Chapter 77
—
Eun-byul, who was studying alone in her room, answered a sudden phone call.
It was the staff member who had proposed a tour of the Dawn Guild.
“Yes, yes.”
…After the call ended,
Eun-byul tilted her head in curiosity but diligently moved her fingers.
– Areum, could you do me a Favor?
The reply came quickly.
– A favor? What is it?
– Remember the Dawn Guild rookie training tour I mentioned? Could you ask Professor Jung Si-hyun if she is interested too?
– Hmm? Alright.
…A moment later, Eun-byul checked the message from Areum.
– There are no scheduling conflicts, so they said it’s fine.
– Really? Thanks for helping me out!
– Good luck with your exam prep!
– You too!
…After a brief exchange of messages, Eun-byul returned to her studies.
For now, the most important task was finishing her exams smoothly.
***
Another week passed, and on an early Tuesday lunch break,
I sat at the living room table, having lunch with Si-yoon.
“…You’re going to a special lecture?”
Si-yoon asked as she swallowed a mouthful of food.
“Yes, that’s the only thing on the agenda, so I’ll be back before dinner.”
“Ah, I see. What’s the lecture about?”
“Something like ‘The Virtues of a Tanker,’ I think.”
“Virtues? Like being tough or something?”
“…Hmm, maybe? Honestly, I’m not that interested in the topic.”
At my response,
Si-yoon blinked a few times before asking again.
“If you’re not interested, why are you going?”
“Well… I want to see how others conduct their lectures, you know?”
“Ah, that makes sense. There’s a unique atmosphere to these events.”
“Exactly. Like the way they command the room or hold the audience’s attention—I’d like to experience it firsthand.”
The lecturer was an S-rank Hunter from a major guild.
Surely, they’d demonstrate some leadership or other qualities.
Thinking back to the double dungeon incident,
they seemed a bit arrogant, but this lecture could be different.
“Huh? Did you get another one of those?”
“Hmm? Another what?”
Si-yoon pointed at my smartphone.
“Stickers. You’re keeping the original ones intact, right?”
Turning to check under the TV, she glanced back at me.
I nodded.
“A staff member from the Hunter Management Bureau helped me get extras! You know, goods should always be bought in threes—for use, display, and storage. Hehe…”
“Oh… I see…”
Si-yoon scratched her cheek awkwardly.
Hmm, did that sound too otaku-like? Oh well, who cares? As long as I enjoy it.
With that thought,
I decided to ask for Si-yoon’s opinion on Momobin.
“So, about Momobin… I’m thinking of custom-ordering some goods for personal collection. What do you think?”
“…Custom orders?”
“Yep! If you’re interested, I can make some for you too!”
“Uh… um… I mean…”
Suddenly,
Si-yoon’s gaze wandered aimlessly through the air.
Was she trying to decide what she wanted?
After a moment of thought,
Si-yoon finally spoke.
“That’s… not a bad idea! Haha…”
“Let me know if you think of anything! I’m not planning to do it right away anyway.”
“Mm-hmm…”
Mumbling,
Si-yoon frowned, lost in thought,
her expression serious as if solving a difficult math problem.
It was oddly amusing and adorable.
After finishing my meal first,
I leisurely prepared for my outing.
***
At the academy’s auditorium,
cars began pulling into the parking lot one by one.
Students, scattered across various lectures, started gathering.
Staff at the auditorium entrance directed participants in an orderly manner.
As the lecture’s start time approached,
the auditorium filled with students and staff,
buzzing with activity.
In the front row sat the academy’s president, professors, and other key figures.
“An S-rank Hunter like Kang Chul-min giving a lecture is rare, isn’t it?”
“It shows how desperate the Blue Forest Guild is.”
“It’s not a bad opportunity for the academy either.”
Conversations buzzed all around.
Students chatted with friends who came along.
“That white-haired person in the front—Professor Jung Si-hyun, right?”
“Yeah, that’s them. I didn’t know she’d attend too.”
With most attendees having black hair, and a few with brown or blond,
the white hair stood out unmistakably to students in the back row.
“An S-rank’s reputation is no joke. The auditorium’s packed.”
“Right? Even the professors seem to have shown up for this.”
“You can’t miss an opportunity like this.”
– Please quiet down. The lecture is about to begin.
As the Blue Forest Guild staff member on stage announced this,
Kang Chul-min appeared on the platform.
With a towering physique and broad shoulders,
his presence filled the room instantly.
Walking confidently, he took the microphone handed to him.
“Ah, ah. Nice to meet you all. I’m Kang Chul-min, an S-rank Hunter representing the Blue Forest Guild.”
Clap clap clap clap—
Thunderous applause echoed through the auditorium.
Satisfied,
Kang Chul-min nodded and continued his introduction.
“Well, I’m sure most of you already know about me! I’m an S-rank Hunter, specializing in blunt weapons. I usually play the role of a tanker in dungeons.”
Smiling,
he added with a low laugh.
“And because of my undeniable charisma, I often end up leading the party too. Hahaha!”
Kang Chul-min’s confident, booming laughter filled the auditorium through the microphone.
But when he stopped laughing,
the auditorium fell silent again.
No one responded.
Trying to lighten the mood with humour,
Kang Chul-min frowned, directing a sharp look at the announcer.
The staff member holding the script trembled under his gaze,
clearly unnerved by his irritation.
After venting briefly on the staff member,
Kang Chul-min resumed his lecture.
“Today’s lecture topic is the virtues of a Tanker! A warrior who steadfastly protects the frontlines! The most important thing is, without a doubt, composure. Staying calm, analyzing the situation, and focusing on protecting the party are key roles.”
Following the prepared script, Kang Chul-min began his explanation.
“Hmm…”
Si-hyun, sitting in the front row, watched the flow of the lecture with an expressionless face.
The lecture was turning out to be far more boring than she had expected.
‘Did I set my expectations too high?’
The content relied on the script rather than personal insights.
What’s more, a significant portion of it was boasting about Kang Chul-min’s achievements.
She had made time to witness the impressive oratory skills of a remarkable individual.
But there were no notable skills—let alone worthwhile content.
The thought that this was a waste of time began creeping in.
“Yawn…”
Si-hyun quietly stifled a yawn by covering her mouth with her palm.
She tried her best to hide it, but her effort was in vain.
Kang Chul-min’s piercing gaze shifted toward her.
‘How dare she yawn during my lecture?’
The beautiful woman sitting in the front row had been in his field of vision from the start.
He had been subconsciously aware of her as he conducted his lecture.
And yet, she dared to yawn?
Kang Chul-min twitched his cheek muscles and spoke.
“Haha! Let me share an interesting story for your enjoyment, everyone.”
Si-hyun, who had been checking the time on her smartphone, redirected her gaze toward Kang Chul-min.
“The greatest strength of the Blue Forest Guild! It lies in concentrating support on the top-ranked Hunters. Anyone with the capability can become the protagonist.”
He paused briefly for effect before continuing.
“In the past, some opposed this. They said we should stop exploiting rookies or something like that. Do you know what happened to them?”
Kang Chul-min scanned the audience slowly.
“The guild tried to talk it out, but they simply left. They ended up establishing a small guild, only to fail miserably. This proves the Blue Forest’s policies are correct!”
Kang Chul-min’s gaze shifted back to Si-hyun.
She listened to the story with a hardened expression.
His intention to provoke Si-hyun, in some ways, succeeded.
He wanted the beautiful woman to focus on his lecture, and indeed, she was paying attention.
Because the story felt oddly familiar.
‘…No way.’
Si-hyun frowned and pulled out her phone, searching for information about the Blue Forest Guild online.
She quickly skimmed through the list of incidents and controversies.
And then, she found it.
‘The Wings Guild Foundation Incident.’
A guild founded by former Blue Forest Guild members.
It was established as a rebellion against the monopolistic management practices of the original guild.
Moon Da-young, the master of Wings, criticized the excessive exploitation of rookies by the Blue Forest Guild, but the guild retorted, calling it “voluntary participation and choice by the Hunters.”
‘…It was the Blue Forest Guild?’
The paragraph was short, so reading through it didn’t take long.
After thoroughly reading it, Si-hyun raised her head again.
One of the sworn enemies of the Wings Guild was standing right in front of her.
‘Sigh…’
Si-hyun suppressed her anger inwardly.
She had resolved to live her life as she pleased, but distinguishing between public and private matters was still essential.
Although she wanted to scream, “This is for the Wings!” and go wild, she couldn’t do that to an invited lecturer giving a talk at the academy.
But she had no intention of listening to the lecture any further.
‘…I’ll let it slide today.’
If he appears in front of me again, I’ll serve him the “Burning Tongue’s Agony” first.
Si-hyun greeted Professor Park, seated next to her, before quietly rising from her seat.
She ascended the steps without making a sound, leaving peacefully.
That was when it happened.
“Hey there! Miss! Where do you think you’re going while the lecture is still in session?”
Kang Chul-min called out, grabbing Si-hyun’s attention.
She slowly turned around and stared at him silently.
—
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