Chapter 88
—
The traffic light turned red.
Section Chief Jang stopped the car and glanced over at Si-hyun.
A strange and intricate mark, unlike anything he’d ever seen, was etched on the back of her hand.
Feeling his gaze, Si-hyun lightly waved her hand and said,
“This is the mark of the god I believe exists.”
“Hmm, I see.”
“…Professor, are you religious? Oh, wait! You were a Holy Knight, weren’t you?”
“Well, it’s a bit different.”
At Areum’s question, Si-hyun gave a faint, bitter smile.
“It’s not that I believe in a religion. I believe in the existence of gods themselves.”
“Uh… isn’t that the same thing?”
“…Maybe?”
There was no need to explain further.
Si-hyun casually waved her hand, dismissing it as nothing important.
After all, what she knew was nothing more than speculation and conjecture.
‘Ah, right.’
Since the topic had shifted this way, it might be a good opportunity to try a little experiment.
Back when she had first considered becoming a proper professor, she thought that if she ever wanted to do research, this would be her focus.
At that time, she was alone.
Now, she had Areum.
“Areum, since the subject came up, how about we do an experiment today?”
“Huh? E-experiment?”
“Yep, an experiment related to the research I’ll be conducting in the future.”
As Si-hyun elaborated, Areum unconsciously made a peculiar expression.
Every time Professor Si-hyun said something like this, the same thing always happened.
‘It’ll definitely be beneficial, but it’ll be just as exhausting….’
Half-expectation, half-worry.
Conflicting emotions churned within Areum.
She quickly steeled herself.
“Yes! I-I’ll do my best!”
“Good, good.”
Satisfied with Areum’s enthusiastic response, Si-hyun nodded in approval.
The light turned green.
Section Chief Jang resumed driving.
‘Looks like Areum is in for a rough day.’
He focused on driving with a faintly bitter smile.
The dungeon Si-hyun had booked for today was of low rank, sure.
…But there were five of them.
* * *
The group arrived at the first gate.
After parking nearby, all three exited the vehicle.
Section Chief Jang checked the time and spoke.
“Si-hyun, let me know as soon as you exit the gate.”
“…Why?”
“My business is nearby, and it should wrap up soon. Besides, taking public transport here and there would be inconvenient for you. Let me help.”
“Oh… Well, I appreciate it. But are you sure it’s okay?”
“Of course. It’s no trouble at all.”
Si-hyun wore a slightly puzzled expression.
Section Chief Jang reassured her repeatedly before sending Si-hyun and Areum off.
The two women entered the gate.
He let out a long sigh.
‘Guess I’ll head to a nearby café.’
There were no actual tasks on his agenda.
It was just that his top priority was assisting the nation-level Saintess, so he had merely attached a plausible reason to his offer.
[Make sure the Saintess is absolutely comfortable!]
Recalling his team leader’s words before departure, Section Chief Jang slowly walked away.
* * *
Meanwhile, inside the E-rank dungeon, Si-hyun and Areum chatted leisurely as they ventured inward.
“Where should I start explaining… Areum, you can use mana without a status window, right?”
“Uh, yes! To some extent.”
“Actually, I’ve always wondered. Why and how does the status window distinguish between support and magic types?”
“…?”
Areum gave a puzzled look at Si-hyun’s question.
All this time, she’d accepted such supernatural phenomena without question.
She had never thought deeply about it before.
“You know how I said I believe in gods? Well, I can manipulate a separate power called divine energy. Watch this.”
Si-hyun raised her hands, palms facing upward.
In one hand, divine energy began to glow faintly.
In the other, mana shimmered lightly.
Areum tilted her head, observing the phenomenon.
‘Hmm….’
She could tell that one was mana.
But the other felt… unfamiliar.
‘Isn’t it just a slightly different kind of mana?’
To Areum, it was an entirely alien sensation.
After all, even mana was still unfamiliar to her.
“What do you think? Can you tell what this energy is?”
“Uh… Hmm… I’m not sure. It just feels… unfamiliar?”
“Hmm, so it really doesn’t resonate at all…”
Si-hyun shook the hand with the holy mark and stroked her chin in thought.
Then—
“Keerk!”
“Kihihi!”
A group of goblins appeared.
Both women turned their attention toward the monsters.
“P-Professor!”
“Hold on a sec.”
As the cautious Areum called out, Si-hyun, still lost in thought, casually moved forward.
The goblins seized their chance and lunged at her, but—
“Keck!”
“Kekk!”
With a simple wave of her hand, Si-hyun dispatched them effortlessly, as if brushing off dust.
It was the end for the unlucky monsters who had encountered the wrong opponent.
“Wow…”
While it was as easy as breathing for Si-hyun, it was an entirely different story for Areum.
She covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes sparkling as she admired her professor’s skill.
After dealing with the goblins in the blink of an eye, Si-hyun called out to Areum.
“Oh, right. Areum?”
“Yes!”
“Try buffing me.”
“Understood!”
Areum used a skill to buff Si-hyun.
Si-hyun carefully observed the flow of energy and the changes in her body.
“You can heal even when there’s no injury, right? Give that a try too.”
“Yes!”
Whenever Si-hyun requested something, Areum complied without hesitation.
Thanks to that, their time was used efficiently.
After a while, Si-hyun spoke with a curious expression.
“When you cast a shield versus when you heal me, there’s definitely a difference. What do you think?”
“D-difference?”
“Yes. Let’s test it step by step. I’m not entirely sure yet.”
“Understood!”
The two continued repeating the same actions.
Over and over again.
Eventually, it was Areum who first reached her limit.
“P-Professor… I’m out of mana…”
“Really? Then recover while I clear the dungeon, and we’ll try again after.”
“Okay…”
Areum, already exhausted, nodded weakly.
The two of them cleared the dungeon in no time.
They contacted Section Chief Jang Han-soo and moved on to the next dungeon.
They repeated the same process they had done in the first dungeon.
Cleared the second dungeon.
Swept through the third dungeon.
Without resting, they proceeded into the fourth dungeon.
As Si-hyun returned after sweeping away the monsters, Areum suddenly let out a surprised scream.
“P-Professor!”
“Hm? Did you realize something?”
“J-Just now, I felt something! M-My status window! The divine energy stat was added!”
“Oh, finally!”
Excited, Areum squealed and jumped up and down.
When Si-hyun approached her, the two high-fived enthusiastically with both hands.
Areum, her eyes wide with amazement, said in wonder.
“Now that divine energy has been added, my mana stat has adjusted. This is incredible….”
“Hmm. Want to try using divine energy?”
“Yes, yes! Look!”
Areum smiled brightly and began manipulating divine energy.
Watching her with interest, Si-hyun’s expression hardened.
Seeing her professor’s face turn serious, Areum spoke in a dispirited tone.
“I-I guess I’m really clumsy at controlling it…?”
“No, that’s not it. It’s just… it’s different from mine.”
“Huh?”
“Here, look.”
Si-hyun demonstrated her own divine energy, prompting Areum to tilt her head in confusion.
After all, Areum was still inexperienced with both mana and divine energy.
Si-hyun quickly caught on to Areum’s feelings from her expression.
With a faint smile, she spoke.
“Anyway, I’ll explain under the assumption that the principles are the same.”
Si-hyun began her explanation.
The similarities and differences between mana and divine energy, the clarity of their individual limitations, and so on.
Areum instinctively realized something.
This was knowledge she wouldn’t be able to learn from anyone else in the world.
Professor Si-hyun was likely the only “Holy Knight” in existence.
She etched the teachings into her memory.
Once the explanation ended, Si-hyun grinned and said.
“Well then, I’ll give you an assignment.”
“…!”
“By the next time we meet, you need to become more adept at using divine energy.”
“Ah, yes! I’ll work hard!”
Although the word “assignment” had initially startled her, Areum’s expression relaxed in relief.
It was something she would naturally have to work on anyway.
But that wasn’t the end of it.
“And every day, wake up early to pray. As for the subject of your prayers… hmm, let’s say, any god you believe in.”
“…I’m an atheist, though.”
“Really? Well, you’ll have to try anyway. I pray every morning at dawn, and that’s when my divine energy replenishes quickly. If it doesn’t seem effective, you can stop.”
“…Um, well.”
Listening to Si-hyun’s explanation, Areum fidgeted with her index fingers and muttered.
“The god in my heart is Professor Si-hyun.”
“…Ahem! W-Well, I appreciate the sentiment, but I’m just a person.”
“Hehe…”
As Si-hyun’s cheeks turned bright red and she averted her gaze, Areum giggled shyly.
It was half a joke, but half sincere as well.
* * *
…The five dungeon runs were finally completed.
Si-hyun and Areum returned to Seoul in the car driven by Section Chief Jang.
Areum was the first to get out of the car.
“Thank you for your hard work…”
She trudged home with her shoulders slumped.
Anyone could see she had been through the wringer.
‘I-I thought I was going to die…’
It was truly Spartan training.
At first, she was made to face one goblin at a time, but the number gradually increased.
By the last dungeon, she found herself fighting like a melee-type hunter, exchanging blows with the monsters.
It was the first time in her life she had fought so fiercely.
‘I’ll just sleep first and pray tomorrow…’
As soon as she got home, Areum collapsed into bed and fell fast asleep.
Meanwhile, in the car, Section Chief Jang and Si-hyun chatted as he drove.
“Areum seemed very tired.”
“She grew a lot today. I made her fight a bit, and she handled herself well.”
“Hm, but Areum is a support type. Wasn’t it dangerous?”
“Come on, I was there.”
“Ah, I see…”
Section Chief Jang gave a bitter smile.
He quietly sent mental encouragement to Areum.
“Oh, by the way, Chief. Can you drop me off at the district office?”
“Huh? The district office?”
“Yes, I think I have time to apply for my passport today. I already prepared the necessary documents.”
Si-hyun spoke casually, as if it were no big deal, but the chief felt his hands trembling slightly on the steering wheel.
“You must be tired too, so I’ll handle the application and get home on my own.”
“N-No, it’s fine! W-Why are you applying for a passport…?”
“Once the semester ends, I was thinking of traveling with my sister during summer break.”
“Ah, a trip. That sounds like a great plan.”
The chief wiped cold sweat from his brow as he continued the conversation.
Encouraging Areum was no longer his priority. Dealing with his own shaken nerves was.
* * *
A few days later, during a lecture on Monster Studies.
Eun-byul, Areum, and Jae-woo were having lunch together.
During this time, Areum shared surprising news.
“What?!”
“R-Really?!”
“Hehe!”
Eun-byul gaped, her mouth wide open, unable to close it.
Eventually, she covered her mouth with her hand.
Jae-woo wasn’t much different.
He leaned forward, staring at her.
“Hohoho!”
Areum puffed out her chest confidently.
She had struggled to keep her lips sealed until now.
—
Read More at – GENZNOVEL.COM!!
PLEASE JOIN OUR DISCORD AND SUBSCRIBE THE ROLE TO RECEIVE LATEST NOTIFICATIONS!!
Click here -> https://discord.gg/S8c2kGVr2g
Comment