Chapter 22: Chapter 22

Da-Young rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand, then looked again at the scene in front of her.

‘What…?’

No matter how many times she looked, she couldn’t make sense of it.

Ji-Han, the promising talent of their Wings Guild, was sprawled out on the ground, looking pitiful. In front of him, Si-Hyun stood conversing with Han-Gyeol, who was grinning.

First, Da-Young’s initial question was: how did they beat Ji-Han? Well, Si-Hyun was strong, so that much she could accept.

But the next thought that arose was, why were those two tormenting Ji-Han? No matter how she thought about it, it didn’t make sense.

Da-Young frowned.

Just then, Ji-Han struggled to his feet, shoved Han-Gyeol aside, and hurriedly stumbled over to Da-Young.

Thud!

Ji-Han collapsed in front of her, wailing.

"M-Master! Please, save me!"

He sounded so pitifully desperate that anyone watching would think he was being bullied.

Si-Hyun looked down at Ji-Han with a cold expression, while Han-Gyeol let out a long sigh.

"He suddenly started picking a fight! The two of them beat me up!"

"Picking a fight? Who?"

"That white-haired witch!"

Da-Young looked up at Si-Hyun. Si-Hyun stood there, arms crossed, with a look as cold as ice, staring at Ji-Han.

"S-Si-Hyun...?"

"...Yes."

"Did you really… hit him?"

When Da-Young asked in a trembling voice, Si-Hyun replied in an emotionless tone.

"I didn’t even lift a finger… Well, I did snap my fingers once."

"...?"

Da-Young’s mind grew even more confused by Si-Hyun’s response. It didn’t sound like a lie, and she wasn’t the type to deceive.

She was hardly the type to pick a fight with anyone.

And if she did, but didn’t actually lay a hand on him…?

"Ji-Han?"

"Y-Yes!"

"So who actually hit you? Was it Han-Gyeol?"

"..."

Ji-Han hesitated, unable to answer immediately. He knew that the white-haired woman must have used some kind of trick, but she was just an E-rank Hunter.

Did that mean he had been thoroughly beaten by Han-Gyeol?

He had been bragging about reaching B-rank soon, and now he was whining about getting beaten up by a D-rank Hunter?

It didn’t add up.

Everything about this situation felt absurd.

"H-Han-Gyeol must be hiding the fact that he’s actually C-rank!"

"..."

"I mean, isn’t it too much for him to beat up his younger guildmate like this?"

Ji-Han rambled, saying whatever came to mind. Da-Young looked at him for a moment, then turned her gaze to Han-Gyeol, who slowly shook his head when their eyes met.

Da-Young quickly pieced the situation together.

If someone were to name the kindest, most diligent person in Wings Guild, everyone would say the same thing: Han-Gyeol.

Si-Hyun picking a fight or beating someone up without reason? While Da-Young hadn’t known her for long, she knew one thing for certain:

Si-Hyun didn’t care about people unless they were close to her. She’d rather ignore someone than pick a fight.

And Da-Young knew Ji-Han’s personality—he was rather hot-headed.

The context was clear.

"…Ji-Han, didn’t we make a promise?"

"Wh-What…?"

"When we started this new guild, you promised to control your temper and live steadily. Don’t you remember?"

"Uh… that…"

Ji-Han lifted his head to look at Da-Young’s face, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. Her expression was deeply troubled.

At that moment, Ji-Han realized he’d messed up.

He remembered now. They had made that promise.

Why did he leave the big guild to join Wings Guild in the first place?

He had clearly lost sight of his original intentions.

At some point, he had started behaving just like the jerks from his old guild.

"...Sigh."

Da-Young raised her hand.

Ji-Han anticipated what was coming and accepted it without resistance.

Slap!

The sound of a solid slap echoed.

"Ugh…"

Slap! Slap! Slap!

With each slap, Ji-Han’s head snapped from side to side.

But it didn’t last long.

Da-Young stopped, tears streaming down her face.

Despite the blood trickling from his split lip, Ji-Han lowered his head to the ground.

"I… I’m sorry! I’ll never… never do it again!"

His voice sounded genuinely remorseful.

Da-Young turned to Si-Hyun.

"I’m sorry, Si-Hyun. He must’ve really bothered you."

"…It’s fine."

Si-Hyun shook her head. Just then, Ji-Han rose to his feet, bowing deeply to her.

"I’m truly sorry for causing trouble today! I’ll accept any punishment you deem fit!"

"…No need."

Si-Hyun shook her head lightly.

Honestly, seeing him act so arrogant before, she had thought he was hopeless.

But it seemed Da-Young’s influence had had a profound effect on him.

She felt better after his apology. Giving him a punishment now would be too bothersome, so she decided to let it go.

After all, she’d only intended to use him as a sparring partner for Han-Gyeol.

Provoking him was just a way to ensure he wouldn’t back down.

Si-Hyun turned to leave.

"Da-Young, I’ll have just one cup of coffee and head back. That okay?"

"Huh? Of course!"

"With vanilla syrup, please."

"Oh, how’d you know I had some?"

Da-Young watched Ji-Han apologize to Han-Gyeol before joining Si-Hyun.

And so, the ruckus came to an end without any further issues.

Si-Hyun really only stayed for a single cup of coffee before leaving quietly.

As Da-Young cleaned up the cups, she looked over at Ji-Han, who sat with his head hung low, looking deeply ashamed.

Da-Young mumbled aloud, almost as if to herself.

"Ji-Han, aren’t you still C-rank?"

"…Yes? That’s right."

"When we were out drinking last time, I saw Si-Hyun take down a C-rank Hunter with one hand. Or was it B-rank by now?"

"...What?"

Ji-Han’s eyes widened.

"Isn’t she an E-rank magic Hunter?"

"No, she’s melee."

"...What? How?"

Ji-Han fell silent.

Why did I lose today?

Did Han-Gyeol really achieve C-rank in secret? And he beat me one-on-one?

But more than that…

She subdued a mid-ranked Hunter with one hand?

Ji-Han felt a cold sweat run down his back.

What if he hadn’t apologized in time? He’d have probably ended up battered beyond recognition.

He resolved never to mess with Si-Hyun again, repeating it firmly in his mind.

---

When Si-Hyun returned home, she immediately sank into the sofa.

She turned on the TV with the remote, resting her cheek on the armrest as the warm sunlight streamed in, making her feel sleepy.

“Haaah…”

She let out a yawn, resting her cheek on her arm and lying down again.

So soft.

The sofa really was the best.

With all her tasks done for the day… she’d watch MomoBin’s stream once the TV turned on… and then…

…

……

………

‘…Hmm?’

Si-Hyun looked around.

A worn carpet. Old walls and floors made of wood and stone.

A familiar sight.

This was what the inn rooms in her otherworld journey had looked like.

Right, she was on a journey to kill the Demon King.

Nodding, she sat on the bed. It was hard, but familiar.

– Knock, knock.

– “It’s me.”

Someone knocked lightly on the door. Si-Hyun removed the latch and opened it.

A woman with plain brown hair stood there.

She was the porter from the Hero’s party.

The only woman in the party who wasn’t hostile toward Si-Hyun. Sometimes, she would visit Si-Hyun like this in the middle of the night.

The woman stepped inside, and Si-Hyun closed the door without a word, then sat back on the bed.

The porter glanced at the table.

Books on elemental magic theory, holy texts, martial arts basics, and so on—all the signs of Si-Hyun’s daily efforts to be acknowledged by the Hero’s party.

"Don’t you think you’re overdoing it?"

"I… I have to prove I’m useful…"

"Hmm."

The woman shook her head and moved the books aside, placing a small snack on the table.

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

"Here, keep this in your bracelet."

"...?"

The woman handed her a small trinket, holding Si-Hyun’s hand gently as she looked into her eyes.

"It’s a gift, hidden from the Hero, okay?"@@novelbin@@

"...What is it?"

Her voice sounded hollow, as if her spirit had left her.

The woman gave her a bittersweet smile.

"They say it’s a jewel that grants wishes."

"…That’s ridiculous."

"Is it? Ahaha…"

Her claim was so absurd that Si-Hyun immediately dismissed it.

It wasn’t actually a magical item, but the woman looked Si-Hyun in the eye once more.

Her expression serious, she placed a

hand on Si-Hyun’s shoulder to keep her from giving up on life.

And just then—

Si-Hyun woke up.

"Oh, did I wake you? Sorry."

"…"

She rubbed her eyes and looked at the person in front of her.

Not the porter, but her younger sibling, Si-Yoon, who had covered her with a thin blanket.

It seemed she had briefly dozed off and dreamed of the past.

"No, I just dozed off for a bit."

Shaking her head, she sat up.

Si-Yoon watched her quietly for a moment, then headed to the bathroom. She had to get back to work.

Si-Hyun turned on MomoBin’s livestream.

It was the chat screen, and Momo was absent.

She checked the stream.

Today’s game was a simulation game with nurturing elements.

She stared blankly at the screen.

Si-Yoon returned from the bathroom, and Momo was still absent.

She waited aimlessly for her favorite VTuber to return. Time seemed to stretch out as she waited.

And finally, Momo came back.

《You were waiting, weren’t you?》

– Finally here

– Took you long enough, lol

– Why does the streamer take so long these days?

The chat flooded in, but Momo skillfully brushed it off and continued streaming.

They started the game, and the story unfolded.

An adult passing by saves students in danger. Impressed by his abilities, the academy appoints him as a homeroom teacher for one class.

He teaches, counsels, and sometimes even goes on dates, gaining respect from those around him. He overcomes hardship and ultimately finds happiness and love.

"…"

Immersed in the story, Si-Hyun’s imagination took over.

She saw herself captivating her students with brilliant lessons, leading them with charisma as they defeated monsters together.

Instead of rejection and control, she imagined relationships built on trust and cooperation.

Just thinking about it made her happy.

If the Great Cataclysm hadn’t happened, she would’ve graduated from college and become a teacher.

She found herself envying the game’s protagonist.

And she began to wonder what Momo thought about this.

Unable to resist, she sent her first-ever donation.

[Anonymous donated 2,000 won!]

– What do you think about being a teacher or professor?

《What do I think? Hmm…》

It was a very broad question. Si-Hyun didn’t expect to hear exactly what she wanted.

And that was okay.

《It’s a wonderful job. Only people with a sense of duty would choose it.》

– True lol

– Agreed

– Duty, huh?

《Right? People who only care about money wouldn’t become teachers.》

– Makes sense, lol

– True!

– That’s right lol

Not all the viewers agreed with Momo, and some negative comments appeared.

But for Si-Hyun, that didn’t matter.

Momo had a positive view of the profession.

A sense of duty.

The words resonated deeply.

"Maybe I should… ask about it?"

Si-Hyun muted the TV briefly and started searching things on her phone.

She wanted to get some background information herself before asking.

After organizing her thoughts, she called a friend.

– "Hello?"

After a moment, a gentle voice came through.

"Hey, could you tell me a bit about academy professors…?"

Si-Hyun and Ji-Ah exchanged a few quick questions and answers, eventually agreeing to meet the next day.

After ending the call, Si-Hyun placed a hand over her chest.

Thump, thump.

Her heart was pounding.