Is This the First Time You’ve Seen a Saint Who’s Also Good at Magic?

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Tadadada—

Click. Click.

The sounds of a laptop keyboard and mouse filled the quiet living room.

I stared at the laptop screen, scrolling through photos of single-family homes in Seoul.

“Truly, money is everything…”

From location to square footage. The better it is, the more the price rises, it seems.

Crunch, I popped a snack into my mouth.

Next, I took a sip of the tea I bought from the store. A strangely bitter taste lingered on my tongue.

It was way too different from the tea my elder used to serve.

Should I look up something about tea too?

If I want to properly enjoy my hobbies, I need to learn.

The phrase “studying for a lifetime” doesn’t sound wrong at all.

But hey, I’m doing this because I want to. Studying a hobby somehow sounds more enjoyable.

“Hmph…”

By the time I reach at least C-rank, ideally stabilizing at B-rank, that’s when I’ll start scouting for a real estate agent.

Being at B-rank will definitely make it easier to access the dungeons I want.

It’d also help me settle into my position as an academy professor.

I heard that the professor specializing in our academy is also a B-rank. I’ve been told that’s pretty high among professors, so I think that should be just right.

…By the way, I wonder if Si-yoon is going to live with me or independently?

As long as there are dungeons and gates, my income will be stable, so I plan to support her as much as I can.

But when I ask, she just brushes it off.

I feel like I need to seriously ask her later.

Beeeeep— Beeeep—

My smartphone, resting beside the table, vibrated.

Picking up the phone, I saw that it was a call from Da-young.

“Hello?”

– Hey, Si-hyun! It’s almost done!

Though the subject was missing, I understood the meaning right away.

After all, I had only made one recent request, and that was for the VR device.

Feeling a slight jolt of excitement, I answered.

“Oh, already? That’s quicker than expected! So it’ll be ready before the academy midterms?”

– Yeah, exactly! I put in a bit of extra effort since it’s your request!

“Uh-huh… thank you!”

– Thank you too, sis! Can you not make it so tidy though?

“That’s a bit much.”

– Seriously, you’re so picky.

I could hear her small laugh from the other end of the phone.

I also heard someone else there briefly exchanging words.

– Anyway, I’ll contact you again once it’s done! Should I send it via delivery? I think meeting in person would be better for testing it though.

“Hmmm, how about we catch up in person for a change? I’ll drop by the Wings Guild building.”

– Oh, would you? I’d love to admire our pretty Si-hyun’s face after such a long time!

Admiring my pretty face, huh…

Her overly dramatic tone made my face feel a bit hot.

Feeling embarrassed, I scratched my cheek when Da-young’s voice came through again after a moment.

After a while, Da-young apologized as if she was sorry.

– Sorry, sorry! Everyone’s just so curious! A VR device made with magic stones sounds so fresh, right?

“…Oh, by the way, we were supposed to test it together once it’s complete.”

– Oh really? No wonder everyone was so noisy!

Da-young’s cheerful laugh broke out, light and infectious.

They really say laughter is a powerful contagion.

I couldn’t help but smile as well.

– Then let’s test it together when it’s finished!

“Sure! Looking forward to it.”

We exchanged a few more pleasantries and hung up.

With everything flowing smoothly as planned, I felt a lot lighter.

Cheerfully grinning, I went over my remaining plans again.

After finishing the VR device tests, I should immediately start creating my learning materials.

Once made, they can be reused over and over, making things much easier for me.

I guess I can plan to start using them after the midterms?

For core lecture courses, the focus is theory until midterms, and practical applications until finals.

In contrast, liberal arts classes only have theory throughout the semester, so honestly, it sounds a bit boring.

That’s why I prepared the VR device!

Originally, I planned to apply a visibility-sharing spell used mainly by scouts in other worlds to engrave into the magic stones.

The idea seems solid, but I’m a bit worried about the actual making part.

[Who am I? I’m a B-rank crafter hunter!]

Da-young will pull it off splendidly. Anyway, connections are the best!

…Oh, speaking of which, I forgot to ask.

Next time I meet her, I need to check if I can add my name to the academic information system.

Should I ask Ji-a about that too while I’m at it?

I picked up my phone, entered the chat room, and sent Ji-a a message.

The reply came back in an instant.

– Huh? I thought you already had it in there?

– …R-really?

– Don’t tell me… Si-hyun, your connections section isn’t blank, right?

I was caught off guard in an instant. How can she be so perceptive?

– Fill it up! Even add Manager Jang Han-soo’s name and if it’s not too much, also the President’s name!

– W-wait, that seems a bit much?

– Anyway, fill it up as much as you can! Got it? Never leave my name out!

– Okay, okay!

I was unexpectedly scolded.

Even so, adding the manager or the President seems a bit excessive… but I really have to add Ji-a.

Next time I add Da-young, I’ll make sure to do it all at once.

No matter what, it’s all said with good intentions for me.

A warm feeling gradually filled my chest, and I couldn’t help but smile.

* * *

It was 10 in the morning on the day of the Introduction to Monsters lecture.

Areum and Eunbyeol were sitting in a café, working on their group assignment for their major.

There were four women in total, including the two others included in the same group, who were wrestling with the materials.

The four students planned to work on the assignment until lunchtime and part ways afterward, as Areum and Eunbyeol were taking the same general studies class, but the other two were taking different subjects.

“Ughhhh… I just don’t get magic no matter how many times I see it; it’s really tough.”

“It’s not something we learned in primary or secondary school; it’s so unfamiliar…”

The two women slumped over the table.

Eunbyeol let out a wry smile as she leaned back in her chair.

She didn’t have to say it, they felt the same way. Letting out a deep sigh, she spoke.

“Thank goodness we have a status window. But it’s so difficult…”

“Right, right?”

“I just want to give up…”

The women actively responded to Eunbyeol’s words.

Though they grumbled about wanting to stop, it was mere whining. They redirected their focus back to the assignment.

As long as they achieve at least C rank as hunters specializing in magic, their lives are secured, so there’s no reason not to try.

Areum, quietly focusing on the assignment, adjusted her glasses and spoke.

“…B-but isn’t it nice to see returns equal to your efforts?”

“Returns equal to my efforts?”

“Did you gain a new skill or something?”

The women’s eyes widened in surprise, their voices rising.

Areum was taken aback by their exaggerated reactions and blinked in disbelief.

She subtly glanced toward the window and continued.

“Ah, n-no… I-I didn’t get a skill added… I just feel like I’m growing… maybe?”

“Ugh, what are you talking about?”

“Professors keep emphasizing it, but can you actually get new skills?”

The women lightly whined.

Areum replied with an awkward smile.

At that moment, Eunbyeol smiled and said.

“No, if you work hard, you actually get new skills.”

“R-really?”

“Are you serious?!”

All eyes turned to Eunbyeol.

“You know my brother, Ye Do-hyeong? His status window only ever gave him attack magic skills, but after working hard, he learned defense magic, and it got added to his skills.”

“Wow… so that was real.”

“I trust Eunbyeol since it’s you who’s saying it.”

The two women showered Eunbyeol with light praise.

Feeling pleased, Eunbyeol declared.

“Okay, then let’s focus on our assignment!”

“Yeah! Let’s go!”

“Fighting!”

With renewed energy, they all dove back into their assignment.

But that enthusiasm didn’t last long.

Once again facing the frustrating parts of the assignment, they all frowned in unison.

Despite feeling exasperated, they focused on solving the puzzles.

Time passed slowly yet quickly.

11 o’clock.

12 o’clock.

…It was getting close to lunchtime, and they would be late for fifth period if they didn’t go soon.

As the students were all exhausted from the insurmountable difficulty of the assignment, one girl who was stretching her stiff neck shouted.

“Hey, isn’t that our Monsters 101 professor?”

“Professor Jeong Si-hyun?”

“Yeah, isn’t that her?”

All eyes shifted toward the window.

A well-dressed woman in a neat suit was leisurely walking by.

She sipped through a straw from a coffee cup.

One of the women fixed her gaze on the professor’s cherry-like lips and said.

“Wow, our professor is really pretty. Honestly, couldn’t she be an actress instead of a professor?”

“True, there are quite a few entertainers among hunters these days. Even the management bureau’s PR representatives must be making a fortune, right?”

“Yeah, yeah! Besides, she’s so cute, I don’t even feel jealous.”

The women exchanged light banter.

Eunbyeol and Areum quietly listened, gazing at the passing professor.

In that moment, by chance, their eyes met with the professor’s.

All four students were suddenly taken aback, quickly lowering their heads to greet her.

Si-hyun lightly waved her hand and glanced around at her students.

Though two of them were strangers, two were her students attending today’s class.

Feeling a strange sense of delight, she gave a small smile.

A few male passersby momentarily spaced out, captivated by her beauty.

Right at that moment.

Areum raised her notepad high.

She fanned it out toward the window so Si-hyun could see.

When Si-hyun tilted her head curiously, Areum gazed at her with sparkling eyes.

The other two women, who were also group members, looked at Areum with puzzled expressions.

From their actions, it seemed like Areum was trying to seek advice from Professor Jeong Si-hyun.

However, the assignment bugging them was none other than the major coursework problems of a magic specialized hunter.

The task at hand was not something the professor could simply assist with.