Chapter 73

“Um, Kang Ha-chan, you’re not really F-class, are you?”

She saw me firing Thunderbolt.

Judging by her actions, she hadn’t told anyone else, but it was obvious to anyone that calling me F-class was a stretch.

“No. I’m F-class.”

But I had no intention of admitting it.

I helped her out of goodwill, and there was no reason to reveal the truth.

But she seemed to interpret it differently, her eyes starting to sparkle.

Like she was looking at a hero who had to hide their power and identity in a hero movie.

Yeah, it was clearly a look of increased affection.

Like I had some mysterious aura or something.

“Um, I told you before. I want to repay you for saving me.”

I looked at her with a strange expression.

Just a while ago, she was acting like she was one with Lee Soo-ho, saying, “What a mess!” and now she’s asking me out? It was absurd.

‘Is this what love is like?’

At 26, I never thought I’d be pondering love again.

Feeling a slight headache, I quickly said to her,

“I have a boyfriend.”

And her body froze like a statue.

Then, with trembling pupils, she looked at me and clenched her fists, shouting,

“B-but you don’t have a girlfriend!”

Damn, my ultimate move didn’t work.

This girl is a tough opponent.

“I have a girlfriend too.”

Then I hit her with the classic wall.

F-class Iron Wall Kang Ha-chan.

Well, it’s only true inside the academy, but inside, I was in that kind of relationship with Si-ho.

So I wasn’t lying.

At my words, she looked like the sky had split in two.

Like she was looking at someone from another dimension.

Why doesn’t she think the first one was a lie?

What, do I look like that?

I like women.

“…What a mess. Really.”

She left the words she always spat out and staggered away.

She probably knew that what I just did was a clear rejection.

“You know how to reject someone?”

Baeksan looked at me like I was strange.

What does this guy think of me?

In the first place, my interactions with women have been concentrated recently.

Two high school girls have feelings for me, and even the president of the World Returner Association has potential feelings for me. It’s a shocking situation, but it’s because I’ve never had a girlfriend in my life.

Ah, I did have an ex-girlfriend from another world.

For a day.

‘Why did it turn out like this?’

Well, Ji-eun, I kind of know why she likes me, so I’ll let that slide.

At this point, I even feel sorry for Ji-eun.

I subconsciously recognized Ji-eun as someone who didn’t touch my trauma, so I easily noticed her feelings.

I deserve to be called trash.

But honestly, it still feels a bit distant that Si-ho likes me.

I only realized it after coming to the academy, but everything she showed me before was practically a confession.

‘The reason Si-ho likes me is probably…’

It’s probably the result of her trauma, subconsciously overlapping me with her mother.

I was so focused on saving her that I didn’t consider her situation and ended up doing the same thing.

And in the process, she overcame her trauma.

That was admirable, but on the other hand, it made her dependent on me instead of her mother.

And as a result, my value to her increased, turning into feelings of affection.

I understand all that.

And understanding that, I felt really sorry for Ji-eun and Si-ho.

But what about Baekseolhyang?

I once joked that the favor she shows me might be because she likes me or something.

Of course, it was such an absurd story that I brushed it off, and I still can’t be sure.

Ji-eun and Si-ho have their reasons, so I’ll let that slide.

But my relationship with Baekseolhyang is mostly business, and there was never a moment where feelings could develop.

A single guy who’s never been in a relationship can only think that someone likes him if there’s a reason.

Saying it out loud makes me want to cry.

‘Maybe she likes my face?’

I quietly touched my face.

Do I look better than I thought?

“Baeksan, do I actually look pretty good?”

“Damn, stop saying disgusting things.”

Why is he cursing?

“Tch, you’re probably around 3rd or 4th out of 10.”

A bit above average.

It’s the number that guys commonly think of when ranking their looks.

Honestly, I think it’s higher than I thought, but I’ve had a problem with objectively seeing myself.

My self-esteem was completely crushed by Gwak Sa-yeon once.

In the first place, in middle and high school, I lived on national living assistance without parents, and as an adult, I spent all my time preparing for university scholarships and living expenses.

So I had no relationships to build self-esteem.

The fact that no one stood by me after what happened with Gwak Sa-yeon is proof of that.

So I tend to see myself as low.

‘Back then, I had no room to breathe.’

That personality from back then still remains in me.

But recently, I think I’ve been changing a lot.

Ironically, the turning point was a game.

During five years of free time, I finally learned about relationships by mingling with various people.

And starting with Ayu, whom I met through that game, my life has been changing rapidly.

Isn’t this like a coin skyrocketing?

“By the way, what about Seo-ho?”

“1st place.”

I agreed with Baeksan’s objective eyes.

‘Then Baekseolhyang probably doesn’t like me for my looks.’

I fell into an infinite loop again.

With my romantic stats close to zero, I couldn’t possibly understand this situation.

I hadn’t done anything to make Baekseolhyang like me.

“Hey, stop worrying about useless stuff. If you’re going to do that, just date them all together.”

“Crazy, what kind of nonsense is that? That would be a huge nuisance to Ji-eun, Si-ho, and Baekseolhyang.”

“…You think there are only those two and that iron-blooded woman around you who like you?”

Wait, why is there an “only”?

“Wait, why is there an ‘only’?”

“Damn, I thought you were starting to get a clue. Are you still far off?”

He tapped his forehead and then turned to me.

“I don’t know. You figure it out.”

Baeksan really didn’t seem like he was going to tell me and just walked out of the auditorium.

If you’re going to call me clueless, why not help me get a clue?

I know I’m clueless.

I know!

“But really…”

There are really more?

“Then, with this, the Hunter Training Academy graduation ceremony for the third quarter of 2030 is concluded. Everyone, you’ve worked hard.”

As the principal’s speech ended, the students cheered.

They were practically confined for two weeks, so they welcomed the graduation ceremony with joy.

If it weren’t for Baeksan making my head complicated, I would have felt light-hearted too.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.

At that moment, as I was about to leave, I made eye contact with Seo-ho.

As I approached him, Seo-ho, feeling like he no longer needed to care about others’ eyes, smiled warmly.

“You’ve worked hard, hyung.”

“Me? I didn’t do much. Seo-ho, you’ve worked hard.”

Honestly, I owe him a lot from the academy.

So I felt quite sorry towards Seo-ho.

“No, this doesn’t even begin to repay the debt.”

Just how big is the debt I owe Seo-ho?

As I smiled bitterly, Seo-ho looked a bit worried.

“But there’s one thing I’m worried about.”

“Worried? About what?”

“The Alters.”

The S-class Hunter group Josia mentioned.

“Why the Alters?”

“Josia might be an idiot, but she’s an S-class Hunter. If there’s someone in the Alters who thinks like her, I’m worried they might cause trouble for you, hyung.”

That makes sense.

Josia only had limited information, so she made a mistake, but from our perspective, she looks like a fool.

But people who actually received that information could naturally misunderstand.

Which means the Alters could think the same.

I did my best to hide my power, and Seo-ho and the World Returner Association helped, but there are a few who saw me output my power.

Like the most clueless instructor, Naehyun.

If they trace back Seo-ho’s connections, there are plenty who could find out about me.

“In that case, it seems like my coming here has caused trouble.”

“No. If it weren’t for you, Seo-ho, I would have been caught long ago.”

Seeing Seo-ho look gloomy, I quickly told him.

If it weren’t for Seo-ho, I would have been caught on the first day.

He definitely helped.

“Thanks for saying that. But just in case, I’ll do my best to handle the Alters. If they contact you, let me know immediately. Even if it’s just that idiot Josia, contact me and I’ll help.”

“Got it. Don’t worry too much.”

If things get bad, I’ll just call Baeksan.

“Hey, damn it, don’t think such crap.”

I pretended not to hear Baeksan.

“Then I’ll go finish up the instructor work. Once again, congratulations on your graduation, hyung.”

“Thanks, thanks. Let’s meet again with Si-ho. I’ll treat you to a meal.”

“Yes, see you then.”

Seo-ho bowed to me and left.

Thinking he’s such a polite guy, I followed the crowd outside.

In that chaotic situation, someone suddenly tapped my back.

When I turned around, there was a familiar face.

“Domi oppa, congratulations on graduating!”

“Ayu.”

She must have been waiting for me, as she smiled brightly.

Si-ho went to school, and Josia had to finish her work as an instructor following Seo-ho, so the only one waiting for me was Ayu.

Ah, of course, Eun-hyeon is probably hiding somewhere, keeping an eye on me.

Then suddenly, I thought of the women around me.

Aside from those three, there’s practically no one but Ayu.

“Let’s go eat jajangmyeon to celebrate your graduation. Jajangmyeon!”

“Hey, Ayu, can I ask you something?”

“Sure, what is it?”

She playfully pushed my back with her hand and tilted her head under her hat.

After looking at her for a moment, I shook my head.

Yeah, no matter what, it’s not her.

Even if it’s in a game, I’ve known Ayu for years.

“No, it’s nothing. Let’s go eat jajangmyeon like you said. I’m hungry.”

“Great! After eating, let’s play a game. I’ve been wanting to play with Domi oppa but couldn’t. I need to show you my Diamond carry!”

“Talking about Diamond in front of a Grandmaster Top is a hundred years too early.”

“In a hundred years, the game will be shut down.”

We bickered like that as we left the academy.

Completely unaware of Baeksan’s pitiful gaze from behind.