Chapter 45

With a spirited shout of ambition, Ah-reum slowly lifted her head that had been bowed.

Gently opening her eyes, she looked straight at the professor.

Professor Jeong Si-hyun had her eyes half-closed, deep in thought.

Ah-reum tightly clenched both fists as she waited for the professor’s reply.

‘Uh… did I convey it properly…?’

What did I say just now? Did my words fully capture my intentions?

Ah-reum mentally retraced the words she had just spoken.

“I want to be like you, Professor! You’re my role model!”

It was definitely something along those lines.

“……Huh?”

Though I meant I wanted to become your disciple. Being a graduate student would be fine too.

But is this really how it comes across?

Anyway, even if it’s just an elective, I’m technically still a student.

Calling someone a role model means you admire them…

Uh, uhoh…?

Ah-reum’s gaze began wandering aimlessly, unable to settle on any one spot.

It feels like I conveyed my intentions properly to the professor… but maybe not?

I’m not quite sure if I said things right…

Ah-reum looked back up at the professor with trembling eyes.

A woman so beautiful she could captivate even other women.

She always exuded grace in her delicate movements, and a naturally sacred aura flowed from her even when she stood still.

Professor Jeong Si-hyun had been the ideal woman Si-hyun had only ever dreamed of until now.

The shy me probably never would have thought to come for a personal consultation with such a professor.

But then, by chance at the bookstore…

When we discovered our shared interest in genre novels…

When the professor kindly engaged me in conversation…

I saw a glimpse of humanity in Professor Jeong Si-hyun.

I realized that this dazzling and confident professor also enjoyed hobbies like any other person.

And through today’s lecture video, a passion blossomed in my chest – “I want to become someone like that too.”

I want to be a shining person like the professor!

This passion soon turned into courage, and Ah-reum made her way to the office.

“…Hmm, okay.”

“Eh, eh?!”

As Soon-hyun started to speak casually, Ah-reum tensed up and shrunk back.

* * *

“Your intention is to become a guided student, correct?”

“Y-Yes, yes! Whether as a graduate student or anything else, I’ll do it all!”

The student answered loudly to my question.

So it wasn’t a misunderstanding when they called me their role model, huh?

“May I ask the reason?”

“T-The reason, you say…?”

The student looked at me with trembling eyes.

They bowed their head and fidgeted with their fingers as if counting numbers.

Soon, an unexpected response burst out.

“Um, well… Professor, you’re strong and cool and beautiful and refined! And um, noble yet sacred and mysterious to an astonishing degree—”

“A-Ah, got it! Stop, stop!”

Whoa, what a surprise! Suddenly spitting out words nonstop like some rapper.

Sacredness and nobility? What’s all this about…

There’s no way I have any of that.

My face heated up from the sudden student’s praise.

“…Ahem, I understand what you wanted to say.”

“Yes!”

The student answers enthusiastically.

Honestly, it makes me really happy.

Even though it was exaggerated, they were lifting me up with their words.

Their sincerity came through even if they were a bit nervous.

However, there is one big problem.

“As you know, I’m just a part-time lecturer, not a full professor.”

“If-if you join a guild, I’ll follow you!”

Immediate response.

…Honestly, I didn’t expect this much passion.

“I-It doesn’t matter if I’m your disciple or subordinate! I want to become someone who shines like you!”

“…G-Got it.”

Shining… person, huh.

That’s how I appear in the student’s eyes, huh.

Though I don’t see myself that way at all.

Anyway, I clearly understand what the student wants to say.

Then I should give the student a sincere response as well, shouldn’t I?

“Ah-reum student.”

“Y-Yes, yes!”

When I called out, the student looked at me with a tense face.

I deliberately spoke in a serious tone.

“Everything you’ve said so far, is it all true?”

“O-Of course!”

“I see.”

I looked at the bright eyes hidden behind the large glasses.

Despite the shrinking body, the eyes were filled with firm determination.

Looking at that gaze, I made my decision.

“…Listen carefully.”

To be honest…

I prefer lounging around at home over going out.

I like moderately crowded places more than busy ones.

I often feel bothered and tend to procrastinate on tasks.

I don’t think of myself as the shining person the student describes.

However…

“In the future…”

Even someone like me.

At least in front of cute students, can try to be.

“You will definitely become the shining person you dream of.”

Maybe pretending to be a shining person isn’t so bad?

Building a cool relationship where we both look forward together toward ideals.

“Ah-reum student, please take care of me from now on.”

“Yes, please take care of me!”

We shook hands strongly.

The warmth transmitted through the palms felt like the student’s aspirations right before my eyes.

“Please, feel free to talk.”

“…Should I?”

Nodding my head, I approached the counseling desk and sat down.

“Feel free to sit.”

“Y-Yes!”

On the opposite side, Ah-reum sits stiffly.

Taking the opportunity to ease the tension, I quietly pulled out a novel from my bag and placed it on the desk.

“Hmm…”

Ah-reum’s eyes changed.

“H-Have you read this?!”

“Of course. This is a real masterpiece, right?”

“That’s right, that’s right?! It’s the universe’s greatest work!”

All the stiffness from earlier was gone, her eyes sparkling excitedly.

The cute puppy-like demeanor I saw at the bookstore.

This must be the real Ah-reum, much more fitting and natural.

“Next, I recommend you try reading this!”

Ah-reum pulls out her phone and starts recommending various novels through the screen.

I carefully memorized each name as I examined them one by one.

When the atmosphere became warm and friendly,

I seized the appropriate timing to obtain Ah-reum’s lecture schedule.

Since teaching casually isn’t possible given how poor her combat skills were today…

I felt the need to seriously guide her.

After all, she’s my first disciple! I need to help her grow properly.

Plus, studying support skills and status windows while I’m at it wouldn’t be bad.

I’ve been putting it off saying I’ll do it someday…

“Then, see you next time.”

“Yes! Thank you for today!”

We exchanged pleasantries and Ah-reum left the office.

I leisurely gathered my things.

Since it’s still early evening, I plan to visit the academy library before heading home.

* * *

“Grrr…”

After class ended, Eun-byeol immediately headed to the library, clutching her head in deep thought.

The major assignment was more difficult than expected.

She kept searching for rare books and papers that couldn’t be checked out.

It seemed like she understood, but somehow didn’t.

Ultimately, she couldn’t arrive at a clear solution.

That frustrating ambiguous feeling naturally caused her brows to furrow and sighs to escape.

If only there was just a little more hint, she could solve it!

No matter how much research she did, she couldn’t find anything that pleasantly resolved the issue.

It seems the problem wasn’t with the materials, but rather something she missed in her thinking or understanding process.

“Ahh, really! These are the moments that are truly thrilling!”

Eun-byeol always approached her major studies with utmost sincerity.

But the theories learned by magic hunters were very unfamiliar.

Contents never encountered in life until now.

Because of that, there were many cases where effort alone wasn’t enough to solve problems.

Magic itself easily activates through skill names via the status window’s correction.

However, professors always emphasized.

Separate from the status window, one must conduct personal magical inquiries.

Only then can one reach higher ranks.

Compared to close-combat hunters who sweat it out on the field, magic hunters delve into research in the lab for this very reason.

Understanding the essence of mana requires effort.

While flipping through books, Eun-byeol suddenly noticed a familiar figure passing by the bookshelf.

Long white hair trailed behind as it disappeared.

“Umm?”

There’s only one person with such distinctive hair color that I’ve seen.

It’s definitely Professor Jeong Si-hyun from the Introduction to Monsters course.

Out of curiosity, Eun-byeol quietly followed the direction the professor disappeared to.

The professor stopped at a corner bookshelf and pulled out a book to read.

“Why is Professor Jeong Si-hyun reading books for magic hunters?”

Is it simple curiosity?

Eun-byeol had indeed seen this often while visiting the library.

Clearly close-combat hunter students who flipped through a few pages then left.

Could the professor be the same?

Snickering, Eun-byeol moved toward where the books she needed were.

Selecting a few volumes, she moved to a reading area.

After about an hour.

“Huh?”

Losing concentration, Eun-byeol looked up and spotted the professor again.

“Ah, surely not…”

Eun-byeol narrowed her eyes and glanced at the spine of another book nearby.

Anyone could tell it was a textbook for magic hunter majors.

“Really reading that?”

No, no. Maybe the book she’s actually reading is different.

Curiosity compelled Eun-byeol to stand up.

Approaching the professor cautiously.

“Hello, Professor?”

“…”

At the quiet greeting, the other party looked up.

Recognizing Eun-byeol’s face, she smiled lightly and nodded.

Ah-reum asked in a voice that wouldn’t offend, keeping it friendly.

“May I inquire what book you’re reading?”

“…This one?”

In response to Eun-byeol’s request, Soon-hyun tilted her head slightly and held up the book to show the cover.

This too was a textbook for magic hunter students.

At this moment, Eun-byeol hesitated briefly.

“Are you understanding the content while reading?” She wanted to ask but decided it would be too rude.

But she was extremely curious about why the professor was reading this book and whether she understood the content.

Soon-hyun seemed to have picked up on Eun-byeol’s thoughts just from her expression.

“What kind of book were you reading, Eun-byeol student?”

“Eh, well…”

Naturally shifting the topic from herself to Eun-byeol.

Eun-byeol pulled out the book she had in her bag and showed it to Soon-hyun.

Unconsciously flipping to the part she had been puzzling over all day.

“This part wasn’t making sense.”

“Where… Ah.”

It took just a few seconds.

Soon-hyun nodded and gestured to Eun-byeol.

Asking for writing tools and a notebook.

Despite being puzzled, Eun-byeol handed over a pen and notebook.

Swoosh swoosh—

Soon-hyun quickly wrote something in the notebook and handed it back to Eun-byeol.

Checking her phone for the time, she then stood up.

“Study hard.”

She whispered softly and left the seat.

Eun-byeol gave a light bow to the departing professor and checked the contents of the notebook.

And then…

“…What is this?”

The grip on the notebook tightened without her noticing.

The answer to the previously vague and incomprehensible question.

It was neatly written out in pretty handwriting.

“Not real, what is this.”

It was an incredibly clear answer. So clear that no questions remained.

This was definitely the answer to the problem.

Eun-byeol rubbed the corner of her eye with the hand not holding the notebook.

Rereading the content carefully and committing it to memory.

Putting the pen and notebook back in her bag, Eun-byeol left the library and headed to the office of her major professor.

Knocking on the office door and entering upon hearing a response, she greeted the professor and brought up her business.

“Professor, I’d like to confirm if this content is correct.”

“Hmm?”

Eun-byeol was a diligent student, her older brother was famous.

Besides, this student had visited the office several times already.

The magic professor smiled and checked the notebook Eun-byeol presented.

However, the smile didn’t last long.

“…Is this content conceived by Eun-byeol student?”

The professor fixed Eun-byeol with a serious gaze.

Eun-byeol caught on. That was the gaze of a predator hunting capable graduate students.

“Oh, I asked my older brother! Just checking in case.”

“Aha. Indeed, an S-rank Hunter.”

Eun-byeol smoothly used her older brother as an excuse.

Even she thought if she told anyone this was taught to her by Professor Jeong Si-hyun, they wouldn’t believe it.

“Honestly, I’m surprised. This is much cleaner and better than the answer I prepared. S-rank really is different.”

“Y-Yes? Hahaha…”

That day, a simple piece of advice from Soon-hyun shocked the magic professor and made Eun-byeol break a sweat.

And some other day later, during a magic major lecture.

With Eun-byeol’s permission, the professor revealed a new answer instead of the original one he had prepared.

The students, upon seeing the answer to the assignment, all marveled and committed the content to memory.

It was a perfectly clear interpretation leaving no room for theoretical debate.

Meanwhile, in Soon-hyun’s case.

While crossing the academy grounds on her way home and enjoying the surroundings,

Her eyes caught the students training hard on the field.

“Is that comfortable…?”

Looking at the female students’ uniforms.

Some wore training suits, others functional sportswear.

Quite a number were wearing high-waisted sports leggings.

Stopping momentarily, Soon-hyun tapped her cheek with her finger, lost in thought.

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