Chapter 85: Chapter 85

A new week began. The news that had dominated discussions over the weekend continued to captivate the public's attention even on Monday.

[Hunter Kim Ji-Ah Unofficially Achieves S-Rank!]

[From Impossible to Possible! Kim Ji-Ah’s Relentless Challenges and Glory.]

[The Rising Star of the Hunter World, Kim Ji-Ah! A New Legend Begins as S-Rank.]

[Kim Ji-Ah: Korea’s Pride and the New Icon of the Global Hunter World.]

News outlets and articles churned out nonstop updates about Kim Ji-Ah. Online communities were no different, buzzing with discussions.

[Title: Hunter Kim Ji-Ah is still running dungeons in the provinces!]

[ㅇㅇ]

If it were me, I would’ve taken a break right after hitting S-Rank. She’s seriously amazing, lol.

Just a god.

Wow.

Damn it, it’s you again.

Noona, marry me.

[Title: Is Hunter Kim Ji-Ah still unaffiliated?]

[ㅇㅇ]

Her market value must be insane.

She could name her price, lol.

Isn’t she practically part of the Administration Bureau already?

└ Pretty much, yeah.

She’s not gonna suddenly go abroad or anything, right?

└ Nah, Ji-Ah noona would never do that.

[Title: I’m curious about what happens next.]

[ㅇㅇ]

Is she gonna solo high-tier dungeons now?

She already soloed B-Rank dungeons before, didn’t she?

└ Exactly, lol. It’s insane.

└ Seriously, she’s a monster.

But no way she could handle A-Rank or S-Rank dungeons solo, right? lol.

└ That’s true, haha. A-Rank dungeons are on a whole different level.

└ Still, you can’t help but hope.

└ That’s fair.

If she teamed up with that mysterious nun from before, maybe they could clear an S-Rank dungeon as a duo?

└ No way, S-Rank dungeons are impossible for just two people.

└ Remember the double dungeon? Even with four S-Rank Hunters, it was a struggle, lol.

└ I’m just saying it’d be cool… Stop overthinking it, guys.

└ LOL.

└ LOL LOL LOL.

Korea was in a celebratory mood.

But the ripple effect of Ji-Ah’s S-Rank achievement didn’t stop there—it quickly spread overseas.

In an office building in the United States, a man with dark brown hair, pale skin, and slightly unfocused eyes sat in a chair. Across from him was a well-dressed man engaged in conversation.

“…We’d like you to take a mission to South Korea.”

“Hmm, Korea, you say?”

The well-dressed man, Jason, lightly stroked his neatly trimmed beard.

Jason was an S-Rank Hunter, while the man across from him was a B-Rank Hunter. However, Jason couldn’t dismiss the request.

This wasn’t an ordinary B-Rank Hunter. He was Evan, a unique returnee who had created groundbreaking Hunter-related inventions. His contributions were irreplaceable, and Jason himself had benefited greatly from his work.

“If it’s your request, Evan, I’ll consider it. Is this about the new S-Rank Hunter?”

“That’s part of it, but my focus is a little different. I want to locate someone who’s been staying hidden. Something about them has been bothering me.”

“Someone in hiding?”

“Yes. I’ll set up a method to track them soon. Please keep your schedule open.”

“Understood.”

Jason nodded lightly, his interest piqued. He could roughly guess why Evan had called on him—Jason was both skilled and fluent in Korean, making him an ideal candidate.

…This is intriguing.

For someone as busy as Evan to take an interest in someone meant they weren’t ordinary. Jason, now curious, let a leisurely smile spread across his face.

The two men then shared details about their target and planned their next steps.

***

It was a slightly early lunch hour.

I shared a simple meal at home with Si-Yoon. Today marked the overlap of my academy lecture and the festival.

The atmosphere would likely be hectic, so I decided to keep the lecture light and brief, depending on how things went with the students. Afterward, I planned to spend the evening lounging in the professor's office or exploring the festival myself. If the night market looked interesting, maybe I’d enjoy it a little.

“Hehe…”

“…Are you that excited?”

“Of course!”

After responding enthusiastically to my younger sibling, I picked up my smartphone. As I fiddled with the keychain hanging from one side, a smile crept onto my face.

Finally, I had collected every piece of MomoBin merch. All of it.

…Though I hadn’t expected to amass the collection this way, the important thing was that I had it all.

Sure, I might have cheated a little, but so what? Good things are good things.

“Si-Yoon, any plans to make new merch?”

“You mean that handmade project I mentioned last time?”

“Not necessarily. It doesn’t have to be custom anymore; if you make it, it’s official now.”

“Uh… Yeah, I guess that’s true?”

“I’ll even fund it directly, commission-free! Let’s make all sorts of stuff!”

Clenching my fist for emphasis, I shouted, while Si-Yoon scratched his cheek awkwardly.

“Well… If you write up a wishlist, I’ll see what I can do.”

“A calendar, sticky notes, an acrylic stand, and a tumbler.”

I answered immediately, without hesitation. I’d already thought about it thoroughly.

“Especially the tumbler—I want one the most.”

“Alright, got it.”

Noticing the sincerity in my voice, Si-Yoon’s eyes widened slightly. A moment later, he smirked mischievously, as if a playful idea had come to mind.

“You know, viewers have been asking about you a lot lately. How about making a guest appearance on the stream?”

“…Is that really necessary?”

Watching and participating were completely different things. I was content just enjoying the streams as a spectator.@@novelbin@@

“Hmph, I did what you asked of me. Kind of unfair, don’t you think?”

“Unfair? That’s not…”

“Well, whatever! Sure, I get it.”

“…I’ll think about it.”

“Ha, that’s just your way of saying no.”

“… …”

Does he know me too well?

It felt like I was entering a game I was destined to lose. But surely he wouldn’t seriously try to drag an ordinary person like me onto the stream…

Even if I did appear, I doubted it would make the broadcast any more interesting.

For now, I just needed to choose the best option available to me.

“…Ah! Look at the time—I need to head out! See you later!”

“Wow, you’re really running away.”

Ignoring Si-Yoon’s bemused muttering, I stood up and grabbed my things.

Standing at the entrance, I turned to say one last thing.

“Momo, good luck with the stream!”

“Ha… Thanks, I guess.”

His exasperated but immediate response made me grin. He wasn’t the only one who could tease, after all.

***

At the Academy

When I arrived at the academy, the excitement was palpable. Students and staff bustled around, preparing booths and performances.

The lively atmosphere continued even as I began my lecture. Most of the students couldn’t hide their excitement, distracted by the festival.

“Let’s wrap up the material quickly today. It seems like that’s what everyone wants, right?”

“Yes!”

“Sounds good!”

Their enthusiastic response was exactly what I expected—no objections at all.

Since this was a simple theoretical lecture with some overlapping content, I figured this approach wouldn’t hurt. Besides, next week’s session would demand their full attention with the nearly completed VR visual aids.

“Alright, we’ll skip the breaks and cover six periods’ worth of content in one go.”

“Got it!”

“Understood!”

With their agreement, I quickened my pace and condensed the lecture. We finished earlier than usual.

“…?”

I had assumed the students would flood out of the classroom the moment I dismissed them, but that wasn’t the case.

Many of them remained seated, staring at me with intense curiosity. My attempt to leave the room faltered, and I turned to address them.

“Um? Do you have questions?”

“Professor! What’s your relationship with Hunter Kim Ji-Ah?”

“How did you meet her?”

“Ah, I see.”

So, they weren’t interested in the lecture itself but rather that topic.

Smiling faintly, I answered.

“We’ve known each other since before her awakening.”

“Wow!”

“Next question?”

“Me! Do you meet Hunter Kim Ji-Ah often?”

The students bombarded me with enthusiastic questions, showing more passion than they ever had during class.

The mere fact that Ji-Ah’s name was listed in my connections was enough to generate this much interest.

It felt like being a fox basking in a tiger’s authority. Not a bad feeling, honestly.

“Alright, that’s enough questions! You’ve all worked hard today. Enjoy the festival!”

“Yes!”

“You too, Professor!”

After exchanging farewells with the disappointed students, I left the lecture hall and headed to my office.

The handcrafted models I had worked on greeted me warmly. Their distinct personalities created an amusingly eccentric atmosphere.

A first-time visitor might be startled, but then again, hardly anyone came here. Even I rarely visited, so it wasn’t surprising.

“Let’s see…”

I pulled my laptop from my bag and immediately searched for the academy festival lineup.

“Hmm…”

The list included not only non-Hunter entertainers and singers but also a talk show featuring high-ranking Hunters, as expected of the academy.

I scanned the names of the invited Hunters.

“…Yeo Dohyung?”

Why are you here?

Aren’t S-Rank Hunters supposed to be busy?