LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 73
“That’s not the same practice as last time. Today, I’ll show you the regenerative abilities of an actual skeleton with my own eyes.”
“What?”
“Regenerative abilities?”
The unexpected explanation left the students puzzled.
Si-hyun pointed to one student with an indifferent expression.
“You there, student. Come here.”
The chosen student walked to the front with a bewildered look.
Si-hyun placed a petite skeleton on the spacious classroom floor.
“Would you like to give it a good hit?”
“Uh, okay?”
“Don’t worry! The Hunter from the manufacturing department added recovery features!”
Si-hyun lied nonchalantly.
After all, the students wouldn’t have any way to notice.
The student slowly nodded.
‘Well, I guess I’ll break it.’
He clenched his fist tightly.
Whoosh—thud!
With a vigorous punch characteristic of a martial artist, he struck the skeleton’s head.
As a result, the model’s cute face dented and was damaged.
The martial artist student looked at the professor, waiting for what came next.
“Everyone, in the case of an actual skeleton, this level of destruction doesn’t take even three minutes to restore.”
“What? Really?!”
“So fast?”
The students were taken aback as they watched the model begin to repair itself.
Several students watched with trembling eyes as the process unfolded.
Seeing a skeleton come back to life, something they only knew as knowledge, felt completely different from witnessing the actual restoration.
Moreover, the time the professor provided was too specific.
‘How do you know such details…?’
This question popped into all the students’ minds.
“Since this is a model, I’ll quickly restore it using my mana. This time… let’s have Kwon Jae-woo try?”
Si-hyun called out to one student in the front row.
Jae-woo slowly stood up and made his way to the front.
After sneaking a glance, he took out a sword from his status window.
“Whoa!”
Jae-woo swung the sword with all his might.
However, it was noticeably weaker than the previous martial artist student.
‘As expected…’
Jae-woo swallowed his disappointment as he retrieved the sword.
He often felt his attack power was lacking when going into dungeons.
The difference was glaring even against a model.
Observing the students’ expressions, Si-hyun noticed Jae-woo’s emotions.
As he restored the skeleton, he casually changed the subject.
“Everyone, there’s a term called spectrum.”
This came out of nowhere.
The students looked at him with curiosity.
“Just like undead isn’t a single concept. Awakened individuals are categorized as Hunters only in one grouping, but each job and person has diverse characteristics.”
Jae-woo, now back at his seat, turned his gaze to Si-hyun.
“So everyone, utilize your strengths.”
This wasn’t only directed at the students.
It was also aimed at Si-hyun.
“Focus on the positive aspects of your abilities.”
The decaying continent of this world needed powerful attack magic to defeat the Demon King.
However, Si-hyun’s elemental magic talent was only at a genius level due to effort. He wasn’t a prodigy.
“Focusing solely on flaws or problems cannot lead to perfect solutions.”
Therefore, Si-hyun concentrated on displaying his strengths.
He learned the most appropriate ways to use mana for someone chosen as a saint.
He constantly practiced and practiced.
The result is what you see now.
“I’ll emphasize it once again. Utilize your strengths.”
Si-hyun smiled at Jae-woo and then glanced around at the students again.
“There’s still some time left. Shall we try a few more?”
He smoothly resumed the lecture.
Jae-woo stared blankly at the professor.
He hadn’t expected such encouragement suddenly.
Though the professor seemed to offer advice to all the students.
Jae-woo felt that the advice was aimed directly at his deflated self.
‘Was the professor also struggling to emphasize their strengths…?’
Had Si-hyun worked hard to display his abilities?
The scenes shown in the last lecture video. The exceptional precision of actual combat must be the result of effort.
Wasn’t the professor one who never withheld effort more than anyone else?
Thump-thump.
Jae-woo placed his hand over his chest.
He felt the vigorous heartbeat.
‘After the lecture today, let’s go to the dungeon.’
Jae-woo had faithfully visited the dungeon without missing a single day since awakening.
He resolved to do the same today.
* * *
The Introduction to Monster Studies lecture had ended.
The students who attended exhibited various reactions.
“Hey, let’s hurry to the dungeon.”
“Shall we? It’s likely to be goblins again today.”
Some students formed parties and headed toward the dungeon, while others remained.
“I missed a thought during the lecture. Can you remind me?”
“Sure? Where was it?”
Some students stayed behind to organize their notes.
In a side conversation.
“I didn’t want to hit it, but it felt a bit sorry to hit the model.”
“Right? I didn’t feel that way alone, right? They made it too cute…”
Some female students sighed.
Nonetheless, one commonality was that all the students were overflowing with passion for their studies.
As for Jae-woo.
He approached Eun-byeol, glancing around.
“Eun-byeol, where did Ah-reum go?”
“Ah-reum? She said she had to consult with Professor Jeong Si-hyun and ran off.”
“Oh, really? I was about to ask her to go to the dungeon together today.”
“Won’t she be done soon? Let’s leave a message and wait nearby.”
The two gathered their things and leisurely exited the classroom.
They headed toward the professor’s building, exchanging light banter.
“Jae-woo, did you know?”
“Huh? What’s that?”
“I heard from Dad that these days, Hunters are leveling up faster than before.”
“Oh, really? Why is that?”
With curiosity awakened, Jae-woo turned to look at Eun-byeol.
Eun-byeol smiled casually and replied.
“Who knows? They said they aren’t sure why. Maybe because the Earth is changing, or maybe because research on Awakened individuals has progressed. Details are still being studied!”
“Yeah, there’s still too much we don’t know about the status window.”
Jae-woo nodded, showing a disappointed expression.
After the Great Cataclysm, the world changed rapidly, but far too little had been clarified.
They just had to adapt and live on.
Seeing the expression on Jae-woo’s face, Eun-byeol smiled slyly.
“So, let’s the three of us keep going to the dungeon together and achieve D-rank by the end of this semester.”
“By the end of this semester?”
“Yeah! According to records, outstanding students from the Academy usually reach C-rank just before graduation. Do you think we can’t do it?”
“Um, well…”
Jae-woo slowly nodded.
He didn’t intend to stay at E-rank forever.
That’s why he went to the dungeon every single day.
Most Hunters can easily achieve D-rank with effort alone.
C-rank and above take time, but reaching that level through hard work is somehow possible.
However, it’s different from B-rank and above.
Countless Hunters fail to go beyond that wall, and guilds scramble to recruit high-ranking Hunters.
That’s why the outstanding students mentioned by Eun-byeol all become famous.
Whether they become dragon’s tails or snake’s heads.
“Eun-byeol, you’re joining the Dawn Guild when you graduate, right?”
“Yep, that’s right! My dad and brother are both in Dawn.”
In response to Jae-woo’s question, Eun-byeol let out a small puff through her nose.
She placed her hands on her waist and spoke with confidence.
“I’ll graduate as the top student at the Academy and catch up to my S-rank brother! That’s my goal.”
“Hmm…”
Jae-woo looked at Eun-byeol, eyes sparkling.
With a sudden burst of mischief.
“Isn’t that like chasing a stork and ending up tearing a crow’s leg?”
“Hey!”
Eun-byeol huffed, elbowing Jae-woo in the side.
Jae-woo rubbed his waist, chuckling to himself.
“We’ve arrived at the professor’s building. Want to sit here? I’ll get a drink from the vending machine.”
“I want cola!”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Jae-woo picked a drink for himself and returned to the bench where Eun-byeol was waiting.
The two exchanged light chatter.
Eun-byeol was mostly doing the talking, while Jae-woo replied.
The number of people roaming around decreased.
The break time was almost over.
After a little more time passed.
“Oh, did you wait long!”
Ah-reum rushed in, panting from the professor’s building.
Jae-woo handed her the drink he had already taken out.
Ah-reum thanked him and quenched her thirst.
Gulp, gulp.
Eun-byeol waited until Ah-reum wiped her lips before speaking.
“You took longer than expected. What kind of consultation did you have?”
“Uh… so, um… personal guidance?”
“Really? Personal guidance?”
“Yeah! We coordinated the schedule.”
When Eun-byeol asked again, Ah-reum nodded vigorously.
Eun-byeol, with a mysterious expression, fell into her thoughts.
‘Personal guidance from Professor Jeong Si-hyun…’
No matter how many times she saw it, she still found the professor quite peculiar.
Just looking at the Introduction to Monster Studies lecture made her question if this person really was D-rank.
And that wasn’t all.
She had already sought help in the magic major’s assignments twice.
Not just once, but twice.
It was clear that Professor Jeong Si-hyun possessed specialized knowledge in that area as well.
Because of that.
Eun-byeol felt an ongoing, intense curiosity.
If it had been an ordinary part-time lecturer, she would have skipped over it without much thought.
But Professor Jeong Si-hyun had too many unique points.
“What were you going to do?”
“More… dungeon tours?”
“Aha! So, you’re going for a dungeon trip together.”
She somewhat guessed what was going on.
Eun-byeol asked again.
“I’m curious. Can’t I go along too? Could you ask the professor for me?”
“Uh, uh…”
Surprised by Eun-byeol’s sudden request, Ah-reum tilted her head.
She took her phone out of her pocket and typed a message.
The reply came quickly.
“…Sure, it’s okay!”
“Nice! How about you, Jae-woo?”
“Is it okay for me too?”
“…Maybe?”
Ah-reum typed another message. This time, she got a positive answer back once again.
“They said not to feel burdened and just come comfortably!”
“Oh, that’s a relief.”
Though he wanted to join in secretly, Jae-woo pondered whether he would fit in among the beautiful trio.
He breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.
“Um, so… it’s in two days in the afternoon! The location will be shared after today’s dungeon reservation!”
“Aha, then should we gather for lunch first that day?”
“Let’s do that!”
Ah-reum and Eun-byeol quickly devised plans.
Jae-woo silently nodded, running through the schedule in his mind.
Thus, the personal guidance arranged for Ah-reum would quickly transform into a group session.
One was earnest, and two were curious.
* * *
At the Dawn Guild’s office.
An mid-management staff in the administration department carefully reviewed the data submitted by the subordinates.
Scouting excellent students is better approached sooner rather than waiting until graduation.
That’s because one must act before they can be taken by other guilds.
Therefore, a compilation was made by synthesizing countless information from Academy personnel and administration agencies.
This was something possible only for a large guild.
‘Eun-byeol is already on the list…’
His eyes stopped on a student with large glasses.
Go Ah-reum. The only support-class Hunter in this year’s Academy.
She recently frequented dungeons and is friends with Eun-byeol.
‘Not bad.’
It was still early in the semester, so it was premature to approach her now.
But being the only support-class student certainly has its value.
The man pondered long and hard before finalizing his thoughts.
He then decided to call Ah-reum.
…Shortly after.
– He-hello…?
A timid female voice came through the phone.
The man calmly introduced his business.
“Hello, is this Go Ah-reum?”
– Y-yes, yes. Who is this…?
“I work for the Dawn Guild——”
The man smoothly introduced his purpose with a soft voice.
In summary, he expressed interest in Go Ah-reum as a scout of the Dawn Guild.
There was a brief silence, as if the other party was lost in thought.
‘There’s no way she’ll refuse.’
He was confident in how Ah-reum would react.
After all, the Dawn Guild has two S-rank Hunters and the top A-rank supporter in Korea!
– Uh, um…
How moved must she be, stuttering and flustered like that?
The man smirked while waiting for the expected response.
However, the next words were.
– I-I’m sorry…
It was a word of rejection.
The man was taken aback and shouted.
“Wh-why is that?”
– Um, I-I’ve decided to join Professor Jeong Si-hyun… No, I mean, under the professor!
“……”
The man hesitated for a moment, but he understood the reason for the rejection.
This student had already determined her graduate route so early on in the semester.
‘That’s impressively fast. That makes me want her even more…’
The man licked his lips and said.
“Understood. But please let me know if you change your mind.”
He ended the call.
Leaning back on his chair, he lost himself in thought.
‘Professor Jeong Si-hyun, Professor Jeong Si-hyun…’
I feel like I’ve heard that name somewhere before.
His memory wasn’t clear.
‘…Ah! That’s the person!’
After a little time, he finally recalled.
It was the part-time lecturer who had previously rejected his scouting proposal.
He had transferred the management department’s responsibility after the failure with the Ye Do-hyeong Hunter.
‘So that means?’
If he successfully recruits one part-time lecturer.
It means he could also get Go Ah-reum along with him.
He might manage to hunt two rabbits at once!
The man slowly began to strategize on what to do next.