Chapter 23: Chapter 23

After finishing her call with Ji-Ah, Si-Hyun returned to watching TV.

Momo wasn’t able to complete the game by the end of the day’s stream, but Si-Hyun was satisfied.

‘My heart is racing…’

She felt a mixture of worry over whether she could really handle the job and excitement at the chance to reclaim a lost dream.

The excitement outweighed the worry.

She had a strong desire to be acknowledged by someone—a need that had been deeply rooted in her subconscious for years.

“This isn’t the time to be daydreaming.”

Si-Hyun picked up her smartphone.

While it wasn’t urgent, she would need more clothes if she actually took the job. It might be jumping the gun, but the process itself was exciting.

She eagerly searched the internet to find what kind of clothes professors usually wore.

A little while later, Si-Yoon came out of her room.

Si-Hyun was lying on the couch, humming a tune from the game she’d just watched on Momo’s stream, kicking her legs back and forth in a playful rhythm.

Si-Yoon couldn’t help but smile as she approached her sister.

“Unni, what are you looking at so intently?”

“…Oh? Ah, just looking for some clothes.”

Si-Hyun showed her the screen.

“Wow… My sister, looking at women’s clothing? You’ve become quite the lady, haven’t you?”

“...Don’t twist it like that. While you’re here, why don’t you recommend some shopping sites?”

“Sure, why not?”

Si-Yoon showed her some of her favorite sites and helped her install an app that mainly sold women’s clothing.

When the app opened, a variety of women’s clothing popped up with ads and suggestions. Si-Hyun’s mouth dropped open slightly, letting out a small “Oh!”

“See, you can search by body type and check detailed reviews to see if it’ll fit.”

“Oh, I see…”

You could search by height, weight, and other measurements, and even save your body data on the app.

It might seem like nothing special to others, but for Si-Hyun, everything felt fresh and exciting.

Her eyes widened with fascination.

This was the app that so many women used…

She felt like a whole new world had opened before her.

“How about buying a few new outfits while you’re at it? Didn’t you earn quite a bit from that last job?”

“Hmm… should I?”

She thought back to the reward from the A-rank dungeon she’d tackled with Ji-Ah. Despite sharing a good portion, the payout had been substantial, enough to keep her financially secure for a while.

Si-Hyun gave a small nod, and Si-Yoon’s enthusiasm doubled.

“This outfit is cute! How about this one?”

“...Isn’t it a bit revealing?”

“Oh, come on. Are you really going to bundle up like it’s winter when summer comes?”

“It’s not like that…”

Si-Hyun scratched her cheek and awkwardly turned her head.

Seeing her sister like this, Si-Yoon couldn’t resist teasing her a little more, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

“Unni, I need to buy a new swimsuit for summer. You’re coming with me, right?”

“Uh… Summer already?”

“What’s the big deal? You have a nice figure, so swimsuit shopping will be fun!”

“…”

Si-Hyun couldn’t help but picture herself in a swimsuit. And the first thing that came to mind was… a bikini. Her expression instantly soured.

“Haha, are you that opposed to the idea?”

“...You’re teasing me on purpose, aren’t you?”

“Yep.”

“...Grr.”

Si-Hyun shook her head.

She knew that eventually, she would have to adapt. She was aware that her old self and her current self were different.

But there was still a lingering sense of discomfort, making it hard for her to accept it right away.

Future me, I’m sure you’ll be able to handle it. Hang in there, future me!

For now, she decided to ignore the reality.

“Unni, did you know?”

“Know what?”

“When we went shopping last time, I remembered all your measurements.”

“Y-You did?”

“Better get those clothes on your own, or I might just buy them for you.”

“...Okay.”

Si-Hyun’s face fell, and to Si-Yoon, her sister’s dejected look was both endearing and pitiful. She couldn’t help but laugh as she offered a hint.

“Haha! Just start with unisex clothing.”

“Huh?”

“Unisex! Dolphin shorts, for example, would look good, don’t you think?”

“...Oh, that’s a great idea! You’re a genius, Si-Yoon!”

Si-Hyun immediately searched for dolphin shorts on the app. They looked like an easier option, and some of them even came with built-in linings.

Alright, let’s use these as the starting point for my adjustment.

A smile spread across Si-Hyun’s face.

Watching her sister’s reactions, Si-Yoon covered her mouth to stifle a giggle.@@novelbin@@

Every little suggestion seemed to bring her such joy—her sister was too cute for her own good.

“How about this one?”

“Hmm, seems good.”

“What about this?”

“...Maybe?”

Si-Hyun tilted her head, feeling like something was off.

It felt like Si-Yoon was showing her the easier options first, followed by more challenging ones.

...Nah, no way. She wouldn’t go that far, right? She must just be giving me recommendations.

Taking Si-Yoon’s suggestions, Si-Hyun gradually filled her wishlist.

After all, it wasn’t like she had to buy them right away. Besides, she liked that she had the final say.

---

The Hunter Management Bureau was bustling with activity, as usual.

Chief Jang Han-Soo returned from lunch, watching one of his team members handle a complaint.

“When will my support funds come through? It’s been ages since I submitted the paperwork!”

“Uh, sir, these things take some time due to regulations…”

“Oh, come on! Other guilds have already received theirs!”

“That’s not really possible, sir…”

“This is bullshit—”

Unable to get the result he wanted, the Hunter started hurling abusive language. Problematic complaints from Hunters were a constant headache.

The chief sighed as he returned to his workspace and sank into his chair.

Just then, his phone vibrated in his pocket. Seeing who it was, he took a deep breath before answering.

“Yes, this is Chief Jang Han-Soo.”

– “Hello.”

Such a lovely voice to hear.

After dealing with that shouting Hunter, her voice felt like a balm, cleansing his ears.

– “So, I talked with Ji-Ah…”

Si-Hyun spoke slowly, and the chief listened intently.

In short, she wanted to be promoted to D-rank by special consideration.

“That’s within my authority, but may I ask why you’re suddenly looking to raise your rank?”

Chief Jang carefully asked his question, hoping she wouldn’t misunderstand his tone.

Maybe that paid off, as she hesitated a bit but eventually answered.

– “I… I want to try becoming an academy professor.”

“…Oh.”

He couldn’t suppress a sound of surprise, his curiosity piqued.

A professor at the academy?

That position was always short-staffed, with many Hunters taking up teaching part-time.

What skills did she intend to teach the students?

His expectations were rising steadily.

Remaining composed, he replied calmly.

“I think that’s entirely feasible for you, Ms. Si-Hyun. Have you thought about which subject you’d like to teach?”

– “I’m planning to consult with Ji-Ah about it first.”

Ah, so it wasn’t decided yet. He felt a slight pang of disappointment.

Still, this was a huge step forward compared to when she insisted on staying at E-rank to live a quiet life.

It seemed he had made the right choice by supporting her.

Nodding in satisfaction, he said, “Understood. I’ll take care of the rank adjustment on my end and notify you once it’s complete.”

– “Thank you. Oh, and…”

“Is there anything else?”

– “I heard you were the one who helped keep my information private. Thank you so much.”

Oh, my goodness!

He hadn’t expected such an adorable show of gratitude. Was their relationship progressing just a bit?

Suppressing a smile, he replied, “…It was my duty. Looking forward to working with you.”

– “Yes, same here.”

After exchanging pleasantries, they ended the call.

Without realizing it, the chief clenched his fist.

Finally, his efforts were paying off.

He felt an immense sense of accomplishment.

---

The next day, I met Ji-Ah at a nearby café.

With drinks in front of us, we started our conversation.

“So… thanks for agreeing to meet with me.”

“Haha, no need to thank me for something like this.”

Ji-Ah chuckled, taking a long sip through her straw.

The drink had small chunks in it that looked tasty. I made a mental note to try that next time.

“Technically, you can teach as a D-rank Hunter, but most professors are C-rank or higher, so keep that in mind, okay?”

“That doesn’t bother me. What I’m worried about is…”

“Yes?”

It felt a bit embarrassing to say it out loud, but there was no one else I could talk to about it.

Despite my hesitation, I slowly voiced my concern.

“What if I open a class… and no one signs up…? That’s kind of a fear.”

“Haha!”

“Don’t laugh so much!”

Ji-Ah covered her mouth as she laughed. After chuckling for a bit, she finally replied.

“Si-Hyun, you know

who I am, right?”

“Huh?”

“I’m a former party member of none other than the academy’s headmaster.”

“…Oh!”

I couldn’t help but clap my hands in awe.

Ji-Ah blushed slightly, turning her head away.

“Ahem! Anyway, just focus on preparing your lessons. I’ll handle the rest.”

“Wow, so reliable…!”

“Remember, you’ve already met the headmaster, so everything will go smoothly.”

“You planned that far ahead, didn’t you?”

I was genuinely impressed.

Was this what they called foresight? All hail Ji-Ah.

“Not quite, haha! Anyway, good luck!”

“Thanks! I’ll give it my all!”

Smiling brightly, I took a sip of my coffee.

With such a trustworthy friend, everything felt easier.

“The academy has both mandatory and elective courses, you know?”

“Mm-hm.”

“Since you won’t be teaching your core abilities directly, you’ll likely start as an adjunct for an elective.”

“Right, right.”

I listened closely as she explained.

Ji-Ah’s expression turned serious as she asked,

“Do you have any specific subject in mind? This is probably the most important part if I’m going to help.”

“Oh, um…”

Come to think of it, I didn’t.

I’d only imagined an ideal version of myself. Maybe I was too impulsive…?

“…Could you suggest something? I’m not really familiar with what subjects the academy offers.”

“Haha, how about this? I thought of it as soon as you mentioned it yesterday.”

Ji-Ah tilted her head slightly, looking at me with a small smile.

She recommended a subject—a course already established at the academy, with a steady enrollment.

“How about it?”

“Wow, that sounds perfect!”

I felt confident that I could handle this.

It seemed I was surrounded by smart people.