Chapter 22

Da-young rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand.

She looked at the scene in front of her again.

“What the heck is going on…?”

No matter how many times she looked, she couldn’t understand.

What kind of situation is this?

There’s Ji-han, one of our Wings Guild’s promising members, lying there all beat up…

And right in front of him, Han-gyeol is smiling mischievously while talking to Si-hyun.

First thought that came to Da-young’s mind:

Did Si-hyun really do this to Ji-han?

Ah, so Si-hyun was this strong all along.

That much makes sense…

Next question:

Why are those two picking on Ji-han?

No matter how she thought about it, it didn’t make sense.

Da-young furrowed her brows.

At that moment, Ji-han wobbled as he got up from his seat.

He shoved Han-gyeol standing next to him and rushed over to Da-young.

Thud!

Ji-han collapsed right in front of Da-young and shouted.

“Ma, Master! Please save me!”

The way he cried out pitifully made him look like a victim of bullying to anyone watching.

Si-hyun looked down coldly at Ji-han.

Han-gyeol let out a big sigh.

“He suddenly started a fight with the two of them! They both beat me up!”

“Started a fight? Who?”

“That white-haired hag!”

Da-young looked up at Si-hyun.

She was standing there with her arms crossed, looking as cold as ice at Ji-han.

“Si-hyun…?”

“…Yes.”

“So you’re the one who beat him up…?”

When Da-young asked tremblingly, Si-hyun replied expressionlessly.

“I didn’t lift a finger. Well… I did snap my fingers once.”

“…”

Hearing Si-hyun’s answer, Da-young’s head became even more confused.

It didn’t sound like a lie, and Si-hyun wasn’t the type to lie anyway.

She wasn’t the kind of person to start trouble either.

Even if she did, if she didn’t use her own hands…

“Ji-han?”

“Yes, yes!”

“Then who hit you? Was it Han-gyeol?”

“…”

Ji-han couldn’t answer right away.

Though it seemed like some trickery from the white-haired woman, she was just an E-rank Hunter.

That would mean he got beaten purely by Han-gyeol-nim.

He had been boasting about becoming B-rank soon…

Getting beaten up by a D-rank Hunter and whining about it?

The cause and effect didn’t add up.

It was all just a bizarre situation.

“Han-gyeol-nim! He’s C-rank but hiding something!”

“…”

“Not cool, man! Beating up your little brother like some stray dog!”

Ji-han blurted out whatever excuses came to mind.

After looking at Ji-han for a bit, Da-young glanced at Han-gyeol.

Their eyes met, and Han-gyeol slowly shook his head.

Da-young roughly understood the situation.

Who would people say is the most kind-hearted and diligent person in Wings Guild?

Everyone would unanimously agree: It’s Han-gyeol.

Would Si-hyun randomly start fights and hit people?

Though Da-young hadn’t known Si-hyun for long, there was one thing she was sure of.

Si-hyun doesn’t even bother paying attention to people who aren’t acquaintances, let alone start fights.

Da-young also knew that Ji-han had a domineering personality.

The circumstances became clear.

“…Ji-han, didn’t we have an agreement?”

“Y-yes…?”

“When we start the new guild, you promised to calm down and live properly. Don’t you remember?”

“T-that…”

Ji-han looked up at Da-young’s face.

He was tearing up while looking at her.

His expression was extremely sorrowful.

Right at that moment,

Ji-han realized he was wrong.

Come to think of it, they did make such a promise.

Why did he even leave the large guild to join Wings Guild?

He must have lost sight of his初心.

Somewhere along the line, he had been acting just like the bad apples from his previous guild.

“…Phew.”

Da-young raised her palm.

Ji-han anticipated what would happen.

But he accepted it quietly.

SLAP!

The sound of a heavy slap echoed.

“Ugh…”

SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!

With consecutive cheek slaps, Ji-han’s head swung uncontrollably left and right.

But it didn’t last long.

Because Da-young stopped moving, choking back tears.

Ji-han’s lips were split and bleeding, yet

he slammed his forehead onto the floor.

“I’m sorry! I was wrong! I won’t do it again!”

It was a tone filled with sincerity.

Da-young looked at Si-hyun and said,

“Sorry, Si-hyun. I caused you trouble.”

“…It’s fine.”

When Da-young apologized, Si-hyun shook her head.

At that moment, Ji-han stood up and deeply bowed to Si-hyun.

“I’m sorry for causing trouble today! If you wish to punish me, I’ll gladly accept it!”

“…It’s fine.”

Si-hyun lightly shook her head.

To be honest, when he was being all cocky, she thought he was done for.

But it seems Da-young has quite the influence on this guy.

Now that he’s apologized, her mood has improved too.

Giving punishment would just be bothersome anyway, so might as well end it here.

Besides, he was just used as Han-gyeol’s punching bag.

And it was true that ignoring him didn’t work, so she provoked him.

Si-hyun slowly took a step forward.

“Da-young-sshi, can I grab a cup of coffee before I go? Is that okay?”

“Hm? Of course!”

“Please add some vanilla syrup.”

“Wow, how did you know we have that?”

Da-young briefly watched Ji-han apologize to Han-gyeol too,

then followed beside Si-hyun.

Thus, the commotion ended peacefully.

Si-hyun really just drank a cup of coffee and left neatly.

While tidying up the cups, Da-young looked at Ji-han.

He sat there quietly, bowing his head deeply, looking ashamed.

Da-young muttered something that just came to mind.

“Ji-han, you’re still C-rank, right?”

“Uh? Yes.”

“The last time we drank, I saw Si-hyun easily taking down a C-rank Hunter with one hand… or was it already B-rank?”

“…”

Ji-han’s eyes widened.

“E-rank magic-type Hunter, right?”

“Melee-type?”

“Wha… What?”

Ji-han’s mouth hung open.

Why did I lose today?

Was Hyung Han-gyeol really already C-rank?

Did he win one-on-one?

No, wait.

Taking down a mid-level Hunter with one hand?

Ji-han felt cold sweat running down his back.

If I hadn’t apologized in time,

I might have gotten beaten to a pulp…

I should never provoke this woman again.

Ji-hun made a mental note, over and over.

*

As soon as Si-hyun got home, she melted into the sofa.

She turned on the TV with the remote and flopped onto the armrest.

The warm sunlight made her feel drowsy.

“Haaam…”

She let out a natural yawn.

She rested her cheek on her arm, spacing out.

So soft…

Sofas really are the best.

Since I’ve finished everything I needed to do today…

Once the TV turns on, I should watch Momobin’s stream…

…

…

…

“…”

Si-hyun looked around.

The sagging carpet.

The walls and floors made of wood and stone.

This familiar scenery.

It was the inn room from the other world where she was traveling to kill the Demon King.

Si-hyun nodded to herself and sat on the bed.

It was hard, but familiar.

Knock knock.

“It’s me.”

Someone lightly knocked on the door.

Si-hyun unlocked it and opened the door.

A plain-looking brown-haired woman.

The baggage handler from the Hero party.

The only female in the party who wasn’t hostile towards Si-hyun.

She often came to visit Si-hyun like this late at night.

The woman entered Si-hyun’s room.

Si-hyun silently closed the door and sat back on the bed.

The woman’s gaze went to the table.

Elemental magic theory books, holy scriptures, combat fundamentals etc.

All evidence of Si-hyun’s daily diligent studies remained there.

Everything was proof of her efforts to gain recognition from the Hero party.

“Aren’t you pushing yourself too hard?”

“…I need to prove my worth…”

“Hmm…”

The woman shook her head, moved the books aside, and placed some snacks there.

Then she approached Si-hyun, who had her head bowed.

“Put this inside your bracelet.”

“…”

The woman firmly placed a small piece of jewelry in Si-hyun’s hand.

She gently stroked the back of Si-hyun’s hand while looking her in the eye.

“Keep it hidden from the Hero. Got it?”

“…What is this?”

A voice devoid of strength, as if her soul had left her body.

The woman gave a bitter smile and said,

“It’s a gem that grants wishes.”

“…That’s ridiculous.”

“Is it? Ahaha…”

It was truly an absurd claim,

so Si-hyun immediately dismissed it.

It wasn’t actually a real item that granted wishes.

However, the woman met Si-hyun’s eyes again.

To prevent Si-hyun from giving up on life.

With a serious expression, she placed her hand on Si-hyun’s shoulder and spoke.

At that moment,

Si-hyun woke up from her sleep.

“Oh… Sorry for falling asleep.”

“…”

Si-hyun rubbed the corners of her eyes and looked at the person in front of her.

It wasn’t the baggage handler, but her younger sister Si-yoon.

She was covering Si-hyun with a thin blanket.

I must have fallen asleep for a bit and dreamed about the past.

“No… Just dozed off for a moment.”

Si-hyun shook her head and sat up.

Si-yoon stared at her sister’s expression for a moment then headed to the bathroom.

She had to return since she was in the middle of working.

Si-hyun turned on Momobin’s live stream on the TV.

It showed the host was temporarily away during a chat broadcast.

Today’s game was a simulation with character development elements.

She absent-mindedly watched the screen.

After Si-yoon returned from the bathroom to the room,

Momobin still hadn’t come back.

She waited endlessly for her favorite streamer to return.

How many minutes passed?

It felt like a considerable amount of time had gone by.

Finally, Momobin returned.

“Did you miss me?”

– Momo

– Finally here!

– Why’s the streamer taking so long lately?

The chat exploded with messages.

Momobin skillfully continued the broadcast while casually brushing them off.

The planned game for today started and the story unfolded.

An adult saves endangered students by chance.

Recognized for their abilities, they become the homeroom teacher at an academy.

Teaching students, counseling them, occasionally going on dates,

gaining recognition from the people around them and the students,

overcoming hardships to achieve happiness and love – that kind of story.

Without realizing it, Si-hyun got completely absorbed in the game’s story and lost herself in imagination.

Captivating students with excellent lectures.

Commanding students while crushing monsters together, exuding charisma.

Instead of oppression and constraints, building relationships based on recognition and cooperation.

Just imagining it made her feel happy.

She would have become a teacher after graduating from university if the Great Change hadn’t happened.

Si-hyun envied the protagonist in the game.

At the same time, she became curious about Momobin’s thoughts.

She pondered repeatedly.

Eventually, unable to contain herself, she made her first donation.

[Donation of 2,000 won from ??]

– What do you think about teaching jobs like teachers or professors?

“Hmm… What do I think? Let’s see…”

It was an incredibly broad question.

The answer Si-hyun wanted might not come out.

But Si-hyun thought that was fine too.

“Such jobs are pretty cool, aren’t they? They’re jobs for people with a sense of mission.”

– That’s right ㅋㅋ

– Agreed

– Sense of mission?

“Of course! Would someone who only cares about money become a teacher?”

– Now that you mention it, that’s true

– Really ㄹㅇㅋㅋ

– That’s true ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Not all viewers agreed with Momobin’s opinion, of course.

Negative opinions also appeared.

But what mattered to Si-hyun wasn’t that.

Momobin had a positive perspective.

Sense of mission.

The word itself sounded impressive.

“Maybe I should ask about it…”

Si-hyun muted the TV for a moment.

She searched online using her smartphone.

Rather than asking without knowing anything,

she wanted to find out the basics herself first,

and then ask about the parts she couldn’t find.

After organizing some information in her head that way,

Si-hyun called an acquaintance.

– Hello?

A short while later, the call connected and Ji-a’s gentle voice came through.

“Um… By any chance, about academy professors…”

Si-hyun exchanged simple questions and answers with Ji-a.

They also made plans to meet tomorrow.

After ending the call,

Si-hyun placed her hand on her chest.

Thump thump.

Her heart was racing.

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