Chapter 51

“Pro, Professor…?”

“Hm?”

At the sound of her disciple’s call, Si-hyun smiled softly and looked at Ah-reum.

As if to say ‘don’t worry,’ she lightly patted her shoulder and looked forward again.

The thief leader issued an order to another thief.

“Yo. I’ll take care of that guy, so you handle the one who looks normal over there.”

“Got it, boss!”

“Hehe, let’s have some fun with him.”

Taking the thieves’ conversation as a cue, the men of the Wings Guild all prepared for battle.

Finally, the clash between hunters began.

First, Ji-han’s opponent was Kang Do-joon.

Even if he is a promising star within the guild, Ji-han is still a C-rank Hunter.

Moreover, he was already exhausted from the large dungeon expedition and had been forcing himself through battles nonstop until just before.

As a result, Do-joon was outright toying with Ji-han.

There was a level difference like an adult messing with a kid.

“Haha! It’s so boring I’m starting to yawn?”

“Grrk, damn it!”

“How’s this!”

Swish—!

An intense close-range speed battle unfolded.

Ji-han got a graze on his shoulder, unable to completely dodge Do-joon’s dagger.

In terms of stamina and skill, there wasn’t a single aspect where Ji-han had the upper hand against Do-joon.

Ji-han bit his lower lip tightly in frustration.

On the other hand, Han-gyeol was engaged in a one-on-one battle with a C-rank hunter from the Thief Party.

Han-gyeol’s situation wasn’t much different from Ji-han’s either.

Though the C-rank thief’s skills weren’t as exceptional as Kang Do-joon’s…

This man was still a hunter with countless experiences in personal combat.

Especially since Do-joon had maintained his composure, giving him even better condition.

“Yah! Yahh!”

Swish, swish, swoosh!

Here too, they launched into close-range combat, pressing Han-gyeol.

Han-gyeol calmly blocked the attacks with a defensive stance.

However, his body gradually began to be pushed back.

If this fight continued, defeat was certain.

“Huff!”

Han-gyeol attempted a counterattack while accepting some damage.

But the thief twisted his body to easily dodge the attack and casually created distance.

“There’s no way I’d get hit by something like that! Hahaha!”

He threw in a mocking laugh to boot.

Han-gyeol managed to catch his breath for a moment but ended up with a long wound on his forearm.

It wasn’t a worthwhile exchange.

“Hey kids! Put some effort into it!”

“Huff, huff…!”

Even the D-rank Hunters side wasn’t in a favorable situation against the Wings Guild.

To begin with, their bodies and minds were completely drained after half a day of dungeon exploration.

All they wanted to do was quickly defeat the boss room and rest.

But suddenly, a battle broke out among hunters.

They weren’t in the right condition to fully commit to the fight.

On the contrary, the two D-rank thieves had plenty of stamina to spare and were using cunning tactics.

Basically, they wouldn’t make the first move.

When the desperate Wings Guild members attacked, they would evade and hide around.

Once the exhausted men were panting for breath, they would block their path again and mock them.

“Hahaha! With that kind of stamina, can any of you handle nighttime activities?”

“Are four of you really unable to handle just two of us?”

Their snickering voices echoed.

The Wings Guild’s archer, whose anger had reached its peak, grabbed another arrow.

Swoosh—!

A fast-moving arrow shot out!

However…

“Aiygo~ There’s no way I’d get hit by such an obvious shot!”

“Look at that posture! That’s what you call ranged combat? Hahaha!”

The thieves who had been keeping an eye on the archer easily dodged the attack.

It was a situation that showed how much experience they had in personal combat.

The archer felt cold sweat running down his back.

If this hadn’t been a confrontation that started with mutual awareness…

He would’ve definitely been the first to get ambushed.

Goosebumps ran down his entire body.

“What, what do we do…?”

Watching the fight from afar, Ah-reum involuntarily trembled and let out an anxious sound without realizing it.

Anyone could see that our side was clearly being overwhelmed.

Besides, those nasty thief guys would probably use stealth skills to escape when things turned unfavorable.

What if they brought in monsters and hid again?

‘They’ll, they’ll die without being able to move…!’

Just thinking about it in her head was a horrifying scenario.

Ah-reum shivered again.

At that moment…

Si-hyun, who had been quietly observing the situation, took a step forward.

Ah-reum was startled and looked at Si-hyun.

“Pro, Profe, Professor?!”

Before entering the dungeon, during their conversation at the café…

The professor mentioned that she hadn’t yet applied for rank promotion, making her a D-rank Hunter.

In other words, the professor’s actual skill level was that of a C-rank Hunter.

However, the opponent?

There was a B-rank Hunter in perfect condition.

“Hahaha! Where did that guy who was shouting confidently earlier go?!”

“Grgh—!”

Right now, that guy was playing around with Ji-han, a C-rank Hunter.

Literally, he was a toy.

Even to her inexperienced eyes, it was clear that he could finish Ji-han off anytime but was holding back.

Would the tide really turn just because Professor Jeong Si-hyun joins in?

Not a chance, according to Ah-reum’s thoughts.

Despite respecting the professor…

The current situation was simply too dire.

“Professor! A, even if you’re the professor—”

Ah-reum trembled as she tried to stop the professor.

Hearing her disciple’s anxious voice, Si-hyun turned around.

Si-hyun raised only her index finger and gently placed it on her lips.

When Ah-reum widened her eyes and quieted down, Si-hyun nodded calmly.

Seeing Ah-reum trembling with fear, Si-hyun thought.

It would be easy for her to step in and sweep away the thieves right now.

Frankly, seeing that brat Do-joon acting cocky made her want to do just that.

But handling it so simply would be too wasteful.

She wanted to become the ‘shining person’ that Ah-reum idealized, right in front of her.

She wanted to properly demonstrate what an ideal supporter is in front of her student.

She wanted to show what true support meant.

Smiling prettily at Ah-reum, Si-hyun spoke.

“Ah-reum, what do you think is the strength of support-class hunters?”

“Wha, what?!?”

A calm tone that didn’t match the tense situation.

Ah-reum couldn’t answer immediately, looking back and forth between the men and Si-hyun.

“In this situation, adding just one more common C-rank hunter wouldn’t change the tide, right?”

“Eh, eh… Y, yes?”

“But what if that one person could use support skills?”

The explanation continued in a tranquil voice.

‘What is she trying to say?’

Ah-reum swallowed hard and stared at the professor’s lips.

The cherry-like, pretty lips opened again.

“It’s not just adding one more person, but someone who can strengthen all our allies. What do you think?”

A soft voice as if reciting poetry.

Ah-reum perked up her ears and listened carefully.

“Our team won’t just increase from six to seven people. Much greater changes will occur, right?”

“Ah, ah—!”

Realizing the meaning, Ah-reum gasped in surprise.

Even with simple calculations, the impact would be far beyond just one share.

I’m just E-rank and don’t have such amazing skills…

But our professor isn’t like me!

I was mistaken just now.

The professor isn’t an ordinary C-rank; she’s a special person who can use support skills.

Ah-reum had never seen Professor Jeong Si-hyun use her skills.

Thus, she didn’t know the extent of the changes that would occur.

But she didn’t doubt.

Unlike herself, the professor hadn’t shown any fear throughout the day.

No shaking or signs of panic.

She had calmly observed the situation.

‘It feels trustworthy…’

Seeing Ah-reum’s changing expression, Si-hyun smiled faintly.

How often does one get a chance to look this cool in life?

Time to put on a proper act and show off.

“Now watch closely. This is the ideal supporter you need to aim for.”

Finishing her explanation, Si-hyun snapped her fingers.

Snap!

In the midst of the chaotic battle, it was a small sound that went unnoticed by everyone.

However, right at this moment…

The tide of the hunter battle…

Started to drastically reverse.

The prelude to a comeback.

“I trusted you! Hahaha!”

“Eh, eh?! What is this guy?!”

Han-gyeol, who had maintained a defensive stance until now, instantly switched to an offensive posture.

The focus solely on defense vanished completely.

He surged forward, fiercely pressing the opponent.

“Let’s settle the score from earlier!”

“Aaaack—!”

The thief who had been relentlessly pressuring him started stepping back gradually.

Thanks to the buff, Han-gyeol’s movements were more than enough to keep up with the thief’s speed.

Where originally there was a comfortable margin allowing the thief to pressure Han-gyeol…

The situation had suddenly changed.

Losing his specialty, he began to be pushed back by Han-gyeol’s attacks.

Every time Han-gyeol, wielding a longsword, took a light step forward…

The thief, armed with daggers, struggled desperately to defend against the overwhelming force and momentum.

The balance was tilting further and further.

Moreover, this wasn’t happening just with Han-gyeol.

“Hahaha! Where did all your earlier arrogance go?!”

“Shit! What’s going on? Why are you so different?!”

“Hohoh! If you’re annoyed, maybe you should choose your opponents better!”

Ji-han, receiving Si-hyun’s buff for the first time in his life, started wreaking havoc.

Since Ji-han had previously experienced some mysterious power…

He immediately realized who was behind the sudden change in his physical condition.

There was only one person here capable of such a feat.

‘Hahaha! Professor Si-hyun is totally awesome!’

The worn-out and fatigued state of his body rapidly improved.

It wasn’t just recovery.

Ji-han instinctively felt he was surpassing his own limits.

Dopamine surged wildly.

Intense pleasure coursed through his peripheral nerves.

In the exhilaration, he fixed his gaze on the opponent before him.

‘I can do it now!’

He gained the certainty that he could crush the B-rank thief before him!

“Hohoho! Didn’t you brag about yawning earlier? Now it’s my turn to yawn!”

“You little brat!”

“Haam—!”

“Damn brat!”

Ji-han openly taunted his opponent.

Though Kang Do-joon spat curses, thoroughly enraged, the changed situation couldn’t revert.

Clearly, until just moments ago, he had been tormenting his opponent.

Now, they were engaging in almost equal combat.

An absurd situation.

That guy was clearly on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion just moments ago!

No, even if he wasn’t tired, a C-rank shouldn’t have been able to stand against him in the first place!

‘What the hell is going on here!’

Ji-han and Do-joon exchanged fierce blows, mixing combat skills.

Sharp sounds rang out each time their cold weapons clashed.

Ssssh, ssssh, whoosh!

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Neither side crumbled easily.

However, Ji-han gradually built momentum and began pushing his opponent back.

Do-joon attempted a sharp counterattack, but Ji-han twisted his body to deflect it.

Seizing the opening, he swung his sword.

Whoosh—!

Do-joon narrowly ducked to avoid the blade.

His eyes, both bloodshot, glared furiously at Ji-han.

‘This is dangerous!’

Do-joon felt his body trembling despite himself.

Was it fear of the situation? No, that wasn’t it.

Ever since earlier, something indescribable had been gnawing at his body unpleasantly.

Along with the uncomfortable sensation, he felt his body gradually slowing down and his strength waning.

If this state persisted…

He had an ominous premonition that he would lose to this damned kid in front of him.

Though it was extremely frustrating, he tended to trust his instincts.

He needed to turn the situation around.

‘How, how to do it…!’

Do-joon’s thoughts raced furiously, searching for a solution.

Thinking and rethinking endlessly.

Then, coincidentally…

The elegant figure of a beautiful woman caught his eye at the edge of his vision.

Dodging another attack from Ji-han…

He shouted with all his might.

“Hey you bastards! Go after the women—!”

And shouted again.

“Bring in some monsters too—!”

Hearing his shout, the thieves began moving differently than before.