Chapter 70
Tap, tap, tap——
Click. Click.
The sound of typing on a laptop keyboard and clicking a mouse filled the quiet living room.
I stared at the laptop screen, browsing photos of single-family homes in Seoul one by one.
‘Money really is everything….’
Whether it’s the location or the size, the better it is, the higher the price.
Crunching softly, I picked up a snack and ate it.
Next, I took a sip of the tea I had bought from the mart. A peculiar bitterness lingered on the tip of my tongue.
It was completely different from the tea the elder had served.
Should I look into tea as well?
To fully enjoy a hobby, one has to learn about it.
The saying “learning is a lifelong endeavour” couldn’t be more accurate.
Still, it’s something I want to do. Studying for a hobby feels more enjoyable than burdensome.
“Hehe…”
When I reach at least C-rank, or ideally a stable B-rank hunter.
That’s when I’ll start making estimates and visit a real estate agent.
With a B-rank, I’ll be able to freely access the dungeons I want to explore.
It would also be beneficial for establishing my position as a professor at the Academy.
I heard there’s a professor specializing in swordsmanship at the Academy who is a B-rank. Apparently, that’s considered quite high among professors, so B-rank seems just right.
…But I wonder if Si-yoon will live with me or choose to live independently.
As long as dungeons and gates exist, my income will remain stable, so I plan to support her as much as possible.
But whenever I ask, she just evades the question.
I’ll need to have a serious conversation with her about it later.
Bzzzz— Bzzzz—
The phone on the table next to me vibrated.
I picked it up and checked the screen. It was a call from Da-young.
“Hello?”
-Hello? Si-hyun, it’s almost done!
Even without a subject, I immediately understood what she meant.
The only recent request I made was for the VR device.
Feeling slightly excited, I replied.
“Oh, already? That’s faster than expected. Then it’ll be ready before the Academy’s midterm exams?”
-Yep, that’s right! This unnie put in some extra effort! Because it’s our Si-hyun’s request!
“Hehe, thank you.”
-Thank you, unnie. Can’t you say it a bit more smoothly like that?
“That’s a bit much.”
-Honestly, you’re so picky.
A faint laugh came through the phone.
It sounded like someone else was nearby, as I could hear brief exchanges in the background.
-Anyway, I’ll call you again once it’s done! Should I have it delivered to you? Though I think it’d be better for testing if we met in person.
“Hmm, it’s been a while. How about I come to the Wings Guild building?”
-Ah, would you? Then I get to admire our Si-hyun’s pretty face again!
Admire my pretty face…?
Her exaggerated tone made me feel my face heat up a little.
Feeling embarrassed, I scratched my cheek, only to hear more conversation from the other end of the line.
After a moment, Da-young apologized in a slightly guilty tone.
-Sorry, sorry! Everyone was curious. I mean, a VR device powered by mana stones? It’s such a fresh idea.
“…Ah, now that you mention it, we did agree to test it together once it’s complete.”
-You did? No wonder everyone’s been buzzing about it!
Da-young let out a hearty laugh.
They say laughter is the most contagious virus.
I found myself smiling without realizing it.
-Then let’s test it together once it’s ready!
“Yes! I’ll be counting on you.”
We exchanged a few more words and ended the call.
It felt light and refreshing to see everything progressing as planned.
Smiling happily, I reviewed my remaining plans.
After testing the VR device, I’ll immediately start preparing study materials.
Once they’re prepared, they can be reused indefinitely, making things much more convenient.
I’ll probably be able to start using them after the midterm exams.
For major courses, I heard they focus on theory until the midterms and then move on to practical lessons until the finals.
Unlike those courses, liberal arts classes are purely theoretical throughout the semester, which honestly seems a bit dull.
That’s why I prepared the VR device!
Originally, I planned to carve mana stone-imbued sight-sharing magic, commonly used by scouts in the other world, into the device.
The idea seemed good, but I thought it might be too difficult to execute.
[Who do you think I am! I’m a B-rank crafting-type hunter!]
Da-young pulled it off splendidly. Connections really are the best!
…Ah, come to think of it, I forgot to ask.
Next time we meet, I should ask if I can add her name to the Academic Information System.
While I’m at it, maybe I should ask Ji-a too?
I grabbed my phone and sent a message to Ji-a through our chat.
Her reply came back almost immediately.
-Huh? I thought you would’ve added me already?
-…Oh, really?
-Si-hyun, don’t tell me your connections field is empty, is it?
She saw right through me instantly. How is she so perceptive?
-Fill it to the brim! Add Section Chief Jang Han-soo from the management department, and if possible, the Academy Principal too!
-That’s a bit…
-Just make sure to fill it as much as you can! Got it? And don’t you dare leave out my name!
-O-okay, got it!
I got scolded before I realized what was happening.
Even so, adding the Section Chief or the Principal seems a bit much… but I definitely have to include Ji-a.
I’ll add Da-young’s name at the same time when I meet her next.
After all, they’re only saying this for my sake.
A gentle warmth filled my chest, bringing a natural smile to my face.
***
10 a.m. on the day of the Introduction to Monster Studies lecture.
Areum and Eun-byul were sitting in a café to work on their group project for a major course.
Including the other two women in their group, four women were wrestling with their materials.
The four students planned to work on the project until lunchtime, eat together, and then part ways.
Areum and Eun-byul were taking the same liberal arts course, but the other two women were enrolled in different subjects.
“Ugh… Magic is so hard to understand, no matter how much I look at it.”
“It’s not something we learned in elementary, middle, or high school—it’s completely unfamiliar.”
The two women slumped over the table, groaning.
Eun-byul let out a wry smile and leaned back in her chair.
She didn’t say it out loud, but she felt the same way. With a deep sigh, she spoke.
“At least we have the Status Window. It’s just so difficult otherwise….”
“Exactly, right?”
“I just want to quit….”
The women eagerly agreed with Eun-byul’s words.
Although they complained about wanting to give up, it was just venting. They returned their focus to the project.
Even reaching a minimum C-rank as a Magic-type Hunter guaranteed a stable life, so there was no reason not to put in the effort.
Areum, who was quietly focused on the project, adjusted her glasses and said.
“…Still, doesn’t it feel rewarding when your efforts pay off?”
“What do you mean, pay off?”
“Did you get a new skill or something?”
The women widened their eyes and asked in loud voices.
Surprised by their overreaction, Areum blinked with wide eyes herself.
She glanced out the window and replied.
“Ah, no…. I-I didn’t get a new skill…. It’s just… I feel like I’m growing?”
“Ugh, I thought it was something big.”
“Professors always emphasize that, but do new skills really get added?”
The women grumbled lightly. Areum awkwardly laughed in response.
At that moment, Eun-byul smiled and said.
“No, if you put in the effort, you really can get new skills.”
“Wait, really?”
“Seriously?!”
Everyone turned their attention to Eun-byul.
“You know my older brother, right? Yeo Do-hyung. His Status Window always showed offensive magic skills, but he worked hard to learn defensive magic on his own, and it got added to his skills.”
“Wow… So that’s true.”
“Coming from Eun-byul, it feels reliable.”
The two women lightly praised Eun-byul.
Feeling encouraged, Eun-byul said cheerfully.
“Alright then, let’s focus on the project!”
“Yeah!”
“Let’s do this!”
The group enthusiastically resumed their work on the project.
But their energy didn’t last long.
Faced with another roadblock, everyone furrowed their brows in frustration.
Despite their struggles, the students concentrated on solving their questions.
Time passed both slowly and quickly.
11 a.m.
12 p.m.
…It was about time to leave for lunch if they didn’t want to be late for their fifth class.
As they grew increasingly worn out from the difficult project, one of the students stretched her stiff neck and shouted.
“Wait, isn’t that the professor for Introduction to Monster Studies?”
“Professor Si-hyun Jung?”
“Yeah, that’s her, right?”
All eyes turned toward the window.
A neatly dressed woman in a suit walked leisurely past, exuding elegance.
She sipped coffee through a straw inserted into a takeaway cup.
One of the women, her gaze lingering on the professor’s cherry-red lips, commented.
“The professor is so beautiful. Honestly, couldn’t she have been a celebrity instead of a professor?”
“True, there are so many hunters in broadcasting these days. Even as a spokesperson for the Management Bureau, she’d make a fortune.”
“Yeah, and she’s so pretty that I can’t even feel jealous.”
The women chatted lightly among themselves.
Areum and Eun-byul quietly listened while gazing at the passing professor.
At that moment, purely by chance.
Professor Si-hyun Jung, who was looking around her surroundings as she walked, made eye contact with them.
The four students, startled, quickly bowed their heads in greeting.
Si-hyun waved lightly and glanced at the students.
Two of them she didn’t recognize, but the other two were students in her class for the day.
Feeling a curious sense of familiarity, Si-hyun smiled gently.
A few passing men stopped in their tracks, momentarily mesmerized by her beauty.
At that very moment.
Areum grabbed her notebook energetically.
She opened it wide in the direction of the window, making sure Si-hyun could see it.
When Si-hyun tilted her head in curiosity, Areum looked at her with sparkling eyes.
The other two group members exchanged puzzled glances at Areum’s actions.
Judging by her behaviour, it seemed she was trying to get Professor Si-hyun’s advice.
However, their current struggle was with a major project for Magic-type Hunters.
It wasn’t something the professor in front of them could assist with.
—
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