaws or something?
– A mere D-rank teaching a specialized course? LOLOLOLOL
Of course, the student received a bit of flak for their overenthusiasm.
Still, at least the atmosphere inside the lecture hall mirrored that student’s feelings.
Every student enrolled in the academy shares the same dream.
“To become an outstanding hunter!”
What defines an outstanding hunter?
Dazzling skills, overwhelming power, and spectacular moves in battle.
Many imagine themselves sweeping through monsters in a grandiose fashion and dream of such a future.
This psychological tendency is exactly what TriTube hunter videos capitalize on to generate revenue.
However, Professor Jung Si-hyun’s lecture video was entirely different.
There were no flashy techniques or skills—just movements refined to near perfection in their sophistication and precision.
Yet no one doubted Si-hyun’s skill as seen in the video.
The restrained motions clearly conveyed a foundation rooted in rigorous training and extensive real-world experience.
Flashy techniques and skills are, of course, important. But what’s most vital is the basics.
Students who watched the video all came to understand this truth.
“I mean, I can’t copy it, but…”
“It’s not as easy as it looks. No way anyone can replicate that.”
“Still, those postures… Aren’t they similar to what we’ve been learning in our major courses recently?”
“So this is what it means to have solid fundamentals…”
Si-hyun’s video changed the students’ perceptions.
It freed their admiration for outstanding hunters from simple hero worship.
To become an excellent hunter, there must first be a solid foundation of basics.
What they should strive for now wasn’t flashiness but the mastery of fundamentals.
A small number of students felt a huge wall before them and grew discouraged.
However, the majority felt a sudden surge of motivation to learn.
“I want to get stronger! I want to be like that too!”
If dazzling skills are built upon that foundation… wouldn’t they become an incredible hunter?
A simple video of Si-hyun effortlessly sweeping through goblins ignited a great fire in the students’ hearts.
A flame of passion that would not easily be extinguished.
“I was planning to hit the PC café after class, but I think I’ll go train instead.”
“Hey, want to form a party and hit a dungeon?”
“Shall we? That sounds good.”
In no time, temporary parties began forming inside the lecture hall.
It was an unprecedented occurrence in the history of academy liberal arts courses.
Eun-byul and Areum were no exception to this atmosphere and momentum.
“Areum, want to go to the dungeon again after class today?”
“Well, um…”
Areum hesitated, lost in thought at Eun-byul’s suggestion.
In the meantime, Jae-woo, with whom they had gone to the dungeon a few times before, approached the two.
“Want to tackle an E-rank dungeon together after class today?”
“I’m in!”
Since they had agreed to speak casually after their previous dungeon explorations,
Eun-byul and Jae-woo exchanged opinions freely.
And then,
“I… I’ll pass this time.”
For the first time, Areum, who had always been dragged along, voiced her own opinion.
“I have plans… today.”
“…Really? That’s too bad, but it can’t be helped.”
Eun-byul nodded with a hint of disappointment.
Though going to the dungeon with just Jae-woo was an option, today didn’t have to be the day.
“Jae-woo, let’s form a party next time.”
“Alright, sounds good.”
Jae-woo also swallowed his disappointment and left.
Since he ran E-rank dungeons without fail every day, he left to form another party.
Watching him leave, Eun-byul decided to organize her thoughts.
She resolved to finish her assignments at the library and head home today.
-Creak.
The front door of the lecture hall opened as Si-hyun returned.
It was time for the sixth period to begin.
***
The third lecture of Introduction to Monster Studies continued in an extraordinary manner during the sixth period.
Of course, that was from the students’ perspective.
“I was originally going to delve deeper into theory today,”
Si-hyun said, and the students wore expressions of disbelief.
‘There’s even more to delve into?!’
All the students had similar thoughts.
“See this goblin model here?”
Si-hyun brought out a goblin model hidden behind the podium.
The atmosphere in the lecture hall instantly grew tense.
The students seated in the front row scowled as they glared at the goblin.
No matter how often they saw it, it looked unnaturally hideous.
“This is a magical tool utilizing earth magic. Let’s have a simple practice session.”
As Si-hyun explained, the students blinked rapidly, staring at the goblin.
Although research on mana stones had progressed and began to see practical use,
They had never heard of a moving monster model.
In truth, Si-hyun controlled it with elemental magic, but the students had no way of knowing that.
“Let’s move outside. Since our lecture hall is at the end of the hallway, we can use the side door.”
Once the practice session ends, today’s lecture will conclude.
As Si-hyun added this explanation, the students began packing up their belongings.
Thus, Si-hyun and the students collectively moved to the area beside the building.
Upon reaching a sufficiently spacious spot, Si-hyun casually spoke up.
“Well then, who wants to go first?”
Si-hyun scanned the students. Everyone avoided eye contact.
Despite their burning enthusiasm, the model in front of them looked far more horrifying than a real one.
They had no desire to witness its movements up close.
‘Hmm?’
Si-hyun tilted her head cutely.
She had expected them to enthusiastically raise their hands and clamour to participate.
This was an unexpected reaction.
When she had entered the lecture hall after the break, the heat of their energy had been palpable.
Was it because combat was usually taught in major courses?
Did they not want to deal with it in a liberal arts class as well?
Si-hyun felt disappointed.
So, she forced someone to participate.
“You there, student.”
“Y-yes?!”
“Come forward.”
Si-hyun picked a random student to come to the front.
It happened to be the same student who had bombarded him with questions on the first day.
Coincidentally, that student, trembling all over, stepped forward hesitantly.
Si-hyun pulled a club and a wooden wand out of the bracelet engraved with Storage Magic.
She handed the club to the goblin model and held the wand himself.
It was a prop meant to create the illusion of a magic tool.
“Student, what’s your class?”
“M-martial artist.”
“Ah, I see.”
Si-hyun understood why the student hadn’t drawn a weapon.
Seeing the trembling, she had wondered if the student simply didn’t want to participate, but that wasn’t the case.
It seemed the shaking was due to excitement and anticipation.
‘W-why me?! Could it be because I stood out on the first day?’
The martial artist student screamed internally.
Their lips and jaw quivered, and their nose wrinkled in frustration.
“The model is sturdy enough, so don’t worry and give it a try.”
“Haa…”
The other students focused their gazes on the martial artist.
There was a hint of pity and sympathy in their eyes.
But Si-hyun interpreted those gazes differently.
‘They all wanted to do it but couldn’t step forward!’
Such passionate students!
To think they’d look at the first participant with envy.
He decided to manage time well so everyone could have a chance.
Si-hyun checked the time on his phone.
At that moment—
“Ha, haaargh!”
The martial artist let out a shout that barely passed for a battle cry and charged at the goblin.
Prepared, Si-hyun moved the wand in her hand.
Suddenly, the goblin model, which had shown no movement until now, began to move as if it were alive.
The goblin jumped sideways, easily dodging the martial artist’s punch.
At the same time, the club it held swung down!
Thwack!
The wooden club whizzed through the air and struck the side of the martial artist’s head.
“Argh—!”
Thanks to Si-hyun’s careful adjustment of force, the pain wasn’t severe.
But it was still a hit, and it soured the student’s mood instantly.
The student glared at the goblin with fiery eyes.
Sure, it looked terrifying and grotesque, but at the end of the day, it was just a model.
The fact that they had been one-sidedly beaten hurt their pride.
They immediately activated a martial artist skill.
Mana circulated within their body, temporarily enhancing it—a type of self-buff.
The student gritted their teeth and stared down the goblin.
‘I’ll land a proper hit this time!’
Determined, they steadied their stance and charged forward.
“Ugh!”
But it was futile.
Once again, the goblin’s wooden club struck the side of their head, sending them rolling to the side.
“Hmm, is that their level…”
Si-hyun murmured softly, observing the student’s ability.
The watching students didn’t catch her words, but the martial artist heard them clearly.
‘D-damn it…’
They swallowed a curse internally.
Of course, Si-hyun wasn’t trying to belittle or provoke the student.
She was simply evaluating their skills objectively.
It was just that spending too much time on the internet recently had caused a certain phrase to slip out naturally.
‘The professor definitely has it out for me, doesn’t she?’
The martial artist student trembled as they got back on their feet.
They looked at the professor with shaky eyes.
When their eyes met, the professor’s lips curled into a mischievous smile.
‘I knew it! She’s trying to punish me as much as she can!’
Despair filled the student’s heart.
But Si-hyun was merely smiling as a form of encouragement.
“Shall we continue?”
To ensure all students could experience this, there couldn’t be any wasted time.
Si-hyun calmly urged the martial artist to continue.
The goblin was only moving slightly above the average level,
So this would undoubtedly be an excellent and unique experience for the students.
Feeling pleased with his lecture, Si-hyun smiled in satisfaction.
‘Ack!’
The martial artist student, unaware of Si-hyun’s true thoughts, swallowed another scream as they were prompted again.
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