The entrance ceremony was straightforward and quick.
The host introduced the academy to the students in the given order.
They talked about the academy’s significance and how courses are divided according to professions and characteristics, among other things.
Next came the introduction of the faculty members.
– First, let me introduce the professors in charge of the core subjects.
The announced professors stood up and gave a light nod.
Starting with swordsmanship, spear fighting, and martial arts, they introduced the professors responsible for the magic department as well.
– This year, we will also introduce all the professors for the general education subjects.
Then it was time to introduce the general education subjects.
Unlike the earlier core subjects, all the professors are called out at once in a row.
Si-hyun stood up following the person next to her.
Watching the others, she greeted the students similarly.
Her sparkling white hair fluttered under the light.
One of the students watching that scene, Kwon Jae-woo.
He gazed at the podium with trembling eyes.
‘Isn’t she just a fellow freshman…?’
He thought they would meet again at the academy.
As expected, he got to see her again.
But she wasn’t a student; she was a professor. Well, technically a part-time lecturer.
“Wow, who is that? She’s gorgeous.”
“Is she a foreigner? Her eyes are golden?!”
Some freshmen nearby Jae-woo whispered in small voices.
Jae-woo unconsciously focused on their conversation.
“But she’s a general education professor?”
“That’s not that important for grades. Should we take her class?”
Listening to the boys’ chatter, Jae-woo pondered.
Academy grades weren’t just about skills assessed.
They became vital when writing personal statements later on.
Getting into a famous or successful guild would help.
What if he could get good grades and a recommendation from a well-known professor?
He could possibly get a free pass into a big guild.
That’s how connections among hunters worked.
Thus, many students carefully chose their professors even for general education subjects.
‘Maybe I should think it over some more.’
Jae-woo shook his head.
No need to make a hasty decision.
*
After the entrance ceremony, time passed naturally and the course registration date approached.
Due to the one-year program nature of the academy, there wasn’t a senior-junior relationship.
However, a community existed for discussions related to the academy.
Many beginner hunters often shared information there.
As a new student, Jae-woo was no different.
Which professors were recommended? Which professors were best to avoid? Some professors were particular but offered a lot in return, etc.
He’d firmly engraved various information in his head.
Jae-woo checked the time at the bottom of his monitor.
Not much time left.
He’d quickly secure spots for the high-priority subjects first.
Then he’d follow up with the general education subject he had in mind.
Going over his plans repeatedly.
Jae-woo glared at the monitor again.
The time on the screen changed constantly.
50 minutes, 55 minutes.
57 minutes.
58 minutes.
…10 o’clock sharp!
Jae-woo’s finger swiftly started moving.
Tap tap tap The sound of typing echoed in the room.
‘First priority subjects are secured!’
Although he felt some regret about certain choices, he did well overall.
Next, Jae-woo checked the list of general education subjects.
The list of subjects rolled out in front of him.
[No.1 Introduction to Monster Studies. Capacity limit——]
“Madness…!”
There was an unexpected variable.
The community said the capacity limit for general education subjects was lenient.
But there it was, a glaring number.
Capacity limit: 15.
Applications: 14.
Wasn’t the thought of those chatting during the entrance ceremony just a minority opinion?
Was it a visible spot that caused it?
He didn’t know why; what mattered now wasn’t that!
Jae-woo quickly hit the registration button.
With the click of the mouse.
He swallowed hard.
Please, please, please. Let it succeed!
A brief moment of loading.
With his brow tightly furrowed, Jae-woo stared at the monitor screen.
And then.
“Nice—!”
Without realizing it, he swung his clenched fist upward with strength.
Victory pose!
He successfully became the last student to register for Introduction to Monster Studies!
It was a nail-biter!
“Hehe….”
Jae-woo chuckled as he entered the community.
Other new students would surely start gathering one by one.
Shall he enjoy the wails of the losers?
[Why is course registration so intense? LOL #$@!]
[Why is Introduction to Monster Studies filling up so fast?]
[Excuse me, may I take a spot?]
[I’m rushing to get a spot LOL.]
[$@#!… What is this….]
Jae-woo lightly skimmed through the posts.
He clicked on one that shared a similar circumstance with him.
[Title: Why is Introduction to Monster Studies filling up so fast?]
[Yeah, yeah.]
When I tried to apply, it was already full #$@!
Is the 15-student limit real?
– There are other similar subjects anyway. You can take those.
└ Didn’t you see during the entrance ceremony? How the heck can we wait that long?;;
└ True, LOL.
– Professor info was scarce. That’s why I passed.
└ Totally LOL.
└ I also passed because I didn’t want to gamble.
– I’m super envious of the successful 15 students #$@!
– LOL I did that first.
└ This guy’s reasoning seems suspicious.
└ ? Why are you stirring up trouble?
└ Just saying, haha.
└ LOL.
– I just applied because it was at the top.
└ $@#! Move aside, that’s my spot.
└ LOL, no thanks.
Jae-woo chuckled while enjoying the comments.
The taste of victory was incredibly sweet.
*
Before long, another short while passed.
Finally, the opening of the academy began.
There wasn’t a separate building for general education subjects at the academy.
Thus, Introduction to Monster Studies occupied a classroom in a building mainly for close-combat hunters.
Right beside it was a large gym.
And the building where the faculty rooms were wasn’t far away either.
Students with some leisure time took a stroll around the academy grounds to enjoy the scenery.
Then, as the lecture time approached, one by one, they entered the building.
In a relatively small classroom, 15 students gathered closely.
After a moment.
Clack clack—
The sound of shoes echoed as a woman stood next to the podium by the blackboard.
All students’ gazes turned to her.
“……Hello, everyone.”
A beautiful and graceful voice.
Several male students had smirking expressions.
“I’m Jeong Si-hyun, in charge of Introduction to Monster Studies.”
Si-hyun skillfully operated the projector.
While the machine booted, Si-hyun fell into a small reflection.
She intentionally set the class limit low.
Would it even fill up? She thought.
But in reality?
Si-hyun looked at the direction where the students were.
15 students, the capacity was full.
A delightful start made her heart flutter.
It wasn’t a large number, and perhaps because she had practiced enough, she didn’t feel overly nervous.
Now the real beginning is here!
Si-hyun took a deep breath while glancing at the screen.
Hoo—!
The computer’s idle screen reflected on the screen.
“Since today is the first day, let’s just check attendance and briefly introduce the syllabus and the future lectures.”
Holding a folder, Si-hyun called out each student’s name.
The novice hunters responded eagerly whenever their names were called.
“Kwon Jae-woo.”
“Here!”
Jae-woo, who was sitting in the front, answered energetically.
However, Si-hyun lightly nodded and moved on to the next student.
Jae-woo felt a slight disappointment.
There were some unique reactions from time to time, but Si-hyun smiled and moved past them lightly.
Once attendance was complete, Si-hyun introduced herself.
“Many are asking if I’m a foreigner, so let me clarify: I am indeed Korean, but I returned after living far away for a long time.”
An appropriately vague piece of information.
The students assumed she must have lived abroad for a long time.
Of course, some questioned her eye color, but they didn’t dwell on it deeply.
It wasn’t that important after all.
“My rank is… D-rank Hunter. But don’t worry too much; I know a lot about D to C-rank dungeons as well.”
Few students signed up for the class expecting that from her anyhow.
Moreover, it wasn’t a practical lecture. Even a D-rank Hunter could master the theory.
Everyone quietly nodded.
“You’ll be learning various information about monsters through diverse audiovisual materials. I hope you can gain a deep understanding of their ecology, characteristics, combat methods, etc.”
It was a standard introduction phrase.
However, a few students tilted their heads in confusion.
‘Monster ecology?’
It was clearly written on the syllabus too.
Thus, the students felt even stranger.
Unless you were close to a gate outbreak, you must enter the dungeons to see monsters.
How on earth could they know about the ecology of those creatures?
Some students began to harbor distrust towards the professor.
“As you know, monsters can also be classified using classification charts. This is——”
Si-hyun continued introducing the lecture.
She smoothly delivered her pre-prepared lines without mistakes while keeping an eye on the students’ reactions.
Some yawned.
Occasionally, a few fiddled with their phones, but generally, they were focused on her talk.
Feeling relieved as the lecture unfolded well, Si-hyun let out a small sigh.
“That’s all for now. The introduction took longer than expected.”
Si-hyun checked the time and looked around at the students.
“Lastly, are there any questions?”
For a moment, silence fell over the classroom.
Doesn’t anyone have curiosities? Si-hyun tilted her head.
‘Since I explained it well, that’s only to be expected,’ she thought, organizing her papers.
Just when Si-hyun was about to wrap up her first lecture.
One student raised their hand energetically.
“Professor! Why do we need to learn about monster ecology?”
“…Ecology, you ask.”
Si-hyun paused for a moment to think.
Quickly organizing her thoughts, she opened her mouth.
“Ecology is also an important topic. It allows us to understand the behaviors and characteristics of each monster.”
There were plenty of systematically organized resources even in another world.
Si-hyun would read books whenever she had time.
The hand-raising student fell quiet.
Si-hyun nodded lightly and continued.
“Then, today’s lecture is—”
As Si-hyun was about to conclude her lecture, the same student raised their hand vigorously once more.
“Professor! No, how on earth do we know the ecology of monsters? It seems strange!”
At the student’s outcry, several people nearby nodded along.
A mood of agreement formed.
Si-hyun looked back at that student.
What seemed strange? She didn’t understand.
This was precious information, and she had worked hard to prepare it for the cute students.
However, due to the student’s sarcastic tone, Si-hyun felt a slight emotional stir but slowly calmed herself.
Upon reflecting, it did seem understandable to be curious.
So she could just explain it step by step.
Let’s help them realize how precious the knowledge they would gain is.
Prepare to be amazed at her lectures she had eagerly prepared for the future.
“That’s a good question.”
Si-hyun calmly began to speak.
