Chapter 73
“It won’t be the same kind of practice as last time. Today, I’ll show you how real skeletons regenerate.”
“What?”
“Regeneration?”
The students voiced their confusion at the unexpected explanation.
With a calm expression, Si-hyun pointed to one student.
“You there, come up here.”
The student, looking puzzled, stepped forward.
Si-hyun placed the petite skeleton model on the wide floor of the lecture hall.
“Try attacking this as hard as you can.”
“Huh? Okay?”
“Don’t worry! A crafting-type hunter added a restoration function to it.”
Si-hyun lied smoothly.
After all, there was no way the students could figure it out.
The student slowly nodded.
“If I’m supposed to break it, I’ll break it.”
They clenched their fist tightly.
Wham— Smack!
With a characteristic punch brimming with the strength of a martial artist, the skeleton’s head was struck.
As a result, the cute face of the model was dented and damaged.
The martial artist student looked at the professor, waiting for her next words.
“Everyone, when it comes to real skeletons, this level of destruction wouldn’t take more than three minutes to repair.”
“What? Really?!”
“It’s that fast?”
As the students reacted in shock, the model began to restore itself.
Many students watched the process with trembling eyes.
Knowing that skeletons could regenerate and seeing it happen were two entirely different experiences.
Moreover, the time Si-hyun had mentioned was oddly specific.
“How does she know it in such detail…?”
This question arose collectively in the minds of the students.
“This is just a model, so I’ll restore it quickly using my mana. Next… Kwon Jae-woo, would you like to give it a try?”
Si-hyun called on a student sitting near the front.
Jae-woo slowly stood up and walked forward.
After hesitating slightly, he summoned a sword from his status window.
“Hup!”
With all his might, Jae-woo swung his sword.
But it was weaker than the martial artist student’s earlier punch.
“As I thought…”
Jae-woo suppressed his disappointment and retrieved his sword.
Even in dungeons, he often felt his attacks lacked power.
And now, the difference was blatantly obvious, even with a model.
Observing the students’ expressions, Si-hyun noticed Jae-woo’s feelings.
As she restored the skeleton, she began speaking lightly.
“Everyone, there’s a word called ‘spectrum.’”
Her sudden statement puzzled the students.
“Just as the undead aren’t a singular concept, awakeners, too, are grouped under the broad category of hunters. But every profession and individual has their own unique traits.”
Jae-woo, now back in his seat, looked at Si-hyun.
“So, focus on your strengths.”
This was not just advice for the students.
It was also advice for herself.
“Concentrate on the positive aspects of your abilities.”
The dying continent of the other world had desperately wanted powerful attack magic to defeat the Demon King.
But Si-hyun’s elemental magic talents were those of a diligent achiever, not a natural genius.
“Focusing solely on weaknesses or problems isn’t a complete solution.”
That’s why Si-hyun chose to focus on honing her strengths.
She learned the most suitable ways to use mana for herself, as the saintess.
She worked tirelessly, over and over again.
And the result was who she was now.
“I’ll say it again: focus on your strengths.”
Si-hyun smiled at Jae-woo, then looked around at the rest of the students.
“We still have some time left. How about a few more turns?”
She seamlessly resumed the lecture.
Jae-woo stared blankly at the professor.
He hadn’t expected such encouragement.
Although her words seemed like advice for everyone,
Jae-woo realized that the encouragement was aimed at him, in his moment of doubt.
“Was it the same for the professor…?”
Had she also worked hard to maximize her strengths?
The precise, refined techniques she had demonstrated in the lecture videos—surely those were the results of relentless effort.
Perhaps the professor was someone who had worked harder than anyone else.
Thump, thump.
Jae-woo placed his hand over his chest.
He felt the strong pulse of his heart.
“Let’s head to the dungeon after class today.”
Since his awakening, Jae-woo hadn’t missed a single day of dungeon exploration.
And today would be no different.
***
The Introduction to Monster Studies lecture ended.
The students who attended showed various reactions.
“Hey, let’s head to the dungeon quickly.”
“Shall we? It’s probably goblins again today, though.”
Some students formed parties and headed toward the dungeons.
“I missed something while I was deep in thought earlier. Can you explain it to me?”
“Sure! What part was it?”
Others stayed behind in the lecture hall, jotting down notes.
On a different note.
“Hitting that thing felt wrong, but being told to hit it felt even worse.”
“Right? It wasn’t just me? It’s even worse because it’s so cute…”
A few female students sighed.
In any case, one thing was common: all the students were brimming with passion for their studies.
As for Jae-woo,
He approached Eun-byul, glancing around.
“Eun-byul, where’s Areum?”
“Areum? She ran off, saying she had a consultation with Professor Si-hyun.”
“Really? I was going to ask her to go to the dungeon with us today.”
“Won’t it be over soon anyway? Let’s leave her a message and wait nearby.”
The two packed their things and leisurely left the lecture hall.
Chatting casually, they headed toward the professor’s building.
“Jae-woo, did you know?”
“Hmm? Know what?”
“I heard from my dad that hunters are leveling up faster these days than they used to.”
“Oh, really? Why are they leveling up so quickly?”
Curious, Jae-woo turned to look at Eun-byul.
Eun-byul smiled nonchalantly and answered.
“Who knows? He said they don’t know the reason yet. Maybe it’s because the Earth is changing, or maybe it’s due to advancements in research on awakeners. They’re still investigating!”
“Well, there’s still so much we don’t know about the status window.”
Jae-woo nodded, his expression tinged with regret.
The world had changed rapidly since the Great Cataclysm, yet so little had been fully understood.
They could only adapt and move forward.
Seeing his expression, Eun-byul smiled slyly and said,
“That’s why we need to keep going to dungeons together. Let’s aim to reach D-rank by the end of this semester.”
“By the end of this semester?”
“Yeah! According to the records, top academy students usually reach C-rank just before graduation. There’s no reason we can’t do it too, right?”
“Well… sure.”
Jae-woo nodded slowly.
He had no intention of staying an E-rank forever.
That’s why he went to dungeons diligently every day.
Most hunters could reach D-rank with consistent effort.
Although C-rank took more time, it was still achievable with hard work.
However, B-rank and above were a different story.
Countless hunters hit a wall at that level, and guilds competed fiercely to recruit high-ranking hunters.
Because of this, academy students who achieved high ranks became celebrities.
Whether you became the tail of a dragon or the head of a snake, success made you stand out.
“Eun-byul, are you planning to join the Dawn Guild after graduation?”
“Yep, that’s right! Both my dad and my brother are in Dawn.”
At Jae-woo’s question, Eun-byul exhaled lightly through her nose.
Placing her hands on her hips, she spoke confidently.
“I’ll graduate at the top of my class and catch up to my S-rank brother! That’s my goal.”
“Hmm…”
Jae-woo looked at Eun-byul, whose eyes sparkled with determination.
Feeling mischievous, he teased her.
“Aren’t you afraid of tearing your legs trying to keep up with a stork?”
“Hey!”
Eun-byul, annoyed, jabbed her elbow into Jae-woo’s side.
Jae-woo rubbed his side, chuckling softly.
“We’ve reached the professor’s building. Do you want to sit over there? I’ll grab drinks from the vending machine.”
“I’ll have a cola!”
“Got it, got it.”
Jae-woo picked something for himself and returned to the bench where Eun-byul was waiting.
The two exchanged light-hearted conversation.
Mostly, Eun-byul talked, and Jae-woo responded.
The number of people walking around began to dwindle.
Break time had ended.
After a little while longer.
“Sorry for making you wait so long!”
Areum came running out of the professor’s building, panting heavily.
Jae-woo handed her a drink he had already bought.
Gratefully, Areum took it and quenched her thirst.
Gulp, gulp.
Eun-byul waited for Areum to wipe her lips before speaking.
“You took longer than I expected. What kind of consultation was it?”
“Well… um… personal guidance?”
“Huh? Personal guidance?”
“Yeah! We coordinated the schedule.”
At Eun-byul’s question, Areum nodded emphatically.
Eun-byul frowned slightly, lost in thought.
“Professor Si-hyun’s personal guidance, huh…”
No matter how many times she thought about it, Professor Si-hyun was an unusual professor.
Even just from the Introduction to Monster Studies lecture, it was hard to believe she was really a D-rank.
And that wasn’t all.
She had already helped twice with magic-related assignments.
Not just once, but twice.
It was clear that Professor Si-hyun had expertise in that field as well.
Because of this, Eun-byul’s curiosity grew stronger and stronger.
If Si-hyun had been an ordinary part-time lecturer, she wouldn’t have cared much.
But there were simply too many peculiarities about Professor Si-hyun.
“What are you going to do?”
“Um, dungeon exploration?”
“Oh! You’re going to a dungeon with her.”
Eun-byul had a rough idea.
She asked again.
“Now I’m curious. Can I go with you? Can you ask the professor for me?”
“Uh, um…”
Caught off guard by Eun-byul’s sudden request, Areum tilted her head in thought.
She pulled out her phone and typed a message.
The reply came quickly.
“She said it’s okay!”
“Nice! What about you, Jae-woo?”
“Can I come too?”
“Uh… probably?”
Areum typed another message. The response came back just as promptly.
“She said not to worry and to feel free to come!”
“Oh, thank goodness.”
Jae-woo let out a sigh of relief in his heart.
He had wanted to join them, but he worried if it was okay for him to be included among the trio of beauties.
“Um, so… the day after tomorrow in the afternoon! The professor will let us know the location after reserving a dungeon today!”
“Ah, then how about we meet up first and have lunch together that day?”
“Sure, let’s do that!”
Areum and Eun-byul quickly made plans.
Jae-woo, reviewing his schedule mentally, nodded silently.
And so, what started as a personal guidance session for Areum quickly turned into a group activity.
One was serious, while the other two were curious.
***
At the office of the Dawn Guild.
A mid-level manager in the administration department carefully reviewed a report submitted by a subordinate.
When scouting talented students, it was advantageous to approach them as early as possible rather than waiting until graduation.
This was to ensure they weren’t snatched up by another guild.
That’s why they compiled lists by gathering information from academy officials, the Hunter Management Bureau, and various other sources.
This was only possible because the guild was a large one.
“Eun-byul is already accounted for…”
The man’s eyes stopped on a girl with large glasses in the file.
Go Areum, this year’s only Support-type Hunter at the academy.
She had been entering dungeons frequently and was known to be close to Eun-byul.
“Not bad.”
Though it was still early in the semester, making a move now might be too hasty.
However, being the only Support-type student gave her added value.
The man carefully gathered his thoughts.
Then, he dialed Areum’s number.
… A moment later.
-“H-hello…?”
A timid voice came through the phone.
The man calmly began speaking.
“Hello, is this Go Areum?”
-“Y-yes, it is. W-who is this…?”
“I’m from the Dawn Guild…”
In a soft voice, the man introduced himself and explained his purpose.
In summary, it was to express the Dawn Guild’s interest in recruiting her.
A brief silence followed, as though the recipient was lost in thought.
“There’s no way she’d decline,” the man thought confidently.
After all, the Dawn Guild boasted two S-rank Hunters and Korea’s top A-rank supporter.
-“Um… I’m sorry…”
But the response was an apology.
The man, taken aback, raised his voice.
“W-why is that?”
-“W-well, um, I’ve already decided to join Professor Si-hyun… no, I mean, work under her guidance!”
“…”
The man was briefly at a loss for words, but he understood the reasoning.
This meant that, despite it being early in the semester, this student had already decided on her postgraduate path.
“That’s incredibly fast. This makes her even more appealing…”
The man licked his lips and said,
“Understood. Please let us know if you ever change your mind.”
He ended the call.
Leaning back in his chair, the man fell into deep thought.
“Professor Si-hyun… Professor Si-hyun…”
The name felt familiar, but he couldn’t place it immediately.
“… Ah! That’s who it is!”
After a moment, he remembered.
She was the part-time lecturer they had once tried to scout, only to be declined.
Back then, Yeo Do-hyung’s assistant had failed and handed over the matter to the administrative department.
“So, that means…”
If they succeeded in recruiting this part-time lecturer,
they might also bring Go Areum along with her.
Two birds with one stone.
The man began strategizing how best to proceed.
—
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