LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 92
Saturday evening, the S-rank celebration party for Kim Ji-a Hunter.
People began to gather one by one in the hotel banquet hall.
High-ranking Hunters whom anyone would recognize just by name, association officials, and key figures from the industry all lit up the place.
At the entrance, various media and reporters rushed in, busily capturing those attending the party.
“Prof, um… I don’t look weird, right?”
“…No, you look great. Don’t worry about it.”
“Hehe…”
Si-hyun entered the banquet hall, calming her student with a gentle smile.
Turning her gaze back to the front, she quietly sighed.
‘…I’m glad I came along.’
She was just as nervous as anyone else.
But seeing Ah-reum, who looked extremely anxious beside her, somehow eased her own tension.
Like a taut string that had loosened slightly on one side.
Thanks to her nervous student, Si-hyun’s heart felt lighter.
…Although the dress and shoes were still uncomfortable.
“Prof, you look really, really beautiful today!”
“R-really…?”
“Yep! When I get home today! I’m going to look for the pictures the reporters took of you!”
“…Uh, hmm.”
Si-hyun found herself momentarily speechless.
She wanted to tell her not to say such things out of embarrassment, but wouldn’t that make her seem less impressive?
In the end, she turned her head shyly, wearing an awkward expression.
‘Oh, there’s Ji-a.’
A crowd had gathered around Ji-a in one corner of the banquet hall.
As expected of the star of the party, she looked busy.
Si-hyun stared blankly at Ji-a’s outfit.
A dark blue semi-dress.
An elegant style that highlighted her waist with a slim silhouette, revealing just a hint of her shoulders and neckline.
She looked incredibly beautiful.
‘Hmm…’
Si-hyun tilted her head down to inspect her own outfit.
She was wearing an identical color dress to Ji-a’s. The design was very similar too.
The only difference was the accessories, maybe? And the hairstyle.
‘Yeah, it looks okay.’
The thought flashed through her mind that if Ji-a looked beautiful, she shouldn’t look too bad either.
Even if it felt awkward and uncomfortable to wear… it wasn’t a bad feeling.
Si-hyun lightly brushed the dress, feeling the soft fabric, then carefully moved her feet.
With each step, the sound of her high heels clicked and echoed.
Thus, she arrived at the corner where the food and drinks were laid out.
“Wow, everything looks so delicious.”
“Y-yeah! I think I might have trouble choosing…”
“True. Oh, you’re going to drink, right?”
“Y-yes! Should we have wine?”
“Do you know much about wine?”
“N-no! I’ll look it up!”
Seeing Ah-reum confidently admit she didn’t know, Si-hyun couldn’t help but chuckle.
Her student was overflowing with cuteness.
Si-hyun leisurely explored the drinks corner.
Just then, a warm laugh accompanied by someone speaking to Si-hyun caught her attention.
It was the Master of the Knight Guild.
“Ho ho, young lady, I see you know how to enjoy some wine?”
“Ah, hello, sir.”
“Hmm. You look radiant all dressed up.”
“Hehe…”
When the old man praised her with warm eyes, Si-hyun blushed with embarrassment.
Suddenly feeling someone’s gaze, she turned her head.
Ah-reum’s eyes widened as she looked back and forth between Si-hyun and the old man.
Si-hyun smiled gently and said, “By the way, sir, let me introduce you. This is my student, Ah-reum.”
“Ah, h-hello!”
Ah-reum bowed at a ninety-degree angle, deeply anxious.
Having studied hard recent days, Ah-reum quickly recognized who he was.
An S-rank examiner and master of a large guild.
Although he led a quiet life after retirement, he had such an impressive reputation as a swordsman during his active years.
‘Is, is the professor not scared of him…?’
The old man looked benign as he greeted Ah-reum.
But under the overwhelming presence, she didn’t feel that way.
She discreetly stepped back and hid behind Si-hyun.
Ah-reum stared blankly at the two comfortable chatting.
It was obvious they were on friendly terms.
‘I don’t remember this in the connection section.’
She discreetly took out her smartphone to check the academy’s academic information system.
Moon Da-young, Kim Ji-a.
Only those two names still sat in her connection list.
Ah-reum looked at Si-hyun with a confused expression.
‘Come to think of it, those two names were added later, right?’
The professor had said that Kim Ji-a Hunter was a friend of hers even before their awakening, and what she had seen during shopping confirmed that.
Given the context of model making, it seemed she had a deep relationship with the Master of the Wings Guild as well.
Considering that, it seemed possible the professor intentionally hadn’t added some connections for a certain reason?
Maybe it meant she was someone with a much broader and solid network than anyone!
‘What if it’s even more incredible internationally…?’
Thinking about the professor’s exotic appearance made that theory seem plausible.
Ah-reum’s imagination soared within her mind.
Naturally, her respect for Si-hyun had exceeded its limits.
‘I’m really glad I made that decision back then!’
Ah-reum praised her own choice and determination.
“Hehe…”
Now relaxed, Ah-reum smiled broadly while listening to her professor’s conversation.
“…So, we’re studying how to drink deliciously.”
“Ho ho, a young lady like you should pick it up quickly.”
Everyday conversation!
A chat that felt familiar and free of pressure hung between them.
Ah-reum grew more confident in her assumptions.
Our professor is a networking king!
At that moment, a group of sturdy men approached them.
“Master, do you have a moment?”
“Hmm, yes.”
They were members of the Knight Guild and Si-hyun’s students.
As the old man bid Si-hyun farewell, the disciples bowed politely.
Their demeanor blended caution with respect.
It meant that if someone garnered the attention of their master, they must hold some value.
Si-hyun took a sip of wine, watching them leave.
‘Everyone looked at the old man with respect.’
Just as expected of him.
He was living the ideal life.
Si-hyun engraved the image of the old man in her mind.
“Shall we head over to a table and sit comfortably?”
“Yes, yes! If you sit comfortably, I’ll grab some snacks of all kinds!”
They settled into a nearby table.
Ah-reum faithfully volunteered to take care of Si-hyun.
‘Ah-reum seems a lot more relaxed now?’
Si-hyun tilted her head once as she sat down and glanced around.
Elegant people were engaged in their conversations.
Quite a few familiar faces caught her attention.
There were some she had met during the dungeon.
‘Oh, the woman I exchanged thumbs up with is here too.’
She was very easygoing. Si-hyun wanted to go say hi.
Feeling an impulse, Si-hyun mused.
‘Huh, I never thought I’d feel the downside of hiding my identity here…’
She smirked, sipping her wine.
The taste and aroma spread sweetly in her mouth, leaving a bitter aftertaste that added a hint of bitterness.
“Prof! Do you need anything else?”
“No, it’s enough. You’ve done well.”
“Hehe…”
Before long, Ah-reum returned and set down a plate.
Si-hyun exchanged words with Ah-reum while peering at the surrounding guests.
She spotted Ji-a going table to table, chatting with people.
If she waited here, her turn to greet everyone would come naturally.
Turning her head, Si-hyun noticed another group.
In that moment, she spotted a familiar figure.
“Ah-reum.”
“Yes?”
“Look over there. Is that Eun-byeol’s brother?”
“Ah, yes! I see him! Ye Do-hyeong Hunter is also here.”
“Do you know who he’s talking to?”
Ah-reum shook her head.
The tall Western man stood out distinctly among mostly Koreans.
Ah-reum felt equally curious.
“Just wait a moment! I’ll look it up quickly.”
“Okay, thanks.”
Ah-reum’s fingers danced swiftly over the smartphone screen.
Si-hyun blinked, watching her.
‘She’s definitely several times faster than me.’
She thought she was used to her phone by now.
But it seemed she had quite a long way to go.
Before her eyes, a smartphone typing prodigy showcased her skills.
Si-hyun watched Ah-reum’s finger movements with fascination.
“Got it! Jason Turner. He’s an S-rank Hunter from the U.S.”
“Oh, he’s from America.”
“Um… but he’s a unique person.”
“Unique? How so?”
As Si-hyun voiced her question, Ah-reum looked at the smartphone screen and said.
“Well, to put it in gaming terms, he enjoys PVP more than PVE.”
“So he’s better at fighting other people than monsters?”
“Ah, yes! That’s right!”
Ah-reum recounted what she had read online, and Si-hyun neatly summarized it, making her smile shyly.
“He’s popular for going abroad often and handling things thoroughly.”
Ah-reum continued to read.
“He’s known as a ‘fighting fanatic,’ and rumors say he enjoys sticking to high-ranking Hunters from various countries.”
“…That’s a unique person.”
“Y-yeah…?”
“I don’t want to get involved with someone like that, it sounds tiring.”
“I agree!”
The two nodded in unison, sharing a matching expression.
Like master, like student.