Chapter 73: Chapter 73

“Don’t worry, today’s session won’t be like last time. Instead, I’ll show you the regenerative abilities of an actual skeleton.”

“Huh?”

“Regenerative abilities?”

The students, puzzled by the unexpected explanation, murmured among themselves.

Si-Hyun, maintaining a calm demeanor, pointed to a random student.

“You there, come up to the front.”

The chosen student hesitated, confusion evident on their face, but eventually stepped forward.

Si-Hyun placed the petite skeleton model on the spacious classroom floor.

“Now, hit it with all your strength,” she said with a smile.

“Uh… really?”

“Don’t worry; the production-type Hunter who designed it included a restoration feature!”

Si-Hyun delivered the lie with a straight face. After all, the students had no way of knowing the truth.

The student gave a slow nod, resigned.

“If she says to hit it, then I’ll hit it.”

Clenching their fist tightly, they threw a powerful punch.

Whoosh—Thud!

The martial artist’s strong blow smashed into the skeleton model’s head, caving in its cute face and breaking it.

The student turned toward Si-Hyun, waiting for further instructions.

“Now, students,” Si-Hyun began, “a real skeleton would recover from this level of damage in less than three minutes.”

“What? Seriously?”

“That fast?”

As the students reacted with surprise, the model began to restore itself.

Eyes wide, several students watched the process unfold with bated breath.

Knowing that skeletons could regenerate was one thing; seeing it happen was entirely different.

On top of that, the professor’s precise estimate of the recovery time left them in awe.

“How does she even know such detailed information…?”

It was the same question on everyone’s mind.

“This is just a model,” Si-Hyun explained, “so I’ll speed up the process using my mana. Next… let’s have Gwon Jae-Woo give it a try.”

Si-Hyun called on another student sitting near the front.

Jae-Woo slowly stood, hesitantly making his way forward.

After a moment’s pause, he summoned a sword from his status window.

“Hup!”

Jae-Woo swung the sword with all his might, but the impact was noticeably weaker than the previous student’s punch.

“I knew it…”

Jae-Woo grimaced as he retrieved his sword. He was acutely aware of his lack of offensive power, something he had often felt while exploring dungeons.

Now, even against a model, the difference in strength was painfully obvious.

As she watched the expressions of her students, Si-Hyun noticed Jae-Woo’s disappointment.

While restoring the skeleton, she casually began to speak.

“You’ve all heard of the word spectrum, right?”

It was an abrupt shift in topic, and the students gave her puzzled looks.

“Just like undead creatures are not a singular concept, Hunters are grouped into one broad category but vary greatly by profession and individual traits.”

Jae-Woo, back in his seat, raised his gaze toward Si-Hyun.

“That’s why you should focus on your strengths,” she continued.

Her words weren’t just for the students. They applied to herself as well.

“Focus on the positive aspects of your abilities.”

In her previous world, the dying continent had desperately needed powerful attack mages to defeat the Demon King.

But Si-Hyun’s aptitude for elemental magic was the product of diligent effort—it was skilled but far from genius-level.

“Fixating on weaknesses or flaws won’t lead to a complete solution.”

So, she focused on honing her strengths.

As a saintess, she mastered the most effective use of her mana, refining her abilities with relentless effort.

That focus on her strengths had brought her to where she was today.

“Once again, let me emphasize: focus on your strengths.”

Si-Hyun gave Jae-Woo a warm smile before glancing around at the rest of the class.

“We’ve got some time left. Let’s have a few more of you try.”

With that, the lecture resumed seamlessly.

Jae-Woo, however, sat in a daze, staring at his professor.

He hadn’t expected such encouragement.

While her words had been delivered as general advice for the whole class,

Jae-Woo felt certain that they were meant specifically for him.

“Was the professor like me once?”

Had she also struggled, working tirelessly to make the most of her strengths?

Recalling the precise execution Si-Hyun had displayed in previous lectures, Jae-Woo found himself marveling at the effort it must have taken to reach that level.

“Maybe she’s worked harder than anyone else.”

Thump. Thump.

Jae-Woo placed a hand over his chest, feeling the rapid beating of his heart.

“I’ll go to the dungeon after class.”

Since his awakening, Jae-Woo hadn’t missed a single day of dungeon training.

And today would be no different—he resolved to continue pushing forward.

***@@novelbin@@

The lecture on Introduction to Monster Studies had concluded.

The students who attended the class displayed a range of reactions.

"Hey, let’s head to the dungeon right away."

"Sounds good! Though it’s probably goblins again, as usual."

Some students formed parties and made their way to the dungeons.

Meanwhile:

"I missed something while I was zoned out—can you explain it to me?"

"Sure, where did you get stuck?"

Others stayed behind in the classroom, jotting down notes and organizing their materials.

On the side:

"Getting hit by those skeleton models was bad enough, but now I feel guilty about smashing them."

"Exactly! It’s not just me, right? Why did they have to make them so cute…?"

A few female students sighed dramatically.

Yet one thing was evident: all the students were brimming with enthusiasm for their studies.

As for Jae-Woo, he approached Eun-Byeol and looked around.

"Eun-Byeol, where’s Areum?"

"Areum? She ran off saying she had a consultation with Professor Jeong Si-Hyun."

"Really? I was going to ask if she wanted to hit the dungeon with us today."

"She probably won’t be long, right? Just leave her a message, and we can wait nearby."

The two packed their belongings and left the lecture hall at a relaxed pace, chatting as they headed toward the professors’ building.

"Jae-Woo, did you know?"

"Know what?"

"I heard from my dad that hunters are leveling up faster these days compared to the past."

"Really? Why’s that happening?"

Curiosity piqued, Jae-Woo turned his head toward Eun-Byeol. She smiled nonchalantly and replied:

"Who knows? My dad says they haven’t figured out the exact reason yet. Maybe it’s because the world itself is changing, or it could be due to advancements in research on awakenings. They’re still investigating!"

"Well, considering how little we know about status windows, that makes sense."

Jae-Woo nodded, a touch of disappointment in his expression. Despite the rapid changes in the world after the Cataclysm, very little had been definitively uncovered. For now, all anyone could do was adapt.

Seeing Jae-Woo’s reaction, Eun-Byeol chuckled softly.

"That’s why we should keep grinding. Let’s all hit D-rank by the end of this semester."

"By the end of this semester?"

"Yeah! According to the records, top students at the Academy usually reach C-rank just before graduating. There’s no reason we can’t aim for it too!"

"Hmm… well…"

Jae-Woo nodded slowly. He had no intention of staying at E-rank forever. That was why he diligently entered the dungeon day after day.

Most hunters could reach D-rank without much trouble through consistent effort. C-rank took more time but was still achievable with enough determination.

However, anything above B-rank was an entirely different story. Many hunters hit a wall at that level, and guilds often engaged in fierce competition to recruit high-ranking hunters.

"Eun-Byeol, you’re planning to join the Dawn Guild after graduation, right?"

"Yup! My dad and brother are both in Dawn, after all."

At Jae-Woo’s question, Eun-Byeol exhaled through her nose and placed her hands on her hips, speaking confidently:

"I’m going to graduate at the top of the Academy and catch up to my S-rank brother! That’s my goal."

"Hmm…"

Jae-Woo glanced at Eun-Byeol, her eyes sparkling with determination, and couldn’t help but feel mischievous.

"Don’t you think you might overreach and get burned out trying to chase after him?"

"Hey!"

Eun-Byeol scowled and jabbed Jae-Woo in the side with her elbow. He laughed softly, rubbing his ribs.

"Looks like we’re here at the professors’ building. Want to sit there while I grab some drinks from the vending machine?"

"I’ll take a cola!"

"Got it, got it."

Jae-Woo returned shortly with two drinks and handed one to Eun-Byeol. The two continued chatting casually, Eun-Byeol doing most of the talking while Jae-Woo responded.

The crowd around them began to thin out as break time ended.

Eventually:

"S-Sorry for keeping you waiting!"

Areum came dashing out of the building, panting heavily. Jae-Woo handed her a drink he had bought earlier. She gratefully took it and quenched her thirst.

Gulp, gulp.

Eun-Byeol waited for Areum to finish wiping her lips before asking:

"You took longer than I expected. What kind of consultation was it?"

"Uh… w-well… personal training?"

"Personal training?"

"Y-Yeah! We just scheduled the sessions."

When Eun-Byeol pressed further, Areum nodded enthusiastically.

Eun-Byeol’s expression grew thoughtful as she mulled over the idea.

"Personal training with Professor Jeong Si-Hyun, huh…"

The professor truly was one of a kind. Even from the lectures alone, it was hard to believe she was only a D-rank hunter.

Not to mention, she had already helped with two magic department assignments. Not once, but twice.

It was clear that Professor Jeong Si-Hyun possessed a remarkable depth of knowledge in the field.

Naturally, Eun-Byeol’s curiosity burned brighter.

If it were any other adjunct professor, she might have dismissed it, but Jeong Si-Hyun was far too intriguing.

"What kind of training are you doing?"

"Uh, dungeon observation?"

"Ah-ha! So, you’re going to the dungeon together."

It all made sense. Eun-Byeol probed further:

"Now I’m curious. Can I join you? Could you ask the professor for me?"

"U-Uh… sure."

Caught off guard, Areum pulled out her phone and typed a message. The reply came back almost instantly.

"She says it’s fine!"

"Awesome! What about you, Jae-Woo?"

"Do you think I can come too?"

"…Probably?"

Areum sent another message, and the professor’s response was once again prompt and welcoming.

"She says not to worry and to feel free to join!"

"Sweet. That’s a relief."

Jae-Woo had been secretly worried about whether it would be okay for him to tag along with the group. Now, he could breathe easy.

"Let’s see… So it’s the afternoon two days from now. She said she’ll confirm the dungeon reservation and let us know the location!"

"Then how about we meet up for lunch first that day?"

"Sure, sounds good!"

Areum and Eun-Byeol quickly made plans.

As they went over the details, Jae-Woo silently nodded along, mentally reviewing his schedule.

And so, what had started as a private training session for Areum swiftly turned into a group outing.

One motivated by sincerity, and the other two by sheer curiosity.

***

The office of the Dawn Guild buzzed with quiet activity.

In one corner, a mid-level manager from the operations department carefully reviewed a stack of documents. Recruiting outstanding students was a game of speed; it was far better to approach them early rather than wait until graduation. Losing talent to a competitor could spell disaster for the guild’s long-term plans.

The list being curated came from a variety of sources: Academy contacts, Administration Bureau reports, and other discreet channels. Such comprehensive scouting was something only a major guild like Dawn could afford to do.

"Eun-Byeol is already accounted for..."

The man’s eyes paused on the photo of a young woman wearing large glasses.

Go Areum. The Academy’s only support-class hunter this year. She’d been frequenting dungeons lately and was known to have close ties with Eun-Byeol.

"Not bad," he muttered under his breath.

Though it was still early in the semester, making an approach now might prove too hasty. Yet, as the sole support-class hunter in her cohort, her value was undeniable.

After careful deliberation, the man reached a decision and dialed a number.

A moment later:

“H-Hello?”

The soft, hesitant voice of a young woman answered.

“Hello, is this Go Areum speaking?”

“Y-Yes, this is she. W-Who is this?”

“I’m calling from the Dawn Guild...”

The man maintained a calm and composed tone as he introduced himself and explained his purpose succinctly. In essence, he expressed the guild’s interest in recruiting her for their ranks.

A brief silence followed, suggesting the student was deep in thought.

‘There’s no way she’ll say no,’ the man thought confidently.

After all, Dawn was a powerhouse guild, home to two S-rank hunters and Korea’s top A-rank support hunter. It was an opportunity no aspiring hunter would dare to pass up.

“Um, uh...”

The stammering response only fueled his certainty. Overwhelmed by gratitude, she must be struggling to form the words, he thought.

But then came the unexpected reply:

“I-I’m sorry...”

"...Excuse me?"

“I, uh, I’ve already committed to working under Professor Jeong Si-Hyun. S-Sorry!”

“...”

The man was momentarily at a loss for words, but he quickly grasped the reason behind her refusal. She had already decided to pursue a graduate research track with a professor this early in the semester.

"Impressive," he muttered, his tone tinged with intrigue. "That makes her even more desirable."

After licking his lips thoughtfully, the man composed himself and replied:

“Understood. Still, if you change your mind, don’t hesitate to reach out.”

The call ended, and he slumped back in his chair, deep in thought.

"Professor Jeong Si-Hyun... Jeong Si-Hyun..."

The name rang a bell, though the details eluded him.

‘Where have I heard that name before?’

It took a moment, but eventually, the pieces fell into place.

"Ah! That person!"

A time-limited instructor the guild had once tried to scout, only to be turned down. The matter had even reached Ye Do-Hyeong, one of the guild’s top hunters, before being handed off to the administrative department as a failed attempt.

"So that means..."

If they could succeed in recruiting Jeong Si-Hyun, Go Areum might come as part of the package. Two birds with one stone.

The man leaned forward, steepling his fingers as a shrewd smile spread across his face.

"This could work," he muttered, already strategizing his next move.